Bitcoin price started a recovery wave above $70,000. BTC is now consolidating above $70,200 and might aim for a steady increase if it clears $71,650.
Bitcoin started a decent recovery wave above $69,800 and $70,200. The price is trading above $70,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $70,400 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might start another decline if it stays below the $71,000 and $71,650 levels. Bitcoin Price Faces Hurdles Bitcoin price started a recovery wave above the $69,5500 resistance level. BTC climbed above the $70,200 and $70,500 resistance levels.
The price even spiked above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $75,998 swing high to the $67,342 low. The price even climbed toward the $72,000 zone before the bears took a stand and protected more gains.
Bitcoin is now trading above $70,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $70,400 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair.
If the price remains stable above $70,200, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $71,200 level. The first key resistance is near the $71,650 level. A close above the $71,650 resistance might send the price further higher.
Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $72,650 resistance or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $75,998 swing high to the $67,342 low. Any more gains might send the price toward the $73,200 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $73,500.
Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $71,650 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $70,400 level. The first major support is near the $70,000 level.
The next support is now near the $69,200 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $68,800 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $67,500, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term.
Technical indicators:
Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $70,000, followed by $69,200.
Major Resistance Levels – $71,200 and $71,650.
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:551mo ago
Ethereum Maintains Fee Lead Over Solana as High-Value Settlement Dominates
Ethereum (ETH) continues to out-earn Solana (SOL) on network fees despite an extended period of ultra-low per-transaction costs, underscoring a widening split in how the two leading smart contract blockchains monetize activity. As of Wednesday ET, Ethereum posted roughly $8.07 million in 24-hour fees versus Solana’s $5.03 million—about a 60% gap that analysts increasingly read as a proxy for where high-value settlement is taking place, not which chain processes the most transactions.
The divergence is more pronounced over longer windows. Over the past seven days, Ethereum generated about $63.68 million in fees compared with Solana’s $35.83 million. Over 30 days, Ethereum collected approximately $327.16 million—around 67% more than Solana’s $196.01 million. Market observers say the 30-day figure matters most because it filters out one-off spikes and better reflects structural demand for block space and settlement services.
A key takeaway from the latest data is what appears, at first glance, to be a paradox: Ethereum’s total fee revenue has remained resilient even as average transaction fees have, at times, approached near-zero levels. The pattern does not necessarily indicate that Ethereum has become “free,” but rather that fee formation is shifting toward aggregated value flows—especially those routed via layer-2 networks and institutional-grade activity—where the economic weight concentrates at the settlement layer. In this model, revenue is less about ‘profit per individual transaction’ and more about ‘total value being finalized’ on the network and its scaling stack.
Industry participants point to stablecoins and real-world assets (RWA) as the core catalyst behind Ethereum’s revenue durability. Circle’s (Circle) roadmap for Arc L1 and its broader USDC expansion strategy are being interpreted as more than an infrastructure upgrade; they are viewed as a bid to reshape where onchain financial activity—payments, treasury and balance-sheet operations, and FX settlement—ultimately clears. Those activities generate swap, lending, and settlement fees that, in aggregate, accrue to the networks where finality and composability are most trusted.
Ethereum and its layer-2 ecosystem remain central venues for issuing and settling tokenized financial products tied to RWAs. Market examples frequently cited include tokenized Treasury exposure and yield-bearing stable assets such as USYC, which tend to cluster where institutional liquidity and established DeFi plumbing are deepest. The implication is that ‘transaction quality’—large, compliant, balance-sheet-relevant flows—can sustain material fee generation even when retail-facing base fees compress.
Solana, by contrast, is executing a ‘high-volume’ playbook. With average fees commonly cited in the $0.001 to $0.017 range, Solana has optimized for gaming, high-frequency trading, and meme-coin speculation—categories that can explode in activity when marginal costs are negligible. The network is routinely described as absorbing hundreds of millions of transactions weekly, but the trade-off is structural: ‘revenue per transaction’ is low, meaning Solana must process vastly more activity to match Ethereum’s fee totals. Over the last 30 days, Solana’s fee revenue remained about 40% below Ethereum’s, reinforcing the view that it has captured user scale faster than it has captured high-margin financial settlement.
Notably, both networks have shown signs of stabilizing fee dynamics compared with prior cycles. Recent daily fee change rates around -0.52% for Ethereum and -0.4% for Solana point to lower volatility than the boom-and-bust patterns associated with earlier DeFi and NFT-driven periods. Some analysts interpret this as evidence that onchain revenue is gradually becoming less dependent on purely speculative bursts and more tied to repeatable financial use cases.
The expanding RWA segment may sharpen the role differentiation further. Tokenized bonds, commodities, and asset-backed instruments typically attract larger, longer-duration capital that moves infrequently—but in size—often producing higher total fees when it does rebalance or settle. Ethereum is widely viewed as better positioned for these ‘low-frequency, high-value’ flows, while Solana’s strengths are clearest in ‘high-frequency, low-value’ activity such as micropayments and real-time trading.
Solana’s roadmap could widen the performance gap on throughput and responsiveness if upgrades such as Alpenglow (aimed at ultra-fast finality) and Firedancer (a high-performance client) deliver as expected. Even so, the network’s core monetization question remains whether fee revenue can scale proportionally with transaction growth, or whether the economic structure continues to cap upside without a greater share of institutional settlement and RWA-driven activity.
Heading into the close of the first quarter of 2026, the fee “race” is increasingly being framed as two distinct business models rather than a single leaderboard. Ethereum is defending its position as a ‘financial layer’ that captures higher-value settlement, while Solana is consolidating a ‘traffic layer’ advantage that maximizes usability and transaction count. The current ~60% fee gap is therefore being treated less as a transient metric and more as a signal of where capital prefers to reside and clear.
Two catalysts will likely determine whether that gap narrows. First is how Circle’s Arc initiative and the next phase of stablecoin expansion redistribute ‘settlement revenue’ across base layers and layer-2 ecosystems. Second is whether Solana can absorb more RWA issuance and institutional flows to escape a persistently low-margin fee structure. For now, the market’s takeaway is blunt: the chain that “wins” is not necessarily the one that processes the most transactions—it is the one that settles the most expensive ones.
Article Summary by TokenPost.ai
🔎 Market Interpretation
Fees signal “where value settles,” not raw traffic: Ethereum continues to generate materially higher total fees than Solana despite periods of near-zero average transaction fees, implying higher-value settlement and block-space demand on Ethereum’s stack.
Current fee spread remains meaningful across timeframes: ETH leads SOL by roughly ~60% over 24 hours ($8.07M vs $5.03M), by a similar magnitude over 7 days ($63.68M vs $35.83M), and by ~67% over 30 days ($327.16M vs $196.01M). The 30-day view is treated as the most structurally informative.
“Low fees” on Ethereum don’t equal “low revenue”: The apparent paradox is explained by aggregation—economic weight concentrates at the settlement layer (often via L2 batching and institutional flows), so total fees can stay resilient even when per-tx fees compress.
Stablecoins + RWA are the durability engine: Expansion around USDC and Circle’s Arc L1 roadmap is interpreted as a push to anchor payments, treasury operations, and FX settlement where composability and finality are most trusted—supporting fee generation through swaps, lending, and settlement activity.
Two business models are emerging: Ethereum is framed as a “financial layer” (low-frequency, high-value settlement) and Solana as a “traffic layer” (high-frequency, low-value activity). The “winner” is increasingly defined by the costliness of settled transactions, not transaction count.
Fee volatility is moderating: Recent daily fee change rates (ETH ~-0.52%, SOL ~-0.4%) suggest a shift away from boom-bust speculation cycles toward more repeatable financial use cases.
💡 Strategic Points
Investors/analysts: Use rolling 30-day fee totals as a proxy for structural demand and monetization strength; short-term spikes can mislead when “meme/airdrop/NFT bursts” fade.
Ethereum thesis reinforcement: Growth in stablecoin settlement, RWA issuance (e.g., tokenized Treasuries, yield-bearing stable assets like USYC), and institutional liquidity pipelines can sustain fee revenue even with low base fees.
Solana monetization challenge: With typical fees cited at $0.001–$0.017, SOL needs outsized throughput to match ETH’s fee totals; closing the gap likely requires capturing more institutional settlement and RWA-driven flows, not just more transactions.
Playbook differentiation:
ETH: Prioritize trust, composability, and settlement assurances for large, compliant flows (treasury ops, collateral movement, RWA rebalancing).
SOL: Leverage ultra-low fees for consumer-scale apps (gaming, real-time trading, micropayments), while building pathways to higher-value activity.
Catalyst #1 — Circle/USDC distribution: Where Arc + USDC expansion routes payments/treasury settlement could shift fee capture between L1s and L2s; watch for where final settlement concentrates.
Catalyst #2 — Solana upgrades: If Alpenglow (faster finality) and Firedancer (high-performance client) deliver, SOL may widen the UX/throughput edge—yet the key question remains whether revenue scales with usage without changing the fee/value mix.
Practical monitoring set: Track (1) stablecoin supply and transfer volume by chain, (2) RWA TVL/issuance venues, (3) L2 batch/settlement patterns, and (4) fee composition by app category (DEX, lending, payments, NFT/meme).
📘 Glossary
Network fees: Payments users make to have transactions processed/confirmed; often reflect demand for block space and settlement.
Per-transaction fee: The average cost of a single transaction; can fall even while total fees rise if usage/value aggregates elsewhere.
Total fee revenue: Sum of all fees collected over a period (24h/7d/30d); used as a monetization proxy.
Settlement layer: The base chain (and its verified finality) where value is ultimately finalized, even if activity originates on L2s or app-specific layers.
Layer-2 (L2): Scaling networks that execute transactions off the main chain and post compressed proofs/data back to the base layer, often concentrating final fee capture at settlement.
Stablecoins: Crypto tokens pegged to fiat (e.g., USD) used for payments, trading, and treasury operations; major driver of onchain economic activity.
RWA (Real-World Assets): Tokenized representations of offchain assets (Treasuries, bonds, commodities) that tend to be larger and compliance-sensitive.
Composability: Ability for onchain apps/protocols to interoperate seamlessly, enabling complex financial workflows.
Finality: Assurance that a transaction is irreversible after confirmation—critical for institutional settlement.
Throughput: How many transactions a network can process per unit time; often central to “traffic layer” strategies.
Firedancer: A high-performance Solana validator client under development aimed at improving performance and resilience.
Alpenglow: A proposed Solana upgrade focused on achieving ultra-fast finality and improved responsiveness.
<Copyright ⓒ TokenPost, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited>
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:001mo ago
$35M Breakthrough: Irish Authorities Crack Bitcoin Wallet Linked To 2019 Drug Seizure
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Irish authorities have unlocked a seized Bitcoin (BTC) wallet linked to a large-scale drug case. The wallet, containing 500 BTC, had been inaccessible for seven years due to missing private keys, and opens the door to recovering a massive BTC stash from other seized wallets.
Irish Police Unlocks Seized Bitcoin Wallet On Tuesday, Ireland’s National Police and Security Services announced that they had gained access to a seized crypto wallet containing 500 BTC, which were the proceeds of crime.
In a statement, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), in collaboration with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, confirmed the seizure of approximately €30 million in crypto, worth around $35.4 million at current prices.
“Europol hosted operational meetings at its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands and provided critical support to Bureau investigators and analysts with the provision of highly complex technical expertise and decryption resources vital to the success of the operation,” authorities explained.
According to local reports, the wallet was seemingly part of a larger Bitcoin stash linked to a drug case. The wallet was seized, along with 11 other wallets, in 2019 and had been inaccessible to authorities over the past seven years due to the missing private keys.
The seizure marks a major development, as it is the first time the CAB has been able to access any of the wallets, which contained a total of 6,000 Bitcoin. Irish authorities did not confirm whether the recently seized assets were part of the case. However, data from the blockchain intelligence platform Arkham Intelligence suggests that the wallet is part of the assets stuck in limbo.
Arkham shows that a wallet associated with the case transferred 500 Bitcoin to an unknown address that subsequently moved the assets to Coinbase Prime on March 24. The wallet, labeled “Clifton Collins: Lost Keys,” had been inactive since January 2016.
The platform also links 13 other addresses to Collins, with total holdings of roughly 5,500 Bitcoin, worth $392.3 million at the time of writing.
Missing Keys Lock 5,500 BTC Away The Bitcoin was originally confiscated from a 53-year-old former beekeeper from Dublin, Clifton Collins, who was involved in a “large-scale” cannabis operation nine years ago. Collins began cultivating cannabis full-time around 2005, renting properties around Ireland to grow crops and sell them in Dublin.
As reported by Bitcoinist, he managed to evade law enforcement until the police discovered €2,000 worth of cannabis in Collins’ vehicle in 2017, leading to his arrest and a wider investigation that uncovered his drug-growing operations.
During Bitcoin’s early years, Collins invested in BTC around 2011 and 2022, when it was worth only a fraction of its current value. As the flagship cryptocurrency surged in popularity and price, he decided to disperse his growing wealth across multiple virtual wallets, creating 12 wallets that were later seized by the police.
He told police that he had “meticulously” documented the keys to access these wallets on a sheet of paper hidden inside the aluminum cap of a fishing rod case kept at one of his rental properties in Galway.
Nonetheless, Collins claimed that the paper went missing after a break-in at his home. Reports argued that the fishing rod case could also have been likely incinerated after his landlord cleared the property and sent his belongings to a landfill following the arrest.
In any case, the loss of the sole copy of the private keys left the CAB with a digital fortune that remained inaccessible until now. The breakthrough could signal that a recovery of the 5,500 Bitcoin sitting in the other wallets is possible.
It’s worth noting that authorities had already forfeited assets worth $1.39 million, including $1.15 million in Bitcoin, to which Collins still had access codes.
Bitcoin (BTC) trades at $71,617 in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
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2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:001mo ago
Chainlink stuck at $9 – But LINK whale's $14.8 mln move raises questions
Chainlink [LINK] has traded within a thin range of $8.5 and $9.9, with $9.9 as upper resistance over the past week. In fact, as of this writing, LINK traded at $9.2 after rising slightly by 1.23% on the daily charts.
However, the altcoin’s trading volume plunged 32% to $649 million, reflecting reduced market participation. Amid this market slowdown, whales have taken the opportunity to reposition themselves, awaiting the next move.
Chainlink whale moves 1.62 million LINK worth $14.8 million With LINK stuck around $9.2, whales have placed a significant amount of orders around this price level. Spot Average Order Size data from CryptoQuant showed big whale orders of around $9.2 for five out of the past seven days.
Source: CryptoQuant The increased pile-up around here suggested whale participation, either selling or buying LINK. Lookonchain observed one such whale activity.
According to the on-chain monitor, a whale created 10 new wallets and withdrew 1.62 million LINK, worth $14.8 million. The whale deposited these tokens into Flowdesk-related deposit addresses.
However, the monitor reported that these tokens were not recently bought, but the whale was likely reorganizing wallets. Typically, whale reorganization has a negative impact, since it’s neither a selling nor a buying event.
Besides this whale, other large entities have been recently accumulating, especially when looking at the Exchange Supply Ratio. The ESR has declined for two consecutive months, dropping to January lows, and stood at 0.127 at press time.
Source: CryptoQuant Usually, a low ESR suggests that most tokens have flowed outside the exchanges, while inflows have declined. Traditionally, such market setups have reduced supply, thereby increasing scarcity, a prelude to higher prices.
Breakout in sight, but risk remains Chainlink showed moderate bullish momentum as the altcoin hovered around $9. The Bulls v. Bears indicator showed that buyers have greater determination to defend higher highs than sellers.
