Bitcoin's resilience amid economic uncertainty suggests a potential shift in its role as a hedge, but market sentiment remains cautious.

The post Bitcoin holds steady as inflation stays sticky and growth slows appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The postponement underscores the impact of geopolitical instability on global events, highlighting the need for adaptive planning in volatile regions.

The post TOKEN2049 Dubai postponed to April 2027 amid regional security concerns appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The surge in TRUMP meme coin highlights the volatile influence of high-profile events on cryptocurrency markets, impacting investor behavior.

The post TRUMP meme coin soars 60% after Mar-a-Lago event announcement appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The PI surge highlights the growing influence of exchange listings on altcoin market dynamics, potentially reshaping crypto investment strategies.

The post Pi Network’s PI surges over 30% as Kraken listing lifts it into top-ranked altcoins appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

SwissBorg's MiCA approval enhances regulatory trust, fostering innovation and potentially accelerating crypto adoption across Europe.

The post Crypto startup SwissBorg secures MiCA authorization from French regulator appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Reclaims $73,000 as War Shakes Markets, Outperforming Gold and Stocks

The Bitcoin price has outperformed gold, silver, and major U.S. equity indexes since the outbreak of the Iran–Israel conflict escalation 2026, climbing above $73,000 even as oil surged and expectations for near-term interest rate cuts faded.

Market data shows Bitcoin price rising about 8% since the first strikes against Iran, reaching a one-month high above $73,000. The move placed the digital asset ahead of several traditional safe-haven and risk assets during a period of geopolitical stress.

Gold declined during the same stretch, falling roughly 3% from levels seen before the conflict began. Silver dropped more than 10%, sliding from above $90 to around $82. U.S. equities also weakened, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each down between 1% and 2%.

The divergence came as global markets responded to a surge in energy prices. Crude oil climbed close to 20%, breaking above $100 per barrel for the first time in nearly four years as tensions threatened supply routes across the Middle East. 

These conditions often pressure crypto markets because higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions raise inflation concerns and reduce risk appetite across global portfolios.

The bitcoin price followed that pattern at first.

In the hours after the conflict began, the asset dropped sharply as traders cut exposure across crypto derivatives markets. Roughly $300 million in leveraged positions were liquidated during the initial weekend selloff. Bitcoin briefly fell toward the mid-$63,000 range as uncertainty spread through global markets.

The selloff matched Bitcoin’s historical behavior during geopolitical shocks, where it often trades in line with other high-beta assets during the first wave of risk reduction.

The market response changed during the following week.

Bitcoin price recovery

Instead of remaining near those lows while energy prices climbed, Bitcoin price recovered steadily and broke back above the $70,000 level. The rebound left it outperforming metals and equities during the same window despite the challenging macro backdrop.

Derivatives data via Bitcoin Magazine Pro shows that part of the recovery followed a reset in market leverage. After the liquidation event cleared large speculative positions, traders began rebuilding exposure.

Open interest across major exchanges climbed back to roughly 88,000 BTC. The increase signals renewed participation without reaching extreme leverage levels that often precede sharp corrections.

Institutional demand also contributed to the rebound.

U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded strong inflows during the week. Data from ETF trackers shows the funds attracted about $586 million, marking one of the largest inflow weeks of the year.

The flows represent a steady source of demand entering the market even as geopolitical tensions intensified and inflation concerns returned.

Robert Mitchnick, head of digital assets at BlackRock, said the behavior of ETF investors has remained stable during periods of volatility.

Speaking on CNBC, Mitchnick said ETF flows show a long-term accumulation pattern even during large price declines in Bitcoin price. 

He said the investor base across financial advisors, institutions, and direct retail buyers has taken a steady approach to the asset, with many participants using price weakness to add exposure.

He also pointed to the performance of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), which continued attracting inflows despite a sharp drop in Bitcoin’s price from its previous peak.

Mitchnick said IBIT ranked among the largest ETF inflows globally during 2025 even while the underlying asset declined, highlighting sustained demand from long-term investors.

The growth of spot ETFs has expanded Bitcoin’s investor base and deepened market liquidity compared with earlier geopolitical episodes. Institutional capital can now enter the market through regulated products that trade alongside equities.

For now, Bitcoin’s performance during the conflict has reinforced its status as a liquid macro asset that reacts to both global market forces and crypto-native demand.

While oil, inflation expectations, and central bank policy continue to shape the backdrop, the digital asset has managed to recover faster than many traditional benchmarks during one of the most volatile geopolitical episodes of the year.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is trading at $72,941.

This post Bitcoin Price Reclaims $73,000 as War Shakes Markets, Outperforming Gold and Stocks first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Strategy (MSTR) Bought Over 4,000 Bitcoin Today via STRC As Strong Week Continues

Strategy appears to have purchased more than 4,000 bitcoin on Thursday, according to estimates derived from real-time trading data and community tracking dashboards monitoring the firm’s preferred equity sales.

Data from STRC.live and market trackers suggests the purchases were funded through heavy issuance of the company’s Variable Rate Series A Preferred Stock (STRC), a perpetual preferred instrument that Strategy has increasingly used to raise capital for bitcoin accumulation.

By end of day in New York, trading activity implied the firm had already raised enough capital to acquire more than 4,000 BTC, marking the largest single-day bitcoin purchase funded through STRC since the instrument launched.

The surge follows unusually strong activity earlier in the week. On March 10, STRC recorded a record $409 million in daily trading volume while maintaining roughly 3% 30-day volatility and a one-month volume-weighted average price near $99.78.

On-chain indicators and community monitoring suggested that day’s activity funded the purchase of more than 2,000 BTC, already one of the largest one-day accumulations tied to the instrument.

Thursday’s pace easily surpassed that figure.

Strategy, already the largest public corporate holder of bitcoin, has increasingly leaned on its preferred equity program to finance additional acquisitions.

Earlier this year the company amended its at-the-market (ATM) program, allowing multiple agents to sell STRC shares simultaneously. The change increased liquidity in the instrument and made it easier for Strategy to raise large amounts of capital quickly, with proceeds directed toward bitcoin purchases.

Real-time dashboards tracking STRC trading attempt to estimate how many shares Strategy itself is issuing versus secondary market trades. 

Because the company previously indicated it may sell shares when the price trades above its $100 stated amount, analysts can approximate capital raised when trading occurs above that threshold.

A recent SEC filing disclosed that the company purchased 17,994 BTC between March 2 and March 8 for approximately $1.28 billion. That acquisition lifted the firm’s total holdings to about 738,731 BTC, representing roughly 3.5% of bitcoin’s circulating supply.

The filing showed the purchase was funded through a combination of $377.1 million in STRC sales and $899.5 million raised through common stock issuance.

Based on those figures, STRC accounted for about 29.5% of the funding for that five-day accumulation period, equivalent to roughly 5,300 BTC acquired through preferred share sales.

If Thursday’s estimates prove accurate, the day’s purchases alone could exceed the average daily bitcoin acquisition pace seen during that earlier buying window.

The data remains unofficial. Strategy typically confirms purchases later through SEC filings or public disclosures.

How does Strategy’s STRC work?

STRC acts as a bridge between traditional income investors and Strategy’s Bitcoin-focused balance sheet. Income investors typically seek steady payouts, while Strategy’s large Bitcoin holdings bring long-term upside along with short-term price swings. The preferred stock helps connect these two profiles.

The security is structured to keep demand near its $100 par value while paying a monthly dividend that yields about 11.5% annually. In effect, it converts the economics of a Bitcoin treasury into a format that appeals to fixed-income investors who prioritize regular income.

Strong liquidity and relatively low volatility suggest that the investor base is shifting toward income-focused capital. That shift can help stabilize trading activity compared with instruments driven mainly by speculation.

These early results point to product-market fit. Rather than relying on marketing or hype, the structure appears to meet a clear demand among investors seeking yield tied to Bitcoin exposure.

For corporate leaders considering Bitcoin treasury strategies, STRC offers a way to integrate Bitcoin into broader capital structures. It allows companies to draw funding from multiple investor groups while building a shared strategic reserve around the asset.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades near $70,000, while shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR) are down about 0.75% on the day.

This post Strategy (MSTR) Bought Over 4,000 Bitcoin Today via STRC As Strong Week Continues first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

David Bailey Confirmed As A Bitcoin 2026 Speaker

David Bailey has been officially confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026, returning to the conference he helped build to share his perspective on Bitcoin’s expanding role across media, capital markets, and corporate strategy. As the Chairman and CEO of Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA), Bailey has executed one of the most ambitious consolidation plays in Bitcoin’s history — bringing together BTC Inc., and UTXO Management under a single publicly traded Bitcoin operating company. His vision extends far beyond media: Nakamoto is positioned as a diversified Bitcoin enterprise spanning asset management, advisory services, and institutional infrastructure, with Bitcoin accumulation at its core.

Bailey has long been a central force in shaping how the global Bitcoin community organizes, communicates, and grows. Under his leadership, BTC Inc. became the parent company of Bitcoin Magazine — the longest-running source of Bitcoin news and commentary, first published in 2012 — while also building The Bitcoin Conference into the largest Bitcoin event series in the world, drawing more than 67,000 attendees across U.S., Asia, Europe, and Middle East events in 2025 alone. His work through Bitcoin for Corporations has further accelerated institutional adoption, connecting over 40 member companies with the education and networks needed to integrate Bitcoin into their treasuries.

With the Nakamoto acquisition of BTC Inc. and UTXO now complete, Bailey arrives at Bitcoin 2026 at a defining moment — not just for his own company, but for the broader Bitcoin ecosystem.

Bitcoin Magazine is published by BTC Inc, a subsidiary of Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA)

Bitcoin 2026 Returns to Las Vegas Bigger Than Ever

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.

Bring your whole team to Bitcoin 2026 and get 20% off your entire order, bring more than six in a group and get 25% off for a limited time.

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

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

With tens of thousands of attendees expected and hundreds of major speakers like David Bailey already confirmed, now is the time to lock in your ticket.

Buy Bitcoin 2026 Tickets — Save 10%

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 David Bailey Confirmed As A Bitcoin 2026 Speaker first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

Bitcoin Magazine

Policy Group Calls for Bitcoin Inclusion in Proposed Crypto Tax Exemption

The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) is urging Congress to broaden proposed de minimis tax relief for digital assets beyond payment stablecoins to include bitcoin and other major network tokens.

Under current law, bitcoin is treated as property, which means every purchase with the asset triggers a capital gains calculation, regardless of transaction size. 

BPI argues that this framework discourages routine payments, such as buying coffee or sending small remittances, because users must track cost basis and report minor gains and losses.​

Lawmakers have worked on several approaches in the 119th Congress. Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced a standalone bill that would create a 300 dollar per‑transaction threshold with a 5,000 dollar annual cap and address mining and staking taxation. 

House members Max Miller and Steven Horsford floated a discussion draft tied to the PARITY Act that would apply a narrower exemption to regulated payment stablecoins and target a 200 dollar threshold consistent with foreign currency rules.​

BPI describes that shift toward a “stablecoin‑only” de minimis model as a significant departure from earlier bipartisan efforts to cover a broader range of digital assets. 

The group contends that limiting relief to stablecoins would leave most bitcoin payments subject to full reporting obligations while also failing to account for the fact that stablecoin transactions rely on separate network tokens for transaction fees, which remain taxable events.​

In response, BPI has led a coalition letter to key tax writers and mounted an outreach campaign on Capitol Hill, meeting with 19 congressional offices across both chambers over the past three months. 

