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Bill Morgan argued XRP holders and Ripple shareholders may still gain together long-term.

Zach Rynes said XRP sales can fund shareholder value instead of token gains over time.

Both sides tied the dispute to XRPL adoption metrics and Ripple’s public strategy.

A public exchange on the social platform X has sparked renewed debate over XRP’s economic structure. Lawyer Bill Morgan and analyst Zach Rynes argued over whether Ripple’s equity investors and XRP holders face conflicting incentives. The dispute began after Rynes warned investors about projects that sell both equity and tokens. He argued that such structures create economic misalignment between investor groups.

Morgan responded by disputing that claim and stating both groups can benefit from XRP’s long-term growth. Their discussion soon expanded to XRP adoption data, XRPL development activity, and Ripple’s role in supporting the network.

Yes, your argument is simple, that there is a misalignment between the interests and incentives of ripple shareholders and XRP holders, or that the incentives are split but in part your argument although partly correct suffers from the logical fallacy of excluding the middle… https://t.co/clqrM5xG70 pic.twitter.com/pPBs5r1rlP

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) March 13, 2026

 The debate reflects a broader question within crypto markets. Can companies that sell equity and tokens maintain aligned incentives between investors and token holders?

Zach Rynes Raises Concerns Over “Double Dipping”

Zach Rynes posted his view on X that projects selling both tokens and company equity face structural problems. He wrote that such arrangements create economic misalignment between investor groups.

“Personally I would never buy a crypto token from a project that has also sold equity to investors,” Rynes wrote. He argued that the practice creates “unavoidable economic misalignment” and weakens the token’s value capture model.

Personally I would never buy a crypto token from a project that has also sold equity to investors

Such “double dipping” creates unavoidable economic misalignment between investor classes and muddies the value capture story

At some point, the market will force these projects to… pic.twitter.com/pRjStUWGik

— Zach Rynes | CLG (@ChainLinkGod) March 12, 2026

He also stated that markets may eventually force projects to merge tokens with equity or separate their economic functions. According to Rynes, the issue represents a structural challenge across the crypto industry.

Rynes also argued that several major crypto assets do not face this structure. He cited Bitcoin, Ethereum, Chainlink, Hyperliquid, and Solana as examples that lack similar investor overlap. Later, he defended his position against criticism. “My argument is pretty simple,” Rynes wrote, adding that critics should address his claims rather than create a “strawman.”

Bill Morgan Says XRP Incentives Can Align

Bill Morgan replied directly to Rynes and said the argument ignores a middle ground. He wrote that Ripple shareholders and XRP holders can still benefit from long-term adoption.

Morgan said that XRP exchange-traded fund trading activity indicates investor interest. According to his response, daily ETF trading volume has largely produced net inflows. He added that development on the XRP Ledger does not rely solely on Ripple. Other entities can build applications that drive value to the network.

Morgan also pointed to growth in decentralized finance connected to XRP. He cited activity from projects such as Flare, which he described as a stronger oracle provider than Chainlink in his view. He also mentioned amendments to the XRP Ledger protocol. According to Morgan, these updates expand potential institutional use cases for the network.

Morgan said daily XRPL transaction volume has risen since late 2025. He also noted growth in real-world asset tokenization activity on the network. In addition, Morgan referenced Ripple’s public statements about XRP. He wrote that the company calls XRP “the north star” and central to its strategy.

Related: XRP Holds $1.38 as Breakout Setup Draws Fresh Attention

Dispute Shifts to XRPL Adoption and Market Value

Rynes responded again by repeating his criticism of Ripple’s financial model. He asked why Ripple selling XRP to fund acquisitions and stock buybacks benefits token holders.

“Ripple Labs socializes its costs to XRP holders to fund product launches and corporate acquisitions,” Rynes wrote. He argued that value flows mainly to Ripple shareholders. Rynes also criticized comparisons that focus only on XRPL adoption. He said XRP supporters examine growth without comparing it with competing blockchains.

He described XRPL as “an obsolete ghost chain.” According to his statement, the network ranks outside the top forty chains by usage. Rynes added that XRPL holds less than one percent market share in real-world assets. He also said the network controls less than 0.01 percent of stablecoin activity.

He also questioned XRP’s market valuation relative to adoption metrics. Rynes wrote that he has not seen a larger gap between an asset’s valuation and its level of use. Morgan answered by dismissing that response. He said critics who view XRPL as overvalued should simply avoid investing in XRP.

“If it is a ghost chain with a heavy discount between its market price and its value just move on and ignore it,” Morgan wrote on X.

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Buterin casts Ethereum as sanctuary tech built for freedom and digital autonomy.

The new EF mandate focuses on privacy, security, and resistance to online capture.

It also backs safer user tools without shifting power to central gatekeepers today.

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin released a new mandate that defines how the Ethereum Foundation will guide the network’s future development. The document frames Ethereum as a “sanctuary technology” built to protect technological self-sovereignty and cooperation without coercion. It also clarifies that the foundation acts as a steward rather than the sole authority over the blockchain ecosystem.

According to the post, Ethereum should function as an escape hatch in cyberspace. The network aims to prevent any single organization, ideology, or actor from gaining total control online. The mandate outlines a renewed focus on censorship resistance, open source development, privacy, and security. These principles appear under the acronym CROPS.

Buterin said the foundation will expand these principles across Ethereum’s protocol layer and the user-facing access layer.

Ethereum Positioned as Sanctuary Technology

Buterin described Ethereum as a unique technological object with a specific global role.
He said the network exists to preserve technological self-sovereignty and enable cooperation without domination or manipulation.

This is the new EF Mandate.

For many of you, the contents should be no surprise, and a clarification along the lines that we have been going and thinking for the past few months. But the clarification is nevertheless worth making.

Ethereum is a unique object and has a unique… https://t.co/SMGCWnmUk5

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) March 13, 2026

The foundation therefore sees itself as a steward responsible for maintaining these characteristics. It remains the original steward but not the only one. The mandate explains that Ethereum should act as a sanctuary technology. This concept refers to tools that protect user autonomy in digital systems.

