Market Signal Briefing

20h05 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

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Geopolitical crises have often caused violent shocks in financial markets. This time, bitcoin seems to be withstanding the impact. As international tensions around Iran fuel global uncertainty, the leading crypto surprises with its resilience. BTC has risen back above 72,000 dollars, a threshold closely watched by traders. For several analysts, this reaction could mark a key moment. Beyond the simple rebound, bitcoin’s behavior in the face of geopolitical turbulence could transform how investors perceive its role in the global economy.

In brief Bitcoin rises back above $72,000 despite a tense geopolitical context marked by tensions linked to Iran. Analysts describe the situation as a true “geopolitical stress test” for the leading cryptocurrency, which appears to be absorbing the shock of global turbulence. The crypto market is showing signs of strength, while several traditional assets react in mixed ways to macroeconomic uncertainty. Bitcoin’s perception could evolve, as some investors question its potential role during crises and global tensions. Bitcoin rises back above $72,000 despite international tensions The crypto market was shaken by a resurgence of volatility in a tense geopolitical context, but bitcoin quickly showed signs of resilience.

Thus, the leading crypto has managed to rise back above 72,000 dollars, a threshold closely watched by traders. Joe Consorti refers to a real “geopolitical resilience test”, believing that BTC is undergoing a large-scale test in the face of international tensions.

The main observed elements on the market include :

Bitcoin’s return above 72,000 dollars, after a period of market uncertainty ; A market reaction considered relatively strong despite the geopolitical escalation related to Iran ; Analysts describe the situation as a “geopolitical test” for bitcoin ; Increased attention from traders on BTC’s technical levels in this volatile context. This movement occurs as global markets react to international tensions. In this climate of uncertainty, several financial assets have shown mixed reactions. Bitcoin’s behavior thus draws analysts’ attention, as it has not collapsed in the face of new macroeconomic news.

For some observers, this reaction could illustrate a gradual evolution in the perception of BTC, whose ability to absorb external shocks is regularly debated in financial circles.

ETFs and the evolution of correlations : a crypto market in transition Beyond the simple price rebound, analysts also observe the market environment accompanying this recovery. Flows related to spot Bitcoin ETFs are among the factors noted, with some experts believing they could support demand for the asset.

In this context, several observers also highlight a potential shift in macroeconomic correlations. “Bitcoin shows continued resilience in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty,” a remark illustrating the attention given to its behavior amid global turbulence.

This evolution fuels a general debate about Bitcoin’s place in the financial ecosystem. For years, the asset has been primarily considered a speculative instrument strongly correlated with tech markets.

However, reactions observed during recent geopolitical events revive the question of its positioning. If bitcoin manages to maintain its stability during periods of global uncertainty, some investors might begin to perceive it differently.

Despite geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in global markets, bitcoin seems to have passed a new resilience test. The bitcoin price, currently above 72,000 dollars, now draws analysts’ attention. It remains to be seen if this strength amid international turbulence will mark a lasting turning point in the asset’s perception.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

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.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has introduced its new "EF Mandate," which is meant to serve as a constitution, manifesto, and operational guide for the ecosystem. 

Co-founder Vitalik Buterin has stated that the Foundation is doubling down on Ethereum's original value proposition in his statement on the X social media network. 

He pushed back against the idea that the network needs to cater to every passing trend, instead defining it as a defensive tool for global users.

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Buterin noted that the Foundation must act as a specific type of guardian within the broader ecosystem. "The Ethereum Foundation is a steward of Ethereum—the original steward, and today, the steward specifically dedicated to preserving and expanding the above aspects of Ethereum," he explained.

The 'CROPS' FrameworkThe EF Mandate introduces the CROPS framework to organize its vision. This represents the non-negotiable principles the Foundation will prioritize moving forward (censorship, capture resistance, open source, privacy, and security). 

"At the Ethereum protocol layer, we focus on decentralization, verifiability, inclusion guarantees, protocol liveness, security, and privacy first and foremost," Buterin stated. 

The 'Walkaway Test' and the 'Zero Option'Buterin distances Ethereum from competing blockchains that chase immediate, corporate use cases. He argues that Ethereum must pass the "walkaway test."He offered a pointed critique of rival networks: "'We do X to specialize to serve the use cases of today, if more use cases appear later, we will continue to keep adding more EIPs for them later' is logic fit for many other blockchains whose names you hear often on this forum, but we do not believe it is logic fit for a decentralization-first blockchain like Ethereum."

TL;DR

OFFICIAL TRUMP token rebounds over 30%, breaking its descending channel resistance. Whales accumulated tokens during the price dip before the latest rally. Exchange outflows reached $5.2 million, reducing immediate selling pressure significantly. The OFFICIAL TRUMP (TRUMP) token rebounded more than 30% in the latest trading session, breaking above a descending channel that had capped price action for several weeks. The rally arrives alongside on-chain data showing aggressive accumulation by large investors while the price was still falling — a pattern analysts associate with long-term repositioning rather than opportunistic speculation.

The token operates on the Solana network and carries a narrative tied to the figure of President Donald Trump. Its price dropped from approximately $3.45 to $2.90 in the days leading up to the rebound, a period during which the largest wallets steadily increased their positions.

Whales Bought the Dip Before the Breakout On-chain data shows that supply held by large investors grew from 3.9 million to 4.54 million tokens over the week, representing an increase of more than 13% in major holder balances.

Two wallets stand out in the analysis:

A holder controlling over 2.19 million tokens added approximately 253,000 additional tokens despite sitting significantly underwater on their average entry price. A second wallet linked to the Solana network added more than 100,000 tokens, reinforcing the accumulation pattern identified by analysts. When large investors buy during periods of price weakness, markets typically read the behavior as long-term positioning rather than short-term speculation.