The organization is pressing for a value‑based exemption that would apply to both GENIUS‑compliant payment stablecoins and large‑cap network tokens, potentially up to 600 dollars per transaction with an annual cap near 20,000 dollars. 

BPI warns that with midterm politics approaching and Senator Lummis set to leave the Senate in January 2027, the window for comprehensive digital asset tax reform may close if Congress does not advance a package before an expected legislative push in August 2026.

Coinbase rejects claims they opposed Bitcoin tax relief 

All this comes as Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad and CEO Brian Armstrong recently denied allegations that the exchange lobbied against the proposed de minimis tax exemption for Bitcoin, responding on X to claims made by Bitcoin podcaster Marty Bent. 

Shirzad called the accusation “a total lie,” stating the company had never and would never lobby against Bitcoin.

The denial followed Bent’s March 11 report alleging Coinbase had told lawmakers the exemption was unnecessary because Bitcoin was not widely used as money. 

According to Bent, the company argued that a de minimis exemption would amount to a “handout” unlikely to pass and was instead advocating for stablecoin-focused tax treatment that could benefit its own business model. Bent later said he had three sources supporting the claim.

Armstrong  rejected the allegation, calling the rumor “totally false” after being publicly asked for clarification by Jack Dorsey of Block Inc..

This post Policy Group Calls for Bitcoin Inclusion in Proposed Crypto Tax Exemption first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Paraguay Adopts Stricter Crypto Oversight, Mandates Detailed Transaction on Bitcoin Reporting

Paraguay’s National Directorate of Tax Revenue (DNIT) has issued General Resolution No. 47/26, imposing comprehensive reporting requirements for bitcoin and crypto activity. 

The rule targets Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets. It mandates that residents and entities disclose nearly all transactions exceeding $5,000 per year.

The resolution requires platforms and administrators to submit detailed data, including wallet addresses, blockchain networks, and transaction hashes. Obligated parties must also report the date and time of each transaction, the amount and USD value, fees paid, and counterparty information, according to local reporting.  

The measure covers buying, selling, trading between cryptocurrencies, mining, staking, yield farming, airdrops, lending income, payments, and transfers between personal wallets.

Officials describe the initiative as a step toward integrating cryptocurrencies into the national tax system. 

“Proper identification and monitoring will strengthen oversight and compliance,” the DNIT stated. The regulation does not create new taxes but increases transparency for fiscal authorities.

The resolution aligns with recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Since 2019, FATF has urged countries to enforce strict reporting requirements on virtual assets to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. 

Paraguay, as a member of GAFILAT, has incorporated these guidelines to improve anti-money laundering enforcement and reduce international scrutiny.

The regulation arrives during a period of broader legal and financial transition. Law No. 7572/2025 on the Securities and Products Market formalizes oversight of tokenized assets, while the Securities Superintendency (SIV) regulates tokens representing property or credit rights. 

DNIT’s authority, by contrast, covers all cryptocurrency transactions, including decentralized digital assets used as a medium of exchange.

Paraguay aims to professionalize its capital market. Over the last decade, the market’s share of national GDP rose from 1% to 15%. 

Paraguay’s changing crypto oversight

The government is also moving to mine Bitcoin using seized rigs and to develop tokenization projects in agribusiness and real estate. Officials hope to attract foreign investment, reduce intermediation costs, and enforce mandatory audits for smart contracts. 

Separating custody functions from stock exchange operations at the Paraguayan Securities Depository (Cavapy) is planned to strengthen transparency.

Regional trends reinforce Paraguay’s direction. Brazil introduced similar reporting rules in 2023, and Argentina has proposed comparable legislation. 

Multilateral agencies, including the International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank, provided technical support for integrating blockchain analysis and taxation into fiscal systems.

Market responses have been measured. Exchanges operating in Paraguay have started updating policies to comply with the new resolution. 

The DNIT resolution represents the first phase of Paraguay’s comprehensive cryptocurrency oversight. Implementation will continue through 2026, with subsequent phases addressing taxation and compliance verification, according to reports. 

This post Paraguay Adopts Stricter Crypto Oversight, Mandates Detailed Transaction on Bitcoin Reporting first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

The next big Bitcoin policy fight may have nothing to do with ETFs or government legislation, but with a dry Federal Reserve capital proposal that most investors will never read.

The landscape is simple: will big banks continue to treat Bitcoin as a balance sheet hazard, or will US capital rules begin to leave room for more serious bank intermediation around it?

With the Fed expected to vote next week on a revised Basel proposal and then open a 90-day comment window, this little-noticed rulemaking could become one of the most important banking decisions for Bitcoin in years.

Reuters reported on Mar. 12 that the Fed plans to vote next week on a revised Basel proposal for large banks and then open a 90-day public comment period.

Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman said the same day that proposals covering Basel III and the G-SIB surcharge would be published in the coming week.

Most crypto investors do not care about prudential terminology, but they do care about whether their bank will eventually offer better Bitcoin services, whether crypto firms can more easily secure bank relationships, and whether Wall Street integration expands beyond ETFs.

The current Basel framework is restrictive enough to make those questions materially harder for banks to answer.

This all comes amid increasing tension between the US crypto industry and banks as they continue to clash over the stalled Clarity Act. The President chose a side this month by directly blaming banks for the delay.

What Basel says now

Under the Basel crypto framework, banks' crypto exposures are split into Group 1 and Group 2, with the latter being the tougher bucket.

A Group 2 cryptoasset is treated as Group 2b unless a bank demonstrates to its supervisor that it meets Group 2a hedging recognition criteria. Group 2b exposures carry a 1250% risk weight, and Basel says that treatment is calibrated so that banks hold minimum risk-based capital equal to the value of those exposures.

Basel also says total Group 2 exposure is built around 1% and 2% of Tier 1 capital thresholds: banks are expected to stay under 1%, excess over 1% gets the harsher Group 2b treatment, and if exposure exceeds 2%, all Group 2 exposure gets the Group 2b treatment.

A bank with $100 billion in Tier 1 capital is expected to keep total Group 2 crypto exposure below roughly $1 billion. If it exceeded $2 billion, all Group 2 exposure would be subject to the harsher Group 2b treatment.

For the largest banks, that is enough room to experiment, but not enough to make Bitcoin a normal balance-sheet asset under the current framework.

Basel's framework allows a Group 2a path for cryptoassets that meet hedging recognition criteria, including the existence of regulated exchange-traded derivatives or ETFs/ETNs, as well as minimum liquidity thresholds.

For Group 2a, the framework uses a modified market risk treatment with a 100% risk weight on the net position, rather than the 1250% treatment for Group 2b.

Basel's default treatment of unbacked crypto is punitive, and unless banks qualify for the narrower 2a path, direct exposure remains extremely expensive.

Permission versus capital

Capital rules determine what banks can do economically, not just what they can do legally.

If the capital treatment remains harsh, large banks will still have a strong incentive to avoid meaningful Bitcoin inventory, financing, principal market-making, and other balance sheet-intensive services.

If it softens, or if the US draft provides a clearer, more usable path for lower-risk treatment, the long-run effect could be more bank custody, financing, execution, and infrastructure for Bitcoin.

The US has already been reopening the banking side of crypto. In March 2025, the OCC reaffirmed that crypto custody, certain stablecoin activities, and participation in independent node verification networks are permissible for national banks, and it scrapped a prior non-objection hurdle.

In April 2025, the Fed and FDIC withdrew two 2023 joint statements on cryptoasset-related activities and said banks may engage in permissible crypto activities consistent with safety and soundness.

In December 2025, the OCC said banks could act as intermediaries in “riskless principal” crypto transactions.

That means the policy bottleneck is increasingly shifting from permission to capital.

Washington may be opening the legal door to crypto banking while still leaving the economic door mostly shut. Banks may be allowed to touch crypto in more ways than they were two years ago.

However, if Basel implementation leaves Bitcoin in the harsh bucket, big banks still have little reason to scale meaningful balance sheet exposure.

Global context

In November 2025, the Basel Committee said it would expedite a targeted review of its cryptoasset standard, and in February 2026, it said it had discussed progress on that review.

A BIS speech in December 2025 said bank exposures to cryptoassets stood at just over €14 billion at end-2024 and remained limited enough that the banking industry had been “largely immune” to crypto's price swings.

That makes the current US debate more interesting: crypto-bank integration remains limited, and capital treatment is one reason why.

Basel's own text states that, on a segregated basis, some crypto-related custodial services generally do not give rise to credit, market, or liquidity requirements in the same way as direct exposures. However, they still raise operational risk and supervisory issues.

So the biggest effect of harsh capital treatment is on principal risk and scalable balance sheet activity.

In essence, the current case is a conflict between two visions of Bitcoin.

One says Bitcoin should remain something banks service only at the margins. The other says Bitcoin should eventually become bankable infrastructure: financed, custodied, hedged, and intermediated inside the same institutions that already handle other major asset classes.

Next week's Fed proposal will show which direction US prudential policy is leaning.

Potential outcomes

The bull case is that the US draft creates a more workable path for certain hedged or lower-risk Bitcoin exposures, or at least signals a willingness to interpret Basel's crypto framework in a less punitive way than many in the market currently assume.

In that version, banks gain more room for custody-plus-financing, market-making, and other institutional services around Bitcoin rather than suddenly loading up on it. Bitcoin became more bankable without being formally embraced.

The bear case is that the proposal operationalizes the harsh treatment cleanly and visibly, leaving banks with little ambiguity and little room to scale.

In that case, the 90-day comment window becomes a forum for crypto firms and policy groups to argue that the US is keeping Bitcoin outside the banking core even as it talks about innovation.

The result is more ETF-style access for investors, but still limited adoption on bank balance sheets.

The black swan is that the draft goes beyond the market's fears, or the debate around it gets captured by national security or AML concerns in a way that hardens the prudential case against Bitcoin rather than softening it.

Then the focus becomes a strategic US decision to keep Bitcoin largely on the edge of the regulated banking system.

This Fed proposal could decide how banks treat Bitcoin: as bankable infrastructure or as balance sheet contamination.

That is why this seemingly dry Fed vote matters more to Bitcoin's long-term banking integration than most investors realize.

The post The Fed is readying to punish banks for holding Bitcoin as US crypto tensions boil over appeared first on CryptoSlate.

BlackRock's new staked Ethereum ETF (ETHB) is easy to misunderstand.

This is not the first time ETH staking has finally reached exchange-traded products, as Grayscale has already crossed that bridge. What's interesting about the launch is that BlackRock is now standardizing the way Ethereum is explained to mainstream investors.

With ETHB, Ethereum is being repackaged less as a confusing crypto-tech bet and more as a yield-bearing portfolio asset: something investors can hold in a brokerage account, potentially collect monthly staking-related income from, and understand in much more familiar investment terms.

BlackRock introduced the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF on Mar. 12. BlackRock's release says the product gives investors exposure to spot Ether while “potentially generating income” by staking a portion of its Ether holdings.

Its product page says ETHB is designed for “monthly income,” seeks exposure to the price of Ethereum and staking rewards, and pays a monthly distribution.

On Jan. 5, ETHE became the first US Ethereum ETP to distribute staking rewards, and it said staking had already been activated for ETHE and ETH in October 2025. Grayscale's current product pages still show both products with staking branding.

So the shift on Mar. 12 was less about product novelty than about who was offering it and how it was being marketed.

Mainstream ratification, not first-mover advantage

BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, and its materials frame ETHB around “income potential,” “monthly income,” brokerage account convenience, and exposure to Ether plus staking rewards.

That makes the more important change one of distribution power: one of Wall Street's biggest product machines is now telling traditional investors how to understand Ethereum.

For years, Ethereum's mainstream problem was translation.