As a result, the altcoin’s Stochastic RSI jumped from 26 to 44 over the past two days, reflecting strong buyer momentum in the market. Often, such market conditions have preceded significant gains, especially when sustained.
Source: Tradingview Therefore, if demand holds while whales stay away from sell-side activity, LINK is likely to finally break out, reclaim $9.9, and flip $10. To achieve this bullish move, bulls need to push the Stoch RSI above 50.
However, sellers, especially retail ones, have remained active, which has held Stochastic RSI back. At the same time, Exchange Netflow also turned positive, rising to 101k, validating this seller’s presence.
Source: Cryptoquant Thus, if sellers remain active, we could see extended sideways movement, with $8.5 as support and $9.9 as immediate resistance.
Final Summary A Chainlink whale created 10 new wallets and withdrew 1.62 million LINK, worth $14.8 million. LINK remained stuck within a tight range, trading between $8.5 and $9.2.
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:071mo ago
Cardano Shorts Spike to 2023 Highs as Midnight Targets £250M Landmark Deal
Short Open Interest against Cardano (ADA) reached its highest level since June 2023 this March 25th, reflecting a sharp bearish sentiment. Midnight Foundation and Monument Bank announced a partnership to tokenize £250 million in retail deposits under UK regulation. The deal seeks to integrate traditional bank deposits into the Midnight blockchain, maintaining full backing in British Pounds and legal protection. It has been confirmed that short positions have returned to levels not seen in nearly three years, putting Cardano under renewed pressure. Bets against the price of ADA increased amidst weak price action and on-chain growth that is struggling to take off compared to its competitors.
📉 Average wallets that have been active on the Cardano network over the past year are netting a return of -43% on their investments. Memes aside about the altcoin's major -71% price decline since September, this extreme negative MVRV value is generally an indicator of $ADA being… pic.twitter.com/LzQRKhobQe
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) March 24, 2026
Data from Santiment reveals that a large portion of active ADA wallets are currently in the red. Despite this, the market capitalization remains significant, creating a technical divergence that traders are capitalizing on through derivatives, anticipating a further correction while the RSI remains in neutral-low zones.
Midnight and Institutional Deposit Tokenization In contrast to market sentiment, the Midnight Foundation confirmed a landmark partnership with Monument Bank. The goal is to make Monument the first UK-regulated bank to tokenize retail deposits on a public network. This move would initially inject £250 million in Total Value Locked (TVL) into the ecosystem linked to Cardano.
Charles Hoskinson, CEO of Cardano, highlighted that this negotiation is one of the largest in the project’s history. Midnight’s privacy-centric infrastructure will allow transaction data to remain protected and only visible to authorized entities, thereby complying with strict European banking regulations.
As Midnight moves toward its launch with institutional node operators, the community is watching to see if this flow of “real-world” capital can reverse ADA’s negative trend. Although Midnight has its own token design, the success of its privacy and regulated compliance services could attract the liquidity needed to revitalize the entire ecosystem.
In summary, the current bearish sentiment among traders contrasts with a fundamental breakthrough in banking adoption. The market will determine in the coming days if the deal with Monument Bank is enough to halt the sell-off and attract new institutional buyers.
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:141mo ago
Bitcoin Depot picks ex-MoneyGram boss as CEO as state actions mount
Bitcoin Depot has named the former CEO of payments giant MoneyGram as its new boss amid mounting regulatory pressure from US states over crypto ATM’s use in scams and money laundering.
The company said on Tuesday that Scott Buchanan had immediately stepped down as CEO, a role he served in for less than three months after starting on Jan. 1. It added in a regulatory filing that his resignation “was not due [to] a disagreement.”
Bitcoin Depot appointed Alex Holmes, who was already a board member, as CEO and chair. He has held various executive roles, including finance chief and CEO, over a 16-year period at MoneyGram, where he focused on regulatory compliance.
“As I step into the role, my priorities are operational stability, regulatory progress, and accelerating the Company’s evolution into a more diversified fintech platform,” Holmes said in a statement.
Alex Holmes speaking on stage at a fintech conference in 2022. Source: YouTubeThe leadership shake-up comes as Bitcoin Depot has faced legal and regulatory challenges in multiple US states, as crypto ATM operators come under increased scrutiny over the kiosks’ use in scams and money laundering.
Bitcoin Depot said its founder and former CEO, Brandon Mintz, would also transition from executive chair to a non-executive member of the board and would work as an adviser to Holmes.
Multiple US states take action against Bitcoin DepotBitcoin Depot most recently faced state action in Connecticut, whose banking regulator suspended its state money transmission license and issued a temporary cease-and-desist order earlier this month.
The order alleged multiple violations of the state money transmission laws, including excessive fees and incomplete refunds to scam victims.
Bitcoin Depot has also faced action from at least four additional states since early 2025, with Massachusetts’ attorney general suing Bitcoin Depot in early February for allegedly overcharging consumers, knowingly facilitating scams and refusing to issue refunds.
The company paid $1.9 million to Maine's Consumer Credit Protection Bureau in January to compensate consumers for fraudulent transactions, and Missouri’s attorney general opened an investigation into Bitcoin Depot and four other crypto ATM operators in December over concerns of deceptive fees and use by bad actors.
Iowa also sued Bitcoin Depot and CoinFlip in February 2025 over alleged failures that allowed scammers to transfer millions of dollars through their kiosks.
Bitcoin Depot had lowered its 2026 outlook in its 2025 results released earlier this month, estimating its revenues would be down 30% to 40% due to a “dynamic regulatory environment.”
Shares in Bitcoin Depot (BTM) ended trading on Wednesday down 6.6% to $2.62, but saw a 4.7% bump after the bell to $2.74.
The stock is down 71% so far this year and has fallen more than 94% from its closing all-time high of $45.36 in mid-June.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum — BIP-360 co-author
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2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:251mo ago
XRP Stalls Near $1.41 as Analysts Flag Downtrend Risk Below Key Support
Ripple (XRP) is struggling to establish a clear near-term direction, extending a bearish-leaning range even as it attempts a modest rebound. Several leading AI models broadly agree that current price action resembles a 'technical bounce within a downtrend', with the $1.38 level emerging as the critical line that could decide whether the next move is stabilization or another leg lower.
As of Thursday ET, XRP was trading around $1.41, still drifting lower after failing to hold its recent peak near $1.54. From a broader trend perspective, the token remains well below its 200-day simple moving average (SMA200), estimated near $2.07—an overhang that signals the longer-term downtrend has not been repaired. Momentum indicators also point to a market lacking conviction: the relative strength index (RSI) sits around 48, not oversold but still below the 50 mark that typically separates bullish from bearish momentum.
Technicians tracking Fibonacci retracement levels describe the current zone as the lower band of the recent downswing—more consistent with 'sideways consolidation near a local bottom' than the start of a fresh uptrend. That framing helps explain why short bursts of buying have struggled to translate into sustained follow-through.
In a probability-weighted assessment, one model (GPT-5.2) characterized XRP as a 'slightly neutral range' market. It identified $1.38 as first support and warned that a clean break could accelerate losses toward $1.34–$1.30. On the upside, it suggested a push above $1.45 could reopen a pathway toward $1.50–$1.54, but argued that positioning should remain cautious until a breakout is confirmed. Its estimated odds of a rebound were close to even, at roughly 52%.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 leaned more decisively bearish, emphasizing that XRP is trading about 32% below the SMA200—a gap that often leaves rallies vulnerable to becoming a 'dead-cat bounce'. It also pointed to repeated failures around the $1.43–$1.45 resistance region, arguing that each rejection may be weakening incremental demand. A sharp drop in trading volume was highlighted as a possible sign of reduced participation. The model placed rebound odds at 30% versus a 40% probability of further downside, implying a negative skew.
xAI’s Grok (4.1) focused on order flow and volume dynamics, similarly adopting a conservative stance. It cited declining volume since the local top and a persistent sell-side bias, adding that continued short pressure could weigh on price. Still, it noted that support has been repeatedly validated near $1.385, leaving room for a short-covering pop if bears fail to push through that floor. Its rebound probability estimate stood at 35%.
Viewed together, the models converge on a central conclusion: XRP appears to be in a 'short-term consolidation within a longer-term downtrend', with no decisive trend-reversal signal yet. The immediate battleground is the $1.38–$1.45 box—support and resistance levels that could anchor near-term volatility.
Over the next 24 hours, analysts outlined three broad scenarios. If $1.38 holds, XRP could attempt another probe toward $1.45; a successful break may extend a move toward $1.48–$1.50. If $1.38 fails, downside targets cluster around $1.34 and potentially $1.30. The most likely near-term outcome, however, is continued sideways trade between roughly $1.38 and $1.43, particularly if volume remains muted and traders stay on the sidelines.
For now, XRP’s market is showing pockets of perceived value at lower levels, but the broader structure—weak momentum, fading participation, and the distance from the SMA200—continues to cap upside attempts. In the near term, the key variable remains whether 'support holds'. Over a longer horizon, any sustained shift in trend would likely require meaningful progress toward reclaiming the 'SMA200'.
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:301mo ago
Bitcoin Mining Margins Tighten as AI Pivot Accelerates, Coinshares Says
Bitcoin miners entered 2026 facing mounting cost pressure and a rapid shift toward artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, according to a new Coinshares report released on Wednesday.
AI Boom Reshapes Bitcoin Mining Sector, Coinshares Report Shows According to the latest bitcoin mining analysis, Q4 2025 marked one of the toughest periods for miners since the April 2024 halving, as bitcoin’s price slid from about $124,500 in October to roughly $86,000 by late December. At the same time, network hashrate remained near record levels, squeezing profitability. The weighted average cash cost to produce one bitcoin climbed to nearly $80,000, leaving many operators near breakeven.
Hashprice, a key revenue metric, dropped to roughly $36 to $38 per petahash per second (PH/s) per day in Q4, then fell further to around $29 in early 2026. Those conditions triggered signs of miner capitulation, including three consecutive negative difficulty adjustments for the first time since July 2022.
Source: Coinshares report on mining. “The weighted average cash cost to produce one bitcoin among publicly listed miners rose to approximately US$79,995 in Q4 2025,” Butterfill said in the report on Wednesday. James Butterfill, head of research at Coinshares, stated the environment reflects “one of the most challenging periods” for miners since the last halving, driven by a combination of price pressure and rising network competition.
Against that backdrop, the industry is increasingly turning toward AI and high-performance computing (HPC) as an alternative revenue stream. Coinshares said publicly listed miners have announced more than $70 billion in AI and HPC-related contracts, with some firms expected to generate up to 70% of revenue from AI by the end of 2026.
The shift reflects a basic economic trade-off: AI infrastructure offers more stable returns than bitcoin mining under current conditions. Still, the transition is uneven. Some companies are aggressively repositioning as data center operators, while others continue prioritizing mining or adopting hybrid strategies.
Source: Coinshares report on mining. Meanwhile, the Bitcoin network itself remains resilient despite recent volatility. Hashrate peaked above 1 zettahash per second in 2025 before pulling back and stabilizing near 1,020 exahash per second. Coinshares expects long-term growth to continue, projecting hashrate could reach 1.8 zettahash by the end of 2026 and 2 zettahash by early 2027.
Geographically, the United States, China and Russia still dominate global mining, accounting for about 68% of total hashrate, while countries like Paraguay and Ethiopia are gaining ground.
Despite the AI pivot, mining economics remain closely tied to bitcoin’s price. The report noted that a recovery toward $100,000 could lift hashprices and improve margins, while prolonged weakness may force more operators offline. For now, the sector appears to be splitting into two camps: traditional miners and hybrid infrastructure firms balancing bitcoin production with AI-driven workloads.
FAQ 🧭 Why are bitcoin miners struggling in 2026?
Lower bitcoin prices and rising hashrate have compressed margins and pushed costs near breakeven. What is hash price and why does it matter?
Hash price measures miner revenue per unit of computing power and directly impacts profitability. Why are miners moving into AI?
AI infrastructure offers steadier returns compared to mining under current market conditions. Will bitcoin mining recover?
Profitability depends largely on bitcoin’s price, with higher prices expected to improve margins.
2026-03-26 03:361mo ago
2026-03-25 23:341mo ago
Bitcoin Options Open Interest Hits $45 Billion as $72K Strike Draws Focus
Bitcoin (BTC) options open interest climbed again on Wednesday ET, with traders increasingly concentrating short-dated upside exposure around the $72,000 strike—an area the market appears to be treating as a near-term pivot for price direction.
As of Wednesday 8:00 p.m. ET, data compiled by Coinglass showed total Bitcoin options 'open interest' (OI) at $45.1 billion, up about 2.38% from $44.05 billion the previous day. Calls accounted for 58.72% of outstanding contracts, while puts made up 41.28%, underscoring a market still tilted toward bullish positioning even as hedging demand persists.
Notional options volume over the past 24 hours was approximately $4.0 billion. By venue, Deribit led activity with $2.43 billion, followed by Bybit at $612 million, Binance at $527 million, OKX at $384 million, and CME at $48 million. By option type, call volume represented 57.78% of turnover versus 42.22% for puts—close to the OI split, suggesting traders are not only holding bullish exposure but also actively trading it.
The largest buildups in OI were concentrated in near-expiry contracts on Deribit. The most heavily positioned strikes were the $125,000 call (expiring March 27), the $75,000 call (March 27), and the $20,000 put (March 27). The pairing of far-out-of-the-money upside calls with deep downside puts often reflects a blend of speculative convexity plays and tail-risk insurance, rather than a single-direction consensus.
In terms of 24-hour trading activity, the most actively traded contract was the $72,000 call expiring March 27 on Deribit, highlighting intensified interest around a strike closer to prevailing market levels. Other high-volume contracts included the $90,000 call expiring April 3 on Deribit and the $30,000 put expiring March 26 on Binance.
Options are derivatives used to express leveraged views on an underlying asset or to hedge existing exposure. A 'call option' grants the right to buy at a predetermined price, typically reflecting a bullish thesis, while a 'put option' grants the right to sell, generally tied to downside expectations. 'Open interest' tracks the total number of outstanding contracts and is often watched as a proxy for accumulated positioning.
The continued rise in open interest points to fresh positioning entering the market, implying that more participants are establishing multi-session views rather than only rotating short-term trades. However, the presence of meaningful put activity alongside a call-heavy structure suggests the market is simultaneously pricing in two-sided risk—consistent with heightened sensitivity to volatility catalysts and the possibility of quick retracements even within a broader bullish posture.
Article Summary by TokenPost.ai
🔎 Market Interpretation
Options positioning is building: Bitcoin options open interest rose to $45.1B (+2.38% day/day), pointing to fresh risk being added rather than positions being closed.
Market remains call-leaning but not one-way: Calls are 58.72% of OI (puts 41.28%), indicating a bullish bias while still maintaining notable downside hedging.
$72,000 is the near-term “decision” strike: The most actively traded contract is the $72K call (Mar 27, Deribit), suggesting traders are focusing on short-dated upside around a level the market is treating as a pivot.
Short-dated convexity + tail hedges coexist: Heavy OI in $125K calls and $75K calls (both Mar 27) alongside a $20K put (Mar 27) implies a mix of lottery-ticket upside exposure and crash protection, not pure directional conviction.
Deribit dominates price discovery: Of the roughly $4.0B 24h notional options volume, Deribit leads with $2.43B, making it the key venue to watch for positioning shifts.
💡 Strategic Points
Watch the $72K strike into Mar 27 expiry: Concentrated activity can create “pinning” behavior (price gravitating toward a strike) or sharp moves if dealers need to rebalance hedges as BTC moves above/below the level.
