PayPal's expansion of PYUSD access could significantly enhance financial inclusion and streamline cross-border transactions globally.

The post PayPal expanding PYUSD stablecoin access to 70 countries: Report appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Argentina's ban on Polymarket may hinder access to global prediction markets, impacting financial transparency and innovation in the region.

The post Argentina blocks access to Polymarket after early bets on February inflation appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin's surge highlights market volatility amid global economic shifts, underscoring investor sensitivity to macroeconomic policy signals.

The post Bitcoin briefly touches $76,000 ahead of key economic decisions this week appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

XRP's surge highlights shifting investor sentiment and market dynamics, potentially influencing future crypto investment strategies and valuations.

The post XRP breaks through $1.5 after double-digit weekly growth appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

OpenSea delays its SEA token launch as CEO Devin Finzer cites challenging crypto market conditions and promises a new timeline later.

The post OpenSea delays SEA token launch as CEO cites challenging crypto market conditions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Surges Above $75,000 as Bullish Momentum Builds 

The bitcoin price climbed above $75,000 on Monday evening extending a sharp rebound that has lifted the asset nearly 25% from its February lows and reignited bullish sentiment across the crypto market.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency broke through the psychological $75,000 level during U.S. trading hours after spending several weeks consolidating in a tight range.

The move marks Bitcoin’s strongest price since early February and reflects improving risk appetite across global markets.

Bitcoin price’s latest surge comes after the asset bottomed near $63,000 in February during heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran–Israel War. Since then, prices have staged a steady recovery as macroeconomic conditions stabilized and investor confidence returned. 

Bitcoin’s price has outperformed other assets like gold and the S&P 500. 

Markets received a boost over the weekend after signs of easing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. 

Two commercial tankers reportedly transited the waterway on Sunday for the first time since the conflict began, after Iran indicated its shipping restrictions would apply only to vessels linked to its adversaries.

Strategy buys into the bitcoin price game

At the same time, corporate demand for bitcoin continues to expand. Earlier Monday, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, disclosed the purchase of 22,337 additional bitcoin for approximately $1.57 billion. 

The acquisition increased the company’s total holdings to 761,068 BTC, with a combined market value of roughly $50 billion.

Institutional interest is also building internationally. Tokyo-listed investment firm Metaplanet recently secured about $255 million from global investors to accelerate its bitcoin treasury strategy, with additional warrants that could raise total funding to more than $530 million for future purchases.

Despite the rally, market participants remain cautious about declaring a full breakout.

Bitcoin price experienced several rebounds of similar magnitude during the 2022 crypto downturn before eventually falling to cycle lows below $16,000 following the collapse of FTX.

For now, traders are watching whether bitcoin price can maintain support above the $75,000 region. A sustained hold above that level could open the door to a push toward $80,000, which previously acted as a key support zone before the early-2026 correction.

Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, has recently argued that the current market structure favors long-term accumulation, urging investors to “turn on your DCA,” referring to the dollar-cost averaging strategy of buying Bitcoin prices at regular intervals regardless of price.

According to Mallers, bitcoin price is trading near historically important support zones and prolonged consolidation periods often provide some of the best opportunities to steadily accumulate the asset ahead of major market moves.

This post Bitcoin Price Surges Above $75,000 as Bullish Momentum Builds  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin at Key Support Levels — Why Jack Mallers Says Turn On DCA Now

Few people are as close to the center of the Bitcoin industry as Jack Maller. A young, tech-savvy CEO of a major Bitcoin exchange in the United States, partnered with Tether, the most profitable company in recent history, the son of Chicago traders, Jack, is plugged in. In his podcast, BLABLA, he has been ringing the bell over the past few weeks, “It’s time to turn on your DCA”. 

But what does DCA even mean? An acronym for “dollar cost average,” it is an investment strategy ported into Bitcoin that has become the gold standard recommendation to Bitcoin fans across the industry. Turning on your DCA means buying bitcoin on a regular basis, regardless of the price. Why does this work? Well its quite simple actually. If you buy regardless of the price on a weekly basis for example, you will buy as much of the lower prices as you will the higher ones. In fact, bitcoin tends to spend significant portions of time in ‘consolidation’, which is another word for neither going up nor down, but rather going sideways. This is a great opportunity to accumulate sats. 

Every time you buy bitcoin at a price lower than you bought before, you are lowering your ‘dollar cost average’ or rather, the average cost of your total bitcoin in dollar terms. Eventually, because of Bitcoin’s unmatched and inelastic scarcity, combined with its network-like growth, the price tends to go up, and when it goes up, it does so quickly. Most people miss the opportunity to buy at the perfect time, right before a major move up. But Bitcoiners doing DCA will already have an optimal average price, perfectly set up to profit from a large move up. As a result, you can end up with an average purchase price curve that looks something like this, right before a major bull run. 

There are other profound benefits to the Bitcoin DCA strategy. Because it involves small, manageable investments over a long period of time, the amount risked at any single point in the investment journey is relatively small. Investing, for example, 10% of your disposable income a month in Bitcoin would not be a heavy burden, making bear markets not just tolerable but actually turning them into incredible investment opportunities.

Multiple exchanges have also implemented automated Bitcoin DCA features, such as Kraken, Strike, Swan, and Bull Bitcoin, which cover many countries throughout the world. The automated aspect of this strategy can not be overstated. Compared to the high stress, intense cognitive load of a professional trader, automated Bitcoin DCA is a walk in the park, and it yields comparable results!

Books like The Art of Execution cover long-term studies done on professional traders on Wall Street, demonstrating that most lose money, and of those that do earn money, lose for 10 years straight before becoming good enough to make it. The human capital required to become a good trader is not cheap, but Bitcoin DCA is set it and forget it; you can go do something else with your life while your Bitcoin stack grows. 

You can calculate the long-term value of the Bitcoin DCA strategy with a variety of tools online, such as this BM Pro calculator which lets you see what would have happened if you had started buying say $100 of Bitcoin every two weeks, back in 2017. Needless to say, the results are incredible. 

In recent years, Gold has started performing very well with DCA as well, but those calculations are mostly dwarfed by its meteoric rise in 2025. Historically, Gold has much longer cycles than Bitcoin, and can easily stay still for many years after a big move, being the giant that it is. Whereas Bitcoin has a lot more upside overall and its cycles are much shorter, arguably leading to better returns if played right. 

Now Is The Time To Start Your DCA

Why now, you might ask? Isn’t it always good to have your Bitcoin DCA on? Well, there’s a great question, and implicit in Jack Maller’s quote, the answer is no. Technically, you can start your DCA at the top of a bull market and end up with a great average down purchase price by the time the next bull market takes off. But you certainly would be better off not buying the top. 

The following is not investment advice and does not represent the opinion of Bitcoin Magazine or BTC Inc. They are the opinions of the author alone.

The problem, of course, is that no one knows where the top of the market is; if they did, they’d be rich! Their strategy would get discovered, replicated by others, removing its competitive advantage over time. That’s the nature of markets; secret knowledge only works while it is secret. When it becomes public, the rest of the market adapts. 

Since Bitcoin DCA does not attempt to price the top, it avoids the issue entirely. But many people turn off DCA when they feel the market is nearing a top, and tops historically only happen after crossing the previous all-time high price from a previous cycle. So, despite the math, some do turn off their DCA, only to turn it back on when a clear bear market has begun.

So is Bitcoin in a bear market? Sort of. The price is down 50%From the top, but it also dropped very quickly, suggesting a reaction to larger macro events, which in turn means that most of the pain is likely behind us. There’s also a variety of technical price indicators that are flashing green, suggesting we are far closer to the bottom than we are to the top. In other words, it is time to get in. 

Weekly RSI, a momentum indicator, is in oversold territory historically for Bitcoin. You can go back a decade in Bitcoin, and every time the weekly RSI reaches levels this low, it signals a bottom. The Mayer multiple, which compares Bitcoin to the 200-day moving average, is also in the buy zone territory. 

The fear and greed index for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market has been at extreme fear for a while now, and you know what they say. If there’s blood on the streets, it’s time to buy. 

There’s also a historical analysis that looks at percentage-based corrections in Bitcoin from the top of the market to the bottom. These corrections tend to be smaller over time, with the last bear market drawdown going as far down as 77%. We are currently at about 51% correction, if we were to go down 70%, it would mean we are already more than half way down. So closer to the bottom than we are to the top. 

Notice we are already halfway through the Bitcoin halving cycle as well, with the next halving expected in early 2028. The last halving was anticipated with bitcoin making all-time highs near the halving, as the metric has become widely known, for the same reasons, we might see an anticipation of the halving again this cycle. Historically speaking, we are not likely to see a correction deeper than 70% from the top, an extreme scenario that would push Bitcoin to $40,000 temporarily.

Dips of the sort are also less likely given the institutional adoption of Bitcoin, which has massively expanded the liquidity of this market. If we did go that far down, those prepared to buy would find an incredible opportunity, but it would be speculation and a trading mindset to try to catch the absolute bottom, hence why low-risk, consistent DCA is so great. 

Finally, we have the death cross and colden cross combo. Pitting off the 50-day moving average versus the 200-day moving average leads to a fairly predictable dynamic. Markets sell before the 50-day crosses below the 200-day. And they pump before the 50-day crosses above the 200-day. Bitcoin has now crossed above the 50 day moving average, if it can stay there or continue to consolidate around the $70,000 mark, it will be very well positioned for a run up deeper into 2026 as the golden cross occurs, probably signaling the beginning of a new bull market.  

Macro Economic Trends 

AI stonks have been soaking up a lot of liquidity and investment this cycle, with roughly a trillion dollars invested in AI infrastructure in the past handful of years. The market is broadly bullish on AI continuing its disruption path. I don’t think it takes a genius to say that an “AI fear and greed index” would be way over on the greed side right now. It may be that AI has brought us to a new paradigm of only up for AI stocks and tech, but that kind of thinking is usually a sell sign. If there is some sort of event in the next year or two akin to the dot-com crash that leads to a serious AI correction, we may see speculative and investment capital look for other options beyond AI, bringing liquidity back to Bitcoin. Though it is arguably still early to call this. 

Meanwhile, U.S. debt yield, or the interest on the debt of the U.S. Government, has stalled out with signs from the FED that lower rates are coming. Trump nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve back in January, and his confirmation — while stuck in the Senate — is likely to go through soon, signaling a looser monetary policy, aligned with Trump’s broader economic strategy, which favours lower interest rates and more money printing, coupled with aggressive growth and deregulation. 

The Fed funds’ effective fund rate is also trending down, signaling cheaper money coming into the market, likely in part due to more money printing by the Fed, since U.S. bonds are not particularly attractive to foreign investors during this time of geopolitical tension. 

Fundamental Analysis

As far as fundamental trends or changes to Bitcoin, the only question that has emerged is in relation to quantum computing and whether it can break Bitcoin’s cryptography. This fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), while new to many investors, is not new to Bitcoin technologists. Broad consensus within the Bitcoin industry remains that quantum computing advancements remain mostly hype and have a long way to go before they become a threat to Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin core developers have been actively discussing long-term solutions to quantum for at least a couple of years now, though as far back as the Satoshi era. Formal improvement proposals have already been drafted, and software is well on its way to reach maturity, should it be needed to deal with a quantum threat. So overall, investors who sold due to quantum FUD might find themselves on the wrong side of the trade. 

The Barrier To Entry Into Bitcoin

So yes, most signs suggest that it is time to turn on your Bitcoin DCA. And the good news is, there are only a couple of things people need to really understand about Bitcoin to benefit from it. Why is its supply limited, and how does it remain limited? And how to protect it long term via good self-custody. These essential skills in Bitcoin are not trivial to acquire; they do demand some study and interest from investors, but they are simple hobbies compared to the knowledge requirements of becoming a professional trader or investor who can survive the volatility and unpredictability of the market.

In terms of understanding Bitcoin’s economics, Bitcoin Magazine has a premium selection of books on the topic, any of which is likely to give you the fundamentals and much more in an eloquent and enjoyable way. And when it comes to self-custody, Bitcoin Magazine also has a fresh review of excellent tools, written by yours truly, for the year 2026.  

