The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in crypto platforms to protect user data and financial assets.

The post Bitrefill reports Lazarus-style exploit drained funds and exposed some user data appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Aster launches a privacy focused Layer 1 for perpetual trading as ASTER rises 8% and DeFi derivatives volume hits $14T.

The post Aster launches privacy-focused Layer 1 for perpetual trading as ASTER token jumps 8% appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tally shuts down after six years as demand for DAO governance tools declines following regulatory changes and market consolidation.

The post Tally shuts down operations amid reduced demand for DAO tools appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

World launches AgentKit beta, linking World ID with x402 to help AI agents prove a real human stands behind them while preserving privacy.

The post Sam Altman’s World and Coinbase roll out toolkit to distinguish human-backed AI agents from bots appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin's rally faces challenges as geopolitical tensions and central bank decisions shift investor focus to commodities, impacting crypto momentum.

The post Bitcoin’s rally ran into a wall — and oil might be stealing its thunder appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitrefill Discloses Cyberattack, Points to North Korea’s Lazarus Group

Crypto e-commerce platform Bitrefill said it was the target of a cyberattack earlier this month that resulted in stolen funds and limited exposure of customer data, with indicators pointing to the North Korean-linked Lazarus Group as a likely perpetrator.

The breach, which began on March 1, originated from a compromised employee laptop, according to the company’s incident report. 

Attackers were able to extract legacy credentials tied to production systems, allowing them to escalate access across Bitrefill’s infrastructure, including segments of its internal database and certain cryptocurrency hot wallets.

Bitrefill said the attackers drained an undisclosed amount of funds from its hot wallets while also exploiting its gift card inventory systems to place suspicious purchases with vendors. The company did not specify the total financial impact but stated it will absorb the losses using operational capital.

The intrusion was first detected through irregular purchasing patterns and anomalies in supplier activity. 

In response, Bitrefill temporarily took its systems offline to contain the breach across its global operations. The company said services, including payments and account access, have since returned to normal levels.

As part of the attack, approximately 18,500 purchase records were accessed. The exposed data includes email addresses, cryptocurrency payment addresses and metadata such as IP addresses. 

Around 1,000 of those records involved encrypted customer names, which are being treated as potentially exposed due to the possibility that attackers accessed encryption keys. Bitrefill said it has notified affected users directly.

Despite the breach, the company emphasized that it stores minimal personal data and does not require mandatory know-your-customer verification for most transactions. Any KYC-related information is handled by external providers and is not stored within Bitrefill’s systems. The firm added there is no evidence that its full database was exfiltrated or that customer data was the primary target.

“Based on our investigation and logs, we don’t have reason to think that customer data was the objective,” the company said, noting that the attackers appeared to conduct limited queries consistent with probing for valuable assets such as cryptocurrency holdings and gift card inventory.

North Korea’s Lazarus Group was involved

Bitrefill cited several indicators linking the attack to the Lazarus Group, including similarities in malware, reused infrastructure such as IP addresses and email accounts, and on-chain transaction patterns. 

The group, often associated with North Korea, has been tied to some of the largest crypto thefts in recent years through its specialized subgroup, Bluenoroff.

Cybersecurity firms including zeroShadow, SEAL911 and RecoverisTeam assisted in the response and investigation, alongside on-chain analysts and law enforcement. The company said it is implementing additional security measures, including expanded monitoring systems and internal controls, to prevent similar incidents.

The attack highlights ongoing concerns around state-sponsored cyber threats in the digital asset sector. 

According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, groups linked to North Korea were responsible for more than $2 billion in crypto thefts in 2025, accounting for a significant share of total illicit activity in the space.

Bitrefill said operations have stabilized following the incident and expressed confidence in its recovery, noting that customer activity and sales volumes have returned to typical levels.

This post Bitrefill Discloses Cyberattack, Points to North Korea’s Lazarus Group first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Strategy (MSTR) is About to Have More Bitcoin Than BlackRock’s IBIT

Strategy (MSTR) is closing in on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), with the gap in Bitcoin holdings shrinking to a level that could be erased within the next couple of weeks.

Recent data shows IBIT holding roughly 781,000 BTC, while Strategy holds about 761,000 BTC. The difference, now around 40,000 BTC, has tightened as Strategy accelerates its accumulation pace, according to investor Mark Harvey.

The shift reflects diverging models. IBIT holdings rise and fall based on investor inflows and outflows into its spot ETF, while Strategy raises capital through equity and preferred share issuance to fund direct Bitcoin purchases. 

This allows Strategy to acquire Bitcoin independent of ETF demand cycles.

Strategy has added significant volume in recent weeks, including two multibillion-dollar purchases in March that pushed its total higher. Last week, the company bought 2,337 bitcoin for about $1.57 billion.

The company continues to frame its performance around Bitcoin accumulation and “BTC Gain” as a proxy for net income under its Bitcoin-centric strategy. 

Over the first two weeks of March 2026, Strategy acquired 40,332 BTC and posted a 3.0% yield, reinforcing its aggressive treasury approach, according to Michael Saylor. 

Year to date, the firm has accumulated 88,568 BTC with a 3.4% yield, signaling sustained momentum behind its balance sheet transformation.

Bitcoin and Strategy’s strong March

Bitcoin has posted eight consecutive days of gains, a rare streak seen only 15 times since its creation, with past instances delivering a median 30-day return of about 19%, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data.

Bitcoin recently climbed from below $66,000 to $76,000 before easing back near $73,800, even as historical patterns show such rallies can precede sharp pullbacks like the 30% drop four years ago. 

Bitcoin’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 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. 

For now, traders are watching whether bitcoin price can maintain support above the $72,000 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. 

Shares of MSTR are pushing $150 a share today.

This post Strategy (MSTR) is About to Have More Bitcoin Than BlackRock’s IBIT first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Vietnam Begins to Restrict Overseas Crypto Trading, Domestic Licensing Race Accelerates

Vietnam is preparing to restrict access to overseas cryptocurrency platforms as regulators push forward with a plan to launch the country’s first licensed digital asset exchanges, according to a government document reviewed by Reuters.

The Ministry of Finance is drafting rules that would prohibit Vietnamese citizens from trading on foreign exchanges such as Binance, OKX, and Bybit. The move aligns with a five-year pilot program designed to bring crypto trading under domestic supervision while limiting capital outflows.

The policy shift comes as Vietnam ranks among the most active cryptocurrency markets globally. Data from Chainalysis shows Vietnamese users transacted more than $200 billion in digital assets in the 12 months through June 2025, placing the country fourth on its global adoption index. Crypto usage in Vietnam spans remittances, savings, and gaming, reflecting integration into daily financial activity.

Under the proposed framework, only locally licensed platforms would be permitted to operate, requiring users to migrate away from international exchanges. 

Authorities say the approach aims to strengthen oversight, reduce fraud risks, and retain transaction-related revenue within the domestic economy.

A Vietnamese crypto licensing arms race begins 

At least five firms have passed an initial qualification round for exchange licenses, including affiliates of Techcombank, VPBank, and LPBank, along with VIX Securities and Sun Group. 

The licensing regime sets a high bar for entry. Applicants must meet a minimum charter capital requirement of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong, or roughly $400 million, and comply with strict standards covering governance, cybersecurity, and anti-money laundering controls. Foreign ownership is capped at 49%, signaling a preference for domestic control over key market infrastructure.

The effort builds on a legal shift that began in 2025, when Vietnam’s National Assembly recognized crypto assets as property under the Law on Digital Technology Industry. While cryptocurrencies remain non-legal tender, the change established a foundation for regulated market development.

Officials and industry representatives say restricting offshore trading could redirect liquidity toward domestic platforms, though it may limit access to global markets. 

Authorities are also considering a tax framework that could include a levy on crypto transactions conducted through licensed exchanges. Details remain under review as regulators finalize the structure of the pilot program.

The first licensed exchanges could launch as early as March 2026. The outcome of the pilot is expected to shape Vietnam’s long-term approach to digital asset regulation and position the country within the broader Southeast Asian crypto market.

This post Vietnam Begins to Restrict Overseas Crypto Trading, Domestic Licensing Race Accelerates first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Capital B Raises €3 Million to Expand Bitcoin Treasury Holdings

Capital B, also known as The Blockchain Group, announced a €3 million capital raise on Tuesday alongside amendments to existing convertible bonds, as the company moves to accelerate its Bitcoin treasury strategy.

The Paris-listed firm said the financing includes €2 million raised through share subscription warrants subscribed by TOBAM and €1 million from UTXO Management. The transaction is structured through the issuance of 27.39 million warrants, each priced at €0.11 and exercisable into ordinary shares.

According to the company, proceeds from the raise could support the acquisition of approximately 36 additional bitcoin, potentially bringing total holdings to 2,880 BTC. The move aligns with Capital B’s stated objective of increasing bitcoin exposure on a per-share basis over time.

