Market Signal Briefing

TL;DR

Shiba Inu derivatives volume rises 71% as futures netflow surges 1,724%, signaling a sharp repositioning among leveraged traders. SHIB extends its six-day decline, trading near $0.00000546, amid broader crypto market weakness. Despite spot pressure, growing futures activity reflects sustained market participation and expectations of higher volatility.
Shiba Inu sees a notable increase in derivatives activity as futures inflows accelerate, even while its spot price remains under pressure. Recent market data shows traders actively adjusting exposure in the futures market, pointing to rising expectations of volatility around the token.

Over the past hour, SHIB futures recorded $1.17 million in inflows compared to $1.06 million in outflows, according to CoinGlass data. That imbalance resulted in a 1,724% surge in netflow, reflecting a sudden shift in derivatives positioning. At the same time, overall derivatives trading volume jumped 71%, suggesting participants continue to engage rather than step away during the downturn.

Shiba Inu Derivatives Volume Expands As Futures Inflows Rise The expansion in Shiba Inu derivatives volume indicates that traders are recalibrating strategies instead of reducing risk. Positive futures netflow typically signals new capital entering the market, whether through long or short positions, and often precedes stronger price movements.

This surge in derivatives activity contrasts with SHIB’s ongoing pullback in the spot market. Since February 25, the token has logged six consecutive days of losses. At the time of writing, SHIB trades near $0.00000546, down 3.68% over the last 24 hours.

Open interest shows gradual growth, reinforcing the idea that leveraged traders are preparing for a potential breakout. In previous market phases, divergences between weakening spot prices and rising derivatives engagement have led to sharper volatility. From a pro-crypto perspective, deeper derivatives participation reflects growing liquidity and structural development across digital asset markets.

Price Trend Remains Under Pressure As Macro Factors Weigh The broader cryptocurrency market faces renewed macroeconomic uncertainty, including changing expectations around global interest rates. Risk assets react with tighter liquidity conditions and more pronounced short-term swings, and SHIB follows that pattern.

Earlier in the week, a brief rebound lifted several altcoins, including Shiba Inu, but buying momentum faded quickly. Spot investors remain cautious, waiting for clearer signals before expanding exposure.

At the ecosystem level, updates around Shibarium indicate that most recent connection issues relate to wallet configuration rather than network instability. This clarification supports the view that infrastructure development continues despite market volatility.

Ethereum could help with “de-totalization;” fending off the possibility that any single actor achieves total control.

MARA Holdings, one of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining companies, has rejected claims that it plans to unload the majority of its Bitcoin holdings following speculation about a shift in its treasury policy.

The clarification came in a post on X from MARA vice president for investor relations Robert Samuels, who said the company has not altered its core Bitcoin (BTC) treasury approach. 

His remarks were a direct response to SwanDesk adviser Jacob King, who claimed Tuesday that MARA had shifted toward a sell-down strategy, citing filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. King’s post had received more than 325,000 views at the time of writing.

Samuels pointed to the company’s 2026 10-K filing, which states that MARA expanded its policy to allow for potential sales of Bitcoin held on its balance sheet.

Source: MARA“Our 2026 10-K clearly states we expanded our strategy to allow for sales of bitcoin held on our balance sheet,” Samuels wrote.

As Cointelegraph initially reported, the filing authorizes discretionary transactions based on market conditions and capital allocation priorities, rather than mandating a reduction in reserves.

The distinction, Samuels argued, is between preserving optionality and committing to a material drawdown of Bitcoin treasury holdings.

MARA has historically positioned itself as a long-term Bitcoin holder, making any perceived shift in its treasury strategy closely watched by investors and market participants.

MARA doubles down on diversification while maintaining a large BTC treasuryWhile MARA has broadened its operational footprint in recent years, its balance sheet remains heavily tied to Bitcoin exposure.

That diversification accelerated last month when MARA acquired a 64% stake in Exaion, a France-based computing infrastructure company focused on high-performance computing and blockchain services.

Even so, Bitcoin remains central to MARA’s balance sheet. The company holds 53,822 BTC, valued at about $3.7 billion, making it the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miner by treasury size.

A one-year history of MARA’s Bitcoin holdings. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.netAmong public companies overall, only Michael Saylor’s Strategy holds more, with over 720,000 BTC accumulated to date.

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

NEW YORK, March 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Northrim BanCorp, Inc. (“Northrim” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NRIM).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Northrim and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 23, 2026, Northrim reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025.  Among other items, Northrim reported quarterly earnings of $0.54 per share, falling short of analyst expectations. 

On this news, Northrim’s stock price fell $4.44 per share, or 14.95%, to close at $25.25 per share on January 23, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) TD Cowen 46th Annual Health Care Conference March 3, 2026 1:50 PM EST

Company Participants

Caroline Litchfield - Executive VP & CFO
Dean Li - Executive VP & President of Merck Research Laboratories

Conference Call Participants

Steve Scala - TD Cowen, Research Division

Presentation

Steve Scala
TD Cowen, Research Division

[Audio Gap]

46th Annual Healthcare Conference. We are absolutely delighted to have Merck senior leadership here with us today. Representing the company, Caroline Litchfield, who is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Dr. Dean Li, who is President of Merck Research Labs, lots to talk about, both in the pipeline as well as the current operations. But to set the stage, Caroline, I'll turn it to you.