This post Bitcoin at Key Support Levels — Why Jack Mallers Says Turn On DCA Now first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Bitcoin Magazine

Eric Trump Confirmed As Speaker For Bitcoin 2026 Conference

Bitcoin Magazine has confirmed that Eric Trump will take the stage at the upcoming Bitcoin 2026 conference, adding another high-profile voice to the event’s growing lineup. 

The businessman and increasingly vocal bitcoin advocate has emerged over the past year as one of the most prominent political-adjacent supporters of the asset, repeatedly arguing that Bitcoin represents both a financial revolution and a strategic opportunity for the United States.

Trump’s presence at the conference comes amid his expanding involvement in the Bitcoin ecosystem, including his role as co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, a mining and treasury company focused on accumulating BTC.

In recent months, Trump has delivered some of the most bullish public commentary on Bitcoin from a figure closely tied to American politics and finance. In remarks, he declared that he has “never been more bullish on bitcoin in my life,” adding that he believes the asset could eventually reach a seven-figure valuation.

His confidence reflects a broader narrative he has promoted at industry conferences and media appearances — that global demand for Bitcoin is accelerating rapidly. During one panel appearance last year, Trump said the momentum around the asset is unmistakable, stating that “everybody wants bitcoin, everybody is buying bitcoin.”

Trump: America should dominate bitcoin

Trump has also framed Bitcoin as part of a larger geopolitical and economic shift, arguing that the United States has an opportunity to lead the emerging digital asset economy. Speaking about the industry’s growth, he said the goal is to bring innovation back to the country and ensure America dominates the next phase of financial infrastructure.

“We are bringing Bitcoin to America and America is going to win the crypto revolution,” Trump said during a conference panel.

Beyond rhetoric, Trump has backed that stance with business initiatives. His firm American Bitcoin has been expanding its holdings and mining capacity as part of a long-term accumulation strategy. 

The company recently increased its corporate treasury to thousands of bitcoin while expanding its mining operations in the United States.

Bitcoin 2026 Returns to Las Vegas Bigger Than Ever

Bitcoin 2026 will take place April 27–29 at The Venetian in Las Vegas and is expected to be the largest 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

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%

This post Eric Trump Confirmed As Speaker For Bitcoin 2026 Conference first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin’s Ownership Base is Maturing, Reducing Reliance on Retail: Analysts

Bitcoin investors have shown surprising resilience despite recent market turbulence, fueled by institutional investors and aggressive corporate treasury buyers. 

Analysts say this trend highlights a structural shift in ownership that could support long-term growth. Institutional demand is clearly back, with “four consecutive sessions of ETF inflows and aggressive spot demand…suggesting one thing: institutional buyers have returned and they’re ready to increase their holdings around current prices, which recovered to above $70k as a result,” Bitfinex said in a note to Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitfinex wrote that “a sustained break above resistance could trigger momentum expansion, as positioning and the balance of flows suggest that the market is preparing for its next directional move after weeks of range trading.”

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan also noted Bitcoin ETFs have held up despite a roughly 50% price drop since October 2025, underlining institutional commitment.

“The best evidence we have is in the ETF market,” Hougan said, according to Coindesk reporting. 

“Bitcoin ETFs accumulated roughly $60 billion in net flows from their launch in January 2024 through October 2025. Since October 2025, prices are down 50%, but we’ve seen less than $10 billion in outflows from ETFs,” he said. 

Hougan described institutional investors as exhibiting “diamond hands,” maintaining positions despite severe market drawdowns. He attributes this persistence to the non-consensus status of BTC.

Hougan said that institutional investors who buy into BTC today are still sticking their neck out and standing out from their peers. That career risk, he explained, fosters unusually high conviction, meaning investors allocating capital to bitcoin today tend to be 80–90% convinced of its long-term value rather than mildly optimistic.

This conviction underpins Hougan’s reaffirmed long-term bitcoin forecast of $1 million per coin. 

“The wildest thing about my $1 million prediction is that it’s not wild at all,” he said. “All you need for bitcoin to get to $1 million is for the global store of value market to continue to grow as it has for the past 20 years and for bitcoin to become a minor but material part of that market.”

Last week, Hougan argued that skepticism over Bitcoin reaching $1 million stems from a misunderstanding of its valuation, as many analysts use “static math” that ignores the rapidly growing global store-of-value market. 

Framing BTC as an emerging competitor to gold, he estimates that with a $38 trillion market and BTC’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, the $1 million price target is plausible.

Bitcoin isn’t very speculative anymore

Supporting this thesis, Bernstein analysts also noted that bitcoin’s ownership base has matured, reducing reliance on retail speculation.

In a March 16 research note seen by Bitcoin Magazine, they highlighted the growing influence of spot BTC ETFs and corporate treasury buyers such as Strategy. 

The firm described Strategy as a “bitcoin central bank of last resort,” citing its aggressive accumulation model, which has added more than 66,000 BTC so far in 2026 at an average cost near $85,000. Strategy’s total holdings now exceed 761,000 BTC, valued around $56 billion.

Bernstein emphasized that institutional inflows are reshaping BTC’s ownership structure. Spot ETFs absorbed about $2.1 billion in inflows over three weeks, nearly offsetting year-to-date outflows of $460 million. 

Institutional vehicles now control roughly 6.1% of BTC’s total supply, while coins inactive for over a year represent approximately 60% of circulating supply, signaling a growing base of long-term holders.

On top of this, on-chain indicators point to a late-stage bear cycle, as Lacie Zhang of Bitget Wallet explained to Bitcoin Magazine: “The convergence of on-chain indicators such as realized price and MVRV suggests Bitcoin may be entering the late stage of a typical bear cycle, a phase historically associated with long-term accumulation rather than continued capitulation.” 

Despite short-term macro headwinds, the current conditions signal a strategic accumulation phase, with BTC likely fluctuating between $68,000 and $84,000 as longer-term investors position for the next cycle.

This post Bitcoin’s Ownership Base is Maturing, Reducing Reliance on Retail: Analysts first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

South Korea Fines Bithumb $24M, Imposes 6-Month Partial Suspension Over AML Violations

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb 36.8 billion won ($24.6 million) and ordered a six-month partial suspension of new-user services after uncovering millions of anti-money laundering (AML) violations, according to local reporting.

The FIU’s investigation found roughly 6.65 million breaches of the country’s AML and customer verification rules. About 3.55 million involved failures to verify customer identities, while 3.04 million cases concerned transactions that should have been blocked but were allowed. 

Authorities also identified 45,772 transactions with 18 unregistered overseas exchanges.

The sanctions, part of ongoing regulatory oversight of South Korea’s top crypto platforms, include a reprimand for Bithumb’s CEO and a six-month suspension for the exchange’s reporting officer. 

Existing customers can continue trading, while the restrictions primarily affect new user account activity, including deposits and withdrawals.

Bithumb, founded in 2014, is one of South Korea’s largest exchanges by trading volume. The fine is the country’s largest imposed on a virtual asset exchange, slightly surpassing a 35.2 billion won penalty handed to Upbit in 2025.

The violations were uncovered during on-site inspections of South Korea’s five largest crypto exchanges between 2024 and 2025. 

Regulators have emphasized that strict compliance with customer verification and AML obligations is critical to maintaining market trust.

Bithumb’s bitcoin blunder

The announcement comes just weeks after Bithumb accidentally sent billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin to users during a promotional event. 

The exchange had planned to distribute small cash rewards through a “Random Box” event at around 6 p.m. local time. Winners were supposed to receive between 20,000 and 50,000 Korean won. 

Instead, staff reportedly entered the payment unit as Bitcoin rather than won.

As a result, some users received at least 2,000 BTC each, worth roughly 196 billion won per person based on prices near 98 million won per Bitcoin at the time, according to social media screenshots and accounts. 

The operational error briefly caused Bitcoin prices on the platform to drop over 10% below broader market levels. Bithumb stated the incident did not result in any customer losses.

The FIU will finalize the fine after giving Bithumb at least 10 days to submit its opinion. 

Authorities said the enforcement action signals continued tightening of crypto market oversight in South Korea.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $74,000.

This post South Korea Fines Bithumb $24M, Imposes 6-Month Partial Suspension Over AML Violations first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin’s recovery is evolving into a broader market comeback as spot ETF inflows rebound, buyer activity returns after February’s sell-off, and fresh institutional accumulation helps push BTC back above $75,000.

Bitcoin pushed above $75,000 in Asia trading hours, extending a rebound that's getting harder to dismiss as a simple bounce. Wall Street is putting fresh money into spot ETFs, on-chain data is showing buyers are stepping back in, and Strategy is still buying a lot of Bitcoin.

Even mainstream media outlets described Bitcoin as an “oasis of calm” while war-driven volatility rattled almost every other market, a label crypto doesn't usually get during a geopolitical shock.

That's what makes this spike much more interesting than your average green day. There's more than one engine under the hood that's driving Bitcoin out of its winter slump. The price is higher, that's for sure, and trying to breach critical resistance levels that would cement its position in the mid-$70,000s.

But the rally is also being reinforced by ETF flows, renewed buyer aggression, corporate accumulation, and a macro backdrop that makes BTC look like a significantly better investment than almost everything else.

Up until a week ago, you had an easy argument against every bounce, as most were reflex rallies in an extremely oversold market. But this one is harder to dismiss so easily, because the buying is coming from several directions at once.

Wall Street is buying again

The best proof for this lies in ETFs. Farside data shows that spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $199.4 million in inflows on March 16, marking the sixth consecutive day of inflows after two days of heavy redemptions.

As expected, BlackRock's IBIT was responsible for the majority of the intake, seeing $139.4 million in inflows, while Fidelity's FBTC added $64.5 million. Six consecutive green days aren't a fluke, and they show that money is returning to the biggest, most established institutional wrappers.

However, ETFs don't explain every Bitcoin move, and they're not enough to turn every recovery into a full-blown bull rally. What they can tell you is whether institutional capital is joining the move or standing back, and right now it's eager to get a piece of the action.

March inflows have topped $1.34 billion as of press time, taking a sharp turn from February's aggressive withdrawals. After more than a month of fading demand and very little momentum, this sure is a real reset in sentiment.

CryptoSlate has already been tracking that turn. Our March 1 report asked the question whether the signs of rebound the market saw after the February slump were temporary or tactical. And now, just a couple of weeks later, the answer is pretty constructive: the same ETF complex that spent weeks dragging the price down is now giving some ballast to the recovery.

On-chain data shows us that this is a well-fueled recovery. Data from Qryptoquant showed buyer activity has returned after an aggressive selling period in February. While buying pressure remains significantly lower than the peaks we saw last fall, it's still a meaningful change from last month's seller-heavy market.

Having buyers back means there's potential for a stronger rally on a stronger foundation, because price can bounce off short covering alone.

The numbers we're seeing aren't market-changing on their own, but they represent such a sharp turn from Bitcoin's structure just days ago.

That point lands harder because Bitcoin’s structure looked shakier just days ago. Last week, CryptoSlate noted that derivatives were doing much of the work while spot participation lagged as Bitcoin struggled to remain above $71,000.

But the March 1 setup looks much healthier than that. The leverage is still there and won't be going away anytime soon, but it's now joined by ETF inflows and clear on-chain evidence of renewed accumulation.

Bitcoin is getting help from more than one direction

Then there's Strategy. The company bought 22,337 BTC for about $1.57 billion between March 9 and March 15, for an average of $70,194 per coin. That brought its total holdings above 761,000 BTC. At this point, every Strategy purchase adds real demand to the market, which feeds a familiar public narrative of institutional conviction.

Even people tired of Michael Saylor can read the message: a very large balance-sheet buyer isn't treating this move as an opportunity to de-risk and is actively leaning into it. So, the price is up, ETFs are positive, and the largest and loudest corporate bull is still shopping for more BTC.

Macro is doing part of the work, too. Bloomberg reported that Bitcoin was a pocket of calm amid the Iran conflict, which jolted broader markets. A significant part of the market started treating Bitcoin as a hedge against the Iran risk, helping the rest of the crypto market recover even as stocks struggled.