Interpret call-heavy OI with caution: A large share of calls can reflect bullish speculation, but also structured trades (spreads) or overwriting; confirm with volume, expiries, and skew rather than OI alone.
Two-sided risk is being priced: Meaningful put flow (42% of 24h volume) suggests traders are preparing for volatility catalysts and fast pullbacks even if the base case remains constructive.
Near-expiry concentration increases sensitivity: With major positioning in March 27 contracts, intraday volatility can rise as time decay accelerates and hedging flows intensify close to expiration.
Venue/contract signals to monitor next:
Deribit: changes in OI/volume at $72K, $75K, $90K, $125K calls and the $20K put.
Cross-venue confirmation: Binance activity in $30K put (Mar 26) as a proxy for short-dated downside hedging demand.
📘 Glossary
Option: A derivative contract giving the right (not obligation) to buy/sell an asset at a set price before/at expiry.
Call option: Right to buy at the strike price; typically benefits when the underlying rises.
Put option: Right to sell at the strike price; typically benefits when the underlying falls.
Strike price: The preset price at which the option can be exercised (e.g., $72,000).
Expiry (expiration date): The date when the option contract ends (e.g., Mar 27).
Open Interest (OI): Total number of outstanding option contracts; a proxy for accumulated positioning.
Notional volume: Trading volume expressed in dollar-equivalent terms of the underlying value.
Out-of-the-money (OTM): A call with strike above spot (or put with strike below spot); often used for high-upside “convexity” bets or tail hedges.
Tail-risk insurance: Positions (often deep OTM puts) designed to protect against rare, extreme downside moves.
Convexity: The property of options where gains can accelerate as the underlying moves favorably, especially near expiry.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:001mo ago
Bitcoin Miner Supply Shock Hasn't Arrived Yet, New Data Suggests
Bitcoin’s miner supply picture remains tighter than in past cycles, but not tight enough to call it a true supply shock. New data from Axel Adler Jr.’s latest Bitcoin Morning Brief suggests miners still retain a meaningful over-the-counter reserve even as exchange-directed selling pressure stays elevated.
Bitcoin Miners Flash Mixed Signal Adler’s core argument rests on two separate but related indicators. One tracks the 30-day moving average of BTC inflows from miners to exchanges, which serves as a direct proxy for realized selling pressure entering the market. The other measures the aggregate BTC balance held on OTC addresses associated with miners, offering a view into how much inventory can still be sold outside public order books.
Taken together, the charts point to a market that is absorbing ongoing miner distribution, not one that has suddenly run out of hidden supply. As Adler put it, “For the market this is a mixed signal: the hidden OTC overhang is limited compared to past cycles, but tactical pressure in the market channel has not yet been removed.”
That distinction matters. A low OTC balance can be read as constructive because it implies miners have less sidelined inventory available for large off-exchange deals. But if the coins miners are currently producing are still being routed to exchanges at an elevated pace, immediate market pressure remains intact.
The exchange inflow data is central to that argument. According to Adler, miner exchange inflows rose noticeably after Halving #4 relative to the early post-halving period, and the trend accelerated further from autumn 2025 onward. By 2026, the 30DMA remained in what he described as an elevated regime, indicating that “a significant portion of freshly mined supply is still being directed into the market, and current miner pressure cannot be considered removed.”
Bitcoin Miners All Exchange Inflow 30DMA | Source: Axel Adler Recent weeks have shown some moderation from the latest highs, but Adler does not view that as decisive. “In recent weeks the chart shows a local pullback from recent peaks,” he wrote. “But against the backdrop of strong growth over recent months, this does not yet look like a confirmed downward reversal – rather a pause within a still-elevated exchange inflow regime. To speak of a real reduction in miner pressure, a more sustained decline of the 30DMA from the current elevated zone is needed, not a short oscillation within it.”
The OTC side of the picture is more nuanced. Miner-linked OTC balances currently sit around 152.6K BTC, well below the historical peak near 595K BTC in 2018 and only modestly above the series low of roughly 146.9K BTC recorded in July 2025. By long-term standards, that does leave the OTC reserve compressed.
Bitcoin OTC address cohort balance | Source: Axel Adler Still, Adler explicitly pushes back on the idea that the reserve is effectively gone. “The current level is close to the lower bound of the historical range, but claiming the buffer is ‘almost entirely exhausted’ would be an overstatement: more than 150K BTC is still a significant volume,” he wrote. “In recent months the OTC balance has been oscillating within a relatively narrow range, and in February there was even a noticeable upward spike. This looks more like a regime of low but persisting reserve than a final phase of complete buffer depletion.”
That framing is the key to the piece. The report does not argue that miner supply is abundant. It argues that the supply backdrop has become structurally tighter than in earlier cycles without yet crossing into outright scarcity. Miners have “substantially less OTC inventory than in past cycles,” Adler said, but the reserve “has not disappeared.” Instead, it “no longer looks large enough to create the same hidden supply overhang the market could see previously.”
At press time, BTC traded at $
Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:001mo ago
Ripple Enters Singapore Central Bank Initiative With RLUSD Pilot
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Ripple has joined BLOOM, a new initiative from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the country’s central bank, and is partnering with trade finance technology firm Unloq on a pilot that uses RLUSD and the XRP Ledger to test programmable settlement in cross-border trade. For crypto markets, the move adds another real-world institutional use case around stablecoin-based settlement infrastructure, this time inside a central bank-led framework.
Announced Wednesday, the pilot sits within MAS’s BLOOM initiative, short for Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency. The program is designed to expand settlement capabilities using tokenized bank liabilities and regulated stablecoins, positioning Singapore as a testing ground for interoperable payment rails in regulated financial environments.
Ripple Joins Singapore Central Bank Project Ripple’s specific role in the initiative comes through a joint project with Unloq, a supply chain finance technology provider. The two companies plan to pilot a trade finance workflow built around Unloq’s SC+ infrastructure, which combines trade obligations, settlement conditions and financing workflows into a single execution layer. Ripple said the setup will use its institutional infrastructure, the XRP Ledger and RLUSD.
The core pitch is straightforward: use digital settlement assets to reduce frictions that still slow cross-border trade. In the model described by the companies, payments are released only when commercial conditions are met, such as shipment verification. That creates a more conditional, programmable settlement flow, while also aiming to improve risk visibility and financing access for small and medium-sized businesses.
Fiona Murray, Ripple’s managing director for Asia Pacific, framed the initiative as a regulatory and utility play. “Singapore continues to take a leading role globally in providing the regulatory clarity necessary for the digital asset space to thrive. Ripple is incredibly excited to be part of BLOOM, an initiative that perfectly aligns with our commitment to compliant, real-world utility for blockchain technology.”
She then tied the pilot directly to the mechanics of the platform. “Built on the XRP Ledger, SC+ Solution, Unloq’s smart-contract-driven trade finance platform uses RLUSD to automatically trigger payments the moment the shipment is verified. This partnership combines Unloq’s supply chain expertise with Ripple’s secure technology to make global trade faster and more transparent.”
That matters because the release is not pitching blockchain as a parallel system detached from existing finance. Instead, the emphasis is on integrating digital settlement rails into current trade and financing processes without forcing counterparties to rebuild commercial relationships from scratch. In other words, the pilot is less about replacing trade finance than about reducing operational lag and settlement uncertainty inside it.
Unloq made that case explicitly. Letitia Chau, the company’s president and chief risk officer, said, “BLOOM represents an important step toward modernising trade finance infrastructure in a controlled and regulated environment. Through SC+, we are demonstrating how digital settlement rails can be integrated into existing trade and financing workflows without disrupting commercial relationships.”
She added that the pilot is also meant to test whether the model can scale beyond a narrow proof of concept. “Collaboration with MAS and Ripple enables us to explore scalable, interoperable models for cross-border trade.”
For Ripple, the announcement extends a broader push to position RLUSD as a settlement asset for enterprise use cases rather than a simple exchange-traded stablecoin. The release repeatedly places RLUSD alongside tokenized bank liabilities, suggesting the company wants the stablecoin discussed in the same institutional conversation as other regulated digital cash instruments being explored for settlement.
At press time, XRP traded at $1.4227.
XRP must rise above the 0.618 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:001mo ago
Venice Token [VVV] surges 14% – Why THIS is the next KEY hurdle
Venice Token [VVV] has surged 14.37% to $6.40 as trading volume climbs 26.54% to $23.12M, signaling strong demand expansion across the spot market.
This expansion shows that price is not drifting upward but rather advancing through strong spot demand.
As participation increases, the rally reflects conviction instead of low-liquidity spikes. The VVV price increase toward $6.40 highlights alignment between demand and price action.
However, volume expansion at this stage also suggests that traders are reacting to the breakout rather than anticipating it.
As a result, this phase often defines whether continuation can hold or begin to fade under pressure.
VVV breaks free as structure shifts upward Price has broken out of the pennant flag, ending the prior compression phase and shifting structure toward expansion.
The breakout places immediate resistance at $6.68, while a broader target forms near $8.50 if continuation holds.
Besides, the former consolidation region around $5.14 now acts as a key support base. This transition reflects a shift from indecision into directional control.
However, price now approaches resistance zones where sellers may respond. As a result, holding above the breakout zone remains critical.
If price maintains this structure, the breakout could extend, but failure to hold support would quickly weaken the setup.
The MACD structure shows that bullish strength has not fully aligned with price action.
The indicator has not crossed above the signal line, which limits confirmation of sustained upside pressure.
Additionally, the histogram has turned negative, reflecting weakening strength after the breakout.
This divergence highlights a gap between structural expansion and internal strength. However, price continues holding above key levels, suggesting that buyers still defend the move.
As a result, the current setup reflects early-stage expansion rather than fully confirmed continuation.
Source: TradingView CVD divergence exposes underlying sell pressure Spot Taker CVD remains sell-dominant over the past 90 days, revealing persistent aggressive selling beneath the rally.
This structure indicates that market participants continue executing sell orders even as price rises.
However, price has not declined, which suggests that larger buyers may be absorbing this supply.
This divergence highlights a key imbalance between visible selling and hidden demand. As a result, the rally depends on continued absorption to sustain upward movement.
If selling pressure intensifies without matching demand, the structure could weaken. However, as long as price holds, this absorption continues supporting the current trend.
Source: CryptoQuant Open interest rise shows leveraged buildup into VVV breakout Open interest has increased by 18.74% to $43.21M, reflecting growing participation in derivatives markets.
This rise shows that traders are positioning aggressively as price breaks out of consolidation. However, leveraged positioning introduces volatility, especially near resistance zones.
As positions build, the market becomes sensitive to rapid price movements in either direction. This setup often leads to sharp expansions once liquidity gets triggered.
At the same time, rising open interest without strong confirmation from other indicators increases risk.
If price continues higher, these positions could fuel continuation, but any reversal would quickly unwind these leveraged trades.
Source: CoinGlass
VVV has broken out with strong volume support, which strengthens its bullish structure. However, weakening MACD signals and persistent sell pressure create underlying tension.
The rally can sustain if buyers continue absorbing supply and hold above $5.14. If that support fails, the breakout would likely weaken quickly under pressure.
Final Summary VVV surged 14% to $6.40, backed by a 26% jump in Spot Volume. Breakout above the pennant shifted the structure from consolidation to expansion. Open Interest rose 18%, signaling aggressive leveraged positioning. Rising leverage increases the risk of sharp moves, especially near resistance
Bitcoin jumped above $72,000 Wednesday morning after Iran sent signals it wants to end the conflict with Israel. Regional media outlets reported the development, with diplomatic sources in Washington backing up the claims that pushed risk assets higher and sent oil prices tumbling.
The crypto king rose fast from around $69,000 earlier in the session as traders digested news of potential ceasefire talks. Reports say Iran might agree to a one-month pause in hostilities that could include limits on nuclear work and promises not to build weapons. Market players saw these moves as real steps toward cooling things down, which boosted confidence in risky bets like Bitcoin and stocks.
Oil got hit hard immediately.
Brent crude plunged more than 4% before settling around $96-$98 per barrel. The drop shows traders aren’t as worried about Middle East supply getting cut off anymore. When oil falls, it usually helps risk assets because it takes pressure off inflation fears that central banks hate.
Bitcoin Follows Broader Market Mood Bitcoin’s climb comes as the digital currency keeps moving more in sync with regular markets, often rising and falling with stocks and other assets that do well when investors feel good about taking risks. Oil’s drop and climbing equity futures pushed Bitcoin past a big psychological level that traders watch closely.
But the situation stays pretty messy. While talks between Washington and Tehran suggest both sides want peace, military stuff keeps happening in the region. Markets react fast to any headline that changes how people feel about what might happen next.
Bitcoin showed it can bounce back from these tensions. Earlier this week it fell below $70,000 when conflict fears spooked traders into selling. Now confidence is coming back as people see maybe things can get stable.
The crypto has been moving wild lately. One day it’s down on war fears, the next it’s up on peace hopes. That’s just how Bitcoin works when big world events happen.
Big Money Still Buying Institutional demand keeps supporting Bitcoin’s price levels. Money flowing into spot Bitcoin ETFs and companies like MicroStrategy buying more coins helps prop up the market. Bernstein analysts think Bitcoin could hit $150,000 by year-end, pointing to strong ETF flows and more companies getting interested.
And there’s more institutional action happening. BlackRock said it’s adding to crypto holdings, with CEO Larry Fink noting the geopolitical shift played a role in their decision. The investment giant sees digital assets as a way to hedge against global uncertainty. This development aligns with Bitcoin Hits ,000 as Trump Halts, highlighting broader market trends.
Still, challenges remain. U.S. interest rate policy keeps putting pressure on risk assets. Geopolitical events also drive short-term swings that often overshadow bigger economic trends. The Fed’s latest meeting minutes showed inflation worries but no immediate rate hikes, which helps risky assets.
Bitcoin’s reaction to these headlines shows traders feel optimistic about a real resolution. The market gets boosted by falling oil, steady institutional demand, and better sentiment. But uncertainty lingers because this stuff changes fast.
Ethereum climbed to $4,500 in sympathy with Bitcoin’s move. The second-biggest crypto reflects broader optimism in digital currency markets driven by easing Middle East tensions. Other altcoins followed higher too as risk appetite improved across the board.
JP Morgan analysts warn the situation stays fluid though. They say any reversal in diplomatic progress could quickly shift market dynamics, showing how volatile these geopolitical-driven moves can be. Traders need to stay alert because things change fast in this space.
Goldman Sachs noted that any real agreement between Iran and Israel could stabilize markets further, potentially driving Bitcoin and other cryptos higher. They stressed watching diplomatic progress closely matters for anyone trading these markets.
The S&P 500 surged Wednesday too, showing investor optimism about potential Middle East resolution. The rally shows how connected global markets are and how geopolitical developments ripple through different asset classes. When one thing moves, others follow.
MicroStrategy announced plans to buy more Bitcoin, with CEO Michael Saylor saying current conditions offer a strategic opportunity to expand holdings. The move fits with the company’s long-term bullish view on Bitcoin’s potential. They’ve been buying dips for years now. Market participants tracking Bitcoin Hits ,100 as Iran Truce will find additional context here.
Some investors turned to safe-haven assets despite the optimism. The U.S. dollar index saw a slight uptick as market participants sought stability. Different strategies emerge when people navigate uncertain geopolitical landscapes like this one.
CryptoCompare reported Bitcoin’s trading volume jumped 20% compared to the previous day, reflecting heightened interest following geopolitical developments. The increase shows how responsive the market gets to international news, especially events that seem to reduce global tensions.
