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TRUMP Memecoin Investors Offered Mar-a-Lago Presidential Meeting

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Buying access to a sitting U.S. President Trump usually requires a maxed-out Super PAC donation, not a wallet full of meme coins. Yet here we are, with on-chain holdings effectively acting as tickets to Mar-a-Lago.

Fight Fight Fight LLC, a company affiliated with the viral $TRUMP memecoin, is planning to host its top 297 investors at Donald Trump’s Florida club next month.

The event, slated for April 25, is advertised as “The Most Exclusive Crypto & Business Conference in the World” and promises a luncheon with Trump as the keynote speaker.

Furthermore, the top 29 holders get an invite to an even more exclusive reception and champagne toast with the President himself.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25 AT MAR-A-LAGO!

The Most Exclusive Crypto and Business Conference in the World & Gala Luncheon with PRESIDENT TRUMP and 18 other SUPERSTARS.

Strictly Limited to only 297 attendees. Are You In?

Register Here: https://t.co/MBo3UBrzje pic.twitter.com/CWOVNK1kbU

— TrumpMeme (@GetTrumpMemes) March 12, 2026 There is a significant scheduling conflict, however. April 25 is the same night as the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., an event Trump is expected to attend for the first time.

Administration officials have stated the Mar-a-Lago event is not currently on the President’s schedule, raising questions about whether he’ll actually turn up at Mar-a-Lago.

The organizers have included a disclaimer noting that if Trump cannot attend the “all-day event,” they will reschedule it, or attendees will receive a limited edition NFT instead. This uncertainty introduces a layer of risk for crypto investors who have held onto their bags specifically for this purpose.

Discover: The best new crypto

TRUMP Price Action: Buy the Rumor, Sell the Meme Coin?The announcement triggered immediate volatility for the $TRUMP token. The price rallied 53% on the news to hit $4.37, a level not seen since January 31.

This behavior is typical of the high-stakes PolitiFi sector, where headlines often drive price action more than fundamental tokenomics.

Source: TradingViewThe token’s top holders are a mix of pseudonymous whales and known industry figures, with previous events attracting major international players.

While the broader meme market has seen massive volume on platforms like Solana, where revenues for launchpads like Pump.fun have hit the billions, $TRUMP remains unique because its utility stems from giving holders direct physical access to political power.

If the meeting occurs, it validates the thesis that digital assets can serve as modern political donor tiers. If it fails or results in an NFT consolation prize, the resulting sell-off could be severe.

The token is currently trading at a market cap of approximately $2.7 billion, making it a heavyweight asset that can move significantly on logistical updates alone.

The Crypto President’s TRUMP Coin Draws Scrutiny and Praise AlikeThis event underscores the blurred lines between the current administration and the crypto industry.

Trump has ushered in a drastically friendlier regulatory environment, but direct commercial engagements with token holders continue to draw scrutiny from ethics watchdogs.

$TRUMP: Market Structure, Ecosystem Expansion, and Inventory Management Update$TRUMP is entering its next phase of development, focused on liquidity depth, additional utilities and disciplined long-term value creation.

To achieve this, based on community feedback, three…

— TrumpMeme (@GetTrumpMemes) February 22, 2026 Regulators are already in a complex position. With agencies moving toward clearer frameworks, like the recent coordination deals between the SEC and CFTC, the existence of a Trump-affiliated meme coin creates a unique compliance paradox.

Any forthcoming official comments from the White House that confirm his attendance will likely be the primary catalyst for the token’s price action leading up to April 25.

Discover: The best meme coins

As XRP anticipates a potential rally toward a key short-term resistance level, an analyst has set a bold target for the cryptocurrency’s long-term performance, suggesting that the altcoin could soar by over 1,300% during the next bull run.

XRP Targets $48 In Next Bull Run On Friday, XRP joined the broader market rebound, experiencing a 3.5% surge and reaching a one-week high of $1.45. Over the past month, the cryptocurrency has been oscillating between $1.20 and $1.50, hovering above the upper area of this range.

Amid this performance, analyst Ali Martinez shared a bold prediction for XRP’s price in the next bull run, suggesting a massive rally could unfold in the coming years based on a multi-year pattern.

According to the chart, the altcoin has been forming an ascending triangle pattern on the monthly chart since 2018, when it rallied around 1,500% over two months to its old all-time high (ATH).

XRP’s multi-year triangle eyes $48 target. Source: Ali Martinez on X XRP has traded between the $3.30 horizontal resistance and the ascending trendline over the past eight years, marking the bottom and peak of each rally during the last two cycles.

The analyst suggested the altcoin could continue to move within this pattern until the next bull run and potentially rally 1,350% to the $48 target once it breaks through the multi-year resistance.

Similarly, market observer Chard Nerd shared XRP’s macro chart but highlighted a potential retest of a resistance-turned-support instead. He noted that the cryptocurrency broke out of a multi-year symmetrical triangle pattern when the price soared past its eight-year resistance during the Q4 2024 market rally.

Per the post, XRP could test the pattern’s neckline, currently around the $0.70-$0.80 area, as support in the coming months before beginning to recover from the bear market lows.

Is A March-April Rally Brewing? In a Friday video analysis, Chart Nerd also shared a short-term outlook for XRP, highlighting its attempt to break out of a one-month symmetrical triangle on the daily timeframe after today’s pump.

As he explained, the altcoin’s price has been compressing between a major level of resistance and a major level of ascending support over the past five weeks, which could target a 25% rally in the next few weeks as it approaches the tighter range of its apex.

The apex does have a date (…) we’re looking towards the end of March, 25th of March, where XRP could, if it rejects from this $1.42-$1.43 level, (…) get really tight and compressed into a corner to look for a decision.

The analyst suggested that the pattern’s upper boundary has been a major level of resistance throughout February, which could squeeze XRP’s price “into this apex towards the end of March” before potentially choosing its next direction.

If XRP breaks out of this apex to the upside and reclaims the $1.50 horizontal resistance, it will validate a move toward the $1.80-$2.00 area, which he previously called “a critical inflection point,” by the end of March or start of April.

XRP’s performance in the one-week chart. Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

The cryptocurrency ecosystem is entering a structural transformation that goes far beyond simple adoption of digital assets. Increasingly, the real shift is happening in the financial architecture being built around those assets. This narrative was recently popularized by the YouTube channel Altcoin Daily, whose analysts suggested that Michael Saylor may have discovered what some investors are calling an “infinite money glitch”—a mechanism that converts cheap debt into accelerated accumulation of Bitcoin.

At the center of this thesis is the company Strategy, which has gradually evolved from a software firm into something closer to a Bitcoin-focused financial vehicle. The latest instrument powering this strategy is STRC (Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock), a preferred equity product designed to attract institutional capital by offering returns significantly higher than traditional fixed-income assets.

The concept is simple but powerful. Strategy raises capital through STRC by offering investors an attractive yield and then deploys that capital to purchase Bitcoin at scale. In doing so, Bitcoin becomes more than just a speculative asset—it becomes the collateral for a new credit-based financial structure.

This is precisely why the Altcoin Daily analysis has gained traction among market observers. The story is no longer just about Bitcoin price speculation, but about building a new financial infrastructure on top of the asset itself.

STRC and the yield arbitrage strategy The appeal of STRC largely stems from a classic opportunity in financial markets: yield arbitrage. While U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds continue to offer returns close to 4% annually, Strategy’s preferred instrument currently provides an annualized dividend of around 11.50% as of March 2026, adjusted monthly to keep the share price near its $100 par value.

For institutional investors searching for stable yield, this difference is significant. Many funds are unwilling to directly hold Bitcoin due to its volatility, but they remain eager for predictable cash-flow-generating assets. STRC is designed to fill exactly that gap.

The mechanism works in straightforward terms. Strategy pays investors roughly an 11.5% yield while allocating that capital to Bitcoin purchases, betting that the asset’s long-term performance will far exceed that cost of capital. Saylor himself has repeatedly suggested that Bitcoin could deliver annualized returns between 20% and 30% over the long term.

If that scenario materializes, the spread between the cost of capital and Bitcoin’s appreciation effectively becomes additional Bitcoin accumulation for the company. This dynamic is what analysts often describe as the real engine behind Strategy’s rapidly expanding Bitcoin treasury.

