Fed holds rates steady as PPI inflation beats forecasts and crypto markets decline amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The post Fed holds rates steady as sticky inflation and geopolitics pressure markets appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Coinbase's pursuit of AI stablecoin infrastructure with Cloudflare could redefine digital payments, emphasizing machine-to-machine transactions.

The post Coinbase competes for Cloudflare deal to build an AI stablecoin appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The market shift towards valuing revenue and usage over narratives signals a new era in crypto asset valuation, challenging established projects.

The post Hyperliquid’s HYPE token flips Cardano’s ADA in market cap appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

FTX's creditor repayments highlight the importance of structured recovery plans in restoring stakeholder trust and financial stability post-crisis.

The post FTX to distribute $2.2 billion to creditors starting March 31 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Kraken delays IPO plans as crypto markets decline, with Bitcoin down sharply and investor demand for crypto stocks weakening.

The post Kraken pauses IPO plans amid tough market conditions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Zip Ties, Sleeping Pills and Pepper Spray: Canadian Crypto Millionaire Targeted in Foiled Madrid Kidnapping

A Canadian crypto entrepreneur survived a kidnapping attempt Monday night on one of Madrid’s busiest nightlife streets, after witnesses alerted police and helped foil the attack.

The incident occurred at approximately 11 p.m. near the intersection of Calle Claudio Coello and Calle Jorge Juan in the Salamanca district, a hub of high-end restaurants and bars. 

The victim had just left Lobito de Mar, the restaurant owned by chef Dani García, when three men forcibly removed him from the street, pepper-sprayed him, and threw him into a Ford Transit van.

Several pedestrians and residents on nearby balconies immediately called authorities. Spanish National Police tracked the vehicle to Ronda de Toledo, about 15 minutes from the scene, and arrested two of the attackers. One suspect escaped and remains at large, according to reports.

Police identified the arrested suspects as Serbian men, ages 33 and 45, both with no prior criminal record.

Investigators say the attackers had planned the abduction to extract the victim’s cryptocurrency passwords and gain access to his digital assets. The suspects also attempted to steal the Canadian’s €100,000 luxury watch.

Authorities determined the kidnappers had followed the businessman from Barcelona to Madrid, where he had traveled to finalize a cryptocurrency deal. 

The van used in the crime had an altered license plate, rented specifically for the abduction, and contained plastic zip ties and sedative pills, suggesting a premeditated scheme. GPS data recovered from the vehicle indicated the suspects intended to transport the victim to Petrer, a town in Alicante.

Inside the van, the victim was left alone while police focused on detaining the suspects. He freed himself from the zip ties and flagged down a taxi, which took him to La Princesa Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the initial assault. Police recovered firearms from the van during their investigation.

Be careful with your crypto

The kidnapping aligns with a recent rise in physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders across Europe. France, for example, has recorded 11 similar incidents so far in 2026, reflecting a trend of criminals seeking direct access to digital assets rather than traditional bank accounts.

Security experts refer to such attacks as “wrench attacks,” in which criminals attempt to obtain wallet seed phrases or private keys through coercion or violence. 

Authorities warn that cryptocurrency entrepreneurs are increasingly at risk due to the digital and highly liquid nature of their assets.

Police continue to search for the third suspect and have appealed to the public for information. 

The investigation remains open, with officers examining surveillance footage and digital evidence to determine whether the plot involved additional collaborators or extended surveillance beyond the two confirmed attackers.

This post Zip Ties, Sleeping Pills and Pepper Spray: Canadian Crypto Millionaire Targeted in Foiled Madrid Kidnapping first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Kraken Pauses IPO Due to Market Uncertainty: Report

Crypto exchange Kraken has suspended its plans for an initial public offering, sources familiar with the matter told CoinDesk. 

The company’s parent, Payward, had filed a confidential draft S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2025. The filing valued Kraken at $20 billion, following an $800 million funding round that included a $200 million investment from Citadel Securities.

Kraken had planned to go public this year but now faces a market environment marked by falling crypto prices and weaker trading volumes. The downturn has prompted many digital asset companies to reconsider timing and structure for public listings.

Last year saw a surge in crypto IPOs, with at least 11 companies, including Circle, Bullish, and Gemini, raising a combined $14.6 billion. 

So far in 2026, only crypto custodian BitGo has listed publicly, and its shares have declined 45%, highlighting the risks for new entrants.

Kraken has not ruled out a future IPO but appears unlikely to pursue one until market conditions stabilize. 

A company spokesperson reiterated the November announcement and declined further comment.

Kraken’s master account

Earlier this month, Kraken secured a master account with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, making it the first crypto-native firm to access the Fed’s core payment infrastructure.

The approval gives Kraken Financial direct entry into Fed payment systems, including Fedwire, a real-time network that handles trillions of dollars in daily transfers. 

This allows the firm to settle dollar transactions without relying on intermediary banks, streamlining operations for large customers.

Kraken’s master account does not provide all traditional banking privileges: it will not earn interest on reserves or access the Fed’s lending facilities. Nonetheless, the move represents a breakthrough for crypto firms, which have historically faced repeated rejections in efforts to connect to the central bank’s payment rails.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming called the approval a “watershed milestone” for digital assets. 

Other firms, including Ripple and Custodia Bank, have applied for master accounts, though approval has been uneven. 

Kraken’s success is a sign the Fed may explore “skinny” master accounts, granting crypto institutions limited access to payment rails without full bank benefits, signaling cautious but growing acceptance of crypto in mainstream finance

Under such a framework, crypto firms could connect to settlement systems while remaining outside certain capital and reserve regimes applied to depository institutions. 

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This post Kraken Pauses IPO Due to Market Uncertainty: Report first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Boltz Exchange Launches Atomic USDT Swaps for Lightning Network Users

Boltz Exchange launched USDT Swaps on March 18, 2026, introducing atomic, non-custodial swaps between sats on the Lightning Network and USDT on Arbitrum-based networks via USDT0.

The integration relies on USDT0, an omnichain version of Tether built on LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard. USDT0 concentrates liquidity into a single token primarily on Arbitrum, eliminating the need for Boltz to build separate liquidity pools and integrations across dozens of USDT chains like Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Rootstock, and others. This approach delivers seamless swaps to and from USDT to Bitcoiners that do not care to understand the complexities of blockchain bridge networks. While giving DEFI a direct path to lightning payments, without counterparty risk. 

Users also gain practical access to the world’s leading stablecoin, while sidestepping custody risks from centralized exchanges or anonymous “trust me bro” swap services, as well as the privacy trade-offs of KYC-heavy platforms. Business applications include topping up crypto debit cards that natively support USDT by converting Lightning sats in seconds, receiving Lightning payments when clients or counterparties send USDT, or merchants accepting USDT inflows but settling revenue in Lightning sats on their preferred terms—all without relinquishing control of funds or trusting third parties at any point. Its all open source.

Atomic swaps ensure trustless, simultaneous execution of trades across different blockchains or layers, preventing one party from defaulting after receiving assets. In traditional swaps, especially cross-chain, users face timing risks where one side could claim funds without delivering the other. Atomic swaps resolve this through cryptographic commitments (like hash preimages) and conditional claims: both legs of the trade either complete together or fail entirely, reverting funds to their original owners. Boltz achieves this for Lightning and USDT by routing through tBTC, Threshold’s permissionless ERC20 Bitcoin wrapper on Arbitrum. The flow is Lightning to tBTC via an atomic Boltz swap, then to USDT0 via a DEX swap akin to those on Uniswap, stitched into one irreversible transaction by the Router contract on Arbitrum. Gas abstraction removes the need for ETH on Arbitrum, making the process seamless for Bitcoin-native users.

Boltz plans to expand USDT Swaps across all currently supported Bitcoin layers, including on-chain BTC, Liquid, Rootstock, and Arkade, broadening the utility for businesses and individuals holding Bitcoin in various forms. Future updates will also incorporate USDT0’s Legacy Mesh, which is expected to enable direct support for additional chains such as Tron and Solana. Tron currently holds the largest USDT supply at approximately $83.9 billion according to Tether’s March 17, 2026 transparency report, underscoring the demand for eventual integration on high-volume networks beyond the initial OFT-focused deployment.

This post Boltz Exchange Launches Atomic USDT Swaps for Lightning Network Users first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Bitcoin Magazine

US Senators Urge Swift Action on Bitcoin, Crypto Market Structure Bill

U.S. Senators are pressing lawmakers to advance legislation aimed at clarifying Bitcoin and broader crypto market structure.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis emphasized urgency in remarks today at the D.C. Blockchain Summit today, saying, “This may be our only chance to get market structure done. I can’t be any clearer: The time for clarity is now.” 

She confirmed that the Banking Committee plans to mark up the bill in April, after the Easter recess.

“We really are going to get it out of the Banking Committee in April,” she added.

Lummis also addressed a potential compromise on stablecoin yield, hinted at by Sen. Tim Scott yesterday. “We think we’ve got it,” she said, though she acknowledged she has not seen the negotiated language herself. 

She noted banks remain cautious: “We’ve got to get the banks to swallow hard…. Gosh the banks got really dug in on this. But they’re gonna get there.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer echoed the call for speed yesterday, warning that “time is not our friend” and urging passage of market structure legislation before Easter. 

The White House’s Patrick Witt is expected to provide further updates on the bill’s progress later today.

The bill is gaining momentum

Efforts to establish the regulatory framework for the U.S. cryptocurrency market are gaining momentum. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott said a revised draft, focused on stablecoins, could be introduced this week. 

The bill aims to balance innovation with financial stability, particularly regarding yield-bearing stablecoins, which have become a central discussion point.

Key lawmakers, including Angela Alsobrooks, Thom Tillis, and White House official Patrick Witt, have contributed to refining provisions on digital assets. Broader negotiations address political oversight, compliance standards, and balanced representation within regulatory bodies.

DeFi and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are also under review. Mark Warner is advocating for stronger AML safeguards, with proposals for enhanced know-your-customer (KYC) requirements to improve transparency and prevent illicit activity.

If finalized, the bill could create a comprehensive regulatory structure for the crypto market. Observers see the stablecoin-focused draft as a major step forward, providing clarity for digital assets while maintaining bipartisan support

In the past, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pressed lawmakers to act on the legislation, saying the United States must secure clear market structure rules before the end of the spring legislative window.

This post US Senators Urge Swift Action on Bitcoin, Crypto Market Structure Bill first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login for Seedless Bitcoin Wallets

Breez, a lightning service provider and Bitcoin software lab, has introduced Passkey Login into its Breez SDK. The feature allows developers to build self-custodial wallets that use passkeys for authentication and key derivation, eliminating the traditional seed phrase requirement during normal use. 

Seed phrase support remains available for users who prefer it, keeping backwards compatibility with industry standards, but removing the “speed bump” in Bitcoin wallets, which prompts users to back up their 12 words. 

Breez explained the rationale behind this new feature in a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine: “The seed phrase has been a barrier to self-custody since day one. It’s what scares normies away from keeping their own bitcoin, and it’s a legitimate reason why people accept the counterparty risk of exchanges and custodial apps.” Adding that “Passkey Login doesn’t eliminate the tradeoffs of self-custody, but it reframes them around something people already understand and use, namely the same biometric authentication that protects their banking app and their password manager. For most users, that’s a much more intuitive security model than a piece of paper in a drawer.”