While we're still a long way away from Bitcoin being a textbook safe haven, this decoupling from stocks shows more investors are willing to treat it as a resilient macro asset.

There's still a significant leverage component here. We most likely wouldn't have seen this big a bounce without a significant amount of short liquidations. That's normal in a fast Bitcoin rally, especially in a market that loves derivatives so much.

But the difference here is that short covering no longer carries the whole rebound, as ETF flows are positive, buyers are getting stronger, and a major corporate accumulator is back accumulating. Put all of this together, and you've got a recovery that seems to have finally found its footing.

The hard part's not over yet, though. Bitcoin is still well below its ATH, and a good stretch in March won't erase the weaknesses that built up over the past three months. But today's step is stronger, broader, and easier to believe than any of the other rebound headlines we've seen this year.

The market no longer has to rely on a single explanation; it now has several, and for once, they're all pulling in the same direction.

The post Bitcoin price climbs as global markets shake, fueled by ETFs and institutional buying appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin’s power law enters a 2026 stress test as Giovanni’s new chart shifts the debate from price targets to regime signals

Bitcoin Power Law chart creator Giovanni Santostasi has added a new layer to one of crypto’s most durable valuation models.

The chart shifts attention to Bitcoin's movements away from the trend line, with a field of green and red rays that track Bitcoin’s 10-day local growth rate in log-log space against the long-run power-law curve.

For years, the Bitcoin Power Law was mostly shown as a time-based price corridor, with attention fixed on whether spot traded above, below, or near the trend line. Giovanni’s latest version shifts the focus to motion.

In Giovanni’s framing, each ray is a direct measurement of Bitcoin’s local growth rate in log-log space, with angle and length encoding slope. Green marks periods when the price grows faster than the long-run power law, while red marks slower growth or decline.

With 10-day averaging, the chart reads less like noise and more like a vector field around Bitcoin’s long-run power-law attractor.

CryptoSlate’s earlier coverage treated the power law as a framework that could point to six-figure valuations while also warning that it did not encode broader market forces.

Recently, we sharpened the falsifiability question, noting that a prolonged stall near the high-$60,000s would eventually put the model’s rising floor under direct pressure.

Related Reading

If Bitcoin stays near $67k, it breaks the Power Law floor by mid-December

The Newhedge floor is near $51,128 now but climbs daily toward the mid $60,000s by late October.

Feb 20, 2026 · Gino Matos

In 2026, the live debate is whether the model still helps explain Bitcoin after U.S. spot ETFs, tighter macro linkages, and rising mining difficulty changed the market’s plumbing.

Two current reference points show the tension. A live page from Newhedge places the power-law centerline near $124,477 and the floor near $52,280.

A separate calculator from Bitbo projects a 2026 power-law price of about $142,782. Those levels leave room for both a recovery case and a stress case.

Bitcoin does not need to revisit old highs immediately for bulls to argue the long-run structure still holds. But it also does not need to trade below the floor for critics to say the model has lost day-to-day relevance in an institutional market.

The visual update also helps explain something the older line chart could not show as clearly: the pattern of overshoot and mean reversion across halving eras.

Giovanni says the four halving cycles appear as alternating green and red clusters, with each bull market pulling the price above the attractor and each bear market pulling it back. That creates a cleaner way to describe a recurring structure that looks less like a straight-line forecast and more like a series of regime changes around a long-run path.

The 2026 test extends beyond the line

Bitcoin’s deviations from the power law can now be linked to hard numbers outside the model. ETF flow data, mining difficulty, and downside bank forecasts all point to a 2026 market that can move sharply around the attractor without settling the bigger debate.

Start with ETF flows. Data from flows compiled by Farside show cumulative net inflows into U.S. Bitcoin ETFs of about $56.1 billion as of March 16.

BlackRock’s IBIT accounted for about $63.1 billion of cumulative net inflows, while GBTC still showed roughly $25.9 billion in cumulative net outflows. The recent sequence was uneven.

Total flows came in at +$461.9 million on March 4, then -$227.9 million on March 5 and -$348.9 million on March 6, before turning back to +$167.1 million on March 9, +$246.9 million on March 10, and +$180.4 million on March 13.

Those figures fit the regime view better than the old “near the line” framing. In 2026, Bitcoin can absorb hundreds of millions in ETF demand one day and face meaningful outflows the next.

The new chart gives that back-and-forth a visual language.

Green clusters can now be read not only as speculative heat around a halving cycle, but also as intervals when macro allocators and ETF buyers push price growth above the long-run pace. Red clusters can be read as periods when those flows cool or reverse.

Mining data points in the same direction. In late February, a report said Bitcoin difficulty jumped 15% to 144.4T, the largest percentage increase since 2021, while hashrate recovered to 1 zettahash per second.

That shows that the system’s security bill kept rising even as prices failed to cleanly snap back to the centerline. Capital continues to build the network even when price action looks slower than the long-run fit.

A second chart posted in reply to Giovanni’s update points in a similar direction. D Cane’s chart plots Bitcoin’s estimated production cost, derived from mining difficulty, on a log-log chart, a format often used to compare values that grow over long periods.

A regression line (a statistical best-fit line used to show the overall relationship between variables) runs through the data and yields an R² of 0.9845, a metric indicating how closely the data follow that trend.

It suggests one possible mechanism for why Bitcoin can keep returning toward a long-run scaling relationship; time, mining difficulty, and price may be more linked than daily market narratives imply. But the article should stop there. The regression is a supporting visual, not consensus evidence.

There is also, however, a bearish read on the same data. A February report said Standard Chartered cut its end-2026 Bitcoin target to $100,000 and warned that BTC could slide to $50,000 before recovering. That range sits close enough to the live floor to keep pressure on the model without requiring a total breakdown.

It gives skeptics a clean argument: if a large bank’s downside case nearly overlaps the floor, then the power law in 2026 may be less a destination than a boundary line that the market keeps testing.

A 2026 view of the model comes down to scenarios, not conviction

We no longer need to debate whether Bitcoin can still be fitted to a power law. We should perhaps still question what the model says when outside forces are strong enough to pull the price away from the centerline for months at a time.

Bitcoin could stay above the floor, trade below the centerline for long stretches, and that does not force a final verdict on the model.

Under that setup, the power law persists as a long-run organizing framework, while short-run moves are driven by ETF allocations, macro positioning, and mining economics. Giovanni’s field would show repeated shifts between green and red without a decisive trend break.

That outcome fits the current mix of positive cumulative ETF demand, uneven daily flows, and a network that remains expensive to secure.

A move back toward the centerline, then toward the broader 2026 projection, would mean a recovery toward the $124,477 trend level and potentially toward the $142,782 estimate later in the year.

The mechanism is plain, steadier ETF inflows, less pressure from rates, and a market willing to pay for scarcity again after a slow patch.

In that setup, the new visualization becomes more than chart art. It becomes a way to describe a genuine re-acceleration in local growth rates before price itself catches up to the long-run curve.

If Bitcoin keeps trading weak enough, long enough, the floor becomes the main reference point. A move toward the $50,000 to $70,000 area would not automatically invalidate the model, but it would sharpen the criticism already present in our earlier reporting.

The framework is historical first and causal second. The power law does not include policy, liquidity, or leverage. If those outside variables dominate for long enough, the line will remain on the chart while losing its force in the market.

That leaves Giovanni’s latest version in a stronger place than a simple target chart, but a weaker place than a law in the strict sense.

It gives us a way to describe Bitcoin as a system that oscillates around a durable path. It does not settle what force keeps that path intact. In 2026, that distinction sits at the center of the debate.

Crypto markets now have tools that did not exist when the early power-law charts began to circulate at scale, spot ETFs with daily creation and redemption data, a mining sector operating at industrial intensity, and broader macro traders who can treat Bitcoin as part of a cross-asset book.

The line held through Bitcoin’s retail adolescence. The field now tries to explain Bitcoin’s institutional adulthood.

That is why the chart deserves another look. We don't have a clean answer on where Bitcoin will trade tomorrow, but we have a sharper way to examine the next few months.

If Bitcoin climbs back toward the centerline, the power law will look less like a relic and more like a regime model that adapted to a bigger market.

If price keeps sagging while the floor rises underneath it, the market will get the test CryptoSlate flagged earlier.

The line will still be there. The open question is whether traders still treat it as an attractor.

The post New Bitcoin power law chart turns $124k into the ETF-era battleground appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The President-backed effort to set broader rules for US crypto markets is nearing a political deadline in Congress as banks press lawmakers and regulators to block stablecoin companies from offering rewards that resemble interest on deposits.

The fight has become one of the central unresolved questions in Washington’s crypto agenda. At stake is whether dollar-linked digital tokens remain focused on payments and settlement or gain features that make them more competitive with bank accounts and money market funds.

The Senate’s market-structure bill, known as the CLARITY Act, has stalled after negotiations broke down over so-called stablecoin yield.

Industry participants and lobbyists say late April or early May is shaping up as the practical window for the bill to move if it is to have a realistic chance before the election-year calendar tightens.

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Jan 25, 2026 · Andjela Radmilac

CRS sharpens the legal question

Congressional Research Service has framed the issue more narrowly than the public fight around it.

In a March 6 report, CRS said the GENIUS Act bars stablecoin issuers from paying yield directly, but may not fully settle the status of what it called a “three-party model,” in which an intermediary such as an exchange stands between issuer and end user.

CRS said the act does not clearly define “holder,” leaving room for debate over whether intermediaries can still pass economic value through to customers. That ambiguity has become one of the main reasons banks want Congress to revisit the issue in the broader market-structure bill.

Banks say even limited rewards could turn stablecoins into a stronger competitor for deposits, especially at regional and community lenders.

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Feb 11, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

However, crypto firms argue that incentives tied to payments, wallet usage or network activity would help digital dollars compete with older payment rails and could widen their role in mainstream finance.

That split also reflects different views of what stablecoins are becoming.

If lawmakers treat them mainly as payment instruments, the logic for tighter limits on rewards becomes stronger. However, if lawmakers see them as part of a broader shift in how value moves through digital platforms, the argument for limited incentives becomes easier to make.

Bank groups have urged lawmakers to close what they call a loophole before reward structures spread more widely. They say allowing rewards on idle balances would encourage deposit migration away from banks, reducing a key funding source for loans to households and businesses.

Standard Chartered estimated in January that stablecoins could draw about $500 billion from US bank deposits by the end of 2028, with smaller lenders facing the greatest strain.

The banking industry has also tried to show lawmakers that the position carries consumer backing. The American Bankers Association (ABA) recently published the results of a Morning Consult survey on stablecoins, fintech innovation and regulatory preferences.

According to the survey, respondents, by a 3-to-1 margin, said they agreed with congressional prohibitions on stablecoin rewards if the question raised the prospect of reduced funds available to banks to lend in the community and support economic growth. By a 6-to-1 margin, respondents said stablecoin laws should be cautious and should avoid steps that could undermine the existing financial system, particularly community banks.

However, crypto firms have pushed back by arguing that banks are trying to protect their funding model by limiting competition from digital dollars.

Industry advocates, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, have argued that stablecoin issuers operate under stricter reserve requirements than banks under the GENIUS Act, which requires issued stablecoins to be fully backed by cash or cash equivalents.

The volume story has raised the stakes in Washington

The market’s scale has made the rewards dispute harder to dismiss as a niche argument.

Boston Consulting Group estimated that only about $4.2 trillion of roughly $62 trillion in gross stablecoin transfer volume last year represented real economic activity after stripping out bots, exchange flows, and other internal movements.

That gap between headline volume and underlying economic use helps explain why the debate over rewards has taken on greater importance.

If stablecoins remain largely a settlement tool for trading and market structure, lawmakers may find it easier to keep them boxed in as payment instruments. If rewards help them become a widely used store of cash inside consumer apps, the pressure on banks could rise more quickly.

As a result, the White House tried to broker a compromise earlier this year that would have allowed some rewards in narrow use cases, such as peer-to-peer payments, while barring returns on idle holdings. Crypto companies accepted that framework, but banks rejected it, leaving the Senate talks at an impasse.