Another key feature making STRC appealing to conservative capital is its relatively low volatility. The instrument has reportedly shown around 3% volatility over a 30-day period, dramatically lower than Bitcoin’s typical price swings. This characteristic transforms a highly volatile digital asset into a relatively stable financial product suitable for institutional portfolios.

The institutional race for Bitcoin supply The effects of this strategy are already visible in the numbers. In the first 68 days of 2026 alone, Strategy acquired 66,231 BTC, already surpassing the company’s total purchases in several previous years.

On March 9, 2026, the company reported another major acquisition of 17,994 BTC worth approximately $1.28 billion, purchased at an average price near $70,946 per coin. With that transaction, Strategy’s total holdings climbed to roughly 738,731 BTC, representing about 3.5% of Bitcoin’s total supply.

This aggressive accumulation has fueled what analysts increasingly describe as an institutional race to control Bitcoin supply.

One of the most notable competitors in that race is financial giant BlackRock, whose spot ETF iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) currently holds approximately 775,156 BTC under management. While BlackRock still maintains the lead, Strategy’s purchasing pace has accelerated dramatically thanks to funding mechanisms like STRC.

The imbalance becomes even clearer when compared with Bitcoin’s natural supply dynamics. Following the most recent halving, the network produces around 450 new BTC per day through mining rewards.

Yet in periods of strong liquidity, analysts estimate that Strategy could potentially acquire up to 5,700 BTC per day, a level of demand that far exceeds the network’s daily issuance.

In practical terms, a single institutional buyer could absorb multiple times the new supply entering the market each day.

The 42/42 plan and the expansion strategy Behind this rapid accumulation lies a broader strategic framework known as the 42/42 Plan. Under this initiative, Strategy aims to raise approximately $84 billion between 2026 and 2027, divided evenly between $42 billion in equity and $42 billion in convertible debt.

Every dollar raised under this plan is intended for one purpose: acquiring more Bitcoin.

Early market signals suggest strong investor appetite for the strategy. On March 10, 2026, STRC recorded around $409 million in trading volume in a single session, an unusually high level of liquidity for a relatively new preferred equity instrument.

At the same time, other companies are beginning to adopt the product within their own financial strategies. Asset management firm Strive recently announced that it had added $50 million worth of STRC to its corporate treasury, suggesting that the instrument may be evolving into something resembling a yield-bearing “crypto bond” for institutional portfolios.

If this trend continues, the model could expand beyond a single company. Regional banks, wealth managers, and institutional intermediaries could purchase STRC and redistribute it to their clients, offering slightly lower yields but still significantly outperforming traditional fixed-income products.

Final reflection Michael Saylor’s strategy represents far more than an aggressive corporate bet on Bitcoin. At its core, it is a large-scale financial engineering experiment designed to transform a digital asset into the foundation of a global credit system.

If the model proves sustainable, Bitcoin could evolve from a speculative asset into a settlement layer and collateral base for modern financial markets. Yet the system also relies on a single foundational assumption: that Bitcoin will continue appreciating over the long term.

Financial history is filled with innovations that once appeared unstoppable—until they weren’t. But it is also filled with moments when a new financial infrastructure permanently reshaped the global economy.

The real question emerging in today’s markets may no longer be whether Bitcoin can eventually reach $1 million per coin, but whether the financial machinery Saylor is building could accelerate that trajectory far sooner than most investors currently expect.

Disclaimer: This article has been written for informational purposes only. It should not be taken as investment advice under any circumstances. Before making any investment in the crypto market, do your own research.

TLDR: Covenant-72B scored 67.1 on MMLU zero-shot, beating LLaMA-2-70B’s 65.6 under identical test conditions. SparseLoCo reduced communication overhead by 146x using sparsification, 2-bit quantization, and error feedback across nodes. Gauntlet scored every node’s contribution via loss evaluation and OpenSkill ranking, all recorded on the blockchain. $TAO rose 14% to $236 post-announcement, with Grayscale expanding its TAO trust for institutional investor access.
Bittensor’s Subnet 3 has trained a 72-billion-parameter AI model without a central data center. The model, named Covenant-72B, was built across more than 70 global participants.

All nodes are connected through a standard home internet. Covenant-72B outperformed Meta’s LLaMA-2-70B on the MMLU benchmark, scoring 67.1 against 65.6.

The test ran under identical zero-shot conditions. This outcome challenges long-standing assumptions about what decentralized compute can achieve.

Two Technical Innovations Drove the Decentralized Training For years, AI crypto projects claimed decentralized compute could match centralized labs. Bittensor’s Subnet 3 now backs that claim with measurable results.

The training covered 1.1 trillion tokens across more than 70 nodes worldwide. Every node ran on 500 Mb/s commodity internet connections.

Two core innovations made this scale of training possible. SparseLoCo cut communication overhead by 146 times throughout the process.

It combined top-k sparsification, 2-bit quantization, and error feedback to keep all nodes in sync. No central server was needed to manage coordination across the network.

The second innovation, Gauntlet, handled trust and contribution scoring during training. It assessed each node through loss evaluation and OpenSkill ranking.

All scores were logged on the blockchain for full transparency. This gave every participant a verifiable record of their contribution.

Milk Road reported on the outcome via social media, noting that distributed networks can now train large models competitively. The model weights are available on Hugging Face under an Apache License.

Bittensor trained a 72B parameter AI model across a decentralized network.

No central data center. No single company. Just 70+ participants connected over standard home internet.

The model they built (Covenant-72B) beats LLaMA-2-70B.

67.1 vs 65.6 on MMLU, zero-shot, same… https://t.co/nyM1u9o2iU

— Milk Road (@MilkRoad) March 14, 2026

Anyone can access, use, or build on Covenant-72B at no cost. That open approach separates it from many restricted, proprietary AI models available today.

$TAO Climbs as Market Responds to Covenant-72B Results The market moved quickly after news of the Covenant-72B training spread publicly. $TAO, Bittensor’s native token, rose 14% to reach $236 following the announcement.

The token had also gained 36% over the prior 30-day period. Trading volume grew 167% across the past six months.

Grayscale expanded its TAO trust during the same week as the announcement. That move opened up broader institutional access to the token directly.

It came as investor interest in AI-linked crypto assets continued to grow. The timing added further upward pressure to the token’s price movement.

The combination of a technical result and institutional interest drew wide market attention. Covenant-72B’s MMLU score gives decentralized compute a credible, testable benchmark.

The result is measurable and can be reproduced under standard conditions. That distinguishes it clearly from many earlier unverified claims in the AI crypto space.

The Apache-licensed weights on Hugging Face allow any developer to verify the work independently. Bittensor’s approach shows a functioning framework for community-driven AI model training.

The network ran across 70-plus participants with no central coordination at any point. This sets a working precedent for distributed large-model training going forward.

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Japan, South Korea face Red Sea exposure from Houthi oil shutdownThe Houthi oil valve shutdown in the Red Sea is exposing how dependent Japan and South Korea remain on vulnerable maritime chokepoints for crude and refined products. Disrupted passages raise shipping times, insurance costs, and security risks.

The vulnerability is magnified by potential spillovers to the Strait of Hormuz, the key artery for Gulf exports to Northeast Asia. Even without a complete closure, persistent threats can tighten tanker availability and elevate freight premiums. Policymakers face planning uncertainty as alliance dynamics interact with energy security.

Why it matters: Japan and South Korea energy security and inflationFor import-reliant economies, oil shocks transmit quickly through fuel, freight, and electricity, lifting headline CPI and compressing trade balances. Monetary policy cannot directly resolve logistics constraints or rerouting delays. Fiscal offsets face lags and may dilute conservation signals.

Analysts in Seoul expect higher crude costs to pass through to transportation and utilities, with inflation sensitivity rising the longer disruptions persist. The degree of pass-through depends on contract structures, fuel taxation, and regulated tariff settings.

Policy levers tied to trade are also constrained. According to Hanwha Investment & Securities, tariff leverage does not translate into leverage over global oil pricing, limiting the scope for direct administrative relief. Energy costs driven by sea-lane risk may therefore remain primarily a supply-side challenge.

In the near term, shippers can reroute via the Cape of Good Hope, extending voyages but preserving flows. Governments can time-limited releases from strategic petroleum reserves to smooth refinery intake. Importers may adjust refinery runs and hedge exposures to manage basis and freight risk.