Passkeys: Per-Site Key Pairs in Modern Hardware

Passkeys — a fairly new security standard that is gaining broad adoption online — are cryptographic credentials based on the FIDO2 WebAuthn standard, jointly promoted by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and the FIDO Alliance since 2022. Each passkey consists of a unique public-private key pair generated for a specific website or application.

The private key remains stored in the secure element or similar hardware on the user’s device, such as Apple’s Secure Enclave, Android’s Titan chip, Windows TPM, external security keys like YubiKey or the user’s password manager. 

Normal online Passkeys resemble the original Bitcoin wallet.dat file introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto in his early releases of the Bitcoin client, where private keys are stored locally to the user’s device, while public keys are shared with third parties. 

However, the FIDO2 standard implements this private-public key idea in a more standardised and modern way. Websites send a challenge to the user, referencing the user’s known public key for that account. The challenge message is signed by the user’s private key, authenticating their identity in a privacy-preserving way. Each service gets a different public key for the same user, so data compromised on one website does not leak data that can be used to access other websites, nor does it contain any user-identifying data.

FIDO2 is now widely adopted, it leverages device secure elements, integrates with password managers (e.g., iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager), browsers, and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) WebAuthn API. Authentication occurs via challenge-response signing, with the private key bound to the domain to resist phishing.

Passkeys support biometric unlock (Face ID, fingerprint, PIN) and sync across devices within an ecosystem (e.g., via iCloud or Google)—over a billion activations reported by the FIDO Alliance as of mid-2025, with support on major platforms and many top websites.

FIDO2 was not Good Enough for Bitcoin Wallets

Standard passkeys excel at authentication (proving identity to a service) but were missing key functionality needed by the modern Bitcoin industry. 

Bitcoin self-custody typically relies on a single source of entropy (seed phrase) to generate all addresses and keys in a deterministic way, via standards like BIP-39. Users expect those 12 words alone to be enough to recover all balances and accounts on a Bitcoin wallet. The Passkey standard needed to be extended to support this use case. 

Breez’s Solution: Leveraging the PRF Extension

Breez addresses this by using the Pseudo-Random Function (PRF) extension in WebAuthn Level 3. PRF enables a passkey to produce a deterministic cryptographic output for any given input during authentication. 

As described in Breez’s announcement materials, “That’s what the PRF extension of WebAuthn solves, and it’s the key ingredient in Passkey Login. PRF is a newer capability, part of the WebAuthn Level 3 spec, that lets your passkey produce a deterministic cryptographic output for any given input. Same passkey, same input, same output. Always. The passkey never leaves your device’s secure enclave.”

Device Loss and Recovery

If a device is lost, recovery depends on the platform used to store the passkey. Synced passkeys — via iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, etc — restore on a new device after regaining access to the associated account. 

Breez provides an optional backwards-compatible path: users can export a normal 12-word, BIP-39 mnemonic for their wallet, so they can recover their account in other Bitcoin wallets, following industry standards. The press release adds that “Passkeys also aren’t fully interoperable across platforms yet. If you ever need to move to a platform or wallet that doesn’t support passkeys, you have a standard seed phrase to fall back on.”

The full technical specification for Passkey Login is public, and a reference app called Glow demonstrates the feature. Breez positions this as a step toward making Bitcoin self-custody more accessible by aligning with familiar biometric authentication used in banking and password managers, while preserving non-custodial control. Developers integrating the Breez SDK can now offer onboarding without the traditional “write down these words” step for supported environments.

The full technical specification for Passkey Login is public, and our reference app Glow is already running it, and it’s now available for all the Breez SDK devs to use.  

This post Breez SDK Launches Passkey Login for Seedless Bitcoin Wallets first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Ethereum is outpacing Bitcoin as tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran continue to shape global markets.

Data from CryptoSlate shows ETH has risen 18% against the dollar since the start of March, compared with a 13% gain for Bitcoin over the same period.

The ETH/BTC ratio has also moved higher, rising 7.6% to 0.0315 from 0.0293 in less than three weeks, a sign that Ethereum is gaining ground relative to Bitcoin rather than simply rising alongside it.

That shift has pushed ETH above $2,300 and left it on track for its first positive monthly close since August 2025. The move stands out because it is unfolding amid pressure across global macro markets, where conflict risk and higher energy prices have begun to reshape expectations for inflation and monetary policy.

The military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has driven Brent crude above $102 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate has moved past $95. Energy markets are increasingly pricing in the risk of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route that carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.

Higher oil prices have often fed into inflation expectations, raising the prospect that central banks will keep policy tight for longer. In past episodes, that backdrop has tended to support Bitcoin’s role as a defensive crypto trade, with investors treating it as the asset closest to a macro hedge inside the sector.

This time, Ethereum is delivering a stronger performance. The divergence points to capital flowing into blockchain-specific themes tied to Ethereum’s market structure, network activity, and positioning among institutional investors, rather than a broad move into crypto as a shelter from geopolitical stress.

Asset management firm Matrxiport said:

“Ethereum is increasingly behaving like a financial asset…This dynamic may also help explain why crypto has recently shown relative strength versus other asset classes and does not neatly fit into the traditional risk-on/risk-off framework.”

Wall Street money returns to Ethereum

Wall Street is sending fresh capital into Ethereum at a pace that is helping drive the token’s recent outperformance.

Data from SoSoValue shows the nine spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs) took in more than $160 million of net inflows last week, their strongest weekly intake since mid-January. The trend extended into the new week, with the funds drawing another $35.9 million on March 16.

That flow pattern has added to the case that institutional demand is returning to ETH after a period of weaker sentiment.

Typically, sustained inflows of that scale have previously preceded some of the asset’s sharper price moves, including rallies that carried ETH above $4,000.

So, the latest allocations suggest portfolio managers are again increasing exposure as the market broadens beyond Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, a second shift is also shaping the investment case. Regulated products that offer exposure to Ethereum’s network yield are opening a new route for traditional finance investors.

BlackRock recently launched an Ethereum staking ETF under the ticker ETHB, giving investors access to both price exposure and validator rewards. The fund raised $104.7 million in seed capital and attracted more than $45.7 million of additional inflows in its first two trading days.

That structure gives portfolio managers a way to evaluate ETH through cash flow potential and network-based yield, a framework that can carry more weight with allocators who need income generation as part of the case for holding alternative assets.

At the same time, corporate buyers are building Ethereum positions on their balance sheets.

Since last year, BitMine has aggressively expanded its ETH treasury and said it plans to acquire up to 5% of the token’s supply.

The pace of those purchases has increased this month, with the company buying more than 100,000 ETH in the first two weeks, bringing total corporate holdings to nearly 4.6 million Ether as of mid-March.

That buying is creating a steady layer of demand that echoes the treasury strategy several public companies used to accumulate Bitcoin earlier in the cycle.

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Speculative interest gradually returns to ETH

Speculative demand is showing signs of returning to ETH as institutional buying strengthens.

CryptoQuant data showed that derivatives positioning across the digital-asset market was reset after the Oct. 10 flash crash, when about $19 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated over 24 hours.

On Binance, Ethereum’s estimated leverage ratio fell 27% in the aftermath of that move, pointing to a broad reduction in speculative exposure.

Since then, leverage has been rebuilding gradually. By mid-March, positioning had risen alongside an improvement in trader sentiment, indicating that speculative participation was returning in a more measured way than during earlier phases of the cycle.

Data from BlockScholes adds to that picture. The firm’s ETH Risk-Appetite Index has climbed from earlier lows, signaling a pickup in investors’ willingness to take exposure to the token as conditions across the crypto market stabilize.

Meanwhile, market structure data also points to lower immediate selling pressure on the digital asset.

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CryptoQuant data shows that 30-day Ethereum inflows to Binance fell to about $20.2 billion, the lowest level since May 2025. The drop in exchange deposits suggests fewer tokens are being positioned for sale on major centralized venues, thereby tightening liquidity as prices recover.

At the same time, more investors appear to be moving ETH into private wallets and staking contracts. That shift reduces the volume of tokens readily available for spot trading and leaves the market more responsive to fresh buying activity.

Ethereum's blockchain fundamentals also support a rally

Ethereum’s recent gains against Bitcoin are tracking a pickup in network activity, according to data from staking provider Everstake and other industry sources.

In a recent report, Everstake said Ethereum is on pace to post its strongest quarter of network usage in more than a year, even before the first quarter is complete.

The network has processed more than 150 million transactions so far in the period and recorded 27.7 million active addresses, the report said. Both figures are above comparable quarterly readings seen across 2025.

The increase in activity is also showing up in Ethereum’s base-layer throughput. Everstake said the network reached a record 2.52 million gas per second, a metric indicating higher usage across decentralized applications and other on-chain activity.

Part of that demand is tied to Ethereum’s position in tokenized real-world assets, a segment that has drawn more attention from financial firms.

Data from Token Terminal shows Ethereum currently settles about $200 billion in tokenized financial instruments, giving it a 61% share of the market. That scale has helped keep Ethereum at the center of issuance and settlement activity as institutions move traditional assets onto blockchain-based rails.

The network’s supply profile is also part of the investment case. Since Ethereum moved to a proof-of-stake system, the pace of new ether issuance has remained below that of Bitcoin, according to Leon Waidmann, head of research at Lisk.

Waidmann said Ethereum’s annualized supply growth is about 0.24%, compared with about 1.28% for Bitcoin after its latest halving.

Considering this, he said:

“Everyone calls Bitcoin ‘sound money.' But by the numbers, ETH has the tighter monetary policy!”

Taken together, the data points to a market where Ethereum’s price strength is being matched by higher usage, broader participation, and a slower rate of supply growth. For investors weighing relative value across major digital assets, that combination is helping support ETH's recent outperformance.

The post Ethereum is outperforming Bitcoin when it shouldn’t be — what’s driving it? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The SEC just made its biggest crypto classification move in years, placing major tokens such as Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, Avalanche, XRP, and Chainlink into a “digital commodities” bucket while saying some token sales can stop being treated as securities-law cases once the issuer’s core promises are fulfilled.

Paired with a new SEC-CFTC coordination framework, the March 17 interpretation is less a narrow staking memo than a broad attempt to replace years of crypto-by-enforcement with a clearer split between assets, contracts, and regulator turf.

Until Gary Gensler left the SEC, crypto in the US has lived under a legal cloud. Tokens were launched, traded, staked, wrapped, and airdropped while builders and users were left guessing about the boundary between securities law and commodity law.

The long-awaited interpretation explaining how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and common crypto transactions, and the CFTC joined it, saying it will administer the Commodity Exchange Act consistently with that view.

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The Mar. 17 release provides interpretive guidance while preserving existing fraud liability and registration requirements. Additionally, it draws clearer lines.

The SEC's fact sheet says the agency had spent more than a decade engaging with crypto, mostly through Howey-based analysis, and, before 2025, failed to build a tailored framework, instead “regulating by enforcement.”