Bitcoin was easy to sell as digital gold. Ethereum was harder to package because it sits awkwardly between a technology platform, a monetary asset, and an application-layer infrastructure.

ETHB simplifies that story into something more familiar: price exposure plus income potential inside a brokerage account.

Ahead of the first US spot Ether ETFs, investors complained that unstaked Ether exposure resembled buying “a bond without the coupon,” and staking yields were about 3.1% at the time.

BlackRock's ETHB is a direct answer to that old demand problem.

BlackRock's own educational note says staking currently offers returns of roughly 2.5% to 3% annually, but also entails liquidity constraints and the risk of financial penalties.

It explicitly states that the decision to stake “does not materially change” an investor's exposure to ETH price movements, which remain the primary driver of returns.

How does this change the capital pitch

This changes how Ethereum competes for capital. If ETH gets marketed as “the crypto that pays,” it no longer competes only with Bitcoin for crypto allocation. It starts competing for investors seeking a mix of growth, network exposure, and yield, even though the ETH price remains the primary driver of returns.

The launch economics are designed to be competitive.

BlackRock says ETHB's sponsor fee is 0.12% for the first $2.5 billion of assets for the first 12 months beginning Mar. 12, 2026, and 0.25% thereafter or on assets above that threshold.

The firm also says ETHB intends to stake the majority of its ETH and distribute rewards, less fees, to shareholders.

ETHB's launch release says its existing crypto lineup already includes IBIT and ETHA, which had over $55 billion and $6.5 billion in assets under management, respectively, as of Mar. 6.

BlackRock is attaching that yield pitch to the same distribution network that has already made its bitcoin and Ether products market leaders.

Grayscale is the proof that ETH staking ETPs were already viable before ETHB.

As of Jan. 9, Grayscale's staking-branded ETH and ETHE product pages showed gross staking rewards of 4.49% and 4.04%, respectively, with ETHE showing a monthly distribution frequency.

BlackRock's launch is about scale, branding, and mainstream distribution.

Two competing ways to sell Ethereum

The real conflict is between two competing ways of selling Ethereum.

One version treats ETH mainly as a speculative tech token. The other treats ETH as a yield-bearing digital asset that can sit in a brokerage account and generate income-like returns while still providing price exposure.

ETHB strongly advances a second narrative. BlackRock's own language makes that framing available: ETHB offers “income potential,” “monthly income,” and a way to access staking without direct operational burdens.

This is exactly how a complicated crypto asset gets translated into mainstream portfolio language.

The bull case is that BlackRock's framing sticks. Ethereum stops being the “harder-to-explain” major crypto and becomes the one that offers a mainstream-friendly combination of infrastructure exposure and yield.

In that case, ETH may begin competing for pockets of capital that would not normally buy a pure-beta crypto asset, especially in brokerage and advisory channels already comfortable with income language.

The bear case is that the yield pitch proves too small relative to volatility. BlackRock itself says staking offers only modest rewards and adds liquidity and penalty risk, while the ETH price remains the main driver of returns.

In that version, ETHB is useful but not transformative: a better wrapper for existing ETH bulls rather than a true expansion of the addressable investor base.

The black swan is that a staking-related operational, liquidity, tax, or regulatory problem hits a high-visibility product, turning “crypto with yield” into “crypto with extra complications.”

BlackRock's own educational piece devotes real time to lock-up timing, risk-slashing, and operational complexity, which is a reminder that mainstreaming yield also mainstreams those risks.

Grayscale opened the door. BlackRock is deciding what Ethereum looks like once Wall Street walks through it.

Bitcoin was easy to market as digital gold. BlackRock is trying to make Ethereum legible as crypto with yield.

ETHB marks the point when staking becomes Ethereum’s mainstream sales pitch.

BlackRock did not invent the staking Ethereum product category. It is, however, shaping what Ethereum will look like once traditional finance starts taking it seriously.

The launch economics, distribution power, and marketing emphasis on monthly income all point to the same conclusion: Ethereum is being repositioned less as a speculative platform bet and more as a yield-bearing digital asset that traditional investors can understand, buy, and hold inside a brokerage account.

The post BlackRock’s new product just made Ethereum income impossible to ignore appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin has outperformed gold, silver, and major US equity indexes since the US-Israeli attack on Iran began, recovering to over $72,000 even as oil surged above $100 a barrel and traders cut expectations for near-term Federal Reserve easing.

According to CryptoSlate data, Bitcoin is up 7.3% since the conflict began and even rallied to a one-month high of over $73,000. The flagship digital asset has since retraced to around $72,200 as of press time.

Over the same stretch, gold fell to $5,091, about 4% below the level it stood before the first strikes hit Iran. Silver dropped more than 10%, falling from over $90 to $82 as of press time. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down 1% to 2%.

The scorecard also places Bitcoin ahead of several traditional benchmarks during a period when the usual macro headwinds facing digital assets have otherwise strengthened.

Oil climbed about 20% and broke above $100 per barrel for the first time in nearly four years amid escalating tensions over Iran. The dollar also strengthened, and investors sharply reduced expectations for near-term rate cuts.

That backdrop usually weighs on crypto through tighter financial conditions and a more defensive tone across global markets.

However, Bitcoin has rebounded strongly, drawing attention because its rise came after an initial selloff, and because it held while other large assets struggled to regain ground.

From weekend selloff to rebound

Bitcoin’s first move after the strikes was consistent with its history during sudden geopolitical shocks.

At the time, CryptoSlate reported that BTC sold off over the weekend following the outbreak of war, with roughly $300 million in liquidations as traders cut risk.

Here, Bitcoin fell toward the mid-$63,000 range in the immediate aftermath, trading in line with broader expectations for a high-beta asset amid acute uncertainty.

However, the move that followed changed the shape of the story.

Instead of remaining pinned near those lows as oil moved higher and inflation concerns returned to the market, Bitcoin recovered into the second week of March and broke through the $70,000 mark.

That rebound left it ahead of gold, silver, and the major US stock indexes over the same period, even as crude remained elevated and traders reassessed the macro implications of a prolonged Middle East conflict.

Part of that rebound appears to have come from a market that had already cleared a sizable amount of leverage during the initial washout.

Data from CoinGlass showed Bitcoin price rising alongside open interest, with leverage rebuilding after the flush. Open interest returned to about 88,000 BTC, a level that points to renewed participation without yet reaching an extreme.

That setup leaves room for volatility in either direction. It also shows that traders returned to the market quickly after the first liquidation event, helping support the price recovery.

ETF flows add support

Another support layer came from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund demand.

Data from SoSoValue showed that spot Bitcoin ETF inflows totaled $586.99 million this week, marking the third-strongest inflow week this year.

Those flows do not on their own explain the full price move, though they do point to a steady source of demand entering the market during a period of geopolitical strain and tighter macro conditions.

That combination, liquidation reset followed by ETF inflows, helps explain why Bitcoin recovered faster than many expected after the first round of war-related selling.

The backdrop differs from earlier geopolitical episodes in crypto because Bitcoin now trades in a deeper, more institutionalized market.

Spot ETFs have expanded the buyer base, and that broader capital pool appears to have helped absorb volatility after the first de-risking wave.

Bitcoin’s trading pattern during the conflict has also reinforced its role as a liquid macro asset. The market has been processing both crypto-native signals and global cross-asset signals simultaneously.

Price action around oil, the dollar, and Fed expectations remained relevant throughout the rebound, yet Bitcoin still recovered more strongly than several traditional benchmarks.

At the same time, there is also evidence of stress-driven utility beneath the surface of the market.

Following the initial strikes, blockchain data showed a jump in outflows from Iranian crypto exchanges.

Those flows were too small to move the global Bitcoin market on their own, though they added another reminder of how digital assets can be used during periods of capital stress and financial disruption.

Bear market view still hangs over the rally

Even with the rebound, several analysts continue to describe the market as bearish.

CryptoQuant head of research Julio Moreno said the firm’s Bitcoin Bull Score Index hit 30, the highest reading since late October. He said the index had shifted from “extra bearish” to “bearish,” while describing the latest move as a relief rally within a broader bear market.

Additional data from CryptoQuant has also shown growing market disbelief even as Bitcoin held above $70,000.

According to that view, the macro backdrop remains difficult, especially with tensions around global oil trade still unresolved. In that setting, traders have continued to lean against the rally rather than chase it.

That skepticism is visible in the derivatives market. Funding rates on Binance have remained negative for about a week, showing that each rebound has been used by many traders as an opportunity to add short exposure.

On March 10 and 11, funding rates on Binance fell below minus 0.006, a level that signaled a heavily short-skewed market.

Those conditions can cut both ways. Persistent short positioning reflects caution, though it also creates the possibility of further upside if rising prices force bearish traders to cover.

Joao Wedson, founder of blockchain analysis platform Alphractal, added another warning sign. He said Whale vs Retail Delta showed that whales had been reducing their long positions relative to retail traders.

When that measure moves into the red zone, it indicates whales are becoming more inclined to take short positions while retail traders lean the other way.

In previous cases, Wedson said, those readings either preceded a price decline or coincided with local exhaustion near a bottom.

Liquidity zones define the next move

For now, Bitcoin’s short-term structure remains range-bound, with whale supply overhead and strong bid support below.

Analysts at Bitunix told CryptoSlate that derivatives liquidation heatmaps show the area around $71,300 as the first major short-liquidation and liquidity concentration zone above the current price, making it a near-term resistance level.

CoinGlass data adds to that picture, showing large sell walls stacked between $72,000 and $74,000, creating a notable band of overhead supply.

Meanwhile, the support structure is also becoming clearer below the market.

CoinGlass data show whales layering bids between $70,500 and $71,000, with a deeper cluster between $69,000 and $70,000. Bitunix analysts separately identified secondary liquidity support near $69,000, while deeper long-liquidation clusters are concentrated around $68,800.

Taken together, the order-book and liquidation data show Bitcoin is trading between whale supply above and strong bid support below.

If buyers absorb the sell walls above $72,000, the price could move into the denser short-leverage zone between $72,000 and $73,500.

However, if that resistance holds, the market may rotate back toward the bid support near $70,500 to $71,000 and, in a deeper pullback, test liquidity around $69,000.

The post Bitcoin surges over $72k to outperform gold and stocks since Iran strikes, but one brutal sell wall is looming appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Mastercard’s crypto partner push is really a plan to keep stablecoins inside its network

Mastercard is trying to make sure the stablecoin era still needs its card services.

On Wednesday, the company launched a program with more than 85 crypto-native firms, payments providers, banks, compliance vendors, custody companies, exchanges, and infrastructure groups. On its face, that reads like another ecosystem announcement.

However, let's look at what the list implies. Mastercard is assembling the counterparties it needs so that if stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and other digital-dollar instruments become meaningful payment rails, those flows can still pass through Mastercard’s acceptance, trust, and settlement layers rather than around them.

The partner program is essentially a public index page for infrastructure already under construction. Mastercard spent years building crypto card issuance, merchant-facing acceptance tools, compliance controls, digital asset services, and tokenized settlement rails.

The new program packages those pieces into a clearer pitch: digital assets can move faster and on more programmable rails, while regulated money movement and merchant access can still run through the existing network.

Related Reading

Has Mastercard accepted the inevitability of crypto? Spends $2B on tokenization platform

Mastercard’s rumored deal for Zero Hash marks the moment stablecoin settlement leaves the sandbox and enters the payments mainstream.

Oct 30, 2025 · Andjela Radmilac

The real contest here is about who controls digital money once it starts moving in remittances, merchant settlement, payouts, treasury transfers, and issuer-acquirer flows. Stablecoins create the possibility of a cheaper or faster side road around traditional card economics. Mastercard’s answer appears to be to absorb that side road into its own governed routes.

