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Bitcoin climbed over the weekend amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, rising around 2.5% in 24 hours to roughly $72,950 after briefly dipping near $70,500 during volatile trading. The move came as investors reacted to geopolitical developments following U.S. strikes on Iranian military facilities on Kharg Island, a major hub for the country’s oil exports. Despite the uncertainty, the cryptocurrency rebounded as traders assessed the broader implications for global markets.
Oil prices surged about 3% to near $100 per barrel, the highest level since mid-2022, as concerns grew about potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. While commodity markets reacted sharply, broader risk assets remained relatively steady, with U.S. stock futures edging slightly higher. Analysts noted that rising energy prices could complicate interest rate decisions by increasing inflationary pressure, though Bitcoin has shown resilience so far amid continued demand from crypto investors. Source
Bitcoin moved higher over the weekend as bulls attempted to secure a weekly close above $70,000, a level that would reclaim an important long-term support trend line. The cryptocurrency traded near $73,000 and was on track for its seventh consecutive daily gain, marking its highest daily close in more than a week. The price remained above several key levels, including the 200-week exponential moving average and the former 2021 all-time high range around $68,300 to $69,400, suggesting strengthening momentum despite recent volatility.
Analysts said the brief dip on Friday likely reflected traders reducing exposure before the weekend rather than a shift in market structure. Some expect a short-term pullback to close futures market gaps before Bitcoin potentially pushes toward resistance between $75,000 and $80,000. However, geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices continue to create uncertainty across markets, and analysts note that while Bitcoin is holding firm, sellers frequently appear when the price moves above $70,000, indicating ongoing profit-taking rather than panic selling. Source
Proposed updates to the Basel III banking rules in 2026 could unlock significant liquidity for Bitcoin if regulators assign the asset a lower risk weighting, according to analyst Nic Puckrin. Under the current framework, Bitcoin and similar digital assets carry a 1,250% risk weight, meaning banks must hold reserve assets equal to the full value of any Bitcoin on their balance sheets. These strict capital requirements make it extremely costly for banks to hold Bitcoin or provide related services, limiting institutional participation in the crypto market.
Regulators in the United States have opened a 90-day public consultation on how the revised rules will be implemented, raising hopes that a more favourable classification could allow banks to integrate Bitcoin into their operations. Critics argue the current system unfairly penalises crypto compared with other assets, noting that investment-grade corporate bonds carry a risk weight of up to 75% while gold, government bonds and cash have a 0% risk weight. Some industry figures say the rules effectively restrict banking involvement in crypto by making it prohibitively expensive, potentially slowing broader adoption of digital assets within the financial system. Source
The Ethereum Foundation has sold 5,000 ETH to BitMine Immersion Technologies for about $10.2 million, according to a post shared on X. The transaction was completed at an average price of $2,042.96 per coin and forms part of the foundation’s ongoing treasury management strategy. Funds from the sale will support core activities including protocol research and development, ecosystem growth and community grants. It marks the second direct sale of ETH from the foundation to a public crypto treasury firm, following a previous transaction in which 10,000 ETH was sold to Sharplink last July.
BitMine remains the largest Ethereum treasury company, holding more than 4.5 million ETH valued at roughly $9.4 billion based on recent market prices. Despite continuing to accumulate the asset, the firm is sitting on significant unrealised losses as Ethereum has fallen sharply from its peak of $4,946 last August, dropping about 58% alongside the wider crypto market. Even so, chairman Tom Lee has maintained a bullish outlook, arguing that recent price stability suggests the market may be nearing the end of a short crypto downturn. Source
Regulatory uncertainty surrounding stablecoins could leave traditional banks at a disadvantage compared with crypto companies, according to Colin Butler of Mega Matrix. Many financial institutions have already invested heavily in digital asset infrastructure but are unable to deploy it fully while lawmakers decide how stablecoins should be classified, whether as deposits, securities or a new type of payment instrument. Banks face stricter compliance requirements and cannot operate comfortably in regulatory grey areas, meaning projects such as blockchain payment networks, digital asset custody and tokenised deposits remain limited until clearer rules are established.
Crypto firms, by contrast, have long operated in less defined regulatory environments and may continue expanding despite the uncertainty. Another potential pressure point is the difference in yields, with some exchanges offering around 4% to 5% on stablecoin balances while traditional savings accounts often provide less than 0.5%. Analysts say the gap could encourage some deposit migration over time, although large-scale shifts are unlikely immediately because institutions still prioritise trust and regulation. Efforts to restrict stablecoin yields could also push capital into alternative or offshore structures that generate returns through derivatives or other mechanisms, potentially reducing transparency rather than improving oversight. Source
Ledger has added hardware wallet signing support for MoonPay Agents, allowing users to approve cryptocurrency transactions initiated by AI agents directly on their devices while keeping private keys secure. The system routes trades, swaps and transfers generated by AI agents through a secure signer that requires manual confirmation on a Ledger hardware wallet before any funds move. MoonPay said this integration allows developers building AI-driven systems to connect them to financial infrastructure across activities such as trading, gaming, commerce and treasury management. Supported devices include several Ledger models, and the system works with wallets across multiple blockchains including Ethereum, Solana, Optimism, Avalanche and Base.
