Market Signal Briefing

ServiceNow (NOW - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this maker of software that automates companies' technology operations have returned +2.5% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. The Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, to which ServiceNow belongs, has lost 2.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, ServiceNow is expected to post earnings of $0.95 per share, indicating a change of +17.3% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.6% over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of $4.13 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +17.7%. This estimate has changed +0.5% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $4.94 indicates a change of +19.8% from what ServiceNow is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.3%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for ServiceNow.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

For ServiceNow, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $3.75 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +21.4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $15.98 billion and $18.84 billion estimates indicate +20.3% and +17.9% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryServiceNow reported revenues of $3.57 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +20.7%. EPS of $0.92 for the same period compares with $0.73 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.52 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.24%. The EPS surprise was +5.75%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

ServiceNow is graded D on this front, indicating that it is trading at a premium to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about ServiceNow. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

NetApp (NTAP - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.

Shares of this data storage company have returned -1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. The Zacks Computer- Storage Devices industry, to which NetApp belongs, has lost 1.3% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

NetApp is expected to post earnings of $2.24 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +16.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.1%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $7.9 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +9%. This estimate has changed -0.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $8.55 indicates a change of +8.1% from what NetApp is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.9%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for NetApp.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of NetApp, the consensus sales estimate of $1.86 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +7.6%. The $6.84 billion and $7.22 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +4.1% and +5.6%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNetApp reported revenues of $1.71 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +4.4%. EPS of $2.12 for the same period compares with $1.91 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.69 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +1.6%. The EPS surprise was +2.42%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

NetApp is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about NetApp. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

NRG Energy (NRG - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Over the past month, shares of this power company have returned +13.6%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.2% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which NRG falls in, has gained 7.2%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

NRG is expected to post earnings of $1.93 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -26.3%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -34.1%.

The consensus earnings estimate of $8.84 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +9.5%. This estimate has changed +5.5% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $11.08 indicates a change of +25.4% from what NRG is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -3.5%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for NRG.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of NRG, the consensus sales estimate of $7.42 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of -13.6%. The $30.42 billion and $31.66 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -1% and +4.1%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryNRG reported revenues of $7.75 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +13.7%. EPS of $1.03 for the same period compares with $1.52 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.32 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +45.87%. The EPS surprise was +1.98%.

The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

NRG is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about NRG. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

Bitget has rolled out a major trading interface upgrade that places stocks, commodities, and forex beside crypto markets. The update, announced today by the exchange, restructures platform navigation to separate traditional financial products from digital asset trading. The change forms part of Bitget’s Universal Exchange strategy to integrate global financial markets within a single trading infrastructure.

Bitget Restructures Platform To Separate Crypto And TradFi As per the company disclosure, the update reorganizes Bitget’s interface to give traditional assets their own dedicated trading environment. Previously, many exchanges placed stocks or commodities inside crypto-focused interfaces as secondary features. 

Source: Bitget

However, Bitget introduced a structural shift by separating crypto trading and traditional asset trading into independent core navigation sections. Users now access both markets through distinct interfaces designed around different trading behaviors. As CoinGape reported, in the latest UEX push, Bitget unveiled a MotoGP-inspired challenge for crypto, stocks, and gold trading.

Under the new structure, crypto spot and derivatives trading appear inside a unified “Trade” tab. Meanwhile, stock-related products, commodities, and forex instruments sit inside a separate TradFi tab positioned beside it.

This layout allows traders to move between digital assets and traditional markets without navigating through nested product menus. As a result, both asset groups receive equal visibility within the platform.

Expansion Builds On Earlier Product Launches The interface change follows several product launches introduced by Bitget during the past year. Earlier developments already expanded access to traditional markets through blockchain-based infrastructure.

First, Bitget integrated on-chain trading capabilities into its platform. Later, the exchange introduced tokenized stock perpetual contracts to expand equity exposure. In late 2025, Bitget added contracts for difference trading. 

These instruments allow users to trade global equities, commodities, and foreign exchange using stablecoin-based settlement. Alongside these additions, Bitget also added group-based maker rates and expanded its real-world asset infrastructure. Partnerships, including one with Ondo, enabled trading access to more than 200 tokenized assets.

Those assets include U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds available through tokenized structures. These developments laid the groundwork for the exchange’s new interface design.

Universal Exchange Strategy Targets Cross-Asset Trading The restructuring aligns with Bitget’s broader Universal Exchange framework, in which it has also introduced a crypto anti-bias pledge to support women’s inclusion in crypto. The new strategy focuses on bringing crypto-native products and traditional financial instruments into one environment.

The exchange designed the interface around traders who manage portfolios across multiple asset classes. According to Bitget, many users now trade crypto alongside stocks, commodities, and forex markets.

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, described the rationale behind the redesign. “Crypto infrastructure is gradually becoming the settlement layer for global financial markets,” Chen said.

“The future of exchanges will not be defined by whether they offer crypto or traditional assets, but by how effectively they integrate both,” she added. “Our goal with this update was to move beyond simply listing traditional products and instead build an environment where crypto and TradFi can operate as equal components of a unified trading ecosystem.”

Meanwhile, traditional financial markets span roughly $900 trillion across equities, commodities, and foreign exchange. As tokenization infrastructure develops, parts of that activity may increasingly move onto blockchain-based settlement layers.

Industry estimates suggest that by 2030, between 20% and 40% of global equity trading could be routed through crypto-native infrastructure. Bitget’s Universal Exchange framework positions the platform within that evolving trading environment.

TLDR: Tether and Circle together control 84.56% of the stablecoin market, leaving 15% for all other projects. USDC settled over $1.2 trillion in transaction volume last month, more than doubling January’s figures. DAI, once the face of decentralized stablecoins, now holds less market share than PayPal’s PYUSD product. Both Tether and Circle can freeze user funds via one API call, raising concerns about crypto centralization.
Stablecoins remain a focal point in digital finance as new data reveals a deeply concentrated market. Two companies — Tether and Circle — now control 84.56% of the entire stablecoin supply.

USDT holds 59.74% of market share, and USDC accounts for 24.82%. In parallel, USDC settled over $1.2 trillion in transaction volume last month.

That figure surpassed Tether for the second consecutive month. The remaining share is spread across dozens of smaller competing projects.

Two Centralized Issuers Hold the Stablecoin Market in a Tight Grip The stablecoin market has grown increasingly narrow, with two issuers pulling far ahead of all others. Tether’s USDT alone holds nearly 60% of circulating stablecoin supply.

Circle’s USDC adds another 24.82%, per data shared by @ourcryptotalk. Together, they leave approximately 15% for all remaining projects combined.

The entire stablecoin market is basically two companies and a graveyard.

> $USDT: 59.74%
> $USDC: 24.82%

That's 84.56% of the entire market.
controlled by Tether and Circle.

Two private companies.
deciding what "stable" means for all of crypto.

↓

Everything else is fighting… pic.twitter.com/9VMeKLAsCu

— Our Crypto Talk (@ourcryptotalk) March 5, 2026

Within that leftover share, competition is spread thin across many projects. USDS holds 2.26%, followed by USDe at 1.95% and USD1 at 1.51%.

DAI and PayPal’s PYUSD hold 1.46% and 1.37%, respectively. Dozens of other projects share the remaining 6.89%, grouped under a broader “Others” category.

DAI’s current standing is a notable turn for the decentralized finance space. It once served as the flagship example of a non-custodial, community-governed stablecoin.

Today, it holds a smaller share than PayPal’s PYUSD. That outcome shows how much the competitive landscape has shifted in recent years.

Ethena’s USDe uses a synthetic dollar model built on funding rate arbitrage strategies. It has grown to nearly 2% of the stablecoin market in a short time.

The model performs well under stable market conditions. It does, however, carry risks that could emerge during periods of heightened volatility.

USDC Transaction Volume Surge Places Circle at the Forefront of Dollar Settlement Circle’s USDC has been settling transactions at a high pace this year. Last month’s volume crossed $1.2 trillion, more than double January’s total.

That growth points to rising reliance on USDC as a settlement layer. The trend stretches well beyond retail use into institutional finance.

Analyst @Mega_Fund noted that USDC outpaced Tether in transaction volume for two straight months. This marks a measurable shift in how large-scale players are choosing to settle transactions.

USDC is being used at unprecedented levels.

Last month, over $1.2T in transaction volume was settled using @circle USDC.

That’s more than double January’s volume, and for the second consecutive month USDC processed more volume than Tether USDT.

Stablecoins are increasingly… pic.twitter.com/riteXdq4Uh

— David Alexander II (@Mega_Fund) March 4, 2026

Regulated, compliant infrastructure appears to be a top priority for institutions. Circle is increasingly being seen as the preferred option in that category.

The rising volume also points to stablecoins taking on a more structural role in global finance. Demand is concentrating around platforms with clear regulatory frameworks and institutional-grade rails.