Alongside the capital raise, the company also announced adjustments to the conversion prices of three tranches of convertible bonds subscribed by TOBAM. 

The conversion price for the A-03 tranche was reduced from €6.24 to €3.12 per share, while A-04 was adjusted from €5.174 to €2.59, and A-05 from €3.656 to €1.83.

The revised terms also introduce additional incentives for bondholders. Upon conversion, each bond will now grant a share subscription warrant with a two-year maturity. In addition, conversion conditions tied to share price thresholds have been removed for the A-03 and A-04 tranches, allowing holders to convert at any time.

Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company

Capital B said the changes are intended to enhance flexibility for investors and support the execution of its treasury strategy. Capital B has positioned itself as Europe’s first “Bitcoin Treasury Company,” a model focused on accumulating bitcoin as a core balance sheet asset while growing bitcoin per fully diluted share.

The exercise price of the newly issued warrants will be set at the higher of €1.01 or a metric tied to the company’s bitcoin holdings, referred to as “mNAV 1.1.” This metric reflects a 10% premium to the per-share value of the company’s bitcoin reserves, calculated on a fully diluted basis.

The transaction was carried out under an existing shareholder authorization granted at the company’s June 2025 general meeting, allowing for capital increases without preferential subscription rights for existing shareholders in favor of specific investors.

Capital B operates across multiple business lines, including data intelligence, artificial intelligence, and decentralized technology consulting, but has started to work on bitcoin accumulation as a central component of its corporate strategy.

The announcement reflects a broader trend of companies adopting bitcoin-focused treasury strategies, using capital markets instruments to increase exposure to bitcoin. 

Yesterday, 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.

Disclaimer: Bitcoin Magazine is owned by Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA). Nakamoto Inc. also owns UTXO Management.

This post Capital B Raises €3 Million to Expand Bitcoin Treasury Holdings first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

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 is back in focus after another sharp turn higher, with the asset trading at $73,772 on March 17 after hitting an intraday high of $75,937, according to market data. The move matters less as proof of a clean breakout than as evidence that buyers have rebuilt momentum after a punishing February washout.

On Feb. 6, Bitcoin rebounded from a 16-month low of about $60,018 after a broad selloff across risk assets, posting its biggest one-day gain since March 2023. That rebound did not end volatility, but it did mark the point where panic selling started to give way to a more selective bid.

Still below the highs

Even with that recovery, the market is still climbing out of a deep hole. Bitcoin hit a record high above $125,245 in October 2025, and today’s mid-$70,000 range still leaves it far below that peak. Recent trading underscores how quickly sentiment has shifted.

Reuters reported Bitcoin was near $71,021 on March 13 and around $74,298 early on March 17, while the current tape shows the market briefly probing nearly $76,000 before pulling back. That is a meaningful rebound, but not yet a full technical or psychological reset, especially for traders still anchored to last year’s highs.

Macro still controls the tone

Macro remains the dominant backdrop. Global stocks rallied on March 16 as oil prices eased, but Brent still settled above $100 a barrel and traders pushed expectations for a U.S. rate cut further out as they waited for this week’s Federal Reserve decision. Those conditions help explain why Bitcoin’s move higher has looked opportunistic rather than fully risk-on.

Citigroup captured that tension on March 17 when it cut its 12-month Bitcoin target to $112,000 from $143,000, arguing that stalled U.S. crypto market-structure legislation narrows the window for the regulatory catalysts that many expected to support ETF-driven demand and broader institutional adoption.

Citi also said Bitcoin is likely to range-trade around $70,000 as legislative headlines evolve, a reminder that the latest rally still sits on top of unresolved policy risk.

Where G Coin by Playnance fits in

That backdrop also matters for smaller token stories trying to break through Bitcoin’s gravitational pull. Playnance’s G Coin is being positioned as a utility-driven project rather than a simple trading chip. Playnance says G Coin powers its ecosystem and serves as the unified economic layer across products built on PlayBlock.

In its January 2026 white paper, Playnance OÜ describes G Coin as an ERC-20 compatible utility token on Ethereum and its EVM-compatible Playblock Layer 3, with a fixed maximum supply of 77 billion tokens.

The company says the token is designed for digital access, gameplay, reward unlocking, missions, and promotional participation across the Playnance ecosystem.

Utility narrative, speculative market

The same white paper makes clear that G Coin does not confer ownership, governance, dividend, or profit-sharing rights, which is an important distinction in a market that still blurs the line between utility and speculation.

For now, the setup remains simple: Bitcoin is trading well above its February low but still far below its October record, while utility-token stories such as G Coin are trying to gain traction in a macro-sensitive tape.

If BTC can keep holding the low-to-mid $70,000 area, those narratives may get more room to breathe. If the macro picture darkens again, attention is likely to snap back to Bitcoin first.

Disclaimer: This was a sponsored post brought to you by Playnance.

The post Bitcoin price action retests $75k as G Coin by Playnance enters the utility-token conversation appeared first on CryptoSlate.

XRP gained nearly 10% over the past week, presenting a sharp divergence from the institutional sector as investment products tied to the token posted their steepest monthly outflows of the year.

Data from CryptoSlate showed the digital asset reaching a monthly high of $1.60 over the last 24 hours before pulling back to stabilize at around $1.51 at press time.

This notable market rally coincided perfectly with a massive surge in new wallet creation, an increase in daily active addresses, and a higher volume of completed payments executed directly on the XRP Ledger.

Blockchain analytics provider Santiment reported that the underlying network recently surpassed 7.7 million non-empty wallets. Additionally, active addresses on the network rose to 46,767, marking a definitive five-week high in network participation and user engagement.

Evernorth, the largest XRP treasury company, highlighted the aggressive growth trajectory of these network metrics in a recent market update.

It stated:

“XRP transactions are nearing 3M per day as of this week, up from ~1M per day in mid 2025. Nearly triple! Price moves attract attention. Activity shows where adoption is growing as more financial assets move on-chain.”

As a result, the current market environment provides traders with two completely separate signals to evaluate. The blockchain network's usage and raw transactional utility are accelerating rapidly across the digital ecosystem, while the investments through regulated financial fund vehicles continue to contract.

Related Reading

How Ripple’s new $1 billion XRP treasury plans to reshape the token's future

With up to $1 billion at stake, Ripple's prospective XRP treasury sets the stage for enhanced liquidity and market dynamics.

Oct 17, 2025 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Institutional investors reduce XRP portfolio exposure

Institutional interest in the digital asset has followed a completely separate trajectory from the retail spot market, with professional investors rapidly cutting their direct exposure to the Ripple-linked token.

On March 16, asset management firm CoinShares reported that XRP investment products registered $133 million in formal outflows throughout the current month. That specific volume of capital flight firmly places the token as the worst-performing digital asset within professionally managed investment portfolios during the reporting period.

SoSo Value data shows that the four United States spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) actively corroborate this broader institutional retreat. These funds have experienced a continuous outflow streak since March 5, resulting in a total capital outflow of approximately $58 million.

Notably, the current trend marks the longest continuous outflow streak since these exchange-traded products launched last November. At the present pace, XRP funds are on course to record their first negative monthly flows since their launch year.

This sharp contraction immediately follows four consecutive months of positive capital injections totaling approximately $1.26 billion.

The decline in XRP funds can be attributed to shifting macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. CryptoSlate previously reported a 93% decline in flows directed into XRP funds amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

During this period, investors have directed consistent, substantial capital inflows into Bitcoin-related financial products. Current CoinShares data shows Bitcoin funds have attracted approximately $1.3 billion in positive inflows since the beginning of the current month.

Despite the shifting institutional landscape, Ripple continues advancing its corporate strategy across global payments, institutional custody, liquidity provision, and corporate treasury management.

The technology company recently executed a series of significant strategic acquisitions involving financial firms Hidden Road, GTreasury, and Palisade. The firm also continues to aggressively pursue regulatory operating licenses across various global jurisdictions to support its expanding XRP infrastructure.

Related Reading

Ripple is winning on Wall Street and in the UK, but the XRP Ledger is losing users fast and the split will define 2026

XRP's institutional gains mask on-chain liquidity challenges, as Wall Street's interest grows.

Jan 9, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Spot market buyers absorb institutional selling

Meanwhile, the rapid decline of institutional capital has left retail spot market investors as the primary drivers of current XRP price action.

A research note from CryptoQuant showed that XRP's open interest is demonstrating early signs of a broader structural recovery following a period of sustained downward pressure.

Open interest across major cryptocurrency derivatives exchanges, including industry leader Binance, has trended consistently downward since the beginning of the year, sitting near its lower historical range.

A decline in open interest alongside falling or stabilizing prices typically signals a thorough unwinding of excess leverage across the broader financial market. This indicates a significant portion of highly speculative leveraged positions has successfully cleared the trading system, paving the way for more organic price discovery.

