Crusoe plans a new 900 MW Abilene AI campus for Microsoft, lifting total projected Texas site capacity to 2.1 GW.

The post Microsoft secures 900 MW AI capacity at Crusoe Texas campus with mid 2027 target appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz exacerbates global energy instability, prompting economic strain and geopolitical tensions worldwide.

The post Oil and gold rally as Iran locks down key oil route to US and Israeli allies appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

BlackRock's crypto move amid market volatility highlights institutional interest and potential stabilization effects on digital asset markets.

The post BlackRock sends $181 million in Bitcoin, Ether to Coinbase amid crypto sell-off appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

ICE's substantial investment in Polymarket signals a growing institutional interest in prediction markets, potentially reshaping financial landscapes.

The post NYSE owner Intercontinental Exchange invests $600 million in Polymarket appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bhutan's strategic Bitcoin liquidation highlights the growing trend of nations leveraging digital assets for economic diversification.

The post Bhutan moves $45 million worth of Bitcoin in two days appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Hits Extreme Fear at 13 Out of 100

As of March 27, 2026, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index reads 13, placing sentiment in Extreme Fear. The current price of bitcoin is near $66,000.

The index spans 0 to 100, with lower readings tied to fear-driven market conditions and higher readings tied to greed-driven conditions.

The metric compiles inputs across price volatility, market momentum, trading volume, Bitcoin dominance, social sentiment, and Google Trends activity. The combined dataset forms a sentiment gauge used to track emotional conditions across Bitcoin markets.

Readings in the Extreme Fear range have aligned with prior stress phases in BTC market cycles.

Bitcoin Magazine Pro data highlights these zones as periods marked by liquidity contraction, elevated volatility, and forced positioning in derivatives markets.

In prior reporting, deep fear readings have coincided with accumulation behavior among long-term holders, alongside reduced speculative activity across spot and derivatives venues.

Earlier market drawdowns examined in Bitcoin Magazine Pro research show similar sentiment conditions during deleveraging events, where sharp price declines matched rapid sentiment compression.

In those phases, volatility expansion and liquidity withdrawal appeared alongside increased Bitcoin dominance as risk appetite shifted away from altcoin exposure.

Bitcoin uncertainty

Earlier today, Bitcoin price fell to its lowest level in more than two weeks, dropping below roughly $66,000 as liquidations exceeded $300 million in long positions over the previous 24 hours.

Short liquidations were far lower, showing that leveraged bullish traders were primarily forced out of the market. The move followed a broader shift in global risk sentiment as equities weakened and macroeconomic pressure increased.

The decline in BTC coincided with a risk-off environment across traditional markets. Nasdaq 100 futures had fallen about 10% from prior highs, while oil prices rose toward $100 per barrel amid escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran.

Military activity and missile exchanges between the two countries continued despite diplomatic efforts, and the United States delayed direct escalation while negotiations remained open.

Regional instability contributed to concerns over energy supply routes, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

BTC had briefly approached higher levels earlier in the week on hopes of diplomatic progress, but those gains reversed as uncertainty returned. Price action remained within a broader range between $60,000 and $75,000 that had persisted for several weeks, following a prior peak above $120,000 in late 2025.

Institutional flows showed mixed signals. Spot BTC exchange-traded funds recorded billions in inflows earlier in March, but more recent sessions saw outflows.

On-chain data showed continued withdrawals from exchanges, suggesting long-term holders moved assets into self-custody. Options markets showed about $14 billion in expirations, which influenced price stability near key strike levels around $75,000.

Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.

This post Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Hits Extreme Fear at 13 Out of 100 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

ICE Announces $600 Million Strategic Investment in Polymarket

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has completed a $600 million direct cash investment in prediction market platform Polymarket as part of a broader equity fundraising round, according to a company announcement.

The new investment follows ICE’s previously disclosed $1 billion commitment made in October 2025. With the latest infusion, ICE says it has now fulfilled its obligations under the investment agreement, which also includes plans to purchase up to $40 million in additional Polymarket securities from existing holders.

Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, has drawn increasing attention from institutional investors amid growing interest in event-driven data markets and decentralized financial infrastructure.

Polymarket has support for bitcoin deposits, giving users a direct way to fund their accounts with BTC alongside other existing crypto options. 

ICE stated that the investment is not expected to materially impact its financial results or capital return plans. Final valuation details of the latest transaction are expected to be disclosed once the fundraising round is fully completed.

The move further signals traditional financial market infrastructure firms expanding into alternative data and crypto-adjacent platforms. ICE, which operates major exchanges including the NYSE, continues to diversify into digital markets, data services, and fintech infrastructure.

Polymarket has become one of the most prominent prediction market platforms globally, leveraging blockchain rails to facilitate trading on political, economic, and cultural outcomes.

The companies emphasized that the announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit securities. Market observers say the scale of ICE’s investment underscores rising institutional interest in prediction markets as both a trading venue and a data source.

Polymarket’s embrace by TradFi

In the past year, the relationship between the crypto-native prediction market and traditional financial powerhouse Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has become one of the most closely watched intersections of decentralized markets and institutional capital. 

Polymarket, launched in 2020 by founder Shayne Coplan, has grown into one of the largest blockchain-based prediction platforms, where users trade shares on the outcomes of future events — from elections to economic indicators and geopolitical developments — using cryptocurrency rails.

In late 2025, Polymarket re-entered the U.S. market under full Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulation after previously being blocked amid enforcement actions, marking a significant shift from its earlier status as an offshore, lightly regulated venue.

In December 2025, Polymarket launched its U.S.-focused app after the CFTC approval, restoring American access to its prediction markets and initially offering sports betting with plans to expand into other categories like propositions and elections.

Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.

This post ICE Announces $600 Million Strategic Investment in Polymarket first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Slides to Two-Week Low as Liquidations Top $300 Million and Macro Pressure Builds

Bitcoin price fell below $66,500 on Friday, hitting its lowest level in more than two weeks as a wave of long liquidations and mounting macroeconomic stress weighed on the crypto market..

Data shows nearly $300 million in long positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data, compared with roughly $50 million in short liquidations, pointing to an unwind of crowded bullish positioning in crypto futures. The imbalance reflects a market that had leaned heavily long and is now adjusting as sentiment shifts.

The bitcoin price selloff coincided with a broader risk-off move across global markets. Nasdaq 100 futures have fallen about 10% from their January highs, while oil prices climbed near $100 per barrel amid escalating geopolitical tensions tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. 

Earlier today, Israel said it will escalate strikes on Iran after renewed waves of Iranian missile attacks, while both sides continue exchanging fire despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. 

President Trump has paused U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for 10 more days to allow negotiations, even as reports suggest the Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the conflict is widening regionally, with shipping disruptions reported in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf states on alert after strikes, and Iranian casualties reportedly nearing 2,000 as international talks continue in Europe.

The surge in crude has renewed inflation concerns and pressured risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin price dynamics

Bitcoin price briefly approached $71,500 this week on optimism tied to a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. Those gains reversed as uncertainty around negotiations resurfaced, pushing prices lower and reinforcing sensitive market conditions.

Despite the recent decline, bitcoin price continues to trade within a defined range between $60,000 and $75,000 that has held for several weeks, even months. The asset remains well below its October 2025 peak above $126,000 following a broader market correction.

Institutional flows present a mixed picture. U.S.-listed spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded sustained inflows earlier in March, totaling about $2.5 billion over five weeks. That momentum has slowed in recent sessions, with net outflows emerging and signaling a pause in accumulation as investors respond to macro uncertainty.

At the same time, on-chain data indicates continued withdrawals of bitcoin from centralized exchanges over the past month. This trend suggests longer-term holders are moving assets into self-custody, a pattern often associated with accumulation rather than distribution.

Despite this, Morgan Stanley is a step closer to launching its spot Bitcoin ETF, MSBT, after the New York Stock Exchange posted a listing notice — signaling an imminent debut that could make it the first such product from a major U.S. bank, alongside offerings from BlackRock and Fidelity.

Options markets add another layer of complexity. Roughly $14 billion in bitcoin price options are set to expire, representing a significant share of open interest. 

Hedging activity tied to these contracts has contributed to subdued volatility, with price action gravitating toward key strike levels near $75,000.

As these contracts roll off, the stabilizing effect from derivatives positioning may fade, leaving bitcoin more exposed to external catalysts. 

With geopolitical risks elevated and macro conditions tightening, the market faces a period where price movements may become more reactive and less constrained by structural flows.

This post Bitcoin Price Slides to Two-Week Low as Liquidations Top $300 Million and Macro Pressure Builds first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Simon Gerovich Confirmed As A Bitcoin 2026 Speaker

Simon Gerovich has been officially confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026. As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Metaplanet, he has helped transform the once struggling hospitality company into one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holders in the world. Now, Gerovich arrives in Las Vegas as one of the most closely watched figures in institutional Bitcoin adoption outside of the United States.

Metaplanet closed 2025 with 35,102 BTC, making it the fourth-largest public corporate Bitcoin holder globally. The company has outlined aggressive accumulation targets, aiming to reach 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and 210,000 BTC — approximately 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply — by the end of 2027. To fund that ambition, Metaplanet recently secured approximately $255 million from global institutional investors through a placement of new shares, with additional fixed-strike warrants that could lift total funding to roughly $531 million. The company is also expanding beyond treasury accumulation: Metaplanet’s board approved the creation of two subsidiaries — Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management — targeting companies building Bitcoin financial infrastructure in Japan, including platforms focused on lending, payments, custody, derivatives, and compliance tools.

Gerovich began the company’s EGM in September 2025 by explaining how Metaplanet pivoted from operating as a struggling hotel company to a Bitcoin treasury company in early 2024. The turnaround has been significant. Revenue jumped 738% year-over-year to 8.91 billion yen, with operating profit surging 1,695%, driven primarily by premiums from Bitcoin option transactions, which accounted for about 95% of total revenue. Gerovich has consistently pointed to Bitcoin per share — the company’s primary KPI — rather than net profit as the appropriate metric for evaluating Metaplanet’s performance, noting that Bitcoin per share increased by more than 500% in 2025.

With Metaplanet’s accumulation targets for 2026 still in motion and its expansion into ventures and asset management underway, Gerovich takes the Bitcoin 2026 stage at a pivotal moment for the company and for corporate Bitcoin adoption in Asia.

Bitcoin 2026 is Returning to Las Vegas

Bitcoin 2026 will take place April 27–29 at The Venetian, Las Vegas, and is expected to be the biggest Bitcoin event of the year.

Focused on the future of money, Bitcoin 2026 will bring together Bitcoin builders, investors, miners, policymakers, technologists, and newcomers from around the world. The event will feature a wide range of pass types, including general admission passes designed specifically for those new to Bitcoin, alongside premium passes for professionals, enterprises, and institutions.

With multiple stages, immersive experiences, technical workshops, and headline keynotes, Bitcoin 2026 is designed to serve both first-time attendees and long-time Bitcoiners shaping the next era of global adoption.

Past Bitcoin Conferences in the U.S.

Bitcoin’s flagship conference has scaled dramatically over the past five years:

• 2021 – Miami: 11,000 attendees
• 2022 – Miami: 26,000 attendees
• 2023 – Miami: 15,000 attendees
• 2024 – Nashville: 22,000 attendees
• 2025 – Las Vegas: 35,000 attendees

Get Your Bitcoin 2026 Pass

Bitcoin Magazine readers can save 10% on Bitcoin 2026 tickets using code ‘ARTICLE10‘ at checkout.

Stay at The official hotel of Bitcoin 2026, The Venetian, and get a guaranteed low rate plus 15% off your pass. Be in the middle of where the fun is all happening, and where the networking never ends.

And don’t forget:

Volunteer at Bitcoin 2026 and get Pro Pass access plus exclusive perks.