Additionally, on March 3, Mastercard and SoFi said they would enable SoFiUSD settlement across the Mastercard network. That was a more operational proof point than the broader partner rollout on March 11. It tied a named stablecoin to network settlement, which is much closer to real payment plumbing than an open-ended ecosystem statement.

Put together, the two announcements suggest Mastercard is moving from “we support digital assets” language toward specific settlement use cases with branded instruments and defined network pathways.

The new announcement is a wrapper around an older build

Mastercard’s latest move makes more sense when viewed as strategic packaging around an existing build. The company has been laying this groundwork for years. In 2021, it rolled out a card program for cryptocurrency companies, aiming to simplify issuance and bring more crypto-linked payment products onto its rails.

That was an early sign that the company saw the risk of treating crypto as an external market to observe from a distance. It wanted to be the network used when crypto touched consumer payments.

Since then, Mastercard has expanded its digital-asset stack across multiple layers of the transaction chain. Its broader overview of digital asset services points to work across acceptance, card programs, settlement, identity, and compliance. Its network materials describe a system intended to connect financial institutions and businesses in tokenized transactions.

Related Reading

Chainlink surges 14% after partnering with Mastercard to bring 3 billion users direct access to crypto

Chainlink's interoperability technology leverages Mastercard's global network for seamless on-chain fiat-to-crypto transactions.

Jun 24, 2025 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

In plain English, Mastercard has been building payment plumbing for a world where some bank money and transaction settlements happen in blockchain form.

That is why the partner roster looks like a map of dependencies. A network trying to stay central in digital-dollar flows needs blockchains to host assets, custodians to hold them, compliance firms to screen them, banks to issue or support them, processors to route them, and merchant-facing infrastructure to put them to work in commerce.

The companies in Mastercard’s new program span those categories, making the list less a show of breadth than a map of function. It sketches the minimum coalition needed to keep on-chain money connected to off-chain commerce.

Mastercard is building the rails for digital dollars to settle, move, and reconcile behind the scenes while merchants, banks, and users continue to interact with familiar payment experiences. So, the visible consumer experience may change little even if the underlying money flows become more blockchain-native.

A shopper can still tap a card or approve a wallet transaction. A merchant can still see ordinary checkout flows. The real change happens in settlement, when the money actually lands, how fast it moves, whether it can move on weekends, and which intermediary controls the trust layer around that transfer.

Stablecoins are the real prize because settlement is the real battleground

Mastercard’s own recent messaging points in that direction. In 2025, the company enabled stablecoins, including USDC, PYUSD, USDG, and FIUSD, on its network. It also announced end-to-end capabilities for stablecoin transactions, from wallets to checkouts, in a release focused on the movement of value across the payment chain rather than on crypto as an investment story.

Related Reading

Mastercard launches stablecoin payment support via partnerships with major crypto companies

The new Mastercard foray into crypto includes a card in partnership with OKX to spend stablecoins.

Apr 28, 2025 · Gino Matos

That push covered wallet enablement, merchant acceptance, and settlement functionality. Read together, those materials point to a company trying to make digital-dollar movement usable inside the network, not merely adjacent to it.

The near-term use cases follow from that design. Remittances are one. Cross-border payouts are another. B2B transfers, supplier payments, treasury movement, and merchant settlement all fit the model. These are areas where 24/7 transfer capability, faster finality, and programmable conditions can have practical value even before consumers see a major change at checkout.

Tokenized deposits become relevant for the same reason. They are bank deposits issued in blockchain form, which makes them easier to route through programmable systems while keeping them tied to regulated institutions.

A crypto exchange can help distribute or interface with digital assets. A custody provider can hold them. A compliance vendor can screen counterparties and transactions. A banking partner can issue the money or support the fiat leg. A processor or network layer can move instructions and settle them into the existing merchant universe. Mastercard appears to want a seat at that intersection, where blockchain-native assets meet the trusted controls, rules, and acceptance footprint of traditional payments.

Visa’s recent actions are in alignment. In late 2025, Visa announced U.S. stablecoin settlement in a release centered on settlement integration. That suggests both major card networks have reached a similar conclusion: stablecoins are becoming credible rails for back-end money movement. Neither network appears willing to leave that territory open for banks, fintechs, or crypto infrastructure firms to own outright.

Still, the opportunity is real, but not fully mainstream yet.

The strongest reporting guardrail in this article is to separate gross on-chain volume from actual payment usage. A review from McKinsey, citing Artemis data, estimated annualized “actual stablecoin payments” at roughly $390 billion. That is a meaningful base, but it is much smaller than the most inflated readings of raw stablecoin transfer volume.

So stablecoins have not replaced card networks in commerce. Instead, they have become important enough in settlement and money movement that card networks are now building to contain the threat and capture the upside.

DefiLlama put total stablecoin market capitalization at about $309.0 billion. BVNK reported that 77% of surveyed crypto users would open a stablecoin wallet if their bank or fintech offered one, while 28% convert or spend stablecoins within days. And a16z's stablecoin estimate of $46 trillion in transaction volume last year should be treated as directional evidence of on-chain dollar movement rather than a pure payments number.

Taken together, those figures paint a clear picture: the market is already large enough to matter, but it is still early enough that control of the rails remains up for grabs.

If major retailers, large fintech stacks, processors, or bank consortia can move more value over stablecoin or tokenized-money systems, they may eventually reduce dependence on traditional card-settlement economics. Reporting from the Journal on Walmart and Amazon exploring stablecoins captured the direction of travel. Mastercard’s partner program can be read as a defensive response to that possibility. There's no panic or pivoting. It is network defense.

The next proof points are straightforward.

• Watch for more issuer settlement announcements, merchant settlement rollouts, bank stablecoin launches, tokenized-deposit pilots, and case studies tied to Mastercard’s Multi-Token Network.
• Watch for processors and acquirers moving recurring production settlement flows onto these rails. Most of all, watch for disclosed volume.

That is where we will see either things harden into a measurable shift in payment infrastructure or fade back into branding.

For now, Mastercard’s crypto partner program looks less like a broad endorsement of crypto and more like an attempt to shape where digital dollars travel next.

The company has published the ecosystem map. The harder question is whether the next wave of stablecoin settlement will keep using Mastercard’s network layers, or whether parts of the market will decide they no longer need them.

The post Mastercard frantically doubles down on crypto to avoid becoming irrelevant and losing control appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin held near $70,000 despite oil price briefly trading around $100 a barrel, a move that would once have pushed crypto sharply lower under the usual macro playbook.

According to CryptoSlate's data, the flagship digital asset climbed a modest 0.3% over the last 24 hours, reaching as high as $71,337 before retracing to $69,803 as of press time.

Oil prices climbed sharply, with WTI crude rising 4.79% to $92.04 and Brent crude jumping 5.24% to $97.22.

The rally followed escalating shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which deepened concerns about a sustained supply shock. Notably, Iran had warned the world to prepare for oil prices of $200 a barrel.

Nonetheless, BTC's price performance despite these threats marks a significant divergence from previous weeks, when surging oil prices pushed the crypto market lower amid inflation fears.

While those fears persist in the market, Bitcoin has shown greater resilience, holding within an established range rather than breaking lower.

Related Reading

Oil plunges as Iran tensions cool, easing inflation fears and lifting Bitcoin back above $70k

Oil price retreat provides relief for Bitcoin traders, aligning the cryptocurrency closely with macroeconomic cues.

Mar 10, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Why is Bitcoin price not falling this time?

One of the clearest catalysts for Bitcoin's price not breaking lower during the recent oil price rise was the falling speculative froth in the market.

Data from CoinShares showed that BTC leverage ratios had already dropped from about 33% in October 2025 to 25% by early March, back near long-run averages.

According to the firm:

“Market structure entering the crisis was already significantly cleaner, following an estimated $30 billion of whale distribution over the previous five months that pushed valuations and technical indicators into oversold territory. With leverage reduced and much of the motivated selling already exhausted, the market was better positioned to absorb new demand.”

Meanwhile, spot BTC exchange-traded fund (ETF) flows have also turned less hostile at a crucial point in the market.

Related Reading

$19B could “vanish” from Bitcoin ETFs without a single Bitcoin being sold

Bitcoin ETF outflows might look scary in dollars, but the story changes fast when you measure them in BTC.

Mar 7, 2026 · Andjela Radmilac

According to CoinShares, digital-asset investment products took in more than $1 billion in the first five days of March after five straight weeks of outflows totaling about $4 billion.

Data from Glassnode also corroborated this, noting that flows into 12 US spot Bitcoin ETFs are stabilizing, with their 7-day moving average returning to positive territory after weeks of sustained institutional outflows.

Moreover, Santiment’s data also point to a market that has been stronger than its mood in recent months, but is still dealing with fragile conviction.

According to Santiment, Bitcoin’s 365-day MVRV shows long-term returns on the blockchain are about level with what was seen in the final week of 2022.

At the time, the 365-day MVRV was deeply negative following the FTX collapse, but Bitcoin rose 67% over the following three months.

Santiment said the current divergence is notable even with very different macro conditions and the added influence of Strategy’s aggressive accumulation.

At the same time, the spot market demand for BTC has started to recover, and cumulative volume delta has rebounded as buyers absorb sell-side liquidity across major exchanges.

That combination helps explain why Bitcoin has not reacted to the oil jump the way it often did in earlier phases of the cycle.

Related Reading

Strategy paradoxically funds 66,231 Bitcoin purchase by giving investors $442M

Critics question the sustainability of Strategy's STRC model as the company continues aggressive Bitcoin acquisition.

Mar 10, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Can BTC sustain its current resilience?

Considering this, the question that begs for an answer is whether BTC can sustain its current resilience and march even higher under current constraints.

Notably, the on-chain picture supports the idea that the top crypto could continue to show strength if current indicators remain positive.

Data from Alphractal showed liquidation levels are becoming clearer, with the majority of open positions now on the long side. Bitcoin had previously been moving in a volatile sideways range, forcing liquidations in both longs and shorts.

According to the firm, the maximum pain for longs sits around $61,000, while shorts are concentrated near $75,000.

That creates pressure points at both ends of the range and helps define the market’s next decision.

Also, Glassnode noted that BTC is currently seeing an accumulation cluster forming near the middle of its $62,800 to $ 72,600 range, though its intensity remains below that of prior episodes that led to stronger expansions.

This is supported by data from Alphractal, which showed Bitcoin's RVT Ratio is rising.

The Realized Value to Transactions Ratio compares Realized Cap with the daily adjusted on-chain transfer volume. A rising reading usually points to coins circulating less on-chain, more capital being held rather than transacted, and weaker network activity relative to the amount of stored value.

According to the firm, the 28-day moving average of the indicator suggests that capital stored in Bitcoin continues to grow faster than on-chain economic activity.

Historically, those phases often align with accumulation or softer on-chain demand rather than with broad speculative overheating.

What next for BTC?

If BTC maintains its current price resilience, futures trader positioning the asset leaves room for a move higher.

According to Glassnode, perpetual futures funding has turned negative, pointing to growing short positioning. In past episodes, that setup has given the market room to squeeze higher if spot buying firms.

Data from CME Group showed about $660 million in Bitcoin call open interest in March, compared with about $240 million in puts. Glassnode added that roughly $2 billion of negative gamma is concentrated around the $75,000 strike, with about $1.8 billion of that expiring on March 27.

If Bitcoin pushes through the low $70,000s and reaches that zone, dealer hedging could help accelerate the move toward $80,000.