Caroline Litchfield
Executive VP & CFO

Thank you, Steve. So good afternoon, all. Thank you for being here, and thank you for your support and interest in Merck. Our company is transforming its portfolio. We're launching many new products including WINREVAIR, OHTUVAYRE, CAPVAXIVE Enflonsia and QLEX. We're in the midst of having more than 20 new growth drivers in our Human Health business. Every one of these products has the promise of advancing patient care and almost every product has blockbuster potential. And we've highlighted that there's more than $70 billion of commercial opportunity from those 20-plus products.

And it's not just human health. Our Animal Health business is also launching many products, and we expect to more than double the revenues of our Animal Health business by the mid-2030s.

And so we're increasingly confident in our future. And that future also includes a robust early-stage pipeline that will continue to evolve and hopefully yield Phase II, Phase III programs in the coming months and years that will equally drive revenues and patient impact in the 2030s.

BILL Holdings, Inc. (BILL) Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference 2026 March 3, 2026 1:45 PM EST

Company Participants

René Lacerte - Founder, CEO & Chairperson of the Board

Conference Call Participants

Christopher Quintero - Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Presentation

Christopher Quintero
Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Awesome. Thank you, everyone, for joining us here. My name is Chris Quintero. I am the Office of the CFO Software Analyst here at Morgan Stanley. And I'm really excited to be joined here by Rene Lacerte, the CEO and Founder of BILL. Thanks for joining us, Rene.

René Lacerte
Founder, CEO & Chairperson of the Board

Thanks for having me, Chris. Looking forward to the conversation.

Christopher Quintero
Morgan Stanley, Research Division

Before I get into the interesting stuff for important disclosures, please see the Morgan Stanley research disclosure website at www.morganstanley.com/researchdisclosures. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Morgan Stanley sales representative.

Question-and-Answer Session

Christopher Quintero
Morgan Stanley, Research Division

So Rene, I couldn't think of someone better to talk to you about the accounting industry, especially right now. I think we're at a pretty interesting inflection point, especially with AI entering the space. And you recently held a webinar with an MIT Professor of Accounting, and she said that 50% to 65% of an accountant's time can now be automated using AI, large language models. A lot of the work they were doing was more kind of manual data entry type of stuff. So I'm curious, is that kind of consistent with what you've heard from your customers? And how do you think about how AI kind of revolutionized the accountant job over the next 3, 5 years?

René Lacerte
Founder, CEO & Chairperson of the Board

I mean if anybody knows me well, they know that I love

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation into Gossamer Bio, Inc. ("Gossamer Bio, Inc.") (NASDAQ: GOSS) concerning potential violations of the federal securities laws.

Seralutinib was Gossamer Bio's lead pipeline candidate and the PROSERA study was the Company's pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating the drug in pulmonary arterial hypertension. The Company had publicly characterized the PROSERA patient population as well-suited to demonstrate a treatment effect.

During the Q1 2025 earnings call on May 15, 2025, CEO Faheem Hasnain stated that baseline characteristics were "precisely what we have targeted" and that the Company was "more optimistic than ever about the likelihood of achieving positive results." Management also claimed "over 90% power given the sample size." The trial reached its planned enrollment target but the primary efficacy endpoint did not achieve the prespecified level of statistical significance.

If you suffered a loss on your Gossamer Bio, Inc. securities and would like to explore a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, Learn More About the Investigation or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or call (212)363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.

WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212)363-7500
Fax: (212)363-7171

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286150

Source: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation into PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation ("PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation") (NASDAQ: PRCT) concerning potential violations of the federal securities laws.

On the Q3 2025 earnings call on November 4, 2025, CFO Kevin Waters reaffirmed the $325.5 million revenue target and stated the company was "maintaining handpiece average selling prices to be approximately $3,200." CEO Larry Wood added that investments in strategic priorities were "not expect[ed] ... to impede our progress toward achieving profitability." At the time of these statements, the Company had implemented a pricing-discipline initiative that eliminated historical bulk-purchase discounts -- a change that directly reduced realized average selling prices on the Company's core product line.

The guidance did not quantify or disclose the revenue impact of this pricing change. When Q4 2025 results were released, actual revenue fell $17.4 million short of the guided figure, and FY 2026 guidance of $410 million to $430 million also came in below analyst consensus. The stock lost roughly 15% of its value in a single session.

If you suffered a loss on your PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation securities and would like to explore a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, Learn More About the Investigation or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or call (212)363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.

WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212)363-7500
Fax: (212)363-7171

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286152

Source: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2026) - Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation into Ziff Davis, Inc. ("Ziff Davis, Inc.") (NASDAQ: ZD) concerning potential violations of the federal securities laws.

Throughout 2025, Ziff Davis highlighted adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted EPS as key performance measures in its earnings presentations and calls. On the Q2 2025 earnings call on August 8, 2025, CFO Bret Richter reported adjusted diluted EPS of $1.24, noting that the figure reflected higher adjusted EBITDA and lower diluted shares outstanding. The Company's GAAP results, which included foreign-exchange-related losses and other items excluded from adjusted figures, painted a different picture of the Company's financial health -- a gap investors could not easily see from the headline numbers presented each quarter.