All students ages 13+ can apply for a Student Pass and get free general admission access to Bitcoin 2026.

Location: The Venetian, Las Vegas
Dates: April 27–29, 2026

For more information and exclusive offers, visit the Bitcoin Conference on X here.

Why Attend Bitcoin 2026?

Bitcoin 2026 is the definitive gathering for anyone serious about the future of money. With 500+ speakers, multiple world-class stages, and programming spanning Bitcoin fundamentals, open-source development, enterprise adoption, mining, energy, AI, policy, and culture, the conference brings every corner of the Bitcoin ecosystem together under one roof.

From headline keynotes on the Nakamoto Stage to deep technical sessions for builders, institutional strategy discussions for enterprises, and beginner-friendly Bitcoin 101 education, Bitcoin 2026 is designed for everyone—from first-time attendees to the leaders shaping Bitcoin’s global adoption.

Whether you’re looking to learn, build, invest, network, or influence, Bitcoin 2026 is where Bitcoin’s next chapter is written.

Bitcoin 2026 Pass Types: Something for Everyone

Bitcoin 2026 offers a range of pass options designed to meet the needs of newcomers, professionals, enterprises, and high-net-worth Bitcoiners alike.

Bitcoin 2026 General Admission Pass

Ideal for newcomers and those looking to experience the heart of the conference.

• Limited access on Days 2 & 3
• Entry to Main Stage
• Access to Genesis Stage
• Full access to the Expo Hall

Bitcoin 2026 Pro Pass

Designed for professionals, operators, and serious Bitcoin participants.

Includes all General Admission features, plus:

• Full 3-day access, including Pro Day
• Entry to the Pro Pass Reception
• Access to Enterprise Hall, Enterprise Stage, and Networking Lounge
• Conference App networking features
• Access to the Bitcoin For Corporations Symposium
• Entry to Compute Village and Energy Stage
• Complimentary lunch, coffee, tea, and snacks
• Dedicated registration and check-in
• Reserved seating at Main Stage
• Huge savings when you bundle your hotel and Pro Pass

Bitcoin 2026 Whale Pass

The all-inclusive, premium Bitcoin 2026 experience.

Includes all Pro Pass features, plus:

• Reserved seating at Main Stage
• All-inclusive gourmet food and beverages
• Entry to Whale Night and Whale Reception
• Access to all official after-parties
• Networking app access to connect with other Whales
• Premium access to The Deep — an exclusive networking lounge with intimate speaker sessions
• Complimentary stay at The Venetian when you bundle your whale pass and hotel (use promo code ‘WHALEHOTEL’ here)

This is the most immersive way to experience Bitcoin 2026.

Bitcoin 2026 After Hours Pass

Your ticket to the night.

Most deals are done with a drink in your hand. Get exclusive access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties across Las Vegas — each with a 2-hour open bar — where the real conversations happen and the best connections are made.

• Access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties
• 2-hour open bar at each event
• Evening events across Las Vegas, April 27–29
• Network with Bitcoiners, builders, and industry leaders after hours

More headline speaker announcements are coming soon.

Don’t miss Bitcoin 2026.

This post Simon Gerovich Confirmed As A Bitcoin 2026 Speaker first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

Bitcoin Magazine

St. Cloud Financial Credit Union Surpasses 10 Bitcoin in Member Custody Pilot

St. Cloud Financial Credit Union (SCFCU) has surpassed 10 bitcoin held on behalf of its members through its newly launched CU-Digital Asset Vault, signaling early demand for community-based bitcoin custody solutions.

The credit union told Bitcoin Magazine that it is now safeguarding more than 12.6 BTC, along with smaller amounts of ether and USDC, just weeks after rolling out the service to its base of more than 28,000 members.

Unlike institutional custody platforms, the holdings reflect adoption at the individual level, with everyday users opting to store digital assets within a familiar financial institution rather than relying solely on exchanges or full self-custody.

“What we’re seeing is members looking for a way to participate without leaving the institution they already trust,” said CEO Jed Meyer. “This milestone tells us that when you bring this capability into a familiar, trusted environment, people respond.”

Hybrid self-custody bitcoin model

The CU-Digital Asset Vault uses a hybrid self-custody model, allowing members to retain control of their bitcoin while leveraging infrastructure integrated into the credit union’s core systems.

The service remains limited to members for now, though SCFCU plans to expand access to businesses and additional markets in the coming months. 

Longer term, the credit union is exploring bitcoin-enabled payments and lending products as it looks to integrate digital assets more deeply into everyday banking.

Earlier this month, SCFCU launched the vault, a core-integrated platform that allows members to hold and manage digital assets like Bitcoin without relying on third-party providers.

According to CEO Jed Meyer, the platform reflects a long-term strategy to preserve the credit union’s role at the center of its members’ financial lives. He emphasized that maintaining control over digital asset services is critical as these assets become increasingly embedded in financial infrastructure.

The Vault also supports board-level oversight and aligns with regulatory requirements, reinforcing SCFCU’s cooperative principles. 

By integrating digital assets into its core operations, the credit union can monitor transactions, manage risk, and adapt to evolving compliance standards.

Looking ahead, SCFCU designed the platform to expand beyond basic custody. Future capabilities may include transaction services, network connectivity, and credit-related use cases, all within the same system. 

The goal is to allow members to access a broader range of digital-asset services without needing to migrate to new platforms.

Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.

This post St. Cloud Financial Credit Union Surpasses 10 Bitcoin in Member Custody Pilot first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

David Sacks leaves office with wins for crypto infrastructure, while Bitcoin holders are still waiting

David Sacks is out of the formal White House crypto czar role after exhausting the 130-day limit attached to his special government employee status.

The change closes the clearest window for a scorecard. The record is substantial, yet it falls well short of the campaign mood that surrounded Sacks’ appointment and the early industry enthusiasm that followed.

Sacks leaves behind a policy footprint that favored institutional crypto plumbing, bank access, dollar stablecoins, custody, and tokenized financial infrastructure.

The Bitcoin community is now questioning whether Sacks delivered on expectations, with some influential traders declaring,

“Nothing that we elected him for was accomplished.”

Bitcoin holders received a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve through Trump’s March 6, 2025 executive order, yet the reserve arrived as a ring-fencing exercise around seized coins rather than a federal accumulation program.

The distinction sits at the center of the current frustration. The administration delivered movement around crypto. The direct economic gain for Bitcoin holders remained limited.

The most durable critique is straightforward. Sacks helped produce a regime that lowered friction for banks, custodians, issuers, and politically connected capital, while leaving Bitcoin investors with mostly symbolic progress and a widening gap between campaign rhetoric and policy economics.

CryptoSlate’s own coverage traces that arc clearly. Early reporting on Sacks’ appointment captured the industry’s optimism around legal clarity and a friendlier White House.

By March 2025, Sacks was already damping market assumptions after Trump mentioned altcoins for a government stockpile, telling Bloomberg the market was “reading too much” into the move.

Related Reading

David Sacks says market ‘reading too much’ into Trump mentioning altcoins

The Crypto Czar also shared the possibility of staking and rebalancing for the Digital Asset Stockpile.

Mar 7, 2025 · Gino Matos

More recently, CryptoSlate documented how the policy premium embedded into Trump’s crypto rally evaporated as the market repriced the administration’s actual deliverables.

The sequence leads to a clear conclusion. Washington improved the operating environment for crypto intermediaries. Washington did far less to create a fresh federal demand engine for Bitcoin.

Related Reading

Trump's crypto “golden age” throws away $2 trillion in profits, leaving those holding dollars as winners

As policy optimism wanes, crypto investors confront market mechanics and macroeconomic ripple effects.

Feb 7, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

What Sacks actually achieved

In March 2025, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed that national banks and federal savings associations could engage in crypto custody, certain stablecoin activities, and distributed ledger participation without first obtaining supervisory non-objection.

Later that month, the FDIC rescinded its earlier approval requirement and stated that FDIC-supervised institutions could engage in permissible crypto-related activities without prior signoff. The SEC’s SAB 122 also rescinded the guidance in SAB 121, reducing one of the accounting burdens that had made institutional custody less attractive.

Those changes were real. They loosened key chokepoints. They improved the economics for regulated incumbents. They also shifted the center of gravity toward institutions that already controlled distribution, compliance, balance sheet capacity, and customer onboarding.

Crypto-native firms gained a less hostile environment, while the immediate beneficiaries sat closer to the banking perimeter than to the Bitcoin holder, who had expected a more direct policy dividend.

The second item is stablecoin legislation. CryptoSlate’s coverage of the GENIUS Act and its analysis of the stablecoin boom that followed makes it clear where Washington found urgency. The bill gave dollar-backed issuers a clearer operating path and reinforced the Treasury-market role that large stablecoin issuers are expected to play.

That is a strategic win for dollar distribution. It is also a strategic win for the firms positioned to warehouse reserves, manage compliance, and package digital dollars into mainstream finance.

Related Reading

Year of the stablecoin: The GENIUS Act, Wall Street, and the dollar’s digital leap

Leading experts share their insights into the future of money as the GENIUS Act redefines finance in 2025 and beyond.

Jul 27, 2025 · Christina Comben

The third item is market-structure progress. The CLARITY Act and the broader fight over stablecoin reward definitions show where the administration and Congress invested negotiating capital.

The conflict centered on who gets to control distribution economics around tokenized dollars, how close those products can come to bank deposits, and how much room exchanges and wallets retain to offer reward layers around stablecoins. The subject is meaningful. It also sits one level removed from Bitcoin’s core policy asks.

Viewed together, those wins form a coherent block.

Sacks helped move crypto from a defensive posture under Gary Gensler-era enforcement into a more investable policy architecture for institutions.

Banks, custodians, issuers, exchanges, and tokenization platforms can do more today than they could before Trump returned. The achievement is clear.

The beneficiary base is also clear, and it differs from the constituency that expected a Bitcoin-first White House.

Where the Bitcoin side falls short

The administration can point to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a historic move, and on a formal level, that claim is justified.

The United States designated Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset and separated it from the broader digital asset stockpile. Sacks stressed that the reserve would focus on long-term stewardship of seized Bitcoin, while altcoins in the stockpile could be sold, rebalanced, or staked at Treasury discretion.

The reserve never moved into the zone that most Bitcoin holders cared about. The administration did not launch an immediate federal buying program.

It did not announce a schedule for open-market accumulation. It did not create a standing mechanism that would pull supply from the market in size.

The administration’s digital asset roadmap highlighted the same limitation. The reserve existed, while the acquisition path remained opaque.

The distinction is where disappointment hardens. A reserve built from forfeited Bitcoin changes custody and future sale behavior. It leaves the market’s demand profile largely untouched compared with the campaign language many Bitcoin holders had priced in. Preservation and accumulation produce very different outcomes for price formation.

That difference explains why some of the anger on crypto feeds is directionally understandable. Bitcoin holders were promised something more forceful than what arrived.

Stablecoins, tokenized finance, and institutional rails moved faster through Washington than Bitcoin-specific demand policy.

The administration’s most visible crypto progress also aligned neatly with constituencies that monetize issuance, distribution, custody, and compliance.

The administration delivered enough for institutions to monetize the next phase of digital finance. Bitcoin holders still lack a federal policy catalyst with direct market impact.

Why the market has re-priced the promise

Markets eventually force rhetoric to clear. CryptoSlate’s coverage of the collapse in the post-election policy premium captures that shift.

Investors who once priced a pro-crypto White House as a broad tailwind later discovered that not every crypto win maps onto Bitcoin in the same way. Stablecoin legislation can favor dollar liquidity and tokenized settlement.

Bank guidance can favor custody and compliance capacity. Those developments help the ecosystem. They do far less to create a new marginal buyer for BTC.