Buterin also stated that the foundation must broaden its perspective. He encouraged stronger connections with communities that support similar technological values. These groups include those working in what he described as the “sanctuary tech” or CROPS community.

Such collaboration could expand Ethereum’s reach beyond the traditional crypto ecosystem.

Protocol Development Focuses on Decentralization

The mandate places strong emphasis on Ethereum’s protocol layer. Buterin said the network must prioritize decentralization, verifiability, security, and privacy. He also pointed to inclusion guarantees and protocol liveness as key goals. These elements help ensure the network continues to function reliably and openly.

The document also identifies technical capabilities that may improve Ethereum’s role.
Examples include Layer-1 scaling and account abstraction. Some forms of in-protocol aggregation may also appear if they strengthen the system. Buterin argued that these improvements allow users to benefit directly from Ethereum’s core properties.

The mandate introduces what he calls the “walkaway test.” Ethereum must remain resilient even if future use cases expand. Buterin argued that a decentralization-first blockchain should not adapt solely to current applications. Instead, the protocol must maintain strong foundational properties regardless of shifting demand.

Application Layer Aims to Strengthen User Agency

The mandate also describes how the foundation views the application layer.
It aims to improve what Buterin called the “zero option” for users. This approach prioritizes privacy, security, and independence from intermediaries. User-facing tools should protect agency while reducing reliance on centralized services.

The foundation will continue building applications that align with CROPS principles.
Meanwhile, other ecosystem participants may pursue broader on-chain integration projects.

Buterin described these paths as complementary. Developers outside the foundation may adapt EF tools or integrate parts of them into different systems.

Related: Vitalik: Ethereum Foundation Stakes 72,000 ETH With DVT-lite

He also addressed the challenge of protecting non-expert users. Ethereum applications should reduce the risk of catastrophic mistakes such as accidental approvals. At the same time, design choices must preserve user freedom rather than shift control to centralized authorities.

Buterin said this design approach remains rare across technology sectors. Which path will shape the future of decentralized systems as Ethereum expands its sanctuary technology vision?

The mandate concludes that the Ethereum Foundation will continue to steward the network while supporting others who contribute to the ecosystem’s broader development.

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TRON led blockchain revenue, as updated daily, weekly, and monthly network fees moved higher

TRX cleared the $0.28-$0.29 zone as spot volume jumped 21% and price held near $0.2944

Positive funding and a firm RSI kept focus on $0.309, with $0.28-$0.29 now key support

TRON moved to the front of the revenue table as fresh network data showed rising activity across fees, trading, and token volume. At the same time, the TRX token pushed through a price zone that had capped advances for weeks, giving traders a clearer level to watch after a sluggish stretch in February.

Tron ranked #1 in revenue, far ahead of other blockchains.

In the past 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days, its revenue reached $947K, $5.42M, and $24.96M.https://t.co/28rZKzvLEx pic.twitter.com/0GxrgEI11h

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) March 14, 2026

Data shared by Lookonchain showed the network generating $947,419 in revenue over 24 hours, $5.42 million over seven days, and $24.96 million over 30 days. Those figures later increased to $1.01 million for the day, $6.43 million for the week, and $25.98 million for the month. The climb placed the chain ahead of rivals on revenue during the measured periods and added weight to the latest move in the token.

Revenue Growth Aligns With Rising Market Activity

The increase in revenue did not appear in isolation. Trading across applications tied to the network also picked up, though not evenly across every segment. Decentralized exchange volume, for instance, reached $60.42 million over the past 24 hours and $382.57 million over seven days.

Source: DefiLlama

That marked a weekly increase of 4.86%. Similarly, perpetual futures activity was larger in nominal terms, with $94.1 million traded in the last day and $556.08 million across the week, but that segment cooled from the previous week, posting a 26.88% decline. Meanwhile, spot market activity was firmer.

Trading volume in the token rose more than 21% and reached about $512 million. That increase mattered as it arrived during a softer session for Bitcoin, which fell 2.25% to roughly $70,795. The contrast did not prove full market separation, but it did suggest buyers were acting on chain-specific momentum rather than simply following the broader tape.

Price Action: TRX Break Above Key Barrier Reshapes the Outlook

On the chart, the move above the $0.28 to $0.29 range stood out. That band had repeatedly blocked upside attempts through February and also lined up with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement area, giving it extra attention among short-term traders.

At press time, TRX changed hands near $0.2944, up about 2% over 24 hours. The broader trend looked steadier than that daily move alone suggested. On the monthly view, the token was ahead by around 6%, while year-on-year gains stood near 33%.

Source: TradingView

The structure of the rally also drew notice. Price had been printing a sequence of higher lows and higher highs, and the token remained above short- and mid-term moving averages clustered around $0.28. That did not settle the next move, but it did show that recent support had shifted higher.

Related: XRP Holds Key Support as Traders Sit on $50.8B Unrealized Loss

Momentum Holds as Key Price Levels Come Into Focus

Other indicators leaned constructive, if not decisive. The relative strength index hovered near 60, a reading that often points to firm buying interest without yet signaling an overheated market. Derivatives data added a similar message.

CoinGlass showed the OI-weighted funding rate in positive territory at about +0.0096%, indicating that long positioning continued to outweigh short exposure. That usually reflects a market still leaning to the upside, though not without risk if sentiment turns quickly.

Source: CoinGlass

With such market conditions, the next level in view sits around $0.309, near the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement. Beyond that, traders are likely to keep an eye on the $0.32 area, which marked a prior peak in mid-January. Regardless, there is still a note of caution in the chart.

Recent price action has formed a rising wedge, a pattern that can sometimes precede a pause or pullback. If that happens, the old resistance zone between $0.28 and $0.29 may become the first support test.Below that, the $0.27 to $0.26 region remains the next area to watch. For now, though, the immediate story is simpler: revenue is climbing, volume has improved, and the breakout has put TRON back in focus.