Power systems can substitute some oil burn with LNG where contractual and regas capacity permit. Such switching is partial and may encounter tightness in shipping or spot availability. Corporate procurement teams will reassess delivery terms, insurance, and force majeure clauses as conditions evolve.

Alliance uncertainty adds a layer of operational risk for sea lanes that Japan and South Korea cannot easily diversify away overnight. “Aggressive U.S. military actions, even indirect ones, could disrupt critical trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz,” said Mitsuru Fukuda, professor at Nihon University. That perspective underscores why maritime security decisions outside Northeast Asia can still shape inflation and growth at home.

Scenario paths and Strait of Hormuz disruption risksStatus quo, escalation, de-escalation: impacts on sea lanes and costsStatus quo disruption in the Red Sea implies longer routes, higher insurance, and manageable but persistent cost inflation. Inventories and scheduling buffers absorb some delays, yet cumulative freight premia lift landed costs. CPI effects depend on duration.

Escalation that meaningfully impairs Hormuz would raise transit times and risk premia more sharply, forcing larger reserve draws and broader LNG switching. De-escalation would unwind premiums gradually, though procurement and security policies would likely remain tightened.

Structural break in procurement: reserves, rerouting, LNG, diversificationAccording to the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), recent supply threats are prompting a strategic reassessment of long-standing procurement models centered on Gulf crude. This reevaluation spans supplier mix, contract tenors, and logistics resilience.

The analysis indicates downstream implications as firms revisit refining and petrochemical joint ventures predicated on stable Gulf flows. Over time, a mix of reserves policy, rerouting playbooks, LNG flexibility, and source diversification could reduce chokepoint exposure.

FAQ about Houthi Red Sea oil shutdownWhat is the impact of a 10% oil price increase on South Korea’s CPI and Japan’s inflation outlook?KB Securities estimates a 10% oil rise adds about 0.22 percentage points to South Korea’s CPI. Japan likely faces upward pressure; specific magnitude was not provided.

What immediate mitigation options do Tokyo and Seoul have (strategic reserves, rerouting via Cape of Good Hope, LNG substitution)?Options include strategic reserve releases, rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope, and LNG substitution in power generation, subject to shipping capacity, cost, and contract constraints.

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

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Good news: Tesla's European registrations had meaningful gains for the first time in a year. Bad news: It was up against a brutally bad comparison, and year to date is roughly flat.

HomeStock IdeasLong IdeasTech 

SummarySanmina Corporation is rated Buy after a 20% post-earnings selloff, driven by guidance optics, not fundamentals.SANM’s ZT Systems acquisition has transformed its revenue mix, with cloud and AI infrastructure now comprising 62% of sales and driving rapid scale.Q1 FY26 revenue surged 59% YoY to $3.19B, with a 6.0% non-GAAP operating margin and $1.4B cash, supporting a robust financial position.Shares trade at a steep discount to peers; a 12-month price target of $185 reflects confidence in integration, margin expansion, and AI infrastructure tailwinds. JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Sanmina Corporation (SANM) is in a bit of a bind, in my opinion. It is beating its revenue and EPS estimates comfortably, and yet, the share price fell by 20% after it released Q1 FY26 results in late

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of EGY either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor, and this is not a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Investors are recommended to read all of the company's filings and press releases, as well as do their own research to determine if the company fits their own investment objectives and risk portfolios.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

When the stock market begins to rumble, investors can take comfort in high-quality dividend stocks. Capital gains can come and go as stocks fluctuate, but dividends are yours once paid out.

The trick, especially when looking at dividend stocks with abnormally high yields, is to find the ones you can depend on. That's not always easy to do. High dividend yields often result from the market sniffing out business or financial risk in the company, which can ultimately lead to poor returns or dividend cuts.

These two companies have dominant, entrenched businesses that enable them to pay generous, reliable dividends to shareholders. Here is an introduction to each, and why investors can count on their ultra-high dividend yields for 2026 and beyond.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. A Dividend King with a 6.3% dividend yield Altria Group (MO +0.25%) is the leading tobacco company in the United States. Most famous for selling Marlboro cigarettes, Altria also owns leading brands of oral tobacco and cigars, as well as a stake in global beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. Altria continuously raises cigarette prices to offset declining volumes. It's worked so well that the company is a Dividend King, a label earned with 56 consecutive annual dividend increases.

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Marlboro still accounts for the vast majority of Altria's profits, so there could be trouble down the road if the company doesn't make more headway with next-generation smoke-free products. But for now, the dividend is just 75% of earnings, with low-single-digit earnings growth expected over the next three to five years. Investors can continue to cash those dividend checks in confidence.

2. Enjoy a 5.4% yield from this leading wireless carrier Verizon Communications (VZ +1.48%) is one of the big three wireless carriers in the United States. While competition is fierce among them, Verizon faces little threat from new entrants due to the immense capital required to build out a network. Most Americans depend on their cellphones in their daily lives, so Verizon's business has proven very reliable, almost like a utility. As a result, it has become a very strong dividend stock.

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The company has increased the dividend for 22 consecutive years and counting, and the payout is only 56% of this year's earnings estimates. The U.S. market is quite saturated, so don't expect explosive growth. Analysts expect Verizon's earnings to grow by just 4% to 5% annually over the next several years. That said, it's an ideal stock for income-focused investors, and its low beta suggests that it's likely to hold up well if broader market volatility continues.

Earlier this week, Pan African Resources PLC (LSE:PAF, OTCQX:PAFRY, JSE:PAN) CEO Cobus Loots talked to Proactive about the company’s decision to acquire Emmerson Resources.

Loots explained the thinking behind the move to full ownership of the Tennant Creek gold project in Australia, where exploration success has already highlighted the potential of the area. 

Loots also discussed exploration opportunities at Tennant Creek, and key milestones investors should watch as the deal progresses.

Proactive: Cobus, very good to speak with you. Pan African already owns 75% of the Tennant Creek joint venture. Why was now the right time to acquire Emmerson outright?

Cobus Loots: Well, it makes sense to consolidate all of Tennant into one entity. We believe that eliminates the complexities of the joint venture agreement and frees up Pan African to fast-track the development of this field as we see fit. Since we acquired Tennant, Emmerson and Tennant have had excellent exploration success, specifically at the White Devil deposit, which has turned out to be more than half a million ounces at very attractive grades.

Proactive: What strategic advantage does full ownership of Tennant Creek bring in terms of project development, capital allocation and long-term value?

Loots: We now have about 1,700 square kilometres of very prospective ground. In addition to White Devil, our geophysics has identified at least ten similar anomalies. We're very excited about the exploration potential, and owning the entire project means we can fast-track exploration. It also provides exposure to existing resources and reserves, and eliminates certain penalty and royalty payments that were due to Emmerson.

Proactive: How does Emmerson fit alongside Pan African’s existing operations and what does it add to the broader portfolio?

Loots: Effectively, we are buying more of what we already own through the joint venture. It's not a business that we don't understand or know well.

Proactive: The deal also includes a planned ASX listing. How important is that for strengthening your presence in Australia?

Loots: It was very important for Emmerson shareholders because they wanted to retain exposure to the larger group and its prospects. We believe an Australian listing would be well received. During the past year we conducted a roadshow in Australia and met several major institutions. Pan African compares well with the gold mining opportunities available in the Australian market.

Proactive: It's also a good time to increase exposure to gold with prices strong.

Loots: Yes, very much so. These are assets we already know and own, and those are often the best deals.

Proactive: What milestones should investors look out for before completion?

Loots: The transaction will be structured as a scheme of arrangement. Documentation will be circulated to Emmerson shareholders and there will be a vote later this year. Work on the deposits will continue in the meantime.

Proactive: Cobus, thank you very much for speaking with us today.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., March 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biomea Fusion, Inc. (“Biomea,” “Biomea Fusion,” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BMEA), a clinical-stage diabetes and obesity company, today announced that Juan Pablo Frías, MD, delivered an oral presentation at the 19th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (“ATTD”) in Barcelona on March 14, 2026 highlighting positive 52-week follow-up results from the Company’s Phase II COVALENT-111 study evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of icovamenib in patients with type 2 diabetes (“T2D”).

“We are encouraged by the durability of icovamenib’s effect observed nine months post-dosing at Week 52,” said Mick Hitchcock, Ph.D., Interim CEO and Board Member of Biomea Fusion. “We believe that we now have in hand initial evidence of durable efficacy, additional favorable safety data, a clear understanding of an effective dose, and most importantly, the target patient populations. We believe icovamenib demonstrates potential to transform the diabetes treatment landscape by effectively addressing the underlying biology. We are excited about the upcoming two new Phase II studies which are designed to specifically address those patients that had the best responses in our trial COVALENT-111.”