The Mar. 11 SEC-CFTC memorandum of understanding then established a Joint Harmonization Initiative to clarify product definitions, reduce friction for dually registered venues and intermediaries, and coordinate policymaking, exams, and enforcement.

In the MOU itself, the agencies also commit to consult on overlapping enforcement matters, including, where appropriate, before a Wells notice or similar step.

That makes this week's interpretation bigger than staking or airdrops.

In plain English, the SEC is now saying that many major crypto tokens are not themselves securities.

It then goes further to confirm that some ordinary crypto activities, such as covered staking, mining, wrapping, and certain airdrops, can fall outside securities-sale treatment in some circumstances, and that a token sale does not necessarily remain a live securities-law relationship forever if the issuer’s essential promises have been fulfilled.

That does not erase fraud liability, excuse unlawful original sales, or settle every edge case, but it does give exchanges, issuers, builders, and users a much clearer answer to the question that has hung over the market for years: what is the asset, what is the contract around it, and when does that contract end?

A federal labeling system

The government is finally saying, in plainer terms, what people are buying: a commodity-like token, a collectible, a practical tool, a payment stablecoin, or a tokenized security.

The SEC fact sheet states that digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, and GENIUS Act payment stablecoins fall outside securities classification, whereas tokenized securities remain securities.

That means that a stablecoin such as USDC falls outside the securities classification, while the tokenized stocks xStocks issued by Kraken and Backed Finance would be classified as securities.

It also says covered protocol mining, covered protocol staking, and wrapping of a non-security crypto asset fall outside the offer-and-sale requirement, and that certain airdrops fail Howey's investment-of-money prong.

It also reduces one of crypto's biggest structural drags in the US: uncertainty over ordinary token activity being considered an illegal securities transaction after its conclusion.

The interpretation says that added clarity could reduce legal costs, increase competition, and encourage more activity to remain in the US.

The separation concept

The most important shift may be conceptual. The SEC says a non-security crypto asset can be sold subject to an investment contract and later, separate from that contract, once the issuer's essential promises are fulfilled, or, in some cases, if those promises clearly fail.

In plain English: a token can exit securities status when the underlying investment contract ends.

That directly addresses the long-running fear that tokens are permanently stained by the way they were first sold. The release explains that when buyers cease to reasonably expect the issuer's essential managerial efforts to remain connected to the asset, the token can separate and exit that contractual relationship.

Separation still requires that the original token sale was registered or exempt when the investment contract was created, and fraud liability can survive even after the token later separates.

The release also says the common-enterprise element of Howey must be satisfied, and it explains that if the issuer's promises remain connected to a token, secondary market trades in that token can still be securities transactions until separation occurs.

The agencies are saying the answer depends on whether the underlying issuer-driven investment contract is still alive.

That is a much more structured framework than the old blanket fog.

What changed for ordinary users

For users, the practical shift is that the SEC has defined core behaviors more precisely.

Covered protocol mining, protocol staking, and wrapping are outside securities-sale treatment in the circumstances described, and certain no-consideration airdrops fail Howey's investment-of-money prong.

The government has said that some ordinary crypto activities may fall outside the securities bucket in the described circumstances, while other configurations may still trigger securities obligations.

For platforms, the new rulebook reduces the category problem.

Digital commodities, collectibles, tools, and permitted payment stablecoins begin with the assumption that securities laws apply to the contractual relationships surrounding them, if any, rather than to the assets themselves. Tokenized stocks, bonds, and similar instruments remain subject to securities law.

Non-security tokens still tied to issuer promises carry securities obligations until separation.

The release provides exchanges and wallet providers with clearer listing and feature logic while Congress continues work on the permanent statute.

The bull case holds that this will serve as the interim US operating manual. Exchanges, wallets, and issuers use the taxonomy and separation framework to lower legal friction, while the SEC and CFTC use the MOU to reduce overlap in exams and enforcement.

Congress codifies most of the framework, the agencies jointly formalize more definitions, and onshore token issuance, staking, and secondary trading expand because firms can finally structure products around clearer lines.

The SEC's own economic section points to better pricing efficiency, more capital formation, and more competition if clarity holds.

The bear case holds that the interpretation proves helpful within a narrower scope. Litigation tests the boundaries of “separation,” later commissions revisit parts of the framework, and firms still avoid aggressive launches because past failures to register and anti-fraud exposure remain enforceable.

In this scenario, legal uncertainty diminishes but persists in edge cases.

The next phase

The SEC says the Crypto Task Force has already received more than 300 written submissions and held multiple roundtables, including a Mar. 21, 2025, session specifically on security status.

On Jan. 29, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig publicly called for clear, unambiguous safe harbors for software developers, onshoring of perpetuals, and a harmonized crypto taxonomy with the SEC.

Taken together with the Mar. 11 MOU and the Mar. 17 interpretation, the move appears to be a sequenced regulatory project.

This also puts the US closer to other major jurisdictions. The EU says MiCA is a comprehensive legislative framework covering crypto-assets and related services. The UK FCA is rolling out a staged crypto regime, with its roadmap pointing to final rules in 2026 and the new regime expected to come into force in October 2027.

The US is taking an interpretation-heavy approach, grounded in existing securities and commodity statutes. At the same time, this release moves it closer to the category-based regulatory style that other major jurisdictions are already adopting.

The real significance of this release is that the two main US market regulators are trying to move crypto from a regime of case-by-case enforcement toward a more coherent market structure.

The interpretation is paired with the Mar. 11 SEC-CFTC memorandum of understanding aimed at harmonizing oversight, and both agencies framed this week's action as a bridge to broader market structure legislation in Congress.

Once assets are sorted into buckets and the agencies coordinate on overlaps, the next big battles shift to exchange registration, custody, tokenized securities plumbing, stablecoin competition, and the extent to which Congress codifies this framework.

The press release itself says the interpretation complements congressional efforts.

The agencies published a category-based taxonomy, explicitly addressed when non-security tokens become subject to an investment contract and when they stop being subject to one, and clarified several common crypto activities that had lived in gray areas.

That represents a materially more structured approach to enforcement.

If market participants can better predict which rules apply to which assets and activities, compliance costs should fall, pricing distortions from uncertainty should ease, and more activity can plausibly stay onshore.

Whether this becomes a true turning point, however, will depend on whether courts accept the framework, future SEC leaders keep it in place, and Congress locks it into statute.

The post SEC makes huge U-turn, declares crypto tokens are ‘digital commodities’ after years of legal battles appeared first on CryptoSlate.

A token sale tied to a live ecosystem

Playnance is bringing G Coin to a major public milestone today, after saying March 18 would mark the token’s generation event and broader market debut. Unlike projects that arrive before product adoption, Playnance is pitching G Coin as the utility layer for an ecosystem that already has more than 200,000 holders; its official tracker recently showed 203,732 holders.

Launch materials distributed through Chainwire also said roughly 13 billion G Coin had already been distributed during the presale phase ahead of today’s event.

G Coin is positioned as the settlement and utility token across the Playnance stack, which includes on-chain gaming, prediction products, and loyalty mechanics. On its official site, Playnance says the token already powers 10,000-plus on-chain games and 2.5 million live sports events annually, while the G Coin page says the broader ecosystem averages 1.5 million on-chain transactions per day.

What buyers are actually getting

The most important point for buyers is that Playnance describes G Coin as a utility token, not a security, payment token, or claim on company profits.

The whitepaper says the token is meant to unlock gameplay, rewards, loyalty programs, missions, premium features, and promotional access across the ecosystem, and explicitly states that holders do not receive equity, dividends, governance rights, or redemption rights against the issuer.

The whitepaper also adds an important nuance to today’s launch framing. It says G Coin had already been available through authorized sales interfaces inside the Playnance ecosystem before publication, and that the current public offer is structured as an ongoing offer rather than one with a predefined end date.

For direct purchases, Playnance says accepted payment methods include EUR and USD through on-ramp providers such as Wert.io and Onramper, plus a range of crypto assets including BTC, ETH, POL, USDT, USDC, SOL, ADA, DOGE, SHIB, TON and others.

Supply, vesting and distribution

Playnance says tokens sold during the presale are delivered immediately and are not subject to vesting. Non-professional buyers who purchase directly from the issuer are entitled to a 14-day withdrawal period, provided the tokens have not already been used inside the ecosystem.

The same whitepaper says that right does not apply to third-party exchange purchases or to tokens already spent in gameplay or missions.

On tokenomics, the project says total supply is fixed at 77 billion G Coin, with 54 billion allocated to token sale minting. The company also says unsold tokens at the token generation event will face a 12-month cliff followed by 24-month linear vesting, while tokens lost through gameplay are locked for 12 months before re-entering circulation.

That lock-based model sits at the center of Playnance’s supply pitch, which argues for time-based release schedules instead of permanent burns or open-ended issuance.

The bigger bet

The real question is whether utility can translate into durable demand once broader market trading begins. Playnance is clearly betting that a token tied to active gameplay, sports interaction, and on-chain settlement has a stronger story than another speculative launch with no product behind it.

If the company can turn its existing user activity into sustained token usage, G Coin may enter the market with more traction than the average presale. But the whitepaper is also explicit on the limits: this is a utility token with no ownership rights, no guaranteed value, and no promise of financial return.

The post Playnance Puts G Coin Presale in Focus as March 18 Launch Day Arrives appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The company stated that the market for venture-backed governance tooling does not exist at the scale needed to support the business, even after five years of operation and apparent traction.

The closure arrives the same week Mastercard agreed to acquire stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion to expand cross-border remittances and business payment rails.

BVNK built a business that solved the problem of moving money across borders faster and cheaper than traditional rails, attracting a Fortune 100 acquirer willing to pay a strategic premium for that capability.

Tally built a product that processed over $1 billion, served over a million users, and still concluded the underlying market was too thin to support a venture-backed business.

The divergence reveals where crypto demand concentrates: products that solve direct monetary problems attract capital and exits, while coordination software struggles to prove sustainable unit economics.

Besides, Tally's explanation centers on product-market fit. The company was built for a world with thousands of decentralized protocols and millions of active governance participants.

That world, it now says, never reached venture-scale. The decision to cancel the ICO rather than launch it makes the failure more revealing.

Tally could have issued tokens, raised capital, and extended its runway. It chose otherwise because the team concluded it could not honestly deliver value to token holders without a stronger underlying business.

That converts a standard startup shutdown into a statement about what token issuance can and cannot accomplish.

The governance market shows activity but weak monetization.

Research from Harvard Business School cited more than 10,000 active DAOs, 3.3 million voters, and roughly $22.5 billion in DAO treasuries as of early 2025.

However, a January 2026 study covering 50 active DAOs, 6,930 proposals, and 317,317 unique voting addresses found persistently low participation and concentration of proposal activity among small groups.

Although governance exists, engagement patterns appear brittle, and willingness to pay for standalone tooling remains thin.

Where crypto demand actually lives

The categories attracting capital and institutional participation cluster around money.

Stablecoins now total over $316 billion in market capitalization, with Ethereum hosting about $163 billion of that supply. Tokenized US Treasuries have grown to $11.4 billion with 55,143 holders.