Those readings suggest traders have eased aggressive short-dated hedging, but they have not yet built strong directional conviction around an immediate breakout.

The post Bitcoin shrugs off oil surge and geopolitical tension, setting up potential push toward $80k appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Investors are currently transitioning from a state of "Extreme Fear" encountered earlier in the month toward a "Risk-On" appetite. This shift is primarily driven by the flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ($BTC), which has successfully breached the $72,500 resistance and is now aggressively testing the psychological $73,000 milestone.

While the global macroeconomic landscape remains plagued by uncertainty—ranging from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East to shifting Federal Reserve policies—the "bears" are finally letting go. This decoupling from traditional equities suggests that cryptocurrencies are once again being viewed as a hedge against global instability. Within this bullish vortex, Cardano ($ADA) is positioning itself for a significant move.

Is ADA Price Heading to $0.40?

Yes, the current technical structure suggests that the Cardano price is preparing for a leg up toward the $0.40 mark. With Bitcoin providing the necessary market liquidity and sentiment tailwinds, ADA has managed to stabilize above its critical support levels. If the current buying pressure continues, $0.40 represents the first major resistance zone that could define the trend for Q2 2026.

The Macro Backdrop: Why Are Crypto Prices UP?

The broader market rally isn't just about price action; it’s about a fundamental shift in global liquidity. Several factors are contributing to this environment:

1. Bitcoin Resilience: By trading near its all-time highs of $73,000, Bitcoin is acting as a "gravity well" for capital, pulling the rest of the altcoin market higher.
2. Institutional Inflows: Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen record inflows this week, totaling over $700 million, signaling that the "Smart Money" is betting on a continued expansion.
3. Governance Milestones: For Cardano specifically, the implementation of the CIP-1694 governance model and the rollout of Plutus V3 have strengthened the network’s value proposition.

Cardano Price Analysis: Breaking Down the Chart

Analyzing the current ADA/USD price chart, we see a classic "Bottoming Out" formation. After a period of heavy consolidation between $0.25 and $0.28, ADA is finally showing signs of life.

Key Support and Resistance Levels

Indicators and Momentum

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for ADA has recently climbed out of the oversold territory and is currently hovering around 45-50. This indicates that there is plenty of "room to run" before the asset becomes overbought. Additionally, whale data indicates that large holders (wallets with 100M+ ADA) have accumulated nearly $35 million in tokens over the last 48 hours, suggesting they anticipate a breakout.

Cardano Price Prediction: The Path to $0.40 and Beyond

For the ADA price to reach $0.40, it must first reclaim the $0.313 level with high volume. This would invalidate the short-term bearish "head and shoulders" patterns seen on smaller timeframes.

• Phase 1 (The Breakout): A daily close above $0.30 would trigger a wave of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), likely pushing the price toward $0.34.
• Phase 2 (The Consolidation): Expect some resistance at the 200-day Moving Average (near $0.49), but a push to $0.40 is highly probable if Bitcoin holds above $71,000.
• Phase 3 (The Target): Once $0.40 is touched, Cardano would enter a new liquidity zone, potentially opening the doors for a move toward $0.54 by mid-2026.

According to data from Investing.com, the regulatory clarity provided by the upcoming "Clarity Act" in the US could be the final catalyst needed for this move.

What Should Investors Do?

While the outlook is bullish, traders should remain cautious of the "March Trap." High volatility means that "wick hunts"—where prices briefly dip to liquidate over-leveraged long positions—are common. It is essential to use proper risk management tools.

Summary of the Bullish Thesis

• Bitcoin (BTC) breaching $73,000 creates a "rising tide" for all alts.
• Whale accumulation suggests a market bottom has been formed for ADA.
• Technical Breakout: Cardano is eyeing a 40% gain from current levels to hit the $0.40 target.

Bitcoin Reclaims Key Levels Amid Regulatory Clarity

The crypto market is witnessing a significant breakout as we head into the weekend of March 13, 2026. After a period of consolidation, Bitcoin has surged past the $72,000 resistance level, currently trading at approximately $72,540. This 3.2% daily gain comes as institutional confidence is bolstered by a historic announcement from U.S. regulators and the successful launch of high-yield investment products.

For traders tracking the current trend: the "Extreme Fear" sentiment from earlier in the week is rapidly dissipating. The primary driver is the newly announced "Joint Harmonization Initiative" between the SEC and CFTC. Bitcoin’s move to $72,500 signals that the market is beginning to price in a more stable, "fit-for-purpose" regulatory environment in the United States.

The SEC and CFTC "Harmonization": Why It’s Pumping the Market

The most impactful news today is the official agreement between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to collaborate on a unified crypto oversight framework.

Historically, the "tug-of-war" between these two agencies over whether assets are securities or commodities created immense market friction. According to reports from Reuters, this new initiative aims to:

1. Streamline Reporting: Create formal data-sharing protocols for digital asset exchanges.
2. Clarify Jurisdiction: Provide a clear "checklist" to determine agency oversight, reducing legal uncertainty for developers.
3. Promote Innovation: Align with the broader federal policy goals of the current administration to make the U.S. a global "crypto hub."

This regulatory "cheer" has successfully offset global jitters regarding energy prices and geopolitical tensions, providing the necessary liquidity for Bitcoin to retest its yearly highs.

BlackRock’s ETHB Debut: $15.5 Million in Day One Volume

While Bitcoin leads the price action, Ethereum is capturing the "yield" narrative. BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB) officially began trading on Nasdaq on March 12, 2024.

The fund recorded $15.5 million in trading volume on its first day, a result described by Bloomberg analysts as "very respectable" for a new ETF category. ETHB allows institutional investors to earn approximately 3.1% annual yield from staking rewards, distributed monthly. This launch confirms that the transition from passive holding to active "productive" crypto assets is well underway.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Is $80,000 Next for Bitcoin?

With Bitcoin holding firmly at $72,500, technical analysts are eyeing the psychological $75,000 resistance.

The divergence between Bitcoin and traditional equities is notable today; while the S&P 500 showed weakness due to oil market volatility, Bitcoin acted as a "digital gold" hedge, fueled by the $115 million weekly inflow into BlackRock’s IBIT fund.

Summary and Outlook

The convergence of regulatory peace and institutional product innovation has created a "perfect storm" for the $72,500 breakout. As the market digests the implications of the SEC-CFTC cooperation, volatility is expected to remain high. The focus for the next 48 hours will be whether BTC can flip the $72,000 mark into a permanent support floor.

Global financial markets are once again facing rising geopolitical uncertainty. Oil prices are climbing as tensions escalate across key energy regions, while governments and energy companies move quickly to protect critical infrastructure.

A new development illustrates how rapidly the global energy landscape is evolving. The world’s largest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, is reportedly in talks with Ukrainian firms to purchase specialized interceptor drones designed to defend oil facilities from potential Iranian drone attacks.

At the same time, President Donald Trump has stated that rising oil prices could benefit the United States because the country has become one of the world’s largest oil producers.

Together, these developments highlight how energy security is becoming a central issue for global markets — and why crypto investors are paying attention.

Oil Infrastructure Is Becoming a Strategic Target

Energy facilities have increasingly become targets during geopolitical conflicts. Drone attacks on refineries, pipelines, and export terminals can disrupt global oil supply within hours.

For companies like Saudi Aramco, protecting infrastructure is therefore a top priority.

Ukraine has developed sophisticated drone defense systems during the Russia–Ukraine War, including interceptor drones capable of stopping incoming unmanned aerial vehicles before they reach critical targets.

Reports indicate Saudi Aramco is now exploring these technologies to strengthen its defenses against potential attacks.

This reflects a broader shift in modern warfare, where relatively inexpensive drones can threaten infrastructure worth billions of dollars.

Oil Prices React to Rising Risk

Energy markets are extremely sensitive to geopolitical tensions. Even the threat of disruption to major producers can push oil prices sharply higher.

Recent headlines have already contributed to volatility in financial markets, with billions of dollars wiped from global stock valuations as investors reacted to rising geopolitical risk and oil prices moving higher.

One of the most sensitive energy chokepoints remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil exports pass.

Any disruption to shipping in this region could trigger major price spikes and ripple effects across global markets.

Trump Highlights the U.S. Energy Advantage

President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the situation, noting that the United States benefits from high oil prices due to its status as a major producer.

Over the past decade, the U.S. has dramatically increased production through shale extraction, transforming the country into one of the world’s largest oil suppliers.

If geopolitical tensions push oil prices higher, American energy exports could play an increasingly important role in stabilizing global markets.

However, higher oil prices can also contribute to inflation and market volatility.

Why Crypto Investors Are Watching Oil

For cryptocurrency markets, developments in energy markets often serve as early signals of macroeconomic changes.

When oil prices surge, several effects tend to follow:

• Inflation expectations increase
• Central banks may delay interest rate cuts
• Global financial markets become more volatile

These conditions can initially pressure risk assets such as cryptocurrencies.

At the same time, prolonged geopolitical instability can strengthen Bitcoin’s narrative as a hedge against global uncertainty.

As traditional markets react to geopolitical shocks, some investors begin exploring alternative stores of value.

Is Bitcoin Becoming a Crisis Hedge?

The idea of Bitcoin acting as “digital gold” has been debated for years. During periods of geopolitical instability, this narrative often returns.

Rising oil prices, drone threats to critical infrastructure, and shifting energy alliances are once again forcing investors to reconsider how global crises affect financial markets.

Whether Bitcoin ultimately behaves like a risk asset or a crisis hedge will depend largely on liquidity conditions and investor sentiment.

What is clear, however, is that geopolitical developments in energy markets are increasingly influencing the cryptocurrency landscape.

The Ethereum price has recently demonstrated significant strength, establishing a firm base above the $1,900 support zone. After a period of intense volatility in early 2026, driven by macroeconomic shifts and geopolitical tensions, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap is showing signs of a structural bottom.

Is the Ethereum Bottom In?

Current market data confirms that the ETH USD pair has successfully navigated a high-tension consolidation block. Traders are closely watching the $1,900 region, which has served as a critical pivot point.

So we can safely say yes, the Ethereum price has stabilized above $1.9k. This stabilization is backed by a "scarcity index" turning positive and massive exchange outflows, indicating that whales are moving assets into cold storage.

• Key Metrics: As of March 12, 2026, ETH is trading above $2,050, recovering from recent local lows.

Ethereum Price Analysis: Decoding the ETH Chart

Analyzing the recent ETH/USD price action reveals a "coil" effect. The price has been trapped between a descending trendline and a static horizontal support.

Support and Resistance Zones

The technical structure shows a bullish divergence on the daily RSI. While the price made lower lows in early March, the RSI formed higher lows, suggesting that bearish momentum is fading. For a confirmed breakout, ETH needs a weekly close above $2,160 on high volume. This would clear the path toward the 50-day moving average (currently near $2,247) and eventually the $3,000 target.

On-Chain Fundamentals: Whales are Accumulating

Despite the "bleak" retail sentiment, professional investors are positioning themselves for a reversal.

• Exchange Outflows: Within a recent 48-hour window, over $155 million in ETH was withdrawn from major exchanges like Binance and Kraken.
• Institutional Inflows: BlackRock recently expanded its suite with a Staked Ethereum ETP, signalling that Wall Street's appetite for Ethereum's yield-bearing properties remains high.
• Network Upgrades: The upcoming "Glamsterdam" and "Hegota" upgrades are set to enhance parallel execution and sharding, potentially slashing Layer-2 fees by 95%.

"The current consolidation suggests bears are losing momentum. Historical data shows that ETH often delivers sharp relief bounces from these 'Extreme Fear' zones." — Market Analyst Insight.