On-Chain Capital Flows Reinforce the Bullish Signal Beyond whale activity, several other on-chain indicators point in the same direction:

Whale inflows: approximately $786,000 Exchange outflows: around $5.2 million in tokens moved to private wallets New wallet inflows: roughly $1.8 million in fresh capital entering the market When tokens leave exchanges in large quantities, immediate selling pressure drops. Investors who move assets to their own wallets generally plan to hold their positions rather than liquidate them in the short term.

TRUMP broke above the upper boundary of the descending channel that had capped every recovery attempt for weeks. The breakout changes the short-term technical structure: the pattern of lower highs and lower lows that defined the recent correction gave way under the buying volume recorded in the latest session.

Bitcoin surged to a weekly high of $73,838, breaking out of a tight range of $70,000 to $71,000. The upward movement caught bearish traders off guard, leading to the liquidation of $445 million in leveraged positions.

A large crypto whale appears to have rotated capital from tokenized gold into Ethereum after executing a $22 million trade involving XAUT and ETH, according to on-chain activity spotted on Bitfinex.

Blockchain data shows that two wallets—possibly controlled by the same entity—deposited 4,480 XAUT, worth roughly $22.7m, to Bitfinex and withdrew 10,242 ETH, valued at about $21.9m, within a two-hour window.

The transaction suggests a significant shift from a gold-backed digital asset into Ethereum. This move may reflect changing sentiment among large investors.

Whale swaps tokenized gold exposure for Ethereum XAUT, issued by Tether, is a tokenized gold asset backed by physical gold reserves and is often used by traders seeking exposure to the metal in crypto markets.

The whale’s decision to deposit a large amount of XAUT and withdraw ETH suggests the funds were likely converted into Ethereum through exchange liquidity.

Such moves are often interpreted as capital rotation from defensive assets into higher-risk crypto assets, especially during periods when investors anticipate a broader market recovery.

Ethereum shows signs of stabilization Ethereum has recently shown early signs of stabilizing after a sharp correction earlier this year.

According to TradingView data, ETH was trading near $2,100 at the time of writing, after bouncing from lower levels reached during February’s market decline.

Source: TradingView Momentum indicators also reflect improving conditions. The Relative Strength Index [RSI] climbed to around 52, indicating that buying pressure has gradually returned after weeks of bearish momentum.

The recent whale activity may signal that some large investors are positioning for a potential continuation of this recovery.

Tokenized gold momentum weakens Meanwhile, price action in XAUT, which tracks gold prices, has begun to lose momentum after rallying earlier in the year.

The token was trading around $5,015, down from recent highs above $5,500, according to market data.

Source: TradingView Technical indicators also show cooling momentum, with the RSI hovering near 45, suggesting weaker bullish pressure than in previous weeks.

If confirmed as a deliberate rotation trade, the whale’s move could reflect a broader shift from defensive assets like gold to riskier assets such as Ethereum.

Final Summary A crypto whale swapped $22.7m worth of tokenized gold [XAUT] for roughly $21.9m in ETH, suggesting a shift in asset allocation. The move comes as Ethereum stabilizes near $2,100 while tokenized gold shows signs of weakening momentum.

DeFi platforms like Hyperliquid are demonstrating that decentralized exchanges can rival centralized venues in execution speed and transparency, according to Delphi Digital.

The cryptocurrency options market is expanding rapidly as institutional investors increasingly rely on instruments that allow them to define risk when managing large digital asset positions.

According to the crypto research firm Delphi Digital, trading activity in crypto derivatives has accelerated significantly. In fact, volumes on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are currently running about 46% above the pace recorded during the exchange’s previous record year.

Crypto Options Market Expands Delphi Digital said this growth indicates rising institutional participation, as funds and asset managers prefer options contracts because they allow investors to hedge large exposures while limiting downside risk to the premium paid. The firm noted that the move toward defined-risk instruments became more evident in mid-2025, when aggregate open interest in Bitcoin options reached $65 billion and exceeded Bitcoin futures open interest for the first time.

While futures are commonly used to gain leveraged exposure, options allow traders to cap potential losses on large positions, such as a $500 million Bitcoin allocation, while maintaining upside exposure. Delphi Digital explained that most of the current options activity is concentrated on a small number of centralized venues. For several years, the primary platform for crypto options trading has been Deribit, which gained additional institutional backing after being acquired in 2025 by Coinbase in a deal valued at $2.9 billion.

At the same time, options linked to the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund issued by BlackRock under the ticker IBIT introduced a new source of activity from traditional financial market participants after launching in late 2024. In addition to the rapid growth of centralized platforms, Delphi Digital said decentralized derivatives markets have also expanded, as their market share increased from about 2% to more than 10% over the past two years.

The firm pointed to the success of the decentralized trading platform Hyperliquid in demonstrating that decentralized exchanges can achieve performance levels similar to centralized venues in terms of execution speed and transparency.

However, it said that on-chain options trading has not yet experienced the same level of adoption. Among decentralized options platforms, Delphi Digital identified Derive as the largest protocol currently operating in the sector, which reported more than $700 million in notional options volume over the past 30 days. The platform originally launched as Lyra in 2021 and later rebuilt its infrastructure in 2023 using a gasless central limit order book on its own OP Stack layer-2 network, which allowed market makers to quote directly on the order book and enabled traders to execute transactions without paying gas fees.

You may also like: Will Markets React to $1.9B Bitcoin Options Expiring Today? How Will Markets React to $2.6B Crypto Options Expiring Today? Massive $9 Billion Crypto Options Expiry Today: How Will BTC and ETH React? Another project developing similar capabilities is Kyan Exchange, which is currently operating in beta on the Arbitrum network and is preparing for a mainnet launch.