However, CoinGlass data showed a slight upward movement in the open interest during the past day to $2.84 billion.

At the same time, daily derivatives volume rose by 71% to $7.37 billion, marking the highest daily trading volume since mid-February.

Related Reading

XRP leverage collapses 78%, but $1.4B in ETF money still won’t leave because of Ripple's expanding footprint

With speculative investors exiting, Ripple's regulatory foothold and ETF backing signal confidence in XRP's future.

Mar 11, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

What next for XRP?

Considering the above and recent price trajectory, crypto analyst Dom pointed out that XRP's market structure on Coinbase, the largest US-based exchange, is showing the “largest bid skew within 50% seen in nearly a year.”

This means there is minimal concentration of sell orders in the $1.50 to $2.00 price range. The distinct lack of heavy overhead resistance suggests the asset price can move upward with significantly reduced friction, as fewer structural barriers exist in the order book to slow potential forward momentum.

However, for the token to achieve such upside, outflows from its four funds would need to significantly reduce from current levels.

This means the XRP ETFs must successfully recoup the approximately $58 million lost since early March to provide the necessary institutional support.

At the same time, the token would require a broader shift in macro market momentum to revive interest in alternative crypto assets. This could help revive the speculative market attention in XRP toward long-term sustainability.

The post XRP rallies as ledger activity surges — even as ETFs suffer over $50 million in outflows appeared first on CryptoSlate.

For weeks, Bitcoin (BTC) couldn't convincingly break out of the $70,000 zone, which it kept circling as a real problem area.

BTC repeatedly failed to close above that level from early February through early March, making the zone a meaningful area of resistance in a market shedding confidence.

Glassnode's Mar. 11 report described those failures as a sign of weak buy-side demand and overhead supply. However, the ceiling broke, and Bitcoin managed a weekly close above $70,000 on Mar. 14.

Related Reading

Bitcoin price jumped over $71k – but most of the rally isn’t coming from real buyers

Bitcoin is hovering near $71,000, but the rally may be weaker than it looks. As spot buying fades and derivatives volume dominates, the market is leaning more heavily on leverage than real cash demand.

Mar 15, 2026 · Andjela Radmilac

As of press time, Bitcoin has settled to approximately $74,000, with an intraday high near $75,900.

With the weekly close pillar fulfilled, other key metrics drew attention, such as ETF flows and spot demand.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed around $763 million from Mar. 9 to 13, according to Farside Investors data, and Glassnode reported that buy-side activity was close to offsetting selling pressure.

These metrics show that Bitcoin has moved from “fragile bounce” territory into “possible stabilization” territory. Yet, the next major options cluster sits almost directly overhead at $75,000.

The gamma magnet above

Glassnode's Mar. 4 report identified the $75,000 strike as the key gamma magnet, hosting about $2.3 billion of negative gamma across expiries, with roughly $1.8 billion tied to the Mar. 27 expiry.

The Mar. 11 update kept $75,000 as the key upside magnet, this time putting the pocket at roughly $2 billion, and said that if price pushes into that region, dealer hedging could accelerate the move toward $80,000.

Amberdata's Mar. 8 derivatives note described $60,000 and $75,000 as the floor and ceiling of the current gamma box, with dealers holding large short gamma positions at both edges.

The note said that if markets trade beyond that box, negative gamma can make things worse from a dealer rebalancing perspective.

Deribit data recently showed that the BTC-27MAR26-75K-C strike holds roughly 8,000 contracts of open interest, making the zone one of the largest clusters into month-end.

The structure creates a two-way volatility trap.

Negative gamma amplifies moves in both directions. Glassnode explicitly states that a push into $75,000 can accelerate upward toward $80,000, while Amberdata frames moves beyond the $60,000/$75,000 box as amplified in whichever direction the break occurs.

The truth is that $75,000 is where the next move can stop being smooth.

If Bitcoin forces a convincing break above the strike and holds there, short-gamma hedging could help drag the price higher. If it gets rejected and loses momentum at the cluster, the same structure can make the pullback nastier than a normal fade.

Why this setup exists

The negative gamma concentration at $75,000 reflects a market that has been range-bound for months.

Dealers sold options to collect premium while Bitcoin chopped between $60,000 and $75,000, and those positions have accumulated at the boundaries.

The Mar. 27 expiry deadline sharpens the setup because about $1.8 billion of the $75,000 negative gamma pocket expires then, potentially leaving the current gamma map to persist into April. That gives the current threshold real urgency.

The backdrop also makes a crowded strike more dangerous. Last week, global equity funds saw $7 billion of outflows, while Brent traded above $100 and the VIX hit 28.15, its highest since November.

Barclays joined Goldman Sachs in pushing back its expected first Fed cut to September, with only one 25-basis-point cut now expected this year amid elevated Middle East-driven inflation risks.

In that environment, a crowded Bitcoin strike can become a volatility transmission point for macro headlines, turning a crypto-native level into a regime-break indicator.

The stabilization versus stress debate

Bitcoin's move back above $70,000 makes the case that it's strong enough to force dealers to chase price through the biggest overhead options cluster on the board.

Glassnode's Mar. 11 note described near-term dealer gamma as neutral, which sounds calming. Neutral dealer gamma still allows violent price action when the asset is sitting just under a $2 billion negative gamma pocket.

Amberdata's base case assumes consolidation, with the market needing to trade “within the box” as realized volatility runs at 77% on a 30-day daily candle basis versus 58% on a monthly candle basis.

That implies a calmer regime, but one with explosive edges.

The Mar. 27 expiry becomes a deadline for the current range to either break or persist. If Bitcoin holds above $75,000 before then, the hedging flows could help accelerate the move. If it stalls and pulls back, the same structure can amplify the rejection.

What decides the outcome

The cleanest bull case assumes a convincing move through $75,000, with Bitcoin holding above the strike long enough to force dealer rehedging.

Glassnode's setup implies that hedging could accelerate the price toward roughly $80,000 in that scenario.

The bear case assumes a hard rejection at $75,000, with Bitcoin slipping back through the low-$70,000s.

In that case, the same short-gamma structure can make the pullback uglier, potentially reopening a move toward the mid-$60,000s and the $60,000 edge of Amberdata's box.

The macro wildcard sits above the chart. A fresh escalation in the Middle East or a hawkish Fed surprise could shove Bitcoin violently through one side of the box.

In that scenario, the options structure amplifies the move, but macro supplies the spark.

The negative gamma test is close enough to feel urgent, and the structure is sharp enough to make the next move violent.

Currently, Bitcoin is consolidating around a resistance-turned-support at $73,750-$74250 after being rejected at $76,000, so neither bull, bear, nor the wildcard scenario has yet been confirmed.

The post Bitcoin breaks into a $2B options trap that can turn this rally violent around $75,000 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

For most of its life, Solana's brand was straightforward: fast infrastructure for whatever crypto wanted to do at volume.

By year four, that mostly meant memecoins, and it stayed that way until year five.

Solana became known for being the infrastructure for high-profile, and sometimes controversial, memecoin launches. A few cases include President Donald Trump-linked TRUMP memecoin and the LIBRA token endorsed by the Argentinian president, Javier Milei.

Blockworks data showed that memecoins accounted for nearly 30% of Solana's average monthly DEX activity in 2025. The reputation of an on-chain casino was accurate.

Although the brand hasn't flipped, something else happened: institutions started building there anyway.

In January 2026, Ondo brought more than 200 tokenized US stocks and ETFs to Solana, backed 1:1 by securities held with US-registered broker-dealers.

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Feb 5, 2025 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

WisdomTree enabled native minting of its tokenized funds on the network, with institutional clients able to purchase, hold, and manage positions on-chain.

Solana's February payments report said Visa, PayPal, and Worldpay are building across treasury management, remittances, payouts, and merchant settlement.

Citi explored tokenizing bills of exchange for trade finance in collaboration with PwC and Solana.

The re-rating case: serious money no longer requires degen activity to disappear first.

The barbell takes shape

What makes this move non-obvious is that Wall Street didn't wait for cultural cleansing.

Traditional finance infrastructure often demands sterile environments before deployment, as banks don't typically move into venues where 70% of monthly trading activity involves tokens named cartoon frogs.

However, Solana's institutional adopters appear to have made a different calculation: they need fast settlement, low fees, and liquid rails more than they need brand distance from speculation.

The tokenized stocks structure reveals that logic. Ondo's implementation runs mint and redeem windows 24/5, with on-chain transferability between those windows.

Registered broker-dealers hold the securities, and the blockchain handles the movement layer. That separation lets institutions use Solana's speed without adopting its culture.

WisdomTree's move carries similar implications. The firm extended its existing tokenized fund infrastructure to include Solana as a venue for minting and management.