The three largest issuers are Circle at $2.3 billion, Securitize at $2.1 billion, and Ondo at $1.9 billion. Tokenized real-world assets have, more broadly, surpassed $27 billion in distributed on-chain value.

Galaxy's 2025 venture capital report showed $20 billion deployed across 1,660 deals, with the largest allocation going to Trading/Exchange/Investing/Lending at more than $5 billion.

The Web3/NFT/DAO/Metaverse/Gaming bucket declined while payments and banking categories grew.

The funding allocation reflects where repeat-user behavior is concentrated: exchanging assets, posting collateral, settling trades, and moving dollars across borders.

McKinsey and Artemis estimate actual stablecoin payments at roughly $390 billion annualized, which represents only 0.02% of global payment volume. Most large on-chain stablecoin transfers still reflect trading and internal movements rather than end-user commerce.

Even the strongest real-world use case remains early-stage by traditional finance standards.

However, that narrow penetration still exceeds what governance tooling has achieved in institutional adoption and measurable economic activity.

In the previous SEC administration, decentralization was part of a legal strategy, with teams decentralizing to manage regulatory exposure.

If regulatory pressure no longer forces decentralization, then governance becomes optional. That removes one of the external supports that had propped up demand for coordination software.

The token issuance paradox

Tally's near-launch of an ICO makes the failure more instructive than a quiet wind-down.

The company completed US registration, presumably cleared legal and compliance hurdles, and had the option to raise capital by selling tokens into a market that still shows appetite for new launches.

It declined because the team concluded that capital alone would not solve the underlying problem.

The tokens would have created obligations to deliver value that the business model could not reliably meet.

That decision separates token financing from product validation.

A token sale can fund development, attract attention, and extend the runway. However, it cannot manufacture repeat usage or prove that customers will pay for the service at sustainable margins.

Tally had operational data showing that its user base, while large in absolute terms, was not generating the depth of engagement or willingness to pay that a venture-backed company needs.

The contrast with payment infrastructure is stark. Mastercard's acquisition of BVNK for up to $1.8 billion reflects confidence that stablecoin rails can plug into existing card-network distribution, compliance systems, and enterprise customer relationships.

The buyer bets on technology that moves money faster and more cheaply across borders, solving a measurable problem for businesses that already pay for similar services through traditional banking channels.

Citi's current scenarios for the stablecoins project a 2030 base case of $1.9 trillion in market size and a bull case of $4 trillion if regulatory clarity improves and distribution through card networks scales.

Those forecasts assume that stablecoins become embedded in the infrastructure for cross-border payments, remittances, and business payouts.

The growth model depends on users wanting cheaper, faster access to dollars in jurisdictions where banking is expensive or unavailable.

What survives the shakeout

The market concentrates demand in products that solve direct monetary problems without requiring ideological participation.

Wallets, exchanges, custody services, settlement layers, and stablecoin issuers all provide utility that users consume without needing to vote, govern, or coordinate with others.

Those businesses can charge fees, measure retention, and demonstrate revenue growth in ways that governance platforms struggle to replicate.

Ethereum remains central to this evolution. The chain hosts the majority of stablecoin supply and dominates tokenized treasury issuance.

Citi notes that ETH remains sensitive to user activity metrics, meaning price performance now depends on growth in settlement volume, stablecoin transfers, and tokenized asset activity.

Bitcoin does not depend on users wanting to govern applications or coordinate through tokens.

Citi's updated 12-month scenarios put BTC at $112,000 in the base case, $165,000 in a bull case, and $58,000 in a recession scenario, with the main swing factors being regulation, macroeconomic conditions, and institutional demand.

The cleanest bull case for crypto now centers on boring utility: stablecoins that settle faster than wire transfers, tokenized securities that trade 24/7 with programmable compliance, and payment rails that bypass correspondent banking.

Those products require users to find them cheaper, faster, or more accessible than alternatives.

The bear case shows that token financing creates an illusion of validation that collapses when actual revenue models are tested.

If regulation stalls and macro conditions worsen, more startups may discover that large on-chain transaction volumes and token optionality cannot substitute for customers who pay recurring fees because the product solves a problem they cannot easily solve elsewhere.

Tally's collapse marks crypto reaching a stage where token launches no longer validate categories.

The market now separates projects that can demonstrate repeatable utility from projects that can demonstrate large numbers. The companies that survive will be the ones users interact with because their products solve a direct problem.

The post The DAO dream is over? Billion dollar crypto company shuts down, kills token launch citing ‘no users’ appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin has mostly traded around $74,000 on Wednesday as investors waited for the Federal Reserve's policy decision. However, as of press time, Bitcoin has just lost the $73,500 support, with a route to $72,000 now in sight.

The meeting is expected to leave the federal funds target range at 3.50% to 3.75% while updating projections for inflation, growth, and unemployment after the Middle East conflict pushed energy prices higher.

The policy rate itself has drawn less attention than the Fed's quarterly projections and Chair Jerome Powell's press conference. Andre Dragosch, Bitwise Europe's head of research, said:

“Markets price in no change by the Fed today. Focus will most likely be on forward guidance / SEP = `dot plot' and comments about geopolitical risks & energy today.”

Notably, President Donald Trump has pressed Powell to cut borrowing costs immediately, yet investors have moved in the other direction as oil surged and the inflation outlook worsened.

According to Reuters, futures markets now imply one quarter-point rate cut this year, in September, and another in late 2027, a path that is far tighter than the White House has advocated.

For crypto traders, that has turned Wednesday's meeting into a test of whether Bitcoin can extend a recovery that has carried it back into the mid-$70,000s, or whether a firmer Fed message will keep the market pinned below the next major options and psychological threshold near $80,000.

The setup has become more sensitive because the central bank is dealing with a fresh energy shock at the same time that labor indicators have weakened and a leadership transition is approaching in Washington.

Related Reading

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Mar 14, 2026 · Gino Matos

Oil shock reshapes the rate outlook

The Fed entered this meeting with the economy already losing momentum before the conflict added another inflation channel.

US gasoline prices averaged $3.79 a gallon as of Tuesday, more than 25% above where they stood before the war began.

Due to this, economists such as KPMG's Diane Swonk expect policymakers to mark up their inflation and unemployment forecasts and reduce their growth outlook, reflecting a policy backdrop that has shifted from a relatively orderly easing debate to a broader dispute over how much inflation risk the Fed can absorb.

Recent US data support that tension. The Commerce Department reported core PCE inflation at 3.1% year over year in January, the highest reading since March 2024, while fourth-quarter GDP growth was revised down to 0.7%.

The labor picture also softened, with the nonfarm payrolls falling by 92,000 in February and the unemployment rate rising to 4.4%.

Those figures leave the Fed balancing a jobs market that has lost momentum against an inflation trend that remains above target before any full pass-through from higher energy costs.

That mix is central to Bitcoin's current macro narrative. Through much of the past two years, the flagship digital asset has often traded as a proxy for easier financial conditions, lower real yields, and expanding liquidity.

Wednesday's meeting carries a different set of inputs. A Fed that raises inflation forecasts, keeps the median path restrictive, and signals caution on cuts would reduce the case for a rapid expansion in risk appetite, even if digital assets have held firmer than some equity benchmarks during the latest geopolitical shock.

Related Reading

The latest US inflation report looked like good news, but the Fed may already have a bigger problem

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Mar 14, 2026 · Andjela Radmilac

Powell's term adds a second clock for markets

A second timeline is also in play. Powell's current term as chair ends on May 15, 2026, though his term as a member of the Board of Governors runs until Jan. 31, 2028, according to the Federal Reserve.

That distinction has become important for investors trying to map policy beyond Wednesday's decision. A chair transition that once looked straightforward has become less certain as Trump's nominee, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, remains stuck in the Senate.

Warsh's nomination remains on hold while the legal fight around the Justice Department's investigation of Powell continues. So, if Warsh is not confirmed by the June 16-17 FOMC meeting, Powell would continue leading rate-setting meetings even after his chair term ends.

That possibility extends the window during which markets may still be trading Powell's policy framework, even as Trump continues to signal his preference for lower rates and a different leadership style at the Fed.

For Bitcoin, this adds a second layer of interpretation to the Fed meeting. Investors would be reading Wednesday's projections for clues about 2026, and they would also be weighing how much of the medium-term path could change once the leadership question is settled.

That does not guarantee a cleaner policy path for crypto or broader risk assets. A delayed transition, Senate friction, and continuing legal disputes around Powell all add uncertainty to the schedule that investors had expected to guide the second half of the year.

Bitcoin's rebound meets a policy test

Bitcoin has recovered from the sharp slide that took it under $60,000 earlier this quarter, yet the market is still trading far below the record levels seen late last year.

Citigroup cut its 12-month Bitcoin target to $112,000 from $143,000, citing stalled progress on US crypto legislation and a narrower window for regulatory catalysts that could support ETF demand and broader institutional adoption.

In the same note, Citi described $70,000 as an important level for BTC as the market awaits policy and legislative direction.

However, industry experts believe BTC could aim higher given the current corporate accumulation, which remains part of the support structure. Crypto market maker Wintermute said:

“The setup is more constructive than it has been in months. The Coinbase premium reset, ETF inflows, and institutional desk flows all point in the same direction. The mid-$60s appears to have attracted a real floor of institutional bids.”

For context, Bitcoin ETFs are currently on their strongest inflow streak since last October, with seven days of consecutive positive cash additions totaling $1.1 billion.

At the same time, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) continues to add to its BTC holdings aggressively. The firm has acquired more than 40,000 BTC this month, lifting its holdings to 761,068 Bitcoin.

These purchases show that the market's largest corporate buyers are still adding exposure at prices close to where Bitcoin trades now, even with rate uncertainty unresolved.

That steady demand has helped build a base of buyers beyond short-term macro traders and exchange-driven momentum accounts.

Related Reading

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Mar 17, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Considering this, the next technical and derivatives reference point sits near $80,000. CME Group said in a March 6 market note that the $80,000 call strike carried high open interest, making it a focal level for market participants.

That shows where traders have concentrated exposure as Bitcoin attempts to stabilize after a deep first-quarter drawdown. A move toward that level after the Fed decision would likely pull more attention from options desks and short-term hedgers, especially if Powell leaves the door open for easing later this year.

The post Fed decision tonight will likely decide whether Bitcoin gets past $80k or fall further appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Bitcoin price is currently navigating a high-stakes consolidation phase, trading at approximately $74,272 during the March 18, 2026, session. After a period of bearish dominance that saw the asset retreat from its 2025 record highs, the market is now testing the resilience of the $74,000 resistance zone.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Why is BTC Price UP?

Analyzing the BTC/USD 4-hour chart, we observe several key technical patterns that define the current trend.

Double Bottom Recovery

The chart highlights two significant "troughs" (marked with green circles) near the $63,000 level. This Double Bottom formation served as a powerful reversal signal in late February and early March, allowing Bitcoin to climb back above the psychological $70,000 mark.