When Q4 2025 results were released, reported revenue declined 1.5% year-over-year to $406.7 million and adjusted EPS missed consensus and internal projections. The stock fell double digits in a single session.

If you suffered a loss on your Ziff Davis, Inc. securities and would like to explore a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, Learn More About the Investigation or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at [email protected] or call (212)363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.

WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 27th Floor
New York, NY 10004
[email protected]
Tel: (212)363-7500
Fax: (212)363-7171

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/286151

Source: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

NEW YORK, March 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of First Western Financial, Inc. (“First Western” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: MYFW).  Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether First Western and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. 

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 22, 2026, First Western reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025.  Among other items, the Company reported quarterly earnings of $0.34 per share, missing analyst expectations. 

On this news, First Western’s stock price fell $2.40 per share, or 8.81%, to close at $24.83 per share on January 23, 2026.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Danielle Peyton
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]
646-581-9980 ext. 7980

It’s been a wild start to 2026, and gold has responded. The traditional release valve for investors worried about volatility, gold has shot up in price in the first months of the year. It sits at just under $5,300 per ounce at time of writing, following the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Investors may be wondering, then, what the 2026 gold price outlook holds for the rest of the year — and how they can respond.

See more: How Japan ETF GSJY Can Stand out From Foreign Equities Pack

The price of gold has already risen massively recently, more than 47% over the last six months alone. Over the last year, meanwhile, it’s seen more than an 80% price increase. That steady ascent may be poised to continue for a few reasons.

Geopolitical Risk It’s obvious, given recent news, that geopolitical risk is on the rise. The 2026 gold price outlook may have been impacted by some political risk already, given the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine. Some may even have pointed to the massive, looming risk of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The prospect of unpredictable attacks on nations, especially those in critical regions like Venezuela and Iran, suggests a new era for geopolitical risk.

Concentration Risk Putting aside the heavy load of geopolitical risk, concentration risk is still a major consideration for domestic equities. Huge tech firms loom over the whole S&P 500. Should the AI hyperscalers run out of steam or face a crisis, the impact could be serious. Gold could provide a strong store of value amid that potential scenario.

Fiscal Instability and Debt The U.S. looms over the broader financial system, and what happens to its finances has import for other markets. With the U.S. piling on significant debt — and doubts growing over its overall finances — the U.S. dollar has declined. There are of course myriad ways to play that shifting outlook in bonds, but gold remains an important piece of that side of portfolios, too.

The Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) provides one option to get exposure to the overall 2026 gold price outlook. AAAU charges an 18 basis point fee for exposure to physical gold. The strategy has added almost a quarter billion in net inflows over the last three months according ETF Database data, as well, returning 22% YTD. For those looking to respond to rising potential for gold this year, it could intrigue.

For more news, information, and strategy, visit the Future ETFs Content Hub.

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HomeETFs and Funds AnalysisETF Analysis

SummaryThe Global XMLP ETF tracks the Solactive MLP Infrastructure Index and offers diversified midstream energy exposure with a 7.3% forward yield and fair valuation.MLPA benefits from structural U.S. energy export growth, data center-driven demand, and a premium for infrastructure safety versus global peers.Fund concentration is high, with the top 10 holdings comprising over 96% of assets, reflecting market cap realities and overflow effects.Annual returns of 10–14% are plausible via stable distributions and moderate capital appreciation, making MLPA attractive alongside AMLP and MLPX. halbergman/iStock via Getty Images

Introduction The U.S. oil and gas midstream industry might be one of the most overlooked sectors involved in the reshaping of energy security supply chains and domestic infrastructure enhancement. It has recently made some headlines as the stock market rotates from the

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

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

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) Presents at 47th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference Transcript

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The following article is adapted from The Block’s newsletter, The Daily, which comes out on weekday afternoons.

Happy Tuesday! Bitcoin has outperformed equities amid the escalating U.S.-Iran tensions — a divergence CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill said underscores growing demand for a scarce, non-sovereign asset that trades continuously through geopolitical shocks.

In today's newsletter, Marc Zeller's ACI plans to exit the Aave DAO by July, MARA revises its digital asset management strategy to permit sales of bitcoin held on its balance sheet, the Bank of Japan experiments with blockchain technology for central bank settlements, and more.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government moved roughly $23,000 in bitcoin from an address labeled on Arkham as tied to funds seized from Miguel Villanueva.

P.S. Don't forget to check out The Funding, a biweekly rundown of crypto VC trends. It's a great read — and just like The Daily, it's free to subscribe!

Marc Zeller's ACI to leave Aave DAO in July amid growing governance tensions The Aave Chan Initiative, a major Aave DAO delegate and service provider founded by Marc Zeller, said it will leave the decentralized autonomous organization by July and wind down operations over four months while completing outstanding commitments.