However, even if Congress does not act, regulators may still narrow the path for reward structures.

In a proposed rule to implement the GENIUS Act, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said it would presume an issuer is effectively paying prohibited yield if it funds an affiliate or related third party that then pays yield to stablecoin holders.

That signals the administration may try to police the issue through rulemaking if lawmakers fail to produce a legislative fix.

Congress is running short on time

The fight now has two tracks. Congress is debating whether to settle the matter in statute, while regulators are moving to define how far companies can go under the law already on the books.

For the Senate bill, the calendar itself has become a source of pressure.

Alex Thorn, Galaxy Digital's head of research, wrote on X:

“If Clarity doesn’t pass committee by the end of April, odds of passage in 2026 become extremely low. This needs to hit the Senate floor by early May. Floor time is running out, and the odds diminish every day that passes.”

Thorn also expressed caution about the chances of a breakthrough even if the rewards fight is resolved, saying:

“The framing right now is that the dispute over stablecoin rewards is holding up the Clarity Act. But even if compromise is reached on rewards, there are very likely to be other hurdles.”

Those challenges could include regulations pertaining to the decentralized finance sector, the powers of regulators, or “even ethics,” Thorn said.

The issue of crypto regulation is likely to become a larger political battleground ahead of the midterm elections in November. That adds another layer of urgency to the current impasse, because a delayed bill would have to compete with a more crowded political calendar and a harder legislative path.

Prediction markets reflect that shift in sentiment. In early January, Polymarket placed the odds of passage at 80%. After recent setbacks, including Armstrong calling the current version of the bill unworkable, the odds moved closer to 50%.

Data from Kalshi shows that the bill has only a 7% chance of passage before May and 65% before the end of the year.

Failure would leave more to regulators and the market

The consequences of failure reach beyond the current dispute over rewards. The CLARITY Act is meant to define when crypto tokens are securities, commodities or otherwise, and to provide a clearer legal framework for how the market is overseen.

If the bill stalls, the industry would remain more dependent on guidance, rulemaking and future political turnover.

That is one reason market participants have focused so heavily on the bill’s fate. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan argued earlier this year that the Clarity Act would cement the current pro-crypto regulatory environment into law. Without it, he said, a future administration could reverse the current policy push.

Hougan wrote that if the bill fails, crypto would enter a “show me” period and have three years to make itself indispensable to the everyday lives of regular Americans and the traditional financial industry.

In that view, future gains would depend less on investors pricing in a durable legislative win and more on whether stablecoins, tokenized assets, and related products can prove broader real-world adoption.

That creates two distinct paths for the market. Passage could lead investors to price in the growth of stablecoins and tokenization sooner. Failure could leave future growth more contingent on adoption and more exposed to skepticism about whether Washington’s current support will survive the next turn in politics.

For now, the next move belongs to Washington. If senators can revive the market-structure bill this spring, lawmakers may still define how far stablecoins can go in sharing value with users and how much of the broader crypto framework can be locked into statute. If they cannot, regulators appear ready to draw at least part of that line themselves.

Either way, the issue now reaches beyond whether stablecoins are part of finance. The fight has moved to how they will function inside it, and who gets paid as they grow.

The post Congress has only weeks left to convince banks on crypto CLARITY Act or risk losing it to midterms appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Wall Street private-credit funds are slowing the exits as withdrawal pressure builds

As Bitcoin climbs and holds above $73,000, several of Wall Street’s biggest private-credit funds have capped, stretched, or halted withdrawals, according to recent filings and reports tied to BlackRock, Blackstone, Morgan Stanley, Cliffwater, and Blue Owl.

JPMorgan has also marked down some private-credit loan portfolios and reduced lending against parts of the same market, a sign that the pressure is moving beyond investor queues and into the financing that supports the asset class.

Investors asked to withdraw more money than several funds were willing or able to return on schedule. The pattern points to a market built on steady income and smoother marks running into a basic liquidity problem when demand for cash rises: the underlying loans do not trade like public bonds and are harder to sell quickly.

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Dec 18, 2023 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

The gap between promised access and actual liquidity sits at the center of the issue. It is also the part most likely to travel beyond private-markets specialists.

For crypto, the distinction is clear even before any price reaction enters the picture. A gated private fund and a 24/7 traded asset handle liquidity in very different ways. One depends on quarterly windows and the manager's discretion. The other trades continuously, for better and for worse.

The pressure is visible in the numbers.

The ratios are more telling than the top-line figures. BlackRock’s fund faced demand equal to about 1.86 times its 5% cap. Morgan Stanley’s fund faced roughly 2.18 times its cap. Cliffwater saw requests equal to 2 times the 7% it planned to honor, and 2.8 times the standard 5% gate. Blackstone’s Bcred reached 1.58 times the 5% threshold that lets it restrict payouts. Those are not tiny overruns.

So far, the market has not had to digest a clear wave of forced sales at disclosed discounts. That marks the dividing line between a liquidity-management problem and a valuation problem. Still, JPMorgan’s move adds a harder edge.

When a bank lends less against private-credit assets after marking down some portfolios, it changes the economics around those funds even if investors never read the filings. Financing gets tighter. Asset sales become more expensive. Confidence takes another hit.

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What the filings show, and where the pressure can move next

The filings and reports point to the same mechanism across several products. Private-credit funds offered investors periodic ways to redeem, but the assets under them are private loans that do not move through a deep public market.

Managers can smooth marks in calm periods because they are not forced to print a public price every minute. But when redemptions exceed the cap, the smoothing stops looking like stability and starts looking like a delay.

That distinction shapes where the next pressure may show up. If managers can continue to meet a portion of requests each quarter while keeping loan performance intact, the situation stays inside the box marked limited liquidity.

If requests keep outpacing those windows, managers will have fewer clean options. They can continue to ration cash. They can sell loans. Or they can change fund terms. Each of those choices carries consequences for the market’s growth outlook.

The private-credit market has grown to about $1.8T, according to an IMF note. That scale helps explain why a cluster of redemption caps now reads as more than product-level noise. The system does not need a crisis to feel a slowdown. It only needs investors and lenders to act more cautiously at the same time.

That caution is already visible in public signals around the sector. A Barron’s report cited in earlier coverage said the VanEck Alternative Asset Manager ETF was down 23% in 2026. That shows that public markets are already repricing the firms tied most closely to the trade.

For Bitcoin, the cleanest interpretation is structural and centered on market design. Crypto markets are volatile, but they are transparent about that volatility in a way private-credit products are not.

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A holder can sell Bitcoin at any time the market is open to them, which is effectively all the time.

A holder in a private-credit vehicle may learn that liquidity exists only inside a quarterly gate. The difference describes how access works, rather than settling the question of which asset is safer.

The private-credit pitch was built on two ideas at once: stable income and tolerable access. Recent events have not yet disproved the income side. They have, however, tested the access side in public. JPMorgan’s tighter lending, tied to marked-down collateral, adds a second layer of pressure because it suggests the firms financing the system are also adjusting their view of the risk.

The next question is whether managers can clear the queue without changing how the market prices these loans.

Bull and bear cases for markets, liquidity, and crypto

The bull case for the sector is a contained slowdown. In that version, funds continue to honor a portion of withdrawals, managers sell selected assets without taking large disclosed hits, and banks other than JPMorgan do not rush to widen haircuts or pull back financing across the board.

The pressure then stays concentrated in products with heavier retail or wealth-channel exposure. Fundraising slows, but the market avoids a broad reset in valuations.

For crypto, that setup gives Bitcoin a narrative edge without requiring a macro accident. The contrast is simple: Wall Street products can ration exits, while Bitcoin remains continuously tradable. That framing can help BTC relative to traditional risk assets even if the direct flow link remains thin.

The bear case is more mechanical. If withdrawal requests remain above caps for another quarter and managers begin selling assets into a thinner secondary market, the focus shifts from access to pricing.

A loan sold below the last stated value becomes a reference point for the next trade. Once that happens, lenders may tighten terms further, other banks may follow JPMorgan, and investors may question whether net asset values are keeping pace with market reality. In that version, liquidity pressure can feed valuation pressure, and valuation pressure can feed more withdrawals.

In a broader liquidity event, Bitcoin often behaves first like a liquid asset. Investors sell what they can. The safer argument, based on the material cited above, is that the issue strengthens Bitcoin’s long-term case as an asset without redemption windows, while leaving short-term price direction open.

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There is also a middle ground, and it may be the most likely one. Private credit can keep growing while losing part of the sales pitch that helped it reach a wider base of investors. A market can survive a queue.

What becomes harder to sustain is the language that treats those products like near-cash income tools. Once withdrawals exceed caps across several large names, the burden shifts. Managers then have to show that limited liquidity is a manageable feature, rather than the defining fact of the product.

For now, the market has a cluster of capped or halted exits, a bank that is lending less against some of the same assets, and a set of public numbers that show the line is getting longer.

The next quarter will show whether managers are simply pacing withdrawals, or whether the industry has to start proving what those loans are worth when someone actually needs to sell them.

The post Largest private credit funds on Wall Street limit withdrawals as investors rush for the exit while Bitcoin climbs appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) has officially unseated Tether’s USDT in transfer volume for the first time in seven years. The shift marks a defining moment for digital assets, cleanly splitting stablecoin leadership into two distinct categories: total supply and transactional velocity.

While Tether remains the undisputed heavyweight in the stablecoin market, USDC has become the primary lubricant for the actual movement of capital across the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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According to a recent research note from Mizuho, USDC accounted for 64% of the transfer volume between the two major stablecoins.

That translates to roughly $2.2 trillion in adjusted transaction volume for USDC, compared to $1.3 trillion for USDT. Mizuho noted this is the first time since 2019 that USDC has led by this metric.

The gap became impossible to ignore in February. Data compiled by Allium pegged total stablecoin transfer volume at $1.8 trillion for the month. Within that pool, USDC was responsible for approximately $1.26 trillion, while USDT accounted for just $514 billion.

Yet the broader market's supply structure continues to heavily favor Tether.

CryptoSlate's data shows that USDT has a massive $184 billion in total market capitalization, while USDC's supply is at roughly $79 billion. By those figures, the circulating supply of USDT remains 2.36 times that of USDC.

This stark divergence between dormant supply and active transfer volume has become the defining feature of the current market. It also highlights the growing importance of underlying settlement rails.

Mizuho researchers attributed the transfer flip to significantly faster on-chain usage, noting that adjusted stablecoin volumes grew more than 90% year-over-year. According to the firm, transaction velocity is increasing rapidly, signaling that stablecoins are changing hands more frequently across a much wider array of financial workflows.

Solana metrics highlight record turnover

While Circle issues USDC natively across 30 different blockchains, one network sits at the undeniable center of this newfound velocity.

By the numbers, the Solana blockchain provides the clearest link between the rising USDC transfer totals and the underlying market structure that demands constant, repeated movement.

Data from Grayscale illustrates the sheer scale of this activity. Solana processed a staggering $650 billion in stablecoin transactions in February, more than doubling its previous record and leading all competing blockchains for the month.

What makes that headline number remarkable is the relatively small base of capital parked on the network, a dynamic that points to extreme asset turnover.

According to DeFiLlama, the entire stablecoin base on Solana sits at a modest $15.7 billion. USDC represents 53.81% of that local liquidity pool, amounting to roughly $8.4 billion. Outside of Ethereum, where USDC maintains a massive $55 billion supply, Solana is the network with the token's largest absolute presence.

The intensity of USDC circulation on Solana is unprecedented. Token Terminal reported that monthly USDC transfer volume on the network skyrocketed 300% year-over-year, hitting $880 billion in February 2026 alone.

These figures describe a blockchain architecture specifically optimized for repeated, high-speed settlement. Token Terminal also noted that Solana’s median transaction fee fell to a one-year low of $0.00047 during the same period.