Circle’s focus on compliance has placed it in a strong competitive position. The contest for dominance over the global dollar settlement layer is actively underway.

The concentration of control in two centralized issuers continues to draw scrutiny. Both Tether and Circle can freeze user funds through a single API call.

This stands against the decentralized principles that originally shaped crypto. The tension between utility and centralization remains central to the ongoing stablecoin debate.

Shares of Solana-focused infrastructure firm SOL Strategies surged about 21% after the company reported strong growth in its staking operations, including rapid adoption of its new liquid staking platform. The rally followed a February business update showing expanding validator activity and rising assets under delegation.

The company said its STKESOL liquid staking platform surpassed 691,000 SOL staked and attracted 1,034 holders within weeks of launch. Investors’ confidence has grown significantly since this update was issued, as the business continues to expand its validator and staking operations on Solana amid broader market turmoil.

According to the Canada-based firm’s February performance report, users, assets under delegation, and staking rewards have all been steadily ascending — all important metrics for companies with validator and staking services.

SOL Strategies embraced liquid staking, enabling users to earn rewards while keeping their assets liquid via tokenized staking positions. This move enables them to access an additional source of income beyond the company’s validator and institutional staking services.

The company has said that STKESOL’s growth contributed to the overall increase in validator activity. Its validator network grew to 33,568 unique wallets in February — up from approximately 31,000 at the beginning of the month.

In addition to liquid staking, SOL Strategies stated that its total assets under delegation stood at 3.87 million SOL. This includes the company’s own treasury stake and tokens delegated by third parties. The company’s proprietary validators made approximately 1,276 SOL in rewards during the month

Multiple revenue streams support expansion Michael Hubbard, interim CEO of SOL Strategies, said the company was continuing to scale its staking infrastructure despite volatility in the cryptocurrency market. He added that the staking platform now had four revenue streams running simultaneously: treasury staking, third-party delegated staking, liquid staking, and institutional staking services.

Partnerships such as the one with global asset manager VanEck were part of its institutional offering, he said. Strong year-on-year growth was also demonstrated in the company’s most recent quarterly results. That was 69% higher than the same quarter a year earlier.

Staking and validator rewards totaled 9,787 SOL in the quarter, up 120% year on year. These numbers imply that the firm’s emphasis on Solana-based infrastructure has grown substantially in the last year. Execution, Hubbard said, remains top of mind as the company pushes to sustain this momentum.

Apart from this milestone, SOL Strategies’ Solana portfolio surged to approximately 529,000 tokens from an initial record of 139,726. The increase reflected both a robust balance sheet and heightened investment in Solana. 

Stock rebounds despite longer-term decline SOL Strategies’ shares closed up 20.97% Wednesday on the Nasdaq at $1.50 after the update. The steep surge reflects optimism among investors on the growing scope of the company’s staking businesses, as well as its new liquid staking product. 

Despite recent gains, the stock has dropped 75.81% over the past six months. SOL Strategies — like many crypto-related equities — has also been hit by broader market trends and price movements in digital assets. The February update also covered governance changes ahead of the company’s planned annual shareholder meeting on March 31. 

The company said Michael Hubbard will transition from interim CEO to permanent chief executive. In the past, SOL Strategies was known as Cypherpunk Holdings. The company acquired SOL in Q2 2024 and formally rebranded in September 2024, in line with its focus on Solana-specific growth. 

Since then, it has served as a treasury and infrastructure company focused on Solana validators and staking products/services. That strategy is being bolstered by the explosive growth of its liquid staking platform. 

For investors, the latest numbers indicate that SOL Strategies is growing into a more diversified staking business, with multiple income streams tied to the Solana ecosystem. 

There are still market risks, though STKESOL’s strong uptake and rising delegation figures have clearly helped shore up short-term confidence, as evidenced by the 21% jump in the stock.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

Bitcoin (BTC) might experience price volatility soon given the activities of whales in the ecosystem. As per a new update by on-chain data platform CoinGlass, Bitcoin’s perpetual futures order book reveals that whales have placed a large buy order around $70,000 and $71,000.

Sell wall at $75,000 could cap Bitcoin's upsideThis strong bid implies that Bitcoin whales are ready to accumulate a large volume of BTC if the price drops toward this range. 

This development also creates potential downside support for the leading digital asset, which has rallied by over 5.8% in the last seven days.

According to CoinGlass, whales are active on both sides of the divide. Notably, a sell wall has also emerged between $74,000 and $75,000. 

This indicates that many large holders have placed sell orders on exchanges and are waiting for Bitcoin to soar to around $75,000 to offload it.

#BTC whales are active.

Clear sell walls at $74K–$75K, while strong bids sit around $70K–$71K.

Looks like whales were distributing into the pump above $73K.

Liquidity is building on both sides.

A sweep might be next. pic.twitter.com/ORHwiFS4Db

— CoinGlass (@coinglass_com) March 5, 2026 The development could impact the upward movement of BTC because, as the price approaches that level, it might struggle to go higher. This is as a result of supply overwhelming demand on the market. This could cause strong price resistance for Bitcoin near the $74,000 and $75,000 level.

The Bitcoin market currently is seeing large holders using the ongoing rally to sell their holdings. They are likely selling to small traders buying the hype that a rebound is under way for the leading digital crypto coin.

It is worth noting that with Bitcoin trapped between large buyers and big sellers at different price ranges, whales could trigger a "liquidity sweep" in either direction.

In the last 24 hours, Bitcoin has fluctuated between a low of $70,606.34 and a peak of $74,051.81. As of this writing, Bitcoin exchanges hands at $72,807.20, which represents a 1.7% increase within the time frame.

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The price movement confirms a struggle between large sellers and buyers as prices vary. 

The trading volume has climbed up by 11.81% to $66.11 billion. Market indicators show there is renewed institutional accumulation via exchange-traded funds' (ETFs) demands.

Bitcoin whales buying dipAs U.Today reported, Bitcoin whales did not back down amid the ongoing market volatility. 

In one notable buy, whales scooped over 30,000 BTC valued at about $2 billion within a seven-day period. 

These large holders took advantage of the 50% dip to increase their portfolio.

A similar move was made by Hyperliquid whales recently when they backed the Bitcoin rally with a $257.49 million bet.

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is outperformed gold for the first time in months, surging 12% since Friday while gold fell 2% as investors poured nearly $700 million into U.S. Bitcoin ETFs in March. The Gold Reversal Until this week, the trend had been the opposite.

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Michael Saylor argued that Bitcoin’s inability to sustain the most aggressive upside forecasts is less about a broken long-term thesis and more about a credit-market bottleneck: a large share of Bitcoin wealth still can’t be financed cleanly inside the traditional banking system, pushing holders toward “shadow” venues where rehypothecation creates effective selling pressure.

In a Feb. 27 interview with Coin Stories host Nathalie Brunell, Saylor said the market has matured in ways that naturally damp both upside and downside volatility as derivatives migrate “from offshore to onshore” and regulated US markets grow. But he placed the sharper brake on price in the plumbing of credit. Banks, he argued, are moving slowly to recognize Bitcoin as collateral, and that delay matters when the asset base is large.

Saylor framed the current top-of-market structure as roughly “$2 trillion worth of Bitcoin,” with “probably $1.8 trillion held by retail investors or offshore investors” who “cannot access the traditional banking system.” The practical implication, he said, is that Bitcoin holders who want to unlock liquidity face a narrow menu compared with traditional equity portfolios.

“If I posted $10 million of Apple stock with JP Morgan or Morgan Stanley, I could take a $5 million loan at SOFR plus 50 basis points and I could spend it,” Saylor said. “But you can’t even post $10 million worth of Bitcoin with JP Morgan or Morgan Stanley right now. Therefore, you can’t take a loan. Therefore, you have to go to a shadow banking system. You have to go offshore.”

That constraint, he argued, forces holders into behavior that mechanically caps upside. The “safe way” to monetize is simply to sell, which “damps the upside.” The next option is borrowing from a small pool of crypto lenders that don’t rehypothecate collateral, but Saylor described that market as both expensive and shallow—“a few billion dollars probably”—with rates he characterized as closer to “SOFR plus 400” or “plus 500 basis points,” rather than traditional prime-style spreads.

He pointed to a newer channel, banks extending credit against spot Bitcoin ETFs like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), but described it as early, limited, and still costly versus conventional secured lending.

The most controversial pathway, Saylor said, is where the cheapest funding appears: counterparties offering low-rate Bitcoin-backed credit in exchange for control of the collateral. “I’ve had people offer me Bitcoin-backed credit at 1% or 0%,” he said, before emphasizing the trade-off. “There’s always the catch […] they want me to transfer the Bitcoin to them so they can rehypothecate it.”