COVALENT-111 Study Design and Results
COVALENT-111 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled adult patients diagnosed with T2D within the last seven years. Eligible participants had HbA1c levels between 7.0% and 10.5%, and a body mass index (“BMI”) between 25 and 40 kg/m². At baseline, all participants were treated with lifestyle management, including diet and exercise, with or without antidiabetic medications and had inadequate glycemic control despite treatment with up to three antidiabetic medications.

The study evaluated icovamenib in three dosing regimens: Arm A at 100mg QD (once daily) for 8 weeks, Arm B at 100mg QD for 12 weeks, and Arm C at 100 mg QD for 8 weeks and 100mg BID (twice daily) for 4 weeks. A total of 267 patients received at least one dose of icovamenib and were considered evaluable for the modified intent-to-treat population. As previously reported, study dosing was temporarily interrupted due to a clinical hold imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The topline efficacy analysis presented here includes the patient population (N=163) who had completed at least 80% of their planned dosing prior to the clinical hold (without other significant protocol deviations) and who, at baseline, were treated with one or more antihyperglycemic agents. As prespecified in the statistical analysis plan, outcomes were prospectively evaluated by diabetes phenotype using the Ahlqvist algorithm.

The study showed positive results, while exploratory, through Week 52 across multiple subgroups, with certain groups demonstrating statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in HbA1c, the gold standard for assessing glycemic control in T2D, observed nine months after dosing. In the 26-week analysis, 8 weeks of dosing was found to be less effective than 12. Accordingly, the 52-week readout primarily focused on patients in Arms B and C who received 12 weeks of treatment. Among the severe insulin-deficient patients (n=10), icovamenib achieved anHbA1c reduction that improved over time reaching 1.2% at Week 52 ((p=0.01 vs placebo). The strongest performing arm for this prespecified population was Arm B (n=6; 100mg QD for 12 weeks), with a mean HbA1c reduction of 1.5% (p=0.01). Severe insulin-deficient diabetes (“SIDD”) is characterized by impaired insulin secretion, the lowest beta cell function among T2D subtypes, and rapid disease progression. This group was prospectively defined prior to unblinding and represents a population with substantial unmet need. In this subgroup, C-peptide index fold change increased by 24% from baseline, suggesting improved endogenous insulin secretion.

The 52-week analysis also showed clinically meaningful glycemic improvement in study participants who were receiving a GLP-1-based therapy but had not achieved glycemic targets at study entry (all arms n=12). In this subgroup, 8 or 12 weeks of icovamenib treatment resulted in HbA1c reduction that improved over time reaching 1.2% at Week 52 (p=0.05 vs placebo). C-peptide index fold change increased by 35% from baseline in this subgroup, further supporting improvement in beta cell function.

Icovamenib maintained a favorable safety profile throughout the 52-week observation period.
There were no treatment-related serious adverse events or discontinuations due to adverse events. Across all dosing arms, icovamenib was generally well tolerated.

ATTD 2025 Presentation:
The abstract will be published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. The presentation will be available on Biomea Fusion's Investor Relations Page under the Events section https://investors.biomeafusion.com/news-events.

Key Anticipated Milestones
Icovamenib - Diabetes

52-week follow-up data from type 1 diabetes (“T1D”) patients in COVALENT-112 who completed ≥80% of protocol-specified dosing with the read-out expected in the second quarter of 2026.26-week primary endpoint data from the Phase II COVALENT-211 and COVALENT-212 studies anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2026. BMF-650 - Obesity

Initial 28-day clinical weight-reduction data from Phase I GLP-131 study anticipated in the second quarter of 2026.
About Icovamenib
Icovamenib is an orally administered investigational small molecule in clinical development for the treatment of diabetes. Icovamenib targets menin, a transcriptional regulator implicated in beta-cell dysfunction, and has been observed to induce transient reductions in menin protein levels in pancreatic islets, thereby modulating pathways associated with insulin secretion and glycemic control. As a potential short course therapy, icovamenib could become an important addition to the diabetes treatment landscape particularly addressing those patients that failed their standard of care therapies.

About Menin’s Role in Diabetes
Loss of functional beta cell mass is a core component of the natural history in both types of diabetes — T1D (mediated by autoimmune dysfunction) and T2D (mediated by metabolic dysfunction). Beta cells are found in the pancreas and are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy and helps control blood glucose levels. In patients with diabetes, beta cell mass and function have been observed to be diminished, leading to insufficient insulin secretion and hyperglycemia. Menin is thought to act as a regulatory brake on beta cell turnover and growth, supporting the hypothesis that menin inhibition may enable regeneration of functional cells. Based on these and other scientific findings, Biomea is exploring the potential for icovamenib-mediated menin inhibition as a viable therapeutic approach to potentially halt or reverse progression of T2D.

About Type 2 Diabetes and Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes
Diabetes is considered a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy and results in excessive glucose in the bloodstream. Over time, this can cause serious health problems and damage vital organs. Most people with diabetes have a shorter life expectancy than people without this disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million Americans (~11% of the population) have diabetes, and 98 million adults have prediabetes. Diabetes also represents one of the largest economic burdens on the U.S. healthcare system, with approximately one in four healthcare dollars spent on diabetes care. Within the population of people with T2D, SIDD is a clinically recognized subtype of T2D characterized by profoundly impaired insulin secretion (significantly reduced beta cell function) and poor glycemic control. People with diabetes with severe insulin deficiency often present with higher HbA1c levels at diagnosis, lower BMI compared to insulin-resistant patients, and a rapid decline in beta cell function. This group represents a very high unmet medical need, with the highest risk of complications such as retinopathy and neuropathy and typically progresses the fastest to insulin therapy. Addressing the underlying beta cell dysfunction in this population offers an important opportunity to slow or potentially reverse disease progression.

About Biomea Fusion  
Biomea Fusion is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of its oral small molecule therapies, icovamenib and BMF-650, for diabetes and obesity. These programs target metabolic disorders, a global health challenge affecting nearly half of Americans and one-fifth of the world’s population. Biomea’s mission is to deliver transformative treatments that restore health for patients living with diabetes, obesity, and related conditions. We aim to cure.

Visit us at www.biomeafusion.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook. 

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements we make in this press release may include statements which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements may be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “seeks,” “will,” and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the clinical and therapeutic potential of our product candidates and development programs, including icovamenib and BMF-650, the potential of icovamenib as a treatment for T1D and T2D, the potential of BMF-650 as a treatment for obesity; our research, development and regulatory plans; the mechanism of action of our product candidates and development programs; the progress and initiation of our ongoing and upcoming clinical trials, including our Phase II (COVALENT-111) study, our Phase IIb (COVALENT-211) study, our Phase IIb (COVALENT-212) study and our Phase I (GLP-131) study; the anticipated availability of data from our clinical trials; our planned interactions with regulators, and the timing of such events may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and are making this statement for purposes of complying with those safe harbor provisions. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risk that preliminary or interim results of preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be predictive of future or final results in connection with future clinical trials and the risk that we may encounter delays in preclinical or clinical development, patient enrollment and in the initiation, conduct and completion of our ongoing and planned clinical trials and other research and development activities. These risks concerning Biomea Fusion’s business and operations are described in additional detail in its periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including its most recent periodic report filed with the SEC and subsequent filings thereafter. Biomea Fusion explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law.

Contact:
Meichiel Jennifer Weiss
Sr. Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Development
[email protected] 

Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF, FRA:I8A) has taken a further step toward commercialising its solid-state battery technology after completing its first revenue-generating product delivery to manufacturing partner Cirtec Medical.

In an interview with Proactive, chief executive Graeme Purdy discusses the significance of the milestone, what it signals about the transition from development to early commercial supply, and how the Stereax platform fits into the fast-growing market for miniaturised medical devices.

In the Q&A, Purdy outlines the potential applications for the technology – from implanted health sensors to neurostimulation devices – and explains how Ilika is building a regular production cadence as it prepares for broader commercial adoption.

Proactive: Graeme very good to see you. You've now delivered your first commercial batch of Stereax electrodes to Cirtec Medical. Why is this moment significant for Ilika’s journey from technology developer to commercial supplier?