Institutional clients can now buy, hold, and manage positions there alongside whatever else lives on the network.

The SEC granted special relief allowing intraday trading in tokenized shares of WisdomTree's money market fund, indicating that regulators are working with these structures.

The payments narrative follows the same pattern.

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Apr 4, 2025 · Assad Jafri

Visa said US banks started settling with it in USDC over Solana, while Worldpay said merchants will be able to settle with USDG on Solana. PayPal positioned PYUSD on Solana to make the stablecoin faster and cheaper for commerce.

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Mar 4, 2026 · News Desk

These firms needed to process transactions reliably at scale, with the memecoin narrative becoming irrelevant.

Why the infrastructure play works

The financial argument for Solana turns on distribution.

Ethereum still holds about $15.6 billion in tokenized asset value excluding stablecoins, according to RWA.xyz, compared to Solana's $1.84 billion. BNB Chain sits between them at roughly $2.95 billion.

Jupiter, Solana's primary DEX aggregator, provides a consumer-facing onramp for tokenized products that Ethereum's infrastructure doesn't readily support.

Ondo's tokenized stocks launched via Jupiter integration, allowing retail users to access these securities through the same interface they use for memecoin trading.

That creates distribution power: the same wallets, the same UX, and the same liquidity sources applied to regulated securities.

The payment volume supports the rail thesis more than any single product launch.

Solana processed $650 billion in stablecoin transactions in February 2026, more than doubling its previous record, while stablecoin supply exceeded $15 billion.

Those figures show the network already handles money-like flows at an institutional scale, which makes the “financial rail” framing plausible.

RWA.xyz shows about $1.68 billion of Solana's $1.84 billion tokenized asset value as distributed on-chain, roughly 91.6% in portable form.

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The 30-day RWA transfer volume surpassed $2 billion. For comparison, the entire tokenized stocks category across all chains is valued at about $1.08 billion. It has a monthly transfer volume of $2.3 billion, with Ondo holding roughly $644 million and about 60% platform market share.

These numbers demonstrate that tokenized assets on the network move at a meaningful scale.

Macro forces behind the bet

Solana's institutional turn sits within a broader recalibration.

McKinsey's base case projects roughly $2 trillion in tokenized assets by 2030, with a range of $1 trillion to $4 trillion. BCG forecasts that tokenized fund AUM alone could exceed $600 billion by 2030.

Citi's 2030 stablecoin outlook raised its issuance forecast to $1.9 trillion base case and $4 trillion bull case, with potential transaction activity reaching $100 trillion to $200 trillion.

Those projections assume blockchains transition from an asset class to a market infrastructure.

Besides, regulatory conditions turned in Solana's favor. On Mar. 5, the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and OCC said eligible tokenized securities should generally receive the same capital treatment as non-tokenized securities, calling the capital rule “technology neutral.”

That removes one barrier to participation in traditional institutions: banks can now hold tokenized securities without incurring punitive capital requirements simply for choosing blockchain settlement.

Yet despite efforts by names such as Nasdaq, rights structures stay uneven.

McKinsey stressed that regulation-heavy infrastructure creates friction in adoption. Payward recently noted that xStocks have surpassed $25 billion in total transaction volume, including more than $4 billion settled on-chain.

As a result, the landscape is one in which investors are trading billions of dollars‘ worth of tokens that don't yet make them shareholders.

Additionally, the tokenized stocks category stay tiny globally, meaning a single compliance shock or operational failure could upend the entire narrative.

What's open now

Despite not resolving the memecoin-versus-institutions tension, Solana turned the tension into a product.

The infrastructure, now treated as a venue for memecoin launches, hosts over 200 of Ondo's tokenized stocks, WisdomTree's regulated funds, and Visa's USDC settlement flows.

The re-rating case assumes institutions care more about throughput, cost, and liquidity than they care about brand adjacency to speculation.

Solana processed $650 billion in stablecoin transactions last month. It handles a 3,000-fold increase in annual RWA trading volume. It attracted Visa, PayPal, Worldpay, WisdomTree, Ondo, and Citi as active participants.

Taken together, those facts support the rail thesis.

The bear case assumes pilots stay pilots. Announcements multiply, but secondary liquidity stays shallow. Institutions prefer Ethereum for serious size, or they build permissioned systems that avoid public blockchains entirely.

Solana's ex-stablecoin RWA stays below $2.5 billion, while memecoin bursts continue to dominate revenue and public perception.

What determines the outcome is whether banks, asset managers, and payment processors treat blockchain infrastructure as technology or as something chosen for brand alignment.

Solana turns six with both identities intact. The memecoin casino still operates at full volume, while Wall Street built its infrastructure on top of it anyway.

The post As Solana turns six years old, the “memecoin chain” is quietly listing 200 plus tokenized stocks for Wall Street appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy bought 22,337 Bitcoin for about $1.57 billion last week, using a funding mix led by its variable-rate perpetual preferred stock, STRC.

The March 16 announcement showed the company paid an average of $70,194 per Bitcoin in the purchase. The buy lifted Strategy’s holdings to 761,068 Bitcoin, valued at about $56.5 billion at prevailing prices, and ranked among the five largest single-week acquisitions in the company’s history.

The financing mix carried the more important signal. Strategy sold 11.9 million STRC shares during the previous week for about $1.18 billion of proceeds, or roughly 75% of the cash used for the purchase. Another $396 million came from the sale of 2.8 million shares of MSTR Class A common stock.

For most of the past years, investors could read the Strategy model mainly through MSTR. The company sold common stock into a market that valued the shares at a premium to the Bitcoin on its balance sheet, then turned that capital into more Bitcoin.

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STRC expands that model by bringing in a different buyer base, one centered on income-oriented investors seeking yield and principal stability rather than only high-beta Bitcoin exposure. The preferred stock pays an annualized dividend of 11.50%, distributed monthly in cash, and is structured to trade near its $100 par value.

The company has therefore widened the pool of capital it can use for Bitcoin purchases. That shift has been evident in the most recent transactions, where preferred stock provided the majority of the funding.

Notably, the prior week pointed in the same direction. Strategy bought 17,994 Bitcoin for $1.28 billion using a similar mix of preferred and common issuance.

Over the two weeks, the company deployed nearly $2.85 billion, with STRC funding most of it. Thus, this pace has turned STRC from a supporting instrument into a principal financing lever.

STRC becomes a larger part of the machine

The speed of STRC’s growth helps explain why the conversation around Strategy has changed.

On Feb. 1, Strategy reported $3.4 billion of STRC notional outstanding, according to the company’s capital tracker. By March 16, that figure had climbed to about $5.02 billion.

This nearly 50% increase in six weeks gave Strategy a larger preferred base to tap at a time when it was accelerating Bitcoin purchases.

Saylor underlined that momentum in a post on X, saying STRC is now the most liquid preferred stock by trading volume, ahead of offerings from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Boeing.

Notably, Strategy also said its Bitcoin per share increased 3.0% in the first two weeks of March, driven by growing demand for STRC.

Adam Livingston, a Bitcoin analyst, argued that the instrument’s scaling could reshape Strategy’s BTC buying power.

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According to him:

“The growth of STRC will be crazy…Strategy could add $40 BILLION of Bitcoin this year. For sure.”

Livingston’s estimate was based on a conservative scenario. He noted that Strategy raised $1.557 billion from STRC over the last two weeks and said that, even if the company maintained that pace for only 20 of the 41 remaining weeks in the year, it would still raise about $16 billion from STRC alone.

His framework then added the possibility of growth in the preferred program, fuller months of STRC issuance, and additional MSTR sales.

Livingston’s estimate is an outside view rather than company guidance, but the recent funding mix helps explain why it has gained traction.

Strategy now sells common stock for momentum-driven capital and preferred stock for yield-seeking capital, then converts both into Bitcoin. A larger preferred channel means the company can fund additional purchases without relying as heavily on common issuance every time it wants to expand the treasury.

The climb toward 1 million Bitcoin

The accelerated funding mechanism places Strategy on a trajectory to reach 1 million Bitcoin by the end of the year.

From Feb. 1 to March 16, the company added 47,566 Bitcoin, averaging about 1,081 Bitcoin per day.

To reach 1 million Bitcoin by Dec. 31, Strategy would need another 238,932 Bitcoin, which works out to about 824 Bitcoin per day for the rest of the year. The required pace sits below what the company has sustained since early February.

Meanwhile, the cost of that target remains large. At a Bitcoin price of about $73,369, buying 238,932 Bitcoin would require about $17.53 billion. At $85,000 per Bitcoin, the figure rises to about $20.31 billion.

Reaching the 1 million threshold would give MicroStrategy control over 4.76% of Bitcoin’s maximum supply of 21 million coins, an increase from its current 3.62% share.

Following the 2024 halving event, miners are expected to produce only about 130,500 new Bitcoins between mid-March and the end of the year.