The market backdrop today underlines the point. Bitcoin trades around $66,569, down about 3.9% on the day. Spot ETF flows have also shown a more selective institutional appetite than the campaign-era narrative implied.

March data from Farside Investors shows sharp swings between inflow and outflow sessions, a pattern that fits tactical allocation and de-risking behavior more than a simple policy-driven repricing higher.

Bitcoin remains in a familiar place. Price is still governed by liquidity conditions, rates, ETF demand, and macro positioning. Washington can improve the operating environment.

Washington has not yet rewritten Bitcoin’s demand curve.

The week ahead, Bitcoin stays in focus

The coming week is more likely to shape Bitcoin through macro channels than through additional post-Sacks messaging.

Friday, April 3 brings the March employment report. Earlier in the week, the market will also parse fresh labor and activity signals, including the usual month-turn growth and employment data that feed directly into rate expectations, Treasury yields, and broader risk appetite.

That sequence feeds into crypto through a straightforward transmission path. Softer labor data can ease yield pressure and help duration-sensitive risk assets.

Firmer labor data can push yields higher, tighten financial conditions, and pressure the assets that benefited from liquidity optimism. Bitcoin continues to trade inside that macro framework even while crypto policy remains a live political theme.

The gap between symbolic and economic progress is therefore becoming harder to ignore.

A reserve announcement built on seized coins can support sentiment. A banking reset can improve access. Stablecoin law can strengthen dollar-based crypto rails.

None of those developments guarantee stronger Bitcoin demand into a macro-heavy week.

The market still needs sustained ETF absorption, improving liquidity conditions, or an actual federal accumulation mechanism that removes supply from circulation in size.

Sacks leaves office having helped build the legal and regulatory lanes for the next phase of crypto finance in the United States. Banks got clearer permission. Custodians got relief. Stablecoin issuers got a path. Tokenized capital markets moved closer to the center of the American financial stack.

Bitcoin holders got recognition, a reserve label, and fewer fears around forced government selling.

They did not get the forceful federal accumulation program that campaign rhetoric had implied.

Sacks leaves a policy architecture that works best for institutional crypto, dollar tokenization, and the firms positioned to collect fees at the system’s chokepoints.

Bitcoin remains the political symbol. Stablecoins and tokenized finance have been the operational priority.

Until that hierarchy changes, frustration among Bitcoin holders is likely to keep rising, especially in weeks when macro data, ETF flows, and yield pressure continue to drive price more than Washington does.

The post White House crypto czar leaves office after securing crypto wins for banks and institutions instead of Bitcoin appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin is moving deeper into US household finance as homebuyers squeezed by high borrowing costs and limited supply look for new ways to fund a down payment without selling their digital assets.

On March 26, Better Home & Finance and Coinbase launched a structure that lets eligible borrowers pledge Bitcoin or USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin to secure a separate loan for a down payment while still taking out a standard conforming mortgage on the home.

The arrangement brings crypto into one of the most closely watched parts of the U.S. credit system at a time when affordability pressures are already reshaping who can buy a house and when.

The timing is central to the pitch as Realtor.com’s 2026 report put the US housing supply gap at 4.03 million homes.

This comes as the average 30-year mortgage rate recently climbed to 7%, while total mortgage applications fell 10.5%, and purchase applications dropped 5.4%. At the same time, first-time buyers accounted for just 21% of the market in the latest National Association of Realtors profile.

Against that backdrop, lenders and crypto firms are betting that a growing class of would-be buyers has wealth in digital assets but lacks the cash liquidity needed to clear one of the biggest barriers to homeownership.

A new route into the mortgage market

The Coinbase-backed product is aimed at borrowers who want to retain exposure to crypto markets instead of liquidating holdings to raise cash for a down payment.

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For many, that decision is about more than market timing. Selling crypto can also trigger a tax bill and force investors to reduce positions they view as long-term holdings.

Considering this, the structure is built around two loans at closing. The first is a standard mortgage on the property. The second is a privately financed loan secured by pledged crypto and used to fund the cash down payment.

Better says the 15-year and 30-year fixed mortgage options will be available, subject to credit approval, and that the loans are designed in accordance with Fannie Mae guidelines so that the mortgage remains a conforming loan.

That distinction is important. The product does not replace the traditional mortgage with a crypto loan. Instead, it wraps a crypto-secured financing layer around the down payment while leaving the main mortgage in a conventional format.

For borrowers using Bitcoin, the initial collateral value must be at least 250% of the loan amount in fiat. For borrowers using USDC, the initial collateral value must be at least 125%.

In practical terms, a borrower could pledge $250,000 in Bitcoin to unlock a $100,000 cash-down-payment loan, or $125,000 in USDC for the same result.

The companies are promoting the arrangement as a way to preserve ownership of digital assets while gaining access to the housing market. Better says both loans can share the same interest rate and amortization term, creating a single combined monthly payment.

Housing strain creates an opening

The product's appeal is tied directly to a housing market that has become harder to enter, especially for younger buyers.

The median age of a first-time homebuyer reached 40 in 2025, according to the National Association of Realtors, reflecting the combined effect of high mortgage rates, elevated home prices, and limited inventory.

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Mar 20, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

The pressure is even more severe for households lower on the income scale. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index for the second quarter of 2025 showed that a typical family needed 36% of its income for a mortgage payment on a median new home. For lower-income households, that share rose above 71%.

Those figures help explain why companies see an opportunity in linking digital assets to housing finance. Traditional underwriting relies heavily on documented income, credit history, and cash reserves.

That framework tends to favor households that have already built wealth through home equity, rising incomes, or long-established financial assets.

At the same time, millions of Americans have built positions in crypto. For context, around 20% of US adults, equivalent to 52 million people, hold some form of crypto asset, and the majority of them are young.

The NCA 2025 State of Crypto Holders report confirmed that 67% of token holders are 45 or younger, and 26% earn less than $75,000 a year.

That gives the product a clear target market: younger buyers with meaningful crypto exposure but limited willingness, or ability, to convert those holdings into cash at the point of purchase.

How the crypto pledge works

The companies have tried to structure the product to look less like a volatile crypto loan and more like a mortgage-compatible financing tool.

Borrowers who pledge Bitcoin or USDC are not subject to margin calls or top-up requirements if the market value of their collateral falls.

Better says market movements alone do not trigger liquidation. Instead, the pledged assets are only at risk if a borrower becomes 60 days delinquent on payments, a threshold the companies say mirrors the treatment of payment stress in conforming mortgages.

The crypto is held in custody for the life of the down payment loan and returned once that obligation is repaid. Borrowers cannot trade the pledged assets while they are locked up, which preserves ownership but restricts flexibility.

For USDC borrowers, the stablecoin can continue to earn rewards, which could help offset mortgage servicing costs and reduce the borrower’s net effective financing burden.

Meanwhile, the broader ambition goes beyond one mortgage product. Better and Coinbase say they intend, over time, to expand the range of eligible digital assets to include tokenized equities, fixed income, and other tokenized real estate assets.

This represents a sign that they see the mortgage offering as an early step in bringing on-chain wealth into mainstream consumer finance.

Policy support and political resistance

Meanwhile, this launch is arriving in a political climate that has become more receptive to crypto, but not without resistance.

Fannie Mae’s role, along with oversight from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, could help make such products more mainstream than earlier crypto-linked mortgage offerings.

Last year, FHFA Director Bill Pulte directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare to count crypto as an asset on mortgage applications, reflecting broader support for the digital-asset industry from the Trump administration.

That policy opening created room for commercial products built around crypto wealth, but it also drew criticism from lawmakers who view the idea as a new source of risk for housing finance.

Democratic senators, led by Elizabeth Warren, objected to the proposal, arguing that the current policy does not permit federally backed mortgage channels to consider cryptocurrency unless it has first been converted into US dollars and properly documented.

They warned that expanding underwriting criteria to include unconverted crypto could introduce fresh risks to both the housing market and the broader financial system.

That criticism goes to the heart of the debate around products like Better’s.

Supporters see them as a way to translate digital wealth into real-world access without forcing borrowers to sell assets and leave the market. Critics see a danger in bringing a volatile and still-developing asset class closer to the foundations of US home lending.

So, the final outcome may depend on whether crypto-backed mortgages remain a niche tool for affluent digital-asset holders or evolve into a broader financing channel for buyers shut out by the traditional down payment hurdle.

The post Homebuyers can now borrow against Bitcoin to get a mortgage without selling or liquidation risk appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin fell back toward $65,000 on Friday as investors cut exposure to risk assets after another round of Middle East tensions kept oil prices elevated, pushed Treasury yields to their highest levels in months, and lifted the dollar.

According to CryptoSlate's data, BTC dumped nearly 5% to around $66,484, its lowest price since the beginning of the month. This continues a trend in which the top crypto repeatedly fails to hold when macro pressure returns.

An analyst at Bitunix told CryptoSlate:

“BTC has fully transitioned into a reflector of liquidity structure. Price action remains confined within a broad $65,000–$72,000 range, with volume distribution showing clear supply overhead above $70,000, while the $65,000 region continues to accumulate passive demand.”

Data from CoinGlass showed that the price action wiped nearly $200 million from crypto traders within the past hour, with long traders bearing most of the losses.

Why is Bitcoin price falling?

BTC's current slide did not come from a crypto-specific shock. Instead, the downturn can be linked to geopolitical tensions that have rattled the global market.

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Bitcoin price just collapsed because the macro selloff collided with a $14 billion options expiry this morning

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Mar 27, 2026 · Gino Matos

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump revealed that he was postponing plans to destroy Iran's energy plants by another 10 days, extending the deadline to April 6 as talks continued. This represented the second significant pause he had introduced amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The new announcement rattled global markets, with Brent crude rising toward $110 a barrel, the US 10-year Treasury yield climbing to 4.456%, its highest since July, and the Nasdaq remaining in correction territory after falling 11% from its recent high.

At the same time, the dollar was also heading for its strongest month since July 2025 as investors sought safety and markets priced in tighter financial conditions.

Against this backdrop, market analysts stated that Bitcoin’s decline showed that the flagship digital asset was still trading more like a high-beta risk asset than a hedge against geopolitical stress.

When oil surges, investors do not just see a war story. They also see the threat of higher inflation, fewer rate cuts, and a tougher backdrop for richly valued assets. In that setup, Bitcoin can fall with technology stocks rather than rise with gold or other defensive trades.

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Mar 23, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Oil and yields reset the macro backdrop

The most useful way to frame the current market move is to look at what happened in oil and rates after Trump’s announcement. The pause on attacks changed the immediate war timetable, but it did not convince markets that the inflation threat had eased enough to lift pressure on risk assets.

Data from Oilprices.org show that the oil benchmarks were still sharply higher from the start of the conflict, with Brent up 52% and US crude up 43% since the war began.

Those gains have been large enough to keep inflation fears alive even during moments when diplomacy appears to make progress.

That is the key transmission channel for Bitcoin. Higher oil prices do not only signal geopolitical danger. They also express concerns that inflation will remain elevated, forcing central banks to keep policy tighter for longer.

For context, Reuters’ March 26 poll found most economists still expect the Federal Reserve to hold rates steady until at least September, but financial markets have moved much further, shifting from expectations of cuts to debate over whether another hike is possible later this year.

On Friday, Reuters reported markets were pricing in a 70% chance the Fed will raise rates in 2026. For Bitcoin, that is a hostile combination: expensive energy, higher real-world borrowing costs, and a market increasingly focused on inflation persistence rather than on fresh liquidity.

The dollar's strong performance this month has added to that strain.

Data from TradingView shows that the dollar index was heading for a 2.4% monthly gain, its best performance since July, as investors sought haven assets and repriced the US rate outlook. A stronger dollar often tightens global financial conditions on its own and makes speculative trades less attractive.