Deutsche Bank analysts said recent market moves could signal a shift in investor sentiment toward riskier assets. Per John Smith, a senior analyst at the bank, “The market is reacting positively to any signs of de-escalation in geopolitical tensions, which is evident in the recent rise in Bitcoin and equity markets.”
Fidelity Investments saw a 15% increase in new crypto account openings in the past week. The surge gets attributed to both institutional and retail investors wanting to capitalize on Bitcoin’s recent price moves and potential for further gains if tensions ease.
Bloomberg reported Bitcoin’s market cap surpassed $1.4 trillion, reinforcing its position as a major asset class. The milestone reflects growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as part of diversified investment strategies amid shifting geopolitical landscapes. Trading volume stayed elevated through the session as momentum built.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat caused Bitcoin to surge past $72,000?Bitcoin rose after Iran signaled intentions to end its conflict with Israel, boosting risk assets and causing oil prices to drop more than 4%.
How did institutional investors react to the news?BlackRock increased crypto holdings and MicroStrategy announced plans to buy more Bitcoin, while Fidelity saw 15% more new account openings.
Post Views: 18
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:231mo ago
White House Clears Path for Crypto and Bitcoin in $14T 401(k) Plans
The US White House has completed its review of the proposal to allow cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC) and private equity exposure in 401(k) retirement plans.
The proposal now awaits formal ruling from the Department of Labor (DOL). A positive ruling would support the flow of $13.9 trillion from defined-contribution plans, such as 401(k), into cryptocurrency investments.
This development would further reinforce the legitimacy of the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry, possibly driving higher demands and breaking recent price consolidation in favor of a bullish reversal.
Bitcoin inclusion in retirement portfoliosThe clearance from White House comes after an August 2025 executive order asking the DOL to ease restrictions on alternative assets. The latter spans private equity, real estate, infrastructure, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.
While Bitcoin inclusion in 401(k) plans is already legal under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974, a positive review from the DOL would shift the DOL’s crypto stance away from “extreme care.”
By contrast, the former Biden administration warned against integrating cryptocurrency into retirement plans, saying volatility could wipe out entire funds and threaten economic stability.
This stance shifted in May 2025 in line with the Trump administration’s aspirations to make America a global hub for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
The move to integrate Bitcoin and crypto into retirement portfolios has elicited divergent reactions within the community. Supporters highlight increased accessibility to high-yield digital assets, with financial gains offsetting inflationary effects on the value of fiat.
The #1 barrier to #Bitcoin adoption just crumbled. The Labor Department’s new rule means your employer can finally offer you Bitcoin without fearing a lawsuit. By opening the $13T 401(k) market, the government is making Digital Scarcity a core pillar of the American Dream. This…
— RayDAR.Sol (@RayDARdotSol) March 25, 2026 Critics note that uptake may be lower because retirement firms prioritize stable gains over speculative ones or illiquid investments like private equity.
What happens next?Currently, the DOL maintains a neutral stance on the inclusion of crypto in retirement plans. Once it issues its upcoming ruling, a public commentary period would follow, and thereafter a final ruling.
A positive verdict would provide legal protection to fiduciaries, preventing them from being investigated or sued for including Bitcoin.
Nonetheless, the integration may take some time as retirement firms assess the benefits of such investments and develop the necessary infrastructure to support them.
Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:311mo ago
$18.6B in Bitcoin options expire Friday: Should traders prepare for $75K BTC?
Over 90% of Bitcoin call options may expire worthless if the price fails to break above $71,000 by Friday.
Traders fear rising inflation and worsening credit conditions as the US and Israel-Iran war continues.
Bitcoin (BTC) has been stuck in a narrow range between $67,700 and $71,600 over the past week, closely following how the US stock markets reacted to the US and Israel-Iran war. Traders have high hopes that the upcoming $18.6 billion Bitcoin monthly options expiry on Friday could provide the bullish momentum needed to break above the $75,000 level for good.
S&P 500 futures (left) vs. Bitcoin/USD (right). Source: TradingViewThe Bitcoin call (buy) options dominate March’s total open interest, totaling $11.2 billion, while put (sell) instruments stood 34% lower at $7.4 billion. However, this advantage means little given that Bitcoin has failed to sustain levels above $74,000 for the past seven weeks. Investors fear that inflation will remain a concern as WTI oil prices sustained levels above $90.
Economic uncertainty helps bears dominate the quarterly Bitcoin options expiryInitial signs of cracks in the US economy emerged after private credit funds limited redemptions amid concerns of deteriorating loan quality. The $3 trillion sector has been under scrutiny after asset managers Ares Management, Apollo Global Management, Blue Owl Capital, and Cliffwater were forced to halt or restrict withdrawals in recent weeks, according to CNBC.
The uncertainty in the socio-economic scenario might be precisely what bears needed for Bitcoin's quarterly expiry. To better assess the forces driving Bitcoin’s price ahead of Friday’s event at 8:00 am UTC, analysts are looking at what prices the call and put options were placed.
Deribit holds a clear lead with a 76% market share with $14.1 billion in open interest, followed by OKX with 7.1% and CME at 6.6%. Despite the greater demand for call options, Bitcoin bulls at Deribit were overconfident, placing the majority of their bets on $90,000 and higher levels.
Open interest for March 27 Bitcoin call options at Deribit, USD. Source: DeribitOnly $2 billion of the call options at Deribit were placed below $78,000, meaning 77% of those instruments will likely become worthless on Friday. It’s clear that Bitcoin bulls did not anticipate a quarterly expiry at $71,000, a price that would invalidate 92% of the call options open interest.
Part of those positions might have been placed before February, when Bitcoin was trading above $86,000, which explains the heavy positions far above current price levels.
Open interest for March 27 Bitcoin put options at Deribit, USD. Source: DeribitThe put options open interest at $66,000 or higher stood at $2.2 billion at Deribit, meaning 40% of those instruments remain in play for Friday’s expiry. Therefore, at first sight, there is a slight advantage for the put options, but a more granular view is required to understand at what level the situation might change.
Below are four probable outcomes for Friday’s BTC options expiry at Deribit based on current price trends:
Between $65,000 and $69,000: The net result favors the put (sell) instruments by $1.8 billion.
Between $69,001 and $72,000: The net result favors the put (sell) instruments by $950 million.
Between $72,001 and $75,000: The net result favors the put (sell) instruments by $430 million.
Between $75,001 and $78,000: The net result favors the call (buy) instruments by $790 million.
Ultimately, Bitcoin bulls need a 6% rally from the present $70,900 level to shift the outcome of the March options expiry in their favor.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:591mo ago
BitGo and ZKsync Partner to Bring Tokenized Deposits to Banks
Traditional finance and blockchain technology are converging faster than ever, and a new partnership between BitGo and ZKsync is set to accelerate that shift. The two companies are joining forces to deliver a comprehensive, compliance-ready infrastructure that enables banks to bring tokenized deposits onto blockchain rails — without stepping outside existing regulatory boundaries.
At the heart of the collaboration is ZKsync's Prividium, a permissioned and privacy-preserving blockchain network built specifically for regulated entities. Paired with BitGo's industry-trusted institutional custody and wallet services, the combined stack gives financial institutions everything they need to issue, transfer, and settle tokenized deposits securely and efficiently. Rather than building complex onchain systems from scratch, banks can now plug into a ready-made solution designed with their compliance requirements in mind.
Tokenized deposits are quickly gaining traction as a practical alternative to stablecoins for banks exploring blockchain-based payments. The key difference is significant — while stablecoins typically operate outside the traditional banking system, tokenized deposits keep funds firmly within it. This distinction allows institutions to leverage programmable transaction capabilities without triggering changes to the regulatory frameworks they already operate under, making adoption far less disruptive.
ZKsync creator Matter Labs is positioning Prividium as the bridge between public blockchain innovation and the privacy and permissioning demands of institutional finance. CEO Alex Gluchowski described tokenized deposits as the mechanism through which banks can bring money onchain while remaining fully within the regulatory system — a framing that speaks directly to what risk-conscious financial institutions need to hear.
The partnership is already moving beyond the concept phase. Both companies confirmed the joint infrastructure is currently being tested with regulated financial institutions, with a broader production rollout planned for later this year. As more banks look to modernize payment infrastructure, this collaboration signals that blockchain adoption in traditional finance is no longer a question of if — but when.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:001mo ago
Ethereum rises amid West Asia crisis – But this rally isn't safe
The world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum [ETH] by market capitalization, has begun to climb as the West Asian crisis appears to be de-escalating.
Another factor supporting ETH’s optimism is the significant demand from whales, along with a massive spike in Open Interest (OI), which indicates that Futures demand for the asset is rising.
At press time, ETH was up 1.25% over the past 24 hours, trading at $2,166. Despite the price recovery, the asset appears to have experienced lower participation, as reflected in its trading volume, which has plummeted over 33% to $18.53 billion.
Falling volume alongside a rising price suggests that the current upside move may not be sustainable, as investors and traders seem hesitant to participate in the asset compared to the previous day.
Ethereum whales’ growing demand Despite lower volume, crypto giants have shown strong interest in the asset. On the 25th of March, Ethereum whales added massive 142,773 ETH, worth $308 million, from major exchanges like Binance, Bitget, and Kraken.
The only notable name in this accumulation was Bitmine, which added 67,111 ETH worth $145 million.
Analytics tool CryptoQuant reveals similar data, showing a massive decline in exchange reserves.
Source: CryptoQuant A significant drop of 842,604 ETH in the total exchange reserves has been recorded over the past week, indicating that not only whales and institutions are accumulating, but retail investors are as well.
It appears that this potential accumulation might be an early sign of recovery, following the U.S. easing its pressure in West Asia through peace talks.
Retail interest spikes in Ethereum Alongside long-term holders, intraday players also appeared to be following the same trend by placing strong bets on the long side, as shared by derivatives analytics tool CoinGlass.
As of press time, intraday traders were heavily positioned at $2,086.8 on the lower side and $2,183.4 on the upper side (both near liquidation levels).
At these levels, traders have built $887.04 million worth of long-leveraged positions, while $255.29 million in short-leveraged positions sit on the opposite side, which could be liquidated if the asset crosses the $2,183.4 level.
Source: CoinGlass In fact, Ethereum’s OI surged 7.51% over the past 24 hours, reaching $30.83 billion, indicating a rise in the notional value of ETH contracts driven by increased leverage exposure and fresh position buildup.
Will ETH break the bullish chart? On the four-hour chart, ETH appeared bullish, as it formed a bullish inverted head and shoulders pattern and looked to be on the verge of a breakout.
Currently, ETH seems to be experiencing resistance at the neckline near $2,180, which it has faced over the last 10 candles.
Source: TradingView If ETH’s upside move continues and it clears the key resistance level at $2,180 and closes a four-hour candle above it, it could potentially see an impressive price jump of over 8% and may reach the $2,351 level in the coming days.
However, this bullish thesis is only valid if the price moves above the $2,180 level; otherwise, it will be invalidated.
As of now, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 55.89, indicating that momentum is gradually shifting toward the bullish side, with buying pressure slightly outweighing selling pressure.
Final Summary Ethereum whales have added a massive 142,773 ETH, worth $308 million, over the past 24 hours. The four-hour chart shows that ETH is poised for a 7% rally, but only if it clears the $2,180 level.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:001mo ago
Bitcoin Preparing For Liftoff Or Another Drop? Key Levels To Decide
Bitcoin remains locked in a tight range, leaving traders uncertain about its next major move. With strong resistance overhead and key support still holding below, the market is approaching a decisive moment. Whether BTC breaks out into a new rally or slips into another leg down will largely depend on how it reacts around these critical levels.
A Slips Below Key Zone: Downside Pressure Builds According to Kamile Uray, Bitcoin is currently trading below the key blue box zone, suggesting that downside pressure may persist in the near term. Despite this, the 4-hour chart is beginning to show early signs of a potential recovery structure, with a small inverse head and shoulders (TOBO) forming. If this pattern activates, it could open the door for a move toward the $75,000 level.
Beyond that, there is also the possibility of a larger cup and handle formation developing. A successful push toward $75,000 would help shape this structure, but confirmation would only come with a strong close above that level. If achieved, it could signal continuation to the upside, especially if Bitcoin breaks above the $79,354 level, marking the first higher high on the 4-hour timeframe.
Source: Chart from Kamile Uray on X On the downside, several key support levels, such as $65,666, $62,433, and $60,000, will be closely monitored, as holding above these levels could provide a base for another upward move. However, a daily close below the $62,433–$60,000 range would increase bearish pressure, exposing deeper support levels around $55,230 and $47,256.
Looking at the bigger picture, a move toward $98,200 followed by a daily close above it would confirm a higher high on the daily chart, strengthening the case for a continued uptrend. Caution is advised, however, if the price approaches the $107,000–$109,000 zone, where a potential bearish pattern could emerge. Failure to break above the previous high in that region may trigger another downward phase.
Bitcoin Stuck In Range As Momentum Stalls Bitcoin is currently trading around $70,413, remaining stuck within the same tight range that has held price action in place for weeks. CyrilXBT pointed out that the $72,000–$76,000 zone continues to act as a strong ceiling, with every rally into that area being met by consistent selling pressure.
On the downside, the macro trendline near $64,000 has held on two separate occasions, providing the only meaningful support structure preventing a broader bearish shift. Still, confidence in a bullish continuation remains limited until Bitcoin can secure a convincing close above $75,000. With the EMA 200 at around $86,380, still far from being relevant at this stage, the market remains in a wait-and-see phase, with traders watching for a decisive move out of the range.
BTC trading at $71,484 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:001mo ago
Why SWIFT's Latest Global Payments Infrastructure Is Bullish For XRP Holders
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Crypto pundit Archie has explained why SWIFT’s new global payments infrastructure is bullish for XRP holders. This came as the pundit highlighted how SWIFT’s major partners use Ripple’s RippleNet, which involves the altcoin.
In an X post, Archie stated that SWIFT just gave XRP holders the ultimate bull signal. He noted that every bank named in their new retail payments framework is a Ripple partner. Over 50 banks are said to have committed to SWIFT’s global payments framework, which is expected to roll out this year.
Archie reiterated that all the banks that SWIFT has highlighted are confirmed RippleNet partners. These banks include Akbank, ANZ, Axis Bank, and Bank Alfalah. Furthermore, the pundit noted that the full participant list for SWIFT’s payments infrastructure includes banks linked to Ripple, which he believes is bullish for holders.
These banks include Santander, BBVA, Standard Chartered, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and BNI, as well as Wall Street giants such as Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, and JPMorgan. The analyst said that many of these banks have documented Ripple pilots or RippleNet usage.
Archie noted that SWIFT already routes over 44 million messages daily across 11,500 institutions. As such, this move with Ripple’s partners could draw more attention to the XRP ecosystem. The pundit stated that SWIFT’s move isn’t a competition but rather a continuation of traditional finance (TradFi), quietly admitting that Ripple’s vision was correct, especially as SWIFT is directly building on top of the crypto firm’s existing bank network.
In line with this, the pundit declared that XRP’s real-world utility just got a massive boost, with institutional-grade confirmation. He added that the adoption wave is breaking, with institutions potentially showing interest in the altcoin.
When The Altcoin Will Truly Gain Institutional Adoption During an interview on the Paul Barron podcast, Franklin Templeton’s head of digital assets, Roger Bayston, said that the token will gain institutional adoption when companies realize how they can use the XRP Ledger to solve real business problems. He opined that a lot of these institutions do not yet understand how they can use the distributed ledger inside of their information-based businesses.
It is worth noting that Franklin Templeton already revealed plans to tokenize its money market fund on the Ledger. Bayston signaled that they were betting big on the toekn as they plan to use the network to boost their operations. He said that they didn’t buy XRP to speculate but to use the altcoin as they operate the tokenized fund on the network.