Saylor then tied rehypothecation directly to spot-market suppression, arguing that collateral handed to intermediaries can be effectively “sold” multiple times through reuse. “So, if you have $10 million […] you can get a 3 or 4% loan, but then it gets rehypothecated,” he said. “So, your $10 million of Bitcoin gets sold once, gets sold twice, gets sold three times […] You might actually create $30 or $40 million worth of selling because the Bitcoin that you posted […] rehypothecated it three times.”

Michael Saylor: Shadow banking “rehypothecation” suppresses Bitcoin price

On February 27, 2026, in an interview with Natalie Brunell, Michael Saylor discussed why Bitcoin failed to surpass $126,000.

He suggested that the exclusion of Bitcoin from traditional banks like JP… pic.twitter.com/ODpOEvhi2j

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 4, 2026

In his view, the missing piece is a large, regulated, non-rehypothecating credit system for Bitcoin—one that looks more like mainstream securities financing. “What’s holding down the price? I think what holds down the price of the asset is the lack of a fully formed nonrehypothecating credit system,” he said, adding that rehypothecation “damps the vol” and can amplify moves on both sides through leveraged positioning.

Saylor’s bottom line was timing, not thesis: if banks take “four years, 5 years, 6 years” to “bank it” in the full sense, then Bitcoin’s price discovery will continue to be shaped by a shadow-credit workaround that can manufacture synthetic supply. If and when conventional credit rails mature around Bitcoin collateral without aggressive rehypothecation, he suggested, the market may rely less on forced selling and more on ordinary secured borrowing, potentially changing the ceiling on upside cycles.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $72,236.

Bitcoin must break above $74,500, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Crypto promised diversification beyond Bitcoin. For years, the pitch was simple: spread risk across blockchains, decentralized applications, and layer-1 protocols.

In practice, that diversification often collapsed when Bitcoin stumbled. Ethereum, Solana, and other major altcoins routinely fell harder than BTC during drawdowns, leaving portfolios concentrated on the same directional bet, just with different branding.

Now, the institutions that process trillions in traditional securities trades are sketching a different path. On this path, diversification comes not from more crypto tokens but from tokenized versions of the assets investors already want.

DTCC, Clearstream, and Euroclear released a joint white paper with Boston Consulting Group outlining how digital asset securities could achieve interoperability across blockchains and traditional finance rails.

The document outlines technical frameworks, custody models, and settlement protocols that enable stocks, bonds, and funds to trade and settle on distributed ledgers. The report also noted stablecoins increasingly serving as the cash component of transactions.

The market infrastructure already exists: daily repo operations exceed $300 billion, global equity markets total $126.7 trillion, and stablecoin circulation has grown past $300 billion.

What's missing isn't scale or capital, but the connective tissue between fragmented ledgers and the legal certainty that underpins traditional finance.

The question for anyone holding altcoins as a portfolio hedge becomes sharper: if tokenized equities and fixed income arrive on crypto rails with the same custody, settlement, and compliance infrastructure that underpins traditional markets, why would diversification require buying more blockchain protocols?

BucketWhat it representsSize (today / cited)Why it matters to your thesisGlobal equitiesInvestable diversification universe$126.7TThis is the “diversification inventory” crypto rails want to accessRepo market activityInstitutional plumbing already huge$300B+ dailyShows TradFi already operates at massive scale where settlement efficiency mattersStablecoin float“Cash leg” building block$300B+Settlement currency bridge for onchain DvPTokenized TreasuriesEarly product-market fit~$11BThe first credible non-crypto “diversifier” living onchainTokenized assets by 2030Market-size range$2T base / $4T bull (McKinsey)Shows why rails matter even if timelines are uncertainTokenized funds by 2030Subset forecast range>$600B (BCG) / $120B (Amundi)Highlights uncertainty + still-big lower boundThe diversification that wasn'tAltcoin performance during risk-off periods reveals the problem.

Coin Metrics data from February 2026 shows Bitcoin's drawdown erased nearly half of its peak value, while Ethereum and Solana fell roughly 34% and 35%, respectively. As a result, these altcoins' prices fell back to levels seen before spot ETF approvals.

These weren't isolated incidents. Across cycles, most altcoins have tracked Bitcoin's direction with amplified volatility, behaving less like independent assets and more like leveraged exposure to the same underlying risk factor.

Bitcoin dominance climbed toward 64% in 2025, while the total altcoin market cap remained below prior cycle highs of around $1.1 trillion. The universe expanded, but capital concentrated.

For investors who added Ethereum or Solana, expecting portfolio stabilization during BTC corrections, the reality delivered correlation without the offsetting returns.

Meanwhile, traditional equity markets delivered.

The S&P 500 has outperformed most major altcoins over multi-year periods. From January 2024 to press time, the SPX rose nearly 45%. Meanwhile, Ethereum and Solana tanked 6% and 10%, respectively, in the same period.

S&P 500 gained 45% while Ethereum fell 6% and Solana dropped 10% between January 2024 and March 2026.Investors seeking diversification had a straightforward alternative: hold Bitcoin for crypto exposure and allocate the rest to equities, bonds, or commodities through conventional brokerage accounts.

The friction stemmed from the separation: crypto lived in one set of accounts, traditional assets in another, with different settlement systems and custodians.

Tokenized securities as infrastructure, not speculationThe DTCC paper doesn't promise imminent retail access to tokenized Apple shares or Treasury bonds.

Instead, it describes the architecture required for digital asset securities to scale: interoperability frameworks that enable assets to move between distributed ledgers and traditional infrastructure without disrupting ownership records, settlement finality, or legal enforceability.

The institutions involved process the overwhelming majority of global securities transactions.

Their participation signals this isn't speculative infrastructure for decentralized finance protocols, but an established market plumbing adapting to new rails.

The core insight is that stablecoins have evolved into a functional settlement currency.

Circulation grew more than 75% year-to-date to reach $290 billion, filling what the paper calls the “cash leg” in transactions.

That creates a pathway for delivery-versus-payment settlement, where a tokenized bond or equity is recorded on a single ledger. In contrast, stablecoin payments move on another chain, or both legs settle atomically on the same chain.

The efficiency gains matter most for institutional workflows. Still, the structural shift affects retail investors too: if stocks can settle in stablecoins on blockchain rails, the boundary between crypto portfolios and traditional portfolios starts to dissolve.

Tokenized Treasury funds already demonstrate product-market fit. RWA.xyz data shows tokenized Treasuries nearly touching $11 billion. These are yield instruments that settle faster and operate around the clock, appealing to institutions managing cash and collateral.

Tokenized money market funds, corporate bonds, and, eventually, equities follow similar logic: the same legal rights, the same economic exposure, and lower settlement friction.

The catch is fragmentation. Digital asset securities currently exist across dozens of public layer-1 and layer-2 blockchains, as well as permissioned enterprise-ledgers.

Each network uses different smart contract languages, consensus mechanisms, and token standards.

The paper argues that the end state isn't a single dominant blockchain but a “network-of-networks” in which standards, gateways, and regulated intermediaries connect distributed ledgers to traditional financial infrastructure.

That architecture requires harmonization across data formats, custody rules, message protocols, and legal enforceability.

What tokenized markets mean for altcoin diversificationIf interoperability standards mature and tokenized securities become portable across venues, the diversification trade shifts.

An investor holding Bitcoin who wants non-correlated exposure to economic growth, dividend income, or interest rate movements no longer needs to buy Ethereum or Solana to access different risk factors.

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They can hold tokenized equity index funds, sector ETFs, or fixed-income instruments within the same wallet infrastructure, settled in stablecoins, with custody models that mirror traditional brokerage segregation.

This doesn't eliminate all use cases for altcoins. Tokens with clear cash flows, such as transaction fees, staking yields, and protocol revenue sharing, remain investment candidates on their own merits.

Assets that function as collateral in decentralized finance or as settlement primitives in on-chain markets have structural demand beyond price appreciation.

Projects building interoperability infrastructure, custody solutions, or identity and compliance tooling benefit if tokenized securities adoption accelerates.

However, none of those cases depend on altcoins serving as portfolio diversifiers. They're venture-style bets on specific protocols or business models, not hedges against Bitcoin volatility.

The empirical case for holding altcoins as diversification has already weakened.

The forward case depends on whether investors believe another blockchain's success will diverge meaningfully from Bitcoin's.

Recent cycles suggest skepticism. The alternative is straightforward: own Bitcoin for crypto exposure, own tokenized equities and fixed income for diversification, and treat any altcoin positions as concentrated bets rather than as part of portfolio construction.

The timeline and the frictionTokenized securities won't replace conventional markets quickly. The DTCC paper identifies multiple obstacles: consensus and finality rules vary across chains, creating settlement risk when transactions span networks.

Legal enforceability of tokenized transfers remains inconsistent across jurisdictions.

Custody models need standardization so omnibus accounts, segregated wallets, and multi-tier chains can interoperate without breaking client asset protection. Data privacy requirements conflict with transparency norms on public blockchains.