MoonPay launched its AI agent infrastructure in February as part of a broader trend in the crypto sector where developers are building autonomous agents capable of sending, receiving and managing digital assets. The integration also enables automatic switching between blockchain apps on Ledger devices so agents can operate across different networks while still requiring human approval for each transaction. Despite the growing interest in AI-driven crypto activity, security remains a concern because many existing agents store private keys in less secure ways and are vulnerable to attacks or operational mistakes, making hardware wallet verification an added safeguard for users who want oversight of their AI agents’ spending. Source
The US CLARITY Act, a proposed law intended to provide clearer regulation for the cryptocurrency industry, may have little chance of passing in 2026 if it does not advance through committee by the end of April. Galaxy Digital’s head of firmwide research, Alex Thorn, warned that the legislative timeline is tight and that the bill would need to reach the Senate floor by early May for a realistic chance of approval this year. The delay is partly due to the Senate prioritising other legislation, including the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to prove US citizenship in person when registering.
Debate over whether stablecoin reward programmes could disrupt the traditional banking system is widely viewed as the main obstacle to the bill’s progress, though industry figures believe additional issues could emerge even if that dispute is resolved. Potential sticking points include rules affecting decentralised finance, protections for developers and questions over which regulators would oversee the sector. Some lawmakers still hope the bill could advance this year, but analysts at TD Cowen have warned that political delays could push market structure legislation to 2027, with implementation possibly not arriving until 2029. Source
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Crypto lending platform BlockFills has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States after suspending customer deposits and withdrawals last month. Its operating company, Reliz LTD, along with three related entities, submitted the filing in a Delaware bankruptcy court as part of an effort to restructure the business. In court documents, the firm estimated its assets to be between $50 million and $100 million, while liabilities were listed between $100 million and $500 million. The company said the restructuring process is intended to preserve the value of the business and maximise recoveries for stakeholders after discussions with investors, clients and creditors.
The company said it had assessed all available strategic and financial options and believes the bankruptcy process will give it time to stabilise operations, seek additional liquidity and explore potential transactions. The move follows a sharp downturn in the crypto market that saw Bitcoin fall significantly earlier in the year. A US court recently froze 70.6 Bitcoin connected to the firm after a lawsuit from Dominion Capital, which accused BlockFills executives of misappropriating and commingling customer funds and acknowledged a balance sheet shortfall. The situation mirrors the collapse of several major crypto lenders in 2022 following a broader market crash. Source
Crypto markets began the week slightly higher during Asian trading, with most digital assets posting gains over the previous 24 hours, though volatility is expected as several major economic and geopolitical developments unfold. Attention is focused on the upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting and comments from Chair Jerome Powell, particularly regarding how the war involving Iran may influence inflation. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is expected to announce a multinational coalition aimed at escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz as global fuel prices continue to rise. Markets are also reacting to US strikes on Kharg Island, a key part of Iran’s oil industry, which pushed oil prices back to around $100 per barrel.
Wednesday will be the most significant day of the week, with the release of February’s Producer Price Index inflation report and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Futures markets suggest there is a strong likelihood that rates will remain unchanged, although investors have been adjusting expectations for potential rate cuts this year due to concerns that rising energy prices could push inflation higher. Additional US economic data later in the week includes the Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index and January new home sales. In crypto markets, total capitalisation increased by roughly $70 billion to $2.54 trillion, with Bitcoin briefly reaching $74,000 before pulling back and Ether climbing above $2,200, while several altcoins recorded modest gains. Source
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a major update to simplify the process of running Ethereum nodes, aiming to make the network more accessible to ordinary users. The proposal suggests merging the backend programs used by nodes to interact with the Beacon Chain, which manages consensus and staking, with the execution layer into a single unified codebase. Currently, validators must run and synchronise two separate programs, a process that is technically complex and time-consuming, effectively limiting node operation to professionals and those with significant technical knowledge. Buterin emphasises that running Ethereum infrastructure should be a basic right for individuals and households, arguing that nodes should be easy to set up regardless of computing resources or technical skill.
To further decentralise Ethereum, Buterin also supports partially stateless nodes, which store only the data necessary for users to send transactions and verify the blockchain, reducing hardware and storage requirements. This approach addresses concerns about network centralisation, which can arise when only a few providers dominate remote procedure call services, potentially enabling censorship. Buterin has also committed significant personal funds to support privacy-preserving technologies and secure, verifiable software, intending to deploy these resources gradually as the Ethereum Foundation continues its technical development roadmap. Source
The US Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act, or CLARITY Act, has been criticised by Gnosis co-founder Dr Friederike Ernst for potentially centralising control of crypto markets in the hands of a few large financial institutions. Ernst argues that by requiring all crypto activity to pass through licenced intermediaries, the legislation risks undermining the ownership model that allows users to run and participate in blockchain networks directly. While the bill clarifies regulatory jurisdiction between the SEC and CFTC and protects peer-to-peer transactions and self-custody, it may also unintentionally weaken decentralised finance protocols and consolidate control over the crypto infrastructure.