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GI-TOC says USDT is gaining ground in Amazon gold trafficking through a covert Venezuela route

Researchers warn stablecoins may help illicit miners and traffickers move value beyond banks

The illegal Amazon gold trade now blends environmental crime with rapid digital payment networks

A report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime says stablecoins are becoming more relevant in the illicit gold economy across the Amazon Basin, adding a digital payment layer to a trade tied to deforestation, corruption, smuggling, and violence.

Investigators say criminal networks linked to illegal mining and gold trafficking are using digital currencies to settle deals, with Venezuela emerging as a key point in that flow. The finding adds a financial angle to an old problem.

Illicit gold flows in the Amazon Basin are shifting.

Over the past 2 years, Venezuela has emerged as a regional destination for illicit gold from Brazil & Guyana, reversing past smuggling patterns.

Our new brief examines these dynamics: https://t.co/SdcoyMNHyO pic.twitter.com/eI7wQKSqV1

— Global Initiative (@GI_TOC) March 11, 2026

Illegal mining has expanded for years across remote parts of the rainforest, where weak enforcement and porous borders leave room for traffickers.

Stablecoins Enter the Illicit Gold Economy

According to the GI-TOC analysis, some illicit gold mined in the Amazon is reportedly sold in Venezuela in exchange for Tether’s USDT, a stablecoin designed to track the U.S. dollar. That matters because stablecoins combine speed, liquidity, and relative price stability. In legitimate commerce, those features can make cross-border transfers easier.

In underground markets, however, researchers say, the same traits can help move value outside formal banking channels. The report says gold smuggled from Brazil and Guyana is flowing into Venezuela through opaque networks connected to criminal groups and state-linked actors.

In some transactions, buyers reportedly use USDT to pay for the metal. Analysts describe this as part of a broader shift in how illicit networks settle trade, especially where cash movement is risky, and banking access is limited.

Venezuela Emerges as a Hub for Illicit Gold

The Amazon Basin contains one of the world’s largest informal gold mining sectors, much of it spread across remote territory where state presence is inconsistent. GI-TOC researchers say Venezuela has become a major destination for illicit gold shipments.

Traffickers move gold from mining areas in Brazil and Guyana into Venezuela by road, river routes, and clandestine airstrips. Once inside the country, the metal can pass through networks involving organized crime groups, corrupt officials, and armed actors who control access to mining zones and transport corridors.

The report says the Venezuelan military has reportedly purchased large quantities of incoming gold, helping create a market that draws traffickers from across the region. With Venezuela facing sanctions and reduced access to global banking systems, alternative payment channels have grown in importance. Stablecoins appear to fit that need.

A Harder Problem for the Police

Illegal gold mining is one of the Amazon’s most destructive criminal economies. Mining camps clear the forest, while mercury used in extraction pollutes rivers and harms communities. Researchers warn that crypto payments could make these operations harder to track by giving criminal groups another way to store and move proceeds.

The Amazon Observatory, part of GI-TOC’s research network, describes the rainforest as a hub for overlapping illicit economies, including gold mining, wildlife trafficking, and drug distribution.

Related: BONK.fun Domain Hijacked in Breach as Wallet Drainer Goes Live

Why the Findings Matter

The report arrives as regulators and law enforcement agencies pay closer attention to how digital assets are used in money laundering, sanctions evasion, and cybercrime. Industry analysts still note that illicit activity represents a small share of blockchain transactions.

The GI-TOC findings suggest stablecoins may be gaining traction in commodity markets where oversight is weak, cash is risky, and traditional banking channels are inaccessible. For investigators and policymakers, that raises a difficult question: as digital assets spread further into the global economy, how often will they surface in environmental crime and cross-border black markets?

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A wallet swap on Aave erased nearly $50M after liquidity failed in one brutal trade.

Block builders and arbitrage bots captured over $43M as the swap unraveled at once.

Aave said the user saw repeated slippage warnings yet still approved the risky order.

A crypto wallet lost roughly $50 million in a single decentralized finance transaction on Thursday after executing a large token swap that triggered extreme slippage. Blockchain records show the wallet attempted to swap $50,432,688 in aEthUSDT for aEthAAVE through the CoW Protocol, but the trade returned only about 327 tokens worth roughly $36,000. The loss occurred when thin liquidity in the trading pools caused the transaction to execute with more than 99% slippage.

As a result, arbitrage traders quickly captured most of the lost value within the same blockchain block. Data from blockchain security firm BlockSec shows that arbitrageurs extracted more than $43 million in profit from the transaction. Of that amount, about $32.6 million went to the block builder responsible for ordering transactions before the block finalized.

The transaction involved aEthUSDT, an interest-bearing token that represents Tether’s USDT deposited into the Aave lending protocol on Ethereum. The trade attempted to acquire aEthAAVE, which represents deposited Aave governance tokens.

So how could a single trade erase tens of millions of dollars within seconds?

Massive Slippage During Token Swap

Blockchain data show the wallet attempted to swap $50,432,688 in aETHUSDT via the CoW Protocol trading interface. The transaction targeted aEthAAVE tokens tied to Aave’s governance asset.

However, the order size far exceeded available liquidity in the relevant trading pools. As the trade was executed, the automated market mechanism adjusted prices dramatically. That shift pushed slippage beyond 99%.

As a result, the wallet received only about 327 aEthAAVE tokens. After the trade completed, those tokens held an estimated value of roughly $36,000.

Meanwhile, the missing value flowed directly to arbitrage traders and transaction intermediaries. Automated trading systems quickly exploited the price difference created by the oversized swap.

BlockSec said that arbitrageurs captured more than $43 million from the transaction during the same blockchain block. Of that amount, about $32.6 million went to the block builder responsible for assembling and ordering the transactions.