To meet its target, Strategy would need to absorb 183% of all newly mined coins during this period, requiring significant purchases from the existing secondary market.

Meanwhile, Rachael Lucas, an analyst at BTC Markets, said the current pace also has implications beyond the 1 million mark.

She said that at Strategy’s recent daily acquisition rate, the company could surpass the estimated 1.1 million Bitcoin attributed to Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, as early as March 2027.

In the near term, the company’s pace also puts it on a trajectory to overtake BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, the largest Bitcoin fund, which held about 571,700 Bitcoin as of press time.

On current momentum, Strategy’s lead over other corporate holders and large fund vehicles would continue to widen.

The case for 1 million Bitcoin, therefore, rests on more than one large weekly purchase. It rests on whether Strategy can keep raising capital at a rate that supports sustained buying into a market with limited incremental supply.

Premium and payout pressures remain central

Meanwhile, the accumulation strategy faces specific structural and financial vulnerabilities. The model relies entirely on the market valuing the Bitcoin-focused firm's equity at a premium compared to the underlying BTC on its balance sheet.

Data from Strategy shows that its mNAV stands at 1.18. That premium supports issuance on terms that remain accretive to Bitcoin on a per-share basis.

A sharp compression of this premium, potentially triggered by a decline in Bitcoin prices, rising interest rates, or shifting investor sentiment, would severely restrict the firm’s ability to continue purchasing at the current scale.

Moreover, the reliance on STRC introduces substantial cash obligations. With a notional outstanding amount of $5.02 billion and an annualized rate of 11.50%, the preferred stock generates a cash dividend requirement of approximately $578 million annually, or $48 million per month.

Notably, Strategy has disclosed a $2.25 billion reserve earmarked for preferred dividends and interest on debt.

Still, Jeff Dorman, chief investment officer at Arca, highlighted the long-term solvency concerns tied to the company’s interest expenses.

Dorman stated that the interest coverage ratio is the ultimate determinant of long-term solvency, noting that the firm generates zero earnings before interest and taxes, leaving it without interest coverage.

He also highlighted the growing annual burden of interest and dividend payments, which currently exceed $1 billion, suggesting the firm will eventually exhaust its options to service these obligations.

Considering this, Dorman outlined several potential long-term outcomes for the company. The first scenario involves continuous Bitcoin price appreciation, allowing Strategy to issue equity perpetually to stay afloat. A second path involves the company halting its dividend payments, a move Dorman views as highly logical and certain to end the current accumulation cycle.

In a third scenario, Strategy could sell a portion of its Bitcoin annually to cover payments. Dorman argued this action would immediately destroy the investment narrative surrounding the stock.

However, a fourth possibility entails the company using its Bitcoin to acquire a cash-flowing business to service the debt, transitioning into a BTC-denominated holding company.

Meanwhile, Dorman also noted the possibility of a default if Bitcoin prices crash to levels where the firm’s assets fall below the value of its debt, estimating this threshold around $20,000 per Bitcoin.

Finally, he suggested Bitcoin could evolve into a productive asset, allowing Strategy to earn yield through lending or selling calls to cover its expenses.

Dorman characterized the current structure as a clever arrangement with significant underlying vulnerabilities. He said:

“As I've always said, there are no covenants in the debt that force MSTR to sell the BTC (forced selling is not a risk)… but voluntary selling to cover interest & dividend payments is a real risk. And if you don't believe he will ever do that, then you have to recognize that he will eventually stop the dividend.”

He observed that four distinct stakeholder groups, including BTC holders, MSTR debt holders, the firm's preferred shareholders, and its common shareholders, currently feel secure in their positions.

However, Dorman concluded that these four groups possess conflicting foundational assumptions.

According to him, while these classes can coexist in the near term, they hold mutually exclusive views on the company’s ultimate financial path, creating a fundamental long-term risk for the corporate structure.

The post Strategy on course to hit 1 million BTC this year — and STRC is the clearest reason why appeared first on CryptoSlate.

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

The Race for the First Vietnam Crypto License

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

The qualified applicants include:

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

Why Hanoi is Curbing Foreign Trading

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

By forcing users onto local platforms, Hanoi aims to:

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

Market Impact and Local Adoption

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

Summary of New Vietnam Crypto Regulations

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

XRP Price Prediction: The Road to $2.00

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

The Symmetrical Triangle

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

The Breakout: How XRP Breached the Triangle

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

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

Technical Indicators Supporting the $2 Target

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

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

Key Support and Resistance

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

Why is Ethereum Price UP?

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

Tokenization and Staked ETFs

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

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

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

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

Why This Matters for Ethereum

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

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

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

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

Key Features of ETHB:

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

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

Comparison: Spot ETH vs. Staked ETH ETFs

Fundamental Divergence

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

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.

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TLDR:

• Mastercard will acquire BVNK for up to $1.8B, including $300M in contingent payments, pending regulatory approval.

• BVNK’s platform supports stablecoin payments across 130+ countries and all major blockchain networks worldwide.

• The deal enables financial institutions to offer stablecoin, tokenized deposit, and digital asset payment services.

• Together, Mastercard and BVNK will deliver a chain-agnostic infrastructure connecting fiat and on-chain payment rails.

Mastercard has announced a definitive agreement to acquire BVNK, a leading stablecoin payment infrastructure company.

The deal is valued at up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. This move broadens the payments giant’s support for digital currencies across multiple rails, regions, and currencies.

Together, the two companies aim to connect traditional fiat systems with on-chain payment networks. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2025, subject to regulatory review.

Bridging Fiat and On-Chain Payments

Digital asset payment volumes reached at least $350 billion in 2025, reflecting strong market demand. This growth has driven the need for stablecoin-based solutions in cross-border remittances, P2P, and B2B payments.

Growing regulatory clarity in multiple regions has also pushed financial institutions toward digital currency services. Consequently, demand for compliant, interoperable infrastructure has risen considerably across the industry.

BVNK was founded in 2021 and has built infrastructure spanning over 130 countries since then. Its platform supports sending and receiving payments across all major blockchain networks.

These capabilities complement Mastercard’s existing global payments network effectively. Together, the combined offering would support stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and tokenized assets at scale.

The acquisition also addresses the growing need for payment orchestration between fiat and digital systems. Multiple blockchains and digital currencies require secure, compliant, and reliable bridging infrastructure.

Mastercard plans to apply its established security and compliance standards directly to on-chain payments. This approach is intended to maintain trust across every payment type within the network.

Crypto wallets worldwide have already embraced cards as the preferred credential for consumer payments. Mastercard’s announcement captured attention online, with the company stating: “Together, we’re strengthening how fintechs, platforms and financial institutions connect traditional fiat and on-chain payments across rails, currencies, and regions.”

Adding on-chain rails to the Mastercard network could further enhance speed and programmability across transactions. The combined platform is therefore positioned to reshape how value moves globally.

Expanding the Digital Asset Strategy

Jorn Lambert, Chief Product Officer at Mastercard, addressed the acquisition’s broader purpose directly. He said: “We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services, be it with stablecoins or tokenized deposits. We want to support them and their customers with a best in class, highly compliant, interoperable offering that brings the benefits of tokenized money to the real world.”

He further added that the deal reinforces Mastercard’s long-standing use of innovation to power economies. Lambert also noted that on-chain rails would support speed and programmability for virtually every transaction type.

This acquisition builds on the Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, which was launched to encourage collaboration across the on-chain payments sector.

That program was designed to maximize opportunity in the next phase of digital payments for all participants. The BVNK deal reinforces that strategic direction at a considerably larger scale. It also reflects a broader industry shift toward more open and interoperable financial systems.

BVNK co-founder and CEO Jesse Hemson-Struthers offered his perspective on the deal’s potential. He stated: “For all of the advancements made in simplifying the digital currency opportunity, we have only scratched the surface of what’s possible. This deal brings together complementary capabilities to define and deliver the future of money. Together, we’re able to deliver an unprecedented infrastructure for digital currency-based financial services.” His remarks point to the scale of opportunity both firms see ahead.

The merged platform will take a digital asset- and chain-agnostic approach moving forward. Customers will be able to access solutions tailored to their needs without being locked into closed ecosystems.

This flexibility is central to the value of the combined infrastructure offering. It also reflects the broader industry trend toward open and interoperable financial systems.

The post Mastercard Acquires BVNK for $1.8 Billion to Bridge Stablecoin and Fiat Payments appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• First NRC materials license approval enables Oklo’s entry into isotope processing sector.
• Stock advances 2.35% as regulatory milestone validates commercial expansion strategy.
• Atomic Alchemy subsidiary authorized to handle and distribute critical isotopes.
• DOE safety design approval propels Aurora reactor initiative forward.
• Multi-reactor isotope facility planned for healthcare and technology applications.