The departure follows BGD Labs' recent decision to step away in April, deepening governance tensions and marking a second major contributor's exit in weeks. "The main spark is BGD leaving," Zeller told The Block when asked about the primary reason behind ACI's decision to step away amid recent Aave governance developments. A governance dispute that began over CoW Swap fee routing to Aave Labs without a prior governance vote has escalated into broader concerns about transparency, control of brand assets, and revenue accountability. Aave Labs' "Aave will win" temp check passed with 52.58% support, but Zeller argued the result relied on Labs-linked voting power that could sway outcomes. Zeller claimed that excluding roughly 233,000 AAVE from three address clusters he described as Labs-linked — including a 111,000 AAVE delegation from Aave founder Stani Kulechov — would have reversed the result, raising concerns about decentralization and budget oversight. As it prepares to leave, ACI is seeking to convert its funding stream into a 120-day lump sum to secure a clean transition, warning it will halt work immediately if the DAO rejects the proposal. MARA opens door to selling stockpiled bitcoin in new policy shift MARA revised its 2026 digital asset management strategy to allow sales of bitcoin held on its balance sheet, expanding beyond its prior policy that only permitted sales of bitcoin generated from operations, according to a 10-K filing with the SEC.

The miner held 53,822 BTC worth $4.7 billion at the end of 2025, with about 28% activated under lending, collateralized borrowing, and trading initiatives, which delivered mixed financial results. MARA generated $32.1 million in interest income from 9,377 BTC loaned but recorded a $422.2 million fair-value decline and a $69.1 million loss in its trading segment for the year. The company mined 8,799 BTC in 2025, down 7% year over year amid rising network difficulty, with the policy revision marking a departure from its long-standing approach of holding mined bitcoin as a long-term investment. Bank of Japan to test blockchain-based reserve settlement Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank will test whether its current account deposits can operate on blockchain-based systems as part of a sandbox experiment.

The BOJ plans to work with external experts to explore blockchain use cases for domestic interbank transfers and securities settlement, potentially integrating smart contracts. Japan is participating in the BIS-led Project Agora to study cross-border wholesale settlement using tokenized central bank money on blockchain infrastructure. The BOJ is also advancing its retail CBDC pilot and restructuring its CBDC Forum as Japan's broader crypto regulatory framework continues to evolve. Spot bitcoin ETFs post $458 million in net inflows as institutions buy into global instability U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs recorded $458.2 million in net inflows on Monday, led by $263.2 million into BlackRock's IBIT, with no funds posting outflows.

The inflows extend last week's $787 million rebound, following more than $1.8 billion in combined net outflows in January and February. Nick Ruck, director of LVRG Research, said major allocators view bitcoin's recent correction as an "attractive entry point" and are positioning for a macro recovery despite retail sentiment gauges remaining in "extreme fear." Meanwhile, Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at Bitrue, told The Block that institutions are buying into global uncertainty because they view bitcoin as a maturing diversifier and hedge. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says stablecoin yields should face bank-style rules, calls for 'level playing field' JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in a televised CNBC interview that he wants a "level playing field" with crypto firms, arguing that stablecoins paying interest-like rewards should face the same rules as bank deposits to prevent a parallel banking system.

Dimon said that paying yield on idle stablecoin balances effectively makes a firm a bank, while leaving room for transaction-based rewards as a potential compromise. His comments land as lawmakers debate stablecoin yield provisions under the Clarity Act and implement the 2025 GENIUS framework, with banks and crypto firms split over how rewards should be treated. In the next 24 hours U.S. mortgage data are due at 7 a.m. ET on Wednesday. The Women of Bitcoin Summit kicks off in New York City. Never miss a beat with The Block's daily digest of the most influential events happening across the digital asset ecosystem.

Disclaimer: This article was produced with the assistance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT/xAI’s Grok and reviewed and edited by our editorial team.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2026 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Core Scientific sold $175 million worth of Bitcoin to invest more in AI data centers. The company is slowly moving away from Bitcoin mining and focusing on AI business growth. Core Scientific, a U.S.-basedbitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company, sold 1,900 Bitcoins in January worth around $175 million. The sale price implies an average of about $82,100 per Bitcoin, which is higher than the current market price of roughly $67k. The company now holds fewer than 1000 BTC, down from the 2,537 BTC at the end of December 2025.

The company focuses on AI from the Bitcoin mining Core Scientific management says that Bitcoin mining is no longer its main long-term focus, and the company is now shifting its power and capital towards artificial intelligence data centers and high-performance computing (HPC). Chief Financial Officer Jim Nygaard said that the company sold the Bitcoin. He also added that Core Scientific may continue to sell Bitcoin depending on the market conditions. 

Adam Sullivan, the CEO, has explained that the mining segment is now “essentially in runoff,” which means it is being gradually phased out. Mining operations are being maintained only to meet minimum energy requirements while the facilities are converted into the AI-focused colocation centers. 

The Three company has ended 2025 with about $530 million in liquidity and also maintained up to $4 billion in potential financing related to its contract with CreWeave. This indicates that the company is prioritizing long-term AI infrastructure growth rather than rebuilding its bitcoin mining capacity. 