Bitcoin, which had already lost some momentum in recent weeks, was exposed to that shift as soon as the broader market began cutting risk.

ETF support has turned less reliable

Meanwhile, BTC's move towards $65,000 also showed that the post-ETF market still needs steady institutional inflows to absorb selling pressure.

The US spot Bitcoin ETF complex did not lose all of its demand this month, but the flow pattern turned uneven just as macro conditions worsened.

Data from SoSoValue shows that the funds, after registering strong inflows of around $2 billion during the early part of this month, have seen a significant slowdown.

For context, the US-listed investment vehicles have registered net outflows of over $70 million in this trading week compared to the week ending March 13, when the funds saw inflows of $767.33 million.

Those figures describe a market where institutional demand is no longer arriving in a straight line.

This is because strong ETF inflows can cushion crypto when macro headlines deteriorate, but patchy inflows leave Bitcoin more exposed to the same swings in yields, equities, and the dollar that are hitting the rest of the risk complex.

A large options expiry sharpened the move

Friday’s selloff also landed alongside one of the year’s largest derivatives events.

Data from Greeks.live show that about $13 billion in Bitcoin options were set to expire, with a put-call ratio of 0.56 and a maximum strike price of $74,000.

According to the firm:

“Despite market volatility, trading activity for Bitcoin remains relatively low. Key options data shows Bitcoin’s main-term implied volatility (IV) at 51% and Ethereum’s at 70%. As risk premium (RV) continues to decline, the volatility risk premium (VRP) has been rising; during the first half of this week, the 15-day VRP reached nearly 20%. Bitcoin performed poorly in both price and trading activity during the first quarter of this year, and market confidence remains low.”

A Bitcoin options contract gives its holder the choice to buy BT at a set price before or on a specified future date, without forcing them to go through with the purchase.

In practice, that means the buyer can walk away when the contract expires if the trade no longer makes sense, or exercise the option if it does.

As expiration approaches, the crypto market can see sharper price swings because traders often adjust positions, roll contracts forward, or close trades altogether.

So, big options expiries, like today's, have often coincided with heavy market sell-offs, though that outcome is far from automatic.

What the break says now

The move back towards $65,000  says less about a collapse in belief in Bitcoin than about the market environment around it. Bitcoin is still being pulled by inflation expectations, central bank assumptions, oil volatility and the strength of the dollar.

When those variables move against risk assets simultaneously, BTC does not receive special treatment. It gets sold with the rest.

For now, that leaves Bitcoin trading inside a narrow but important framework. Analysts at Bitunix told CryptoSlate:

“In the near term, if war dynamics remain “delayed but unresolved” and rate expectations continue tightening, BTC is more likely to sustain high-frequency range-bound volatility, sweeping liquidity between $65,000 and $72,000 to facilitate position redistribution. A true directional breakout will require alignment across key macro variables, rather than being triggered by any single event.”

The post Bitcoin drops toward $65k after new Trump Iran delay sends oil higher, triggering $200M wipeout appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin price has again been knocked lower by an oil shock, higher Treasury yields, erased rate-cut expectations, and a massive Deribit expiry now due to land on top of that already-weakened market.

Roughly $14.1 billion in BTC options were set to expire today, Mar. 27, with another $2.2 billion in Ethereum contracts clearing the same morning, bringing the combined total to roughly $16.38 billion.

That is nearly 40% of Deribit's BTC open interest rolling off in a single session.

Reuters tied the broad risk-off to oil surging above $105, higher Treasury yields, a firming dollar, and markets pricing out Fed rate cuts for 2025 amid intensifying Middle East tensions.

Yesterday, BTC registered an intraday low of $68,127, while ETH reached $2,036. The expiry has arrived while the selloff is already underway, and now Bitcoin has fallen as low as $66,200 this morning, with Ethereum falling below $2,000.

Why the final 30 minutes carry the most weight

Deribit settles expiring contracts at 08:00 UTC using a 30-minute time-weighted average of its index, sampled every four seconds from 07:30 to 08:00 UTC.

That produces roughly 450 observations rather than a single closing print, making the delivery price harder to game but also meaning broad market moves during that window feed directly into settlement.

Simultaneously, the delta of expiring options and futures decays linearly toward zero across the same 30 minutes. Hedges are adjusting, rolls are compressing, and the pricing clock is running all at once.
That convergence draws disproportionate attention relative to the window's length.

A 2025 SSRN paper using Deribit data found BTC options activity clusters around 8:00-9:00 GMT, with the settlement-hour effect strongest on days with more expiring contracts and shorter maturities. Both cases apply here.

A 2023 paper found a clear Bitcoin expiration effect in volume, volatility, and returns around maturity, with the strongest effects shortly before or at expiry, though not uniformly across exchanges or contracts.

Reports citing Deribit data put Friday's BTC max pain at $75,000, with a put/call ratio of 0.63. From yesterday's spot near $68,000, that level was roughly 9.4% higher. Using the cited 52% seven-day BTC at-the-money implied volatility, the implied one-day move is approximately $1,866, placing $75,000 about 3.45 one-day sigmas above spot.

On a 30-minute implied-vol basis, the implied settlement window move is roughly $269, meaning $75,000 is nearly 24 settlement-window sigmas away.

At $75,000, max pain marks where open interest concentration is heaviest, roughly 9.4% above current spot and nearly 24 settlement-window sigmas away.

The macro arc that frames the expiry

BTC's recent resilience had already begun to fray before the recent drop.

Deribit-linked commentary on Mar. 25 described Bitcoin as relatively stable amid broader traditional market stress, marked by softer equities and tighter credit conditions.

By Mar. 26, that footing gave way: BTC slipped below $69,000 as oil shock, higher yields, and erased rate-cut hopes reasserted themselves.

Reuters reported global equity funds shed $20.3 billion in the week ended Mar. 18, while money market funds absorbed $32.57 billion, consistent with a broad defensive rotation.

Short-dated BTC implied volatility eased from 57% to 52% this week as temporary de-escalation headlines took hold, while put skew held. BTC 25-delta puts stayed roughly 5 volatility points richer than calls, and BTC futures-implied yields ran only 2%-3% across tenors.

The market has priced in a less immediate shock, while put skew and subdued futures yields keep the overall tone cautious. A $14.16 billion expiry now lands in that posture.

Because Deribit holds roughly 85% of the market share in BTC and ETH options, its settlement rules carry weight well beyond its user base. When one venue's 30-minute TWAP governs cash settlement for a notional that large, the mechanics of that window can ripple into the spot market.

The best and worst potential outcomes

A de-escalation headline on oil or geopolitics did not arrive before 07:30 UTC, stopping BTC from recovering toward the $70,400-$72,300 range, and expiry hedging damping downside rather than adding fresh selling.

The window could have acted as a stabilizer: with spot firming and fewer in-the-money open puts, dealer hedging flows would have been less one-sided, and settlement TWAP would have printed above recent lows.

The expiry would have cleared without drama, and macro relief could have carried the price into the weekend. The tell would have been spot recovering before the settlement opens.

However, oil and rates stress deepened into the morning. BTC broke below $66,700, the lower bound of the current one-day implied range, and now expiry mechanics add intraday noise to an already bearish market.

Dealer hedges on put positions require selling into a falling market, amplifying short-term moves around the settlement window. The 30-minute TWAP is printing a delivery price that reflects the full macro force, and now the expiry is accelerating the breakdown.

The macro environment that drove the move is now carrying into the post-settlement session.

Academic research and Deribit's own data confirm that the settlement hour drives flows and pricing mechanics.

What this morning's 07:30-08:00 UTC window focused on was hedging behavior, delta decay, and pricing methodology, compressed into a single, well-defined interval within a macro environment that has already knocked BTC lower by more than the implied daily range.

The post Bitcoin price just collapsed because the macro selloff collided with a $14 billion options expiry this morning appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The stablecoin yield fight has once again consumed the CLARITY Act debate on Capitol Hill, and the cost of that consumption is now measurable.

The bill stalled in January when Coinbase objected to its terms, a White House meeting in February failed to break the deadlock, and by March, the calendar itself had become a credible threat to passage.

Punchbowl’s latest report suggested Coinbase representatives told the Senate they still could not support the newest stablecoin-yield compromise. But the signal is less definitive than January’s break: Brian Armstrong has not publicly restated his opposition to the new text, and White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt dismissed claims that Coinbase was once again blocking the bill as “uninformed FUD.”

That leaves the live question slightly narrower than a full industry walkout: whether the latest rewards language is still too restrictive to hold the coalition together on a bill whose stakes run far beyond yield.

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Mar 16, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Banks want CLARITY to close what they see as a loophole in last year's stablecoin law that lets exchanges pay passive rewards on idle balances. Crypto firms argue that banning rewards is anti-competitive and weakens user acquisition.

Circle fell roughly 20%, and Coinbase about 10% when draft language surfaced that would bar passive stablecoin rewards, indicating that markets are pricing this fight aggressively.

The fight concerns just one product feature in one class of balances. CLARITY's reach extends across the entire US crypto operating environment.

The jurisdictional prize

In January, reports noted that the Senate bill would define when tokens are securities, commodities, or otherwise, and grant the CFTC authority over spot crypto markets.

Senate Banking Republicans describe this as drawing a “bright line” between the SEC's and the CFTC's jurisdiction, ending the enforcement-by-litigation regime that has governed token classification for years.

The House-passed framework assigns the CFTC core authority over registered digital commodity exchanges, brokers, and dealers, as well as spot market contracts of sale.

That jurisdictional settlement underpins exchange listings, token distribution, institutional custody decisions, and the legal posture of every crypto firm operating in the US today.

Section 202 of the House-passed text creates an exemption from traditional securities registration for qualifying digital commodity offerings, provided issuers meet disclosure requirements.

Sections 203-205 govern secondary market treatment, insider and affiliate sales, and the point at which a blockchain network qualifies as sufficiently “mature” to exit securities classification.

Senate Banking Republicans frame this as a purpose-built disclosure regime that lets responsible projects raise capital while protecting investors.

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Jul 17, 2025 · Gino Matos

For the next generation of builders, access to a lawful US fundraising path carries more long-run weight than any reward rate on a stablecoin balance.

Developers, interfaces, and the code-versus-control line

Sections 309 and 409 of the House-passed bill exclude certain DeFi-related activities from SEC and CFTC regulation, while preserving anti-fraud and anti-manipulation authority.

The protected list includes validating, node and oracle operation, publishing and updating software, developing wallets, providing user interfaces, and publishing blockchain systems.

Senate Banking Republicans summarize the philosophy as regulating control. That framing carries direct weight for developers now operating under genuine criminal ambiguity.

A jury convicted Roman Storm in August 2025 on one count of conspiracy to commit an unlicensed money-transmitting business, tied to Tornado Cash. It deadlocked on the money laundering and sanctions counts.

Prosecutors sought a retrial on the remaining charges.

Storm's prosecution runs on a legal track governed entirely by existing law and alleged conduct predating any statutory reform.

A statute that treats publishing software and operating interfaces as protected activity would draw a different line from the one prosecutors used in that courtroom, shaping the legal exposure of the next developer facing a similar question.

The House report states that a US individual retains the right to maintain a hardware or software wallet for lawful self-custody and to engage in direct peer-to-peer digital asset transactions for lawful purposes, subject to sanctions and illicit-finance limits.

Senate Banking Republicans separately confirm the bill preserves self-custody. That provision addresses a foundational question about American crypto ownership that only a statute can settle with durability across administrations.

The plumbing that institutions actually need

Registered digital commodity exchanges under CLARITY would have to meet listing standards, trade surveillance obligations, conflict-of-interest rules, and system safeguards. They could list only assets with public disclosures covering source code, transaction history, and asset economics.

Brokers and dealers would register, meet capital and risk-management standards, segregate customer funds, and hold customer digital assets with qualified custodians.

