The latest developments in cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital finance.
Bitcoin fell below $71,000 after the US announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a sharp rise in oil prices. The move reflects growing geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. Despite the dip, Bitcoin remains up overall since the conflict began and continues to show resilience compared to traditional markets.
Big Tech firms are backing the x402 Foundation to create open standards for AI-powered payments across crypto and traditional systems. The initiative aims to enable AI agents to transact autonomously online. While early activity on the protocol surged, usage has recently slowed as adoption continues to develop.
Stablecoin transaction speed has doubled, allowing more activity without increasing supply. Standard Chartered says this could limit future demand for new tokens despite rising usage. Still, the market is expected to grow significantly, with projections reaching $2 trillion by 2028.
CoinDCX is investing $11 million to combat crypto fraud after its founders were cleared in an impersonation-related case. The exchange plans to address phishing and fake websites through a new Digital Suraksha Network. The move highlights rising concerns around user safety as India’s crypto market continues to grow.
BitGo has expanded its Canton Coin services to include trading and onchain settlement alongside custody. The move reflects growing institutional demand for complete infrastructure as tokenized assets gain traction in the financial sector.
Midas has raised $50 million to build a liquidity layer for tokenized assets, focusing on faster and more reliable redemptions. The move highlights growing investor interest in solving liquidity challenges within the expanding real-world asset sector.
NizaLabs has partnered with IO Trader and backed its seed round, signaling growing interest in Web3 prediction markets. The move aims to support the development of decentralized trading tools that combine price predictions, on-chain futures, and user-friendly interfaces for broader adoption.
ICE has invested $600 million more into Polymarket, moving forward its $2 billion plan and signaling strong institutional interest in prediction markets. The move comes as regulators increase scrutiny on the sector across multiple US states.
An ECB paper found that governance in major DeFi protocols is highly concentrated, with a small number of holders controlling most decision-making power. This raises questions about whether DeFi platforms qualify as truly decentralized under MiCA rules.
A Texas court dismissed a crypto developer’s case seeking protection from money transmitter laws, citing no immediate risk of prosecution. The ruling leaves uncertainty for developers, with industry leaders calling for clearer regulations through new legislation.
Most finance leaders now see digital assets as essential, not optional. Stablecoins and custody solutions are leading adoption, while firms focus on building the right infrastructure to support long-term use.
Binance will list Centrifuge (CFG) for spot trading on March 16, 2026, at 13:00 UTC with trading pairs CFG/USDT, CFG/USDC, and CFG/TRY. The token will transition from Binance Alpha to the main spot market, with deposits opening one hour before trading and withdrawals starting March 17.
Bybit has announced the listing of the BPUSDT perpetual contract for pre-market trading starting March 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM UTC. The launch will begin with a call auction phase followed by match-making and continuous trading stages to enable early price discovery.
Nebula3 (SN3) will debut on Binance Alpha on March 11, giving users an early look at the GameFi project before wider exposure. According to Binance’s official announcement, eligible users will also be able to claim an SN3 airdrop using Binance Alpha Points once trading opens.
Crypto venture funding grew nearly 50% over the past year, but the number of deals dropped sharply as investors focused on larger, late-stage investments. Mega-rounds are increasingly shaping the market, while early-stage startups rely on smaller, more fragmented funding sources.
Bybit has launched a new campaign focused on trading gold and silver instruments, including tokenized gold products like XAUT. The initiative highlights rising interest in precious metals within crypto markets and reflects the growing trend of bringing real-world assets onto blockchain-based platforms.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their first back-to-back weekly inflows in five months, bringing in about $568 million this week. Ether ETFs also saw a second week of positive flows. The rebound hints that institutional demand for crypto ETFs may be returning after months of withdrawals.
A US federal judge dismissed a lawsuit accusing Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao of helping terrorist groups move funds through crypto transactions. CZ said centralized exchanges have no incentive to support such activity. The case may still continue if plaintiffs file a revised complaint within 60 days.