Aave Founder Says User Confirmed Slippage Warning

Stani Kulechov, founder of the Aave protocol, addressed the incident in a post on X. He explained that the user initiated the trade through the Aave interface using $50 million in USDT. Kulechov stated that the trading interface warned the user about extraordinary slippage before the transaction was executed. The interface required confirmation through a checkbox before allowing the swap to proceed.

Earlier today, a user attempted to buy AAVE using $50M USDT through the Aave interface.

Given the unusually large size of the single order, the Aave interface, like most trading interfaces, warned the user about extraordinary slippage and required confirmation via a checkbox.…

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) March 12, 2026

“Earlier today, a user attempted to buy AAVE using $50M USDT through the Aave interface,” Kulechov wrote on X.

He added that the interface displayed a warning due to the unusually large order size. The user confirmed the warning on a mobile device and proceeded with the transaction.

According to Kulechov, the confirmation accepted the high slippage conditions, which ultimately produced the final trade result. The system, therefore, executed the swap after the user confirmed the risk.

Related: A Crypto Trader Made $2.3M Fortune Over The Past Month

DeFi Guardrails and Governance Debate

Following the incident, Kulechov said the scale of the loss exceeded typical slippage events seen in decentralized finance markets. He also expressed sympathy for the affected user. “We sympathize with the user and will try to make contact with the user and we will return $600K in fees collected from the transaction,” Kulechov said.

He also noted that the industry could add stronger safeguards while keeping decentralized finance permissionless. The Aave team plans to review ways to strengthen protections to help users avoid similar outcomes.

Earlier in the week, Kulechov discussed broader structural challenges within decentralized governance. In a separate post on X, he said decentralized autonomous organizations often struggle with slow decision-making processes.

https://t.co/V34mcJ0iIn

— Stani.eth (@StaniKulechov) March 10, 2026

He wrote that DAO governance often requires weeks of forum discussions, temperature checks, and multiple votes before proposals advance. Kulechov also described how governance systems can become politicized as participants align behind competing proposals.

“Participants take sides, lean toward the loudest voices, and form political alliances to get their own proposals passed later,” he wrote. He added that DAOs sometimes reward political influence rather than operational efficiency, which can slow innovation within crypto projects.

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Strategy reportedly added 4,038 BTC through STRC and deepened its treasury strategy.

STRC shares now serve as a steady funding route for faster Bitcoin accumulation.

The latest purchase keeps Strategy at the center of the Bitcoin treasury market focus.

Strategy Inc. reportedly added about 4,038 Bitcoin in a single day through capital raised with its STRC preferred shares. The move extends the company’s long-running Bitcoin treasury strategy. It also marks another large purchase tied to a funding tool built to attract yield-focused investors. Market watchers linked the latest estimate to trading activity around STRC. 

Their reading suggests investor demand gave Strategy enough capital to complete the purchase. The company remains the largest public corporate holder of Bitcoin. The reported buy adds to Strategy’s steady pace of accumulation. It also shows how the firm continues to rely on capital markets to expand its Bitcoin reserves.

BREAKING: Michael Saylor's Strategy is now estimated to have accumulated 4,038 BTC today via STRC

Nearly double it's previous daily record!

pic.twitter.com/aFzTtwIE2R

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) March 12, 2026

STRC Becomes a Core Funding Tool

Strategy introduced STRC as part of a broader financing structure for Bitcoin purchases. The instrument blends features of equity and debt within the company’s capital stack. STRC pays a recurring dividend and sits below traditional creditors in priority. The dividend now stands near 11.5% annually. That payout has helped draw investors seeking income.

As demand grows, Strategy can raise capital across trading sessions and direct it into Bitcoin. In turn, STRC has become a central part of the firm’s current acquisition model.

Earlier trading sessions had already pointed to purchases of more than 1,400 BTC through the same mechanism. This time, the estimate rose above 4,000 BTC in one day. That would make it one of the largest acquisitions linked to STRC since launch.

Bitcoin Strategy Keeps Expanding

Strategy built its position through repeated Bitcoin purchases over several years. Since 2020, the company has shifted from a software-focused identity toward a Bitcoin-centered treasury model. That approach turns company securities into a route for Bitcoin exposure. Many market participants now view Strategy’s stock and related instruments as leveraged proxies for the asset.

In 2026, the company increased its use of preferred equity programs like STRC. That shift opened access to investors who want yield rather than direct crypto exposure. As a result, Strategy gained another path to raise capital on a regular basis.

The broader structure also reduces reliance on common stock and convertible debt alone. Instead, the company can spread fundraising across several instruments while continuing to add Bitcoin.

Related: Investors Shift Strategy as Crypto Funding Surges 50% in 2026

Market Focus Turns to Risk and Scale

The structure still brings clear obligations. Strategy must keep paying dividends on preferred shares even when Bitcoin prices swing. That creates fixed pressure during weak market periods. Some analysts focus on that risk. They note that a sharp or extended downturn could strain the balance sheet while dividend commitments remain in place.

Others point to the model’s flexibility. They say it gives the company another way to gather capital and continue buying Bitcoin when market conditions allow. The latest estimated 4,038 BTC purchase keeps that debate active. Can capital market tools like STRC change how public companies build digital asset treasuries?

For now, Strategy appears committed to that path. Under Michael Saylor’s leadership, the company continues to use investor capital and structured securities to grow one of the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin reserves.

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Bitcoin held above $71K as oil spiked and equity markets weakened worldwide again.

Brent surged past $100 after Trump put Iran’s nuclear threat above oil price concerns.

Steady institutional demand kept Bitcoin resilient as traders watched liquidity closely.

Bitcoin rose to its highest level in a week as Middle East tensions shook risk markets and drove oil above $100 a barrel. CoinMarketCap data showed Bitcoin at $71,369, up 1.25% on the week, with market value at $1.42 trillion and 24-hour volume at $46.02 billion. While stocks fell and oil surged, Bitcoin held firm and extended gains during the latest trading sessions.