Core Scientific reported $79.8 million in revenue for the fourth quarter, and this was lower than the $122 million expected by the analysts. The company also reported a loss of $0.42 per share, which is larger than the expected $0.08 loss. Core science is not alone in the changing direction. Several bitcoin companies are moving towards AI and the data center businesses. This move from Core Scientific’s Bitcoin sale shows that the company is moving away from Bitcoin mining and focusing more on the artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Highlighted Crypto News: Meme Coins on a Decline, Nearly Mirror European Markets  

Chainlink expanded its cross-chain infrastructure after integrating Coinbase’s wrapped Bitcoin token, cbBTC, with the Monad blockchain through its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP). 

The connection enables more than $5 billion in cbBTC supply to be accessible to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications operating on Monad. The move strengthens Chainlink’s position in cross-chain and institutional infrastructure.

cbBTC goes live on Monad via CCIP The integration enables users to transfer cbBTC directly from Base, Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain, to Monad without using third-party bridges. CCIP functions as the exclusive bridging infrastructure for Coinbase’s wrapped assets. Each cbBTC token maintains a 1:1 backing with Bitcoin, ensuring that the asset transferred to Monad retains the same underlying value guarantee.

Monad operates as a high-speed, EVM-compatible blockchain designed to process transactions faster and at lower cost. With cbBTC now available, developers can build Bitcoin-backed lending and borrowing protocols directly on the network.

Lending platforms can accept cbBTC as collateral, allowing holders to access liquidity without selling their Bitcoin-backed positions. In addition, spot trading pairs can incorporate a Bitcoin-denominated base asset, and structured products or vaults can reference cbBTC within Monad’s environment. 

Following the move, Keone Hon, co-founder of the Monad Foundation, said developers can now build Bitcoin-backed applications on Monad without relying on external infrastructure to source the asset.

Revenue models begin generating measurable traction The launch of the cbBTC is part of more general attempts to bridge network use and value capture. Chainlink has traditionally provided much of the oracle market with the infrastructure, but that use has not necessarily been reflected in its revenue mechanisms. The network retaliated with Chainlink Reserve and Smart Value Recapture (SVR) in 2025.

Introduced through Aave, SVR recovered up to $16 million in maximum extractable value (MEV) over a nine-month period. Chainlink received 35% of that total, which was about $5.6 million.

The Chainlink Reserve buys LINK on the open market using payments from enterprises to purchase Chainlink services. The Reserve had amassed 2.3 million LINK since it was launched seven months ago.

The process remains in the initial phase and reflects the current enterprise adoption of the Chainlink infrastructure. In the meantime, CCIP implements over 60 blockchains via a layered security model that decouples execution and monitoring capabilities. 

Institutional infrastructure and market position Chainlink is said to have a total value secured (TVS) of 64% of the oracle market. Its infrastructure is deployed in tokenization pilots with companies including UBS, Swift, Mastercard, J.P. Morgan, and Coinbase. Lido has migrated its cross-chain infrastructure to CCIP, while Aave has continued using Chainlink services in its lending markets.

Chainlink has become one of the most deeply embedded pieces of infrastructure in crypto.

It controls the majority of the oracle market by TVS and connects over 75 blockchains through CCIP.

Many major TradFi tokenization pilots from UBS to Swift is running through it. Lido… https://t.co/PGRIGk3XMA pic.twitter.com/HhT2OG056K

— Delphi Digital (@Delphi_Digital) March 2, 2026

Equities Data Streams expanded to 24/5 coverage in 2026 and currently consolidates prices of its premium data providers and offers sub-second updates on on-chain products with U.S. equities.

A former officer of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was found guilty of kidnapping and robbery for stealing $350,000 in Bitcoin from a 17-year-old during a home invasion at an apartment in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Superior Court jury reached the verdict after less than a day of deliberations. Sentencing is scheduled for March 31.

Eric Halem, 38, served 13 years with the LAPD before resigning in 2022 and held active reserve officer status at the time of the crime. Together with three accomplices, he entered the 18-story building wearing fake police vests and an access code obtained from an internal contact, posing as agents executing a search warrant.

Inside the apartment, they restrained the victim’s girlfriend with standard LAPD handcuffs and threatened the teenager with shooting, choking, and killing him until he handed over a hard drive containing the cryptocurrencies.

The defense attempted to discredit the key witness by pointing out that the minor himself had admitted to acquiring his Bitcoin fortune through fraud, but the argument did not hold. The origin of the assets has no bearing on the commission of the crime, and the jury dismissed the claim swiftly.

This case reflects a growing pattern: organized operations designed to physically coerce crypto asset users. Unlike cash, Bitcoin leaves no physical trace once transferred, making it a high-value target for networks willing to resort to violence.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-02/former-lapd-officer-guilty-crypto-home-invasion-robbery

Disclaimer: Crypto Economy Flash News are based on verified public and official sources. Their purpose is to provide fast, factual updates about relevant events in the crypto and blockchain ecosystem.

This information does not constitute financial advice or investment recommendation. Readers are encouraged to verify all details through official project channels before making any related decisions

SummaryMarket correlations break as bonds and stocks fall togetherDollar and oil only winners as Iran and oil risks riseMoney market funds attract heavy amounts of cash this weekLONDON/NEW YORK, March 3 (Reuters) - Cash became king in global markets on Tuesday as an escalation in the ​Middle East conflict dragged down gold, bonds and stocks synchronously, upending the normal interplay between safe and riskier assets and driving up volatility.