The Path to $3,000: What Needs to Happen?

For the Ethereum price to reach $3,000, two major catalysts are required:

• Macro Stabilization: A shift in global risk sentiment, potentially sparked by a pause in interest rate hikes or a de-escalation of energy-related geopolitical conflicts.
• Altcoin Season: Historically, Ethereum outperforms Bitcoin once $BTC dominance stabilizes. If the Altcoin Season Index crosses the 75-mark, $ETH is likely to lead the charge.

The U.S. crypto industry may be entering a new regulatory era. In a landmark development, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate oversight of digital assets.

For years, one of the biggest obstacles to crypto adoption in the United States has been regulatory uncertainty. The SEC frequently classified many tokens as securities, while the CFTC argued that some digital assets should be treated as commodities. This disagreement created confusion for exchanges, investors, and crypto projects operating in the U.S.

Now, the two regulators are attempting to align their approaches — a move that could significantly impact Bitcoin, altcoins, and the broader digital asset market.

Why SEC and CFTC Cooperation Matters

The new agreement between the SEC and the CFTC is designed to improve collaboration between the two agencies when regulating cryptocurrency markets.

The partnership will focus on:

• sharing enforcement data
• coordinating investigations into crypto firms
• developing clearer oversight frameworks for digital assets
• supporting the introduction of new crypto financial products

This cooperation could help reduce regulatory uncertainty that has slowed innovation in the United States while other regions, such as Europe and the UAE, have moved forward with clearer crypto frameworks.

For crypto companies and institutional investors, regulatory clarity is often more important than regulation itself.

Institutional Investors Are Watching Closely

The timing of the agreement is significant. Institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies has accelerated over the past two years, especially after the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the expansion of crypto services by major financial institutions.

At the same time, global companies like Mastercard are expanding blockchain partnerships with major crypto platforms such as Ripple, Binance, and PayPal. These developments signal that traditional finance is gradually integrating digital assets into existing payment infrastructure.

However, large institutions typically require clear regulatory frameworks before committing significant capital. The SEC–CFTC collaboration could therefore act as a catalyst for further institutional investment in the crypto market.

Bitcoin Holds Strong Amid Regulatory Developments

Despite macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, Bitcoin has continued to trade near the $70,000 level. The resilience of BTC during periods of global instability has strengthened the narrative that Bitcoin is evolving into a macro asset class.

While Bitcoin remains the dominant asset in the crypto market, many analysts believe that regulatory clarity could eventually benefit altcoins as well. If regulators establish clear guidelines for digital assets, projects with strong fundamentals and real-world use cases may attract more institutional attention.

For now, Bitcoin continues to lead the market while investors wait for the next major catalyst.

Could This Trigger the Next Crypto Market Phase?

The cooperation between the SEC and CFTC may represent an important step toward a more mature crypto ecosystem in the United States.

Clearer regulatory frameworks could:

• reduce legal risks for crypto companies
• encourage innovation within the U.S. market
• attract institutional capital
• enable the development of new crypto investment products

While short-term price movements are still influenced by macroeconomic conditions and global events, regulatory progress could shape the long-term trajectory of the crypto industry.

If the new regulatory alignment leads to clearer market rules, the next phase of the crypto cycle could be driven not only by retail speculation but also by institutional participation.

Conclusion

The SEC and CFTC agreement marks a significant moment for the cryptocurrency industry. After years of regulatory uncertainty and conflicting oversight, the two agencies are now attempting to coordinate their approach to digital asset regulation.

For investors, the development signals a potential shift toward a more stable regulatory environment. As the crypto market continues to mature and institutional adoption expands, regulatory clarity may become one of the most important drivers of the next market cycle.

$BTC, $ETH, $XRP

The team behind Story Protocol has let go of several employees and contractors as it explores opportunities associated with AI agents.

A pair of planned Dubai conferences, Token2049 and TON Connect, have been pulled from the calendar amid Middle East unrest.

As Bitcoin consolidates, select altcoins like Trump, Pi, and Render surge on specific catalysts and improving risk appetite.

Chairman Selig has issued a staff advisory amid a formal rulemaking process, as states and Congress close in.

The transition comes as generative AI reshapes the tech industry, forcing companies to rethink how they build products and run teams.

Fidelity Investments’ Jurrien Timmer is convinced that Bitcoin has established a cyclical floor at the $60,000 level.

Starknet founder Eli Ben-Sasson reacts to evidence from 2010 proving that Satoshi Nakamoto and Hal Finney supported the creation of altcoins. Discover how the "original vision" for Bitcoin embraced a multichain ecosystem over modern maximalism.

Current countdown for Litecoin (LTC) halving is in about 500 days.

Rippled, the reference server implementation of the XRP Ledger protocol, has gotten a new release that improves node stability.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) surges 17% this week, marking its strongest performance since December 2025. Bollinger Bands analysis signals further 22% upside potential toward $0.00000760.

Key Takeaways

• Legendary investor predicts stablecoins will control global payments within 10-15 years.
• Blockchain technology offers superior speed and cost efficiency for international transfers.
• USDT and USDC lead the market in transaction volume and adoption.
• Financial institutions actively test stablecoins for payments and treasury operations.
• Bitcoin maintains its position as a digital store of value.

The global financial system stands at a potential inflection point as digital payment technology challenges conventional infrastructure. Renowned billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller projects that stablecoins will emerge as the dominant force in global payments over the next 10 to 15 years. His forecast underscores growing institutional recognition of blockchain-based payment networks that deliver enhanced speed and reduced transaction costs for international settlements.

Blockchain-Based Payment Systems Attract Institutional Interest

During a conversation with Morgan Stanley released Thursday, Stanley Druckenmiller shared his perspective on the evolution of payment infrastructure. He projected that stablecoin networks could supplant significant segments of existing financial systems. According to Druckenmiller, blockchain architecture delivers superior efficiency while cutting expenses associated with worldwide payment processing.

He characterized the technology as delivering faster execution and lower costs compared to traditional settlement frameworks operated by financial institutions and payment processors. This value proposition has prompted numerous financial organizations to experiment with stablecoin implementations for fund transfers and liquidity operations. The dual benefits of transaction velocity and operational cost reduction continue attracting attention from both institutions and infrastructure providers.

A stablecoin typically preserves stable value through backing assets denominated in conventional currencies like the U.S. dollar. This structure enables stablecoin transactions to eliminate price fluctuation concerns while leveraging blockchain settlement benefits. Financial organizations are therefore examining stablecoin infrastructure for applications including international remittances, e-commerce transactions, and corporate treasury functions.

Market Leaders USDT and USDC Drive Stablecoin Adoption

The worldwide stablecoin landscape currently centers around two primary digital assets. Tether (USDT) alongside USD Coin (USDC) represent the overwhelming majority of stablecoin trading and transfer activity throughout cryptocurrency markets. These instruments enable merchants, corporations, and payment service providers to transmit digital dollar equivalents instantaneously via blockchain infrastructure.

Circle Internet Financial creates and distributes USDC while marketing the token toward financial infrastructure applications. Simultaneously, Tether sustains USDT availability throughout numerous blockchain platforms and trading venues. Both networks facilitate substantial transaction throughput and progressively function as cross-border settlement solutions.

Financial institutions and banking enterprises currently examine stablecoin architectures for prospective incorporation into payment workflows. Analysis from Australian financial institution Macquarie similarly indicates broadening stablecoin infrastructure throughout financial service sectors. Market observers highlight that stablecoin utilization has extended beyond trading activities to encompass payments, transfers, and corporate treasury applications.

Bitcoin Preserves Store-of-Value Status Amid Broader Crypto Criticism

While endorsing stablecoin payment prospects, Druckenmiller reiterated skepticism toward numerous cryptocurrencies. He has maintained for years that multiple digital tokens lack compelling economic applications. From his perspective, many blockchain projects represent solutions seeking real-world problems to address.

He recognized Bitcoin’s enduring status as a value preservation instrument. He observed that the cryptocurrency established powerful brand awareness and sustained adoption throughout market participants. This recognition, he indicated, reinforced bitcoin’s continued relevance within broader financial discourse.

Druckenmiller additionally questioned the sustainability of the U.S. dollar’s position as the preeminent global reserve currency. He has previously cautioned that mounting fiscal challenges could erode the dollar’s international standing over extended timeframes. Though uncertain regarding potential alternatives, he proposed that digital assets or stablecoin frameworks might ultimately reshape global monetary arrangements.

The post Stanley Druckenmiller Predicts Stablecoins Will Transform Global Payments Within 15 Years appeared first on Blockonomi.

Trump declared victory in the Iran conflict, Bitcoin surged past $72,000, and the search for the best crypto to buy now intensified overnight. Spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled $568 million in a single week according to Coinfomania, ending a four month outflow streak, and the rotation into high upside positions has already begun.

Best Crypto to Buy Now: Trump Ends War and Capital Rotates Into Pepeto

As crypto.news reported, Trump declared the US won through Operation Epic Fury, and analysts say clearing $72,500 could trigger a broader rally.

Understanding the opportunity means understanding why the best crypto to buy now is not a large cap waiting to recover, it is the presale that already built the infrastructure before the bull run arrives.

Pepeto: The Best Crypto to Buy Now for Traders Who Refuse to Miss This Cycle

Trying to find the best crypto to buy now can be overwhelming, especially when every chart is red and every headline contradicts the last. Tracking whale movements, liquidity shifts, and which projects actually deliver versus which ones disappear after listing is exhausting even for experienced traders. Pepeto was built to solve exactly that problem by giving every investor access to an exchange where the tools do the heavy lifting.

PepetoSwap is an intelligence layer for the entire market. Zero fee swaps across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana from one platform, a cross chain bridge routing tokens between networks without cost, and AI risk screening that evaluates every contract before capital touches it. All of that feeds into one exchange that removes the guesswork and replaces it with infrastructure traders will use every single day.

The exchange went live for stress testing and handled real volume without issues, giving Pepeto an edge over every project still promising features on a roadmap. The presale has seen 190% growth in wallet participation over the past month, and early investors understand that the utility itself is what will attract volume the moment the listing arrives.

Pepeto is still at presale pricing of $0.000000186, which leaves massive room for the kind of growth that only exists before the public market opens. Over $7.9 million raised during fear conditions, SolidProof audited codebase, the $7 billion Pepe ecosystem cofounder leading the build, a former Binance executive on the advisory board, and 199% APY staking compounding daily. Revenue sharing sends permanent income from every exchange trade to presale wallets.

The Binance listing is approaching and once it arrives, this presale entry disappears and never returns. That is why Pepeto is the best crypto to buy now for investors who recognize that the window between presale and listing is where the real wealth in crypto has always been created.

IMPORTANT: Many fraudulent sites are trying to mislead investors using Pepeto’s name. Only purchase through the Pepeto official website. Verify the domain carefully before connecting any wallet.

XRP and Solana Are Not the Best Crypto to Buy Now at These Market Caps

XRP sits at $1.42 according to CoinMarketCap, down 62% from its $3.66 all time high despite Ripple launching a $750 million buyback valuing the company at $50 billion. Futures open interest remains 80% below the peak. Solana trades at $90.90, down 63% from $237 in November 2025, with Goldman Sachs holding $107 million in SOL ETFs but price action refusing to respond.

Both are real assets with institutional backing, but at these market caps the returns are incremental, and the best crypto to buy now for life changing multiples is at presale pricing, not recovery pricing.

Conclusion

Every cycle teaches the same lesson: the investors who build wealth in crypto are not smarter than everyone else, they just act without hesitation when the opportunity is still open. Crypto is the most rewarding asset class in the world but that same speed makes the best entries disappear in days not months.