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Indeed, ultra-low fees naturally support frequent routing, algorithmic rebalancing, and complex settlement strategies between market makers and trading venues throughout the trading day.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that USDC transfer activity also surged on its largest home base. Token Terminal data showed monthly USDC transfer volume on Ethereum surpassed $1.7 trillion in February, reflecting a 250% year-over-year increase.

Essentially, the complete flow picture clearly spans multiple networks. However, the data coming out of Solana is drawing immediate industry attention because it puts stationary balances and hyper-active movement into the same frame.

This is because a relatively small pool of stablecoins is generating a torrent of transfers, which perfectly explains how USDC built a commanding lead in volume without coming close to matching Tether’s footprint in total supply.

Solana DEXs pivot from memes to stables

The spike in Solana transfer volume coincides with a fundamental change in what is actually driving activity on the network’s decentralized exchanges.

In late 2024 and early 2025, memecoins were the dominant force. Data from Blockworks shows that highly speculative tokens accounted for more than 60% of all decentralized exchange activity on Solana during that window.

That retail-driven surge pushed trading volumes to record highs, briefly doubling those on Ethereum.

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More recently, the landscape has matured. Blockworks data now indicates that stablecoin-related swaps have taken over, accounting for about 70% of all blockchain activity on the network.

This structural shift perfectly aligns with the February stablecoin transaction records tracked by Grayscale and the massive jump in USDC transfer volume tracked by Token Terminal.

This change in composition has massive implications for how transfer volume accumulates.

Workflows that rely heavily on stablecoins tend to involve repeated transfers among a web of intermediaries. Trading flows routinely split across multiple legs to find the best available price. Every single hop between exchanges, market makers, hedge funds, and payment applications adds to the aggregate transfer totals as balances relentlessly rotate.

Because Solana’s median transaction fee is practically zero, these microscopic, multi-step routing strategies can scale without eating into profit margins.

Regulatory moats and traditional finance rails

Meanwhile, the blockchain technology is only half the story. Policy shifts and platform rules have heavily influenced stablecoin routing over the last year, particularly for institutions operating under strict compliance frameworks in the United States and Europe.

The United States permanently altered the landscape in July 2025 by enacting the GENIUS Act, which established a comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoins. Across the Atlantic, Circle secured a highly coveted Markets in Crypto-Assets license in Europe in January 2025.

Those regulatory milestones had immediate market consequences. Binance and other leading crypto trading platforms delisted all non-compliant stablecoin pairs, specifically targeting USDT, before March 31, 2025.

Since then, Tether's USDT trading access on some of the world's largest exchanges was severely curtailed within the European bloc. This compliance moat naturally redirected a massive portion of European exchange flow toward regulated alternatives like USDC.

Traditional payment infrastructure has also deeply intersected with the USDC and Solana routing ecosystem.

In December, Visa announced that its United States issuer and acquirer partners had begun settling fiat obligations in Circle’s USDC directly over the Solana blockchain. Initial participants included Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, with a broader domestic rollout scheduled throughout 2026.

Circle is simultaneously pushing a major cross-border expansion to strengthen its institutional plumbing.

The company is actively scaling the Circle Payments Network, a system that allows traditional financial institutions to send USDC internationally and convert it directly into local fiat currencies via banking partners. The network currently boasts 55 institutional members and reached $6 billion in volume this year.

These developments present why the USDC competitive signal flashing in the 2026 data is undeniable. It shows that stablecoin dominance is no longer a single-variable equation, and that the market now measures success through two metrics that can, and clearly do, diverge for extended periods.

The post Tether still holds more cash, but Circle’s USDC is now moving more of crypto’s money appeared first on CryptoSlate.

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

Why is Ethereum Price UP?

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

Tokenization and Staked ETFs

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

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

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

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

Why This Matters for Ethereum

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

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

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

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

Key Features of ETHB:

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

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

Comparison: Spot ETH vs. Staked ETH ETFs

Fundamental Divergence

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

Markets Rally Ahead of President Trump’s Speech

Global markets are reacting strongly ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected White House speech today, with equities surging and oil prices falling after reports that the United States is allowing some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to stabilize global supply.

The development comes after days of heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the United States. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, responsible for transporting roughly 20% of global oil supply.

Reports that tankers are now being allowed to pass through the strait have eased fears of a major disruption to global energy markets. As a result, oil prices dropped sharply, triggering a powerful rally across U.S. stock markets.

$1 Trillion Added to U.S. Stocks

The market reaction has been immediate. U.S. equities surged at the open, with major indexes posting strong gains.

The S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, and Russell 2000 all climbed significantly as investors interpreted the tanker news as a signal of possible de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Tech stocks led the rally, with major companies such as Nvidia, Meta, Tesla, Apple, and Google all trading higher. In total, the U.S. stock market added hundreds of billions of dollars in market value, approaching the $1 trillion mark during the early session.

The logic behind the rally is straightforward: if oil supply remains stable, inflation pressure may ease, which could reduce economic uncertainty and support risk assets.

Oil Prices Drop After Hormuz News

Energy markets were extremely sensitive to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week. Any threat to the route can send oil prices soaring due to fears of supply disruptions.

However, the latest reports suggesting the United States is allowing some tankers to pass through the strait have helped calm markets.

Oil prices dropped sharply after the announcement, reinforcing the perception that global supply chains may remain intact despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

For financial markets, lower oil prices often translate into lower inflation expectations, which tends to support stocks and other risk assets.

All Eyes on President Trump’s Announcement

President Trump is expected to address the situation during a White House press conference later today. Investors are closely watching the speech for signals about the next steps in U.S. policy.

Key questions markets are asking include:

1. Will the U.S. officially confirm that tanker traffic through Hormuz is being stabilized?
2. Will there be a broader international coalition protecting the shipping route?
3. Could the speech signal de-escalation or further military action?

Markets have already partially priced in a positive outcome, meaning the tone of the speech could play a decisive role in determining the next move across global assets.

Could Bitcoin Be the Next Market Mover?

While traditional markets have already reacted, the cryptocurrency market is watching closely.

Bitcoin has recently shown surprising resilience during geopolitical instability. In many cases, major macro developments initially move traditional markets such as oil and equities before spilling over into crypto.

If global risk sentiment continues improving, capital could rotate back into digital assets, potentially supporting Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

On the other hand, if the speech signals escalation or renewed uncertainty, volatility could return across both traditional and crypto markets.

For now, Bitcoin traders are waiting to see whether the macro rally in equities will translate into momentum for the crypto market as well.

Conclusion

With oil prices dropping and U.S. stocks surging ahead of President Trump’s speech, global markets are positioning for potential stabilization in the Strait of Hormuz situation.

However, the final market reaction will likely depend on the tone and details of the announcement. Investors across equities, commodities, and cryptocurrencies are now waiting to see whether the speech confirms de-escalation — or introduces a new wave of uncertainty.

If risk appetite continues improving, Bitcoin could become the next asset to react.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has actively lobbied for a multinational military coalition to reopen the strategic waterway, Beijing has formally responded with a message of de-escalation. The friction between the world's two largest economies, coupled with a tightening energy supply, has positioned Bitcoin as a focal point for investors seeking a hedge against systemic risk.

China Sidesteps Military Engagement in the Strait

In a direct response to President Trump’s call for China to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has signaled a firm preference for diplomacy over military intervention. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Monday that "all parties should immediately cease military operations" to prevent a regional catastrophe that could further cripple global economic growth.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil flows. Trump’s administration argued that since China is a major beneficiary of Middle Eastern oil, it should share the burden of securing the passage. Instead of joining the U.S.-led coalition, China is prioritizing "head-of-state diplomacy," though Trump has threatened to delay his upcoming summit with Xi Jinping if cooperation is not met.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: BTC Price Breaches $73K

Amidst this geopolitical standoff, the Bitcoin price has shown remarkable resilience. After consolidating near $70,000 for much of early March, the premier cryptocurrency surged past $73,000 today, marking an 8% increase over the past week.

Technical Targets and Resistance

Market analysts are now eyeing the $75,000 level as the next immediate target. The breakout above $73,400—a level aligned with the 50-period moving average—suggests that the "Expertise" of the bulls is currently dominating the narrative.

• Immediate Support: $70,000 (Psychological barrier)
• Resistance Zone: $74,500 – $75,200
• Weekly Gain: +8.3%

The rising appetite for $Bitcoin reflects a shift in market sentiment. While the S&P 500 has faced pressure due to soaring oil prices (now exceeding $100 per barrel), BTC is increasingly being viewed as a "digital gold" alternative.

Why China's Stance Matters for Markets

China's refusal to join the military coalition adds a layer of uncertainty to global trade. If the Strait remains blocked and the U.S. continues its unilateral military pressure, energy prices are expected to stay elevated. For the crypto market, this often translates to two scenarios:

• Inflationary Hedge: Persistent high energy costs drive inflation, traditionally a bullish catalyst for BTC.
• Safe Haven Shift: As traditional exchange platforms see increased volatility in equities, capital flows toward decentralized assets.

Bitcoin Prediction: The Road to $75,000

As the "Who, What, and Why" of this crisis unfold, the path to $75,000 for Bitcoin seems clear, provided it can maintain its support above $72,000. Investors are closely watching the upcoming diplomatic meetings, as any further escalation in the Middle East or a breakdown in U.S.-China trade talks could provide the final push needed for BTC to hit new all-time highs.

As of today, March 16, 2026, $Ethereum is up 7% in the past 24 hours with 13% gain over the past week.

This sudden volatility to the upside has liquidations of short positions reaching over $123 million, suggesting that the "bear trap" may have finally snapped shut. With institutional interest peaking due to the launch of products like the BlackRock iShares Staked Ethereum ETF (ETHB), the path toward $3,000 appears increasingly clear—provided key support zones hold.

Is the Ethereum Bull Run Back?

The short answer is: Potentially, but confirmation is key. The break above $2,250 is the first higher-high Ethereum has printed on the daily chart in months. For this to transition from a "relief rally" to a full-blown bull run, $ETH must now flip $2,250 into a support floor and challenge the next major liquidity cluster near $2,450.

Current Market Performance at a Glance:

Ethereum Price Prediction: Breaking Down the Chart

Analyzing the recent technical structure, the breakout occurred following a "double-bottom" pattern near the $1,950 zone. The charts indicate a sharp vertical move that has pushed the Relative Strength Index (RSI) into the bullish 60-65 range, suggesting there is still room for growth before reaching "overbought" territory.

Ethereum Price Target After the Rally

The next logical target for bulls is the $3,000 mark. This level isn't just a psychological milestone; it represents a major historical supply zone where Ethereum struggled during the previous quarter. If the current momentum continues, driven by increased on-chain activity and ETF inflows, we could see a test of $3,000 by late April 2026.

Ethereum Risk Areas

Despite the optimism, the bull run is not yet "guaranteed." Technical analysts point to two critical risk areas:

• $2,200 Support: If ETH fails to hold above this level on a daily close, the current breakout might be labeled a "fakeout."
• $2,050 Support: This is the line in the sand. If Ethereum breaks below $2,050, it invalidates the current bullish structure, suggesting that the market remains in a long-term downtrend and the bull run has not yet started.

Expert Insight: "The $2,150 to $2,250 range has been a thick liquidity node. Breaking above it with high volume is a strong signal, but we need to see the crypto market stabilize here to avoid a sharp rejection," notes a senior analyst at CoinDesk.

Institutional Catalysts: BlackRock and ETF Inflows

A major driver behind this 7% pump is the surging institutional adoption. The recently launched BlackRock iShares Staked Ethereum ETF (ETHB) saw over $15.5 million in trading volume on its debut. Unlike standard ETFs, this product offers exposure to staking rewards, making it highly attractive for pension funds and large-scale investors looking for yield in a volatile market.

The start of 2026 was widely hyped as the “Year of the AI Agent.” Instead of simple chatbots, these new systems—built with frameworks like OpenClaw—are designed to actually take action: signing transactions, managing portfolios, and executing trading strategies on their own. The vision was simple: an autonomous system that could run financial strategies with little to no human involvement.