Key Resistance and Support Levels

The price action is currently sandwiched between tightly defined horizontal levels:

• Immediate Resistance: $74,500 – $76,000. A decisive break above this yellow-lined zone is required to target the next major hurdle at $80,000.
• Critical Support: $72,000. If the price fails to hold the $74,000 level, the green support line at $72,000 will be the first line of defense.
• Deep Support: $68,500 and $65,000. These remain the "must-hold" zones to prevent a return to the bear market lows seen earlier this year.

RSI and Momentum

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently hovering around 60.79. While this indicates bullish momentum, the RSI has flattened significantly as the price approaches resistance. This suggests a "cooling off" period or a potential bearish divergence if the price makes a higher high while the RSI fails to follow suit.

Bitcoin News and Macro Catalysts

The broader crypto market is currently characterized by a "Fear" rating on the Sentiment Index (sitting at 26), despite Bitcoin's recent price recovery.

• The FOMC Factor: Traders are bracing for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments. While interest rates are expected to remain steady, any hawkish rhetoric regarding inflation—driven by $100+ oil prices—could trigger a "sell the news" event for $BTC.
• Institutional Inflows: According to data from Bloomberg, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a resurgence in March, with nearly $2.8 billion in net inflows, providing a structural floor for the recent rally.
• The Gold vs. Bitcoin Debate: As gold continues to trade near record levels above $5,000, Bitcoin's role as "Digital Gold" is being tested. Many analysts, including those at Fidelity Digital Assets, suggest that capital may rotate back into BTC if gold's parabolic move stalls.

Conclusion: What to Expect Next?

Bitcoin is showing "Experience" and "Expertise" in its ability to hold the $74,000 handle despite a heavy macro environment. However, the information density on the 4-hour chart suggests that the current range is exhausting.

If Bitcoin can flip $76,000 into support, a run toward $80,000 is the most likely scenario. Conversely, a rejection here, coupled with a hawkish Fed, could see a swift retest of the $68,500 support.

• Technical Note: Watch the 4-hour candle close. A close below $73,800 would signal a short-term breakdown, while a close above $75,100 validates the bullish breakout attempt.

The crypto market in early 2026 has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. After the euphoric highs of late 2025, where Bitcoin flirted with the $130,000 mark, a "diffuse cocktail of macro anxieties" has sent prices into a steep correction. As of late mid-March 2026, $Bitcoin has retraced nearly 50% from its All-Time High (ATH), trading in above $73,000.

Is it a Good Time to Buy Crypto?

Historical cycles suggest that corrections of 50% to 70% are healthy "purges" that wipe out over-leveraged traders. With Bitcoin currently sitting at a 50% discount, the risk-to-reward ratio for March 2026 has shifted heavily in favor of the bulls.

As geopolitical tensions and tariff uncertainties stabilize, capital is expected to rotate back into "risk-on" assets. Investors who missed the 2025 rally now have a second chance to enter the market. If you are looking to build a portfolio, diversifying across these five projects offers a balance of stability, utility, and explosive recovery potential.

1. Ethereum (ETH) – The Infrastructure King

Despite the rise of "Ethereum killers," Ethereum remains the undisputed home of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization. In 2026, the successful rollout of the "Prague" upgrade has further slashed Layer-2 costs, making the network more scalable than ever.

• Why Buy Now? ETH has followed Bitcoin’s slide, dropping from its 2025 high of $4,950 to under $2,000.
• The Catalyst: Major financial institutions like BlackRock and JPMorgan are increasingly using Ethereum for tokenized deposit pilots. At current prices, you are buying the "settlement layer of the internet" at a 60% discount.

2. Solana (SOL) – The Speed Demon

Solana has proven its resilience after the network reliability concerns of previous years. With the Firedancer upgrade now fully integrated in 2026, Solana can process over 1 million transactions per second.

• Status: While it reached $260 in the last bull run, SOL is currently trading significantly lower, creating a "gap" that savvy traders are eager to fill.
• Use Case: It has become the primary chain for consumer AI-crypto applications and high-frequency trading.

3. Chainlink (LINK) – The Oracle Essential

You cannot have a functional DeFi ecosystem without accurate data, and Chainlink owns 90% of that market. In 2026, its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) has become the standard for banks moving data between private and public blockchains.

• The Play: LINK often lags behind the initial BTC pump but rallies hard once the ecosystem matures. It is one of the most undervalued "blue-chip" utility tokens heading into March.

4. Sui (SUI) – The Emerging Contender

Sui has emerged as the breakout Layer-1 of the 2025-2026 cycle. Utilizing the Move programming language, it offers a level of security and parallel processing that older chains struggle to match.

• Growth Potential: Sui's Total Value Locked (TVL) has remained stable even during the February crash, suggesting a loyal and committed developer base. As the market recovers, SUI is positioned to be a top performer.

5. Fetch.ai (FET/ASI) – The AI Narrative

2026 is the year of "AI Agents." Fetch.ai, as part of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance, is at the forefront of this movement. Their autonomous agents are now being used in logistics and decentralized energy grids.

• Why March 2026? The "AI plus Crypto" narrative is the strongest secular trend in the market. With FET down along with the broader market, it offers a high-beta play for those betting on the continued AI revolution.

Conclusion: Strategy for March 2026

Investing during a 50% Bitcoin drawdown requires a long-term mindset. While volatility may persist in the short term, the fundamental value of these projects remains unchanged. Consider using a regulated exchange to dollar-cost average into these positions throughout the month.

Vietnam is shifting from one of the world's most active unregulated crypto markets to a strictly controlled domestic ecosystem. According to reports from Reuters, the government in Hanoi is preparing to launch a pilot scheme for locally licensed digital asset exchanges while simultaneously drafting rules to ban citizens from using overseas platforms.

The Race for the First Vietnam Crypto License

Five major domestic entities have passed an initial qualification round to operate the country’s first legal exchanges. This move marks a significant transition for a nation that ranked fourth globally on the Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index.

The qualified applicants include:

• Techcombank (TCB)
• VPBank (VPB)
• LPBank (LPB)
• VIX Securities
• Sun Group

Why Hanoi is Curbing Foreign Trading

The Vietnamese government’s primary concern is uncontrolled capital outflows. While the country has high crypto interest, most transactions currently occur on offshore servers, making it difficult for authorities to monitor wealth movement or collect taxes.

By forcing users onto local platforms, Hanoi aims to:

• Regulate Capital: Ensure trades are settled via local banking rails.
• Tax Revenue: Implement a structured tax framework for digital assets.
• Consumer Protection: Bring high-risk trading under the oversight of the Ministry of Finance.

Market Impact and Local Adoption

Currently, Vietnamese traders move over $200 billion annually in crypto. The new regulations will likely push this liquidity into the hands of major local financial institutions. However, digital assets are still not recognized as legal tender or a formal means of payment in the country.

Summary of New Vietnam Crypto Regulations

Ripple’s native token, $XRP, reclaimed the $1.50 price level. This move comes after weeks of tightening volatility, where the asset was compressed within a massive technical structure. As the broader crypto market shows signs of a renewed bullish cycle, XRP's recent price action suggests that the long-awaited move toward psychological resistance levels may be underway.

XRP Price Prediction: The Road to $2.00

The current technical setup confirms that XRP is targeting the $2.00 milestone. This projection is based on a "measured move" following the breach of a multi-week consolidation pattern. If XRP-USD can maintain its position above the $1.45 support zone, the next liquidity pocket sits between $1.85 and $2.10.

The Symmetrical Triangle

A symmetrical triangle is a chart pattern characterized by two converging trendlines connecting a series of sequential peaks and troughs. In XRP’s case, this pattern represented a period of "equilibrium" where buyers and sellers were in a deadlock. Typically, a breakout from this formation indicates that the prevailing trend—in this case, the bullish momentum from late 2025—is ready to resume with high volume.

The Breakout: How XRP Breached the Triangle

The most critical development in the recent XRP-USD price action is the upward breach from the triangle formation. Since February 2026, XRP has been making lower highs and higher lows, narrowing into an apex near the $1.38 mark.

On March 14, trading volume surged by over 300%, providing the necessary fuel for XRP to pierce the upper descending trendline. This "breach" was not merely a wick but was followed by a daily candle close above the resistance, effectively flipping it into a support floor. Technical analysts often view this specific type of exit from a triangle as a signal that the "accumulation phase" is over and the "markup phase" has begun.

Technical Indicators Supporting the $2 Target

Beyond the triangle breakout, several other indicators point toward a continued rally:

• Moving Averages: XRP is now trading comfortably above its 50-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs).
• Relative Strength Index (RSI): The RSI is currently at 64, suggesting that while the asset is gaining strength, it is not yet "overbought" (which typically occurs above 70).
• Institutional Inflows: According to data from CoinShares, XRP-specific investment products have seen over $1.3 billion in cumulative inflows this year, providing the structural liquidity needed to sustain a move to $2.00.

Key Support and Resistance

Ethereum (ETH) has bounced back strongly, rising more than 20% over the past eight days. While much of the market focused on Bitcoin’s volatility, Ethereum moved higher in the background. The rally is being driven by growing institutional interest and clearer regulatory support, two factors that are starting to change how major financial players approach the Ethereum network.

Why is Ethereum Price UP?

The recent Ethereum price pump is driven by a convergence of institutional liquidity and regulatory clarity. Specifically, the Federal Reserve's decision to allow tokenized securities as bank collateral and BlackRock’s launch of its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB) have provided the necessary fundamental support for ETH to decouple from minor market corrections.

Tokenization and Staked ETFs

To understand why these developments are "game-changers," we must define the two pillars supporting this rally:

• Tokenized Securities: These are traditional assets (like stocks or bonds) represented as digital tokens on a blockchain.
• Staked ETFs: Unlike a standard spot ETF, a staked ETF (like ETHB) actually participates in the network's consensus, earning a "yield" or dividend for its shareholders by securing the network.

1. The Fed’s Green Light: Tokenized Assets as Collateral

On March 6, 2026, the Federal Reserve, alongside the OCC and FDIC, issued a landmark clarification. U.S. banks are now officially permitted to use tokenized securities as collateral for loans.

Why This Matters for Ethereum

Regulators confirmed that as long as the tokenized version confers the same legal rights as the traditional asset, it will receive the same capital treatment. Crucially, the Fed stated this applies regardless of whether the blockchain is permissioned or permissionless (public).

• Liquidity Influx: Trillions of dollars in "off-chain" value (Treasuries, equities) can now migrate to Ethereum.
• Ethereum as the "Settlement Layer": Since Ethereum remains the dominant hub for Real-World Assets (RWAs), this ruling cements $ETH role as the global plumbing for modern finance.

2. BlackRock’s ETHB: The First Dividend-Paying Crypto ETF

On March 12, 2026, BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ticker: ETHB). While the market already had spot ETH ETFs, ETHB is the first from a major issuer to offer staking rewards directly to shareholders.

Key Features of ETHB:

• Yield Generation: The fund stakes between 70% and 95% of its holdings.
• Monthly Distributions: Investors receive monthly cash payouts, similar to a high-yield dividend stock.
• Institutional Infrastructure: BlackRock partnered with Figment and Coinbase Prime to manage the validator sets, bringing "Enterprise-Grade" security to the staking process.