This is the layer of market infrastructure that large asset managers need before expanding their US crypto exposure beyond already-approved ETF structures.

Citi cut its 12-month BTC target to $112,000 from $143,000 and its ETH target to $3,175 from $4,304 in March, citing stalled US market-structure legislation and a narrowing window for the regulatory catalysts required for institutional adoption.

Citi's bull case kept BTC at $165,000 and ETH at $4,488, and its recession scenario put BTC at $58,000 and ETH at $1,198.

That spread between outcomes reflects exactly what CLARITY was supposed to compress: the uncertainty premium embedded in US token classification, exchange oversight, and institutional access.

Without a durable statute, the industry continues to operate under agency guidance that shifts with administrations.

What to expect

A bullish conclusion includes the yield fight finding a workable compromise before Senate floor time evaporates. With that veto point cleared, enough Democrats join the coalition, and CLARITY reaches a final vote in 2026.

The market consequence runs directly through Citi's bull-case math: statutory SEC/CFTC lines revive the regulatory-catalyst narrative, giving institutional allocators the legal certainty to expand positions.

Projects launch US token offerings under Section 202, developer liability narrows to conduct alone, and self-custody protections are embedded in federal law.

On the flip side, passive rewards and activity-based rewards could stay irreconcilable. Senate floor time would then bleed into ethics disputes, cross-committee reconciliation fights, and the midterm calendar.

Congress then approaches the elections without a finalized package, and crypto continues to operate under enforcement history, partial agency guidance, and administration-dependent signals.

As a consequence, the developer-liability question remains open, the SEC/CFTC boundary remains contested, projects continue to route capital raises offshore, and self-custody rights remain unprotected by statute.

The yield fight consuming CLARITY's legislative window blocks the legal architecture that would govern who regulates tokens, how builders raise money, whether developers face criminal exposure for publishing code, and whether Americans can hold their own assets without federal ambiguity.

Yield is still the clearest operational choke point, but it is no longer the bill’s only drag. Democrats involved in the talks have also pushed conflict-of-interest and personal-profit concerns tied to Trump-linked crypto activity, adding another source of delay as the legislative window tightens.

The post New Coinbase CLARITY Act standoff over stablecoin reward is now holding up rules for the entire US crypto market appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Oil Shock Is Crushing Crypto

While many investors focus on crypto-specific news, the real driver behind the current market drop lies elsewhere.

A global oil supply shock is unfolding — and it’s quietly putting massive pressure on Bitcoin and altcoins.

From attacks on Russian oil infrastructure to escalating tensions involving Iran and risks around the Strait of Hormuz, energy markets are entering a high-risk phase.

👉 And crypto is reacting.

What’s Happening in the Oil Market Right Now

Several major disruptions are hitting global oil supply simultaneously:

• Russian oil exports impacted by infrastructure attacks
• Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East
• Threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route

Together, these events are tightening supply and pushing oil prices higher.

Markets are now pricing in a scenario where energy becomes both scarce and expensive.

Why Oil Prices Matter for Crypto

At first glance, oil and crypto may seem unrelated.

But in reality, oil is one of the most important macro drivers of global markets.

Here’s the chain reaction:

1. Oil prices rise → energy costs increase
2. Inflation fears return
3. Central banks delay rate cuts or stay hawkish
4. Liquidity tightens across financial markets
5. Risk assets — including crypto — fall

👉 Crypto is not isolated — it’s deeply connected to global liquidity conditions.

The Inflation Risk Is Back

Higher oil prices directly impact:

• Transportation costs
• Production costs
• Consumer prices

This creates a renewed wave of inflation concerns — something markets were hoping had already peaked.

As a result:

• Bond yields rise
• The US dollar strengthens
• Risk appetite declines

👉 This environment is historically negative for crypto.

Why Crypto Is Falling Despite Bullish News

Many investors are confused:

👉 Why is crypto dropping even with positive developments?

The answer is simple:

Macro overrides everything.

Even if:

• Institutional adoption increases
• ETFs attract inflows
• Major players accumulate Bitcoin

➡️ A global energy shock can still push markets lower.

This Is Not a Crypto Problem — It’s a Liquidity Problem

The current sell-off is not driven by weaknesses in crypto itself.

Instead, it reflects a broader shift:

👉 Investors are reducing exposure to risk across all markets.

This includes:

• Stocks
• Crypto
• High-growth assets

Capital is rotating toward:

• Cash
• Bonds
• Defensive assets

What Happens If Oil Keeps Rising?

If the situation escalates further:

• Oil could move toward $120–$150+
• Inflation pressures would intensify
• Central banks would remain restrictive

👉 In this scenario, crypto could face continued downside.

The Key Signal to Watch

The most important indicator right now is not crypto — it’s oil.

Watch for:

• Stability in Middle East tensions
• Recovery in Russian export capacity
• Normalization of shipping through key routes

👉 If oil stabilizes, crypto could recover quickly.

Final Take

The current crypto decline is not random — it’s macro-driven.

👉 Oil is acting as the trigger
👉 Inflation fears are the transmission
👉 Liquidity tightening is the result

And crypto is reacting exactly as expected in this environment.

After a brief attempt to stabilize earlier in the week, Bitcoin succumbed to a combination of heavy derivatives liquidations and escalating macroeconomic uncertainty. Investors are now questioning whether this is a temporary dip or the beginning of a deeper retracement toward the $60,000 zone.

Is Bitcoin Crashing?

To answer the immediate concern: Yes, Bitcoin is experiencing a sharp intraday slump. As of this morning, BTC fell as much as 4%, trading roughly between $68,100 and $68,700. This move has wiped out millions in leveraged long positions and shifted market sentiment into the "Extreme Fear" territory.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Technical Breakdown

Looking at the BTC chart for March 27, 2026, we see a clear breakdown from the previous consolidation range.

• Resistance Rejection: Bitcoin failed to maintain its position above the $71,200 zone, which has now turned into a formidable resistance.
• Trend Line Breach: The hourly chart shows a bearish trend line forming with immediate resistance at $70,050.
• Moving Averages: The price is currently trading well below the 100-hourly simple moving average (SMA), suggesting that sellers are firmly in control of the short-term momentum.
• Liquidation Zones: On-chain data indicates that a fall below $68,050 could trigger a massive cascade of cumulative long liquidations across mainstream exchanges, potentially totaling over $2 billion.

Why is Bitcoin Price Falling Today?

Several key factors have converged to create this downward pressure:

1. The $14 Billion Options Expiry

Today marks one of the largest quarterly options expiries of the year, with approximately $14 billion in open interest set to expire on Deribit alone. This "triple witching" style event often leads to increased volatility as market makers adjust their hedges (delta-hedging). With the "Max Pain" price sitting at $75,000, the current spot price of ~$68,500 puts significant pressure on long-position holders.

2. Geopolitical Tensions in the Middle East

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh heavily on risk assets. While there were brief hopes of a ceasefire, recent reports of US military movements and attacks on ballistic missile sites have reignited fears of a broader escalation. In times of extreme geopolitical uncertainty, Bitcoin—despite its "digital gold" narrative—often trades like a high-beta tech stock, falling alongside the Nasdaq 100.

3. Spot ETF Outflows

Institutional sentiment has cooled slightly. Recent data shows that US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net outflow of $171 million in a single day. Without the consistent "institutional bid" that characterized the 2025 rally, the market is more susceptible to retail-driven sell-offs.

Liquidation Cascades

In the context of the current Bitcoin price slump, a "liquidation cascade" occurs when the price hits a level where many leveraged traders' "stop-loss" or "liquidation" points are clustered. When these positions are force-closed, the exchange must sell the BTC to cover the debt, which pushes the price even lower, triggering the next batch of liquidations.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: What’s Next for BTC?

If Bitcoin cannot reclaim the $70,500 level within the next few hours, analysts are eyeing a deeper correction.

• The Bear Case: A sustained break below $68,000 could open the doors for a retest of the $60,000 support, a level not seen since the February "flush."
• The Bull Case: If the options expiry passes without a total collapse, and we see a "Golden Cross" on the daily chart (where the 21-day SMA crosses the 50-day SMA), a relief rally toward $72,000 remains possible.

What Are Wrapped and Staked Bitcoin?

At first glance, tokens like LBTC, ckBTC, or staked BTC may look like new versions of Bitcoin. But in reality, they are financial layers built on top of Bitcoin, not Bitcoin itself.

Wrapped and staked BTC are derivative assets that represent Bitcoin in different environments:

• Wrapped BTC allows Bitcoin to be used on other blockchains like Ethereum or Solana
• Staked BTC lets holders earn yield by locking their BTC in DeFi protocols
• Synthetic BTC tracks Bitcoin’s price without necessarily holding real BTC

These tokens typically aim to maintain a 1:1 value with BTC, but they come with very different mechanics and risks.

Wrapped vs Staked vs Synthetic BTC — What’s the Difference?

Understanding the differences is key before interacting with any of these assets.

Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC-style assets)

• Backed 1:1 by real BTC held in custody
• Used for DeFi trading, lending, and liquidity
• Requires trust in custodians or bridge mechanisms

👉 Example use: Providing liquidity on Ethereum-based platforms

Staked Bitcoin (LBTC, eBTC, etc.)

• BTC is locked into a protocol
• Users receive a token representing their deposit
• Can earn yield while remaining liquid

👉 Example use: Earning passive returns on BTC holdings

Synthetic Bitcoin

• Tracks BTC price via algorithms or collateral
• May not be backed by real BTC
• Higher risk due to dependency on mechanisms

👉 Example use: Trading exposure without owning BTC

What Does ‘Rehypothecated Bitcoin’ Mean?

One of the most overlooked concepts in crypto today is rehypothecation.

This means the same Bitcoin can be used multiple times across different platforms.

Here’s a simplified example:

1 BTC is locked in a protocol
→ A wrapped token is issued
→ That token is used as collateral
→ Another asset is created from it

Now, multiple claims exist on the same BTC.

This creates what many call:
👉 “paper Bitcoin” inside DeFi

Why These Tokens Trade at Bitcoin Prices

Despite not being real BTC, these assets trade close to Bitcoin’s price because:

• They are designed to maintain a 1:1 peg
• Arbitrage keeps prices aligned
• Market participants trust the backing mechanism

However, small deviations can occur due to:

• Liquidity differences
• Market stress
• Trust issues

The Hidden Risks Most Investors Ignore

This is where things get serious—and often misunderstood.

1. Custodial Risk

If the entity holding the BTC fails, the token may lose its backing.

2. Smart Contract Risk

Bugs or exploits in DeFi protocols can lead to loss of funds.

3. Depeg Risk

The token may lose its 1:1 value with BTC during market stress.

4. Liquidity Risk

Some of these tokens have very low volume, making them hard to exit.

Why This Trend Is Growing in 2025

The rise of wrapped and staked BTC is not random—it’s driven by major shifts in the crypto market:

• Investors want yield on Bitcoin, not just price appreciation
• DeFi protocols need BTC liquidity
• Institutions are exploring structured BTC products
• Cross-chain ecosystems are expanding

Bitcoin is no longer just a store of value—it is becoming programmable capital.

Should You Use Wrapped or Staked BTC?

It depends on your strategy.

Use them if:

• You want to earn yield on BTC
• You actively use DeFi
• You understand the risks

Avoid them if:

• You want pure, self-custodied BTC
• You prioritize security over yield
• You don’t fully understand DeFi mechanisms

Final Thoughts: Not All Bitcoin Is Equal

While wrapped and staked BTC open new opportunities, they also introduce layers of complexity and risk.

Owning Bitcoin directly is fundamentally different from holding a representation of it.

As the ecosystem evolves, one key question remains:

👉 Is your Bitcoin truly Bitcoin—or just a claim on it?