The research firm said demand for options is also tied to the growth of structured financial products used by asset managers, which rely on derivatives to generate yield while maintaining defined risk profiles. It pointed to income-focused strategies such as covered-call products used in traditional markets and noted that derivative income funds collectively manage more than $100 billion in assets.

Regulation Side of Things Delphi Digital added that the regulatory environment surrounding crypto derivatives may also be beginning to change, citing a joint statement issued in September 2025 by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that enabled spot crypto asset trading on regulated exchanges.

Meanwhile, the Clarity Act bill, which aims to create clear regulations that should help promote cryptocurrency adoption, has hit an impasse. But if the legislation ultimately moves forward, it would represent a significant milestone for the industry.

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At press time, Official Trump [TRUMP] jumped 9.1% in 24 hours, re‑entering the memecoin spotlight.

Speculation around the April 25 Mar‑a‑Lago gala luncheon for top holders added fuel, with its exclusivity, only 297 attendees, President Donald Trump, and 18 other celebrities,  sparking intense hype. Such a setup didn’t encourage calm trading; it triggered a frenzy.

The question now is whether this excitement created mere noise or helped drive a genuine breakout.

TRUMP outperforms top memecoins  On the 13th of March 2026, TRUMP’s trading volume surged 406.79%, while Open Interest (OI) climbed 40.90%. This sharp rise stood out because other tokens failed to keep pace. 

Source: CoinGlass The move carried weight, as speculative rallies without derivatives support often fade quickly. In this case, traders piled in with conviction, reinforcing the seriousness of the rally.

TRUMP breaks out of downtrend  The chart stopped looking trapped and started to gain momentum. At press time, TRUMP traded near $3.138 after breaking its late‑February and early‑March downtrend.

Source: TradingView Moreover, it cleared local resistance at $2.971 and then pushed through $3.114. Those levels had capped prices for days. Once they broke, the path toward $3.487 and $3.783 became much harder to ignore.

Holding above $3.114 gave bulls a strong level to defend. A drop below it would have signaled weakness, but prices held firm and momentum stayed strong. As a result, the token now looks poised to test higher ranges.

Final Summary TRUMP just bounced back hard, reclaimed control, and put traders on notice. If momentum holds above the reclaimed levels, the move toward $3.487 and $3.783 could build quickly.

A crypto trader lost over $50 million in Aave-wrapped USDT on March 12 after sending a single large order through the DeFi lending protocol's swap interface and clearing a slippage warning on a mobile device.

Data from Etherscan shows the wallet swapped $50.43 million aEthUSDT for 327.24 aEthAAVE through CoW Protocol in Ethereum block 24,643,151.

At the current AAVE price of $111.52, the returned tokens were worth roughly $36,100, leaving an implied loss of about $49.96 million relative to the original order size.

The trade drew immediate attention across crypto markets because of its scale and because it moved through one of decentralized finance’s largest venues. Aave is the largest DeFi lending protocol with over $1 trillion in total cumulative lending.

Following the incident, Aave revealed plans to contact the affected user and return about $600,000 in fees collected from the transaction. CoW Protocol said it would also refund any fees sent to CoW DAO.

Who is the victim?Blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain said the wallet behind the swap may belong to Garrett Jin, a popular crypto trader known as the BitcoinOG1011short.

Lookonchain said on-chain tracing identified 13 wallets that may belong to Jin. It said those wallets received USDC or USDT from Binance on Feb. 16 and Feb. 20, then became active again on Thursday and moved funds to two new wallets.

One of those wallets, Lookonchain said, shared the same Binance deposit address as Garrett Jin.

The claim drew significant attention because Jin has already been linked to other large, closely watched crypto trades.

Last October, online sleuths tied him to a $735 million short position on Bitcoin opened through Hyperliquid shortly before President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs on China.

The trade, which made up to $200 million in profit, later fueled speculation about advance knowledge because it arrived just before a broader market selloff.

However, Jin rejected that narrative, saying the capital belongs to clients. He added that his team runs nodes and provides in-house insights, and that he has no connection to the Trump family.

As of press time, Jin had yet to confirm any link to the $50 milion loss.

Ethereum middlemen share the windfallWhile the trader absorbed the loss, other participants in Ethereum’s execution chain captured the spread released by the order.

Emmet Gallic, an analyst at Arkham Intelligence, said a maximal extractable value, or MEV, bot arbitraged the transaction across Uniswap and SushiSwap pools.

In Ethereum markets, MEV refers to profits captured by automated traders when they react to pricing gaps created during block execution.

Gallic said the bot paid Titan Builder 16,927 ETH, worth about $34.8 million. Titan Builder then paid 568 ETH, or about $1.2 million, to the Lido validator associated with the block proposal and kept about 16,359 ETH, or roughly $33.6 million. The bot operator was left with about $10 million in gains.

MEV Bot Pays Titan Builder (Source: Arkham Intelligence)As a result, Titan Builder generated the highest revenue among crypto platforms in the last 24 hours, according to DeFiLlama data.

Aave and CoW say the user was warned about the transactionMeanwhile, the DeFi protocols Aave and CoW have both defended their platforms in this loss, stating that the user received a clear warning notice before the order was executed.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov explained that the user had manually overridden a warning signal that flagged unusually high slippage and then proceeded with the swap on mobile.

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According to him:

“The transaction could not be moved forward without the user explicitly accepting the risk through the confirmation checkbox.”

He described the result as “clearly far from optimal” and said Aave’s team would review stronger safeguards around similar trades.

CoW Protocol gave a similar account, while explaining that:

“There’s no indication of a protocol exploit or otherwise malicious behavior. The transaction executed according to the parameters of the signed order.”