Bitcoin Recovers After Early-Week Slide

Bitcoin dropped toward $66,000 earlier in the week before buyers stepped back in. It then climbed through March 10 and March 11 and reclaimed the $70,000 level. That rebound came with stronger trading activity. Data showed a 3.21% volume-to-market-cap ratio, pointing to active but orderly market participation.

Supply metrics stayed tight. Circulating supply stood near 20 million BTC, while Bitcoin’s maximum supply remained fixed at 21 million coins. Since the latest Middle East escalation on Feb. 28, Bitcoin has gained about 7%. Over the same stretch, the Nasdaq 100 stayed mostly flat, while the S&P 500 fell about 1%.

Gold also moved lower during that period. Silver fell harder, with a drop of nearly 9%, adding to the contrast with Bitcoin’s performance.

Oil Shock Hits Broader Markets

Traders kept a close watch on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow route that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Concerns over disruption lifted volatility across energy markets.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons mattered more than oil prices. He made the remarks in a Truth Social post. “The United States is the largest oil producer in the world, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump wrote. “BUT, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons.”

After those remarks, Brent crude futures jumped 9.2% and closed above $100 per barrel for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. It was also the benchmark’s biggest one-day gain since May 2020. Stocks moved the other way. Google Finance data showed the S&P 500 down 1.52%, the Dow down 1.56%, and the Nasdaq down 1.73% to 24,533.

Related: Metaplanet Launches New Units and Backs JPYC Stablecoin

Bitcoin Outperforms as Liquidity Stays in Focus

The divergence also showed during Wednesday’s U.S. session. BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust traded 1% higher while the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Russell 2000, and Dow all sat in the red. Market activity suggested continued demand from larger buyers. The text said institutions and big traders were buying coins through privately negotiated deals, helping support the market.

Nic Puckrin, co-founder of Coin Bureau and lead market analyst, said oil shocks have eventually led to Bitcoin weakness when liquidity tightens. “The deciding factor for Bitcoin usually ends up being global liquidity,” Puckrin said.

He said investors appeared to price in limited long-term damage to liquidity because they expected the oil crisis to be short-lived. Still, he warned that the picture could change if the crisis drags on.

“In 2022, the Bitcoin price drop was driven primarily by the Fed’s aggressive hiking cycle to curb inflation,” Puckrin added. “If the same scenario plays out and global liquidity tightens, Bitcoin’s current strength could be undermined.”

For now, Bitcoin has held up better than the broader market mood. The key question is whether that resilience can last if the conflict starts to reshape global liquidity.

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Metaplanet launched two new units and opened a fresh JPYC-linked Bitcoin strategy.

The firm set aside 4 billion yen to fund Japan’s growing Bitcoin rails and tools.

A Miami arm will target Bitcoin products and bridge Asian and Western capital flows.

Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has launched two new subsidiaries and invested in stablecoin issuer JPYC as it expands its strategy across Japan’s digital asset market. The company confirmed the move after its board approved the creation of Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Management. The announcement came from CEO Simon Gerovich in a post on the social media platform X on Thursday.

Metaplanet Ventures will direct 4 billion yen toward companies building financial infrastructure around Bitcoin in Japan. The investment program targets sectors such as lending, payments, custody, stablecoins, derivatives, and compliance services.

The initiative also includes an incubator and grant program that will support early-stage founders, developers, educators, and researchers in the country’s digital asset ecosystem.

Gerovich stated that Japan already holds a strong regulatory structure for digital assets.
“Japan has built the best regulatory framework in the world for digital assets,” Gerovich said. “Now it needs the companies, the builders, and the infrastructure to match.”

Today our Board approved the establishment of two new wholly owned subsidiaries, Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management.

Metaplanet Ventures is our commitment to Japan's Bitcoin ecosystem. We'll be investing ¥4 billion over the next few years into companies building…

— Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) March 12, 2026

Metaplanet Ventures Targets Bitcoin Infrastructure

Metaplanet Ventures will deploy the 4 billion yen investment gradually over the next several years. The capital will support companies that develop financial systems and services linked to bitcoin. The venture arm will also operate programs designed to help startups enter the market. The incubator and grant initiative will focus on founders, researchers, and developers building tools for Bitcoin-related finance.

As the first investment under the venture program, Metaplanet committed 400 million yen to JPYC Inc. The funding forms part of the company’s Series B financing round.

JPYC issues a yen-denominated stablecoin known as JPYC. The company launched the token in October 2025. The stablecoin maintains a one-to-one peg with the Japanese yen through bank deposits and government bonds. The token operates across several blockchain networks including Avalanche, Ethereum, and Polygon.

Earlier this month, JPYC partnered with Sony Bank to expand its usage. According to Nikkei Asia, the partnership aims to support creators working in Japan’s music and entertainment industries.

Gerovich also addressed the role of digital fiat in institutional bitcoin markets. “Every Bitcoin transaction has two sides: Bitcoin and a currency,” he said. “As this market goes institutional, that currency side goes digital.”

Miami Unit Expands Bitcoin Capital Markets

Metaplanet also launched Metaplanet Asset Management as a Miami-based subsidiary. The company described the unit as a digital credit and bitcoin capital markets platform linking Asian and Western investors. The platform will manage Bitcoin-related investment products. It will also provide capital markets advisory services and build regulatory infrastructure connected to those activities.

According to the company’s disclosure statement, the unit will introduce several financial products over time. These include funds, managed strategies, and structured instruments tied to bitcoin markets.

The firm expects the platform to support products across yield, fixed income, equity, credit, commodities, and volatility strategies. These offerings will operate within Bitcoin-focused capital markets. Market observers continue to track the strategy as Japan’s digital asset regulations evolve. Analysts are watching JPYC’s growth as a possible signal of the venture’s progress.