Shares of Oklo Inc. (OKLO) climbed 2.35% to reach $61.09, rebounding from earlier session fluctuations as the company announced significant regulatory achievements. The nuclear technology firm obtained crucial federal authorization and solidified reactor development partnerships. These milestones mark critical progress in Oklo’s evolution from development stage to active market participant in nuclear energy and isotope production.

Oklo Inc., OKLO

Federal Authorization Opens Door to Isotope Production Business

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Oklo its inaugural materials license via the company’s Atomic Alchemy division. This authorization permits the subsidiary to manage, process, and supply essential radioactive isotopes. The approval represents Oklo’s formal entry into commercial isotope operations.

Under the license terms, Atomic Alchemy can work with controlled amounts of radium-226 and sealed calibration materials. The authorization encompasses chemical processing, secure storage, and repackaging activities within regulatory parameters. Consequently, Oklo now possesses the legal framework to initiate isotope recovery and preparation procedures.

Operations will initially center at the Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory facility. The site will handle distribution to federally authorized customers according to compliance standards. This regulatory approval creates a foundation for developing domestic isotope production capabilities.

Building Domestic Isotope Infrastructure Advances

Oklo intends to transform unused radioactive materials into viable feedstock for medical isotope manufacturing. This methodology addresses critical shortages affecting healthcare institutions and research organizations. The approach also diminishes dependence on international isotope suppliers.

Reclaimed materials will enable applications including targeted alpha therapy treatments and industrial diagnostic procedures. Moreover, the recycling process improves resource utilization by repurposing materials previously designated as waste products. This operational model supports wider nuclear industry sustainability objectives.

Knowledge gained from Idaho laboratory operations will guide upcoming large-scale production facilities. The organization envisions constructing a multi-reactor isotope foundry featuring multiple compact reactors. These integrated systems will serve varied applications spanning medical treatments, defense requirements, and aerospace technologies.

Federal Partnership Propels Aurora Reactor Initiative

Oklo formalized an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy supporting its inaugural reactor installation. The arrangement addresses design specifications, construction protocols, and operational parameters within a federal demonstration program. This collaborative structure expedites deployment schedules for next-generation nuclear systems.

The Department of Energy granted Nuclear Safety Design Agreement approval for the Aurora reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. This clearance launches the subsequent phase of technical evaluation and project implementation. The approval also facilitates comprehensive safety assessment under federal supervision.

Oklo maintains concurrent development of its fuel manufacturing facility in Idaho. The plant will produce initial fuel assemblies for Aurora reactor operations. Collectively, these initiatives bolster domestic nuclear infrastructure and facilitate eventual commercial licensing objectives.

The post Oklo (OKLO) Stock Climbs 2.35% Following NRC Materials License Approval appeared first on Blockonomi.

Institutional Ethereum is back with Bitmine, adding 61K ETH in a single week. Now controlling 3.81% of the entire token supply, Bitmine’s latest moves demonstrate that the accumulation era has started, and with it, a possible shift toward altcoins.

While ETH and HYPE may be lucrative if their bullish setups play out, they may not provide the same level of oomph as DeepSnitch AI’s March 31 launch, which is landing at the right moment to capture the momentum.

What makes it even more exciting as an opportunity is that the latest DeepSnitch AI price prediction confirms that the 100x.300x narrative is incredibly robust.

Bitmine ETH accumulation shifts into higher gears

Bitmine Immersion Technologies added nearly $61K ETH last week, according to chairman Tom Lee.

The part of these assets was acquired directly from the Ethereum Foundation, and the total holdings are now sitting north of 4.5M ETH, meaning that Bitmine controls approximately 3.8% of the entire token supply.

Bitmine plans to scale that further through its Made in America Validator Network, expected to launch in the coming months. Shares of BMNR closed Monday up nearly 14% to $23.39. The announcement landed on the same day Strategy disclosed its 22K BTC purchase.

Since the two largest institutional crypto treasury operations on the planet both made major moves on the same day. The macro signal is hard to ignore, which makes DeepSnitch AI’s March 31 launch well-positioned to fully capture the wider recovery wave, which could boost the odds of the latest DeepSnitch AI price prediction coming true.

Alts you should keep on your radar in March 2026

1. DeepSnitch AI price prediction: Why is the community confident that the DeepSnitch AI token outlook is bullish?

DeepSnitch AI seems to be resilient to choppy markets. Case in point: the presale has raised $2.2M at $0.04487. The trajectory remained consistent, but so did the DeepSnitch AI prediction 2026: 100x minimum and 300x if the cycle turns bullish.

At $0.04487, a 100x minimum puts DeepSnitch AI’s future price at $4.49. Considering that the institutional money is back in crypto, and DeepSnitch AI’s Uniswap listing is exactly at an inflection point.

The ultra bullish DeepSnitch AI price prediction sees the token reaching $13.4, a 300x move, which could represent a longer-term target once the adoption picks up.

With five live AI agents, a central intelligence layer that’s already operational, and a Q2 2026 roadmap adding SnitchGPT and SnitchCast on top of what’s running now, this lends credence to the massive 300x move.

The retention argument is what makes the DeepSnitch AI price prediction much more credible: the solution utilizes five AI agents operating in a central intelligence layer. The tools range from a hidden gem finder to a sentiment tracker and a robust rug scanner.

These projections aren’t empty, though the 41.7M DSNT already staked in presale proves the interest is high, and that is unlikely to be the community open to dumping tokens after launch.

March 31 is reserved for launch, so if you’re eyeing a 100x pump, DeepSnitch AI is likely your best bet.

2. Ethereum price prediction: Will ETH continue its recovery?

According to CoinMarketCap, ETH climbed back up to $2.35K on March 16.

While the DeepSnitch AI price prediction kept spreading around the community, Ethereum experienced multiple weeks of chop in a row. Now, though, things seem to be looking up. With ETH regaining momentum and closing above $2.35K, the path to $2.6K remains open, with the final target seeing a pump to $3.45K.

The 20-day EMA at $2K is the key support to watch on any pullback.

3. Hyperliquid price prediction: Will HYPE reach $50 soon?

HYPE gained over 7% in value in 24 hours, reaching $40 on March 16, according to CoinMarketCap.

With $36.77 flipping to support, the arduous path to $43 followed by $50 remains in play.

For the time being, sellers are unlikely to make erratic moves, but if they somehow tank HYPE below $31.5, the bullish setup will be invalidated, and the coin could drop to $29.

Final words: Don’t miss the window

Large institutional players are once again pouring assets into the crypto market as bears take a small nap.

Since the chop could return unprompted, the DeepSnitch AI price prediction strengthens the project’s robust nature and gives weight to its potential to yield massive returns for holders.

DeepSnitch AI lists on March 31, so the entry at $0.04487 will be gone when the TGE opens. Use DSNTVIP50 for 50% extra tokens on $5K and up. On $30K and above, DSNTVIP300 unlocks 300% on your allocation, which is quite impressive considering this coupon translates into nearly $90K

Don’t miss the window to join the DeepSnitch AI presale. For quick community updates, join the community on X or Telegram.

FAQs

1. What is the DeepSnitch AI price prediction for after the March 31 TGE?

The community projects 100x to 300x from the $0.04487 presale price, putting post-launch targets at $4.49 and $13.46, respectively. The 100x case is built on macro timing and a live product at launch. The 300x target requires sustained adoption growth post-TGE.

2. Why is Bitmine’s ETH accumulation relevant to the degens?

Bitmine adding 61.1K, H in a single week signals accelerating institutional conviction in the broader altcoin market. Historically, sustained institutional inflows into ETH precede retail rotation into early-stage projects.

3. What gives the DeepSnitch AI price prediction credibility beyond the launch pump?

All AI agents are already live, 41.7M DSNT is staked in presale, and traders and investors are betting on a moonshot rally after launch.

The post DeepSnitch AI Price Prediction: Community Eyes 100x-300x $DSNT Pump; ETH, and HYPE Setups Optimistic appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• Workforce reduction of 275 positions planned at Bentley’s UK operations despite strong profitability.
• Chinese market softness impacts sales volumes; premium customization sustains profit margins.
• Full electrification timeline pushed back to 2035; hybrid models to remain past 2030.
• Major Crewe facility investments include electric vehicle engineering, battery assembly, and painting facilities.
• Strategic emphasis on operational streamlining, expense management, and measured electric vehicle launch.

The luxury automaker plans to eliminate approximately 275 positions across its United Kingdom operations as international market dynamics create headwinds for premium vehicle sales. The workforce adjustments will primarily affect administrative, contracted, and non-production personnel at the manufacturer’s Crewe facility. While global deliveries decreased by 5%, the company maintained a solid operating profit of £186 million for 2025. Bentley is currently trading at $37.88, reflecting a 0.47% decline.