CoW also said available public and private liquidity sources could not support a reasonable fill for an order of that size.

Their explanation placed the focus on execution conditions rather than software failure. The route searched for available liquidity, found a path, and carried the order across venues that repriced as the size moved through them.

The warning flow recorded the user’s approval before the trade reached the market.

Improving DeFi user experienceAs a result, the episode has brought renewed attention to how DeFi interfaces handle oversized orders.

Suhail Kakar, a developer relations executive at Polymarket, said the incident showed a gap in DeFi user protections rather than a failure of the underlying contracts.

He said Aave and CoW Swap executed the trade as designed, but warned that a mobile confirmation flow should not stand between a user and a $49.9 million loss due to slippage.

Kakar added that wallets and frontends should more clearly show the expected dollar loss and introduce stronger controls for oversized orders, including mechanisms that split large trades into smaller transactions.

In response, Kulechov said Aave would implement stronger safeguards to prevent a recurrence, while CoW said the trade showed the need to keep improving the DeFi user experience.

According to CoW:

“Preventing users from making trades removes choice and can lead to terrible outcomes in some situations (e.g. a market crash). That said, trades like these show that DeFi UX still isn’t where it needs to be to protect all users. As a team, we are now reviewing how we balance strong safeguards with preserving user autonomy.”

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Bitcoin may have already formed a cyclical bottom near the $60,000 level, according to Jurrien Timmer, who recently reiterated his outlook on the market. The macro strategist at Fidelity Investments said the price level continues to act as a key support zone for the digital asset as the market searches for stability following the latest correction.

Timmer shared his latest analysis on the social media platform X, stating that he still views the $60,000 range as a significant line of defense for Bitcoin. According to his assessment, the price could temporarily fall below that level, but structural indicators suggest that the area should function as a long-term floor for the current cycle.

According to Timmer’s calculations, the current cyclical support zone ranges between roughly $52,792 and $66,942, placing the $60,000 level near the center of that band. This positioning reinforces the argument that the market may already be testing its structural floor for the current cycle.

Two additional oscillators support the analysis. One tracks the percentage deviation of Bitcoin’s price from its power law trendline, while another measures the 52-week Z-score of the Gold to Bitcoin ratio. Current readings show Bitcoin trading roughly 45% below its fair value trendline, while the Z-score indicator has dropped to around negative 100%, levels historically associated with the late stages of bear market conditions.

Timmer previously suggested in February 2026 that the four-year bull cycle had likely ended when Bitcoin first revisited the $60,000 range. However, he also argued that the following downturn could prove to be a relatively mild “crypto winter” compared with previous cycles.

Source: Commentary and chart analysis shared by Jurrien Timmer of Fidelity Investments on X.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile, and price projections or models do not guarantee future performance.

As Bitcoin (BTC) seeks to solidify its position around $71,000, the cryptocurrency faces a challenge from the $74,000 resistance level that has so far prevented a decisive breakout. 

However, recent insights from Bloomberg indicate that a collection of indicators, historically associated with the conclusion of downward trends, suggest the current sell-off may be reaching its final phase.

Bitcoin Recovery In Sight?  Brett Munster of Blockforce Capital said that one of these indicators has already entered a range that has frequently preceded past lows. Meanwhile, two others are indicating figures between $54,000 and $58,000, which is lower than the current price range of between $65,000 and $73,000 that was set during the month. 

Although a definitive price floor is not guaranteed, Munster asserts that “the majority of the drawdown appears to be behind us,” suggesting that a market turnaround could potentially materialize by mid-year. 

One of the critical indicators currently highlighting Bitcoin’s potential for recovery is the MVRV Z-Score. This measure signals when Bitcoin is trading above or below its on-chain cost basis. 

When this score dips below 0.4, it typically indicates that the cryptocurrency is undervalued. Presently, the score is around 0.38, indicating that Bitcoin may indeed be undervalued, although other metrics have not yet confirmed this trend.

Potential Upside Emerges The realized price of Bitcoin—the average price at which it has last moved on-chain—currently hovers near $54,000, while the 200-week moving average (MA), which has historically marked important support levels, is positioned around $58,000. 

Moreover, the pattern of diminishing peak-to-trough drawdowns suggests a potential bottom could lie between $45,000 and $55,000. Collectively, these indicators define what Munster terms “a high-probability accumulation zone” ranging from approximately $45,000 to $60,000.

Although pinpointing an exact market bottom is inherently uncertain and bear markets can last longer than anticipated, Munster believes that Bitcoin presently offers a more favorable risk-reward profile with greater upside potential. 

The 1D chart shows BTC’s inability to surpass the $74,000 resistance wall in over a month. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

TL;DR:

NEAR has surpassed $317 million in daily volume, positioning itself above competitors like Bittensor (TAO) and Render (RENDER). As of March 13, 2026, NEAR’s AI ecosystem records more than 747 active agents and has generated a total of 2,251 on-chain jobs. A report from SVRN Research projects a price target between $25 and $300 for the year 2030, contingent on the adoption of its infrastructure. So far in March, the AI segment of the crypto market has shown a bullish divergence, growing 23.7%. In this context, NEAR Protocol dominates AI coin trading volume, pushed by a narrative of real utility following the activation of its “Fee Switch” in February 2026. This mechanism automatically converts 100% of the fees generated by NEAR Intents into direct buying pressure for the token.

The protocol dominates activity, but the asset is hovering around $1.35, representing a 39.4% recovery over the last 30 days; however, the token remains 90% below its historical high from the previous cycle. Technically, the RSI shows an accumulation zone while analysts, such as Michaël van de Poppe, suggest that the next short-term target lies at the $2 resistance level.