Market forecasts reflect this uncertainty.

McKinsey projects $2 trillion in tokenized financial assets by 2030 in a base case, with a bull scenario reaching $4 trillion. BCG estimates tokenized funds alone could exceed $600 billion by 2030. A more conservative view from Amundi suggests $120 billion for tokenized funds in the same timeframe.

The range is wide, but even the lower bound represents a significant scale, and none of these forecasts include cryptocurrencies or stablecoins, which already circulate at over $300 billion.

For near-term adoption, tokenized funds and Treasuries are more plausible than individual equities.

Funds offer regulatory simplicity, familiarity among existing investors, and operational advantages in settlement and liquidity management.

The path of least resistance runs through institutional adoption of tokenized money market funds and Treasury products, and eventually fixed-income and equity funds, with retail access mediated through regulated platforms.

Several indicators will clarify whether tokenized securities become a mainstream diversification option: stablecoin supply growth and regulatory treatment, adoption of interoperability standards, production deployments beyond pilots, clarity on investor protection, and distribution breadth.

None of these developments invalidates Bitcoin or eliminates speculative interest in altcoins. However, they do challenge the premise that crypto portfolios need altcoins for diversification.

The institutions building these rails control the infrastructure that processes the vast majority of global securities transactions. Their entry doesn't guarantee rapid adoption, but it establishes credible pathways for tokenized markets to scale without relying on crypto-native speculation.

For investors evaluating altcoins today, the relevant question isn't whether blockchain technology has value, but whether diversification requires exposure to blockchain protocols, or just to diversified assets that happen to settle on blockchain rails. The answer increasingly points toward the latter.

Bitcoin Market Data

At the time of press 10:59 am UTC on Mar. 5, 2026, Bitcoin is ranked #1 by market cap and the price is up 3% over the past 24 hours. Bitcoin has a market capitalization of $1.47 trillion with a 24-hour trading volume of $66.17 billion. Learn more about Bitcoin ›

Crypto Market Summary

At the time of press 10:59 am UTC on Mar. 5, 2026, the total crypto market is valued at at $2.48 trillion with a 24-hour volume of $139.66 billion. Bitcoin dominance is currently at 59.25%. Learn more about the crypto market ›

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TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRStock Gains Momentum as Digital Asset Portfolio GrowsBusiness Model Centers on Treasury Holdings and Blockchain InfrastructureNetwork Metrics Demonstrate Growing Blockchain AdoptionGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Tron Inc. acquires 175K TRX tokens, pushing treasury value to approximately $195M. TRON blockchain processes 12.6M daily transactions, demonstrating robust network activity. Firm accumulates 886K TRX tokens throughout current month in ongoing strategy. Merger of blockchain technology and entertainment creates unique business model. Justin Sun provides strategic direction for ecosystem development and token accumulation. Shares of Tron Inc. (TRX) experienced significant upward momentum following the company’s announcement of expanded digital asset holdings. The stock advanced 7.3% to reach $1.47 as investors responded positively to the firm’s ongoing treasury enhancement initiative. Management increased the company’s TRX position to approximately 685 million tokens, representing a market value of roughly $195 million.

Tron Inc., TRON

Stock Gains Momentum as Digital Asset Portfolio Grows The blockchain infrastructure company expanded its TRX holdings through a recent acquisition of 175,251 tokens valued at approximately $50,000. This transaction elevated the firm’s total treasury position to nearly 685 million TRX. Based on prevailing market rates, the aggregate holdings represent an estimated $195 million in digital asset value.

Just twenty-four hours prior, the organization executed an additional purchase of 177,819 TRX tokens. Management secured these digital assets at an average acquisition cost of approximately $0.28 per unit. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to systematic token accumulation throughout recent trading periods.

According to corporate disclosures, Tron Inc. has accumulated roughly 886,000 TRX tokens over the course of the current month. These combined acquisitions represent an aggregate investment exceeding $250,000. The deliberate treasury enhancement approach continues to fortify the company’s cryptocurrency position.

Business Model Centers on Treasury Holdings and Blockchain Infrastructure Tron Inc. emerged in July 2025 through a combination of the TRON blockchain initiative and SRM Entertainment. This strategic merger established a unique entity focused on blockchain infrastructure while maintaining substantial treasury exposure to TRX. Management structured the balance sheet to provide direct alignment with the network’s native digital asset.

The organization concentrates on multiple business segments including blockchain development, systematic token acquisition, and staking services. Additionally, the company pursues entertainment merchandise opportunities connected to the TRON brand and its expanding ecosystem. This approach integrates blockchain infrastructure capabilities with digital media ventures.

Cryptocurrency pioneer Justin Sun maintains an advisory role within the organization. His involvement shapes strategic direction and ecosystem expansion initiatives. The treasury-focused business model delivers shareholder value through direct TRX token exposure.

Network Metrics Demonstrate Growing Blockchain Adoption The TRX token serves as the fundamental asset within the TRON blockchain ecosystem, facilitating transactions, powering decentralized applications, and enabling digital content distribution. Network utilization experienced substantial growth throughout the fourth quarter of 2025. The platform processed over 994 million transactions during this three-month span.

This transaction volume marked a 16.5% quarter-over-quarter increase. Daily activity metrics also showed consistent upward trends from approximately eight million transactions earlier in the calendar year. During peak usage periods, the blockchain handled more than 12 million daily transactions.

On October 28, the TRON network established a new daily record by processing 12.6 million transactions. Even at these elevated activity levels, the infrastructure maintained sufficient capacity to accommodate additional growth without performance degradation. CoinGecko market data positions TRX among the most valuable cryptocurrency assets globally.

Sun anticipates increased engagement from conventional financial institutions in blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. He specifically referenced major players including BlackRock, Nasdaq, and the New York Stock Exchange as prospective participants in tokenized asset markets. Consequently, Tron Inc. pursues infrastructure expansion while simultaneously strengthening its TRX treasury holdings.

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) is gaining momentum despite social sentiment at historically low levels — a setup that often precedes contrarian rallies Cryptocurrency Ticker Price Market Cap 1-Day Trend Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) $0.09586 $14.7 billion + 3% Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) $0.055643 $3.3 billion +1.4% Pepe (CRYPTO: PEPE) $0.053550 $1.5 billion -1.4% Trader Notes: Trader Tardigrade noted that Dogecoin briefly rallied into Ichimoku cloud resistance (Kumo) but was sharply rejected, reinforcing a short-term bearish outlook. This suggests price attempted to enter a bullish zone but was quickly pushed back.

Bitcoin has bounced hard after the liquidation washout in February and is trying to rebuild a short-term uptrend. The asset is now pushing into a heavy resistance band where the last breakdown started, so this move looks more like a recovery leg inside a broader corrective structure than a clean trend reversal.

The key question is whether buyers can turn this squeeze into sustained demand or if it stalls where trapped holders are waiting to sell.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, BTC has rallied from the major demand area around $60,000 toward the $72,000 to $75,000 resistance zone. It lines up with the lower part of the previous distribution range and sits just below the declining 100-day moving average, which still caps the medium term trend to the downside.

The price has also climbed back to the upper band of the falling channel that has guided the downtrend since late last year, so this area is where analysts usually ask if the move is just a relief rally or the start of a larger base. A daily close above this resistance cluster and a clean breakout of the channel would be the first real signal that sellers are losing control, and that a new bullish market is in the making.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart On the 4-hour chart, the drop from early February has turned into a broad consolidation inside a symmetrical triangle that was broken upward in the past few days. The price squeezed out of the contracting range and ran straight into the upper green zone, where it is now moving sideways under roughly $73,000 to $75,000.

The 4-hour RSI is in the strong region and has reached the overbought zone after a sharp vertical leg, which often leads to either a pause or a short-term pullback before any further push higher.

Yet, as long as Bitcoin holds above the broken triangle and the bullish imbalances formed around $70,000, the path of least resistance stays toward a retest of the upper resistance, but a failure back inside the old range would warn that the breakout was mainly a squeeze, and that more downside is probable.

Sentiment Analysis Bitcoin funding rates across futures exchanges flipped deeply negative during the recent consolidation after the crash, and have stayed mostly below or around zero even while the price bounced. This indicates that many traders are paying to hold short positions into the lows and are now being forced to cover as the market moves against them, which fits the idea of a squeeze-driven rebound rather than a pure fresh spot demand.

The fact that funding is only slowly creeping back toward neutral shows that there is still caution and even residual bearish positioning in the derivatives market.

If this rally continues while funding remains modest, it suggests the move is being supported by real buying and unwinding of crowded shorts, but if funding spikes positive quickly near resistance levels, it would signal that late longs are chasing and that the risk of another shakeout is rising.

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The total supply of XRP is capped at 100 billion tokens, a factor shaping its long-term outlook. Unlike mined cryptocurrencies, XRP was pre-mined by Ripple Labs, with a large share still held in escrow and released gradually, giving the market a predictable supply schedule.