But the reality is turning out to be more complicated. Early experiments and a few high-profile technical mishaps are raising questions about how reliable these systems really are. AI might be able to trade faster than humans, but that doesn’t always mean it trades better. In one case, a simple decimal mistake reportedly wiped out $441,000, while some flagship models—including GPT-5—have seen their trading capital drop by more than half within weeks. For now, the idea that AI agents can consistently generate trading alpha is being seriously tested.

The $441,000 Decimal Error: Why Autonomy is Dangerous

In February 2026, the crypto community witnessed a nightmare scenario. Lobstar Wild, an AI agent developed by an Open AI researcher, was tasked with distributing small token rewards to community members. Due to a session crash and a subsequent "parsing error" regarding decimal places, the agent lost track of its wallet state.

Upon rebooting, instead of sending a few dollars, it autonomously signed a transaction for 52 million tokens—roughly 5% of the total supply—valued at $441,000. The funds were sent to a random address, highlighting a critical flaw: when an AI has the authority to sign transactions without a "human-in-the-loop," a simple bug becomes a financial catastrophe.

Does AI Outperform the Market? The NOV1.ai Experiment

To see if these errors were isolated incidents, the platform NOV1.ai launched a systematic experiment in late 2025. Six leading AI models were given $1,000 each to trade crypto perpetuals on Hyperliquid for 17 days without human intervention.

Performance Results of Top AI Models:

The results were shocking. The flagship GPT-5 lost more than half of its capital. The data shows that AI agents often replicate the worst human trading habits: Gemini acted like an overactive day trader, Grock fell victim to social media hype, and GPT-5 suffered from "analysis paralysis."

What is OpenClaw? The Framework Powering 2026 Trading

• OpenClaw is the leading framework that allows developers to turn LLMs (Large Language Models) into active agents. Unlike a standard chatbot that simply responds to prompts, an OpenClaw agent can:
• Plan: Set multi-step goals based on market data.
• Decide: Choose which assets to buy or sell.
• Execute: Interact directly with smart contracts or exchange APIs.

The adoption is growing rapidly; for instance, Crypto.com recently integrated OpenClaw into its ecosystem to provide users with AI-driven trading assistants. However, the ease of deployment has led to significant security gaps.

Security Risks: 10% of "Skills" are Malicious

Security firm Consensus recently discovered over 21,000 publicly accessible OpenClaw instances that were completely unauthenticated. This means API keys, wallet access, and chat logs were exposed to the open web.

Furthermore, an analysis of Clawhub (a repository for agent "skills") revealed that out of 3,000 community-contributed skills, 341 contained malicious code. These included:

• Prompt Injections: Forcing the agent to send funds to an attacker.
• Info-stealers: Exporting private keys to external servers.

Using a pre-made trading bot without auditing the code is currently one of the fastest ways to lose your $Bitcoin or other assets.

Conclusion: Reality Check for AI Investors

AI trading in 2026 is a powerful tool, but it is not a "get rich quick" button. The takeaway from the recent volatility is clear:

1. Autonomy = Risk: Never give an agent full signing authority over significant funds.
2. Discipline Beats Hype: Models that traded less (like Qwen) outperformed those that reacted to every market "noise."
3. Research over Execution: Currently, AI is better at monitoring markets and providing alerts than making final financial decisions.

The ban is the latest legal setback for prediction markets, which are facing regulatory pushback around the world.

The class action alleges Elon Musk's AI company knowingly produced and profited from child sexual abuse material.

He used his badge to intimidate rivals of the self-titled crypto “Godfather." Now he's headed to prison for more than five years.

Crypto is extending gains despite pressure on equities and gold, with geopolitical tensions reshaping correlations heading into a critical macro window.

The viral Rosie story credited AI with designing a custom cancer vaccine. The scientists who actually made it say the credit belongs elsewhere entirely.

Is a SHIB ETF finally here? $1.8 trillion giant T. Rowe Price moves closer to launching its "TKNZ" Crypto ETF, officially listing Shiba Inu as an eligible asset alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Billy Markus comments on the green crypto market but then takes his words back.

Bitcoin has printed its eighth consecutive green daily candle.

XRP's exchange reserves are crawling upward, which could be a sign of an upcoming reversal on the market.

XRP Ledger adoption is growing, as shown in more than 7.7 million wallets on-chain.

Key Highlights

• At its GTC conference, Nvidia revealed autonomous vehicle collaborations with major automakers: BYD, Geely, Hyundai, Nissan, and Isuzu
• Partners will utilize Nvidia’s DRIVE Hyperion platform to develop Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities
• An enhanced Uber collaboration aims to deploy robotaxi services in 28 cities spanning four continents before 2028
• Initial robotaxi deployment scheduled for Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area in early 2027
• The company launched Alpamayo 1.5, an enhanced open AI model for self-driving technology, attracting over 100,000 developer downloads

At Monday’s GTC conference, Nvidia strengthened its position in the autonomous vehicle sector by announcing multiple strategic partnerships. Speaking from San Jose, CEO Jensen Huang revealed that BYD, Geely, Hyundai, Nissan, and Isuzu would integrate the company’s DRIVE Hyperion platform into their autonomous vehicle development efforts.

The DRIVE Hyperion platform represents Nvidia’s comprehensive autonomous vehicle solution. This integrated system combines data center-based training capabilities, extensive simulation environments, and in-vehicle computing power into one cohesive reference design. Automakers can leverage this architecture to develop Level 4 autonomous vehicles—systems capable of independent operation without human intervention under specific conditions.

Huang expressed bold confidence in the technology’s maturity. “We’ve been working on self-driving cars for a long time. The ChatGPT moment of self-driving cars has arrived,” he declared to conference attendees.

The Uber partnership emerged as a major highlight from the announcements. The collaboration between Nvidia and Uber will bring fully autonomous vehicle fleets to 28 metropolitan areas across four continents by 2028. Initial deployment is planned for Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area during the first six months of 2027.

NVIDIA Corporation, NVDA

These autonomous fleets will operate using Nvidia’s comprehensive AV software ecosystem, incorporating both the DRIVE Hyperion computing platform and the recently unveiled Halos OS safety framework.

The reach of DRIVE Hyperion extends beyond traditional automakers, with ride-sharing platforms Bolt, Grab, and Lyft also committing to the platform, significantly expanding Nvidia’s influence in the mobility sector.

Alpamayo 1.5 Advances Autonomous Driving Intelligence

Nvidia unveiled Alpamayo 1.5 during Monday’s event, representing a substantial advancement in its open-source AI model suite for self-driving applications. This enhanced version processes driving video feeds, motion history data, navigation instructions, and natural language commands, generating driving paths with transparent reasoning explanations.

Essentially, developers can now program vehicle behavior through text-based instructions. This marks a significant improvement over previous systems that demanded complete model retraining for behavioral adjustments.

Since launching earlier this year, the initial Alpamayo model has attracted downloads from more than 100,000 automotive developers. The 1.5 release introduces versatile multi-camera compatibility and adjustable camera settings, simplifying the deployment of identical AI systems across diverse vehicle models.

Enhanced Safety Framework and Testing Capabilities

Complementing the partnership announcements and model upgrade, Nvidia presented NVIDIA Halos OS—an integrated safety framework constructed on ASIL D-certified standards. This system provides autonomous vehicle developers with a production-ready safety infrastructure for Level 4 vehicles.

Ten organizations, including AEye, Hesai, Valeo, and Flex, became members of the Nvidia Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab, established to evaluate and certify autonomous vehicle safety systems.

Nvidia additionally announced general availability of NVIDIA Omniverse NuRec. This tool employs 3D Gaussian Splatting technology to digitally recreate physical environments for simulation purposes, enabling developers to rigorously test autonomous vehicle behavior without constructing physical testing facilities.

Isuzu and TIER IV are deploying DRIVE Hyperion for Level 4 autonomous bus development. Nissan’s Level 4 initiative incorporates Wayve software operating on the platform.

Nvidia stock advanced 0.26% during after-hours trading Monday, building on positive momentum from regular market hours.

The post Nvidia (NVDA) Stock Climbs Following Major Autonomous Vehicle Partnership Announcements appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Honeywell (HON) shares have declined approximately 3.7% over the past two weeks amid escalating Middle East tensions
• The company anticipates Q1 revenue may be affected by a high-single-digit percentage due to regional conflict
• CEO Vimal Kapur characterized these challenges as “tactical” disruptions rather than fundamental demand issues
• Annual 2026 sales projections remain at $38.8B–$39.8B with no adjustments
• The company maintains its adjusted EPS forecast of $10.35–$10.65 for the year

Shares of Honeywell International (HON) faced downward pressure this week after the industrial conglomerate cautioned that escalating Middle East tensions could impact its first-quarter revenue by a high-single-digit percentage.

HONEYWELL CEO: CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD IMPACT Q1 REVENUE BY HIGH SINGLE DIGIT % – CONF. CALL

— First Squawk (@FirstSquawk) March 17, 2026

Speaking at BofA Securities’ Global Industrials Conference on Tuesday, CEO Vimal Kapur provided investors with one of the most transparent assessments to date regarding how the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is affecting corporate performance in the industrial sector.

The geopolitical instability is driving up energy costs, constraining access to essential raw materials, and creating uncertainty around critical shipping routes. This confluence of factors is inflating operational expenses and compressing profit margins throughout various sectors.

Honeywell International Inc., HON

In his remarks, Kapur adopted a cautious yet optimistic tone. He presented the current challenges as primarily a logistical delay rather than a fundamental weakening of customer demand.

“If something due in March shows up in April or May, it still won’t change our guide for the year or for that matter, the next year,” he said.

This outlook is reflected in the company’s decision to maintain its annual projections. Honeywell continues to expect 2026 revenue between $38.8 billion and $39.8 billion.

The adjusted earnings per share outlook also remains intact at $10.35 to $10.65. Management’s commitment to these targets signals confidence despite near-term headwinds.

Share Price Under Pressure

Since the conflict intensified more than two weeks ago, HON stock has retreated roughly 3.7%. For a well-established industrial stalwart, this represents a notable decline.

The sell-off mirrors wider investor concerns about how multinational corporations with complex supply networks will navigate ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Honeywell’s diversified operations span aerospace systems, building technologies, and industrial automation — all vulnerable to global logistics challenges.

The company has not disclosed which particular divisions are experiencing the most significant Q1 delays. The projected high-single-digit revenue shortfall remains an approximation rather than a definitive calculation.

Wider Industry Implications

Honeywell is far from the only company grappling with these challenges. The Iran situation is generating complications throughout the industrial and energy landscapes, with supply chain volatility adding complexity to operational planning.

Rising energy costs are flowing through to bottom-line expenses for manufacturing firms dependent on transportation networks and commodity inputs. For Honeywell, this translates to navigating compressed margins over the coming months.

Kapur’s characterization of these issues as “tactical” carries weight with market participants. It suggests leadership views the disruption as temporary rather than indicative of lasting shifts in customer appetite for Honeywell’s offerings.

Nevertheless, any first-quarter underperformance — regardless of whether it’s attributed to timing factors — typically draws intense examination. Market analysts will be paying close attention when the company releases its Q1 earnings report.

The company’s full-year projections — adjusted EPS of $10.35 to $10.65 and sales of $38.8 billion to $39.8 billion — serve as the key metrics to monitor. As of March 17, these figures have not been revised.

The post Honeywell (HON) Stock Slides 3.7% on Middle East Conflict Warning appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• Brent crude surged past $104 per barrel while WTI approached $97 amid continued Iranian strikes on regional energy facilities
• UAE’s Shah gas field operations halted and Fujairah port crude shipments suspended following attacks
• Approximately 20% of worldwide oil supply affected as the Strait of Hormuz blockade persists
• Energy prices have surged over 40% in the three weeks since hostilities commenced
• Central banks worldwide, including the Federal Reserve, ECB, and Bank of Japan, convene this week amid mounting energy-fueled inflation worries

Energy markets experienced another dramatic surge on Tuesday following a short-lived decline, as the three-week conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran shows no indication of de-escalation.

Brent crude broke through the $104 per barrel threshold while West Texas Intermediate climbed to approximately $97. The gains came after both benchmarks experienced Monday declines of 3-5%.