Graeme Purdy: Morning, Stephen. Many thanks for the invitation. Great to be back. It's a really important announcement for the company today. A couple of months ago we said that Cirtec, the company’s manufacturing partner in the US for Stereax, had initiated the commercial supply arrangement in place to support product manufacturing. What we’re announcing today is that the company has fulfilled that initial order. So it is the first product revenue-generating order from Cirtec on the path to commercialization.

Proactive: These batteries could power everything from implanted sensors to neuro stimulators. Which applications are generating the most interest from device manufacturers at the moment?

Graeme Purdy: There is a fantastic portfolio of applications that the company continues to receive enquiries about. Perhaps the most straightforward are implanted sensors for applications like measuring blood pressure or oxygen concentration in the blood for patients struggling with COPD. Some of the most sophisticated devices are neuro stimulators that connect to the peripheral nervous system and deliver nanoamp currents of electricity into the nervous system. This can help stimulate organs or offset pain signals, often in cases such as lower back pain. There are also orthopedic implants such as smart hip, knee or shoulder replacements, orthodontic wearables and some cutting-edge ophthalmology devices generating excitement.

Proactive: You've proven you can deliver commercial grade electrodes from your UK facility. What does scaling production look like from here as demand grows?

Graeme Purdy: The company is now putting in place a regular heartbeat of deliveries of electrodes so that Cirtec has a reliable supply feeding into the product manufacturing process. It’s a really exciting time because the company is transitioning from development through to commercialization.

Proactive: And how big is the market that you're targeting?

Graeme Purdy: These are huge markets, dominated mainly by products marketed in the US. It is also a very rapidly growing area and part of the electroceutical revolution, where medical devices increasingly replace pharmaceuticals with highly specific treatments that can be miniaturised and potentially transform patients’ lives.

Proactive: Well Graeme congratulations on this latest milestone. I hope you'll continue to keep us updated with your progress.

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Three institutional-grade validator firms — Figment, Galaxy Digital, and Attestant — will run the Ethereum network nodes that power BlackRock’s newest crypto product, the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust.

The fund launched Thursday on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHB, giving everyday investors a regulated way to hold Ether and collect staking rewards without managing a crypto wallet.

A First Day On The Books Trading volume on the debut came in at roughly $15.5 million, based on Nasdaq data showing just under 593,000 shares changed hands.

Source: Nasdaq Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart called it “very, very solid” for a first-day product launch. That said, ETHB fell short of two comparable Solana staking funds that hit the market in the past year — the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF pulled in $55.4 million when it debuted in October, while the REX-Osprey SOL + Staking ETF recorded $33.7 million on its first day of trading.

📣We are officially staked📣

ETHB combines ether exposure and monthly income potential through the convenience of an exchange-traded product, offering investors a familiar way to get exposure to crypto and potentially benefit from staking rewards.

Learn more about ETHB ⏩… pic.twitter.com/41iKKaDqoD

— iShares (@iShares) March 12, 2026

BlackRock entered Thursday’s session with $106.7 million already in the fund. Coinbase holds custody of the assets. The structure is split roughly 80% staked Ether and 20% unstaked Ether, according to the firm’s product page. Staking rewards will be paid out once a month.

The fund targets an annualized yield of around 4%, generated by locking up ETH tokens on the Ethereum blockchain through validators. Those validators — Figment, Galaxy Digital, and Bitwise-owned Attestant — process transactions on the network and earn rewards in return, which are then passed to fund shareholders.

Vast majority of the trading is done and we are at $15.5 million in trading volume for the BlackRock staked Ethereum ETF — $ETHB. Very very solid for a day 1 ETF launch https://t.co/5f9VeA9ivq pic.twitter.com/MpwRqeHnwU

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) March 12, 2026

Fees And The Fine Print ETHB carries a 0.25% sponsor fee, but BlackRock is waiving it down to 0.12% on the first $2.5 billion in assets under management for the first year. That kind of introductory pricing is a common tactic among ETF issuers looking to pull in early investors before competing products arrive.

ETHUSD now trading at $2,179. Chart: TradingView The launch expands BlackRock’s crypto lineup, which already includes two of the biggest funds in the space. Reports from data firm Farside Investors show the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF has drawn close to $63 billion in net inflows since its 2024 debut, while the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF has pulled in almost $12 billion in the same period.

What Comes Next For BlackRock’s Crypto Push ETHB is not the only new product BlackRock has in motion. The firm has also filed for a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, which would sell covered call options on Bitcoin futures and collect premiums to generate yield for investors.

The staked Ethereum fund adds a yield component that the existing ETHA does not offer. Whether that distinction attracts fresh capital — or simply shifts money from one BlackRock ETH product to another — will become clearer in the weeks ahead as cumulative inflow data starts to build.

Featured image from Fortune, chart from TradingView

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TLDR: Bitcoin saw macro relief as the PCE inflation print came in at ~2.8% YoY, matching expectations and easing pressure on risk assets. A U.S. 30-day oil sanction waiver cooled energy markets, reducing inflation fears and boosting investor risk appetite. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded multiple consecutive inflow days, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading institutional demand signals. Dealer hedging near the $75K options strike amplified BTC’s upward move, accelerating the return to the $70K level. Why Bitcoin just bounced back to $70,000 is a question many market watchers are asking this week. The recovery did not happen by chance, as several converging factors drove the price higher.

Easing inflation data, cooling energy prices, consistent ETF inflows, and strategic derivatives positioning all played a role.

Understanding each of these elements helps explain the mechanics behind this notable price recovery in the cryptocurrency market.

Cooling Macro Pressures Gave Bitcoin Room to Recover The most immediate reason why Bitcoin bounced back traces directly to the latest inflation data. The Personal Consumption

Expenditures report printed at approximately 2.8% year-over-year, closely matching market expectations. A higher-than-expected reading would have pressured risk assets across the board.

Instead, the in-line result removed a key obstacle that had been weighing on investor sentiment toward Bitcoin.

Energy markets also shifted in a constructive direction around the same time. The U.S. government issued a 30-day waiver permitting select countries to purchase sanctioned Russian oil stranded at sea.

Coordinated global measures, including potential strategic reserve releases, helped stabilize oil prices further. Calmer energy markets reduced broader inflationary fears and encouraged investors to re-enter risk assets.

When both inflation data and energy prices ease simultaneously, risk appetite tends to return quickly. Bitcoin, being a highly sentiment-driven asset, responded swiftly to this improved macro backdrop.

Fewer macro headwinds meant investors faced less resistance in adding exposure to the asset. That clearing of obstacles was a direct catalyst for the move back toward $70,000.

WHY BITCOIN JUST BOUNCED BACK TO ~$70K 👀

Several macro and market factors lined up behind today’s move:

✅️ Inflation didn’t surprise higher. The latest PCE print came in around expectations (~2.8% YoY), easing some macro pressure on risk assets.

✅️ Oil fears cooled. The… pic.twitter.com/voCaJiCUbf

— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) March 14, 2026

Institutional Demand and Derivatives Positioning Accelerated the Bounce Beyond macro factors, consistent ETF inflows helped explain why Bitcoin bounced back with such force. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded multiple consecutive days of positive inflows during this period.

BlackRock’s IBIT led the way, reflecting persistent institutional demand through regulated investment vehicles. This steady buying created a reliable floor of support beneath the asset’s price.

Crypto analyst CryptosRus pointed directly to this institutional trend as a driving force. The analyst noted on social media that sustained IBIT inflows signal steady and growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin.

Unlike retail-driven rallies, institutional flows tend to be more deliberate and measured in nature. That consistency adds a layer of structural support that amplifies price recoveries when macro conditions also align.

The derivatives market then added fuel to an already improving situation. Dealer hedging around major options strike prices near $75,000 created additional buying pressure as BTC climbed.

CryptosRus described the overall setup clearly, stating that macro pressure eased while institutional flows stayed strong. Derivatives positioning then accelerated the upward move from there.

The analyst called this combination a classic recipe for Bitcoin momentum to restart. Market participants are now monitoring closely whether Bitcoin can sustain its position above the $70,000 level.

XRPL is being recast as core infrastructure in a broader BlackRock-led tokenization wave rather than just a cross-border payments play.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: March 14, 2026 │ 5:57 AM GMT

Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin

A crypto commentator who has covered the space since 2017 argues that Ripple and XRP are moving into a much larger game than cross-border payments: the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) alongside giants like BlackRock.