*Notice Regarding Investment in JPYC Inc. through Metaplanet Ventures K.K.* pic.twitter.com/SP1zz4oyil

— Metaplanet Inc. (@Metaplanet) March 12, 2026

If JPYC gains adoption as a settlement tool in institutional bitcoin markets, could the stablecoin strengthen Metaplanet’s long-term infrastructure strategy?

Analysts also plan to monitor the incubator and grants programs connected to Metaplanet Ventures. Those initiatives may influence open-source innovation and startup development within Japan’s bitcoin sector.

Related: Metaplanet Secures $130M Loan to Expand Its Corporate Bitcoin Reserves

Financial Performance and Bitcoin Holdings

Metaplanet reported a net loss of 95 billion yen for 2025. The company attributed the loss mainly to unrealized valuation declines tied to its bitcoin holdings.

Despite the headline loss, Gerovich reported strong operational growth. Operating profit increased 1,695 percent year over year. Gerovich stated that unrealized losses do not affect the company’s long-term bitcoin strategy because Metaplanet does not plan to sell its holdings.

“Even in this year’s down market, our stock fell 23% while Bitcoin fell 24%—we have not underperformed,” Gerovich said. He added that the company deployed every yen raised according to the previously announced strategy.

Metaplanet currently holds 35,102 BTC. The company values the holdings at about $2.45 billion based on current market prices. The company’s Tokyo-listed shares fell 1.9 percent intraday Thursday to 362 yen. Meanwhile, U.S.-listed shares under ticker MTPLF closed 5.53 percent higher on Wednesday at $2.29.

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Mastercard’s 85-firm Crypto Partner program targets remittances, payouts, and settlement now

The new network links crypto firms, banks, and payment providers through real commerce flows

Participants include PayPal, Ripple, Circle, Binance, SoFi, Paxos, and Worldpay in the group

Mastercard has opened a new chapter in its digital asset strategy by launching a Crypto Partner program that links more than 85 crypto-native firms, payment companies, and financial institutions. The initiative is built around a simple commercial goal: move blockchain tools out of isolated trials and into the real payment flows that already power remittances, business transfers, payouts, and settlement across borders.

The company said participants will help shape future products that combine digital asset speed with the reach of existing card and money movement systems. The move matters as it shows where the payments firm now sees the market heading. Rather than promoting a single coin, wallet, or chain, the company is organizing a broader working network around trust, compliance, interoperability, and deployment at scale.

Digital assets are entering a new phase. What once ran in parallel to existing financial systems is increasingly being applied to solve practical, real-world needs — often behind the scenes – from cross-border remittances to B2B money transfers. This creates new opportunities to… pic.twitter.com/DZ1gjmW8og

— Mastercard (@Mastercard) March 11, 2026

Mastercard said the program will let insights move in both directions between traditional finance and firms building on-chain infrastructure, while giving participants a role in designing services that can work across markets instead of remaining limited to pilots.

From Crypto Experiments To Payment Infrastructure

The company presented the new effort as an extension of work it has already been doing through Start Path, Mastercard Engage, and its Crypto Card program. That earlier push has already brought digital assets closer to mainstream spending. In a 2025 company update, Mastercard said users can spend supported stablecoin balances at more than 150 million merchant locations worldwide through partner programs.

In a separate 2024 annual report filing, the firm also said about 30% of all Mastercard transactions are now tokenized, showing how deeply blockchain-linked payment technology has already entered its wider network strategy. That background helps explain why the new Crypto Partner program is framed around execution rather than experimentation.

Mastercard said the focus is on turning technical innovation into scalable and compliant use cases for global commerce. The company tied that effort to practical payment categories such as cross-border remittances, B2B money transfers, settlement, and payouts, areas where speed, programmability, and operational efficiency matter more than headline token prices.

Why the Partner Mix Stands Out

The size and makeup of the partner group show that the program is targeting the full stack of digital asset finance. Mastercard’s published list includes firms such as PayPal, Ripple, SoFi, Binance, BitGo, Circle, Crypto.com, Marqeta, MoonPay, Paxos, Worldpay, Fireblocks, Chainalysis, Polygon, Solana, Aptos, and OKX.

That spread reaches across custody, compliance, wallets, exchanges, issuance, tokenization, settlement, and merchant acceptance. In effect, the network is not being built for one narrow product. Instead, it’s being built to connect many parts of the digital asset economy to the company’s existing payment rails.

Notably, the inclusion of SoFi is especially timely. On March 3, SoFi and Mastercard said they would enable settlement using SoFiUSD across the Mastercard network, including for SoFi Bank. The release said issuers and acquirers would be able to settle card transactions using the dollar-backed stablecoin, giving a concrete example of how digital dollars are beginning to move from theory into back-end payments operations.

Related: Stablecoin Race Heats Up as Solana Tops $15B With New Entrants

Visa’s Parallel Push Raises the Competitive Stakes

The launch also lands during a broader race among payment networks to make digital assets useful in regulated finance. Visa said in September 2025 that Visa Direct was testing stablecoins as a funding source for cross-border payouts to reduce friction and improve liquidity management.

Two months earlier, Visa once again acknowledged its settlement platform was adding support for additional stablecoins and blockchains, expanding the number of digital assets it could use for issuer and acquirer settlement. Taken together, those moves show that large card networks are no longer treating blockchain as a side project.

Mastercard’s new Crypto Partner program signals that the next contest will center on who can turn digital assets into a reliable payment infrastructure first and do it at a global scale with standards already accepted by banks, businesses, and merchants.

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Bitcoin turējās virs 70 000 USD, kamēr akcijas vājinājās un nafta ātri tuvojas 100 USD.

Analītiķi saistīja Bitcoina izturību ar sviras pārregulēšanu un stabilu vaļu pirkšanas aktivitāti.

Nafta pieauga, neskatoties uz ārkārtas rezerves izdalīšanu, jo Hormuzas traucējums satrauca tirdzniecību.