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, BSY

Chinese Market Slowdown Impacts Revenue

The luxury automaker faces ongoing challenges from diminished consumer appetite in China, affecting total revenue generation. Operating within a difficult international marketplace, the brand confronted additional complications including tariff-related pressures emanating from the United States. Consequently, vehicle deliveries contracted, though premium personalization services helped mitigate some volume losses.

The deterioration in China contributed to a significant 42% year-over-year decline in operating profits when compared to 2024 figures. Exchange rate volatility and economic uncertainty across European and American markets amplified revenue pressures. The automaker’s response centered on operational efficiency improvements and strategic facility investments to reinforce its competitive position.

The Crewe manufacturing site now undergoes organizational realignment, incorporating hiring freezes for open positions and administrative workforce optimization. Leadership stressed these initiatives support sustained competitiveness over the long term. The strategic approach demonstrates responsiveness to evolving global luxury market dynamics.

Electric Vehicle Strategy Faces Delays

The manufacturer prepares to introduce its inaugural fully-electric “urban SUV” while advancing capital investments at its Crewe headquarters. The timeline for complete electric vehicle conversion has been extended from the original 2030 target to 2035. Plug-in hybrid variants will remain available beyond the initial deadline, acknowledging measured consumer acceptance rates.

The company advances its electrification roadmap through significant facility enhancements, encompassing a modernized Design Centre, specialized A1 battery electric vehicle assembly hall, and upgraded Paint Shop infrastructure. The strategic framework maintains current internal combustion production alongside developing electric platforms. Customer appetite for battery-electric options within Bentley’s clientele remains subdued, constraining near-term expansion opportunities.

Rival luxury manufacturers, including Porsche and Lamborghini, have similarly adjusted electrification schedules responding to customer preferences. Bentley calibrates its electric transformation to align with marketplace dynamics, deploying capital strategically while controlling expenditures. The phased electric vehicle introduction preserves profit margins and safeguards brand equity.

Workforce Reductions Despite Financial Strength

The automaker confirmed plans to eliminate 275 roles, representing approximately 6% of total employment, while sustaining profitability. The reductions concentrate on office-based permanent employees and unfilled job openings. Management maintains these measures bolster operational efficiency and preserve long-term facility competitiveness.

Elevated revenue per unit through exclusive customization programs and favorable product mix enabled sustained operating profitability. The Bentayga SUV continues delivering robust sales performance, underpinning overall margin strength. The company proceeds with Crewe facility investments designed to enhance manufacturing capacity and future preparedness.

Bentley’s concentration on structural optimization, facility modernization, and calculated electric vehicle deployment seeks to preserve market standing. Notwithstanding softening Chinese demand and American tariff complications, the organization maintains financial health. Strategic priorities emphasize operational excellence and innovation to address emerging luxury market requirements.

The post Bentley Systems (BSY) Stock: 275 Job Cuts Announced Despite £186M Profit appeared first on Blockonomi.

Shiba Inu landed on Japan’s Green List in November 2025, placing it alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum as one of only 30 vetted tokens approved for streamlined exchange listing. Coinbase followed by launching U.S.-regulated SHIB perpetual futures in December. On-chain holders have grown past 1.55 million wallets. The institutional validation is real: a top-three economy approved SHIB for regulated trading and a major U.S. exchange built derivatives infrastructure around it.

But staking yields on centralized platforms sit between 1% and 5% APY, and the token is still down over 90% from its all-time high at $0.0000058. Legitimacy arrived. Yield did not. Taurox is a decentralized hedge fund built to close that gap: once the pool activates at listing, AI trading agents will trade your capital around the clock and stakers keep 80% of the profits.

How the Taurox Pool Turns Crypto Into Yield

Once live, you deposit crypto into a shared trading pool. AI agents will trade that pool across DEXs and centralized exchanges 24 hours a day. Each agent is independently built by developers and quants competing for capital in an open marketplace. Some will run arbitrage across exchanges. Others will track whale wallet activity or trade momentum from on-chain and social data. The pool is designed to run thousands of agents simultaneously, each with its own strategy, so your capital never depends on one bet or one market condition.

When agents profit, your share grows automatically through txTokens that rise in value with every winning cycle. No claiming. No compounding yourself. You deposit, agents trade, you collect. Stakers keep 80% at the standard tier. Agent creators earn 15%. The protocol takes 5% only on realized gains, on a high-water mark basis. That 5% gets converted to TAUX and 30% is burned permanently. Every profitable period shrinks the token supply.

Compare that to staking SHIB at 3% on an exchange while watching the token lose 90% of its value. Taurox charges zero management fees, pays out only from profits, and every fee cycle burns tokens to benefit holders. The economics are designed around the staker, not the platform.

How Agents Prove They Deserve Your Capital

Every agent trades with the creator’s own money before touching the pool. Live order books, real slippage, and the creator absorbs any losses. To graduate, an agent needs a Sharpe above 1.5 over a statistically significant number of trades, drawdowns under 15%, and position sizes capped at 5% of allocation.

After promotion, each agent runs under a 2% daily stop-loss. If the entire pool drops 5% in one day, all trading halts. The KYA system classifies agents by strategy type to keep the pool diversified. Agents that drift from their declared approach get shut down. Your funds sit in smart contract vaults at all times. Agents can execute trades but cannot withdraw capital. Only you control withdrawals, backed by a 15% stablecoin reserve.

The TAUX Presale: Why Early Entry Matters

TAUX unlocks pool access. Hold 1% of the supply, stake up to 1% of the pool. The presale runs 19 phases from $0.01 to $0.07, listing at $0.08. Phase 1 locks in an 8x markup at listing. Supply is fixed at 2 billion tokens, non-mintable. Vesting follows a 1-month cliff with linear unlocks through month 6, and staking activates at the end of the presale, so your tokens start producing from day one.

With 30% of all protocol fees burned permanently, the supply only decreases after vesting ends. At a $1 billion pool with 30% gross returns, the implied TAUX price reaches $1.85. That is 185x from Phase 1.

What SHIB Holders Should Consider

Japan approved SHIB. Coinbase built futures for it. Over 1.55 million wallets hold it. And the best yield available is 3-5% on an exchange while the token sits 90% below its high. Taurox is built for capital that deserves better than that. When the pool goes live, AI agents will compete to generate returns on your capital while you keep 80% of everything they earn. The presale is live at $0.01 and Phase 1 allocations are limited.

Learn More

Buy TAUX: https://taurox.io/
Whitepaper: https://docs.taurox.io/
Official Telegram: https://t.me/tauroxlabs

The post Shiba Inu (SHIB) Gains Japan Approval but Yields Stay Below 5%, While Taurox (TAUX) AI Protocol Ensure Steady Income appeared first on Blockonomi.

Bitcoin briefly neared $76,000 on Tuesday, a level seen for the first time in six weeks, in spite of the global uncertainty as the conflict in the Middle East entered its third week.

Data from Alphractal shows that Bitcoin’s Coin Days Destroyed (CDD) Multiple has fallen to its lowest level since 2022. This indicates minimal movement of older units.

Veteran Holders Stay Put

Alphractal explained that the metric, which measures the intensity of Coin Days Destroyed relative to its historical average, normalizes current activity against a long-term baseline to assess whether long-term holders are spending at elevated or reduced rates.

Current readings suggest that older BTC remains largely dormant, which points to steady holding behavior among long-term investors.

According to the analysis, many of these holders previously distributed coins at higher price levels, leaving the present market dominated by relatively younger supply in circulation. The low CDD Multiple also implies limited selling pressure from mature holdings.

In previous cases, similar low levels in the metric have coincided with consolidation phases, where reduced activity from long-term holders precedes significant directional moves in the market.

Meanwhile, data from Santiment shows that Bitcoin’s recent move has been accompanied by a sharp rise in market optimism. The uptick has pushed FOMO to its highest level since January 2, as social media data from this week indicates a bullish-to-bearish comment ratio of 1.67 across platforms such as X, Reddit, and Telegram. The positive sentiment has outweighed the negative views.

Further data reveal Bitcoin is showing early signs of recovery in buyer activity after heavy selling in February. Despite rising geopolitical tensions and expectations that the Federal Reserve will not cut interest rates at the upcoming FOMC meeting, CryptoQuant found that BTC has remained relatively “resilient” compared to traditional assets like equities and commodities.

Buyer Dominance

Data from Binance and Coinbase indicate that trading volumes are gradually changing in favor of buyers. On February 16, the 30-day average volume delta was strongly negative, at -$145 million on Binance and -$88 million on Coinbase, reflecting broad selling by both retail and institutional investors. This has now turned positive, and reached about +$21 million and +$14 million, respectively.

While this is a clear improvement, analysts say that liquidity remains low, and the trend will need further confirmation to support upward price movement.