"The ETHB launch transforms Ethereum from a speculative commodity into a productive, yield-bearing asset for the average 401k investor." — Market Insight

Comparison: Spot ETH vs. Staked ETH ETFs

Fundamental Divergence

For months, analysts have noted a divergence: Ethereum's network fundamentals (Total Value Locked, Active Addresses, and Layer 2 scaling) were hitting record highs while the Ethereum price lagged. This 20% pump suggests the "valuation gap" is finally closing.

Inflation has exceeded the central bank’s 2% target for nearly five years, but the Fed held rates firm again as Bitcoin and Ethereum wobbled.

A hotter-than-expected inflation reading pushed crypto prices lower Wednesday—slashing the chances of a broad spring breakout.

The S&P 500 index was licensed to Trade[XYZ], a provider of markets for real-world assets on Hyperliquid for perpetual futures.

Sen. Bernie Moreno said if the Clarity Act isn’t passed by May, “digital asset legislation will not pass for the foreseeable future.”

Malwarebytes has warned that a phishing campaign is mimicking the Pudgy World game to steal user credentials

The Fed just held rates steady at 3.5%-3.75% in an 11-1 vote.

BNB Chain's RWA sector surges 33% in 30 days, hitting a massive $3.15 billion milestone. Discover how BlackRock's BUIDL and Circle's USYC are driving this record growth.

XRP whale wallets increase holdings by 200 million coins while the market watches $1.50 price level.

The EF just deployed another 3,400 ETH directly into Morpho Vaults.

SEC flags new caution for investors as crypto enthusiasm soars.

TLDR

• Hyperliquid debuts the first officially licensed S&P 500 perpetual derivative product.
• International traders receive continuous, round-the-clock S&P 500 market exposure.
• Decentralized platform enables leveraged, high-frequency trading with low latency.
• Traditional equity benchmark now accessible through blockchain-based derivative.
• On-chain integration expands S&P 500 liquidity and worldwide market participation.

Trade[XYZ] has secured licensing from S&P Dow Jones Indices to launch a perpetual derivative based on the S&P 500 on Hyperliquid. This represents the inaugural officially licensed perpetual contract tied to the S&P 500 index. Qualified international participants outside the United States can now access continuous trading beyond conventional market hours.

This perpetual contract enables market participants to establish leveraged positions—both long and short—without expiration dates. Trading continues non-stop using institutional-grade index information, delivering dependable market exposure through a decentralized infrastructure. Hyperliquid’s high-performance architecture supports rapid execution and around-the-clock availability.

The introduction expands the S&P 500’s presence within on-chain liquidity networks, connecting it to digital asset markets. This perpetual product integrates a world-renowned financial benchmark into the decentralized finance landscape. Traditional S&P 500-linked instruments generate over $1 trillion in daily trading activity globally.

Expanded Access for Non-US Participants

International traders gain unrestricted S&P 500 exposure through this perpetual derivative, free from conventional exchange hour limitations. Users can execute transactions at any time using verified index information. This structure broadens market participation and extends the index’s international footprint.

XYZ trading venues have facilitated more than $100 billion in transaction volume since October 2025, tracking toward an annual pace surpassing $600 billion. The infrastructure proves capable of handling substantial volume and rapid trading activity. The perpetual derivative fits naturally within Hyperliquid’s real-world asset framework.

Qualified users can efficiently leverage their market positions while tracking price action in real time. The decentralized structure ensures transparent order matching and rapid trade execution. This development reinforces the integration of prominent equity indices within blockchain-based markets.

Integration of Traditional Benchmarks into Decentralized Trading

Perpetual contracts create a bridge between established financial indices and blockchain trading infrastructure. They deliver ongoing market exposure comparable to tokenized stocks but supported by official benchmark data. This framework enhances participant confidence and strengthens digital finance capabilities.

The S&P 500 perpetual offering builds upon earlier programs like the S&P Digital Markets 50 initiative. It marks a progression from tokenized assets toward fully licensed, institutional-quality on-chain derivatives. Hyperliquid’s native blockchain layer enables secure, dependable operations operating continuously.

Crypto exchanges and traditional platforms worldwide are increasingly launching perpetual derivatives covering commodities, stocks, and indices. Major platforms including Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase have recently broadened perpetual offerings beyond digital currencies. These trends highlight rising appetite for continuous, leveraged exposure to established financial benchmarks.

This perpetual contract provides international participants with uninterrupted S&P 500 market access. It advances S&P DJI’s blockchain integration efforts while creating fresh trading possibilities. This launch positions the S&P 500 among an expanding collection of traditional assets operating within decentralized market frameworks.

The post S&P 500 Launches First Licensed Perpetual on Hyperliquid Blockchain appeared first on Blockonomi.

The US, UK, and Canadian authorities have initiated a collaborative crackdown on crypto fraud in Operation Atlantic, which focuses on phishing scams and assists victims in reclaiming stolen money. The program includes such agencies as the US Secret Service, National Crime Agency, and Ontario Securities Commission.

One way investors could protect themselves from crypto fraud is to scan projects and scam addresses for bugs. This is where DeepSnitch AI (DSNT) comes in. Its AuditSnitch and SnitchScan can spot potential bugs and rugs, keeping you safe.

Presently, DeepSnitch AI is in the presale stage, and its AI tools are already live. With a funding of over $2.24M and 197% price growth, DeepSnitch AI has eclipsed most Cardano price prediction targets in the first quarter. The presale is expected to end on March 31, giving you a chance to get into a project with 100X potential.

US, UK, Canada launch coordinated effort to disrupt crypto fraud networks

According to reports, law enforcement agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have launched a joint initiative to combat crypto-related fraud. The operation is led by three agencies.

They are the US Secret Service, the National Crime Agency, and the Ontario Securities Commission. They target scams such as approval phishing, which allow attackers to drain victims’ wallets.

The operation, which is known as “Operation Atlantic,” is to detect threats in real time, recover stolen funds, and raise public awareness. Also, the program builds on earlier programs. It also includes collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies to disrupt the crypto fraud networks worldwide.

Cardano price prediction and the forecast of two powerful low-cap competitors

1. DeepSnitch AI (DSNT): Presale numbers grow by the hour as investors eye March 31 TGE

DeepSnitch AI is an intelligence ecosystem that moves beyond the speculative nature of traditional memecoins. While other presale projects are making empty promises, DeepSnitch AI has already deployed five autonomous AI agents, including the whale-tracking SnitchFeed and the risk-assessing AuditSnitch.

These tools, which are arranged on one layer, provide retail traders with professional-grade data analysis and real-time security scanning. Other tools are SnitchGPT for answering tough questions,  SnitchCast, and Explore.

DeepSnitch AI’s focus on utility allows it to top other projects that are yet to gain relevance. The project often relies on generic exchange infrastructure and hype-driven cycles. While others trade on branding, DeepSnitch users benefit from a live, functional dashboard that simplifies complex on-chain movements into actionable insights.

The platform is currently approaching the March 31 deadline. This date marks the official close of the presale phase, after which the project moves toward its Uniswap listing and Token Generation Event.

For investors, the ongoing presale is your best chance to get in at a low price of $0.04487. Over $2.24M has been raised, signaling high interest from investors. You can use the 30%-300% bonus codes to accumulate more DeepSnitch AI coins and be among the next crypto millionaires.

2. Cardano price prediction

The Cardano future price could cross the $0.30 in the coming days if bulls maintain the current market rebound. As of March 17, the Cardano coin was priced at $0.28.

Bulls are currently trying to break past the strong resistance at this level and could succeed if buying pressure continues to rise. Meanwhile, the Cardano technical analysis indicates that bulls are in control.

ADA has crossed the 50-SMA, and the RSI has risen to 58, supporting a bullish Cardano price prediction. Going forward, an analyst on X in his Cardano price prediction noted that ADA was trading inside a descending channel.

He forecast that the value of ADA could rally to $0.75 this year. If buying pressure skyrockets, he expects the Cardano price to rally to $5.67 by 2027.

3. Fartcoin: Market rebound pushes price above $0.20

Fartcoin is among the top altcoins that have witnessed a strong market rebound in March. Data from CoinGecko shows the Fartcoin price had plummeted to $0.15 region at the start of this month.

However, its price has risen by 33.4% in the past week. The Fartcoin market cap has also crossed the $200M mark for the first time in the past month.

As of March 17, the Fartcoin price was trading at $0.20. Technical indicators like the RSI and MACD currently support an uptrend. CoinCodex says the Fartcoin price might rally to $0.58.

Final verdict

In summary, the Cardano price prediction for 2026 remains very optimistic. On the other hand, DeepSnitch AI could give a better performance. Its low market cap, low price, and AI tools position it as the best crypto to buy today for jaw-dropping returns.

Right now, DeepSnitch AI is at presale stage 7 and is priced at $0.04487. This presale is expected to skyrocket by 100X following its March 31 deadline and Uniswap listing. You could get the DSNT coin now and be part of those who will record massive returns.

Visit the official website for more information, and join X and Telegram for community updates.

FAQs

1. Is Cardano a good investment?

A current Cardano technical analysis shows ADA testing the resistance close to $0.30. DeepSnitch AI may be the most promising crypto investment, surpassing other altcoins. Its AI tools, dynamic staking rewards, and strong long-term prospects fuel its over 100X potential.

2. What is the Cardano price prediction for 2026?

The ADA price forecast for 2026 targets a surge toward $2.00. Nevertheless, DeepSnitch AI is attracting investors seeking low-cap gems with high upside growth. Its future launch on March 31, exchange listings, and adoption support a massive rally of more than 100X.

3. Can Cardano reach $10?

The long-term Cardano future price could hit $10 by 2030 with high adoption. Even so, DeepSnitch AI could be the best crypto to buy now to maximize wealth ahead of its explosive launch on March 31.

The post Cardano Price Prediction 2026: ADA Pales in Comparison to DeepSnitch AI, Whose March 31 Launch and Uniswap Listing Could Spark a 100X Uptrend appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken postpones its anticipated $20 billion public offering due to unfavorable market conditions.
• Strategic acquisitions and platform expansion remain priorities as the company prepares for eventual market debut.
• Reduced trading activity and falling cryptocurrency valuations influence the timing delay.
• While some crypto companies proceed with listings, Kraken opts to wait for improved market sentiment.
• The exchange continues bolstering its infrastructure through key acquisitions ahead of future IPO attempt.

The cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has decided to postpone its public offering plans as digital asset markets experience an extended period of weakness. Following the submission of a preliminary S‑1 registration document to the Securities and Exchange Commission this past November, the company now faces challenging conditions characterized by depressed asset valuations and diminished trading activity.

Payward, the entity behind Kraken, achieved a $20 billion valuation following a successful $800 million capital raise. The financing round included a substantial $200 million investment from Citadel Securities, demonstrating institutional confidence in blockchain technology development. However, the cryptocurrency sector’s turbulence following Bitcoin’s peak price levels has created an unfavorable environment for public offerings.

Executives at the exchange have indicated plans to reconsider the public listing when market fundamentals demonstrate sustainable improvement. The combination of compressed valuations and subdued trading volumes has directly influenced decisions regarding IPO timing. Numerous cryptocurrency enterprises are carefully monitoring market dynamics before proceeding with their own public market debuts.