Bitcoin turējās virs 70 000 USD trešdienas vakarā, pat ja ASV akcijas samazinājās un naftas cenas pieauga līdz 100 USD par barelu, pieaugot spriedzei starp Ameriku un Irānu. Kriptovalūta saglabāja relatīvo stiprumu, kamēr galvenie akciju indeksi vājinājās un enerģijas tirgi asi reaģēja uz traucējumiem Tuvajos Austrumos. Analītiķi saistīja Bitcoina izturību ar lielu sviras pārregulēšanu un stabilu institucionālo tirgotāju uzkrāšanu.

Japan’s Yen led safe-haven gains as Iran conflict sparked a sharp global risk retreat.

Oil route fears and Fed caution pushed traders to reassess short-term currency bets.

Carry trade unwinding and asset repatriation added force to the Yen’s rapid climb.

The Japanese Yen surged against major currencies after escalating conflict involving Iran pushed investors toward safe-haven assets. In early Asian trade, the Yen outperformed even the US Dollar as traders reacted to rising geopolitical risk, oil market pressure, and fresh uncertainty across global financial markets.

Iran Conflict Drives Fresh Demand for Safe Havens

Iran launched what was described as its “most intense operation since the beginning of the war.” That escalation quickly shook market sentiment and sent investors into assets considered safer during periods of conflict.

At the same time, Tehran increased efforts to halt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains one of the world’s most important oil routes, so any disruption there can affect energy markets almost immediately.

US military officials declined requests to escort tankers and civilian ships through the strait. Defense officials said they would not do so until the threat of Iranian fire had eased. Elsewhere, the Israel Defense Forces said they launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. Those actions added to fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.

As tension rose, traders moved quickly into the Yen. The currency’s strength reflected a broader defensive shift as market participants chose capital preservation over higher returns. Will deeper conflict in the Middle East keep driving demand for the Yen in the days ahead?

Inflation and Fed Expectations Shape the Broader Market

Alongside geopolitical stress, investors also absorbed fresh US inflation data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% month over month in February, up from 0.2% in the previous reading. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% in February. That compared with 0.3% in the prior report and matched market expectations.

Even so, traders paid close attention to oil prices as the Iran conflict intensified. A sustained rise in energy costs could lift headline inflation in the coming months and complicate the outlook for US monetary policy.

For now, the Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at its March 18 policy meeting. As a result, traders looked past the CPI release and focused more heavily on conflict-driven risks and the inflation threat from higher oil prices.

That mix of geopolitical fear and inflation concern added fresh pressure to currency markets. It also gave the Yen stronger support as risk appetite weakened.

Related: Japanese Nail Salon Invests Billions in Bitcoin Strategy

Yen Strength Gains Support From Structural Market Forces

The Yen’s rally also reflects deeper structural factors. Japan runs a large current account surplus and holds the world’s largest net international investment position, which often supports the currency during periods of stress.

In addition, Japanese pension funds and insurance companies have a history of bringing foreign assets back home when global risk rises. That repatriation creates natural demand for the Yen and can accelerate its gains.

The Bank of Japan’s ultra-loose policy has also played a role. Low Japanese rates encouraged carry trades, with investors borrowing Yen to buy higher-yielding assets elsewhere. When market fear rises, those trades often unwind quickly. Investors then buy back the Yen, which adds more upward pressure to the currency.

This pattern has appeared before. During the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and the market panic of March 2020, the Yen also posted sharp gains as investors rushed toward safety.

Technically, USD/JPY support levels are now under pressure. If those levels break, traders may begin to price in further Yen strength, with oil prices, bond yields, and official statements likely to guide the next move.

The post Japanese Yen Rallies as Iran Conflict Jolts Global Markets appeared first on Cryptotale.

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Solana stabilo monētu piegāde sasniedza $15.6B, kad Western Union, Fidelity un Jupiter apstiprināja

Western Union saistīja USDPT ar 360,000 izmaksu punktiem, ātri paplašinot digitālā dolāra piekļuvi

Fidelity un Jupiter paplašināja stabilo monētu izmantošanu caur brokeru dzelzceļiem un dziļāku DeFi izmantošanu

Konkurence dolāru-tokenu tirgū paātrinās, jo lielie finanšu uzņēmumi un kriptovalūtu platformas izlaiž jaunus produktus, virzot Solana dziļāk sektora paplašināšanās centrā. Dati no DefiLlama rāda, ka dolāru piesaistīto tokenu vērtība uz Solana ir pieaugusi līdz aptuveni $15.6 miljardiem, kamēr CoinGecko nesen minēja plašāku tirgu aptuveni $310 miljardu apmērā.

STRK20 nodrošina vietējo tokenu privātumu Starknet, netraucējot plašākai DeFi piekļuvei.

Starknet apgalvo, ka slēgtas pārsūtīšanas var palikt ātras, lētas un pilnībā gatavas atbilstībai.

Šifrēta audita piekļuve var paplašināt stabilo monētu izmantošanu lielākajās regulētajās iestādēs.

Starknet izstrādā privātuma ietvaru, kas ļauj komandām palaist slēgtas stabilo monētu un citu digitālo aktīvu, saglabājot regulatīvā atbilstību. Šī iespēja, ko sauc par STRK20, tiek izstrādāta StarkWare un tiek gaidīta, ka tā tiks laista tirgū Starknet vēlāk šogad. Ietvars ievieš tokenu līmeņa privātumu aktīviem Ethereum Layer 2 tīklā, vienlaikus saglabājot to saderību ar decentralizētās finanses lietojumprogramām.

Electric Capital un Goldman Sachs vadīja spēcīgu pāreju uz Solana ETF eksponēšanos.

Top 30 iestādes veidoja vairāk nekā 540M dolāru Solana ETF turējumus līdz ceturkšņa beigām.

Gandrīz puse no Solana ETF aktīviem tagad atrodas pie institucionālām 13F ziņošanas firmām.