In a recent video, Wendy O a.k.a Crypto Wendy frames the next cycle around a “trifecta” of AI, DeFi, and RWAs — and places Ripple in the same strategic lane as Ethereum, Solana, and Hedera.

Ripple Payments Rely On RLUSD & a Quiet $100BThe video spotlights Ripple Payments, described as a platform that lets businesses “send, hold, convert, and pay out money in fiat or stablecoins, all on one platform.” According to the host, the service now processes over $100 billion in payments across more than 60 countries, with real-time settlement and instant FX conversion.

Sponsored

That volume is characterized as “kind of on the low end” but growing significantly.

The market expert then turns to RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, which has “recently surpassed” a $1 billion market cap. In their view, RLUSD and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) could become key infrastructure for AI agents transacting via micropayments, creating their own closed-loop economic systems on-chain.

XRPL’s RWA Jumps 1,300% — Mostly InstitutionalThe most striking data point in the breakdown is a reported “1,300% monthly increase” in RWA volume on XRPL, hitting roughly $139.85 million. Total value in XRPL pools is cited at $1.5 billion, with RLUSD again identified as the primary driver, alongside Ondo Finance’s tokenized U.S. Treasury products.

The host calls Ondo “like BlackRock’s baby and the leader in RWAs,” tying XRPL’s growth to broader institutional tokenization trends.

Even so, she stresses that most XRPL-based assets are currently used by banks and institutions as “record-keeping layers, not for transfers.” XRP itself remains the settlement asset in this model, so deeper liquidity and higher transactional volume could benefit XRP holders if RWA activity continues to expand and the broader bear market eases.

BlackRock, Private Chains & The XRP Trifecta BetWendy’s video repeatedly references BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s stance that “everything’s going to be tokenized,” while noting that much of this infrastructure is likely to run on more private or permissioned ledgers rather than the public chains retail users trade on today.

Current RWA tokenization is estimated at about $25 billion, spanning treasuries, commodities, private credit, alternative funds, corporate bonds, and non-U.S. sovereign debt — with “most of the growth” coming from top-notch U.S. institutional allocations instead of active secondary trading.

For investors, the host’s key filter is straightforward: watch chains that sit at the intersection of spot ETFs, AI, DeFi, and RWAs, with some privacy capabilities. Ripple and XRPL fit that thesis, but they’re framed as part of a broader structural shift rather than a standalone outlier.

The takeaway: RWA tokenization remains small next to traditional markets, but capital and infrastructure are clearly aligning around a few core ecosystems.

If the “trifecta” thesis plays out, assets and protocols that anchor AI-driven payments, institutional RWAs, and compliant DeFi rails could see outsized strategic importance — including Ripple, provided it continues to secure those integrations over fresh acquisitions.

Discover DailyCoin’s popular crypto news today:
HBAR Targets Central Bank Rails & AI Agents As Q2 2026 Catalysts
Pi’s Price Jumps 31% On Kraken Listing, But Sales Shadow Pi Day

People Also Ask:How big is RWA tokenization today?

The host cites roughly $25 billion in tokenized RWAs, mostly in treasuries, bonds, and private credit, driven mainly by institutional allocations.

What role does XRP play if banks use XRPL just for record-keeping?

According to the video, XRP is still used for settlements, so more institutional activity and liquidity on XRPL could translate into higher demand for XRP.

Why is RLUSD important in this narrative?

RLUSD is described as the main stablecoin on XRPL, recently surpassing a $1 billion market cap and acting as a key liquidity driver for RWAs and potential AI-agent micropayments.

How is BlackRock connected to XRPL’s RWA activity?

The host links Ondo Finance’s tokenized treasury products on XRPL to BlackRock, characterizing Ondo as “BlackRock’s baby” and a leading RWA player, though details of that relationship are not fully unpacked in the video.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

Market Sentiment

0% Neutral

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Bitcoin holds $71,000 despite Trump warning of strikes on Iran's oil-rich Kharg IslandThe largest cryptocurrency is up 4.2% on the week despite Friday's reversal, with attention now turning to the Fed meeting on March 17-18 and whether oil above $100 forces a shift in rate expectations. Mar 14, 2026, 6:08 a.m.

Two weeks into a Middle Eastern war and bitcoin is higher than where it started.

The largest cryptocurrency was trading at $71,000 on Saturday morning, down 0.7% over the past 24 hours after the U.S. bombed military targets on Kharg Island, Iran's main crude export facility.

The reversal from Friday's $73,838 high was sharp but contained. Bitcoin gave back 3.5% on the Kharg headlines and stopped. A month ago, a comparable escalation would have triggered a much deeper sell-off.

The weekly numbers tell the resilience story. Bitcoin is up 4.2% over seven days. Ether gained 5.5% to $2,090. Dogecoin added 5%. Solana rose 4.2% to $88. BNB climbed 4.5% to $655. Every major is green on the week despite the war intensifying, not easing.

The market is adapting to the conflict in real time. Early in the war, every headline produced an outsized reaction because nobody could price the tail risk. Now, traders have a framework, where strikes happen, oil spikes and bitcoin dips only to recover again.

The pattern has repeated enough times that the reflexive sell-the-headline impulse has faded. However, the $73,000-$74,000 resistance level stays in place, and has now rejected bitcoin four times in two weeks.

Trump's language on Kharg Island added a new variable in the markets.

In a Truth Social post late Friday, he said he spared oil infrastructure "for reasons of decency" but would "immediately reconsider" if Iran continued blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran responded that any strike on energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory attacks on U.S.-linked facilities in the region. That's a conditional escalation threat that didn't exist 48 hours ago. If oil infrastructure becomes a target, the supply disruption, which the IEA already called the largest in history, gets dramatically worse.

Meanwhile, the $371 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours reflected the two-way nature of Friday's session. Short liquidations outpaced longs at $207 million versus $163 million, meaning the initial surge to $73,800 squeezed bears before the Kharg headlines squeezed the longs who had just entered.

Attention now shifts to the Fed meeting on March 17-18. Oil above $100, the largest energy supply disruption in history, and a war entering its third week with no resolution make the stagflation case harder to dismiss.

CME FedWatch still prices a 95%+ probability of a hold at 3.5% to 3.75%, but the dot plot and Powell's press conference will matter more than the decision itself. Any hint that rate hikes are back on the table would hit risk assets hard, including a crypto market that has spent five months pricing in cuts that keep not arriving.

More For You

Bitcoin can survive 72% of the world's submarine cables being cut, but a targeted attack on five hosting providers could cripple it

2 hours ago

A Cambridge study spanning 11 years and 68 verified cable failures found that Bitcoin's physical infrastructure is far more resilient than previously understood, with TOR adoption actually strengthening the network.

What to know:

A new Cambridge study finds that 72% to 92% of the world's submarine cables would need to fail simultaneously before Bitcoin's network suffers significant global node disconnection.While random cable faults have historically had negligible impact on Bitcoin, targeted attacks on key submarine chokepoints or major hosting providers could disrupt the network with far less damage.The growing use of TOR by Bitcoin nodes has unexpectedly increased the network's physical resilience, as relay infrastructure is concentrated in highly connected European countries that are difficult to isolate.

PI was violently rejected at $0.30 and it's the poorest performer today from the larger-cap alts.

Although its vast community is preparing to celebrate the so-called Pi Day today, the ecosystem’s underlying token experienced one of its most painful corrections, driving it south by 30% in less than 24%.

This crash came even after reports that the Core Team had successfully implemented a crucial upgrade, whose deadline was March 12.

v20.2 Update Completed? The team behind the controversial project announced its first protocol migration for the year to v19.6 on February 21. The next one, v19,9, was successfully migrated on March 4, and they explained that v20.2 will be implemented by March 14. However, they tightened the deadline to March 12 a few days later.

Although the second deadline passed on Thursday, there’s no official update from the team regarding its status. However, multiple reports from accounts designated to cover Pi news have asserted that it was successfully migrated. v20.2 is not a routine technical update; it’s a mandatory protocol adjustment designed to strengthen the network and ensure it can support rising demands and utilization.

The team promised that security, scalability, and reliability of the blockchain infrastructure should be enhanced following its completion.