At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.41, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
XRP trading at $1.42 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
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Scott Matherson is a leading crypto writer at Bitcoinist, who possesses a sharp analytical mind and a deep understanding of the digital currency landscape. Scott has earned a reputation for delivering thought-provoking and well-researched articles that resonate with both newcomers and seasoned crypto enthusiasts. Outside of his writing, Scott is passionate about promoting crypto literacy and often works to educate the public on the potential of blockchain.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:161mo ago
Ethereum at a Breaking Point: $5.3K Explosion or Crash to $1.1K?
Ethereum is trading near $2,150, sitting just below the key technical and psychological level of $2,300. Standard deviation models project high volatility, with a potential ceiling at $5,300 and extreme support at $1,150. The broader crypto market shows a similar structure, suggesting an imminent joint resolution for the sector.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:171mo ago
XRP Spot Flow Surges 233%: Accumulation or Distribution?
XRP recorded a striking 233% spike in spot flow within a single hour over the past day, drawing significant attention from traders and analysts alike. Moves of this magnitude typically signal that large market participants are repositioning, but whether they are accumulating or offloading remains the key question.
Looking at the broader price chart, XRP continues to trade within a downward trend, sitting below its major moving averages and struggling to break the persistent pattern of lower highs. Despite this macro bearish pressure, a short-term ascending structure is taking shape, with the asset printing higher lows — a sign that selling pressure may be gradually easing. This creates a notable tension between improving short-term momentum and an unfavorable long-term trend.
The surge in spot inflows adds another dimension to the analysis. Unlike derivatives-driven volume, rising spot flow generally reflects direct buying or repositioning of the underlying asset, which is considered a more reliable bullish signal. When institutions or whales move capital through spot markets, it often carries more weight than leveraged activity.
That said, spot inflows do not always confirm accumulation. Large holders sometimes transfer assets to exchanges ahead of selling into price strength, using heightened demand as exit liquidity. Given that the flow spike coincided with XRP testing a key local resistance level, the timing is particularly significant.
If the inflows reflect genuine accumulation, the market could see XRP push through nearby resistance and attempt a recovery toward the 50 EMA, signaling a potential short-term rebound. However, if prices fail to respond meaningfully to the surge, it would suggest the inflows are being absorbed by sell-side pressure — a pattern more consistent with distribution in a bearish market cycle.
Traders should watch price reaction closely at current resistance levels for confirmation of intent.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:191mo ago
Bitcoin at a Crossroads: Trendline Structure Points to Next Big Move
Bitcoin finds itself at a critical technical juncture, and price structure — not market sentiment — will likely determine what comes next. After a prolonged correction that pushed the asset well beneath its key moving averages, BTC is now attempting to stabilize, though the broader trend remains bearish. The 50, 100, and 200 EMAs are all sloping downward, each acting as a layer of dynamic resistance above current price levels.
What has shifted, however, is how buyers are responding at local support. For the first time in months, Bitcoin is printing higher lows along a clearly defined rising trendline. This structural change is meaningful — it signals that selling pressure is gradually losing its grip. Rather than continuing to collapse on each dip, price is being absorbed, suggesting accumulation may be quietly underway.
This dynamic is creating a tightening range. Bitcoin is now compressed between rising trendline support from below and the declining EMA cluster above. When price contracts this way, a decisive breakout becomes inevitable — and the direction of that breakout will likely set the tone for the weeks ahead.
A sustained hold above the rising trendline, followed by a clean push through the 50 EMA, would mark a meaningful shift in momentum. It would not immediately confirm a full trend reversal, but it would open the door to testing higher resistance zones and could trigger broader recovery sentiment across the market.
On the flip side, if the trendline fails, the recent higher lows get invalidated. That scenario would likely send Bitcoin back toward lower support levels and extend the existing downtrend.
The setup is clear-cut. Traders and investors should focus on confirmation over assumption — the trendline is the line to watch.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:241mo ago
Pump.fun Update Targets Creator Manipulation as Meme Coin Losses Mount
Viral on-chain data circulating on social media claims that over 95% of Pump.fun users lost money trading meme coins — and while that figure may be overstated, the reality isn't far off. According to verified reports, at least 50.6% of wallets trading Pump.fun-launched tokens recorded net losses, with only two wallets ever crossing the $1 million profit threshold. This lopsided outcome mirrors patterns seen in the previous crypto bull cycle, where meme coin speculation is widely credited with suppressing the broader altcoin season that many investors anticipated.
In response to growing criticism, Pump.fun co-founder Alon announced a protocol-level update designed to curb two specific types of market manipulation: vamping and griefing. Vamping describes behavior where token creators dump holdings into rising buying pressure, effectively extracting value from the community. Griefing refers to disruptive actions that erode trader trust, such as abrupt changes to token mechanics or fee structures mid-cycle.
The core change restricts how creators manage fee distribution. Previously, creators could redirect earnings at any point in a token's lifecycle — even after it had built significant momentum — which frequently triggered panic selling and community fallout. Under the new rules, creators are granted only a single opportunity to adjust fee settings. Once used, that change becomes permanent unless a more complex governance process is initiated. Existing tokens have been retroactively updated to comply with the same constraints.
The update signals a meaningful step toward greater transparency on the launchpad. However, it falls short of addressing the structural issues most responsible for widespread losses: token oversupply, early insider advantages, and rapid liquidity extraction by well-positioned wallets. Until these root causes are tackled, Pump.fun's trading environment will likely continue rewarding a narrow group of insiders while the majority of retail participants absorb the losses.
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2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:241mo ago
BitMine Launches MAVAN, Claims Top Spot as Largest Ethereum Staker
BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) has launched an institutional-grade Ethereum (ETH) staking platform dubbed 'MAVAN', a move the company says positions it as the world’s largest single Ethereum staker and signals intensifying competition for 'institutional demand' in on-chain yield products.
The U.S.-based blockchain infrastructure firm announced the official rollout of MAVAN—short for 'Made in America Validator Network'—on March 25. As of 5:00 p.m. ET on March 24, BMNR held 3,142,643 ETH, which the company valued at roughly $6.8 billion using a Coinbase-referenced Ethereum price of $2,148. Based on that balance, BMNR said it has become the largest single entity staking Ethereum globally.
BMNR’s accumulation accelerated into the launch. Over the prior week, the firm staked an additional 101,776 ETH, adding more than $219 million in ETH exposure at the same reference price. The company said that if it stakes its full ETH inventory through MAVAN, it expects annual revenue of about $300 million—an estimate that hinges on network-level staking yields, validator performance, fees, and potential changes in Ethereum’s broader staking economics.
The announcement comes as staking shifts from a retail-dominated activity toward a more professionally managed corner of the market. For institutions, staking has increasingly been framed as a way to seek 'native yield' on long-term crypto holdings, but the trade-offs—custody design, slashing risk, operational uptime, and regulatory posture—have pushed demand toward platforms that can offer stronger controls and compliance assurances. BMNR is leaning into that narrative with MAVAN’s U.S.-based validator positioning, emphasizing security and a compliance-forward operating model targeted at large allocators.
Investors backing BMNR include Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Management and Pantera Capital, providing the company with recognizable institutional endorsements as it scales its staking business. Still, BMNR’s equity remains volatile, underscoring the market’s tendency to treat crypto-linked stocks as high-beta proxies for underlying token prices and sentiment.
BMNR’s market capitalization is about $9.5 billion, with shares recently trading around $21.24, far below the stock’s 52-week high of $161. The sharp drawdown highlights the sensitivity of publicly listed crypto infrastructure firms to shifting expectations around token prices, yields, and the durability of revenue models tied to on-chain activity.
Beyond Ethereum, BMNR said it intends to expand MAVAN into other Proof-of-Stake networks, aiming to capture a broader slice of the 'liquidity inflow' moving into staking across multiple ecosystems. The company also said it is pursuing post-quantum technology initiatives, reflecting a growing industry focus on long-horizon security assumptions as quantum computing research advances.
With MAVAN now live, market attention is likely to focus on whether BMNR can sustain validator performance at its new scale, manage concentration and operational risks, and translate headline staking volume into more stable earnings—factors that could ultimately shape how investors price the company’s role in the evolving institutional staking landscape.
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Strategy Inc. is escalating its bitcoin risk posture with a new security leadership role and coordinated global program, signaling deeper institutional commitment to protecting massive crypto reserves and strengthening network resilience.
Strategy Expands Bitcoin Security Leadership and Global Coordination Efforts Strategy Inc. (Nasdaq: MSTR) drew renewed attention on March 25 regarding its bitcoin security hiring efforts tied to an initiative focused on digital asset protection. The emphasis highlights the growing importance of securing a balance sheet heavily concentrated in bitcoin.
Phong Le, president and CEO, posted on X:
“Strategy is hiring a Bitcoin Security Director to coordinate with the global cyber, crypto, and bitcoin security community.”
The company also detailed the broader effort: “Strategy is launching a Bitcoin Security program … to help advance Bitcoin security, resilience, and trust. The Director of Bitcoin Security will serve as the company’s principal architect and external interface on Bitcoin security.” The March 25 post increased visibility around hiring tied to a previously announced initiative.
During its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation on Feb. 6, 2026, Strategy introduced the Bitcoin Security Program, in which Executive Chairman Michael Saylor emphasized industry coordination and long-term network resilience. Recruitment for the Bitcoin Security Director role opened March 10, 2026, positioning the role to lead technical architecture and external engagement efforts. The March 25 post by Le brought renewed attention to the effort as the company expands execution of the initiative.
Massive Bitcoin Exposure Drives Advanced Risk and Security Framework Internally, the position expands beyond a conventional security function by combining deep technical authority with enterprise-wide coordination. The director will lead the Bitcoin Security program across cybersecurity, finance, legal, and executive leadership, shaping policies that govern risk exposure and asset protection. Responsibilities include analyzing protocol-level weaknesses, mapping attack surfaces, and defining mitigation strategies tied to consensus and network integrity. Oversight extends into cryptographic systems, including key generation, secure storage, hardware-backed controls, and multisignature configurations, alongside structured evaluation of custody models designed for resilience and recoverability.
Externally, the mandate centers on intelligence, collaboration, and standard-setting across the bitcoin ecosystem. The role requires continuous monitoring of vulnerabilities, research developments, and emerging threat vectors within blockchain and cryptography domains. Engagement with exchanges, custodians, asset managers, service providers, and core developers will support coordinated defenses and shared operational practices. Advisory duties include translating complex security concepts into actionable guidance for executives while strengthening internal education efforts. The position is structured as a senior individual contributor role requiring extensive experience across cybersecurity, distributed systems, and bitcoin infrastructure, along with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders and build consensus.
Strategy’s balance sheet underscores the scale of its bitcoin exposure, with holdings totaling 762,099 BTC valued at approximately $54.63 billion based on a bitcoin price of $71,676 as of writing. The company reports $2.25 billion in USD reserves and $8.25 billion in debt, alongside net leverage of 11%. Bitcoin-linked metrics include 50.4 years of dividend coverage and $1.083 billion in annual dividends, highlighting the firm’s reliance on digital asset performance within its capital structure.
FAQ 🧭 Why is Strategy creating a Bitcoin Security Director role?
To strengthen protection of its large bitcoin holdings and coordinate ecosystem-wide security efforts. How significant is Strategy’s bitcoin exposure?
The company holds over 762K BTC, making security critical to its balance sheet stability. What will the Bitcoin Security program focus on?
It will address protocol risks, custody systems, and global coordination on emerging threats. What does this mean for investors?
It signals deeper institutional commitment to bitcoin and proactive risk management tied to asset performance.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:561mo ago
XRP Eyes Breakout as Commodity Narrative and ETF Momentum Collide
The resolution of the Ripple case and the CFTC’s classification of XRP as a “digital commodity” eliminate years of legal uncertainty, finally allowing for massive institutional capital entry. The launch of XRP ETF products aims to replicate the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum, facilitating access for regulated investors without the need for direct asset custody management. Analysts point out that the convergence of regulatory clarity and new investment vehicles positions the asset for a move toward $5.5, surpassing its previous all-time high of $3.65. After years of litigation, the regulatory uncertainty for the Ripple ecosystem has seemingly come to an end. With the SEC and CFTC finally aligning on its classification as a digital commodity, XRP is now entering a robust legal framework that is transforming the perception of major investors.
In market terms, the immediate goal is to break through the psychological barrier of $3.65, the asset’s previous all-time high. With strengthening capitalization and rising trading volume, analysts are closely watching the RSI on weekly charts to confirm the sustainability of this bullish trend.
Institutionalization and the Path to $5.5 The introduction of XRP ETFs adds a fundamental layer of liquidity that was previously absent. Much like with Bitcoin and Ethereum, these financial instruments allow institutional capital to flow in a regulated manner, removing technical and legal barriers to entry.
However, despite the optimism, market reality dictates that macroeconomic factors will drive volatility. The path to new highs is unlikely to be linear, potentially featuring consolidation phases and technical pullbacks necessary to flush out excess leverage in the derivatives market.
In summary, XRP has fundamentally changed its market structure; it no longer operates in a regulatory “gray area.” The convergencia between its technological utility and institutional backing positions the token in a state of maturity unprecedented in its history.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:001mo ago
Bitcoin Is Trapped In A Range, But Here's What The Fundamental Index Is Saying
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After a short period of trading below the $70,000 level, Bitcoin’s price has risen above this pivotal mark, even as macroeconomic and political conditions continue to stifle cryptocurrency’s performance. BTC is now trading sideways within a range while market forces shift behind the scenes.
Is Bitcoin Losing Upward Strength? Bitcoin has bounced back to the $71,000 threshold again, but is now trending inside a range. While BTC’s price is steadily trading within a narrow range, a much more dynamic shift beneath the surface may be concealed by the seemingly placid price activity.
A detailed analysis of the BTC Fundamental Index by Bitcoin Vector on the X platform unveils that the price has been trying to break out of the narrow range. However, the Fundamental Index is still trending lower and remains stuck well below the strengthening zone.
Source: Chart from Bitcoin Vector on X This positioning on the chart implies that the current sideways price action is not a healthy consolidation. Instead, it is more of stability without support. As long as on-chain conditions continue to display weakening momentum, the upside trajectory appears increasingly dependent on key indicators such as flow, short covering, or external catalysts, and not organic strength.
In the meantime, the next phase for Bitcoin depends on the Fundamental Index flipping toward the upside once again and regaining above the strengthening zone. If the key metric doesn’t recover, this kind of divergence typically does not support a sustained recovery in the medium term.
Large BTC Investors Have Gone Quiet Amid Volatility While Bitcoin’s next trajectory remains uncertain and unclear in the short term due to the current negative cryptocurrency environment, the sentiment of large investors is beginning to turn bearish. Amid increased price volatility, these holders’ participation has significantly decreased, indicating a change in top-end market behavior.
Santiment, a leading market intelligence and on-chain data analytics platform, reported that Bitcoin’s whale activity has become historically quiet. This behavior is taking place as key stakeholders gear up for clarity from the CLARITY Act, as well as long-term finality to the US-Iran War.
Over the past week, there have been 6,417 BTC transfers worth over $100,000+ on a daily basis, marking the lowest level since September 2023. Meanwhile, for BTC transfers valued at +$1 million, there have been 1,485 conducted daily within the same period, representing the lowest level since October 2024. In such a volatile period, these investors appear to be taking a more cautious, wait-and-see approach.
It is important to note that this investor sentiment or activity has little to do with a bullish or bearish forecast. Instead, what this signal means is that smart money is in the same boat as smaller retail holders at the moment. So far, both investor cohorts have been reluctant to make moves with so much policy and global uncertainty at play.