Cryptocurrency Sector Public Offering Landscape

The previous year witnessed an explosion of crypto-related IPO activity in 2025, with companies collectively securing $14.6 billion in capital. Notable participants included Circle, Bullish, and Gemini. This figure represented a dramatic leap from the modest $310 million accumulated during 2024. Positive regulatory developments from the SEC during that period created momentum for digital asset firms seeking public markets.

Currently in 2026, companies emphasizing infrastructure and compliance capabilities are leading the charge in public offering preparations. These organizations emphasize regulatory adherence, operational stability, and predictable revenue streams. Such characteristics resonate more effectively with conventional public market investors and meet stricter governance requirements.

BitGo emerged as 2026’s inaugural significant cryptocurrency public listing, successfully raising $213 million with shares priced at $18. Subsequently, the stock price declined roughly 44% amid broader market headwinds. This performance demonstrates how sensitive investor sentiment remains to cryptocurrency market fluctuations.

Strategic Positioning and Future Public Market Plans

Kraken has aggressively pursued strategic acquisitions to enhance platform capabilities, completing transactions for NinjaTrader and Backed Finance. The exchange also secured token management specialist Magna to diversify its digital asset service portfolio. Additionally, Kraken launched tokenized equity perpetual futures trading through its xStocks platform for international clients.

The postponement of public listing plans corresponds with organizational restructuring, including the earlier departure of CFO Stephanie Lemmerman this year. Leadership continues assessing optimal market timing for the eventual public debut. The acquisition strategy serves to strengthen operational infrastructure and market positioning ahead of renewed IPO efforts.

Meanwhile, other cryptocurrency platforms such as Securitize are advancing with public offering timelines despite challenging market dynamics. Securitize anticipates receiving SEC clearance and completing its Nasdaq listing during the second quarter. The company’s $225 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) financing provides financial cushioning amid ongoing market uncertainty.

Kraken’s public offering remains suspended as cryptocurrency markets work toward stabilization. Industry observers expect more favorable conditions will eventually emerge, catalyzing additional public offerings. The exchange’s current emphasis centers on operational excellence and sustainable expansion before ultimately pursuing its public market ambitions.

The post Kraken Postpones $20B Public Offering Amid Cryptocurrency Market Turbulence appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Red Cat shares rose approximately 12% Wednesday, nearing the 52-week peak of $18.78
• Fourth-quarter revenue projections range from $24M to $26.5M, representing a 1,842% increase from last year’s $1.3M
• Fiscal 2025 revenue outlook of $38M–$41M represents more than double the $15.6M recorded in 2024
• The company’s SRR Tranche 2 agreement with the U.S. Army has grown to approximately $35M in value
• Wall Street analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with a mean price target of $19.33

Red Cat Holdings experienced another strong trading session on Wednesday, with shares advancing roughly 12% during intraday action. The stock reached the $18.10–$18.13 zone as investors awaited the company’s fourth-quarter financial results scheduled for release after market close.

Red Cat Holdings, Inc., RCAT

The market’s enthusiasm stems from impressive preliminary figures. In January, the drone manufacturer issued Q4 revenue projections of $24M to $26.5M. Analyst consensus estimates entered the quarter at roughly $23.95M, placing the company’s own forecast comfortably above Street expectations.

To put this in perspective, fourth-quarter 2024 revenue totaled just $1.3M. The projected year-over-year expansion rate of 1,842% is extraordinary by any measure.

For the full 2025 fiscal year, Red Cat anticipates revenue between $38M and $41M — a significant jump from 2024’s $15.6M, exceeding the guidance parameters established last November.

The Growth Catalysts Behind Red Cat’s Performance

The company’s revenue acceleration traces primarily to its U.S. Army Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Tranche 2 agreement. Initially secured as a Limited Rate Production contract in July 2025, this deal has expanded to roughly $35M in total value. The contract focuses on Red Cat’s Teal drone technology.

Third-quarter results already telegraphed the coming momentum shift. That period delivered $9.6M in revenue — a 646% year-over-year jump and 200% sequential increase — surpassing analyst forecasts. Following those results, management upgraded Q4 guidance, with CEO Jeff Thompson stating the upcoming quarter would generate “more revenue in one quarter than we have ever done in a 12 month period.”

Thompson also emphasized the Black Widow drone platform as the current primary revenue generator. This system recently gained approval for inclusion in the NATO NSPA catalog, enabling procurement by NATO member states and allied nations.

Beyond terrestrial applications, the company has diversified into new verticals. Its newly launched Blue Ops maritime division represents what Thompson called “perhaps the most exciting strategic expansion” for the business.

Wall Street and Institutional Positioning

Ladenburg Thalmann lifted its RCAT price objective from $15 to $20 in a March 3 research note, maintaining a “Buy” recommendation. Needham reaffirmed its “Buy” rating with a $16 target on March 2. Northland Securities maintains the most bullish outlook with a $22 target established in January, while Weiss Ratings takes a contrarian “Sell” position.

The aggregated analyst view stands at “Hold” with a mean price objective of $19.33.

Institutional investors increased their exposure during the fourth quarter of 2024. Invesco expanded holdings by 36.3%, Janus Henderson grew its stake by 29.5%, and Caitong International Asset Management surged its position by more than 1,800%. Institutional ownership currently represents approximately 38% of shares outstanding.

Technically, the stock trades well above both its 50-day moving average of $13.55 and 200-day moving average of $11.00. Wednesday’s 12% advance positions RCAT just below its 52-week high of $18.78.

CFO Chris Ericson observed that the company’s financial metrics demonstrate enhanced operational leverage as manufacturing capabilities expand to accommodate increasing demand.

The post Red Cat Holdings (RCAT) Stock Surges 12% Near 52-Week Peak on Strong Earnings Outlook appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Johnson & Johnson secured FDA clearance for Icotyde, an oral plaque psoriasis medication created with Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX), triggering a ~4.69% decline in ABBV shares
• The once-daily pill positions itself as a direct challenger to AbbVie’s critical immunology asset, Skyrizi
• Wall Street forecasts remain optimistic, expecting Skyrizi revenue to climb 23% through FY2026 despite emerging competition
• Technical indicators show ABBV trading beneath key moving averages: SMA-20 ($227.73), SMA-50 ($224.27), and hovering near SMA-200 ($214.95), signaling bearish momentum
• Management laid out FY2026 earnings guidance between $14.37–$14.57 per share while launching a strategic antibody development alliance with Alloy Therapeutics

Shares of AbbVie (ABBV) tumbled approximately 4.69% during Tuesday’s session following regulatory approval from the FDA for Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) plaque psoriasis therapy, Icotyde. The development shook investor confidence as Skyrizi represents a cornerstone of AbbVie’s growth strategy in the post-Humira era.

AbbVie Inc., ABBV

Created through a partnership between J&J and Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX), Icotyde offers patients a convenient once-daily oral option for treating plaque psoriasis. This formulation places it squarely in competition with Skyrizi, which stands as AbbVie’s leading immunology franchise and a crucial revenue generator.

Despite the competitive headwinds, Wall Street analysts maintain confidence in Skyrizi’s outlook. The medication’s strong efficacy data and flexible dosing schedule continue to be viewed as competitive differentiators, with revenue forecasts showing a robust 23% expansion through FY2026.

ABBV settled near $212.50 after starting the session below the previous close of $218.60. Intraday trading established a range between $209.42 and $218.60, demonstrating sustained downward pressure throughout the session.

Chart Analysis Points to Weakness

From a technical perspective, ABBV has fallen beneath three critical moving averages: the SMA-20 at $227.73, SMA-50 at $224.27, and now trades marginally below the SMA-200 at $214.95. This configuration across all major timeframes signals deteriorating technical strength.

Momentum indicators across both daily and weekly timeframes have entered oversold territory based on RSI readings. The CCI and BBP metrics confirm negative momentum and oversold conditions. Meanwhile, ADX readings remain subdued, indicating the absence of a defined trending environment, while MACD maintains a neutral posture.

Immediate downside support materializes at $210.83, where a decisive breakdown could accelerate selling pressure. Overhead resistance emerges at the Ichimoku Kijun level of $227.58.

Traders are monitoring a potential range-bound scenario between $210.83 and $215.22, with tactical opportunities potentially emerging near the lower boundary if price action consolidates.

The stock’s 200-day simple moving average at $214.95 might provide temporary support, though the preponderance of technical evidence currently favors sellers.

Legacy Drug Challenges and Aesthetic Headwinds

The competitive pressure from Icotyde arrives during a challenging transition period for AbbVie. The pharmaceutical giant continues navigating the aftermath of Humira’s patent expiration, while simultaneously contending with persistent weakness in its aesthetics division, particularly products like Juvederm.

Recent regulatory filings reveal that several institutional investors have reduced their ABBV holdings, mirroring broader sentiment shifts around the company’s near-term prospects. Corporate insider trading activity has tilted exclusively toward selling, with two transactions recorded over the past quarter and zero purchases.

On a constructive note, AbbVie unveiled a long-term strategic collaboration with Alloy Therapeutics focused on building an enhanced antibody discovery platform. The arrangement features initial payments and performance-linked milestones, demonstrating ongoing commitment to pipeline development.

Company leadership also provided FY2026 earnings per share guidance ranging from $14.37 to $14.57, which management frames as evidence of confidence in the organization’s fundamental business trajectory.

Wall Street’s consensus price target reaches $251.44, accompanied by a recommendation score of 2.2 — indicating moderate buy sentiment. Institutional investors control 74.71% of outstanding shares.

According to GF Value metrics, ABBV carries an estimated fair value of $198.80, positioning current trading levels within reasonable valuation parameters.

The post AbbVie (ABBV) Shares Plunge Nearly 5% as FDA Clears J&J’s Rival Psoriasis Treatment appeared first on Blockonomi.

In alignment with most experts’ beliefs, the United States Federal Reserve kept the key interest rates unchanged for the second consecutive time in 2026.

BTC already experienced some volatility in the hours leading up to the second FOMC meeting of the year, dropping by $5,000 at one point. However, it has bounced toward $72,000 since the news went out.

America’s central bank maintained the federal funding rate, meaning what banks are charging each other for short-term loans, in the current range between 3.50% and 3.75%.

Experts noted before today’s announcement that the likely justification for this is the war that began in the Middle East, which has immediately impacted oil prices.

“The conflict with Iran has dramatically altered the backdrop to the March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and significantly increases the risks to inflation and the economy,” commented Oxford Economics’ chief US economist, Michael Pearce.

Bitcoin’s price reacted immediately to the news, even though it was expected. The asset had lost $5,000 earlier today in the hours leading up to the second FOMC meeting of the year, but bounced to $72,000 after the Fed’s decision went live.

The post Bitcoin Regains Momentum as US Fed Leaves Rates Unchanged appeared first on CryptoPotato.

XRP has pulled back under $1.50 after briefly surpassing $1.60 yesterday, with a popular analyst saying the token now sits at a critical decision point and that a single piece of legislation could determine whether it breaks higher.

According to EGRAG CRYPTO, the CLARITY Act is the primary catalyst standing between XRP’s current price and a potential run past the $1.65 to $1.70 resistance band they dubbed “Zone 1.”