XRP and Solana both point higher, but the best crypto to buy now is Pepeto, sitting at presale price with PepetoSwap about to go live and the kind of demand that only forms when serious potential is behind a project.

Once the listing arrives this price level stops existing permanently, and the investors who waited will spend this cycle watching the wallets that moved today collect what could have been theirs. Visit the Pepeto official website and decide which side of that outcome belongs to the wallets that act now.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the best crypto to buy now in 2026?

The best crypto to buy now is Pepeto with $7.9 million raised, a SolidProof audited exchange, a $7 billion cofounder, 199% APY staking, and permanent revenue sharing at presale pricing before the Binance listing.

Will XRP recover to its all time high?

XRP at $1.42 is down 62% from $3.66 with futures open interest 80% below the peak, and while Ripple secured regulatory wins the returns at this market cap are modest compared to presale entries.

The post Best Crypto to Buy Now: Pepeto Becomes The Top Choice For Trader as Trump Ends War and Bitcoin Reclaims $70K appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Meta’s upcoming AI model, internally called “Avocado,” won’t arrive until May 2026 at the earliest.
• Internal benchmarks show Avocado’s capabilities sit somewhere between Google’s Gemini 2.5 and Gemini 3.
• The social media giant is exploring a potential licensing agreement with Google for Gemini AI technology.
• Meta’s previous flagship AI release — Llama 3 — debuted in 2024.
• This postponement occurs while Meta projects capital spending of up to $135 billion throughout 2026.

Meta Platforms has postponed its highly anticipated “Avocado” AI model until May following disappointing internal performance reviews. Sources indicate the company is exploring a short-term licensing arrangement with Google Gemini.

Why Meta’s AI Release Is Being Pushed Back

Meta Platforms has rescheduled the debut of its upcoming AI system, known internally as “Avocado,” moving the timeline from April to at least May — with a potential June launch also under consideration.

Meta Platforms, Inc., META

The New York Times initially broke the story, drawing on insider information. Reuters independently verified that Avocado’s current capabilities land somewhere between Google’s Gemini 2.5 and Gemini 3 models — suggesting performance gaps remain.

Meta’s most recent frontier AI model launch was Llama 3 in 2024. In the interim, competitors including Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s GPT series, and Anthropic’s Claude have advanced significantly.

The company did introduce two scaled-down Llama 4 variants last year, optimized for resource-constrained environments. These were meant to precede a larger, more capable system dubbed “Behemoth” — though updates on that project have gone quiet.

A Meta representative stated: “As we’ve said publicly, our next model will be good, but more importantly, show the rapid trajectory we’re on, and then we’ll steadily push the frontier over the course of the year as we continue to release new models.” The spokesperson continued: “We’re excited for people to see what we’ve been cooking very soon.”

Meta stock declined approximately 2% during Friday’s opening hours.

Is a Google Partnership on the Table for Meta?

The situation takes an intriguing turn here. Senior figures within Meta’s artificial intelligence teams have reportedly explored temporarily licensing Google’s Gemini technology to support company products during Avocado’s development. While no final determination has been reached, these discussions are actively underway.

Such a move would represent a significant concession for CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He’s committed substantial resources to his Superintelligence Labs initiative, assembling elite AI researchers and engineers. Meta’s projected capital expenditures for 2026 range from $115 billion to $135 billion, predominantly allocated toward AI-related infrastructure.

Licensing Gemini would essentially provide Alphabet with a high-profile victory — transforming its image from AI follower to a technology provider that competitors rely upon.

Meta has already generated tangible AI-driven value — enhanced advertising precision, superior content curation, and proprietary silicon for recommendation systems. The company also leads in the smart glasses category.

However, Zuckerberg has openly pledged to develop a “personal superintelligence” — a Meta-created platform potentially capable of rivaling Apple and similar smartphone ecosystems as consumers’ primary computing interface. Achieving this vision demands proprietary, industry-leading AI models rather than licensed alternatives.

Currently, the Avocado postponement dominates the narrative. Meta stock traded down roughly 2% in early Friday sessions.

The post Meta (META) Stock Dips 2% as Avocado AI Model Faces May Delay appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• Alibaba backed MetaComp’s Pre-A+ funding round, bringing total funds raised to $35 million in three months.
• MetaComp previously secured $22 million in a December 2025 Pre-A round from multiple investors.
• Spark Venture joined the latest round, and 100Summit Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser.
• MetaComp will use the new capital to expand its StableX Network for cross-border settlements.
• The company plans to grow operations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Singapore-based MetaComp has secured $35 million across two funding rounds within three months. The company confirmed that Alibaba backed its latest Pre-A+ raise. The funding will support the expansion of its stablecoin payment infrastructure across several regions.

Alibaba Backs MetaComp’s $35M Capital Raise

MetaComp completed a Pre-A+ round with backing from Alibaba and other investors. The company raised fresh capital and brought its cumulative total to $35 million. Spark Venture joined the round, while 100Summit Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser.

Earlier, MetaComp closed a $22 million Pre-A round in December 2025. Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund, and Beingboom Capital participated in that raise. The company confirmed that both rounds closed within three months.

MetaComp said the new capital will fund the expansion of its StableX Network. The platform connects regulated institutions, stablecoin issuers, and partners through blockchain infrastructure. The company aims to increase real-time cross-border settlement services.

The firm stated that it will extend operations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It said these regions show rising demand for compliant cross-border payments. The company will focus on regulated financial institutions and high-net-worth clients.

Founded in 2018, MetaComp offers hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions. It also provides access to traditional and tokenized wealth management products. The company operates under regulatory frameworks in Singapore.

Stablecoin Plans Advance as China Maintains Restrictions

Alibaba’s participation comes as China maintains strict controls on stablecoin issuance. In February, authorities reiterated that companies cannot issue yuan-pegged stablecoins without approval. The policy applies to both domestic and foreign firms.

Reports earlier indicated that Alibaba explored deposit-token technology for overseas transactions. The company has not announced any yuan-pegged stablecoin issuance. However, it continues to study blockchain-based payment systems.

MetaComp co-president Tin Pei Ling outlined the company’s strategy. She said, “MetaComp was built on a single conviction that cross-border finance requires an integrated Web2.5 architecture.” She added that fiat rails and stablecoin networks must operate together.

The company stated that StableX Network links traditional finance and blockchain systems. It said the network supports regulated settlement channels. The platform aims to improve transaction speed and transparency.

Institutions project rapid growth for the stablecoin market. Standard Chartered estimates the market could reach $2 trillion by 2028. MetaComp confirmed that it will deploy the new capital to scale infrastructure and partnerships.

The post Alibaba Backs MetaComp in $35M Stablecoin Funding Round appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• The Foundation commits to censorship resistance, privacy, and security as core pillars.
• Technical upgrades will emphasize decentralization, transparency, and sustainable growth.
• Application development will center on user autonomy through trust-minimized solutions.
• CROPS framework drives decision-making: censorship resistance, open-source, privacy, security, inclusion.
• The Foundation reinforces its role as independent guardian free from corporate influence.

The Ethereum Foundation has unveiled an official mandate that defines its responsibilities as the primary custodian of the Ethereum network. This comprehensive framework prioritizes privacy protection, robust security measures, and resistance to censorship throughout both infrastructure and application development. The announcement represents a decisive move to maintain Ethereum’s position as a neutral, user-controlled, and minimally-trusted ecosystem.

Central to this vision are the CROPS principles—comprising censorship resistance, open source development, privacy safeguards, and comprehensive security—which now anchor all strategic decisions. The Ethereum Foundation has shifted its focus toward sustainable technical advancement rather than chasing immediate performance metrics or market-driven objectives. By adopting this approach, the organization strengthens its role as protector of Ethereum’s foundational values while supporting organic network expansion.

This foundational document establishes the Ethereum Foundation’s identity as an impartial custodian distinct from product-centric entities. It creates clear guidelines for resource allocation, directing support toward infrastructure that safeguards participants and upholds individual autonomy. The mandate cements the Foundation’s commitment to delivering reliable, open infrastructure for the decentralized application ecosystem.

Infrastructure Development: Prioritizing Decentralization and Robustness

The Foundation will place decentralization, transparent verification, and inclusive access at the forefront of every infrastructure enhancement. Technical teams will concentrate on maintaining network availability, strengthening privacy protections, and bolstering security before pursuing scalability improvements that align with user independence. These strategic choices aim to minimize dependence on third-party services that could undermine Ethereum’s fundamental characteristics.

The mandate formalizes the organization’s methodology for infrastructure evolution, encompassing innovations like account abstraction and selective aggregation techniques. Ethereum Foundation remains committed to post-quantum cryptography research, ensuring the network’s durability and capacity for worldwide settlement. The team also emphasizes initiatives such as FOCIL, which guarantee transaction processing even when facing regulatory challenges or network disruptions.

This strategic direction explicitly rejects architectural decisions that favor immediate utility over enduring decentralization. The Foundation maintains adherence to the “walkaway test” philosophy, enabling Ethereum to evolve while preserving individual autonomy. Infrastructure-level choices will consistently enable interactions that minimize trust requirements and maximize privacy protection.

Application Development: Empowering Users Through Design

The Foundation’s mandate establishes expectations for consumer-facing solutions that highlight privacy, security, and intuitive functionality. Development efforts will concentrate on creating tools that amplify user control while defending against unintended losses and malicious attacks. The objective involves delivering a “zero option” framework that protects inexperienced participants without restricting their freedoms.

The organization differentiates its mission from wider ecosystem ventures, providing support for compatible projects beyond direct Foundation oversight while maintaining specialized CROPS expertise. Ethereum Foundation plans strategic investment in research and development that strengthens user autonomy and reduces dependence on centralized service providers. This methodology seeks to showcase the tangible benefits of privacy-centered, secure applications for diverse user populations.

The Foundation asserts its autonomy from regulatory influence and commercial incentives. This governing document provides direction for internal contributors, external developers, and the broader community toward building privacy-focused, openly accessible systems. The Ethereum Foundation now explicitly defines its custodial responsibilities as simultaneously protecting and advancing user sovereignty alongside enduring protocol strength.

The post Ethereum Foundation Sets New Direction: Privacy and Security Take Center Stage appeared first on Blockonomi.

It was another eventful week, with the headlines strongly focused on the quickly developing (and, in most cases, worsening) situation in the Middle East as both sides continue to hit each other, or allies.

In the meantime, the ever-volatile cryptocurrency industry responds to almost all new developments. Bitcoin, for example, started the week on the wrong foot, slipping from $68,000 on Sunday to a multi-day low of $65,600 when almost all financial markets opened for trading after the strikes and statements during the weekend.

However, the bulls were quick to intervene and didn’t allow further decline. Instead, BTC began its gradual recovery, which saw it near $70,000 by Wednesday. After the initial rejection, the bulls stepped up and pushed the asset to almost $72,000. It faced more resistance at this level and returned to $69,000 when the US CPI numbers came out later that day.

Although expectations and reality met, BTC remained relatively calm at first, but jumped by nearly two grand later on after Trump said there’s “practically nothing left to target” in Iran. Following another volatile session around $70,000, the cryptocurrency went on the offensive on Friday after the release of the US PCE data for January. which showed a 0.3% MoM increase, and a 2.8% YoY rise.

Bitcoin tapped $74,000 for the second time in the past 10 days, but it was stopped once again and driven south by over two grand. Nevertheless, it’s still 6% up weekly, similar to BNB, XRP, and SOL. Ethereum has added almost 10% in the past seven days, while HYPE has exploded by 23%.