New Catalysts for a Long-Term Recovery NEAR’s infrastructure was specifically designed to support AI agents and cross-chain transactions. This approach allows the protocol to capture capital that previously flowed toward traditional smart contract platforms. The ability to execute automated “jobs” through agents has validated the practical use of the network beyond financial speculation.

Nonetheless, the path to total recovery is still challenging due to extreme volatility and market sentiment that borders on fear. The AI industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and although NEAR has demonstrated technical resilience, its success will depend on maintaining the growth of its agent network against emerging competition in 2026.

In summary, NEAR Protocol is currently the volume leader in the AI niche thanks to profound changes in its token economy and technical utility. Although the gap from its all-time high is deep, the current fundamentals present a scenario for sustained recovery over the coming years.

The market for Ethereum shows persistent price pressure during 2026, yet several network indicators point to steady accumulation by long-term investors. Ethereum (ETH) trades near $2,113, a level that sits roughly 30% below the yearly opening price of $2,990.

While the price struggles to break the $2,100–$2,200 resistance zone, balances held in accumulation wallets continue to expand. Such addresses usually belong to holders who historically avoid selling their coins, which makes rising balances a useful signal of confidence in the asset’s long-term value. Since early January, the amount of ETH stored in accumulation addresses has increased by 32%, representing an additional 6.5 million coins held by long-term participants.

Network activity strengthens the same narrative. During February, daily active addresses climbed to roughly 1.1 million, the highest reading since December 2022. Moreover, the figure jumped from 370,390 to 672,170 active addresses within a single week, an increase close to 80%. Analysts from the data platform CryptoQuant link the surge in activity to buying pressure that appeared after Ether briefly fell below the $2,000 level.

Capital flows into accumulation wallets do not occur in isolation. Since mid-2025, daily inflows of ETH into those addresses follow a steady upward path. In November last year, inflows reached 1.14 million ETH in a single day, marking the highest reading recorded. Throughout 2026, daily averages remain close to 200,000 ETH, while occasional spikes exceed 350,000 coins within a 24-hour period.

Because of those sustained inflows, accumulation wallets now hold about 26.55 million ETH, compared with 20.1 million at the start of the year. Rising balances indicate that many investors prefer holding their positions over extended periods rather than selling through exchanges.

From a technical standpoint, the $2,100 to $2,200 region continues to act as a strong barrier that has restrained price advances during the past month.

Source: On-chain data and market analysis from CryptoQuant

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets remain highly volatile, and investors should evaluate risks carefully before making financial decisions.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 13, 2026) - AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP. (TSXV: AAZ) ("Azincourt" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce it has closed its non-brokered private placement consisting of 13,699,998 flow-through units (the "FT Units") offered at a price of $0.06 per FT Unit and 27,490,000 non-flow through units (the "NFT Units") offered at a price of $0.05 per NFT Unit (collectively, the "Offering") for gross proceeds of C$2,196,499.88.

Each FT Unit is comprised of one flow-through common share (a "FT Share") and one half of one flow through common share purchase warrant (each whole flow through warrant, a "FT Warrant"). Each NFT Unit is comprised of one common share (a "Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"). Each FT Warrant and Warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.07 into one common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.

The proceeds from the NFT Units will be applied to increase the summer 2026 budget on the drilling, exploration and development of the Company's Snegamook uranium deposit located within the Central Mineral Belt of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and for general working capital. The gross proceeds from the FT Units will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's critical mineral projects on or before December 31, 2027. All Qualifying Expenditure swill be renounced in favour of the subscribers of the FT Shares effective December 31, 2026. The proceeds of the NFT units will be applied to general exploration and for general working capital purposes.

In connection with the closing of the Offering the Company paid arm's length finders' fees totaling $95,700 and issued a total of 1,777,333 non-transferable finder's warrants. Each non-transferable finder's warrant is exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $0.07 until March 13, 2028. The securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada expiring four months and one day from March 13, 2026 and are subject to certain closing conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The Offering included participation by Insiders of the Company in the aggregate amount of 700,000 FT Units and 2,000,000 NFT Units for proceeds of $142,000. The participation in the Offering by the Insiders constitute a related party transaction within the meaning of Policy 5.9 of the TSX Venture Exchange and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). In connection with the participation by the Insiders, the Company relied upon the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 set forth in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the fair market value (as determined under MI 61-101) of the participation did not exceed twenty-five percent of the market capitalization of the Company (as determined under MI 61-101).

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Azincourt Energy Corp.

Azincourt is a Canadian-based resource company focused on the exploration and development of alternative energy projects including uranium, lithium and other critical clean energy elements. The company is currently active at the Harrier uranium project, which contains the Snegamook uranium deposit, located in the Central Mineral Belt of Labrador. Azincourt also controls a nearly 90% interest in the East Preston uranium project, located the western Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF AZINCOURT ENERGY CORP.

"Alex Klenman"
Alex Klenman, President & CEO

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the use of proceeds and completion of the Offering.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are highlighted in the "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, dated January 28, 2026, and also include the risks that the Offering does not complete as contemplated, or at all; that the Company does not complete any further offerings; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral project as planned (or at all); and that the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Company's actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the future price of minerals; anticipated costs and the Company's ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; future sales of the Company's securities; the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Company's mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288462

Source: Azincourt Energy Corp.

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As crude oil prices experience heightened volatility, historical data suggests the energy sector is just warming up. Lucas Downey analyzes the unprecedented surge in the United States Oil Fund (USO), noting that similar price spikes have historically preceded significant double-digit gains for the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE).

CALGARY, Alberta, March 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PHX Energy Services Corp. ("PHX Energy" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share designated as an “eligible dividend” within the meaning of subsection 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), payable on April 15, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 2026.