An Ascending Triangle With One Condition Attached

In their analysis, posted on X on March 18, EGRAG pointed out that XRP was forming an ascending triangle just below the $1.65-$1.70 range.

This is a pattern that usually leads to upward breakouts, and, according to the analyst, it shows rising lows, which would suggest that buyers were stepping in. The chart also showed that resistance has so far been flat, meaning that liquidity is concentrated above the current level.

EGRAG estimated that there is a 65% chance the XRP price will break above Zone 1, mainly due to structure and building compressions. However, the other 35% points to a rejection or fakeout, which they believe could happen if the CLARITY Act is postponed.

The Ripple token has gone up about 6.5% in the last seven days, with a range stretching from $1.37 to $1.60. That breakout happened around the same time as a buildup in derivatives positioning, as revealed by CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha. According to him, XRP’s open interest delta rose by $16 million on March 13 and another $18 million on March 16, with the second wave coming just before the cryptocurrency’s jump above $1.50.

Whale activity followed suit, with chartist Ali Martinez reporting that large addresses had added 200 million XRP in the last two weeks, bringing their total from 10.88 billion to 11.08 billion.

But despite all this, XRP was rejected at $1.60, and was trading near $1.45 at the time of writing, a price that another market watcher, Tara, stated they were closely monitoring, referring to it as the macro 0.618 Fibonacci support level.

What Zone 1 Doesn’t Unlock

EGRAG’s analysis made it clear what the $1.65 to $1.70 zone can trigger, as well as what it cannot deliver on its own. According to them, while breaking above that range would be a meaningful technical event, getting to the next level at $2.60 and beyond requires additional conditions.

These include institutional flows or ETF-style exposures, stable BTC prices, or a drop in the number one cryptocurrency’s dominance, as well as weekly XRP closes above the $1.85-$2.00 band.

The CLARITY Act itself is moving, with negotiations possibly concluding as early as next week, according to investor Paul Barron. U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly blamed banks for holding the bill back in order to protect their deposit base.

The post XRP Needs CLARITY Act Momentum to Unlock the Next Critical Price Zone appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The second-largest cryptocurrency has performed quite well over the past seven days, increasing its valuation by double digits despite its Wednesday correction.

According to numerous analysts, the uptrend could continue in the short term, with some envisioning an astonishing increase toward a new all-time high.

The Rally Goes on?

Earlier this week, ETH soared to almost $2,400, or its highest point since the start of February. Currently, it trades at around $2,200, up 8% on a weekly basis.

The renewed upswing caught the eye of many industry participants who believe the valuation has yet to reach fresh local tops. X user Galaxy set $2,400 and $2,600 as the next potential targets, while Trader Tardigrade envisioned a pump to as high as $2,670.

Ted, who often discusses ETH’s performance, chipped in as well. He thinks the price could hit the $2,400 resistance zone, but that might be a “fakeout” and be followed by a substantial decline.

Meanwhile, several on-chain factors support the bullish scenario. The US spot ETH ETFs have been flashing green over the past six days, meaning inflows have dominated outflows. This reflects rising interest among institutional investors in gaining exposure to the asset and could positively impact future price performance.

Next on the list is the amount of ETH sitting on crypto exchanges. Earlier this week, the figure fell to a nearly 10-year low of around 15.85 million coins. This trend signals that investors continue to shift their holdings toward self-custody methods, thus lowering the immediate selling pressure.

Ethereum’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) should also be mentioned. The technical analysis tool, which measures the speed and magnitude of recent price changes, tumbled to 22. This means the asset has entered oversold territory and could be gearing up for a rally.

The Moon Scenarios

According to other analysts, ETH might be on the verge of a much more substantial increase that can take it to uncharted territory. X user ray claimed that $10,000 is “not a dream, just a milestone.”

A few days ago, the renowned investor and one who successfully predicted the 2008 financial collapse, Robert Kiyosaki, sounded the alarm that major banks and institutions are in trouble, hinting that another crash could be on the way.

Later on, he forecasted that “the biggest bubble” is about to burst, foreseeing that once the meltdown is over, BTC, ETH, gold, and silver will emerge as the major winners. As for the second-largest cryptocurrency, he envisioned its price skyrocketing to a (for now) almost unbelievable $95,000 within a year after the catastrophe.

The post Top Ethereum Price Predictions as ETH’s Price Soars 8% Weekly appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin was trading below $72,000 on Wednesday after failing to hold within its post-shock range but showing limited ability to build momentum beyond its recent high.

According to a market update by QCP Capital, the cryptocurrency is no longer trading like a pure high-beta risk asset, but it is not yet attracting consistent safe-haven flows either.

Macro Dominance Grows

The broader market remains under pressure, although declines have been relatively contained compared to other macro-sensitive risk assets. The dip-buying activity at the lower end of the range has continued, while spot market volumes remain low. Such a trend indicates that near-term price direction is being driven primarily by macroeconomic factors rather than crypto-specific developments, QCP Capital explained.

In derivatives markets, the options backdrop remains firm but defensive, as 30-day implied volatility hovered around the 50 level. Still above both 10-day and 30-day realised volatility, maintained positive carry, and supported premium-selling strategies. The term structure is mildly in “contango,” though slightly softer on the day, while 30-day risk reversals continue to show higher demand for downside protection, as puts are priced richer than calls.

Skew levels are not at extremes, but implied volatility remains high relative to recent history. This means that volatility conditions are not significantly dislocated. The overall options surface points to a defensive positioning, as negative front-end skew and a residual geopolitical premium are embedded further along the curve.

Macro conditions remain the dominant influence, and the market is focused on a week for central bank decisions. The US Federal Reserve is set to conclude its March policy meeting on Wednesday, followed by the European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England on Thursday.

Expectations for monetary easing have been reduced as rising oil prices complicate the outlook for rate cuts, despite softer growth and labor market data. Oil prices are holding near the $100 level, and ongoing tensions in the Gulf are contributing to a stagflationary backdrop across global markets.

In this environment, QCP said that while Bitcoin is no longer trading purely as a high-beta risk asset, it has also not established itself as a consistent safe-haven, and its range-bound behavior is likely to persist until greater clarity emerges on monetary policy or geopolitical developments.

Downside Liquidity Expansion Risks

According to a Bitunix analyst, Bitcoin has entered a high-level consolidation phase after sweeping overhead liquidity. In a statement to CryptoPotato, they explained that the 75,000-76,000 zone represents a clear concentration of short-side liquidity, acting as a near-term resistance band subject to repeated testing.

“On the downside, the 72,800 level serves as a critical demand cluster, where long positioning overlaps with structural support. A breakdown below this region would likely trigger liquidity expansion toward 71,500-72,000, increasing the probability of cascading liquidations.”

The post Bitcoin No Longer a High-Beta Play – But Still Not a Safe Haven, QCP Warns appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin is the most famous digital asset in the world. Most people think the only way to own it is by buying it or mining it with loud machines. A new platform called Bitcoin Everlight is changing that. It has built a simple way for anyone to help the Bitcoin network and earn real BTC rewards. This new system is called Everlight Shards.

Instead of needing a lot of technical skill, users can now support Bitcoin infrastructure through a very easy process. This is why many people are starting to look at Bitcoin Everlight as a better way to grow their Bitcoin balance.

What is a Bitcoin Everlight Shard?

An Everlight Shard is like a digital ticket that lets you join the network. In the past, if you wanted to help verify Bitcoin payments, you had to run a server or have a lot of computer knowledge. Shards take away all that hard work.

When you activate a Shard, you are helping Bitcoin process payments faster and cheaper. The network does the technical part, and you get rewarded for providing the support it needs. It is a simple way to “stack sats.” This means slowly building up your Bitcoin holdings over time.

Bank-Grade Security and Audits

Bitcoin Everlight is built with a Bank-Grade security plan. This means they use the same high standards that big financial companies use to keep money safe. To ensure total trust, the project has completed several major safety checks.

• ISO/IEC 27001 Certification: The platform reached this gold standard for keeping information safe.
• Smart Contract Audits: The code was 100% audited by Solidproof and Spywolf to prove it is secure.
• Team Verification: The team passed KYC checks with Vital Block and Spywolf.
• Data Privacy: The network follows strict GDPR rules and has 24/7 monitoring to protect users.

4 Easy Steps to Start Earning

The team at Bitcoin Everlight wanted to make sure anyone could use this system. They have created a simple path that only takes four steps to complete.

1. Get BTCL Tokens: First, you acquire the BTCL utility tokens during the current presale phase.
2. Activate a Shard: Your Shard will turn on automatically once you have enough tokens in your balance to meet a tier.
3. Validate Transactions: Once your Shard is active, it starts helping the network route and verify Bitcoin payments.
4. Earn Real Bitcoin: As the network handles real transactions, you receive a share of the fees in native Bitcoin.

Understanding the Shard Tiers

The system uses different levels, or tiers, to help the network grow. The level you reach depends on how much you put into the project during the presale.

• Azure Shard ($500): This is the entry level and gives you up to 12% rewards during the presale phase.
• Violet Shard ($1,500): This is the middle level and increases your presale rewards to 18%.
• Radiant Shard ($3,000): This is the top level for the biggest supporters and offers 28% or more in rewards.

If you have less than $500, your Shard is Dormant. This means it is waiting in line. Once you add more to reach the $500 mark, it turns on and starts earning for you.

Why Native Bitcoin Rewards Matter

Most crypto projects pay you in their own new tokens. If that new token drops in price, your rewards lose value quickly. Bitcoin Everlight is different because it pays you in Native BTC. This is the real Bitcoin that everyone knows.

After the network launches, you earn a share of the fees from people using the network. This means that as more people use Bitcoin for fast payments, your rewards can grow naturally. You are earning the strongest digital asset in the world just by helping the network run smoothly.

Phase 1 Presale: 6 Days Remaining

The project is currently in the very first stage of its launch. It is the best time to get involved because the price is at its lowest.

• Current Stage: Phase 1
• Token Price: $0.0008
• Total Time: Six Days
• Next Price Jump: $0.0010

There are only six days left in this phase. Once the six days are over, the price will automatically jump to $0.0010. Getting in now during Phase 1 means you can activate a higher Shard tier for a much lower cost.

Conclusion: A Simple Path to Bitcoin

Bitcoin Everlight has removed the hard parts of earning Bitcoin. You do not need to be a computer expert or buy expensive mining rigs. By using the Shard system, you can support the network and earn real rewards from your home. With strong security and a simple process, it is a great way for anyone to start stacking sats today.

Join Phase 1 and activate your Everlight Shard here.

Disclaimer: The above article is sponsored content; it’s written by a third party. CryptoPotato doesn’t endorse or assume responsibility for the content, advertising, products, quality, accuracy, or other materials on this page. Nothing in it should be construed as financial advice. Readers are strongly advised to verify the information independently and carefully before engaging with any company or project mentioned and to do their own research. Investing in cryptocurrencies carries a risk of capital loss, and readers are also advised to consult a professional before making any decisions that may or may not be based on the above-sponsored content.

Readers are also advised to read CryptoPotato’s full disclaimer.

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