Crypto analyst Levi argues that this fixed supply could make even small XRP holdings meaningful if global adoption grows. He notes that only a tiny fraction of the world currently owns XRP, meaning scarcity could become a powerful driver of future price growth.

“Less Than 1% of the World Owns XRP.”Levi summarized the situation with a simple observation:

“Less than 1%, far less than 1%, of the world right now has any amount of XRP. If just 1% of the global population held XRP, the price could easily reach triple digits.”

He points to data from the XRP Ledger showing that the number of wallets holding XRP is extremely small compared to the world’s population. While there are millions of accounts on the network, many of them are inactive or controlled by the same users.

After adjusting for dormant wallets and duplicate addresses, Levi estimates that only around 2 to 3 million people globally actually hold XRP, representing roughly 0.02% to 0.03% of the world’s population.

XRP Supply and Wallet DistributionAnother key factor in Levi’s analysis is how XRP is distributed across wallets.

He explains that the vast majority of XRP holders own fewer than 500 tokens, while the number of wallets holding more than 25,000 XRP drops sharply. The average wallet holds around 8,648 XRP, but large holdings are relatively rare.

At the same time, a significant portion of XRP’s supply is locked away. Roughly 33 billion XRP sits in escrow, meaning it cannot currently enter circulation. This effectively reduces the available supply that markets can trade.

For analysts, this combination of limited supply and a small holder base creates a powerful supply-demand dynamic if adoption increases.

The Catalysts That Could Drive AdoptionLevi believes three major developments could dramatically expand XRP usage.

First is institutional adoption. He notes that Ripple designed XRP as a bridge asset for cross-border payments, allowing banks and financial institutions to settle international transfers instantly without maintaining pre-funded accounts.

If major banks, payment processors, and remittance companies begin using the technology at scale, millions of users could indirectly interact with the XRP Ledger.

Second is the growth of stablecoins and tokenization. If financial assets like funds, treasuries, or securities are tokenized on the XRP Ledger, everyday financial activity could flow through the network.

Third is global expansion, particularly across Asia-Pacific markets, where Ripple is building partnerships and developer programs.

Why Early Holders Could BenefitBased on these adoption scenarios, Levi estimates that if the number of XRP holders increased 100-fold, the token’s price could theoretically climb toward $140 per coin, pushing its market capitalization into the trillions.

While such projections remain speculative, his core message is simple: with such a small percentage of the world currently holding XRP, today’s investors may still be early in the adoption cycle.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQsWhat is the total supply of XRP?

XRP has a fixed supply of 100 billion tokens, with a large portion held in escrow and released gradually to control circulation.

How many people own XRP globally?

Only about 2–3 million people hold XRP, less than 0.03% of the world’s population, making it a rare and potentially valuable asset.

What could drive XRP adoption?

Institutional adoption, tokenized assets, and global expansion can increase XRP usage, boosting demand and potential price growth.

How can early holders benefit from XRP?

With adoption still low, early holders may gain if more people and institutions use XRP, potentially driving prices higher over time.

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.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Bit Digital Inc (NASDAQ:BTBT) reported its monthly Ethereum treasury and staking metrics for February 2026, outlining the size and value of its digital asset holdings as well as staking activity during the period.

As of February 28, the company held about 155,434 Ethereum (ETH). Based on a closing ETH price of about $1,965 at the end of the month, the holdings had a market value of roughly $305.4 million.

Bit Digital said its total average acquisition price for all ETH holdings was approximately $3,045 as of February 28.

The company reported that about 138,269 ETH, representing roughly 89% of its total holdings, were staked on the Ethereum network. During the month, staking operations generated about 313.9 ETH in rewards, corresponding to an annualized yield of approximately 2.7%.

Bit Digital also reported about 324.8 million shares outstanding as of the end of the month.

In addition to its Ethereum holdings, the company said it owns approximately 27 million shares of WhiteFiber, which had a market value of about $455.7 million as of the month-end.

TL;DR

Bitcoin Inflows: Bitcoin ETFs added $462 million as BTC traded above $73,000, marking a strong continuation of institutional demand. ETF Momentum: BlackRock’s IBIT led with more than $306 million, contributing to a three‑day streak that pushed weekly flows toward $1.1 billion. The broader market also saw meaningful inflows, with Ethereum, Solana, and XRP ETFs experiencing notable growth, signaling expanding institutional interest across multiple crypto assets.
Bitcoin ETFs experienced another strong wave of demand, with inflows reaching $462 million, coinciding with Bitcoin trading above $73,000 and maintaining firm momentum across the broader market. The renewed appetite reflects a shift in sentiment after weeks of uneven flows, with institutional investors steadily increasing exposure through regulated products. The combined data from recent sessions shows a market leaning back toward accumulation as capital rotates into both Bitcoin ETFs and other alternative crypto funds.

BlackRock Leads Another Heavy Inflow Session BlackRock’s IBIT once again dominated Bitcoin ETFs’ activity, pulling in more than $306 million and reinforcing its position as the primary destination for institutional Bitcoin exposure. Fidelity’s FBTC added $48 million, while ARK Invest’s ARKB brought in $14.6 million. Additional contributions from Bitwise, Invesco, Franklin Templeton, WisdomTree, VanEck, and Valkyrie highlighted broad participation across issuers. The consistency of these inflows suggests that large investors remain confident in Bitcoin’s trajectory as prices stay elevated.

Three‑Day Streak Pushes Weekly Flows Toward $1.1B The latest inflows extended a three‑day streak that has now totaled roughly $1.1 billion, marking one of the strongest weekly performances since the products launched. Nearly all US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded inflows, with only one fund reporting no activity. Analysts noted that most ETFs have turned net positive for the year after recovering from a five‑week outflow stretch that previously erased billions. The shift indicates improving sentiment as market conditions stabilize.

Ethereum and Alternative Crypto ETFs Gain Momentum Spot Ethereum ETFs also saw renewed demand, collecting $169 million as investors broadened their allocations beyond Bitcoin. BlackRock’s ETHA led with $39.3 million, followed by Fidelity’s FETH and VanEck’s ETHV. Grayscale’s ETHE added $21.9 million, signaling a steady return of interest. Solana ETFs brought in $19.1 million, while XRP products added $4.19 million, showing that institutional appetite for diversified exposure continues to expand across multiple asset categories.

Institutional Participation Strengthens Market Outlook The continued inflows across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and alternative crypto ETFs underscore the growing role of institutional capital in shaping the current market cycle. Spot ETFs have become a preferred entry point for traditional investors seeking regulated access without directly holding digital assets. If inflows maintain this pace, analysts believe ETFs could remain a major catalyst supporting Bitcoin and the broader crypto market in the months ahead.

According to widely circulating reports, Sky News Arabia has reported that Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister said the country is prepared to abandon its entire nuclear program if the United States presents a satisfactory alternative offer.

Bitcoin is trading around $72,855 at the time of writing, recovering from the lows it hit when US and Israeli forces launched strikes on February 28.

The Iran War’s Impact on CryptoWhen the conflict began, Bitcoin dropped sharply, falling to around $63,000 in a matter of hours. Over $300 million in long positions were liquidated.

Oil jumped 7% as traders priced in potential disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply passes. With energy prices rising, inflation concerns followed.

Former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen captured the knock-on effect for crypto directly: “I think the recent Iran situation puts the Fed even more on hold, more reluctant to cut rates than they were before this happened.”

With the Federal Reserve’s March 18 meeting already in focus, a rate cut is now widely considered off the table. Higher rates mean tighter liquidity and tighter liquidity has historically weighed on risk assets including Bitcoin.

A ceasefire or deal would put that chain in reverse: oil falls, inflation pressure eases, and the conditions for a Fed pivot improve.

Also Read: Will Bitcoin Recover or Crash to $40K Next? Analysts Can’t Agree

What Analysts Are SayingSungHoon Lee, who claims to be the world’s highest IQ holder with a score of 276 and an XRP ambassador, said: “BTC to $100K isn’t a question anymore. It’s a countdown,” citing the potential for mass liquidation of short positions opened during the war.

⚠️ THE SINGLE BIGGEST NEWS OF 2026 JUST DROPPED.

🇮🇷 Iran says it is READY to ABANDON its ENTIRE nuclear program — if the U.S. offers a satisfactory deal.

Read that again.

ABANDON. THE. NUCLEAR. PROGRAM.

🔴 WHY THIS CHANGES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING:

🛑 The #1 reason for this war… pic.twitter.com/Y3IdIeXQtq

— SungHoon Lee, IQ 276 (@sungleeiq) March 5, 2026 Lee argued that five days of conflict compressed years of geopolitical tension into a single week and that Iran’s willingness to drop its nuclear program removes the single biggest fear that drove markets lower in the first place.