Iranian forces maintained their campaign targeting energy installations throughout the Middle East. Operations at the UAE’s Shah gas field were forced to cease. Drone and missile strikes also damaged an oil production facility in Iraq.

According to documentation from Inchcape Shipping Services, crude oil loading operations at Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates have been suspended once more. Both the UAE and Kuwait have announced additional production cuts as defensive measures against the persistent assault.

Oil markets have experienced gains exceeding 40% since the conflict’s outbreak, despite Monday’s temporary retreat following Washington’s announcement of releasing initial emergency petroleum reserves.

Hormuz Strait Remains Central Flashpoint

The strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global petroleum supplies transit, continues to face severe disruption. Iranian authorities effectively sealed the waterway earlier this month.

Limited advancement occurred Monday when tankers bearing Indian and Pakistani flags managed successful passage. Tehran has indicated willingness to permit selective vessel transit while maintaining restrictions on shipping connected to Washington and allied nations.

According to JPMorgan’s analytical team, passage through the strategic waterway is expected to become “increasingly conditional,” with Iranian authorities granting access based on vessels’ national origins.

Bloomberg maritime tracking systems reveal several vessels have successfully navigated through by utilizing routes positioned unusually near Iranian territorial waters.

Saudi Arabian authorities are accelerating efforts to expand export capacity through alternative channels that circumvent Hormuz completely.

US President Donald Trump appealed to at least seven nations, including China, requesting assistance in reopening the critical shipping lane. These diplomatic overtures received minimal positive response. Trump subsequently threatened expanded military operations targeting Kharg Island’s petroleum infrastructure, having previously avoided striking energy assets at that location.

During a CNBC interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that Washington continues permitting Iranian crude shipments through the waterway and has refrained from intervening in energy derivatives trading.

Rising Energy Costs Spark Global Inflation Concerns

The dramatic escalation in petroleum prices has intensified anxieties regarding energy-induced inflation. Multiple prominent central banking institutions, including the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of Japan, have scheduled policy meetings during the current week.

Numerous Asian economies face particular vulnerability due to heavy reliance on petroleum imports transiting through Hormuz, making the sustained disruption especially problematic for these markets.

Israeli authorities announced Tuesday the elimination of high-ranking Iranian officials, including security director Ali Larijani. Tehran had not verified these assertions as of Tuesday.

Bloomberg tracking data indicates Iranian vessel traffic through the waterway reached wartime peak levels Monday, including a petroleum tanker bound for Chinese ports.

The post Crude Oil Surges Past $100 Mark as Iran-Israel Conflict Disrupts Hormuz Strait appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• A $4.3 billion supply agreement between Tesla and LG Energy Solution will establish an LFP battery manufacturing facility in Lansing, Michigan.
• The facility is slated to commence operations in 2027.
• Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells from this plant will supply Tesla’s Megapack 3 energy storage products.
• The U.S. Department of the Interior announced the agreement during the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Summit.
• LG Energy Solution shares gained 4% following the confirmation, while Tesla stock declined 0.4% in early trading.

In a strategic move to bolster domestic battery production, Tesla (TSLA) has partnered with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to construct a $4.3 billion lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery manufacturing plant in Lansing, Michigan. The agreement was officially announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday during the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Summit.

‘Tesla – LG Energy Solution’

This deal is another sign that the battery value chain is shifting from EV-first to storage-first.

Reuters reported that the U.S. government confirmed Tesla and LG Energy Solution agreed to build a $4.3 billion LFP prismatic battery-cell facility in… pic.twitter.com/yR9GWcHCXa

— Kwangho Axeon (@Kwanghoaxeon) March 17, 2026

The facility is scheduled to start manufacturing operations in 2027. These battery cells will specifically support Tesla’s Megapack 3 energy storage units, which are currently assembled at the company’s Houston facility.

According to the Interior Department, this facility aims to establish a “robust domestic battery supply chain.” This strategic objective aligns with Tesla’s ongoing efforts to minimize dependence on battery suppliers from China.

Tesla, Inc., TSLA

Historically, Tesla’s battery supply has come from multiple sources including Panasonic, China’s CATL, and its own manufacturing operations. Chinese manufacturers have traditionally dominated the LFP battery market, making this agreement a significant milestone in establishing domestic production capabilities.

Among the limited number of companies manufacturing LFP batteries on American soil, LG Energy Solution holds a competitive position. This advantage becomes increasingly valuable as electric vehicle and energy storage companies seek alternatives to Chinese supply chains amid escalating tariff concerns.

Compared to cobalt-based battery alternatives, LFP batteries offer enhanced safety profiles and extended longevity. Their lower production costs could also enable Tesla to optimize expenses for its energy storage product line.

Initial reports from Reuters in July 2025 revealed that LG Energy Solution had secured a $4.3 billion contract for global LFP battery supply spanning three years. However, the customer’s identity and the batteries’ intended application remained undisclosed until this week’s announcement.

Market Response to Battery Plant Confirmation

Following the official confirmation, LG Energy Solution’s stock price surged 4% at Tuesday’s close. In contrast, Tesla shares experienced a modest 0.4% decline during pre-market trading.

The subdued market response to Tesla shares likely reflects broader challenges facing the company. Over the last three months, Tesla stock has tumbled 19%, pressured by concerns about declining sales volumes, diminishing profitability, and compressed margins.

While the S&P 500 has decreased 1.7% during the same timeframe, Tesla’s downturn has been considerably more pronounced. On Tuesday, index futures showed a 0.4% decline as volatility in oil markets contributed to investor uncertainty.

Facility Details and Production Schedule

The Lansing, Michigan location will serve as the production hub for LFP prismatic battery cells, with initial output anticipated in 2027. Tesla’s Houston-manufactured Megapack 3 systems will integrate these domestically-produced cells.

This partnership strategically positions Tesla to decrease reliance on Chinese battery imports during a period when tariffs have increased costs and created supply chain uncertainty.

While LG Energy Solution disclosed the $4.3 billion supply agreement last year, Monday’s announcement provided the crucial details linking the contract to Tesla and confirming the Michigan manufacturing site.

The post Tesla (TSLA) Stock Slides Despite $4.3B Michigan Battery Factory Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Summary

• Shopify (SHOP) started Tuesday’s session at $126.58, significantly under its yearly peak of $182.19
• BBVA expanded its SHOP holdings by 59.9% during Q3, increasing its investment to approximately $5.71 million
• Analyst consensus points to a Moderate Buy rating, with an average price projection of $163.38
• President Harley Finkelstein presented the company’s agentic AI commerce strategy at LA’s Upfront Summit
• Institutional and hedge fund investors control 69.27% of outstanding Shopify shares

Tuesday’s opening bell saw Shopify shares priced at $126.58, marking a substantial discount from the 52-week peak of $182.19. The e-commerce platform’s stock currently trades beneath both its 50-day moving average of $133.12 and its 200-day moving average of $148.62.

Shopify Inc., SHOP

North of the border, SHOP shares on the Canadian exchange climbed 2.59% to settle at C$173.21 Monday, surpassing the S&P/TSX Composite Index’s 1.03% advance. Daily volume registered at 1.1 million shares, trailing the 50-day average of 2.0 million.

The company commands a market capitalization of $165.1 billion with a price-to-earnings multiple of 136.11. Its beta coefficient of 2.83 indicates substantial volatility compared to broader market movements.

Recent months have witnessed notable institutional activity around SHOP shares. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. significantly expanded its position during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 14,552 shares to reach a total holding of 38,857 units, valued at roughly $5.71 million according to regulatory filings.

Additional institutional movement came from Financial Gravity Companies Inc., Rothschild Investment LLC, Heartwood Wealth Advisors, Estabrook Capital Management, and Vestor Capital — each establishing new stakes or enlarging existing positions during recent reporting periods. Overall institutional ownership has reached 69.27%.

Wall Street Maintains Optimism Despite Target Reductions

The analyst community continues expressing general confidence in Shopify, although multiple firms have recently revised their price objectives downward. Citigroup maintained its buy recommendation while adjusting its target to $172 from $195 after Shopify’s February quarterly report. Cantor Fitzgerald kept its neutral stance but made a substantial reduction to $126 from $181.

Stifel Nicolaus published a hold rating alongside a $115 price target. Robert W. Baird established a $160 objective. Conversely, Mizuho elevated SHOP from neutral to outperform, assigning a $150 target. Overall, the stock receives 31 Buy ratings, 3 Strong Buy recommendations, and 10 Hold assessments. The aggregate price target of $163.38 represents approximately 29% upside from current levels.

Shopify’s annual trading range spans from $69.84 to $182.19, illustrating significant price volatility throughout the past twelve months.

President Finkelstein Unveils AI Agent Commerce Strategy

During Monday’s Upfront Summit in Los Angeles, Shopify President Harley Finkelstein presented the company’s strategic direction for agentic artificial intelligence in e-commerce. He characterized AI agents as the next generation of “personal shoppers,” designed to understand individual consumer preferences and recommend products without conventional search functionality.

“Agentic is fundamentally merit-based,” Finkelstein explained, drawing a distinction from traditional search platforms that prioritize sponsored content over relevance. He illustrated the concept with running shoe purchases — an AI agent remembering your preferred brand eliminates irrelevant options.

Finkelstein referenced Sidekick, Shopify’s merchant-focused AI tool, positioning it within a comprehensive transformation of retail operations. “We’re probably more excited about this particular new era of commerce than we have ever been,” he stated.

The deployment of agentic capabilities will require a gradual rollout, according to Finkelstein.

Shopify shares most recently changed hands at $126.58, featuring a P/E/G ratio of 4.41.

The post Shopify (SHOP) Stock Analysis: AI Innovation Meets Institutional Confidence appeared first on Blockonomi.

XRP’s price has increased by more than 8% over the past week, pushing above the pivotal $1.5 level.

Ripple’s native cryptocurrency is also a leading performer for the past 24 hours, up by 2.8% – the most out of the top 10 coins by means of total market capitalization.

It’s worth noting that XRP reached considerably higher and pushed above $1.6 for a moment, but the bears were quick to intercept the movement, resulting in a slight decline over the past few hours.

What’s Next for the XRP Price?

Nonetheless, this marked a level not seen in over a month, which had some analysts already outlining potential breakout targets.

Notably, during the days leading to today’s move, popular market observer and analyst Ali Martinez outlined that the Bollinger Bands on XRP’s chart had been squeezing. That’s because the coin had spent considerable time trading within a relatively narrow range between $1.33 and $1.47. Bollinger Bands are a well-known volatility indicator. The more squeezed they get, the higher the chance of a breakout move, which is what is happening now, according to the analyst.

Martinez commented on today’s increase, saying that XRP is already breaking out of its triangle pattern.

Moreover, he also suggested that the next upward target is $1.85, which would mean an increase of another 23% from current levels.

$XRP is breaking out of this triangle!

Target: $1.85. https://t.co/3dirkMNDwF pic.twitter.com/H2D56F5zyZ

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 17, 2026

It’s also worth noting that this latest surge comes on the back of solid fundamentals. Network activity on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is soaring, reaching a record high of more than 7.7 million non-empty wallets.

Additionally, the number of active addresses on XRPL reached 46,767, which represents a five-week high.

But XRP’s price isn’t the only thing soaring in crypto today.

PlayNance Launches GCoin Staking

Arguably one of the most anticipated token generation events, PlayNance’s GCoin, is taking place in less than 14 hours, and the team has made a major announcement ahead of it.

PlayNance announced that GCoin staking is now live. This mechanism is designed to strengthen long-term participation in the platform’s growing Web3 entertainment economy.

The program is now live on PlayW3 – the firm’s flagship social gaming platform. Moreover, the community locked over 250 million tokens within just a few hours of the capability being live.

What it means is that GCOIN holders are now able to lock their tokens and participate in rewards distributed within the ecosystem, while also reducing circulating supply through entirely voluntary locking, hence supporting the sustainability of the token’s broader economy.

There are smart-contract staking pools where users can stake their GCOIN with a minimum threshold of 1,000 coins. The lockup durations are 6, 9, 12, and 18 months. Naturally, the longer the period, the longer the reward weight.