PI Plummets The project’s native token became the most significant gainer over the past few days. Yesterday alone, it skyrocketed by 30% to its highest price level since late November at almost $0.30. Perhaps a large portion of these gains was driven by the implemented updates and the promise of the following one. However, there was another big reason behind PI’s wild run – the official listing on the veteran US exchange Kraken.

Similar listings tend to boost the underlying token as it helps to legitimize it and increase liquidity. However, this significant rise in PI’s price has come to a halt as the asset has wiped out almost all recent gains and has plummeted to $0.21. In fact, it has even turned red on a weekly scale, dropping by over 11%.

You may also like: Bitcoin (BTC) Plunges Before the FOMC Meeting, Pi Network (PI) Soars by 15%: Market Watch Today’s crash appears to be a classic ‘sell-the-news’ moment, in which the underlying asset rockets as the hype builds and crumbles after the update/listing becomes official.

Pi Network (PI) Price on Mar 14. Source: CoinGecko The upcoming token unlock schedule is quite high over the next few days, with 17 million and 16 million coins to be released on March 17 and 20, respectively, which could increase immediate selling pressure. However, the following three weeks are expected to be calmer, with the average number of tokens to be unlocked decreasing to under 4.5 million per day.

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More than $246 million in crypto futures positions were wiped out in a single day as Bitcoin reversed sharply on Thursday, punishing traders who had bet against the market.

The leading cryptocurrency climbed back to around $73,300 — a gain of roughly 4.5% over 24 hours — after a stretch of selling had dragged prices into the high $60,000 range.

The move carried the hallmarks of a short squeeze. Funding rates had gone deeply negative in the days before the reversal, a sign that bearish bets had piled up on exchanges. When prices turned higher, those positions were forced to close. Volume surged, and the rally fed on itself.

Source: Coingecko Buyers Step In Ahead Of Major Resistance Bitcoin had been trading near $71,500 before buyers moved in. Reports from trading data firm TradingView placed the price at approximately $72,900 at publication time.

The recovery came against a backdrop of broader risk appetite returning to financial markets, with the S&P 500 posting gains and the US dollar softening — conditions that have historically drawn money into alternative assets like Bitcoin.

Institutional demand played a role too. Inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds helped put a floor under prices during earlier sell-offs this year, keeping losses shallower than they might otherwise have been.

That dynamic marks a notable shift from past cycles, when Bitcoin often fell in lockstep with equities during periods of stress.

BTCUSD now trading at $73,432. Chart: TradingView Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East added a layer of uncertainty throughout the week, but Bitcoin held its ground, a fact traders pointed to as evidence of broader market acceptance of the asset.

Open Interest Stays Elevated At $48B The derivatives market remains stretched. Open interest across major exchanges sat near $48 billion, according to data aggregated by Coinglass, with CME Bitcoin futures alone accounting for roughly $7.9 billion — or around 110,000 BTC.

Source: Coinglass Positioning had shifted toward call options heading into the move, suggesting some traders had already anticipated a push higher.

That level of open interest cuts both ways. It reflects strong participation and genuine conviction from both retail and institutional traders.

But it also means the market stays vulnerable to sharp swings if headlines change fast. A single piece of macro news — a Federal Reserve signal, an escalation overseas, a policy shift — could flip the mood quickly.

Bitcoin has shed its old reputation as a pure risk-on trade, at least partly. Advocates increasingly frame it as a store of value in environments where governments spend freely and currencies weaken.

Whether that framing holds under pressure remains an open question, but Thursday’s recovery did little to discourage those who believe it.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

8h05 ▪ 3 min read ▪ by Eddy S.

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With 39.8 million tons of CO₂ emitted annually, Bitcoin mining is often criticized for its carbon footprint. Yet, its energy mix reveals a surprise: 52.4% sustainable energies, including 9.8% nuclear. A strategy that anticipated AI’s needs and transformed the energy industry.

In brief Bitcoin miners anticipated the energy crisis by signing partnerships with nuclear power plants as early as 2021. Infrastructure initially dedicated to Bitcoin mining is becoming hubs for AI data centers, proving the model’s reproducibility. The energy mix of Bitcoin mining now includes 52.4% sustainable energies with nearly 10% nuclear, thus reducing its carbon footprint. The energy paradox of Bitcoin mining: between criticism and innovation Bitcoin mining is often called out for its colossal electricity consumption, estimated at 39.8 million tons of CO₂ per year. Yet, a detailed analysis of its energy mix reveals a more nuanced reality: 52.4% of its consumption comes from sustainable sources, including 9.8% from nuclear. This share, constantly increasing since 2021, illustrates a gradual transition to cleaner energies.

Electricity consumption due to Bitcoin mining. Indeed, Bitcoin miners understood before anyone else that energy stability and cost were crucial for their survival. By turning to nuclear, they not only secured their supply but also gave new life to struggling power plants. This created an unprecedented economic model, where nuclear energy is no longer a burden but a strategic asset.

While AI is just beginning to look for solutions to meet its exponential energy needs, Bitcoin mining has already paved the way. As early as 2021, companies like TeraWulf signed partnerships with nuclear power plants, like Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, to secure stable and decarbonized electricity.

Today, these same infrastructures are becoming hubs for AI data centers! Proving that Bitcoin mining anticipated future needs. The numbers speak for themselves: the share of nuclear in Bitcoin mining’s energy mix rose from 4% in 2021 to nearly 10% in 2025.

Nuclear, the cornerstone of a global energy revolution? Could the success of Bitcoin mining with nuclear power become a model for other energy-intensive industries? The United States, pioneers in these partnerships, are strengthening their energy sovereignty, while Europe and Asia watch with interest. Yet, challenges remain: 

Complex regulations; Local resistance to nuclear power plants; Competition from renewable energies. By 2030, this synergy between BTC mining and nuclear power could redefine the rules of the global energy game.

The energy battle between AI and BTC has transformed the reputation of Bitcoin mining from polluter to pioneer of the energy transition. With 52.4% sustainable energies in its mix, it has outpaced AI in the race for nuclear power. What if the solution to the energy crisis came from those accused yesterday of worsening it?

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Eddy S.

The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

SHIB price attempts a recovery after breaking a short-term declining structure, but rising exchange reserves topping 80 trillion tokens signal growing sell pressure.

Shiba Inu is showing early signs of a price recovery, but on-chain data tells a more cautious story. Over 112 billion SHIB tokens were transferred to centralized exchanges within a single 24-hour window. That influx pushed total exchange reserves back above the 80 trillion SHIB mark, raising fresh questions about the sustainability of the asset's recent bounce.

At the time of writing, SHIB trades at approximately $0.00000590. The price represents a marginal gain following weeks of sustained losses. Bulls managed to push the asset out of a short-term declining structure, but the broader market context remains firmly bearish.

Exchange Reserve Surge Adds Pressure on BullsOn-chain data confirms that SHIB's total exchange reserve balance is approximately 80.63 trillion tokens. That figure reflects a 0.14% single-day increase, a seemingly small percentage that translates to an enormous volume of tokens given the asset's circulating supply.

Rising exchange reserves carry specific implications for crypto markets. When large volumes of tokens move onto exchanges, it typically signals that holders are preparing to sell or restructure their positions. More tokens sitting on exchanges means more supply is available. A greater supply, without a proportional increase in demand, creates downward pressure on prices.

This dynamic complicates the current recovery narrative. SHIB may have broken free from its short-term consolidation range, but the flow of tokens into exchange wallets suggests that conviction among longer-term holders remains low. Any upward momentum faces real resistance from this expanding sell-side supply.

The 112 billion token transfer is not a trivial movement. It reflects active decision-making among large holders, commonly referred to as whales, who are repositioning ahead of anticipated market shifts. Whether those shifts materialize as further decline or a sharper recovery depends heavily on demand absorbing the incoming supply.

Technical Structure Still Points to a Bearish TrendSHIB's price action offers a mixed picture for technical analysts. The asset did break out of a short-term declining channel, which is a modest positive signal. However, the breakout has not yet translated into a broader trend reversal.

The 26-day exponential moving average (EMA) remains a critical level of resistance. SHIB is still trading below it. For bulls to validate a genuine recovery, a sustained close above this moving average is necessary. Without that confirmation, the current bounce risks being classified as a relief rally within a larger downtrend, a common pattern in bearish markets.

Several other key moving averages also sit above the current price, acting as overhead resistance zones. Each of these levels represents a point where sellers who bought at higher prices may look to exit, further capping any upside momentum.