About PHX Energy Services Corp.

PHX Energy is a growth oriented, public oil and natural gas services company. The Corporation, through its directional drilling subsidiary entities provides horizontal and directional drilling services to oil and natural gas exploration and development companies principally in Canada and the US. In connection with the services it provides, PHX Energy engineers, develops and manufactures leading-edge technologies. In recent years, PHX Energy has developed various new technologies that have positioned the Corporation as a technology leader in the horizontal and directional drilling services sector in North America.

The common shares of PHX Energy are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "PHX".

For further information please contact:

PHX Energy Services Corp.
Mike Buker
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (403) 543-4466

or

PHX Energy Services Corp.
Cameron Ritchie
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (403) 543-4466

or

visit our website at www.phxtech.com

BigBear.ai Holdings (NYSE: BBAI) stock plunged nearly 3% on Friday and is trading around $3.95 at press time.

The stock sliced through its intraday support at $4.00, on blistering volume that dwarfed its three-month average by nearly 70%.

The drop left shares nursing losses from a brief post-earnings surge earlier this week, as investors digested fresh concerns over execution risks in the company's AI defense pivot.

BBAI stock: The selloff mechanicsBBAI stock opened at $4.075 on Friday, peaked at $4.19, then accelerated lower to a session low of $3.91 amid broad small-cap selling pressure.  

That's a far cry from the $9.39 52-week high, with the stock now 58% off those levels and hugging its 50-day moving average of $4.98.

Interestingly, the significant volatility had no discernible reason apart from the broader market weakness resulting from geopolitical tensions.

It looks like classic profit-taking layered atop technical fatigue.

BigBear.ai's Q4 2025 results on March 2 showed revenue cratering 38% year-over-year to $27.3 million.

Adjusted EPS eked out a penny beat at -$0.01 versus consensus -$0.06, but the top-line contraction spooked momentum chasers who'd piled in on backlog hype.

Fundamentals vs market realityFull-year 2025 revenue came in at $127 million, down 19%, while the company reported a trailing loss of $0.82 per share.

The figures underscored that the turnaround is still a work in progress.

Even so, there were some brighter spots. Management said the company now has its strongest balance sheet to date, ending the year with $462 million in cash and investments.

In January, it also converted $125 million of 2029 convertible notes into equity, a move that reduces debt obligations and lowers default risk.

Meanwhile, the company’s backlog surged more than threefold to over $400 million, supported by several multi-year contract wins, including participation in the FAA’s $2.4 billion vehicle procurement program.

The company expects 2026 revenue to land between $135 million and $165 million.

The numbers imply mid-teens growth as recent acquisitions, including Ask Sage, begin to contribute more meaningfully.

Friday’s surge in trading volume, the highest since early February’s dilution scare, may signal that some institutional investors are rotating out of the stock.

Options activity also leaned bearish, with heavy put trading tied to the March 13 $4.50 strike, suggesting traders are positioning for further downside.

The stock carries a beta of about 3.46, highlighting its volatility.

The broader market backdrop didn’t help either. The Russell 2000 slipped, though some AI-focused peers such as C3.ai held up better.

Analysts' views on the stock remain mixed.

HC Wainwright maintains a Buy rating with an $8 price target, while the broader consensus is more cautious, leaning toward Hold with an average target near $6.

If you are looking for stocks that you can buy and hold for the long term, you'll likely find high-yielding Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +1.20%) and NextEra Energy (NEE +1.22%) attractive. They are not only monsters in their respective industries, but they have monster-sized dividend track records, too. Here's a quick look at each one to get you started.

Enterprise Products Partners sidesteps commodity volatility It might seem odd to suggest an energy company at a time when oil prices are so volatile. But Enterprise operates in the midstream, helping to move oil and natural gas around the world. It charges fees for the use of its energy infrastructure assets and thus cares more about the volumes flowing through its system than the prices of the commodities it is moving.

Image source: Getty Images.

The reliability of the business is highlighted by Enterprise's streak of 27 annual distribution increases. On top of that, it has an investment-grade rated balance sheet, and its distributable cash flow covers its distribution by a very strong 1.7x. In fact, supply issues in the Middle East could actually help Enterprise if it leads to more demand for U.S. oil and natural gas. Even the most conservative investors will likely find the 5.8% distribution yield from this midstream giant attractive.

Today's Change

(

1.20

%) $

0.44

Current Price

$

37.03

NextEra Energy is a monster in two markets NextEra Energy's yield is more modest, at 2.7%. However, that is more than twice the market's yield and above the utility average of roughly 2.5%. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy has increased its dividend annually for more than a quarter of a century.

Today's Change

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1.12

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$

92.85

However, what's most exciting about NextEra Energy is its business model. It has a strong foundation because it owns one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States. On top of that, it has built a fast-growing renewable power business, making NextEra Energy one of the world's largest owners of solar and wind power. The utility operations should provide slow, steady growth, while the renewable power division offers higher growth as it supports the ongoing shift toward cleaner energy sources. The company expects dividend growth of around 6% a year for the foreseeable future, so this could be a good pick for growth and income investors.

Dividend stocks and industry giants If you are a dividend investor looking for monster stocks to add to your portfolio, Enterprise and NextEra Energy should be on your short list. Enterprise leans into yield while NextEra Energy leans into dividend growth. Both are worth buying and holding for the next decade if you are supplementing Social Security with your dividend checks.

Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Alliance Bank (NYSE: WAL) today announced the launch of its specialized Healthcare commercial banking team, led by industry executive Jennifer Hwang. Hwang will build and lead a Healthcare banking team that will deliver strategic, integrated financial advice and solutions to clients across subsectors including specialty pharmaceuticals, home health and hospice, medical device, ambulatory surgical centers and providers. Healthcare is the latest addition to Weste.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #creditratingagency--KBRA assigns a rating of BBB- to MSC Income Fund, Inc.'s (NYSE: MSIF or “the company”) $150 million, 6.34% senior unsecured notes due 2029. The rating Outlook is Stable. The proceeds will be used for repayment of existing secured indebtedness. Key Credit Considerations The rating is supported by MSIF's well diversified $1.3 billion investment portfolio spread among 150 portfolio companies (including equity investments) across 30+ industries as of 4Q25, with ~77% of it.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. ("FBRT" or the "Company") (NYSE: FBRT).

IF YOU ARE AN INVESTOR WHO SUFFERED A LOSS IN FRANKLIN BSP REALTY TRUST, INC. (FBRT), CONTACT THE LAW OFFICES OF HOWARD G. SMITH BEFORE APRIL 27, 2026 (LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING SECURITIES FRAUD LAWSUIT.

Contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss your legal rights by email at [email protected], by telephone at (215) 638-4847 or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

What Is The Lawsuit About?
The complaint filed alleges that, between November 5, 2024 and February 11, 2026, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Defendants recklessly overstated Franklin BSP Realty Trust's prospects; (2) Defendants recklessly overstated Franklin BSP Realty Trust's ability to maintain the $0.355 dividend; and (3) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Contact Us To Participate or Learn More:
If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact:
Howard G. Smith, Esq.,
Law Offices of Howard G. Smith,
3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112,
Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020,
Call us at: (215) 638-4847
Email us at: [email protected],
Visit our website at: www.howardsmithlaw.com.

To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles

, /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTR) (along with its subsidiaries, "Charter") today announced that Jessica Fischer, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the NSR and BCG Global Connectivity Leaders Conference in New York, New York on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Ms. Fischer's remarks are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. ET.

A live webcast of the event can be accessed on Charter's investor relations website, ir.charter.com. Following the live broadcast, the webcast will be archived at ir.charter.com.

About Charter

Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company with services available to 58 million homes and small to large businesses across 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Founded in 1993, Charter has evolved from providing cable TV to streaming, and from high-speed Internet to a converged broadband, WiFi and mobile experience. Over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and supported by our 100% U.S.-based employees, the Company offers Seamless Connectivity and Entertainment with Spectrum Internet®, Mobile, TV and Voice products.

More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.

SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc.

AWR gains from a growing customer base, newly approved rates and planned $185-$225M utility capex in 2026, while military contracts and system expansions support growth.

Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 13, 2026) - WestBond Enterprises Corporation (TSXV: WBE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Armaan Alibhai, CPA as CFO and Controller of the Company. With diverse and senior accounting responsibilities with major public and private corporations, Mr. Alibhai will join a dynamic leadership team at the Company.

The Company also announces that a total of 1,300,000 incentive stock options have been granted to directors, officers and employees of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The options have an effective grant date of March 13, 2026 and are exercisable for a period of five (5) years at a price of $0.22 per share.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/288479

Source: WestBond Enterprises Corporation

Key Takeaways UiPath reported $1.853B ARR in Q4 FY26 with $70M net new ARR as large enterprise deployments expand.PATH's unified stackRobots, IXP and Maestroaims to automate UI, APIs and documents on one platform.PATH sees stronger pilots and renewals as firms consolidate automation tools. Enterprise automation budgets are shifting from point tools to platforms. Buyers want governance, reuse, and faster time to value across UI, API and document-heavy work. UiPath (PATH - Free Report) is leaning into that consolidation trend with a unified automation stack and an expanding roadmap that supports both deterministic automation and emerging agentic workflows.

The near-term story is not just new features. It is also steadier execution, stronger pilots that convert, and renewals that hold up as customers standardize on fewer, more governed platforms.

PATH’s Unified Platform ShiftLarge enterprises are consolidating toward governed, end-to-end automation platforms because automation is no longer a side project. It touches compliance, security, auditability and cross-team reuse. A unified platform reduces operational sprawl by centralizing policy, identity, monitoring, and change control across automations that run in production.

That consolidation preference also aligns with management’s commentary around stronger pilots and renewals and improved execution stability. When pilots are designed on a governed platform from day one, the path to production is clearer. And when renewals are anchored to platform standards, switching costs rise and churn risk falls.

UiPath Stack: Robots, IXP and MaestroThe “broader stack” thesis is straightforward: enterprises want one platform that can automate front-end user actions, back-end APIs, and document workflows without stitching together multiple vendors and brittle integrations. UiPath’s platform components highlighted here map directly to that goal.

Robots handle deterministic execution. Intelligent Extraction & Processing (IXP) targets document understanding and data capture. Maestro brings orchestration and case management to coordinate work across people, bots and systems. Together, those components can reduce fragmentation across UI automation, API workflows, and document pipelines by keeping design, governance, and operations in one place.

PATH Agentic Features as Adoption CatalystsAgentic capabilities are showing up first as an adoption catalyst rather than an immediate revenue accelerator. The near-term dynamic is pull-through: agentic features can make the platform feel more “complete,” improve pilot outcomes, and expand the set of use cases teams try early.

Even if those capabilities are not expected to materially lift revenues in the near term, they can still matter. Better pilots can convert into broader deployments, and broader deployments tend to increase platform attach across modules. That attach effect is how a unified platform compounds, even when the newest features are initially bundled or lightly monetized.

UiPath Enterprise Footprint and ARR MixUiPath’s traction in larger accounts shows up in ARR and customer-scale signals. ARR rose to $1.853 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, with $70 million of net new ARR in the quarter. Customer cohorts above $100,000 and $1 million in ARR are growing, reinforcing the idea that expansion is being driven by larger, more standardized enterprise deployments.