Can You Use Crypto for a Fannie Mae Mortgage?

Yes. As of March 2026, Fannie Mae-backed conforming mortgages can now include a separate crypto-collateralized loan to cover down payments. This means you do not have to sell your Bitcoin to qualify for a standard mortgage. The program, originated by Better and powered by Coinbase, ensures that borrowers maintain their market exposure while satisfying the rigorous underwriting standards of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

What is Fannie Mae?

The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), commonly known as Fannie Mae, is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) created by the U.S. Congress. Its primary role is to provide liquidity to the mortgage market by purchasing loans from banks and lenders, packaging them into mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and selling them to investors.

Because Fannie Mae sets the "underwriting guidelines" for what constitutes a "conforming loan," their acceptance of an asset class effectively makes that asset mainstream. Historically, Fannie Mae required crypto to be converted into USD at least 60 days prior to a home purchase. This new policy removes that barrier entirely.

How the Crypto-Backed Mortgage Works

The new product structure is designed to mitigate the volatility risks that have long kept digital assets out of the mortgage industry. Instead of a single complex loan, the process is split into two components:

• The Conforming Mortgage: A standard Fannie Mae-backed loan for the bulk of the home price.
• The Token-Backed Pledge: A separate loan used to fund the down payment, secured by Bitcoin or USDC held in a Coinbase Prime custody account.

Key Features of the Program:

• No Margin Calls: Unlike standard crypto margin trading, the mortgage terms remain unchanged even if the Bitcoin price drops.
• Tax Efficiency: By pledging assets instead of selling them, borrowers avoid triggering immediate capital gains taxes.
• USDC Rewards: Borrowers pledging USDC can earn rewards on their collateral, which can be applied to offset monthly mortgage payments.
• Liquidation Protection: Collateral is only at risk of liquidation after a 60-day payment delinquency, mirroring traditional foreclosure timelines.

Why This Boosts Crypto Adoption

The integration of crypto into Fannie Mae’s framework is perhaps the strongest signal of "institutional legitimacy" to date. This move boosts adoption in three critical ways:

1. Unlocking "Locked" Wealth

An estimated 20% of American adults own digital assets. Many of these individuals are "asset rich but cash poor," holding significant wealth in Bitcoin but unable to satisfy down payment requirements without selling. This product unlocks billions in dormant purchasing power.

2. Mainstream Standardization

When the FHFA, led by Director Bill Pulte, ordered the GSEs to draft these guidelines, it essentially classified Bitcoin as a "financial asset" on par with stocks and bonds. This standardization encourages other traditional banks to follow suit, further bridging the gap between DeFi and TradFi.

3. Incentivizing Long-term Holding

By removing the need to liquidate, the housing market is no longer a "sell-pressure" event for the crypto market. Instead, it becomes a reason to hold, as the asset now provides utility as a collateral base for real-world infrastructure.

Information Density: Comparison of Mortgage Types

Crypto Market Drops Despite Strong Bullish Developments

The cryptocurrency market is showing a surprising contradiction. Despite a wave of bullish developments — from institutional accumulation to major adoption milestones — both Bitcoin and Ethereum have declined over the past 24 hours.

Bitcoin slipped below key levels near $70,000, while Ethereum saw even sharper losses, underperforming the broader market. This raises a critical question:

👉 Why is crypto falling despite positive news?

The answer lies beyond crypto itself.

Geopolitical Tensions Are Driving a Risk-Off Market

The biggest force currently impacting markets is not crypto — it is geopolitics.

Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, combined with increasingly aggressive statements from Donald Trump, have injected uncertainty into global markets. Investors are now pricing in the risk of further conflict and potential economic disruption.

As a result:

• Oil prices are rising sharply
• Inflation fears are returning
• Investors are shifting away from risk assets

In this environment, crypto is behaving like a high-risk asset rather than a safe haven.

Markets Are Reacting to Headlines, Not Fundamentals

Recent price movements highlight a key shift in market behavior.

When headlines suggested a pause in military escalation, crypto surged. When tensions resumed, prices dropped almost immediately.

This pattern shows that:

• Short-term crypto movements are now headline-driven
• Macro sentiment outweighs crypto-specific developments
• Volatility is being dictated by global events

In other words, crypto is currently trading like a macro asset, not a standalone market.

Liquidations Are Accelerating the Downside

Beyond macro pressure, market structure is amplifying the drop.

A significant number of leveraged long positions were wiped out in recent sessions, triggering forced selling. This type of liquidation cascade often accelerates declines beyond what fundamentals would justify.

Ethereum, in particular, tends to experience stronger moves due to its higher volatility and heavier use in leveraged trading.

Bullish Crypto News Is Being Ignored (For Now)

Ironically, some of the most important bullish developments are happening at the same time.

One of the most significant is the reported move by Fannie Mae to accept crypto-backed mortgages, allowing users to leverage Bitcoin and other digital assets as collateral for home purchases.

This marks a major step toward real-world adoption and financial integration.

At the same time:

• Institutional players continue accumulating crypto
• Infrastructure for mainstream use is expanding
• Regulatory clarity is gradually improving

However, these developments are structural and long-term. They do not immediately impact short-term price movements, especially during periods of macro uncertainty.

Why Bitcoin and Ethereum Are Falling Right Now

The current market can be explained by three overlapping forces:

• Geopolitical escalation → driving risk-off sentiment
• Liquidity pressure → limiting upside momentum
• Liquidations → accelerating short-term declines

Together, these factors are overpowering bullish narratives and pushing prices lower.

Crypto Is Becoming a Macro Asset

A key takeaway from the current market environment is the evolving role of crypto.

Bitcoin is often described as “digital gold,” but recent price action suggests otherwise. In times of uncertainty, it is still treated as a risk asset similar to tech stocks.

However, beneath the surface, the foundation for long-term growth continues to strengthen.

This creates a paradox:

• Short term → driven by fear, macro, and liquidity
• Long term → supported by adoption and institutional growth

Outlook: Short-Term Pressure, Long-Term Opportunity

While the current environment remains uncertain, the broader trajectory for crypto has not changed.

If geopolitical tensions ease and liquidity conditions improve, bullish developments could quickly return to the forefront and drive the next move higher.

Until then, markets are likely to remain volatile and reactive to global headlines.

Conclusion

The recent drop in Bitcoin and Ethereum is not a rejection of crypto’s fundamentals — it is a reflection of a market dominated by macro forces.

Crypto is no longer trading in isolation. It is now deeply connected to global events, liquidity cycles, and investor sentiment.

And right now, those forces are pointing toward caution.

The verifiable data platform is marking its one-year anniversary, with plans to double down on AI and onchain finance.

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest sold big chunks of its positions in American tech stocks and its own Bitcoin ETF as stocks and crypto slide.

The penalty follows Binance’s admission that 524 retail investors lost $6 million trading high-risk derivatives without required protections.

Bitcoin fell below $67k on war concerns, while Fannie Mae is finally allowing crypto in the mortgage process.

Bitcoin dropped to a two-week low under $67,000 amid geopolitical uncertainty, rising Treasury yields, and heavy leveraged positioning.

Potential XRP Ledger upgrade changes the game by unlocking utility with dormant XRP being put to work.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse reveals how $2 billion in strategic acquisitions are positioning XRP as the "northstar" of global finance.

Peter Brandt says Bitcoin is not defying charts; it is obeying classical trading rules.

As Bitcoin slides below $67,000, XRP flashes a rare 2.48% gain in its BTC pair. With the March 27 SEC ETF deadline here, can XRP hold its ground, or will the -63% historical drawdown scenario finally be triggered?

BlackRock has transferred Bitcoin and Ethereum tokens worth a combined total of $180 million to Coinbase as its ETFs continue to see steady withdrawals.

Key Highlights

• LGN shares advance 5.7% following robust Q4 results showing 34% year-over-year revenue expansion
• Contract backlog reaches unprecedented $3.7B level, indicating sustained future growth trajectory
• Installation operations fuel performance with remarkable 44% quarterly revenue gain
• Company elevates 2026 revenue projections to $3.9B on strengthening business fundamentals
• Robust data center market conditions fuel order growth and extended visibility

Shares of Legence Corp. advanced 5.7% to reach $56.00 following the release of impressive fourth-quarter and complete 2025 fiscal year performance metrics. The company demonstrated accelerating revenue growth alongside a historically high backlog that underpins an enhanced forward outlook. Results highlighted expanding demand throughout mission-critical infrastructure segments, particularly within data center, healthcare, and public sector verticals, prompting management to substantially upgrade its 2026 projections.

Legence Corp. Class A Common stock, LGN

Top-Line Momentum Accelerates Throughout Business Units

For the fourth quarter of 2025, Legence delivered revenue totaling $737.6 million, representing a 34.6% surge compared to the corresponding prior-year period. Annual revenue climbed to $2.55 billion, reflecting a 21.5% advancement versus 2024 levels. Concurrently, adjusted EBITDA expanded to $87.0 million during the quarter and accumulated to $298.8 million across the full year.

The company’s installation and maintenance operations accounted for the majority of quarterly growth acceleration. This segment generated $565.1 million in revenue, marking a 44.4% increase fueled by heightened installation, fabrication, and service activity. Data center and technology sector customers represented the primary growth drivers, supplemented by continued momentum within life sciences and healthcare infrastructure projects.

The engineering and consulting division also posted gains, though profitability metrics faced pressure throughout the period. Segment revenues increased 10.0% to $172.6 million, supported by growing demand for program and project management capabilities. Despite revenue growth, gross profit declined 7.3% as the revenue composition shifted and margin compression occurred across certain service offerings.

Earnings Metrics and Order Activity Signal Sustained Momentum

Legence demonstrated improved full-year profitability on an adjusted basis, even as GAAP net losses widened year-over-year. Annual gross profit expanded to $535.9 million, while adjusted gross margin registered at 21.6%. Net loss attributable to shareholders increased to $59.8 million compared with $28.6 million in the previous year.

Total backlog and awarded contracts reached $3.674 billion as of December 31, 2025, marking a 48.6% increase from the prior year-end. The fourth-quarter book-to-bill ratio strengthened to 1.9x, while the trailing twelve-month metric stood at 1.6x. This performance underscored persistent order strength and successful project capture across core vertical markets.

Installation and maintenance backlog surged 65.8%, predominantly driven by expanding data center and technology sector activity. Engineering and consulting backlog advanced 16.2%, bolstered by government infrastructure and healthcare-related initiatives. The year-end backlog figure excludes the Bowers acquisition, which management estimates contributes approximately $1.5 billion in additional contracted work.

Management Elevates Forward Outlook Following Strategic Acquisitions

Executive leadership increased 2026 financial targets following the solid conclusion to 2025 and completed strategic transactions. Legence currently anticipates 2026 revenue ranging from $3.7 billion to $3.9 billion. Management simultaneously projects adjusted EBITDA will reach between $400 million and $430 million during the upcoming fiscal year.

The company finalized its acquisition of Bowers on January 2, 2026, and subsequently completed the Metrix transaction on March 1. The Metrix addition strengthens engineering capabilities throughout the Pacific Northwest region while providing entry into the education infrastructure market. Legence concluded 2025 with cash holdings of $230.2 million alongside total debt obligations of approximately $825.1 million.

The post Legence Corp. (LGN) Stock Soars 5.7% on Record $3.7B Backlog and 34% Revenue Surge appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• All three major indices closed lower Friday, with the Nasdaq sliding 1% and extending its correction
• Crude oil prices jumped more than 2%, pushing Brent above $103 per barrel amid ongoing Middle East tensions
• President Trump postponed his Iran strike deadline by 10 days to April 6, but investors remained skeptical
• The S&P 500 headed toward its fifth consecutive weekly drop, the longest streak since spring 2022
• Volatility index climbed to approximately 30, indicating expectations of continued market turbulence

Wall Street extended its downturn on Friday as crude oil prices surged and market participants expressed doubt that Middle East tensions would ease anytime soon.