The turnaround in market ‌sentiment, which just a day earlier was premised on a swift end to the conflict, came as Israel attacked Lebanon, and Iran responded with strikes against energy infrastructure in Gulf countries and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's energy passes.

The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here.

Aside from higher oil prices and the U.S. dollar , most major stock markets, Treasuries and other bonds and even safe-haven gold were sold.

“What is ​happening is a classic response to an event that has a lot of uncertainty," said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Investment Management in Boston.

The ​decline in gold prices - they were down 4% after being at four-week highs on Monday - showed the indiscriminate nature of the selling, ⁠Arone said.

"Oil, and the dollar, are the only two things that people want to own right now,” he said.

Brent crude gained nearly 7%, while the U.S. dollar posted sharp gains, ​hitting multi-month peaks against the euro, sterling and yen.

Bonds and stocks moved in sync. Wall Street's main indexes fell more than 2% on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab hitting its ​lowest in over two months, while the two-year U.S. Treasury yield hit 3.599%, its highest since late January.

Market analysts pointed to a host of factors driving the de-risking behaviour, including complacency about the conflict, extreme positioning in the weeks leading up to Saturday's attacks on Iran, and the hit to bonds from the inflationary impulses higher oil would generate.

"History tells us that, in periods of stress, the correlation of cross-asset ​volatility tends towards one," said George Adcock, head of trading and the deputy portfolio manager of Kohinoor Strategy at 36 South Capital Advisors.

Developments in the Middle East had caused ​investors to price various outcomes in markets, leading to a spike in volatility and pressure on extended positions in assets such as oil, gold and the dollar, Adcock said.

"During January we observed entrenched negative ‌narratives, extreme ⁠positioning and subdued volatility. These factors are now unwinding reflexively that is leading to a significant VAR and correlation shock across many portfolios," he said.

A VAR or value-at-risk shock typically occurs when selling is contagious across market sectors, breaking down the inverse correlations that had diversified risks and protected parts of investor portfolios.

STAYING LIQUIDLSEG Lipper data showed global money market funds received $47.9 billion in inflows, the highest since February 17, as investors sought refuge in short-term cash-like instruments.

Shows U.S. fund flowsBy contrast, investors reduced exposure to equities, pulling $9.6 billion from U.S.-focused equity funds, while global ​equity funds witnessed an outflow of $9.1 billion ​on Monday, the highest in more than ⁠two months.

"There’s an interesting flight to quality happening, with the dollar rallying, but it’s not going to Treasuries or other dollar assets," said David Kelly, chief global strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management. "That’s indicative of growing demand for short-term cash."

Aakash Doshi, head of gold strategy at ​State Street Investment Management in New York, said billions of dollars had gone into listed gold funds this year, and outflows ​had been small on ⁠Monday but could potentially be sizeable.

"I think in the case of gold, you're seeing some profit taking, and you're seeing just some liquidity, a cash raise, using gold as a liquid alternative hedge, in order to potentially offset margin calls, to offset stopped-out long positions and so forth.

"The focus has to be on the immediacy of when there's a real geopolitical shock or when there's ⁠very massive ​market uncertainty; your cash is king still," Doshi said.

While no one's sure when the uncertainty will ebb, JPMorgan's ​Kelly expects the dollar rally may not have legs, particularly if the conflict worsens the outlook for the fragile U.S. fiscal position and economy.

"Wars start out in shock and awe and end up in quagmire, which tends ​to be negative for the dollar," he said.

Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe and Patturaja Murugaboopathy; Additional reporting by Niket Nishant; Writing by Vidya Ranganathan and Nick Zieminski

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30 minutes ago

Crypto markets are attempting to stabilize after weeks of choppy price action, and price prediction for Solana is calling for higher prices again.

Bitcoin has found footing above key short-term levels, and that broader recovery is spilling over into high-beta names like Solana.

SOL is now trying to shift from pure reaction mode into something more constructive.

Solana Price Prediction: Is $100 Back in Play?Solana is hovering around $85 to $88 after bouncing from the $81 lows.

The bigger shift is that it reclaimed the $85 zone, which used to be strong support. Holding above it flips the tone from breakdown risk to consolidation mode.

Source: SOLUSD / TradingViewThe next wall is $92. Clear that cleanly, and $106 comes into play. If $106 breaks with real follow-through, then $120 will be a realistic upside target again.

On the downside, $80 is what bulls must defend. Lose it, and price likely slips back toward $75 and $70. A deeper break would drag the broader recovery attempt with it.

On lower timeframes, reclaiming short-term moving averages and pushing above the 4-hour Ichimoku cloud is a noticeable shift. Early signs of a structural change are forming.

For now, $100 is not guaranteed, but it is back in the conversation. Hold $85 and break $92, and the recovery narrative stays alive.

Maxi Doge ($MAXI): Built for Hype, Momentum, and Fast Rotations to Standout in 2026

Maxi Doge is not trying to act like the smartest project in the room. It is leaning into what actually moves crypto. Momentum. Memes. Conviction. The same formula that turned Dogecoin into a full-blown phenomenon.