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Newton Gitonga covers cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital finance. He specializes in breaking down complex trends with clear, data-driven reporting. His work focuses on market analysis, technical insights, and the evolving role of altcoins in shaping global markets.

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Latest Shiba Inu News Today (SHIB)

On Friday, Michael Saylor defended Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson described cryptocurrencies as a "giant Ponzi scheme" in a column.

Boris Johnson Questions Bitcoin's ValueIn a Daily Mail column, Johnson argued that Bitcoin and other digital assets rely largely on belief rather than inherent value.

He said cryptocurrencies function similarly to a Ponzi scheme because their value depends on a steady flow of new investors willing to buy in.

“I have always suspected from the outset that all cryptocurrencies were basically a Ponzi scheme,” Johnson wrote, adding that such systems depend on “a constant supply of new and credulous investors.”

Former UK Prime Minister Shares Bitcoin Loss StoryTo illustrate his concerns, Johnson shared an anecdote about a man from his village who invested roughly £500 (about $660) in Bitcoin after meeting someone in a pub who promised the money would double.

According to Johnson, the investor later lost nearly £20,000 (around $26,000) after paying various fees while trying to recover the funds.

Johnson argued that stories like this highlight the risks for people who may not fully understand how crypto markets work, particularly older investors.

He also questioned whether Bitcoin has any underlying value, noting that, unlike assets such as gold or collectible items, the cryptocurrency exists only as digital code stored on computers.

The former prime minister said traditional currencies historically derive credibility from governments and institutions that back them.

Michael Saylor Rejects ‘Ponzi Scheme' Label"Bitcoin is not a Ponzi scheme," Saylor wrote on X. "A Ponzi requires a central operator promising returns and paying early investors with funds from later ones."

He added that Bitcoin has "no issuer, no promoter and no guaranteed return — just an open, decentralized monetary network driven by code and market demand."

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $70,647.42, down 1.13% in the past 24 hours, with a market capitalization of $1.41 trillion, 24-hour trading volume of $55.35 billion, and a volume-to-market-cap ratio of 3.91%.

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Key Takeaways Table of Contents

Key TakeawaysBinance Partnership Drives USYC ExpansionMarket Reaches New HeightsGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks USYC, Circle’s tokenized Treasury product, has expanded to $2.2 billion in supply, surpassing BlackRock’s BUIDL fund BUIDL’s dominance has declined significantly, with market share dropping from 46% at its height to approximately 18% A partnership with Binance enabled USYC to serve as off-exchange collateral on BNB Chain, resulting in $1.84 billion deployed on that blockchain Tokenized U.S. Treasury products have reached an all-time high of $11 billion in total value, climbing 27% year-to-date Market expansion intensified throughout January’s crypto market correction as traders sought yield-generating blockchain-based instruments In a significant milestone for blockchain-based financial products, Circle’s USYC token has claimed the top position among tokenized U.S. Treasury offerings, displacing BlackRock’s BUIDL fund from its leading role. This development signals an evolution in the rapidly expanding sector focused on bridging traditional finance with distributed ledger technology.

USYC’s total supply has reached approximately $2.2 billion, based on analytics from RWA.xyz. This volume exceeds BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, which currently maintains around $2 billion in assets under management.

Source: RWA.xyz The USYC product came under Circle’s control in early 2025 following the company’s acquisition of Hashnote, which originally created the token. This investment vehicle provides holders with access to yields from U.S. Treasury securities while maintaining the benefits of blockchain-based asset management.

BlackRock introduced BUIDL to the market in early 2024 through a collaboration with Securitize, a specialized tokenization platform. During its strongest period in May 2024, BUIDL commanded 46% of the entire tokenized Treasury sector. However, increased competition has reduced that figure to roughly 18% today.

These tokenized Treasury products function by converting U.S. government debt instruments into digital tokens deployed on blockchain infrastructure. This structure enables investors to generate returns while simultaneously leveraging these tokens as collateral for trading activities — a capability that traditional Treasury investments cannot easily provide.

Binance Partnership Drives USYC Expansion Much of USYC’s impressive recent expansion stems from its integration with Binance. The cryptocurrency exchange incorporated USYC as eligible off-exchange collateral for institutional derivative products on BNB Chain starting in July 2024.

This arrangement permits USYC to be maintained either through Binance Banking Triparty services or through Ceffu, the exchange’s institutional custody solution. Following this integration, USYC’s presence on BNB Chain has surged to $1.84 billion.

Circle’s USYC just became the world’s largest tokenized MMF.

Tokenized treasuries and repo as collateral is a major emerging use case and we are proud of how quickly this has grown.

What’s especially powerful about USYC is the ability to 24/7/365 create and redeem it using… https://t.co/iedxCbw0vG

— Jeremy Allaire – jda.eth / jdallaire.sol (@jerallaire) March 13, 2026

In a Friday post on X, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire described the utilization of tokenized Treasury products as collateral as “a major emerging use case.”

The dual benefit of generating yield while simultaneously deploying an asset as trading collateral represents a substantial advantage compared to maintaining stablecoins or fiat currency, which generally produce no returns.

Market Reaches New Heights According to data from RWA.xyz, the aggregate tokenized U.S. Treasury sector has achieved an unprecedented valuation exceeding $11 billion. This milestone represents approximately 27% growth, translating to roughly $2.5 billion in additional value, since the beginning of 2026.

Expansion accelerated notably during January’s cryptocurrency market volatility. This trend indicates that certain market participants redirected funds into tokenized Treasury products to secure consistent yields while awaiting more favorable conditions for crypto market re-entry.

Compared to conventional financial systems, blockchain-based tokens deliver near-instantaneous settlement, complete reserve transparency, and continuous availability — characteristics that continue to attract institutional capital.

Securitize, which co-manages the BUIDL fund, had not provided commentary by publication deadline.

As of mid-March 2026, USYC maintains its leadership position within a sector that has now surpassed $11 billion in aggregate holdings.

SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Driven Brands Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: DRVN) common stock between May 9, 2023 and February 24, 2026, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), have until May 8, 2026 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Driven Brands class action lawsuit. Captioned Clark v. Driven Brands Holdings Inc., No. 26-cv-01902 (S.D.N.Y.), the Driven Brands class action lawsuit charges Driven Brands and certain of Driven Brands’ top current and former executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Driven Brands class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-driven-brands-holdings-class-action-lawsuit-drvn.html

You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Driven Brands is an automotive services company.

The Driven Brands class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) there were errors relating to the recording of leases which primarily impacted the right of use assets and right of use liabilities recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 28, 2024, and September 27, 2025; (ii) there were errors in reporting opening and ending cash balances and operating cash flows, which resulted in overstatements of cash and revenue and understatement of selling, general and administrative expense in consolidated statement of operations for fiscal years 2023 and 2024; and (iii) supply and other expenses were improperly presented as company-operated store expenses in fiscal years 2023 and 2024; (iv) other errors were identified relating to income tax provision, supply and other revenue, fixed assets, cloud computing, lease cash applications, balance sheet and income statement misclassifications, improperly recognized revenue in Driven Brands’ ATI business primarily related to fiscal year 2025.

The Driven Brands class action lawsuit further alleges that on February 25, 2026, Driven Brands disclosed that its Audit Committee of the Board of Directors “concluded there were material errors in our previously issued consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2024 (‘fiscal year 2024’) and the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023 (‘fiscal year 2023’) contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 2024, and in our previously issued unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for each of the quarterly and year-to-date periods within fiscal year 2024 as well as the quarterly and year-to-date periods for the periods ended September 27, 2025, June 28, 2025 and March 29, 2025, and concluded that such financial statements should not be relied upon and required restatement.” On this news, the price of Driven Brands common stock fell nearly 40%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Driven Brands common stock during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Driven Brands class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Driven Brands class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Driven Brands class action lawsuit. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Driven Brands class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world’s leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud and shareholder rights litigation. Our Firm ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report, recovering more than $916 million for investors in 2025. This marks our fourth #1 ranking in the past five years. And in those five years alone, Robbins Geller recovered $8.4 billion for investors – $3.4 billion more than any other law firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs’ firms in the world, and the Firm’s attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest ever – $7.2 billion – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. 
Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. 

Contact:
        Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
        J.C. Sanchez
        655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101
        800-449-4900
        [email protected]

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in SRV over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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