Market Data

Market Cap: $2.52T | 24H Vol: $138B | BTC Dominance: 56.9%

BTC: $71,700 (+6.1%) | ETH: $2,130 (+9.3%) | XRP: $1.4 (+5%)

This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss

BlackRock Staked Ethereum ETF Sees $15.5M First-Day Volume. Perhaps the most significant piece of industry news this week came from the world’s largest asset manager. BlackRock debuted a new sort of Ethereum ETF that allows investors to take advantage of the network’s staking function. The launch day saw $15.5 million in daily volume.

Ripple Targets $50B Valuation With $750M Buyback Amid Major Partnerships. A recent report indicated that Ripple has launched a share buyback program that puts it at a whopping valuation of $50 billion. Its plan is to repurchase up to $750 million in shares from employees and investors.

POTUS to Headline Gala for Top TRUMP Holders as Price Soars 50% After ATL. Following a consistent and painful decline for the meme coin TRUMP, the US President stepped up to headline a gala for the top asset holders in several weeks. The token reacted immediately with a massive 50% surge.

Here’s When Arthur Hayes Will Buy Bitcoin Again. The co-founder of BitMEX remains a bitcoin bull, but he believes the asset is likely to retrace again amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other. As such, he said he might look for a new bottom below $60,000 before he starts accumulating again.

Binance Under DOJ Investigation for Possible Iran Sanctions Violations: WSJ. The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Department of Justice has begun an investigation into whether Binance was used in any form to help Iranian-linked wallets bypass American sanctions. Meanwhile, the exchange has sued the publication for defamation over an article from February 24.

Elon Musk Confirms Early Public Access Launch of X Money Next Month. Musk continues with his attempts to transform the social media platform, and indicated that users will receive public access to X Money in April.

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 Rejected at $74K Amid Rising Middle East Tensions, BlackRock’s ETHB Debuts: Weekly Recap appeared first on CryptoPotato.

President Donald Trump has announced an exclusive gala and conference for the leading Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin investors to be held at Mar-a-Lago in April 2026.

Reacting to the news, the token surged by more than 50% just moments after it had recorded a new all-time low.

Trump’s Second Gala Event

The TrumpMeme X account described the April 25 gathering at Mar-a-Lago as “the most exclusive crypto and business conference in the world & gala luncheon.” The announcement invited the top 297 holders of the TRUMP meme coin to come and join the U.S. president and 18 other undisclosed personalities at the event.

The website also promotes an “exclusive bonus” offering a VIP reception and talk to 29 qualifying members. According to the post, VIP eligibility is based on participants’ time-weighted TRUMP holdings as recorded on April 10, 2026. Additionally, investors must maintain at least the same balance through April 26 to retain full VIP benefits.

This isn’t the first time Trump has held such an event. Last year, the president hosted a similar gala dinner for the 220 largest investors of the coin. At that conference, attendees holding more than $111 million in TRUMP received priority seating. Overall, the event raised about $148 million, and some seats cost attendees up to $1.5 million.

As a result, critics argued that the president was profiting directly from his office by tying access to him with crypto investments. Some legal experts also described the dinner as “a simple bribe,” implying that the investors were made to pay for influence.

TRUMP Token Rallies by 30%

Prior to the news breaking about the TRUMP gala, the meme coin had been on a downward spiral, going from nearly $5.80 in January to a new all-time low on March 12, when it struck $2.73 per CoinGecko data.

However, it perked up immediately after the announcement, first shooting straight to $4.5, before gradually making its way to the $4 level, where it still was at the time of writing.

The project’s team has been making efforts to try and revive interest in the meme coin through new ecosystem initiatives.  Last month, it announced plans for yield and liquidity programs through Kamino vaults, new market makers, and a fund to back ecosystem projects.

However, those efforts had not resulted in increased trading activity, with the price sticking largely to its downward spiral. But now, the new price marks an over 30% improvement in the last 24 hours, with longer timeframes also turning green. Across seven days, TRUMP was up more than 25%, while the increase stood at nearly 15% over two weeks.

On the monthly timeframe, the meme coin has gained over 28%, although it is still down nearly 60% year-on-year and sits approximately 95% from its January 2025 all-time high.

The post POTUS to Headline Gala for Top TRUMP Holders as Price Soars 50% After ATL appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange announced a major delisting, following which most affected cryptocurrencies collapsed by double digits.

Prior to that, the firm temporarily suspended certain withdrawals and deposits and implemented additional amendments to its platform.

The Binance Effect

Binance Alpha (a dedicated platform inside the exchange’s ecosystem that showcases early-stage crypto projects) removed 21 altcoins, including WorldShards (SHARD), FreeStyle Classic (FST), Alliance Games (COA), BNB Card (BNB Card), MilkyWay (MILK), Hyperbot (BOT), and many more.

The company clarified that the sale of the impacted tokens will still be allowed after the removal. At the same time, it warned users to conduct proper research before trading the aforementioned coins to avoid any scams and protect their funds.

As is typically the case, many of the delisted digital assets headed south shortly after the disclosure. After all, Binance is the largest crypto exchange, and withdrawing support usually results in reduced liquidity, diminished availability, and a damaged reputation. MILK and SHARD fell by 6-7% daily, whereas FST and BNB Card nosedived by 70-80%.

A similar reaction was observed in late 2025 when Binance disallowed all services with Kadena (KDA), Flamingo (FLM), and Perpetual Protocol (PERP). Similar to FST and BNB Card, the involved altcoins crashed by double-digit percentages immediately after the news broke.

Other Recent Efforts

Earlier this week, the exchange supported an upgrade and temporarily paused withdrawals and deposits on the Ethereum network. The process was expected to take about an hour, after which operations were supposed to resume smoothly.

This is a routine procedure that Binance has executed flawlessly many times before. Over the years, it has taken similar measures to support upgrades across various ecosystems, including Cardano, BNB Smart Chain, and others.

Prior to that, Binance issued numerous listing announcements focused on U (United Stables) – a stablecoin launched last year and pegged to the American dollar. In January, it expanded the list of trading choices offered on its Spot section with the BNB/U, ETH/U, KGST/U, and SOL/U pairs.

In February, it added XRP/U, SUI/U, ASTER/U, and PAXG/U, while earlier this month it opened trading for AVAX/U, LINK/U, LTC/U, PAXG/U, and ZEC/U.

The post Binance Causes Brutal Crash for Numerous Altcoins After a Single Major Announcement appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Pi Network and its native cryptocurrency have been the talk of the town lately after the Core Team announced a series of important upgrades, while PI’s price soared to a five-month peak.

Ripple’s XRP appears to be gearing up for a major move, while Shiba Inu (SHIB) nears a breaking point that has historically resulted in explosive gains.

PI’s Impressive Comeback

After months of a prolonged downtrend, PI has finally posted an evident resurgence, with its valuation rising to almost $0.30. This is the highest point observed since the end of October last year and represents a whopping 100% increase on a monthly scale.

Some of the catalysts driving the price up include the recent updates disclosed by the project’s team. Earlier this month, the protocol v19.9 migration was successfully completed, while the next version, v20.2, was scheduled for release on March 12.

Moreover, one of the biggest crypto exchanges, Kraken, allowed trading services with PI. Backing from such a giant typically has a positive impact on valuation, as it results in increased liquidity, improved availability, and a stronger reputation.

The community has now moved its focus towards March 14 – a date known as Pi Day due to the symbolic resemblance to the mathematical constant π (3,14). Last year, the team announced ecosystem updates, raising the question of whether we’ll see something similar tomorrow.

While PI’s price increase over the past few weeks is undeniable, the asset’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests it might be time for a correction. The ratio has soared past 70, indicating the token is overbought and could head south in the short term.

Where Next for XRP?

Ripple’s native token has also risen over the last seven days, albeit significantly less than PI. Currently, it trades at around $1.43 (per CoinGecko), representing a 2% weekly increase.

Recently, the popular analyst Ali Martinez noted that XRP’s Bollinger Bands have squeezed due to the relatively slight volatility. Historically, such developments have been followed by major market moves, though the direction – a strong rally or a sharp decline – remains unclear.

Earlier today, the same person outlined a highly bullish forecast, envisioning XRP to explode to the ridiculous (at least as of now) $48 during the next bull cycle. Prior to that, analysts like TradingShot predicted that the valuation may drop below $1 in the foreseeable future.

SHIB on the Move

The second-largest meme coin has rallied 10% over the past week and is currently worth around $0.000006161 (per CoinGecko). Just a few days ago, X user JAVON MARKS analyzed Shiba Inu’s performance and concluded that it appears to be nearing the breaking point of another Falling Wedge-like structure. According to the market observer, the last move out of such a formation preceded a staggering 455% price explosion.

The gradually declining amount of SHIB tokens stored on crypto exchanges supports the bullish outlook. CryptoQuant’s data shows that the figure recently fell to a five-year low, suggesting that investors continue to move their holdings from centralized platforms toward self-custody methods. This generally reduces the immediate selling pressure.

The post Pi Network (PI) Price Explosion, Ripple (XRP) Set for a Huge Move, and More: Bits Recap March 13 appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Yesterday, BlackRock launched its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, trading under the ticker ETHB.

According to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, it recorded a trading volume of about $15.5 million on its first day.

A New Structure for Crypto Income

In a series of posts on X, Seyffart explained that the fund opened with just over $100 million in assets and had raked in more than $11 million in trading volume by 2 p.m. Eastern time. However, by day’s end, it had added another $4 million to close at $15.5 million. The analyst described the performance as “very, very solid for a day 1 ETF launch.”

He also looked at the numbers next to BlackRock’s existing spot Ethereum ETF, ETHA. During the same period, ETHA had about $264 million in trading volume, well above ETHB’s numbers. But the gap is largely a reflection of the difference in assets, with ETHA holding nearly $6.6 billion per SoSoValue and the staked Ethereum ETF launching at $100 million.

According to the analyst, ETHB carries a management fee of 0.25%, although in the first year, BlackRock is offering a reduced fee of 0.12% until the fund hits $2.5 billion in assets.

Documents released at the same time as yesterday’s launch show that Coinbase will be the custodian and staking provider. The ETF’s ETH will be delegated to a small number of approved validators, such as Figment, Galaxy Blockchain Infrastructure, and Attestant. Bitwise bought Attestant and is now rebranding it as Bitwise Onchain Solutions.

Rather than add staking rewards to the fund’s net asset value, BlackRock will pay them out as dividends, and according to Seyffart, the distribution will probably be paid out every month. Still, he urged investors to read the prospectus for the final details.

Some Analysts Think This Could Move ETH’s Price

Following ETHB’s announcement, analyst Ash Crypto said on X that the product was more important than it might appear. According to them, the 3% yield gives Ethereum a new reason for institutional capital allocation. They also pointed to how it could affect the basic supply and demand dynamic, which could help push up ETH’s price.

“Every dollar flowing into $ETHB removes ETH from circulation and locks it into staking,” the market watcher posted. “Less supply. Same or growing demand. Price goes up by basic math.”

The new product is part of a bigger change in how institutions are using Ethereum. Per data shared by the network earlier in the year, more than 35 financial and tech companies, including BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Fidelity, have released products that are built directly on the blockchain. These offerings include tokenized funds, on-chain deposits, and stablecoin services.

At the time of writing, ETH was trading around $2,100, which was about 3% more than it was 24 hours ago and about 6% higher than a month ago. The asset has also gone up almost 12% in the last year but is still well below its all-time high of nearly $4,950, which it hit in August 2025.

The post BlackRock Staked Ethereum ETF Sees $15.5M First-Day Volume appeared first on CryptoPotato.