Meanwhile, Binance had a bullish take as well: “Gold had thousands of years. Equities had centuries. Real estate had civilization. Bitcoin has had 16 years… and it’s just getting started.”

Traders, Beware: Risks RemainThe situation is still fluid, and reports have not been officially confirmed.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Israel to “keep going until the end” in overnight talks with Defense Minister Israel Katz, signalling Washington is not yet ready to stand down.

Iran’s national security officials have also previously denied any outreach to Washington. Polymarket gives a ceasefire by March 31 just 26% odds.

Bitcoin’s first resistance sits at $74,000-$75,000. The next Federal Reserve meeting is March 17-18.

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.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Your day-ahead look for March 5, 2026 Mar 5, 2026, 12:19 p.m.

By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

Bitcoin BTC$72,907.04 is rallying alongside the U.S. dollar, a pattern that has surfaced several times since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election.

The cryptocurrency has gained over 10% since the outbreak of war in the Middle East over the weekend. Prices nearly tested the $74,000 mark at one point yesterday and are up over 2% in the past 24 hours. The CoinDesk 20 Index and major tokens including ether (ETH), XRP (XRP) and solana (SOL) rose 2% or more.

For bulls, the rally is notable not just for its magnitude but for the backdrop: It's unfolding amid risk aversion in global equities and alongside a strengthening dollar. The Dollar Index (DXY) has gained over 1% this week and hit a high of 99.68 on Wednesday, a level last seen in November.

That combination may puzzle many market watchers. A stronger greenback typically weighs on dollar-denominated assets like bitcoin, and historically the two have tended to move in opposite directions.

Yet that inverse correlation has repeatedly been challenged since Trump returned to the White House promising pro-crypto policies. Both BTC and the DXY rose in the lead-up to and aftermath of the election, both fell in March–April 2025. Now both are rallying again.

In the meantime, the demand for BTC from the U.S. appears to be strengthening, a constructive signal for the market. The Coinbase Premium index — which measures the spread between prices on the Nasdaq-listed exchange and offshore giant Binance — rose to 0.0227% today, the highest since December, according to data source Coinglass. A premium on Coinbase is typically a sign of stronger demand from U.S. investors.

The focus now is whether the cryptocurrency can penetrate the historical make-or-break zone around $74,000. A decisive breakout would likely bolster investor confidence and draw additional buyers into the market.

Some traders are also watching the U.S. macroeconomy.

"The US Employment Situation report for February is scheduled for March 6 followed by CPI on March 11, and the next FOMC meeting on March 17-18," Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Indian exchange Giottus.com said in an email. "All these are potential volatility catalysts for global risk assets, including crypto."

Other macro observers remain cautious, noting that the current calm tied to the U.S. promise to escort and insure oil tankers may prove fragile.

"All it takes is one Iranian rocket for this fragile equilibrium to pitch into severe discontinuity. The threat of one Iranian rocket hitting paydirt remains real and this isn’t something that can be remedied any time soon," economist Robin Brooks noted in a blog post. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today's activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today

What to WatchFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

CryptoNothing scheduled.MacroMarch 5, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. initial jobless claims for week ending Feb. 28 (Prev. 212K)March 5, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. nonfarm productivity QoQ prel for Q4 (Prev. 4.9%)March 5, 4:30 p.m.: U.S. Fed balance sheet update for period ending March 4Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)March 5: Rumble (RUM), post-market, -$0.10Token EventsFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Governance votes & callsUniswap DAO is voting across two linked proposals to expand v2 and v3 protocol fees to eight L2 networks and enable a new tier-based fee system across all v3 pools. Voting ends March 5.Gnosis DAO is voting to provide a grant to fund the continued support, infrastructure, and maintenance of the Revoke.cash security platform. Voting ends March 5.UnlocksMarch 5: Ethena (ENA) to unlock 2.24% of its circulating supply worth $18.35 million.Token LaunchesMarch 5: WhiteBit Token (WBT) lists on Kraken.March 5: Limitless (LMTS) to be listed on Coinbase.March 5: Opinion (OPN) to be listed on Binance, BitMart, BingX, MEXC and others.ConferencesFor a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk's "Crypto Week Ahead".

Day 2 of 3: Quant 2026 (Varese, Italy)Market MovementsBTC is down 0.13% from 4 p.m. ET Wednesday at $72,849.18 (24hrs: +2.42%)ETH is down 1.08% at $2,135.84 (24hrs: +3.81%)CoinDesk 20 is down 1.25% at 2,072.03 (24hrs: +2.75%)Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is up 6 bps at 2.91%BTC funding rate is at 0.0026% (2.8744% annualized) on BinanceDXY is down 0.12% at 98.99Gold futures are up 1.06% at $5,174.30Silver futures are up 2.28% at $84.51Nikkei 225 closed up 1.90% at 55,278.06Hang Seng closed up 0.28% at 25,321.34FTSE 100 is up 0.30% at 10,598.92Euro Stoxx 50 is up 0.13% at 5,878.37DJIA closed on Wednesday up 0.49% at 48,739.41S&P 500 closed up 0.78% at 6,869.50Nasdaq Composite closed up 1.29% at 22,807.48S&P/TSX Composite closed up 0.47% at 33,942.90S&P 40 Latin America closed up 2.26% at 3,619.17U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is up 3 bps at 4.08%E-mini S&P 500 futures are unchanged at 6,870.50E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are unchanged at 25,113.50E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are down 0.18% at 48,710.00Bitcoin StatsBTC Dominance: 59.78% (0.9%)Ether-bitcoin ratio: 0.02938 (0.38%)Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 999 EH/sHashprice (spot): $32.09Total fees: 3.03 BTC / $215,909CME Futures Open Interest: 111,485 BTCBTC priced in gold: 14.1 oz.BTC vs gold market cap: 4.88%Technical AnalysisOpen interest in ZEC futures. (Coinglass)The chart from Coinglass shows daily open interest in zcash (ZEC) futures.Open interest refers to the number of active futures contracts at any given time. The tally has increased to nearly 1.50 million ZEC, rising past a downtrend line. The breakout indicates renewed interest in ZEC futures and higher volatility ahead. Crypto EquitiesCoinbase Global (COIN): closed on Wednesday at $208.93 (+14.57%), +0.10% at $209.14 in pre-marketGalaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $24.34 (+17.70%)MARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $9.29 (+7.27%), –0.22% at $9.27Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $16.53 (+8.11%), +0.24% at $16.57Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $15.84 (+3.53%)CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $10.66 (+7.79%), –0.75% at $10.58Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $12.16 (+12.28%), unchanged in pre-marketCoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI): closed at $41.20 (+8.76%)Circle Internet Group (CRCL): closed at $105.27 (+5.66%), unchanged in pre-marketBullish (BLSH): closed at $36.86 (+11.29%), –0.49% at $36.68Crypto Treasury Companies

Strategy (MSTR): closed at $146.44 (+10.37%), –0.30% at $146.00Sharplink (SBET): closed at $8.13 (+11.98%), –1.60% at $8.00Upexi (UPXI): closed at $1.08 (+37.58%), +1.85% at $1.10Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.22 (+6.09%)Strive Asset Management (ASST): closed at $9.62 (+15.49%), +0.73% at $9.69ETF FlowsSpot BTC ETFs

Daily net flows: $461.9 millionCumulative net flows: $55.93 billionTotal BTC holdings ~ 1.29 millionSpot ETH ETFs

Daily net flows: $169.4 millionCumulative net flows: $11.83 billionTotal ETH holdings ~ 5.79 millionSource: Farside Investors

While You Were SleepingChina cuts growth target to between 4.5 and 5% (Financial Times): China set a growth target for GDP this year of 4.5%-5%, the lowest in decades, and maintained a higher fiscal deficit as leaders warned of growing “difficulties and challenges” in the economy.Oil pushes higher on sixth day of conflict (The Wall Street Journal): Oil prices pushed higher early Thursday, extending an advance that has rippled through financial markets and threatens to set off convulsions in the global economy.Israel, Iran continue strikes as Middle East conflict enters sixth day (Bloomberg): The war entered its sixth day with no sign of abating. Asia shares rebounded, Europe turned positive.ZeroHash applies for national trust bank charter to expand regulated stablecoin services (CoinDesk): ZeroHash, which develops behind-the-scenes crypto infrastructure for businesses, applied for a U.S. National Trust Bank Charter to operate under federal regulatory oversight.More For You

CoinDesk Research looks into how Pudgy Penguins disrupts traditional toys market via a phygital model. With 2M+ units sold, they scale via global partnerships and events.

What to know:

Disrupting a Stagnant Market: Pudgy Penguins is utilizing a "Negative CAC" model to challenge the traditional $31.7B licensed toy industry by treating physical merchandise as a profitable user acquisition tool rather than just a final product.More For You

Here's why bitcoin climbed through $71,000

Mar 4, 2026

Your day-ahead look for March 4, 2026

What to know:

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While Bitcoin (BTC) remains more than 42% below its $126,000 all-time high, several technical setups suggest that the price range between $60,000 and $72,000 may be the new bottom range, before a sustained recovery.