The Nasdaq Composite declined 1%, sinking deeper into correction territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed approximately 500 points, representing a 1.1% loss. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 1%.

The S&P 500 was positioned for its fifth consecutive weekly loss. This would mark the index’s longest stretch of weekly declines since the spring of 2022.

Oil prices served as a primary catalyst for the market downturn. Brent crude surged beyond $103 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate exceeded $97. Both energy benchmarks gained more than 2% during Friday’s trading session.

The energy price spike occurred even after President Trump announced an extension to his Iran ultimatum. He had initially indicated the US would target Iran’s energy facilities if negotiations failed by Friday. On Thursday evening, he moved that deadline to April 6 following an Iranian request.

Investors interpreted the deadline postponement negatively. Market participants expressed concern that the delay merely allows elevated oil prices additional time to damage the worldwide economy.

“It’s another one of those days where futures drift lower throughout the morning as traders follow the new daily routine of getting up, brushing their teeth, and clicking ‘Sell,'” said Paul Hickey, co-founder of Bespoke Investment Group.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped due to escalating conflict, intensifying pressure on energy markets. Iranian officials have thus far rebuffed American diplomatic overtures.

Volatility Index Climbs

The CBOE Volatility Index advanced 2.6 points to reach approximately 30, a threshold that indicates market participants anticipate challenging conditions in coming weeks.

Hickey observed that the Nasdaq is approaching its 10th weekly decline in the past 11 weeks. He emphasized that such persistent downward momentum has only occurred during a handful of periods throughout the index’s existence.

Consumer confidence figures published Friday also revealed increasing negativity among American consumers.

Treasury bond yields showed mixed movement during the session. The 10-year yield reached an eight-month peak earlier this week, with certain market observers suggesting bond market stress might compel Trump to pursue conflict resolution more aggressively.

Senate Approves Funding Measure

Senators approved legislation in the early hours of Friday to finance the TSA and additional Department of Homeland Security functions, although ICE funding was excluded. The legislative action moves closer to resolving a partial government shutdown that has caused airport disruptions and sparked economic concerns.

Gold experienced additional downward pressure from central bank reserve liquidations, based on Friday morning market intelligence.

By midday Friday, the Dow had fallen more than 500 points, the S&P 500 declined approximately 1%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.3%.

The post Stock Market Slides for Fifth Week Running as Oil Tops $103 on March 27 appeared first on Blockonomi.

The average American graduate is carrying $37,000 in student loans, and a 15% annual return on Solana is not going to erase that number in any timeline that matters.

Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Bitcoin ETF listing is “imminent” while the broader market holds its breath through the biggest crash of 2026.

Pepeto has raised more than $8 million with a verified exchange already running, and analysts project 100x from the current entry as the Binance listing approaches, the kind of single position that clears student debt permanently.

Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF appears close to launch after the NYSE posted a listing notice for MSBT, and Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas called the debut “imminent” according to CryptoSlate.

The bank’s 15,000 financial advisors will gain direct distribution muscle for institutional Bitcoin. According to CoinDesk, the fund includes a $1 million seed investment with Coinbase as prime broker and BNY Mellon handling administration.

The crypto news today is clear: Wall Street is coming, and the presale entries in the path of that capital move first.

What the Headlines Reveal and Where the Real Opportunity Is Building

Pepeto: The Exchange That Turns a Presale Entry Into the Kind of Return That Clears Student Debt

The crypto news today shows Morgan Stanley about to put its name directly on a Bitcoin product, and that tells the reader everything about where institutional capital is heading in 2026. Pepeto is the exchange that turns a presale entry into the return that erases $37,000 in student loans, a verified trading platform where the Binance listing approaches.

The exchange provides what the volatile market demands. PepetoSwap fills every order at zero cost so the reader’s capital lands complete, the cross chain connector delivers tokens between networks without any transfer charge, and the danger screening tool reviews every contract before entry, confirmed by a SolidProof audit.

The founder behind the original Pepe token that hit $11 billion without a single product is the architect of this exchange, working alongside a veteran from Binance’s core team, and more than $8 million raised during extreme fear proves the whale wallets are inside.

The investors who bought BNB at $0.15 turned $1,000 into $9 million because they saw a working exchange at presale pricing and acted before the rest of the market understood what was happening. Analysts project 100x from the current entry at $0.000000186, and 192% APY staking compounds holdings for every wallet already positioned. The crypto news today confirms a Binance listing is approaching fast, and the presale pricing disappears permanently the moment it arrives.

Solana (SOL)

SOL trades at $85 per InvestingNews, pulling back 5.1% as stacked EMAs cap every recovery attempt despite strong Mastercard and Western Union partnerships.

A break above $92 targets $100 for an 18% move over weeks, respectable infrastructure value, while the presale entry targets 100x from one listing event that turns student loan payments into a distant memory.

XRP

XRP sits at $1.33 per CoinMarketCap, holding above $1.38 support as the Fear and Greed Index reads 11 and ETF inflows have dried up.

Bears control this market until XRP clears $1.54, and a break above targets $1.69, a 25% move over months, while the wallets entering Pepeto are building the kind of position that clears an entire financial burden in one listing event.

The Crypto News Today Confirms This Is the BNB Moment and the Wallets Inside Are Building Financial Freedom

Morgan Stanley is about to put its name on a Bitcoin ETF, and the crypto news today confirms that Wall Street is racing to own crypto infrastructure. The investors who bought BNB at $0.15 turned $1,000 into $9 million and changed everything about how they live, where they live, and what they never have to worry about again, and they just saw a working exchange at presale pricing and acted.

The Pepeto official website is still accepting entries, but the Binance listing is approaching fast and the presale pricing disappears permanently the moment it arrives, and a 2026 portfolio holding Pepeto before that listing is the strongest position for anyone who wants their $37,000 in student loans to become a story about the life they used to have.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the biggest crypto news today as Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Bitcoin ETF nears launch?

Pepeto is the crypto news today entry with a verified exchange, more than $8 million raised, and analysts projecting 100x before the Binance listing clears student debt from one position.

What does the latest crypto news today reveal about SOL and XRP outlook?

SOL faces stacked EMA resistance despite partnerships, XRP needs $1.54 to change structure, and the Pepeto official website is where the 100x entry is still open at presale.

What does today’s crypto news today mean for investors searching for ground floor entries?

Pepeto at presale is the clearest answer: a verified exchange, 100x projected, and a Binance listing approaching that turns small entries into the returns that erase financial burdens.

The post Crypto News Today: Pepeto’s 100x Rally Leads as Morgan Stanley MSBT Nears Launch While Solana and XRP Face Resistance appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Alphabet delivers robust double-digit revenue expansion while maintaining more attractive pricing compared to mega-cap technology competitors
• Microsoft’s Copilot integration and Azure platform are fueling subscription-based income streams with impressive profit margins
• Amazon has achieved remarkable operating profit acceleration, powered by AWS dominance and retail operational improvements
• Tesla, Apple, Nvidia, and Meta present less favorable opportunities currently when evaluating pricing metrics and expansion trajectories
• Artificial intelligence infrastructure serves as the primary catalyst for all three leading selections, especially via cloud computing platforms

Among the elite group known as the Magnificent 7—a collection of technology giants responsible for substantial market appreciation over recent years—three companies stand apart: Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon.

This influential septet encompasses Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla. Despite their collective prominence in the technology landscape, market strategists emphasize that investment opportunities within this group vary considerably at present.

Alphabet represents the most well-rounded proposition among the three leaders. The company’s flagship properties, Google Search and YouTube, deliver consistent cash generation, while Google Cloud accelerates its expansion and enhances its contribution to consolidated profitability.

Alphabet Inc., GOOGL

Artificial intelligence integration has become fundamental to Alphabet’s ecosystem. The technology permeates everything from search algorithms to cloud infrastructure, strengthening both consumer engagement metrics and enterprise client demand.

Valuation comparisons favor Alphabet relative to comparable large-capitalization technology stocks. This pairing of sustained expansion with reasonable pricing creates an appealing entry point for portfolio managers.

Regulatory headwinds present legitimate obstacles for the organization. Nevertheless, its substantial cash position and operational breadth provide mechanisms to navigate these difficulties across extended timeframes.

Microsoft’s Subscription and Cloud Dominance

Microsoft operates on a foundation of predictable, recurring income derived from enterprise software licenses and cloud infrastructure. This framework delivers greater consistency than businesses dependent on advertising volatility or consumer hardware cycles.

Microsoft Corporation, MSFT

The Azure platform maintains impressive expansion velocity. Artificial intelligence infrastructure requirements drive substantial demand, while the company’s Copilot suite extends across its entire product ecosystem.

Microsoft maintains one of the technology sector’s most formidable financial positions. This strength enables continued AI investment without compromising profitability metrics.

Amazon’s Operational Efficiency Revolution

Amazon has prioritized margin enhancement throughout the previous twelve months. While top-line growth remains steady, the transformation in operating profitability has been particularly striking.

Amazon.com, Inc., AMZN

Amazon Web Services continues functioning as the primary earnings generator. Escalating demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities sustains momentum in this division.

Retail operations have undergone significant efficiency optimization. These enhancements have produced superior free cash flow generation and expanded consolidated margins.

Meta delivers impressive advertising performance but maintains aggressive AI infrastructure spending that raises concerns about near-term investment returns. Nvidia dominates the AI semiconductor space, though current pricing appears to incorporate most anticipated future growth.

Apple provides stability but exhibits slower growth characteristics than the three preferred alternatives. Tesla faces greater uncertainty, with fundamental metrics and valuation multiples appearing less attractive relative to other group members.

Both Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure occupy advantageous positions as enterprises increasingly deploy artificial intelligence applications and migrate computing workloads to cloud environments.

The post Top 3 Magnificent 7 Stocks for 2025: Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN) Stand Out appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Elon Musk is considering allocating up to 30% of SpaceX’s IPO to individual investors — significantly above the standard 5–10% allocation
• The aerospace company may achieve a valuation near $1.75 trillion, positioning it as one of history’s largest public offerings
• Bank of America will focus on wealthy U.S. clients; Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade platform will serve smaller retail participants
• UBS and Citi have been designated to manage international retail and institutional allocations
• The company may submit its IPO documentation to regulatory authorities within the coming week or two

Elon Musk is preparing to offer individual investors an unusually large portion of the SpaceX public offering. According to recent reports, discussions are underway to reserve as much as 30% of the IPO for retail participants — representing more than triple the conventional allocation for everyday investors.

Traditionally, retail investors access approximately 5% to 10% of shares in a new public offering. The majority flows to institutional buyers such as mutual funds and pension managers, who provide price stability and early market support.

The proposed SpaceX approach would dramatically alter this traditional distribution model.

Bank of America has secured the role of domestic retail coordinator, concentrating on affluent individuals and family investment offices across the United States. UBS will target similar investor profiles in international markets.

Morgan Stanley is anticipated to serve retail investors with smaller investment amounts through its E*Trade brokerage service. Citi will oversee wider international retail operations and institutional buyer coordination.

SpaceX has not provided commentary on Reuters’ inquiry regarding these plans. Bank of America similarly declined to discuss the arrangement.

Earlier in the week, The Information disclosed that SpaceX intends to submit its IPO registration statement to financial regulators potentially this week or during the following week. The aerospace manufacturer is pursuing a company valuation approaching $1.75 trillion.

Should this valuation materialize, the SpaceX public debut would secure a position among the most substantial IPOs ever executed.

The Rationale Behind Expanded Retail Access

Early conversations among financial advisers had projected retail involvement exceeding 20%. Current discussions have elevated that percentage to potentially 30%.