Bold branding. Loud positioning. Community energy built for fast sentiment flips and hype-driven liquidity, not long technical documents.

And the early traction is real. The $MAXI presale has raised nearly $4.6 million so far, with staking rewards reaching up to 68% APY for early buyers.

If this cycle ends up rewarding attention over perfection, Maxi Doge is built exactly for that environment.

Visit the Official Maxi Doge Website Here

Over a third of tracked altcoins now sit near cycle lows despite a broader market stabilization.

Summary

CryptoQuant data shows 38% of altcoins are trading close to all-time lows, a deeper drawdown than during the post-FTX unwinding phase. Analyst Darkfost describes this as the “largest regression of altcoins observed during this cycle,” highlighting persistent structural pressure on non-BTC assets. While BTC holds near recent highs, dispersion between majors and smaller caps has widened, with altcoin underperformance pointing to weak liquidity and selective risk appetite. On-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant reports that 38% of altcoins are currently trading close to their all-time lows, marking a more severe retracement than the period following the collapse of FTX. The metric, highlighted by analyst Darkfost, is designed to capture how many alternative tokens remain under sustained selling pressure, even as the broader market shows signs of stabilization.

In a note summarized on social media, Darkfost describes this as the largest regression in altcoins observed so far in the current cycle, underscoring how uneven the recovery has been between blue-chip assets and the long tail of speculative tokens.

38% of Altcoins Near ATL, Worse Than the Post-FTX Period

“This metric shows how much altcoins are still under pressure. In fact, this represents the largest regression of altcoins observed during this cycle.” – By @Darkfost_Coc pic.twitter.com/chtaz1mHdZ

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) March 3, 2026 Market participants commenting on the data pointed out that, unlike the post-FTX phase—when forced liquidations and distressed selling drove prices lower—the current environment features relatively fewer obvious forced sellers. Instead, altcoin weakness appears to be driven by a mix of low liquidity, tighter risk budgets, and a rotation into more established names such as BTC and ETH, which have captured the bulk of inflows into spot markets and regulated products. One observer noted that in the FTX aftermath, once the main overhang cleared, many assets staged at least a reflexive bounce, whereas now a significant share of altcoins remains pinned near their lows despite occasional rallies in majors.investing+2

Dispersion and liquidity stress The divergence described by CryptoQuant has important implications for portfolio construction and risk management across digital assets. Rising dispersion—where some segments of the market trend higher while others grind lower—tends to increase both opportunity and risk, particularly for funds attempting to rotate between themes or capture relative value. With a large share of altcoins near ATL, liquidity in many order books has thinned, raising the impact cost of entering or exiting positions and increasing the potential for sharp, “Bart-style” intraday moves noted by traders.

At the same time, the data suggests a growing concentration of market interest in a smaller set of higher-quality or more narrative-driven assets, including BTC, ETH, and ecosystems such as SOL that continue to see comparatively stronger developer and user activity. Centralized venues like Coinbase have also funneled more volume into a limited basket of listed tokens, further amplifying the relative underperformance of smaller caps that lack deep markets or institutional access. In Europe, evolving regulatory frameworks like MiCA may reinforce this concentration by encouraging platforms to prioritize assets with clearer compliance and disclosure profiles, potentially leaving many fringe altcoins structurally disadvantaged even if broader crypto sentiment improves.

Dismissing early ‘altseason’ talk as premature, the analyst points to accelerating ETP volumes as laying the groundwork for an ETF-driven FOMO.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: March 3, 2026 │ 7:31 PM GMT

Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin

An XRP-focused market commentator Common Sense Crypto is arguing that the token’s latest move to around $1.39 is less about “decoupling” from bitcoin and more about macro rotation and quietly building ETF demand — with a much larger utility-driven run still ahead if scarcity kicks in.

The host, reviewing XRP’s one-day and one-week charts, highlighted a fresh leg up earlier in the day followed by sideways trading, eyeing a potential push toward $1.60 next.

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On the weekly time-frame, they described XRP’s structure as “bullish” and largely mirroring bitcoin, which is trading just under $69,000. Despite popular narratives, they insisted XRP’s price action is still tracking bitcoin, not breaking away from it.

ETF Flows, Metals Rotation & The Myth Of ‘Early Altseason’The commentator linked the day’s crypto strength to a pullback in gold and especially silver, framing it as part of an ongoing rotation: as precious metals sold off — with silver down roughly 4.4% at one point — bitcoin and the wider crypto market caught a bid. They suggested that if gold and silver weaken again, XRP could see another “leg up” toward the $1.60 area.

On bitcoin dominance, Common Sense Crypto dismissed claims that a minor drop marks the start of a full-blown altcoin season. Dominance, they argued, could just as easily make another leg up before “falling off a cliff,” making it “way too early” to declare altseason underway. The overall mood, they said, is captured by a fear-and-greed reading of 15 — extreme fear driven more by uncertainty around war and macro risk than outright panic.

More concrete, in their view, is ETF activity. Common Sense Crypto pointed to strong inflows into XRP exchange-traded products, calling out Bitwise volume of about $25.59 million and suggesting Bitwise could soon become the largest XRP asset manager. While price has only moved “in the slightest,” rising volume is seen as a precursor to “ETF FOMO” if XRP begins to move sharply, amplifying any scarcity in spot markets.