Key takeaways:

Bitcoin’s double bottom pattern suggests that a reversal is underway.

A bottom may form in the coming weeks as the BTC-gold ratio revisits previous cycle lows.

Bitcoin price is retesting a multi-year trend line that has marked previous market bottoms.

BTC: Price drawdown from all-time highs. Source: GlassnodeBTC double-bottom pattern hints at trend reversalBitcoin recovered 21% to a 30-day high of $74,000 from its multi-year low of $60,000 reached on Feb. 6, before retracing to $72,500 on Thursday.

Crypto analyst Jelle said that an “Adam and Eve bottom is still playing out” on Bitcoin’s 12-hour chart. 

An Adam and Eve bottom is a bullish reversal chart pattern indicating a shift from a downtrend to an uptrend. It is a variation of the classic double-bottom pattern, which appears after a downtrend and signals that selling pressure is likely easing.

The pattern confirmed when the price broke out and closed above the neckline (the peak between the two bottoms) at $70,000 on Wednesday, as shown in the chart below.

The bulls must “hold the breakout area, or are we going for another nasty deviation before lower,” the analyst added.

BTC/USD 12-hour chart. Source: JelleEarlier, Cointelegraph reported that a slowdown in profit-taking was a prerequisite for BTC’s ability to hold $70,000 and confirm the recovery. 

Bitcoin-gold chart flashes another bottom signalAs of March, Bitcoin’s price relative to gold has been in a downtrend for 13 months, following its peak in December 2024.

When Bitcoin falls against gold, it signals a risk-off sentiment with investors reducing exposure to BTC. This reflects fears of macroeconomic instability, geopolitical uncertainties, or a liquidity squeeze, favoring gold.

“In the 3 previous cycles, it's taken about 14 months to go from peak to bottom,” CEO at Coinbureau Nic said in a Thursday post on X, adding:

“These also coincided with bear market bottoms.” Bitcoin vs. gold chart. Source: NicAs the ratio bottomed in late 2022, BTC price also hit a macro low of $15,500 before rising 352% to its previous all-time high of $73,800, reached in March 2024.

A similar pattern played out in 2018 and 2014, when Bitcoin price gained between 300% and 450% a year after the BTC/XAU pair bottomed out.

Therefore, the current 13-month drawdown from the last ratio peak suggests the bottom may be imminent.

Bitcoin’s ascending channel hints at a cycle bottomData from TradingView shows BTC price retesting a multi-year support trend line on the monthly time frame.

The chart below shows that this trend line has previously marked bear market bottoms in Bitcoin, as seen in 2018 and 2022.

“Bitcoin is now approaching the historical bottom level at the trend line,” trader and analyst  Coinvo Trading said in a video post on X, adding:

“If history plays out, Bitcoin is going to retest this trend line and then top out somewhere around $500K. ” BTC/USD one-month chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewFellow analyst Rekt Fencer said that he was “sure the BTC bottom is in” after spotting a similar pattern in the weekly time frame, with the price retesting a trend line that marked the 2022 bottom.

BTC/USD weekly chart. Source: Rekt FencerAs Cointelegraph reported, several technical indicators suggest that Bitcoin is nearing a potential bottom, including the relative strength index (RSI).

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.

Major bitcoin mining companies are increasingly selling portions of their BTC reserves as they pivot toward artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The shift highlights how miners are chasing more predictable revenues from AI data centers amid volatile mining margins.

Ethereum’s price is sitting near a zone that has often marked major cycle lows, according to an MVRV “pricing bands” chart shared by market analyst Ali Charts on X, citing Glassnode data.

ETH MVRV bands flag a familiar “bottom zone”The chart plots ETH’s price (black line) against several MVRV-based bands, which use the market value to realized value ratio to map where the asset has historically looked overheated or deeply discounted.

Ethereum MVRV Pricing Bands. Source: Glassnode/Ali Charts on X

On the right side of the chart, the upper bands sit at about $7,577 (3.2x, red) and $5,683 (2.4x, yellow). Meanwhile, the lower bands appear near $2,367 (1.0x, green) and $1,894 (0.8x, blue).

Ali Charts said ETH is currently trading around the lower band region that has “historically aligned with market bottoms.” On the chart, past periods shaded in green show earlier phases when ETH traded near or below these lower bands before later trend reversals.

MVRV bands are commonly used as a valuation framework rather than a timing tool. They compare today’s market price to the average on-chain cost basis implied by realized value, then place that relationship into zones that have repeated across prior cycles.

Ethereum Wave Count Points to One More High Before Wave Meanwhile, More Crypto Online posted an updated Elliott Wave count for ETH that matches the structure on the Bitcoin chart. The 30 minute setup keeps ETH inside wave (3) and shows wave c of (3) still unfinished.

Ethereum Elliott Wave Structure. Source: More Crypto Online

The chart suggests ETH could print one more high to complete wave c. It maps upside projections at 100 percent 2,351.82, 123.6 percent 2,470.75, 138 percent 2,546.26, and 161.8 percent 2,676.15.

After that, the same chart frames a likely wave (4) pullback zone using Fibonacci retracements at 23.6 percent 2,109.15, 38.2 percent 2,053.97, 50 percent 2,010.44, and 61.8 percent 1,967.82.

It also marks deeper downside reference levels at 78.6 percent 1,820.73 and 88.7 percent 1,599.68, shown as larger support bands if the correction extends.

The conclusion was quite bullish, indicating that XRP could be on its way to a massive price reversal soon.

The broader scale shows that Ripple’s cross-border token has been quite volatile ever since the current cycle began after the US presidential elections in late 2024. At the time, it traded at around $0.60, but exploded to match its 2018 all-time high by January 2025 and eventually broke it in July, setting a new one at $3.65.

The bears took control in the following months, and XRP plunged below $3.00 and $2.00 by the end of the year. After a brief surge to $2.40 on January 6, the asset resumed its downtrend and plunged to a 15-month low on February 5 at $1.11 (on most exchanges).

It reacted well to this decline and even challenged the $1.65 resistance a few weeks later, but to no avail. Although it was stopped there, it still trades at around $1.45 as of press time, which is 30% higher than its local low seen a month ago. Given the resurgence of the crypto market over the past several days, the question now is whether XRP has already bottomed out and, if so, what its next targets are.

ChatGPT Says… To gain some perspective, we consulted three of the most utilized AI chatbots, starting with OpenAI’s solution. It noted that XRP found solid support at the “panic low” of $1.10-$1.15, and its ability to rebound decisively should encourage the bulls. It now trades above another significant structural support located at $1.30-$1.35, which should be a proper line of defense if there’s another leg down.

It placed the odds for a “bottom is in” scenario at 50%, saying that if $1.30 holds and crypto sentiment continues to improve, the cross-border token could be on its way to reclaim the first obstacle on its path to redemption at $1.65. If broken, the next target would be the psychological $2.00 line, followed by the January $2.40 peak.

“XRP could reach $2.50-$3.00 within 6-12 months if the crypto market enters a new expansion phase,” ChatGPT predicted.

In addition, it gave a 30% chance that XRP is currently in a long accumulation phase, which would mean trading within a tight range between $1.20 and $1.90 for the next up to 9 months. The bearish scenario (20%) is the least likely for now, ChatGPT added, and another drop to and below $1.10 is not overly expected unless there’s a major black swan event.

Gemini and Grok – Do You Agree? Gemini’s short answer supported ChatGPT’s belief, saying, “It is highly likely that the $1.11 local bottom is in.” It indicated that higher lows are holding now after that flash crash, even though the asset was stopped at $1.65.

You may also like: Analyst: XRP Must Clear This Key Level to Invalidate Bearish Structure XRP Open Interest Falls 70% to Yearly Lows: What Does it Mean for Ripple’s Price? 472 Million XRP Floods Binance Following Geopolitical Turmoil: Is Ripple’s Price in Danger? Grok also weighed in on the matter, and it had a similar opinion. However, it outlined some of the recent key developments within the Ripple ecosystem that could further boost the underlying token. One of the latest was a major adoption move as the US Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) added Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC to its NSCC Market Participant Identifiers directory.

This meant that the NSCC update allowed Ripple Prime to route institutional post-trade volumes directly onto the XRP Ledger. Grok added that if these moves continue and impact XRP, the asset could target $2.00-$2.15 in the near term and $2.80-$3.30 by the end of the year.

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Institutional capital is widening its net and causing a surge in altcoin ETF inflows.

On March 4, Crypto ETFs tracking alternative assets recorded significant activity, with Solana Inflows hitting $19.06 million and XRP products securing $4.19 million in net entries, according to SoSoValue.