This evolution appears intentional on Musk’s part. He has cultivated a substantial following of individual investors who have tracked his ventures attentively, particularly Tesla, which developed one of the most dedicated retail shareholder bases in modern equity markets.

The strategy suggests that individual investors typically maintain longer holding periods compared to institutional traders who frequently adjust positions, potentially contributing to post-IPO price stability.

SpaceX has experienced significant interest in secondary trading venues, where prospective investors have sought pre-public market exposure. A substantial direct retail allocation would provide these buyers with a more transparent and regulated entry point.

Recent Developments at X Before the Public Offering

Coinciding with the Reuters disclosure, the Wall Street Journal revealed that Musk’s social platform X eliminated its chief marketing officer position and reduced more than 20 non-technical positions throughout recent weeks.

The chronology places these workforce reductions immediately before the anticipated SpaceX IPO registration.

SpaceX has not validated the specific retail allocation percentage or confirmed the precise IPO schedule. The forthcoming registration documentation is expected to clarify the offering framework and company valuation.

The post SpaceX IPO: Elon Musk Proposes Unprecedented 30% Retail Investor Allocation appeared first on Blockonomi.

Open interest (OI) in XRP derivatives on Binance jumped 14.8% in the last 24 hours, its highest reading since March 4, when the metric peaked near 16%.

The move was accompanied by repeated long liquidations and a change in order flow toward short positioning, painting a mixed picture for the Ripple token.

Leverage Returns, But Longs Keep Getting Washed

According to analyst Amr Taha, the high open interest reading meant traders are aggressively going back to the derivatives market and rebuilding exposure in XRP. However, while the OI increase is the headline number, the surrounding data has complicated the bullish reading, with Taha identifying three significant long liquidation events that occurred in quick succession.

Over $2.5 million was lost on March 18, followed by $2.45 million on March 21, and around $2.15 million on March 26. He said that each event wiped out crowded bullish positions at a time when leverage was building up, something he suggested was a sign that conviction is still unstable.

“Rising open interest usually reflects growing speculative activity,” he explained. “But repeated long liquidation spikes show that bullish positioning is still being punished during volatility.”

What made the picture even more defensive was that the rise in open interest happened in tandem with a drop in Binance’s Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD), a metric that tracks the net direction of futures orders. Per Taha’s analysis, when OI climbs and Perp CVD falls, then it usually means that new short positions are entering the market instead of fresh longs. Spot CVD also weakened during the same period, implying that retail buyers didn’t step in to offset the shift.

The largest clusters of vulnerable positions are sitting above XRP’s current price, meaning if the asset pushes higher, it could trigger a short squeeze. Still, Taha noted that the path of least resistance favors sellers for now.

Where XRP Stands in the Broader Picture

Looking at the market, XRP was trading at around $1.36 at the time of writing, down 2% in 24 hours and nearly 7% over the past 7 days. Furthermore, the token is almost 63% below its all-time high of $3.65, set in July 2025, and down 42% year-on-year.

Its 24-hour trading range of $1.34 to $1.39, according to CoinGecko, shows the tight, directionless price action that has persisted for much of March.

A previous assessment by analyst CasiTrades placed XRP inside a wider bearish wave structure, with a downside target of $0.87 being in play unless the token breaks and holds above $1.65. But on a more positive note, EGRAG CRYPTO has made bold predictions for XRP, stating that it could go up as far as $27 by August 2027, although the entire framework rests on the asset first bottoming near that same $0.87 level CasiTrades identified as a likely downside destination.

The post XRP Derivatives Surge on Binance as Long Liquidations Mount: What’s Next for Ripple? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

It was another eventful week on the Iran – Israel/US front, with multiple big developments, including some twists and turns, that continue to influence the risk-on crypto market.

Recall that bitcoin was stopped at $76,000 last Wednesday after it had gained $13,000 since the initial shock when the first strikes in the Middle East began. It slipped to and below $70,000 in the following days as the US Fed refused to change the interest rates, but managed to maintain that level during the weekend.

Then, it dipped to $69,000 on Sunday evening and Monday morning when the impact of the weekend developments reached the legacy financial markets. However, once Trump claimed that the US and Iran have made significant progress in their negotiation talks, BTC exploded by several grand to just under $72,000.

Unfortunately, it retraced to $69,000 hours later as Iran denied his statement. Nevertheless, more information emerged that both countries have indeed carried out some sort of talks, and BTC tapped $72,000 on Wednesday.

It was rejected once again there, and even though it maintained $69,000 and $70,000 by yesterday, it crumbled below both these levels today, dropping to a three-week low of just over $66,000 as of now. This came as the Royal Government of Bhutan kept transferring BTC, likely to sell, and the US has reportedly begun preparing to send thousands of troops to the hot Middle East region.

The reality check compared to last Friday shows that BTC is down by approximately 6%, while some assets, such as ETH, XRP, and SOL, have marked even more painful declines. There are a few exceptions, of course, led by TAO (15%) and WLFI (7.5%).

Market Data

Market Cap: $2.360T | 24H Vol: $112B | BTC Dominance: 56%

BTC: $66,400 (-5.4%) | ETH: $1,975 (-7%) | XRP: $1.33 (-7.8%)

This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss

Fannie Mae Shockwave: Crypto-Backed Mortgages Coming to the US. One of the most significant news developments this week came from the behemoth in US mortgages, Better Home & Finance. A report from WSJ indicated that the company has partnered with Coinbase to allow home buyers to pledge BTC and USDC when getting a mortgage backed by Fannie Mae.

NYSE Parent Invests Another $600 Million in Polymarket as Prediction Market Volume Soars. The giant behind the New York Stock Exchange continues with its massive crypto-related investments, this time allocating another $600 million in Polymarket. Its total investment in the crypto-based prediction market has grown to $2 billion.

Analyst: Bitcoin Could Bottom at $46K as ‘Electric Cost’ Falls. Bitcoin has not bottomed out yet – this is what a popular analyst, Ted Pillows, asserted this week. By comparing the asset’s estimated “electric cost,” he determined that BTC might fall below $50,000 and down to $45,000 this cycle.

Gold Fails Safe Haven Test as Prices Plunge Amid War and Uncertainty. Although BTC has retraced in the past few days, it’s still slightly in the green since the war against Iran began. The same cannot be said about gold, whose price has plunged quite significantly since its all-time high in late January.

Post-Hack Pressure Pushes Balancer Labs to Wind Down Operations, Restructure Protocol. The popular DeFi protocol Balancer was hacked a few years back, and even though the entity behind it tried to restructure its operations, it announced earlier this week that it will be scaling down.

Saylor’s Strategy Buys Over 1,000 BTC as Unrealized Losses Mount Up. After a few consecutive multi-billion-dollar BTC purchases, Saylor’s Strategy announced a more modest one this week. It spent $76.6 million to acquire an additional 1,031 BTC, and its total stash has grown to over 762,000 units.

Charts

This week, we have a chart analysis of Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid – click here for the complete price analysis.

The post BTC Crashes to $66K, ETH Dips Below $2K as Middle East War Drags On: Weekly Recap appeared first on CryptoPotato.

It has been two weeks since the conclusion of the much-anticipated Pi Day (March 14), in which the Core Team behind Pi Network announced some major updates and progress on key infrastructure developments.

One of those garnered the community’s attention, as many of them have been waiting for a long time to have their tokens migrated and made available. Although the team just bragged about some of the achievements in this manner, many Pioneers felt it was still not sufficient.

Second Migrations Began

CryptoPotato reported at the time the celebratory post pushed by the team, in which it laid out all the major changes to its overall ecosystem. In a more recent post on the hot topic of second migrations, they informed that the gradual rollout has begun after Pi Day and continues to this day. It should open the door for Pioneers to bring additional PI tokens to Mainnet and “further participate in the ecosystem.”

The process should allow users who have already migrated their PI balance once to be eligible to migrate their second transferable batch of tokens.

Second migrations will include referral mining bonuses attributable to Referal Team members who have completely passed KYC. Almost 120,000 Pioneers have reportedly completed second migrations of their balance since the process began two weeks ago.

The Core Team explained that first migrations for eligible Pioneers will continue as usual, even as second migrations roll out.

“Note that second migrations do not compromise the speed and throughput of first migrations. Furthermore, first migrations still take priority for the network to complete. Pioneers who still need to complete their first migrations are not affected by others’ second migrations,” reads the post.

Pioneers Still Not Content

Although many in the Pi Network community have been waiting particularly for this second migration step, the comments below the X post were quite controversial, to say the least. The team has been criticized for years for the lack of improvement in this manner, and many users continued to question the situation.

One of them said their coins were returned even after they migrated them successfully, adding that they completed 2FA almost a year ago, without any real resolution. Another one said the second migration is still pending, while others were even more skeptical, noting, “I don’t believe in this scam project anymore.”

The post Pi Network’s First Big Post–Pi Day Announcement Leaves Pioneers Unimpressed appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has invested another $600 million in Polymarket, one of the leading crypto-based prediction markets. The move comes just after Kalshi, Polymarket’s competitor, closed a $1 billion investment round, putting the company’s valuation at $22 billion.

It’s worth noting that, with this, ICE’s investment totals about $2 billion, with its first pre-money investment announced in October 2025.

Not only does this provide operational capital for the firm, but it also validates prediction markets as a source of crowd-sourced event probabilities for institutional usage that could span far beyond betting.

The post NYSE Parent Invests Another $600 Million in Polymarket as Prediction Market Volume Soars appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The first breakdown to under $68,000 seemed as just the beginning for bitcoin’s Friday correction, which just worsened with another dip to a fresh 3-week low.

Most altcoins have followed suit, which has harmed over-leveraged traders, with more than 120,000 such participants being wrecked in the past day.

BTC Drops Again

It was less than 48 hours ago when the primary cryptocurrency tapped a multi-day peak at $72,000. However, the quickly escalating tension in the Middle East continues to take its toll on the market, and BTC dipped to $67,500 earlier today. This coincided with the Royal Government of Bhutan transferring more BTC, perhaps to sell, and reports claiming that the US is considering sending up to 10,000 troops to Iran.

The landscape worsened in the following hours, as bitcoin just dipped to its lowest position in almost three weeks at just over $66,000. Michaël van de Poppe was quick to pick up the move, indicating that it’s Friday and he wouldn’t be “surprised to see a deeper correction happening into months’ end on BTC.”

Recall that a massive $15 billion option expiry event will take place today, as it’s the end of the month and the first quarter of the year.

Van de Poppe said he expects a potential sweep of the current range’s lows, and he remains interested in buying in the lower $60,000 regions.

Fellow analyst Merlijn The Trader said the second flag is breaking down after BTC lost the $69,000 support. He believes BTC could dump to as low as $47,500 if it fails to reclaim that crucial line soon.

THE SECOND FLAG IS BREAKING NOW.

Bitcoin printed a bear flag. Dumped to $65.500. Consolidated. Printed another one.

Support lost again at $69K.

Reclaim it fast: pattern fails.
Stay below: measured move targets $47.500.

Most people will understand this too late. pic.twitter.com/pRPF3jY8wd

— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) March 27, 2026

Liquidations Pop

Most larger-cap alts have followed BTC on the way south, with ETH dropping below $2,000, BNB slipping to $610, and XRP trading beneath $1.45. Naturally, the liquidations are on the rise, with over $400 million in longs getting wiped out in the past 24 hours. Naturally, BTC and ETH lead the pack, with $187 million and $124 million, respectively, according to data from CoinGlass.

Over 120,000 traders have been wrecked in the same timeframe, with the biggest single liquidation taking place on Hyperliquid. It was worth close to $4 million.

The post BTC Price Plunges to 3-Week Low as Analysts Map Out Next Downside Targets appeared first on CryptoPotato.