Institucionālie investori ir strauji palielinājuši eksponēšanos uz spot Solana biržā tirgotajiem fondiem. Nesenie 13F iesniegumi parāda, ka Electric Capital un Goldman Sachs vada uzkrāšanu. Kopā top 30 iestādes tagad tur vairāk nekā 540 miljonus dolāru Solana ETF aktīvos. Investīciju konsultanti kontrolē 270 miljonus dolāru, kamēr hedžfondi veido apmēram 186 miljonus dolāru. Dati liecina, ka institucionālie investori tagad pieder gandrīz puse no visiem Solana ETF aktīviem.

Ripple meklē AFSL, lai padziļinātu savus regulētos maksājumu sasniegumus Austrālijā.

Licences pieteikums varētu palīdzēt Ripple ātrāk paplašināt starptautiskos maksājumu pakalpojumus APAC.

Austrālija ir galvenais tests blokķēdes norēķiniem regulētajā finansē.

Ripple plāno iegūt Austrālijas Finanšu Pakalpojumu Licenci, lai paplašinātu savas regulētās maksājumu infrastruktūras Āzijas un Klusā okeāna reģionā. Uzņēmums paziņoja, ka licence ļaus finanšu institūcijām un uzņēmumiem Austrālijā piekļūt ātrākiem starptautiskiem norēķiniem caur tās Ripple Payments platformu. Ripple plāno nodrošināt licenci, iegādājoties BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd. Iegāde paliek pakļauta standarta pabeigšanas procedūrām.

Zcash pieauga par 10% līdz 227 dolāriem, pēc tam, kad ZODL paziņoja par 25 miljonu dolāru sēklas kārtu, ko atbalsta vadošās kripto firmas.

Tirdzniecības apjoms pieauga par 42% līdz 370 miljoniem dolāru, kamēr atvērtā interese pieauga par 13%, signalizējot par spēcīgāku pieprasījumu.

Atbalsts 204-185 dolāru robežās atkal noturējās, jo RSI pieauga līdz 45, un tirgotāji vēroja pretestību ap 310 dolāriem.

Zcash publicēja vienu no spēcīgākajiem gājieniem digitālo aktīvu tirgū pēdējās dienas laikā, pēc tam, kad Open Development Lab paziņoja par sēklas kārtu, kas pārsniedz 25 miljonus dolāru. Tokena vērtība pieauga par 10% 24 stundu laikā, sasniedzot 227 dolārus, kamēr ikdienas tirdzniecības apjoms pieauga par 42% līdz 370 miljoniem dolāru.

Krypto finansējums pieauga par 50% gadā, jo investori pārgāja uz lielākām vēlīnā posma kārtām

Darījumu skaits samazinājās par 46%, kamēr vidējā darījuma lielums pieauga par 272% līdz 34 miljoniem dolāru 12 mēnešu laikā

Tikai trīs februāra finansējumi veidoja 44% no mēneša apjoma, jo kapitāls kļuva koncentrētāks

Krypto finansējums atkal pieaug, bet nauda pārvietojas ļoti citādā veidā. Jauni dati no Messari rāda, ka kopējais finansējums pieauga par gandrīz 50% gadā starp 2025. gada martu un 2026. gada martu, pat ja darījumu skaits samazinājās par 46%.

XRP turas pie $1.38, jo saspringta konusa forma turpina tirgotājus koncentrēties uz virzienu pašlaik.

XRPL stabilo monētu piegāde sasniedza $426 miljonus, jo likviditāte tīklā paplašinājās.

ETF izplūdes un ilgtermiņa atbalsts tagad veido XRP nākamo izšķirošo tirgus fāzi.

XRP tika tirgots par $1.38 10. martā pēc atvēršanas pie $1.36, sasniedzot maksimumu $1.39, skarot minimumu $1.36 un noslēdzoties pie $1.38. Šis pārvietojums atstāja pāri par $0.02 dienai, kas ir 1.62% pieaugums. Tajā pašā laikā diagramma parādīja cenu saspringšanu konusa iekšienē pēc plašāka krituma, kamēr ķēdes likviditāte uzlabojās un institucionālie plūdi kļuva negatīvi.

Kijosaki saka, ka neatrisinātās 2008. gada nepilnības varētu tagad virzīt tirgus uz dziļāku sabrukumu.

Viņš saista pieaugošo parādu un privātā kredīta spriedzi ar iespējamu ātru globālo lejupslīdi.

Viņš mudina investorus pētīt sudrabu un diversificēt ieguldījumus cietajos un digitālajos aktīvos tagad.

Roberts Kijosaki brīdināja, ka vēsturiska finanšu sabrukšana varētu pieiet 2026. gadā un saistīja risku ar neatrisinātām problēmām no 2008. gada krīzes. Bagātais tētis, nabagais tētis autors sacīja, ka iepriekšējie brīdinājumi viņa 2013. gada grāmatā "Bagātā tēva pravietojums" aprakstīja iespēju lielākam tirgus sabrukumam, ja globālās finanšu struktūras paliek nemainīgas. Viņš tagad baidās, ka šo strukturālo vājumu aizkavētā ietekme varētu atkal parādīties, lai gan viņš arī teica, ka cer, ka prognoze izrādīsies nepareiza.

XRP turas pie $1.34-$1.27 atbalsta zonas, pat ja $50.8 miljardu neīstenoto zaudējumu svars ir jūtams.

Glassnode dati rāda, ka 36.8 miljardi XRP ir zem ūdens, jo on-chain rentabilitāte turpina izzust.

ASV spot XRP ETF reģistrēja $22 miljonu izplūdi divās dienās, jo tuvākā termiņa pieprasījums mīkstinājās.

XRP cena turas pie atbalsta joslas, ko tirgotāji ir vērojuši nedēļām ilgi, pat ja spiediens visā tirgū turpina pieaugt. Token tika tirgots tuvu $1.34 rakstīšanas brīdī, samazinoties par 1.41% pēdējās 24 stundās, kamēr vairāki citi top-10 kriptovalūtu projekti uzrādīja mērenus pieaugumus tajā pašā laikā.