While Bitcoin continues to command the lion’s share of volume, this $23.25 million combined allocation signals that active managers are beginning to diversify aggressively beyond the market leader. No retail hype cycle. Just size moving in.

Key Takeaways:

Solana Leads Alts: Solana (SOL) ETFs recorded $19.06 million in net inflows on March 4, establishing dominance among non-ETH altcoin products. XRP Accumulation: XRP funds attracted $4.19 million, confirming steady XRP Institutional demand despite broader market volatility. Diversification Signal: The simultaneous inflows into SOL and XRP suggest institutional portfolios are increasingly rotating into high-utility Layer 1 assets. Discover: The best meme coins on Solana

Solana ETFs: Does $19.06M Inflow Signal Future Stablecoin and Tokenization Demand?Solana (SOL) is seeing a specific type of bid. The $19.06 million net inflow recorded on March 4 represents one of the strongest daily sessions for the asset since approvals normalized.

This isn’t just speculative rotation; it aligns with the growing narrative of Solana as the preferred infrastructure for institutional tokenization, backed by heavyweights like Franklin Templeton and BlackRock.

The flow data suggests that institutions are pricing in value beyond simple store-of-wealth mechanics.

Unlike the Bitcoin ETFs and MicroStrategy demand surge that focuses on scarcity, Solana Inflows are chasing yield and transaction velocity.

The network’s multibillion-dollar Total Value Locked (TVL) and record stablecoin volume continue to challenge Ethereum’s dominance, providing a fundamental floor for these investment products.

Technicals are responding to the flow. Solana is approaching another important level that could point to an explosive price prediction if these inflows sustain.

Watch the $158 level closely. If ETF buyers continue to soak up daily issuance and push the price above this resistance, a run toward $185 becomes the high-probability scenario. If flows dry up and price rejects, support at $138 must hold to preserve the bullish structure.

XRP Inflows: $4.19M Hints at Growing Support for Ripple’s Institutional-Grade Payments InfrastructureXRP (XRP) is carving out its own lane. The $4.19 million inflow on March 4 might look small compared to Bitcoin’s billions, but for an altcoin asset class, it represents sustained conviction.

Following the approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds in the U.S., the asset has transitioned from a retail-heavy volatility play to a component of diversified institutional portfolios.

The thesis here is utility. Investors are positioning for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin integration and the broader adoption of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) in cross-border settlements.

XRP Institutional interest is less about quick flips and more about long-term infrastructure bets. The capital entering these funds is sticky; it doesn’t tend to panic sell on minor dips.

Altcoin ETF Institutional Adoption: The Diversification ThesisThe March 4 data paints a clear picture: the “Bitcoin-only” era of institutional crypto is ending.

While Bitcoin remains the primary allocation, the simultaneous bid for SOL, XRP, and the massive $169.4 million into the Ethereum ETF sector indicates a maturing strategy. Institutions are effectively building a crypto-native index, weighting assets by sector dominance rather than just market cap.

This mimics movements seen in traditional finance. Just as Harvard picks ETH and trims Bitcoin ETF exposure, other large allocators are rebalancing to capture the upside of technological utility.

Institutional Adoption is moving down the risk curve. They aren’t gambling on memecoins; they are buying the protocols that run the new financial internet.

Watch the flow ratios next week. If the ratio of Altcoin ETF inflows to Bitcoin ETF inflows continues to rise, we are officially in a structural rotation. If Bitcoin dominance reasserts itself heavily, this was just a brief pause in the king’s rally.

Discover: The best crypto to buy today

Journalist

Posted: March 5, 2026

Sky [SKY], the native token of the on-chain decentralized protocol, posted a double-digit gain over the past day as investor sentiment continues to strengthen.

Capital from the spot side of the market has gradually pulled back, yet the broader sentiment on the chart shows that momentum continues to build.

SKY rallies on perpetual market momentum The major push for SKY came primarily from its perpetual market, where investors anticipate further upside on the chart.

Over the past day, SKY’s market capitalization surged roughly 10%, at press time, adding about $178 million and pushing the asset’s valuation to around $1.78 billion.

Support from the perpetual market followed a rise in trading capital, which climbed to $27 million, marking a 12% increase during the same period. At the same time, the Taker Buy/Sell Ratio has remained above 1.

Source: CoinGlass

When the Taker Buy/Sell Ratio moves above 1, it confirms that buying volume in the perpetual market exceeds selling volume within a specific time frame. In this case, the data reflects activity over the past 24 hours.

The inflow of capital and the surge in buying volume were not the only factors driving the move. According to the latest readings, the new capital and trading activity have also translated into more long contracts in the market, with traders increasingly opening long positions.

This trend appears in the positive Open Interest Weighted Funding Rate. For context, roughly 1.4 million contracts have remained open on SKY perpetual markets over the past day as the market rebounds.

Market structure shows sustained strength The market structure continues to print a clearly bullish candle pattern, although the move has drawn less attention since SKY’s gains have not been as explosive as those recorded by some other tokens.

On the one-week timeframe, the broader market liquidation that began during the week ending on the 6th of October lasted just six weeks, or roughly 47 days, for SKY. The correction ended during the week, closing on the 17th of November.

Since then, SKY has spent the next 15 weeks, roughly 103 days, forming a sequence of higher highs and higher lows, a decisively bullish structure.

During this period alone, about 5.1 billion SKY in trading volume has changed hands.

Source: TradingView

Based on the chart structure, SKY could attempt another rebound. With limited resistance overhead, the asset may push beyond its previous high of $0.095 and move toward $0.10, which would represent a potential 30% gain.

The Money Flow Index also confirms continued capital inflows that have supported the recent price advance. At press time, the MFI was holding above 50, suggesting that market momentum remains on the bullish side.

Spot traders add selling pressure Spot traders, however, appear to have shifted to the bearish side of the market as they begin selling to lock in profits. The move likely reflects profit-taking after SKY’s 15-week bullish run.

The sell-off began around the 24th of February and has continued since then. During this period, total spot outflows have reached roughly $5.8 million, marking a notable withdrawal of liquidity from the market.

Source: CoinGlass

For now, the scale of this outflow remains relatively small compared with the $178 million added to SKY’s market capitalization over the past day.

Unless the spot sell-off grows significantly, especially during a period of declining prices, it is unlikely to pose an immediate threat to SKY’s broader upward trajectory.

Final Summary SKY gains momentum in the perpetual market, adding to its recent advance. Spot sell-off emerges but does not yet alter the broader price trajectory.

Dogecoin price approaches a key $0.1060 breakout zone as altcoin sentiment hits historic lows.

Dogecoin has surged sharply over the past 24 hours, pushing toward the $0.095–$0.10 range amid rising trading volumes across major exchanges. The move has caught the attention of market analysts, particularly because it comes amid deep pessimism across the broader altcoin market. Historical data suggests this combination, price strength against bearish sentiment, may signal the early stages of a significant recovery.

At the time of writing, DOGE is trading around $0.09677 after a recent rebound. The key question now is whether the meme coin can sustain momentum and break above a critical resistance zone that has capped its upside for several months.

Bearish Sentiment Reaches Extreme Levels — A Classic Contrarian SignalData from on-chain analytics platform Santiment reveals a sharp decline in social discussions around altcoins and altseason across major platforms. Retail traders have largely turned bearish, with sentiment indicators dropping to historically low levels. In past market cycles, such extremes have consistently preceded strong price recoveries.

Following these bearish sentiment lows, Dogecoin's price has historically rebounded by approximately 15%. The pattern reflects a fundamental market dynamic: when pessimism peaks, selling pressure fades. Early buyers begin accumulating positions before mainstream sentiment shifts. Meme coins like Dogecoin are particularly sensitive to this dynamic, as speculative retail interest drives a significant portion of their price action.

Weekly social volume data reinforces this signal. Discussions around altcoin rallies have fallen to multi-month lows, indicating widespread disinterest. Historically, these quiet phases have marked the starting point of major altcoin recoveries. With fewer sellers and reduced noise, conditions favor accumulation by larger market participants ahead of any momentum shift.

Critical Resistance Zone Comes Into FocusOn the daily chart, Dogecoin is approaching a descending trendline that has acted as a ceiling for months. This trendline has repeatedly rejected upward price attempts, keeping DOGE locked within a broader consolidation range. The current price move is testing this resistance once again.

A confirmed close above $0.1060 would constitute a technical breakout. Analysts note that Dogecoin has a history of aggressive moves once key resistance levels are cleared, as momentum traders flood in and amplify the initial move. Resistance levels to watch include $0.1040 as the first psychological barrier and the $0.1050–$0.1080 zone as the primary breakout threshold.

On the downside, $0.092 serves as short-term support, with $0.088 acting as a more significant demand zone. Failure to hold above current levels could extend the consolidation period without triggering a directional move.

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

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