War Narratives, Triple-Digit Targets & Crucial RegulationThe video also pushed back against sensational war-driven price targets, including claims that a potential World War III or currency reset could catapult XRP to $73,000 or even $1 million. The host called such projections “ridiculous,” saying, “Let’s first get to $10. Then we’ll start talking about $50, then $100, then $1,000.”

Common Sense Crypto argued that a realistic path to high valuations requires regulatory clarity and genuine utility, not catastrophe. Rough projections tied to staking — for example, scenarios where 30% of circulating supply is locked — put XRP in a notional $7.50–$11 band, but the commentator stressed that true scarcity, combined with retail and institutional demand, could push well beyond that, into “double digits” through 2026 and potentially “three digits” if supply on exchanges dries up.

On supply management, they highlighted Ripple’s escrow structure as “disciplined,” noting that around 700 million XRP was recently relocked.

Citing comments from Ripple’s former CTO, Common Sense Crypto reiterated that rights to future escrowed XRP can be sold or transferred but cannot be dumped into circulation before scheduled release dates — a design they believe may already be accommodating central banks and large institutions. Burning escrow, they argued, would be less beneficial than using it strategically to build real-world utility.

For now, the analyst sees March as a potential “turnaround month” for risk assets — echoing economist Tom Lee’s view — but warns that timelines around regulatory clarity and macro outcomes keep shifting. Investors watching XRP, they suggested, should focus less on war headlines and more on ETF inflows, metals rotation, and the steady tightening of liquid supply.

Dig into DailyCoin’s sizzling hot crypto news right now:
$1.2M Iran Strike Bets Spark Insider Trading Concerns
Core Scientific Steps Away from Bitcoin Mining

People Also Ask:Is XRP already in an altseason?

According to the YouTube video, no. The host views the recent dip in bitcoin dominance as too minor to confirm a true altseason.

What price levels is the analyst watching next?

In the short term, a move from roughly $1.39 toward $1.60; longer term, $10 as the first major milestone before discussing higher targets.

How important are XRP ETFs in this thesis?

The commentator sees rising ETF volumes and eventual FOMO from ETF issuers as a key driver of future scarcity and upside.

Could war or a global reset alone send XRP to extreme valuations?

The host rejects that idea, arguing that regulation, utility, and controlled supply matter far more than speculative war narratives.

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

Market Sentiment

100% Bullish

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

In brief Bitcoin rose Monday after U.S. markets opened, but was roughly even over the past 24 hours. Stocks faced pressure as the Middle East conflict appeared to widen. Gold and silver slipped, underperforming digital assets. Bitcoin outpaced major U.S. stock indexes on Tuesday, rising as investors weighed the prospect of a prolonged military conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

The leading digital asset by market cap recently changed hands at $68,783, roughly even over the last day according to CoinGecko, but up by about $2,000 since U.S. markets opened. The cryptocurrency had fallen as low as $66,300 earlier on Tuesday before staging a recovery.

Although Bitcoin has tumbled in recent months, the digital asset jumped toward $70,000 on Monday amid expectations of higher inflation in the U.S., which analysts linked to rising energy prices and the prospect of increased U.S. military spending.

On Myriad, a prediction market owned by Decrypt's parent company Dastan, traders grew less confident that Bitcoin would fall $55,000 (58%) before hitting $84,000 (42%), thought overall sentiment remains bearish.

On Tuesday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq led losses among major U.S. stock indexes, sliding 1%. That decline slightly outpaced the S&P 500, while the Dow Jones dropped by 369 points.

U.S. President Donald Trump has projected that “Operation Epic Fury” could last four to five weeks, while still emphasizing that America has the “capability to go far longer.” Meanwhile, Iran has fired missiles at its neighbors, widening the conflict’s scope in the Middle East and jeopardizing the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Tuesday, Trump indicated from the White House that the U.S. continues to hammer Iran, targeting more leaders in the wake of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

“There was another hit today on the new leadership, and it looks like that was pretty substantial,” Trump said. “So they’re getting hit very hard.”

Myriad traders foresaw a 45% chance that the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire agreement before April and a 38% chance that the current Iranian regime would fall by October.

Jake Ostrovskis, Head of OTC at crypto market maker Wintermute, wrote in a note that the most important indicator for cryptocurrencies may be the price of oil. Brent crude pushed higher on Tuesday, rising 4.5% to $81 per barrel, according to Yahoo Finance.

“If Brent stays above $80 for more than a few sessions, the re-inflation narrative hardens and the March rate cut that was already a long shot becomes impossible,” he wrote, in reference to the Federal Reserve’s decision at its next policy meeting.

Traders penciled in a 2.6% chance that the Fed lowers interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point at its next meeting, per CME FedWatch.

Despite benefiting from recent bouts of geopolitical uncertainty, the price of gold fell 3.6% to around $5,119 per ounce, according to Yahoo Finance. Silver showed greater losses, skidding around 6.2% to around $83 per ounce as the conflict showed no signs of easing.

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