BTC trading at $70,998 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
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Godspower Owie is my name, and I work for the news platforms NewsBTC and Bitcoinist. I sometimes like to think of myself as an explorer since I enjoy exploring new places, learning new things, especially valuable ones, and meeting new people who have an impact on my life, no matter how small. I value my family, friends, career, and time. Really, those are most likely the most significant aspects of every person's existence. Not illusions, but dreams are what I pursue.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:001mo ago
XRP volume surges to $3.6B as Ripple expands Asia strategy
Ripple [XRP] is back in the spotlight, and this time the narrative centers on utility. Ripple’s Singapore expansion, its MAS-linked pilot, and the market’s fast reaction pushed XRP into the market’s discourse. Therefore, the question is simple: is this just another headline pop or the start of something more enduring?
Ripple expands its regulated footprint in Singapore Ripple had already secured broader approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to expand payment activities under its Major Payment Institution license. That gave the firm more room to offer token-based settlement services and related payment rails in a market that had become central to its Asia-Pacific strategy.
This mattered because Singapore was not handing out credibility for free. Ripple’s local entity gained wider permissions to serve banks, fintechs, and crypto firms using XRP, RLUSD, and similar rails. However, that was more than a licensing update. It pushed Ripple further into a market that still took rules seriously.
Ripple has been in Singapore since 2017, and no other region has grown as quickly for the firm. Singapore wasn’t just a backdrop; it became one of Ripple’s most important proving grounds, a place where the company could advance real utility.
XRP Ledger and RLUSD in cross-border trade flows The bigger shift came through MAS’s BLOOM initiative. Ripple joined the program with Unloq to pilot programmable trade settlement using Unloq’s SC+ infrastructure, Ripple’s technology, the XRP Ledger, and RLUSD.
The pilot targeted one of finance’s toughest challenges: cross‑border trade settlement, which for years has remained slow, fragmented, and painfully inefficient. Under this model, payments were released only after pre-agreed commercial conditions were met, such as shipment verification.
Therefore, this was not another vague blockchain promise. It tested whether digital settlement assets could actually reduce friction and improve trade finance access, especially for SMEs. In particular, that gave XRP’s utility case something it often lacked: a real-world framework with rules attached.
Could Singapore become a real utility catalyst? The market reacted quickly, and it did not do so quietly. XRP’s volume surged from $2.1 billion to $3.6 billion, at press time, while the price recovered from $1.38 to $1.42 as traders responded to the developments.
XRP had seen excitement before, and much of it died fast. Looking ahead, Singapore could become a real utility catalyst, but failure to do so would mean this move would end up as just another temporary spike.
Final Summary Ripple’s Singapore push gave XRP a harder, more credible utility narrative than the market usually gets. The real test now lies in whether regulated pilots turn into sustained transaction demand.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:001mo ago
Will Ethereum Price Crash Below $2,000 Again Amid Whale Sell-Offs
The Ethereum price has jumped back above $2,100 despite broader market volatility, driven by aggressive whale accumulation and tightening supply. However, recent updates reveal that whales are now selling their ETH, likely taking profit after prices recovered slightly. The key question now is whether this increased selling pressure could trigger a decline in Ethereum, potentially pushing its price back below $2,000 once again.
ETH Faces Heavy Selling From Whales After recording massive accumulations just last week, crypto whales are now back to selling ETH. A new report released on X by on-chain researcher ‘The DataNerd’ revealed that a 2-year-dormant Ethereum whale recently deposited a staggering 15,000 ETH, valued at approximately $30.97 million, to the crypto exchange Coinbase.
Source: Chart from The DataNerd on X Based on the size and timing of the transfer, flagged by Arkham Intelligence, the dormant whale may be looking to sell or trade their ETH. Interestingly, the DataNerd disclosed that the whale was an early participant in Ethereum’s initial coin offering (ICO), meaning they bought ETH when the cryptocurrency first launched at an extremely low price.
Related Reading: Ethereum Whales Are Making Money Again, But Will They Hold Or Sell?
The post also mentioned that the whale used a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy to buy 17,400 ETH at an average price of about $11.6 per coin on Poloniex. Despite moving some ETH to Coinbase, the whale still holds 14,800 ETH in their wallet, worth roughly $30.5 million, showing they haven’t sold most of their holdings yet.
Another recent large-scale ETH sell-off was identified by blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain on X. According to the report, an “EthereumOG” with the wallet address 0xa2F6 sold 15,002 ETH on March 23, worth approximately $30.97 million. The data showed that the whale had previously received 172,700 ETH for $12.83 per coin a decade ago, valued at $2.2 million at the time. However, based on Ethereum’s price during the transaction, the whale’s holdings have gained by more than 16,082%, reaching a whopping $356 million.
How This Selling Pressure Affects The Ethereum Price The recent spikes in whale selling activity could have broader implications for Ethereum’s price. When large ICO whales move their holdings to a crypto exchange, it often signals that they may be preparing to sell. Such large-scale ETH deposits can create significant selling pressure on the market, as other traders closely watching the whale movements may react by selling or adjusting their positions.
This can trigger a chain reaction, putting short-term downward pressure on Ethereum’s price. The effect is even stronger when the whales involved are bigger and older, significantly increasing price volatility. With ETH trading around $2,100, persistent whale sell-offs could push its price lower, possibly sending it below $2,000. Its price has already fallen by more than 5%over the past seven days, according to CMC data, highlighting its underlying bearish momentum.
ETH trading at $2,184 on the 1D chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:101mo ago
Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Hold Steady Amid US-Iran Truce Momentum: Here's Why This Analyst Thinks Now Is A 'Great Time To Buy' BTC
Leading cryptocurrencies were range-bound on Wednesday, while stocks closed higher as investors weighed de-escalation prospects in the Middle East war.
Crypto Market ConsolidatesBitcoin traded sideways between $70,380 and the mid-$71,000s, with trading volume down 13% over the past day.
Ethereum also meandered in the $2,100 region as bullish momentum stalled against strong resistance at $2,200. XRP and Dogecoin also consolidated.
Over $150 million in crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with $100 million in short positions alone wiped out, according to Coinglass data.
Open interest in Bitcoin futures rose a further 2.66% in the last 24 hours, while the majority of retail and whale traders on Binance staying long on the leading cryptocurrency.
"Extreme Fear" prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.44 trillion, following a slight increase of 0.50% from the previous day.
Stocks Rally On Ceasefire HopesStocks bounced back on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 305.43 points, or 0.66%, and closed at 46,429.49. The S&P 500 climbed 0.54% to 6,591.90, while the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite gained 0.77% to close at 21,929.83
Crude prices rose, with West Texas Intermediate futures trading up 1.03% to $91.23 per barrel as of 9 p.m. EDT.
Accumulation Phase Incoming?Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez noted that Bitcoin’s % Realized Cap for new investors has plunged to a significant low, adding that “weak hands” have officially exited the market.
Bitcoin Realized Cap is an on-chain metric that values each BTC in circulation at the price it was last moved rather than the market price.
"When the speculative interest supply dries up, we are left with a market composed of high-conviction holders. This historically marks the transition from a cooling period to the next major accumulation phase," Martinez added.
Michaël van de Poppe, another prominent market commentator, also highlighted "capitulation" of short-term holders.
They cited Glassnode’s Short-Term Holder Net Unrealized Profit/Loss metric, noting its alignment with the 2020 COVID crash and the June 2022 Terra Luna collapse.
"Historically, this has proven to be a great time to buy assets, as markets are always higher 12 months after such a capitulation event," Van De Poppe projected.
Photo: KateStock / Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Onchain sleuth ZachXBT has flagged that Circle has unfrozen the USDC balance held in one of the 16 wallets it targeted in an earlier action.
In a Wednesday post on X, ZachXBT said "0x61f…e543," a wallet tied to Goated.com, has regained access to its USDC balance. The wallet currently holds 130,966 USDC, according to Arkham data.
The onchain investigator noted in a message on Telegram that additional affected wallets could be restored "in the near future."
The move follows a Tuesday report that Circle froze USDC balances across 16 hot wallets linked to a range of unrelated businesses. At the time, ZachXBT said he had spoken with at least one affected entity, which indicated the freeze was tied to an ongoing U.S. civil case that remains undisclosed.
More harm than good "The NY civil case is sealed and they have provided absolutely ZERO basis to freeze all of these business addresses," ZachXBT wrote in a separate post on Wednesday.
"In my 5+ years of investigations, it could potentially be the single most incompetent freeze I have seen," he added. "This is what happens when you outsource your freezing decisions to literally any random federal judge instead of having a process."
The revelation that Circle froze 16 wallets drew sharp criticism from the crypto community, reflecting long-standing concerns about the centralized nature of stablecoin oversight.
"This is not the first bad freeze they've done. And it won't be the last... No accountability. No responsibility. No recourse," MetaMask Security Researcher Taylor Monahan wrote in a post on X.
The Block has reached out to Circle for comment. The company has not publicly commented on the specific wallets or confirmed the legal basis for the freeze.
Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.
Global markets ended the session split along unusual lines as a sharp round-trip in oil prices failed to dictate broader risk sentiment, while Bitcoin (BTC) and gold strengthened as preferred hedges amid intensifying Middle East uncertainty.
The whipsaw was triggered after reports that Iran swiftly rejected a 15-point ceasefire proposal presented by the United States, undermining hopes for a rapid de-escalation and pushing crude into extreme intraday volatility. U.S. equities and Treasury bonds, however, largely ‘looked through’ oil’s late rebound, closing according to their own technical and positioning dynamics rather than headline-driven energy moves.
Market attention shifted quickly from an initial ‘risk-on’ reaction—oil down and stocks up in after-hours trading—to renewed concern as Iran’s rhetoric hardened even after fresh reports of strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power facility. Iranian officials reiterated that the timeline for ending the conflict would be decided by Tehran, dampening expectations that diplomacy would quickly cap escalation risks.
Prediction market pricing reflected that skepticism. On Polymarket, the implied probability of a ceasefire before the end of April failed to rise meaningfully despite the U.S. proposal, signaling traders were reluctant to fade the geopolitical premium being priced into energy and volatility markets.
In oil, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures fell roughly 6% to 7% from the prior session’s highs before recovering most of the decline by the close. Key intraday catalysts included early reports of Iran rejecting the ceasefire plan, a mid-session spike that briefly pushed WTI to an intraday peak near $90 per barrel, and later headlines that President Trump is expected to visit China on May 14–15—news that some traders interpreted as a potential diplomatic off-ramp, helping stabilize crude before prices swung again on renewed war-related commentary.
U.S. equities finished modestly higher, but the gains were largely concentrated in the initial gap move following the ceasefire headline. Once the regular session began, major indices churned sideways and struggled to clear key technical resistance levels. Small caps outperformed on a relative basis, while the S&P 500 logged its sixth consecutive session with an intraday range of at least 1%, underscoring the market’s fragile footing.
Goldman Sachs’ trading desk said overall volumes were down about 3% versus the prior two weeks, while ETFs accounted for roughly 37% of tape activity—an indication that flows, rather than high-conviction discretionary risk-taking, were dominating price action. The bank noted hedge funds were net buyers concentrated in technology, financials, and consumer discretionary, while long-only managers leaned toward industrials, consumer staples, and healthcare.
Nomura’s Charlie McElligott framed the session as a symptom of broader paralysis. He pointed to ‘macro volatility compression’ turning into career risk, skepticism toward quick conflict resolution, weakening labor indicators, structural labor-market shifts tied to AI adoption, and growing concerns around private credit liquidity—all contributing to what he described as an environment where many investors are effectively unable to trade with confidence.
Treasury markets, meanwhile, decoupled from oil. Yields declined even as crude clawed back losses, with the 30-year yield down about 4 basis points and the 2-year down around 2 basis points, signaling demand for duration as a hedge against both geopolitical risk and growth uncertainty. A weak 5-year auction did little to alter the broader bid for bonds. Inflation expectations, as measured by breakevens, fell on the day.
Rate-cut pricing in the U.S. remained restrained, with markets still reflecting limited conviction in imminent easing and comparatively more sensitivity to upside inflation risks. In contrast, expectations in the U.K. and euro zone tilted slightly more dovish, suggesting investors see a clearer path for policymakers there to support growth if conditions deteriorate.
Crypto and precious metals stood out as the session’s clearest winners. Bitcoin (BTC) climbed to around $72,000 intraday before easing back to close near the $71,000 level. Gold extended a rebound from its 200-day moving average and attempted to push above $4,600 per ounce during the session. Notably, it was the first day since the outbreak of war that Bitcoin underperformed gold on a relative return basis, highlighting that markets were treating ‘hard’ defensive assets with renewed seriousness as geopolitical outcomes looked increasingly binary.
The U.S. dollar started weaker but firmed steadily through the session to finish near the prior day’s highs, reflecting a familiar pattern of initial risk repricing followed by renewed demand for liquidity and reserve currency exposure as headlines worsened.
Adding to the macro tension, U.S. import and export price data came in well above expectations, a result some analysts attributed partly to rising RAM prices. Outside the oil shock, the broader set of real-economy signals continues to look less supportive for equities, reinforcing concerns that earnings and valuations may be vulnerable if growth slows while inflation remains sticky.
Goldman Sachs strategist Shriti Kapa said the MSCI World Index is down roughly 7% since the outbreak of war in the Middle East—a meaningful move, though still limited in a longer historical context. However, she warned that equity valuations are higher than they were ahead of the 2022 energy shock and that the equity risk premium is close to zero. In what she described as a ‘binary’ risk environment, she argued that flexibility matters more than conviction—making ‘cash’ a practical advantage until uncertainty clears and investors can redeploy capital with better visibility.
For now, the session’s cross-asset message was stark: oil remains the volatility engine, but the market’s defensive bid is increasingly showing up in Bitcoin (BTC), gold, and long-duration Treasuries—and the next decisive move will likely depend less on technicals than on whether diplomacy can credibly alter the conflict’s trajectory.
Article Summary by TokenPost.ai
🔎 Market Interpretation
Cross-asset split: Oil saw extreme intraday swings, but broader risk markets (U.S. equities and Treasuries) did not mechanically follow crude’s late rebound, suggesting positioning/technicals outweighed single-headline energy moves.
Geopolitics as the main volatility vector: Reports Iran rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal and subsequent escalation rhetoric kept a geopolitical risk premium embedded in energy and volatility pricing.
Defensive assets led: Bitcoin and gold strengthened as “hard” hedges, while long-duration Treasuries rallied (yields down), signaling demand for protection against both conflict escalation and growth uncertainty.
Equity tape looked fragile: Stocks ended modestly higher but churned sideways after the open; the S&P 500 recorded another ≥1% intraday range day, indicating unstable market footing.
Liquidity preference returned: The U.S. dollar dipped early but firmed into the close—consistent with a pattern of initial risk repricing followed by renewed demand for liquidity as headlines deteriorate.
Macro backdrop remains uncomfortable: Hotter-than-expected U.S. import/export prices and falling inflation breakevens reinforced “sticky inflation vs slowing growth” concerns, limiting confidence in near-term rate cuts.
💡 Strategic Points
Expect oil-driven volatility, not oil-led direction: Intraday crude spikes (down ~6–7% then back; peak near ~$90) can amplify volatility without reliably dictating equity/bond closes—risk frameworks should separate “volatility impulse” from “trend signal.”
Hedging is rotating toward hard defensives: The session’s clearest defensive bid appeared in BTC, gold, and duration, implying investors may be diversifying hedges beyond USD-only or oil-only expressions.