Those interested in participating the token generation event can take a look at the official page for more details. Over 13 billion tokens have already been sold and the current price is set at $0.00161, but that’s designed to progressively increase, encouraging early participation.

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

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The post Ripple (XRP) Price Jumps 8%, New Crypto Project PlayNance (GCoin) Locks 250M Tokens Within Hours appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin’s price resurgence that started shortly after the beginning of the war in the Middle East reached a new local peak earlier this morning at $76,000, where the asset faced some resistance.

Many altcoins have produced even more impressive gains, with ETH climbing above $2,300, and XRP touching $1.60. ZEC and M, alongside SIREN, FET, and HAS, have even soared by double digits.

BTC Tapped $76K

After dipping to $65,600 last Monday, the bitcoin bulls took command of the overall market performance and pushed the asset toward $70,000 by Wednesday. Although it was stopped there at first after the US CPI numbers came out, the cryptocurrency was more persistent and broke above that level on Friday when it even jumped to a ten-day peak of $74,000.

It was stopped there and driven to just over $70,000 during the weekend as the latest developments on the US/Israel vs Iran front unfolded. Nevertheless, they went on the offensive once again as the business week began. In the span of less than 24 hours, the bulls initiated another major rally, driving bitcoin to $76,000 earlier this morning.

This became its highest price tag since early February. After gaining over $5,000 in a day, though, the asset was primed for a correction that pushed it to $74,000 as of press time. Its market cap is close to $1.480 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts continues to struggle below 57%.

ZEC, M on the Rise

Ethereum was stopped at $2,400 this morning, but still trades above $2,300 after a 2% daily increase. XRP sits at $1.50 after a similar pump, and it has surpassed BNB in terms of market cap. HYPE has reclaimed the $40 level after a 3.5% rise, while CC is above $0.15.

ZEC and M have stolen the show from the larger-cap alts, both surging by around 16% to $270 and $1.72, respectively. SIREN, FET, and HASH are up by double-digits as well from the lower caps.

Pi Network’s PI has dumped again in the past 24 hours, losing 10% of value in a drop to $0.18 as of press time.

The total crypto market cap, though, has added $30 billion and is slightly above $2.6 trillion on CG.

The post Zcash and MemeCore Soar by Double Digits, Bitcoin Touched $76K: Market Watch appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – London, UK, March 17th, 2026]

New roadmap positions BASIS as an institutional-grade digital asset management platform built for macro volatility, tokenized safe-haven demand, and frictionless Web3 onboarding.

Base58 Labs today unveiled the BASIS 2026 Technical Blueprint & Infrastructure Roadmap, introducing what the company describes as a next-generation digital asset management platform purpose-built for global institutional investors seeking secure exposure, capital efficiency, and advanced on-chain yield infrastructure. The company said BASIS is designed specifically for institutions navigating geopolitical instability, macroeconomic uncertainty, and rising demand for both blue-chip crypto assets and tokenized safe-haven alternatives.

According to Base58 Labs, BASIS is not designed as a conventional staking product. The platform is described as an “intelligent yield infrastructure” that integrates algorithmic execution, institutional-grade security controls, and digital asset management across BTC, ETH, SOL, and PAXG. The company stated that this approach is intended to address increasing institutional demand for infrastructure that supports asset management and risk mitigation in volatile market conditions.

Base58 Labs Targets Institutional Flight Toward Safe-Haven Digital Assets

At the center of the roadmap is the strategic integration of PAX Gold (PAXG), which Base58 Labs has prioritized as a core supported asset amid growing institutional interest in gold-linked digital instruments. The company said BASIS is designed to move beyond passive exposure by enabling a “yield-bearing gold” model that pairs PAXG holdings with algorithmic yield infrastructure intended to capitalize on structural market inefficiencies.

Base58 Labs said this approach reflects a broader shift in institutional capital allocation, where investors are increasingly seeking digital strategies that can combine capital preservation, portfolio diversification, and non-directional return opportunities under stressed macro conditions.

BTC, ETH, and SOL Infrastructure Built on the BHLE Execution Engine

Alongside PAXG, the company said BASIS is being developed around major digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, all supported by its proprietary Base58 Hyper-Latency Engine (BHLE). According to the roadmap, BHLE is designed as a high-performance execution environment capable of supporting low-latency routing, institutional-scale transaction throughput, and market-neutral strategy execution. The company states that the engine targets sub-50 microsecond latency and 100,000+ operations per second, with proprietary routing infrastructure tailored for precision execution and structural yield capture.

Base58 Labs said BHLE evolved from the firm’s high-precision R&D efforts and is intended to help power institutional-grade strategy deployment across multiple supported assets, regardless of broader market direction.

Privy-Powered Onboarding Aims to Remove Web3 Friction for Institutions

To address one of the biggest barriers to institutional adoption, Base58 Labs said BASIS has integrated with Privy.io to simplify wallet creation and user authentication. According to the company, institutions using BASIS will be able to create wallets through email and enterprise social logins without relying on traditional seed phrase management. The onboarding design uses Privy-based Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and includes a dual wallet system that separates funding activity from staking activity in order to improve transparency, operational clarity, and accounting convenience.

Base58 Labs said this onboarding model is central to its effort to reduce complexity for traditional financial institutions entering digital asset markets while preserving non-custodial control and strong operational safeguards.

Security Stack Designed for Institutional-Scale Capital Protection

The roadmap also highlights a security and risk-management framework intended for large-scale capital deployment. Base58 Labs said it has completed the first phase of internal testing covering core infrastructure integrity and external attack defense logic, while network stress tests focused on cross-chain liquidity routing and institutional-scale transaction handling are in the final stage.

The company further disclosed internal systems including the BASIS Sentinel Circuit Breaker (BSCB) and Defensive Maintenance Mode (DMM), which are designed to react rapidly in the event of black swan market events, exchange API failures, or extreme slippage. In addition, Base58 Labs said it has initiated formal procedures to pursue ISO 27001 and ISO 20000-1 certifications as part of its broader compliance and operational assurance strategy.

2026 Rollout to Include Closed Beta, Global Launch, and Institutional Private Pools

Base58 Labs said the BASIS rollout will proceed in phases throughout 2026. According to the published roadmap, Q2 2026 will focus on revealing the closed beta architecture and conducting external core logic audits by a Tier-1 global security firm. Q3 2026 is scheduled for the official global launch of BASIS and the opening of BTC, ETH, SOL, and PAXG asset management pools. In Q4 2026, the company plans to expand into private pools for institutional investors and customized algorithmic derivative strategies.

Executive Commentary

“Institutional capital is no longer looking only for access to digital assets it is looking for infrastructure that can deliver security, operational efficiency, and resilient yield under real-world market stress,” said a spokesperson for Base58 Labs, Dirk Johan Jacob Broer. “With BASIS, we are building an institutional platform designed for the next phase of on-chain finance, where seamless onboarding, intelligent execution, and capital protection must exist in one integrated system.”

About Base58 Labs

Base58 Labs is the research institute behind the BASIS ecosystem. While BASIS operates the execution and product infrastructure, Base58 Labs develops the measurement frameworks, execution logic, and risk models that support the platform under both normal and stressed market conditions. Through its work on market microstructure, execution risk, and structural alpha, Base58 Labs provides the research foundation that powers the next generation of institutional on-chain finance.

The post Base58 Labs’ BASIS 2026 Blueprint Forges a New Standard for BTC, ETH, SOL & PAXG appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Alongside the rest of the market, XRP jumped earlier today to over $1.60, a level not seen in just over a month.

Although it was rejected there and now trades at around $1.50, the asset could be primed for more gains ahead, and Ali Martinez outlined the next possible target.

XRP to Aim at $1.85?

In the days leading up to today’s surge, Martinez also reported that the Bollinger Bands on XRP’s chart had squeezed as the asset spent most of the previous few weeks trading sideways in a relatively tight range between $1.33 and $1.47. Consequently, the analyst suggested that a bigger move is on its way, without providing any clear indication of the direction.

However, the cross-border token finally broke out of that range yesterday, surging past $1.50. It climbed to over $1.60 earlier this morning, and even though it was stopped there, it’s still above the upper boundary of its previous trading range. Consequently, Ali Martinez noted that the aforementioned big move might take the asset to its next notable target at $1.85.

$XRP is breaking out of this triangle!

Target: $1.85. https://t.co/3dirkMNDwF pic.twitter.com/H2D56F5zyZ

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 17, 2026

Interestingly, the impressive price resurgence over the past few days comes even as the spot XRP ETFs continue to underperform. After registering a highly negative 7-day streak, the funds were in the red once again on Monday, with almost $6 million in net outflows.

However, the company behind the token has made some major moves lately, including announcing plans to secure an Australian Financial Services License, as well as a partnership focused on the US and Canadian markets.

Strongly Bullish

CryptoWZRD also weighed in on the token’s recent performance, noting that it closed “strongly bullish,” especially against BTC. The analyst expects “more bullish moves from XRP/BTC,” which will help the cross-border asset in the near future.

Fellow market observer CW outlined a chart showing that XRP has touched the lower line of the ascending channel, which represents its cycle bottom. They added that “an uptrend has now begun” after a Heikin Ashi green candle appeared following the successful retest of the bottom level.

The lower line of the ascending channel is the bottom of $XRP.

And a Heikin Ashi green candle appeared.

After touching the bottom, the trend reversed. An uptrend has now begun. pic.twitter.com/i5H5nDFKZH

— CW (@CW8900) March 17, 2026

The post XRP Is Finally Breaking Out: Here’s The Next Price Target as Bulls Take Charge appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin’s price climbed to a six-week peak earlier this morning, touching $76,000 after it broke above $70,000 last week. Despite retracing by nearly two grand since then, the asset is still up by $11,000 since its February 28 low when it plummeted immediately after the strikes in the Middle East began.

Now, though, there are more bullish hints ahead, as popular analyst Ali Martinez brought up a key signal that has led to all major BTC rallies in the past three years.

Funding Rates Turn Negative

The funding rates are periodic, small fee payments exchanged between traders holding short and long positions in perpetual futures contracts, keeping those prices aligned with the actual spot BTC price. When the rates are positive, this means that longs are paying shorts, and vice versa.

Although some consider positive rates to be bullish since BTC’s perp price is higher than the spot one as long positions dominate, Ali Martinez actually believes in the opposite and outlined historical examples to prove his theory. The analyst with almost 165,000 followers on X noted that BTC funding rates turning negative is “a signal that has preceded every major relief rally of the last 3 years.”

“Market sentiment is currently at a ‘peak fear’ reset. History shows that when the crowd pays to short, the local bottom is usually in. We’ve seen this script play out with surgical precision:

• Dec 2022: from $17,800 to $24.8k (+39%)

• Mar 2023: from $20,000 to $30,700 (+53%)

• Aug 2023: from $26,400 to $73,000 (+176%)

• Sept 2024: from $58,000 to $104,500 (+80%)

• Apr 2025: from $94,700 to $111,600 (+18%)

• June 2025: from $107,000 to $124,700 (+17%)”

After bitcoin’s breakout past $70,000, the funding rates have reset to -0.004%. The analyst believes smart money is “watching for the inevitable short squeeze” and if history is to keep that 100% strike rate on this indicator, the current dip is “the coiled spring for the next leg up.”

Did the Rally Take Place Already?

Martinez’s original post came as bitcoin’s price traded around $71,000. In the following 24 hours, though, the asset climbed to $76,000, hitting its highest price tag since early February. That’s a 7% gain in a day. The question is whether this was already the rally that he talked about, a claim that could have some substance given the fact that the relief pumps after the funding rates turned negative in the past couple of examples have declined in terms of percentages.

In addition, BTC’s latest moves are mostly impacted by the developments in the Middle East, so if something big is to occur there, more volatility could ensue almost immediately. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency has outperformed all other asset classes, including gold, since the war began, which could be another positive sign for its short-term price moves.

The post The Metric That Preceded Every Bitcoin Rally Just Flashed Green: Is a BTC Surge Next? appeared first on CryptoPotato.