The post The Old Whales Aren’t Selling: What Bitcoin’s Plunging CDD Multiple Means for the Rally appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, March 17th, 2026]

Non-custodial exchange platform ChangeNOW has announced the rollout of Private Send, a feature designed to prevent direct links between sender and recipient addresses on public blockchains.

Integrated into NOW Wallet, Private Send introduces a toggle within the transaction flow. Instead of a direct wallet-to-wallet transfer, funds are routed through ChangeNOW infrastructure before reaching the final address. To the recipient, the transaction appears standard, while the sender’s address does not appear in the recipient’s transaction history.

Pauline Shangett, CSO at ChangeNOW, says, “Public blockchains were supposed to be about financial freedom, not financial surveillance. Yet today, analytics firms map billions of addresses into clusters, building profiles on ordinary users. Private Send isn’t about hiding from regulators, it’s about stopping the default exposure of every move you make. One click, and the direct link between you and the recipient disappears. That’s it.”

Role of Blockchain Analytics

Blockchain analytics has become standard infrastructure across the industry. A common misconception is that holding crypto in self-custodied wallets ensures anonymity. Analytics firms map billions of addresses into identifiable clusters, linking wallet activity to individuals or entities. Private Send was developed in response to this environment by introducing an intermediary into the transaction flow. The blockchain records the transaction without establishing a direct connection between the sender and the recipient.

Transaction Flow Structure

• Users toggle “Private Send” in NOW Wallet’s standard send flow
• Transaction routes: sender → ChangeNOW → recipient
• Recipient sees funds arriving from a ChangeNOW address
• No additional apps, registrations, or technical knowledge required

Key details

• Most assets available in NOW Wallet
• All transactions undergo standard AML screening
• Geographic availability matches ChangeNOW’s existing restrictions
• Requirement: latest version of NOW Wallet

Typical use cases

• Moving funds between personal wallets without consolidating on-chain history
• Paying vendors or contractors without exposing full portfolio activity
• General privacy-conscious transfers where direct address links are undesirable

Private Send is not a mixing service or an anonymization tool. It operates entirely within ChangeNOW’s compliance framework and does not alter the final transaction record; it only changes the path to the destination.

About ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW is a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange platform that values speed, security, and user liberty. Since its launch, it has served over 8 million customers worldwide, offering access to over 110 blockchains and 70+ fiat currencies. By combining the best rates from top centralized and decentralized platforms, ChangeNOW offers a seamless experience with simplified onboarding where users have full control over their assets.

The post ChangeNOW Launches Private Send to Break Blockchain Address Tracking appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The cryptocurrency market has posted an evident upswing over the past several days, with Cardano’s ADA following the green wave.

Its price surged 8% on a weekly basis, while some analysts believe a more substantial pump may be in the making.

The Necessary Condition

According to the popular market observer Ali Martinez, ADA “is setting up for a bullish breakout.” He argued that the prolonged sideways movement is nearing an end, outlining $0.304 as the upper boundary of this channel.

Martinez predicted that a breakout above this level could open the door to an increase to $0.338 and even $0.376. As of press time, Cardano’s native token trades at around $0.28 and is quite close to the depicted mark.

X user ZAYK Charts also presented an optimistic forecast. The analyst claimed that ADA has broken out of a falling wedge pattern on the daily timeframe, suggesting this could be a precursor to a “massive bullish wave” above $0.50.

For their part, Celal Kucuker expects the cryptocurrency to experience heightened volatility and eventually skyrocket to a new all-time high of $5.67 sometime next year.

Meanwhile, ADA remains oversold on a weekly scale with its Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovering around 30. Such ratios are considered bullish and indicate that a rally could be on the horizon. On the contrary, readings above 70 signal overbought conditions and hint that a correction might be imminent.

Dead Cat Bounce?

Other on-chain indicators, though, suggest that ADA could head south in the short term. Over the past few days, exchange inflows have exceeded outflows, meaning that some investors have abandoned self-custody and transferred their holdings to centralized platforms. This is typically seen as a pre-sale step.

The recent whale behavior should also be taken into consideration. Earlier this month, large investors sold or redistributed 130 million ADA over a seven-day period, bringing their total holdings down to roughly 13.5 billion coins. A similar pattern was observed at the beginning of March, when whales moved about 230 million tokens.

When this cohort of investors unloads a substantial amount of ADA, it increases the available supply on the market, which can put downward pressure on the price. Big players often move before the crowd, so their selling spree can signal that they expect weaker conditions ahead. This kind of activity could scare smaller investors and might trigger panic selling on their part.

The post Cardano (ADA) Poised for a 30% Rally, But Only if One Condition is Met appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Central banks in the US, UK, and the European Union are getting ready to announce their interest rate decisions, with markets expecting that there won’t be any changes across the board.

The policy paralysis has led an analyst to suggest that it could make Bitcoin (BTC) more appealing as a neutral store of value, as shown by its recent strength against the euro and US dollar.

Central Banks Could Hold Steady As Inflation Risks Rise

The cluster of rate decisions, scheduled between March 18 and March 21, has put global markets on edge, with Lacie Zhang, a research analyst at Bitget Wallet, telling CryptoPotato that policymakers in the US, UK, and eurozone are likely to keep rates the same, given the recent surge in oil prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

According to her, this environment is already affecting crypto markets.

“With the BoE expected to hold at 3.75% and the ECB at 2%, both central banks are likely to maintain a cautious stance rather than pursue aggressive hikes or cuts,” she said.

The analyst added that this uncertainty has “supported BTC/EUR, with Bitcoin holding strong above €65,000,” which pointed to more institutions treating crypto as a way to protect themselves against fiat instability.

That expectation matches recent reporting from Reuters that the Bank of England is likely to keep its benchmark rate at 3.75% because inflation risks are rising due to higher energy prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Per the report, economists are estimating that by the end of 2026, UK inflation will reach 3% to 4%, therefore complicating any rate cuts in the near future.

Europe is also showing similar caution, with a Bloomberg poll done between March 6 and March 11 finding that most economists think the European Central Bank will keep rates the same for an extended period, even though inflation risks are rising.

Expectations are similar in the US, as data shared by journalist Sonali Basak on March 16 showed only one rate cut is priced in for 2026 ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.

Bitcoin Shows Resilience

The price action of Bitcoin reflects the prevailing macro backdrop. At the time of writing, the asset showed a 5% jump from a week ago to trade at about $74,000, per data from CoinGecko. It briefly hit $76,000 in early trading hours on Coinbase, which was its highest level since early February.

Meanwhile, on-chain data suggested a change in sentiment, with crypto analyst Darkfost saying that buyer activity has started to pick up again after a lot of selling in February, as trading volumes on major exchanges also went back up.

Ultimately, Zhang believes that BTC’s performance during this period supports its positioning as a hedge.

“This ‘higher-for-longer’ stance may temper short-term risk-on sentiment, but it continues to support Bitcoin’s positioning as a non-sovereign store of value,” she explained.

The post Bitcoin Could Win Big as Central Banks Prepare to Hold Rates appeared first on CryptoPotato.

XRP is showing a modest recovery attempt, but the bigger picture still looks cautious on both the USDT and BTC pairs. The price has bounced from recent lows, and short-term momentum has improved, yet XRP is still trading below major moving averages and within broader bearish structures. That means buyers are improving the short-term picture, but they have not fully changed the trend yet.

Ripple Price Analysis: The USDT Pair

On the XRP/USDT chart, the cross-border token has pushed up toward the $1.50 psychological level after spending several sessions consolidating above the $1.10 to $1.20 support zone. This bounce is constructive, especially with RSI pushing higher, but XRP still sits below the descending trendline, 100-day and 200-day moving averages, and the heavy $1.75 to $1.80 resistance area. That zone remains the first major test for buyers.

If the asset can reclaim that region, the next upside target would be the broader $2.40 to $2.50 supply zone. But the price must also break above the 200-day moving average, located around $2.10, before reaching this zone. Until then, the current move looks more like a relief bounce inside a larger downtrend than a confirmed reversal. But as long as the price holds above the $1.10 to $1.20 base, buyers still have a platform to build on.

The BTC Pair

Against Bitcoin, XRP is also trying to stabilize after holding the key 2,000 sats support area. The pair has bounced back above 2,000 sats and is now attempting to regain some short-term momentum, but it remains below both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, which continue to cap the structure from above.

The first important resistance on the XRP/BTC chart sits around 2,200 sats, where the two major moving averages are located. The next key horizontal level will be the 2,400 to 2,500 sats area. A clean move above those levels would improve the outlook and suggest that relative weakness versus Bitcoin is starting to fade. If the pair gets rejected again, though, the 2,000 sats zone remains the key support to watch, with a break below it reopening the path toward the lower boundary of the channel around 1,700 sats.

The post Ripple Price Prediction: What’s Next for XRP After Reclaiming Key Resistance? appeared first on CryptoPotato.