Watch prediction markets for regime shifts: Polymarket’s muted rise in ceasefire probability suggests traders are unwilling to fade the geopolitical premium—changes here could precede repricing in oil, vol, and risk assets.
Positioning/flows matter more than conviction: Goldman noted lower volumes and high ETF share (~37%), pointing to flow-led price action—risks of sharp, non-fundamental swings remain elevated.
Rates signal defensive duration demand: Falling 30Y (~-4 bps) and 2Y (~-2 bps) yields despite oil’s recovery indicates Treasuries are being used as a hedge against tail risks and growth downdrafts.
Regional policy divergence: U.S. easing expectations stayed restrained, while U.K./euro zone pricing turned more dovish—relative rates could become a key driver of FX and global equity leadership.
Valuation risk in a binary environment: With MSCI World down ~7% since the war began and equity risk premium near zero (per Goldman), “cash/flexibility” may be strategically valuable until conflict and inflation paths clarify.
Key near-term catalysts to monitor:
Credible diplomatic progress (or lack thereof) that changes the conflict trajectory
Further strikes/headlines around critical infrastructure
Inflation-linked data that shifts rate-cut probability
WTI (West Texas Intermediate): A leading U.S. crude oil benchmark used in futures markets.
Breakeven inflation: The inflation rate implied by the yield difference between nominal Treasuries and inflation-protected securities (TIPS); a market-based inflation expectation proxy.
Duration: A measure of bond price sensitivity to interest-rate changes; “long duration” typically benefits most when yields fall.
Risk-on / risk-off: Shifts in investor preference toward higher-risk assets (stocks, high beta) versus defensive assets (Treasuries, gold, cash).
Technical resistance: A price level where an asset historically struggles to rise above, often influencing trader positioning and momentum.
ETF tape activity: The share of total market trading volume attributable to exchange-traded funds, often associated with systematic or flow-driven moves.
Equity risk premium (ERP): The extra return investors demand for holding equities over risk-free assets; a low/near-zero ERP implies limited compensation for equity risk.
Macro volatility compression: A period where major macro variables (rates, FX, commodities) show reduced realized volatility, which can abruptly reverse during shocks.
Prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket): Markets where prices reflect implied probabilities of real-world events, often used as a sentiment/probability gauge.
Bitcoin’s [BTC] recent push toward $72,000 may therefore reflect a temporary move higher, one that risks trapping overly aggressive long traders.
In derivatives markets, positioning has turned notably bullish. The OI-Weighted Funding Rate has climbed to 0.0054%, marking its most optimistic level since the 23rd of February.
This suggests that a significant share of Bitcoin’s $50.64 billion in Open Interest is concentrated in long positions.
Under typical market conditions, such positioning would reinforce a bullish outlook. In the current context, however, it raises the risk of overcrowding, where excessive long exposure leaves the market vulnerable to a reversal.
A familiar setup pointing to a trap Data from a CryptoQuant chart, published by a pseudonymous analyst tracking Bitcoin’s supply-demand dynamics using price and volume indicators, points to a recurring imbalance.
Similar structures appeared ahead of the October 2024 rally to $109,588 and the April 2026 rally to $126,199, identified as Zone 1 and Zone 2. In both cases, the imbalance temporarily eased before price continuation.
Source: CryptoQuant However, the current formation near $72,000 more closely resembles the imbalance zones that preceded sharp declines to $90,000 and later $80,000. In those instances, the imbalance signaled exhaustion rather than continuation.
With this pattern now repeating, the implication is clear: the ongoing rally may not be structurally sound. Instead, it may represent a short-lived advance before a broader downside move, likely driven by long liquidations.
Weak fundamentals limit upside Beyond technical structure, Bitcoin’s macro and on-chain backdrop does not support a sustained rally.
High-yield bond yields continue to rise, reflecting increasing caution among investors. These bonds, issued by lower-rated companies, must offer higher returns to compensate for elevated risk.
When yields climb, it often signals tightening financial conditions and reduced risk appetite.
Historically, such environments have aligned with periods of weakness in Bitcoin, often preceding notable drawdowns. The current rise in yields suggests that broader market conditions remain unfavorable for sustained crypto upside.
Source: Alphractal At the same time, Spot market activity shows limited participation from retail traders. Trading frequency remains largely neutral, extending a multi-month trend of subdued engagement.
In a strong bullish phase, expanding retail activity typically acts as a key driver of momentum. Its absence indicates that the current move lacks the depth and breadth needed to sustain higher prices.
Accumulation lacks confirmation While some accumulation is visible in the Spot market, it remains insufficient to confirm a trend reversal.
The Accumulation/Distribution (A/D) indicator shows a modest uptick, suggesting that some investors are beginning to buy. However, this signal remains preliminary.
For a confirmed bullish shift, the indicator must break above its resistance trendline and sustain upward movement. Until then, the current accumulation phase reflects early positioning rather than conviction.
Source: TradingView In its present state, Bitcoin’s structure, positioning, and fundamentals point to a fragile rally. Without stronger confirmation, the move toward $72,000 risks being remembered not as a breakout, but as a trap.
Final Summary Bitcoin’s supply-demand dynamics continue to follow a recurring fractal pattern that previously preceded sharp declines from the $90,000 and $80,000 regions. Structural weakness remains intact, with no confirmed emergence of a momentum-backed rally.
2026-03-26 02:361mo ago
2026-03-25 22:311mo ago
AI Narrative Ignites Bittensor (TAO) Surge While Bitcoin Loses Spotlight
Market Performance: Bittensor (TAO) records a 90% rally this month, significantly outperforming Bitcoin amid a structural capital rotation. Volume Metrics: TAO’s monthly trading volume exceeded $5.7 billion in the first quarter, its highest level to date. Network Activity: This growth is not merely speculative; Bittensor subnets are showing a real increase in AI computation and integration. AI is consolidating as the highest-growth sector in the crypto market. In this regard, Bittensor (TAO) is the leader of this trend, capitalizing on the flow of assets that was previously concentrated in Bitcoin.
— Our Crypto Talk (@ourcryptotalk) March 24, 2026 In a positive context, the TAO/BTC pair rose 78%, implying that at least 70% of the capital entering Bittensor comes from direct BTC sales. While Bitcoin struggles to stay near $80,000 with an RSI showing exhaustion, TAO demonstrates unprecedented relative strength.
This rotation does not appear to be a fleeting “hype” phenomenon. Unlike other cycles, the price increase in Bittensor (TAO) is aligned with an uptick in activity across its subnets, which execute distributed AI computing tasks.
Furthermore, data from Token Terminal reinforces this thesis. While Bitcoin volume shows weakness at the close of Q1, institutional and retail interest in decentralized AI infrastructure positions TAO as a growth haven amidst geopolitical uncertainty.
The Role of Subnets in Bittensor Adoption Consequently, the Bittensor ecosystem is proving that real utility can sustain high valuations. Analysts observe that the migration of more than 14,000 BTC from short-term wallets to exchanges is a clear sign of capitulation that directly benefits AI narratives.
Ultimately, TAO’s success could mark the beginning of a new capital flow pattern for the remainder of the year. If the network maintains its level of technical adoption, Bittensor will cease to be a “trendy altcoin” and become the barometer for modern digital infrastructure.
In summary, the combination of solid fundamentals, record trading volume, and Bitcoin’s relative weakness has created the perfect scenario for AI to lead the next financial quarter.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:381mo ago
Rio Tinto releases details of $9.9 billion of taxes and royalties paid in 2025
MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has published its 2025 Taxes and Royalties Paid Report, which details $9.9 billion of taxes and royalties paid globally during the year (2024: $8.4 billion). In Australia, taxes and royalties totalling $6.1 billion (A$9.5 billion) were paid in 2025, including corporate tax paid of $3.7 billion (A$5.8 billion). Rio Tinto also made significant tax and royalty payments in Chile ($1.1 billion), the United States ($1.0 billion), Mongolia ($628 million.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:401mo ago
ROSEN, LEADING TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages Boston Scientific Corporation Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - BSX
WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) between July 23, 2025 and February 3, 2026, inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important May 4, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Boston Scientific common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 4, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Boston Scientific’s U.S. Electrophysiology segment; notably, that management was aware that the segment’s growth rate was unsustainable and that it was approaching an earlier tipping point than the market was anticipating. Due to defendants’ statements of confidence and lofty expectations, investors and analysts were left surprised by Boston Scientific’s net income miss and underwhelming guidance for the first half of fiscal 2026. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
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The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:421mo ago
Hyundai Motor plans to launch 36 new models in North America by 2030
Jose Munoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, during the New York International Auto Show Press Preview in New York City, U.S., April 16, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
SEOUL, March 26 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), opens new tab said on Thursday it is targeting vehicle sales of 500,000 units in China this year, and plans to launch 36 new models in the North American market by 2030.
Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz made the remarks during an annual shareholders' meeting.
Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here.
Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Christian Schmollinger
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:421mo ago
Couloir Capital Is Pleased to Announce That It Has Updated Its Research Coverage on Abcourt Mines
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - Couloir Capital is pleased to announce that it has updated its research coverage on Abcourt Mines Inc. (TSXV: ABI) (or "Company"). Couloir Capital's Mining Analyst, Tim Wright, MSc, CFA, crafted a report titled "Sleeping Giant ramp-up gains traction; Glencore deal de-risks balance sheet; maintain BUY.
JGBs were mixed in price terms as recent signals that Iran could be open to negotiations with the U.S., together with speculation of a one-month cease-fire, offer some hope, ING said.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:461mo ago
Nvidia vs. Alphabet: Both Are Down Big in 2026 -- but Only 1 Is a Buy Right Now
This year has been a pretty wild ride for the stock market so far. Both Nvidia (NVDA +1.95%) and Alphabet (GOOG +0.14%)(GOOGL +0.14%) are down this year.
Alphabet has tumbled 6.6% this year while Nvidia is down 6.38%.
You might think this looks like a good buying opportunity, and you'd be right. But which dip should you consider buying?
Image source: Getty Images
Spelling it out Alphabet looks like the stronger of the two from where I'm standing. Financially, both companies are doing quite well, but Alphabet is in the stronger position in terms of the broader AI market. It not only threatens Nvidia's hardware dominance but the rising stars of ChatGPT and Claude as well.
Nvidia became the most valuable company in the world by market cap due to its hardware.
All of the major artificial intelligence (AI) software companies use Nvidia's graphics processing unit (GPU) to some degree.
But many companies, namely OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, are looking to move toward custom hardware more in tune with the needs of AI specifically.
Today's Change
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0.39
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Nvidia is still on the top of the AI hardware heap, but it has a few companies nipping at its heels, namely Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices.
And Broadcom has partnered with Alphabet to develop the tensor processing unit (TPU), which represents a direct challenge to the GPU in AI deployments.
Not only is Alphabet lessening its own dependence on Nvidia hardware, Anthropic, OpenAI's main rival, is eagerly adopting the TPU. It's looking to bring 1 gigawatt of computing capacity online with TPU chips by the end of 2026 .
It's early, but it seems that the AI hardware is more easily replaced than software. Clearly, Anthropic's Claude runs just as well if not better on a TPU than a GPU. And both Claude and Google's Gemini (an Alphabet entity) have been gaining market share rapidly.
That means Alphabet likely has a wider moat than Nvidia, and it's the one you should consider buying on the current-year dip. It has both a hardware competitor to Nvidia's GPU and a software competitor to OpenAI and Anthropic.
James Hires has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:551mo ago
WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. (WXXWY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc. (WXXWY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call March 25, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Chris Chen - CEO & Executive Director
Ming Tu - CFO & Executive VP
Lina Fan - Senior VP & Head of Investor Relations
Conference Call Participants
Laurence Tam - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Presentation
Laurence Tam
Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Good morning, everyone, for those based in China and Hong Kong, and good evening to those -- sorry, good evening to those who are based in China and Hong Kong, and good morning to those who are based in the U.S. Welcome to the 2025 WuXi Bio Earnings Results for 2025. This call will be conducted in English. My name is Laurence Tam, China Healthcare Analyst at Morgan Stanley.
Tonight, we're honored to have the management team of WuXi Bio present to us their 2025 annual results. We have Dr. Chris Chen, who is the CEO of WuXi Bio; Mr. Tu Ming, CFO of WuXi Bio; Dr. Lina Fan, the Head of IR team; and Wallis Wu, also part of the WuXi Bio IR team.
The call will last for 1 hour and 15 minutes. There will be prepared remarks from management followed by a Q&A session. Investors can type their questions into the Zoom Q&A box at the bottom of the window, or you can e-mail me your questions at [email protected].
With that, I will pass it on to Chris to give us an overview of 2025 results.
Chris Chen
CEO & Executive Director
Thank you, Laurence. It's great to give a global investor update for 2025. Yes. I think we believe we have a very unique business model called CRDMO. I think we're benefiting from all 3 exciting modalities of bi- and multispecifics, ADCs and traditional mAbs. So I think this combined exciting business model with all those 3
The logo for Valero Energy Corporation is shown at a Valero gas station in Encinitas, California, U.S., May 2, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesHOUSTON, March 25 (Reuters) - A man who said he was injured in an explosion at Valero Energy's (VLO.N), opens new tab Port Arthur, Texas refinery on Monday night filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in a state district court alleging the company failed to properly maintain the refinery.
The lawsuit filed in the Jefferson County District Court in Beaumont, Texas, seeks more than $1 million in damages.
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A Valero spokesperson had no immediate comment on Wednesday night.
In a filing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Tuesday, Valero said: "An unforeseeable release of process fluid in Complex 2 resulted in an ignition event and multiple process unit upsets."
Jonathan Jaimes was at the Port Arthur refinery when a diesel hydrotreater exploded, shaking homes as far as 11 miles (18 km) away from the plant on the east Texas border with Louisiana.
"(Jaimes) played no role in the tasks or events leading to the explosion. The blast and heat from the fire of the explosion caused (Jaimes) to be thrown to the ground and injured, as a result of the explosion," according to the lawsuit.
Jaimes sustained injuries to his back, neck and spine and other parts of his body, the lawsuit said. He also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
“This was not an unavoidable accident – it was the result of gross negligence and a flagrant disregard for worker safety,” Kyle Findley, an attorney at Arnold & Itkin, which is representing Jaimes, said in an emailed statement.
“Valero had awareness of the risks at this facility and chose to ignore them," Findley said. "When a company shows that kind of disregard for the safety of its workers and the surrounding community, it must be held accountable.”
Jaimes declined to comment, when approached through a spokesperson at law firm Arnold & Itkin.
Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Sonali Paul
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 20:581mo ago
Archrock Announces Retirement of Chief Financial Officer Doug Aron
HOUSTON, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archrock, Inc. (NYSE: AROC) (“Archrock” or the “Company”) today announced that Douglas S. Aron, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has informed the Company of his intention to retire by the end of 2026 or when a successor is named. The Company has engaged an executive search firm to assist with the identification and evaluation of potential successors.
“Doug has been a valued partner and critical member of our leadership team during a period when Archrock has transformed its business and meaningfully improved its balance sheet and profitability,” said Brad Childers, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are grateful for his many contributions and are well prepared for the next chapter with a strong leadership team and clear strategy in place,” concluded Childers.
“I want to thank the Board, Brad, and the incredibly talented team across Archrock for their trust, partnership, and commitment over the last eight years,” said Aron. “As I look ahead, I am committed to helping Archrock with a successful transition and I am excited to prioritize time with family. I look forward to continuing to follow Archrock’s future success,” concluded Aron.