The revenue mix is also shifting. Subscription services are growing while licenses are pressured by the transition to Flex Offerings. That transition can mute near-term license optics, but it also aligns packaging with platform consumption and can support broader module adoption over time.

PATH Roadmap That Cuts Time to ValueSeveral explicitly named roadmap items point to a focus on shortening pilot-to-production timelines. Maestro (orchestration and case management) supports real operational workflows, not just task automation. API Workflows reaching general availability expands addressable use cases into integration-led automation, where reliability and governance are critical.

Intelligent Extraction & Processing with Autopilot aims to reduce effort in document workflows, while ScreenPlay targets complex UI automation where traditional approaches can be fragile. Paired with vertical accelerators, these roadmap elements broaden use cases and reduce build time, which can translate into faster conversions from initial pilots to scaled deployments.

UiPath Risks: Retention, FX, and Federal DemandThe upside case is constrained by several visible headwinds. Dollar-based net retention has moderated to 107% in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2026, and pressure in the lower-end cohort suggests expansion is not uniform across the base.

Foreign exchange variability adds noise to reported results, and a still-dynamic federal sector can impact visibility and deal timing. Together, these factors can keep near-term outcomes uneven even when the platform narrative is strengthening.

PATH Takeaways for Long-Term InvestorsFor long-term investors, the most important signals of durable, platform-led expansion are enterprise ARR scaling, net new ARR generation, and growth in larger customer cohorts. A roadmap that spans robots, document intelligence, orchestration, and API-led workflows also supports a wider set of production deployments, which is where platform standardization tends to stick.

For a clearer multiple re-rating, the path likely runs through sharper agentic monetization and pricing, steadier retention trends, and less variability from foreign exchange and public-sector timing. If those elements improve while the unified platform continues to consolidate workloads, UiPath’s ARR growth profile can look increasingly platform-driven rather than feature-driven.

Competitive LandscapeAs demand for automation platforms grows, UiPath operates in a competitive market alongside major enterprise software providers.

ServiceNow (NOW - Free Report) offers enterprise workflow software that enables organizations to manage digital operations across departments. ServiceNow continues expanding its automation capabilities by integrating AI-driven features into its platform.

ServiceNow’s enterprise footprint and workflow expertise position ServiceNow as an important competitor in the broader automation and digital operations market.

Microsoft (MSFT - Free Report) is another significant player in automation through its Power Platform and AI-powered cloud services. Microsoft provides low-code automation tools that allow businesses to automate processes across applications and data systems.

Microsoft benefits from a vast enterprise ecosystem, enabling Microsoft to integrate automation capabilities across its cloud and productivity platforms.

Zacks RankUiPath, ServiceNow, and Microsoft carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The supply of USDC reached $81.1B, breaking a new record after the latest printing ot $500M. USDC is widely used on Ethereum, Base, Solana, and other chains, boosting derivative trading, prediction markets, and lending. 

Circle’s USDC reached a new record supply of 81.1B tokens, moving closer to USDT. The stablecoin expanded its influence in prediction markets, perpetual futures trading, and lending, while also widely replacing USDT on US and European exchanges. 

BREAKING: USDC supply reaches all-time high of $81.1 billion pic.twitter.com/Ra1UxALDbk

— Artemis (@artemis) March 13, 2026

Currently, the main competitor, USDT, carries over 183B tokens with a specific liquidity structure split between Ethereum and TRON. Circle, on the other hand, is mostly carried by Ethereum and Solana, with an emerging Base ecosystem. 

USDC is catching up with the ERC-20 version of USDT, which has a supply of 96B tokens. Previously, USDC accounted for a much smaller fraction of stablecoins, whereas in 2025, liquidity expanded with USD-denominated tokens and a range of other tokenized currencies. 

USDC may turn into an institutional token While USDT serves international whales and retail investors, Circle focuses on its potential to become an institutional-grade platform. 

The token was expanding more aggressively in the past week, adding a total of $2B to its supply, potentially targeting large-scale institutional usage. 

CIRCLE JUST MINTED $500M USDC

Circle has minted $500M USDC in the past 24 hours – and $2 BILLION USDC in the past week.

Institutional money wants access to crypto. pic.twitter.com/eI7ZrAxzjp

— Arkham (@arkham) March 13, 2026

Stablecoin supply has been relatively flat for the past five months, with no significant minting following the October 2025 crash. The recent revival of minting coincided with a market-wide recovery and an improving sentiment. 

USDC increased its transaction velocity The total supply of USDC is still down by 1.24% net in the past month, but activity has picked up. In the past 30 days, USDC transactions grew by 160% according to Artemis data. In the same period, USDT turnover increased by 140%. 

In the past month, over 152K users were added to Circle’s asset. Over 857K users were added in January. In total, the stablecoin has over 6.22M users and is locked in over 65,000 contract addresses. Circle’s smart contract is also often in the top 3 Ethereum gas burners, due to trading and DeFi activity. 

USDC built up a record number of users after significant new adoption in January and February. | Source: Dune Analytics USDC now carries over 10 times the liquidity from the 2021 bull market, when the token was celebrating a supply of $8B. Currently, USDC is often used by whales to move funds to Binance or Hyperliquid. 

USDC is also boosting stablecoin supply and traffic on Solana, after the recent minting of an additional $3.5B. Solana is the main target for new minting, used for trading and payments. 

The stablecoin aims to settle payments similar to fintech apps, while also being used in decentralized apps by crypto natives. Stablecoins have reached a supply of over 319B tokens. Tether and Circle remain the leaders, but no longer monopolize the market. The share of USDT and USDC has fallen from a peak of 95% down to around 85% as of early 2026.