The CLARITY Act has stalled in Congress due to disagreements between the crypto industry and traditional banks, particularly over stablecoin yield rules and the ability of issuers to share interest with holders. Coinbase withdrew its support, citing concerns that the bill would hinder DeFi and tokenised real-world assets. Some lawmakers remain hopeful the bill could pass by April, but experts suggest the chances of it becoming law later in 2026 are slim if these issues are not resolved. Potential obstacles include developer protections, regulatory authority, and ensuring that decentralised networks remain accessible without relying on centralised intermediaries. Source
Australia is moving closer to establishing a formal regulatory framework for digital assets as the Senate Economics Legislation Committee has endorsed a proposed bill to bring crypto platforms and custody services under the country’s financial-services laws. The framework would require operators handling client tokens to obtain an Australian Financial Services Licence, comply with asset-safeguarding standards, and meet disclosure obligations, with a six-month transition period for those not already licenced. Lawmakers aim to modernise oversight of the rapidly growing digital-asset industry and address gaps in consumer protection that currently allow businesses to hold large amounts of client assets without the safeguards seen in traditional finance.
Industry groups have welcomed the move, citing potential economic benefits and stronger customer protections. Clear legislative rules could boost productivity and support Australian businesses in accessing global blockchain technology within a regulated environment. The proposed Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 would formally define digital tokens, platforms, and custody services under existing financial-services law, focusing on the regulation of intermediaries rather than blockchain technology itself. The bill is now advancing through the parliamentary process as the country prepares to implement its first comprehensive regulatory framework for digital-asset platforms. Source
Aave is introducing a new feature, Aave Shield, to protect users from high-risk trades following a $50 million loss suffered by a trader during a USDT-to-AAVE swap. The loss was caused by an illiquid market and infrastructure failures rather than slippage, with the user receiving only $36,500 worth of AAVE for a $50.4 million swap. A portion of the loss was also due to a sandwich attack executed by a Maximal Extractable Value bot, which captured nearly $10 million. Aave Shield will automatically block swaps with a price impact above 25%, though users can manually disable the protection to proceed with risky trades.
The incident highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in decentralised finance, as multiple warning signs on Aave’s interface were ignored by the user, including alerts about high price impact and low liquidity. CoW DAO, the team behind the exchange used for the swap, confirmed that outdated gas limits and infrastructure failures contributed to the problem, preventing better-priced trade options from being executed. The organisations involved are investigating the issues and have committed to addressing the problems transparently to improve safety and reliability for DeFi users. Source
The Bitcoin network has reached a milestone with its 20 millionth coin mined, leaving just 1 million remaining, a supply expected to take roughly 115 years to fully unlock. This milestone has coincided with significant shifts in the mining industry, as analysts predict many publicly traded miners will exit the business by 2027 or 2028, selling off Bitcoin holdings to pivot into AI and high-performance computing. Despite declining block rewards, the impact on Bitcoin’s price is likely to be limited, as miners now hold just 0.5% of circulating supply, a fraction compared with large institutional holders such as Strategy, which owns seven times more.
Mining firms are increasingly diversifying into AI and high-performance computing to maintain revenue amid low hash prices and the upcoming 2028 halving, with companies like Bitdeer and HIVE Digital repurposing mining infrastructure and developing next-generation hardware. Analysts highlight that long-term survivability will favour miners with efficient energy access, vertical integration, and flexibility to adapt to new technology demands. While some operators may wind down, others see opportunities to leverage excess energy and computing power to serve AI workloads, potentially sustaining profitability as Bitcoin block rewards gradually decline. Source
A potential ban on stablecoin yield payments in the US could create opportunities for other countries to offer these services, according to Takatoshi Shibayama, Asia-Pacific lead at crypto wallet company Ledger. He explained that if the US enacts a wider ban, it would spark discussions between regulators, stablecoin issuers, and institutions elsewhere about allowing yields or rewards to be passed on to users. Some countries, such as Australia, have already provided regulatory carve-outs for stablecoin issuers, while most stablecoins globally avoid offering yields to protect traditional banking interests. Shibayama suggested that a US ban could prompt international markets to reconsider their approach and potentially expand access to stablecoin yields.
In Asia, Shibayama noted a shift in institutional focus away from cryptocurrencies toward blockchain applications, such as tokenising financial products and issuing stablecoins. Financial institutions are selectively exploring blockchain technology without engaging directly with assets like Bitcoin or Ethereum, focusing instead on practical use cases for their operations. Asset managers, however, remain interested in launching crypto products to broaden client offerings and are increasingly cautious in choosing regulated custody providers. This indicates a growing divergence between general blockchain adoption and traditional crypto investment in the region. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