About Archrock
Archrock is an energy infrastructure company with a primary focus on midstream natural gas compression and a commitment to helping its customers produce, compress and transport natural gas in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Archrock is a premier provider of natural gas compression services to customers in the energy industry throughout the U.S. and a leading supplier of aftermarket services to customers that own compression equipment. For more information on how Archrock embodies its purpose, WE POWER A CLEANER AMERICA™, visit www.archrock.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions. Forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Archrock expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A further list and description of risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in Archrock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and as set forth from time to time in Archrock’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available online at www.sec.gov and www.archrock.com.
For information, contact:
Megan Repine
VP of Investor Relations
281-836-8360 [email protected]
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:001mo ago
1 AI Stock I Wouldn't Touch, and 1 I Absolutely Love
The artificial intelligence (AI) boom has sent investors scrambling to find the market's biggest long-term winners. But not all AI investments offer the same risk-reward profiles. For instance, while some high-flying infrastructure companies remain deeply unprofitable, other established tech giants are queitly integrated AI into their existing products and services.
Even more, some AI stocks simply look like better long-term bets than others, both in terms of their business durability and their valuations. And those are the ones I want to gravitate to.
Here is a closer look at one AI stock I am avoiding right now, and one I absolutely love.
Image source: Getty Images.
Cloudflare: Impressive growth, but where are the profits? There is no denying that Cloudflare (NET +2.30%) is seeing exceptional top-line momentum. The connectivity cloud company is seeing robust demand as enterprises look to secure their networks and build out AI-driven applications.
Cloudflare's fourth-quarter revenue rose 33.6% year over year to $614.5 million. This marked a notable acceleration from the company's full-year 2025 revenue growth rate of 29.8%. Management also pointed to exceptionally strong demand trends, noting that its new annual contract value bookings grew by nearly 50% year over year.
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But despite its staggering top-line momentum, Cloudflare is still struggling to turn a profit. In Q4, the company reported a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net loss of $12.1 million. Further, its GAAP loss from operations actually worsened, widening to $49.2 million from $34.7 million in the year-ago quarter.
The primary culprit keeping Cloudflare's bottom line in the red is stock-based compensation. While the company likes to highlight its non-GAAP (adjusted) operating income -- which came in at a positive $89.6 million for the quarter -- that figure excludes the high cost of employee equity compensation. Putting its stock-based compensation into perspective, it totaled $451.5 million in 2025, up 33% year over year and equal to more than 20% of Cloudflare's total revenue -- a massive line item, given that management prefers to present adjusted profit figures excluding this expense.
Also, the stock's valuation suggests investors are already pricing in major success. Cloudflare boasts a market capitalization of more than $76 billion as of this writing, despite remaining unprofitable and reporting annual revenue of less than $2.2 billion.
Apple: A stealth AI powerhouse "Wait? You're calling Apple (AAPL +0.33%) an AI stock?" some readers might be protesting.
Absolutely.
Every device Apple makes can interact with AI in some way, and the company plans to roll out an improved Siri, backed by Alphabet's (GOOG +0.08%)(GOOGL +0.14%) Google Gemini, later this year.
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Earlier this year, Apple and Google entered into a multi-year collaboration to utilize Gemini models for the next generation of Apple Intelligence features. By embedding Google's highly capable AI models directly into the Apple ecosystem, Apple is setting the stage for a major hardware upgrade cycle.
Beyond the exciting AI roadmap, Apple's underlying business remains remarkably robust. In the tech giant's first quarter of fiscal 2026 (a period that ended on Dec. 27, 2025), revenue grew 16% year over year to an incredible $143.8 billion. Even more, earnings per share jumped 19% year over year.
This combination of steady, double-digit revenue growth and even stronger profit growth is particularly impressive amid a period when many tech companies are facing rising costs as they rebuild their businesses for an AI era.
Looking ahead, I believe Apple's stock has a bullish outlook over the next five years.
The iPhone maker's massive installed base gives it a global and nearly instantaneous distribution network for its upcoming software rollouts, which will likely touch every corner of Apple's ecosystem. As consumers upgrade aging hardware to unlock these new capabilities, Apple is well-positioned to capture a multiyear wave of high-margin device sales while also tapping new software and services opportunities in an AI era. Further, as engagement deepens across its software ecosystem, the company's lucrative services segment could see accelerated momentum.
Betting on an established player Comparing these two AI stocks shows why investors shouldn't automatically chase those with the fastest revenue growth. Sure, Cloudflare's accelerating revenue is certainly enticing, but its inability to turn a true profit makes its sky-high valuation too risky for my taste. Meanwhile, Apple gives investors a front-row seat to the consumer AI revolution while providing the safety of a highly profitable, cash-generating business.
Sure, the stock isn't cheap at a price-to-earnings ratio of 32. But I think the strength and durability of its underlying business make it worth this price. And, of course, there are other risks beyond valuation risk. For instance, it could prove more challenging than expected for Apple's product releases to remain relevant and desirable in an AI world.
Overall, however, I believe Apple will likely be a major AI beneficiary without having to invest the same extraordinary sums that software and cloud providers do to remain relevant and ultimately compete with each other.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:001mo ago
Partners Value Split Corp. Announces 2025 Annual Results
March 25, 2026 21:00 ET | Source: Partners Value Split Corp.
TORONTO, March 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Partners Value Split Corp. (the “Company”, TSX: PVS.PR.H, PVS.PR.J, PVS.PR.K, PVS.PR.L, PVS.PR.M, PVS.PR.U, PVS.PR.V) announced today its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025. All amounts are in the United States dollar ("US dollar").
Income available for distribution for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $94 million compared to $85 million in the prior year. The increase in income was primarily due to the increase in the dividend rate by Brookfield Corporation (“BN”, NYSE/TSX: BN) and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (“BAM”, NYSE/TSX: BAM). Net comprehensive income of $1.3 billion decreased compared to the prior year primarily due to lower unrealized mark-to-market gains on BN and BAM shares.
As at December 31, 2025, the market prices of a BN and BAM share were $45.89 and $52.39, respectively. As at March 25, 2026, the market prices of a BN and BAM share were $39.91 and $43.69, respectively.
Net asset value per unit consists of one preferred share and one capital share. The net asset value per unit is posted monthly on our website at www.partnersvaluesplit.com.
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the years ended December 31
(Thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts) 2025 2024 Income Dividend income $93,203 $83,728 Other investment income 1,537 1,265 94,740 84,993 Expenses Management fees (17) (18)Administrative and other (372) (352) (389) (370)Income available for distribution 94,351 84,623 Distributions paid on senior preferred shares and debentures (34,308) (31,011)Income available for distribution to junior preferred and capital shares 60,043 53,612 Change in realized and unrealized value of investments 1,338,434 2,491,751 Amortization of share issuance costs (3,928) (3,211)Foreign exchange gain (loss) (45,499) 72,344 Net comprehensive income $1,349,050 $2,614,496 Comprehensive income per unit1 $25.44 $53.64
1 The weighted average number of units outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2025, was 53.0 million (December 31, 2024 – 48.7 million). Quarterly distribution rate per senior preferred shareLocal currency20252024 – Class AA, Series 10CAD0.29380.2938 – Class AA, Series 12CAD0.27500.2750 – Class AA, Series 13CAD0.27810.2781 – Class AA, Series 14CAD0.34380.3438 – Class AA, Series 15CAD0.3219N/A – Class AA, Series 16USD0.3375N/A – Class AA, Series 17USD0.3281N/A
As at December 31, 2025, the Company owned 179 million Class A Limited Voting shares of BN, and 25 million Class A Limited Voting Shares of BAM, which together generate cash flow through dividend payments that fund quarterly fixed cumulative preferential dividends for the holders of the Company’s preferred shares and provide the holders of the Company's capital shares the opportunity to participate in any capital appreciation of the Brookfield shares.
Brookfield Corporation is a leading global investment firm focused on building long-term wealth for institutions and individuals around the world. BN has three core businesses: alternative asset management, wealth solutions, and its operating businesses which are in renewable power, infrastructure, business and industrial services, and real estate. BN is publicly traded in New York and Toronto (NYSE: BN, TSX: BN). The Company’s investment in BN represents approximately an 8% interest in BN.
Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across renewable power and transition, infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and credit. BAM invests client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. BAM offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world — including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. BAM draws on Brookfield’s heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for its clients, across economic cycles. BAM is publicly traded in New York and Toronto (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM). The Company’s investment in BAM represents approximately a 2% interest in BAM.
For further information, contact Investor Relations at (416) 359-8534.
Notice to Readers
The Company is not making any offer or invitation of any kind by communication of this news release and under no circumstance is it to be construed as a prospectus or an advertisement.
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and any applicable Canadian securities regulations (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future results, events or conditions, and include, but are not limited to, statements which reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs and assumptions regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies, capital management and outlook of the Company, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and which are in turn based on management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. The estimates, beliefs and assumptions of the Company are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “foresee”, “could”, “estimate”, “goal”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”, “strive”, “will”, “may” and “should” and similar expressions. In particular, forward-looking statements contained in this news release includes statements with regard to the generation of cumulative preferential dividends for the holders of the Company’s preferred shares and potential participation by the holders of the Company’s capital shares in the capital appreciation of Brookfield Shares.
Although the Company believes that such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable estimates, beliefs and assumptions, actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward‐looking statements and information include, but are not limited to: the financial performance of Brookfield Corporation, the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors; the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchanges rates and heightened inflationary pressures; limitations on the liquidity of our investments; global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; strategic actions including acquisitions and dispositions; changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); the effect of applying future accounting changes; business competition; operational and reputational risks; technological change; changes in government regulation and legislation; changes in tax laws; risks associated with the use of financial leverage; catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and epidemics/pandemics; the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyberterrorism; failure of our information and technology systems; developments in artificial intelligence; and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in the Company’s documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada.
We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect future results. Readers are urged to consider these risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based only on information available to us as of the date of this news release and such other date specified herein. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Past performance is not indicative nor a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that comparable results will be achieved in the future, that future investments will be similar to historic investments discussed herein, that targeted returns, or growth objectives will be met or investment objectives will be achieved (because of economic conditions, the availability of appropriate opportunities or otherwise).
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:011mo ago
Ellington Credit Company Prices Offering of Unsecured Notes
OLD GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ellington Credit Company (NYSE: EARN) (the “Fund”) today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of $50 million aggregate principal amount of 8.50% notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”). The 2031 Notes will mature on March 30, 2031, and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Fund's option on or after March 30, 2028. The 2031 Notes have been rated ‘BBB' by Egan-Jones Ratings Company, an independent rating agency unaffiliated with the Fund.
Shares of Braze (BRZE +20.87%) spiked on Wednesday after the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered customer engagement platform reported solid growth metrics.
Image source: Getty Images.
AI-driven expansion Braze helps marketers deploy AI models and agents to better connect with their clients and deliver more personalized experiences. Demand for these AI services is booming.
Braze's revenue jumped 28% year over year to $205 million in its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter, which ended on Jan. 31. The gains were fueled by new business wins and upsells to existing customers.
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Braze's customer count expanded by 14% to 2,609. And those with annual recurring revenue (ARR) of at least $500,000 climbed 35% to 333.
"The world's largest and most sophisticated brands are choosing Braze as a foundational partner to drive their AI transformation during this period of intense disruption and opportunity," CEO Bill Magnuson said.
Braze's adjusted operating income, in turn, soared 83% to $14.5 million.
Healthy sales momentum Management expects the company's revenue to grow to between $884 million and $889 million in fiscal 2027, up from $738 million in fiscal 2026. Braze also projects adjusted operating income of $69 million to $73 million, up from $28.5 million.
Recently expanded partnerships with data analytics leader Snowflake, e-commerce giant Shopify, and digital ad platform The Trade Desk should help to fuel Braze's growth.
"We begin this fiscal year with strong commercial momentum and the fastest pace of new product delivery in our history," Magnuson said.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Braze, Shopify, Snowflake, and The Trade Desk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:031mo ago
Amazon Is Entering the Humanoid Robot Market. 3 Important Things to Know About the Fauna Robotics Acquisition.
Some tech investors and analysts believe that humanoid robots present one of the most exciting growth opportunities in the sector, and Amazon (AMZN +2.02%) has now entered the category in a big way. On March 24, the tech giant announced that it had acquired Fauna Robotics -- a humanoid robotics specialist that's developing technologies for both the consumer and enterprise markets. Here are three things investors should know about the acquisition move.
1. Fauna buyout boosts Amazon's robotics position While specifics of the deal haven't been made public, Amazon's acquisition of Fauna represents a clear push into the humanoid robotics space by the tech giant. The buyout moves the company into competition with Tesla in the category and could help the e-commerce and cloud-computing leader capitalize on a massive market opportunity. For context, a research report from Morgan Stanley estimates that the humanoid robotics market could be worth more than $5 trillion by 2050.
Image source: Getty Images.
2. Fauna could play an important role in accelerating Amazon's robotics strategy Fauna is a relatively young company and was founded in 2024 by engineers who formerly worked at Meta Platforms and Alphabet's Google division, and it launched its first robot product earlier this year. Fauna's Sprout is a humanoid robot that stands three-feet-and-six-inches tall and weighs 50 pounds.
Fauna designed the robot with accessibility for software developers in mind and also set out to make the bot "approachable and human-friendly." But while the Fauna acquisition represents a significant step for Amazon in the robotics space, it's unlikely that the debut version of the Sprout bot will be taking over duties at Amazon's warehouses anytime soon.
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The Sprout hardware is capable of lifting small objects, navigating physical spaces on its own, and even dancing, but it wasn't designed for industrial operations. Instead, the bot has been tailored more for being an in-home companion and a platform for software developers to experiment with. As a robot designed for the home, Fauna's Sprout could help Amazon gather data on demands and opportunities connected to the home robotics space. Along those lines, the acquisition echoes the company's failed attempt to purchase home-robotics specialist iRobot.
3. This isn't Amazon's first robotics move, and it won't be the last Amazon isn't a newcomer to the robotics space, having acquired Kiva Systems for $775 million in 2012 and made other moves in the intervening years to strengthen its positioning in the category. Only a week ago, Amazon announced that it had acquired Rivr -- a Swiss company specializing in robots for last-mile, doorstep delivery. Along with the purchase of Rivr, the Fauna acquisition signals that Amazon is aiming to rapidly ramp up its robotics capabilities.
Amazon stands as the world's largest e-commerce business by revenue, but its online retail business generates much lower profits when compared to its cloud-infrastructure-services business. Increased warehouse and delivery automation driven by robotics has the potential to turn the company's e-commerce business into a much larger earnings generator. In addition to automation opportunities, the Fauna acquisition is a sign that Amazon is interested in being a leader in humanoid robots tailored for the home.
Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
2026-03-26 01:361mo ago
2026-03-25 21:121mo ago
ROSEN, TRUSTED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - SLNO
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 25, 2026) - WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLNO) between March 26, 2025 through November 4, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 5, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Soleno common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Soleno class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=43959 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 5, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved, at that time, the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Soleno Phase 3 clinical trial program for diazoxide choline extended-release tablets ("DCCR") had systematically downplayed, misrepresented, and/or concealed significant evidence of safety concerns potentially related to the administration of DCCR, including issues related to excess fluid retention in clinical trial participants; (2) as a result, the administration of DCCR to treat hyperphagia in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome ("PWS") posed materially greater safety risks than disclosed by Soleno or its executives; and (3) as a result, DCCR had materially lower commercial viability and undisclosed risks related to the likelihood of significant and widespread adverse events after its commercial launch, including risks related to patient discontinuation rates, lower patient adoption, prescriber reluctance, adverse regulatory action, and potential reputational and legal fallout. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Soleno class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=43959 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/289963
Source: The Rosen Law Firm PA
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