Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Mass liquidations hit the crypto market after Bitcoin slid below $66,000. Data from CoinGlass shows nearly $268 million in total liquidations over the past 24 hours, with long positions accounting for about $188.5 million. Ethereum led individual-asset liquidations with roughly $88 million, narrowly ahead of Bitcoin’s ~$86 million — likely due to larger percentage swings in ETH’s price. BTC traded near $65,600 following a 3% one-day drop; ETH moved toward $1,900. Separately, U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded net inflows this week (~$815 million), potentially breaking a five-week outflow streak. Key takeaways for traders: heavy long liquidations indicate short-term downside pressure and heightened volatility; ETH showed larger relative moves than BTC; ETF inflows may provide a stabilising institutional demand offsetting some selling pressure.

Venture capital into crypto startups reached $883 million in February 2025, according to DL News. Although down 13% year‑over‑year from February 2024, the total remains substantial compared with the 2022–2023 bear market. Three headline rounds drove much of the month’s flow: DeFi protocol Flying Tulip raised $206 million, online marketplace Oop.com secured $200 million, and crypto-focused bank Anchorage Digital took $100 million. Those three deals represented over 57% of February’s VC inflows, highlighting investor preference for DeFi infrastructure, consumer crypto commerce, and regulated custody/banking. Analysts attribute the year‑on‑year decline to a higher 2024 baseline, tighter macroeconomic conditions, and evolving regulatory scrutiny, which together have made investors more selective. The shift is seen as quality over quantity: deeper technical due diligence, clearer roadmaps to profitability, and a focus on projects with regulatory compliance and sustainable tokenomics. For traders, these patterns signal continued institutional interest in foundational infrastructure and regulated on‑ramps—factors that can support long‑term sector stability even if short‑term liquidity and speculative activity remain subdued.

South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) suffered a $4.8 million (6.9 billion won) cryptocurrency theft after it accidentally published the wallet’s mnemonic seed phrase in a public document. The National Police Agency has assigned its Cyber Terror Response Division to investigate. The seized assets were stored offline on four cold-wallet USBs; the breach resulted from key management and procedural failure—not physical device compromise. Authorities will trace the funds on-chain and attempt to locate any recipients at exchanges, but recovery is difficult if privacy tools or decentralized services were used. Cybersecurity experts say the incident highlights institutional gaps in digital-asset custody, weak internal controls, and the need for standardized secure procedures for seized crypto. The case could undermine public confidence in South Korea’s crypto regulatory framework and may prompt stricter oversight and revised custody policies for government-held digital assets. Trading-relevant facts: amount stolen = $4.8M (6.9B won); investigating unit = Cyber Terror Response Division; method = public exposure of mnemonic seed phrase; assets stored = cold wallets (USB).

VIRTUAL fell sharply over the last 24 hours, trading near $0.64 on Feb 28, 2026, after a drop of about 11% and a 24h range of $0.62–$0.74. Volume reached roughly $150–215M (site shows $150.84M and $214.8M in different sections), confirming strong participation. Multi-timeframe technicals show a continuing downtrend with key support at $0.6175 (confluence score 76/100) and a secondary support at $0.57 (67/100) coinciding with the weekly trendline. Immediate resistance sits at $0.7416 (EMA20 on 1D) with higher resistances near $0.797 and $0.916. Momentum indicators are mixed: RSI around neutral (48–56), MACD histogram hinting at potential hidden divergence, but price remains below EMA20 and Supertrend is bearish. Bitcoin weakness (BTC down ~6% from $63,748) and rising BTC dominance are cited as primary risks for altcoin recovery. Analysts note a cautiously bearish short-term outlook: breakdown below $0.6175 could accelerate losses toward $0.50, while a break above $0.7416 would be required to target the $1 band. Traders are advised to manage risk tightly, use stop-losses near support levels, and monitor BTC levels closely. Analysis by Sarah Chen (market analyst) using Chief Analyst Devrim Cacal’s methodology. Not financial advice.

Bitcoin plunged back toward $63,000 after Israel launched a preemptive strike on Iran and US President Donald Trump confirmed US involvement. BTC dropped from a mid-week rebound near $70,000 to below $62,800 within minutes of the news before recovering slightly to about $63,400. Bitcoin’s market cap fell to roughly $1.275 trillion and dominance slipped below 56%. Broad altcoin weakness followed: ETH fell about $200 to near $1,850; BNB overtook XRP in market cap after XRP dropped ~9%; SOL plunged into double digits under $80. Smaller tokens KCS, PIPPIN and STABLE registered declines up to ~20%. The total crypto market cap erased over $100 billion and sits below $2.3 trillion. Increased volatility is expected as geopolitical developments unfold. Key SEO keywords: Bitcoin, BTC price, altcoins, ETH, BNB, market cap, crypto volatility.

Crypto markets fell on Feb. 28 as Bitcoin weakness triggered broader declines. Total crypto market cap slid to about $2.34T, down ~3.2% in 24 hours, with ~ $97B 24h volume. Bitcoin traded near $65.6K (around a 3.2% drop). The sell-off was driven by a risk-off shift in macro sentiment after hotter-than-expected U.S. wholesale inflation data and cooling tech strength, which reduced appetite for high-beta assets. Derivatives dynamics amplified the move: CoinGlass reported roughly $292M of liquidations in 24 hours, with long liquidations near $228M (dominant), and $51.3M liquidated over a four-hour window (about $42.8M longs). The piece notes classic rally-and-retrace behavior after a midweek push to the high-$60Ks and warns that the next 24–72 hours will hinge on whether liquidations compress and price stabilizes (signaling a cleaned leverage reset) or whether elevated liquidations persist (implying continued crowded positioning). The article highlights that a durable recovery typically needs spot-led follow-through, lower liquidation heat, and a more constructive macro backdrop (equities stabilizing or easing rate fears). Key keywords: Bitcoin, long liquidations, macro risk, leverage, market cap, derivatives.

Mobile crypto security depends less on platform brand and more on update policy, device configuration and isolating crypto actions. Phones face three main threats: theft/coercion, remote compromise (malicious apps or OS exploits) and social engineering (phishing, clone apps, malicious approval prompts). iOS often has an edge by default thanks to app distribution limits, Secure Enclave key protection, strong file encryption and features like Lockdown Mode. Android can match or exceed iPhone security when users choose well-supported devices (published update timelines), keep the bootloader locked, enable Google Play Protect, apply modular updates, and use enforced isolation such as a work profile or separate user. Recommended setup steps for both platforms: keep OS and security updates enabled, use a strong passcode, isolate crypto browsing (separate browser profile or device), install wallets only from official stores and verify publishers, prefer hardware-backed signing (hardware wallets) for meaningful balances, keep seed phrases offline, and avoid sideloading or apps that request overlay/accessibility/SMS permissions. For traders, the practical takeaway is that a dedicated crypto profile or device plus hardware-wallet signing reduces risk more than switching platforms. The article emphasizes preventing phishing and malicious approvals as the primary defense priorities and offers a simple blueprint of defaults and steps to harden both iPhone and Android for secure crypto use.

The Associated Press reports that Houthi militants have announced plans to resume attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea corridor. The move risks disrupting a key maritime route linking Europe and Asia, used to transport oil, commodities and containerized goods. Heightened hostilities could prompt insurers to raise war-risk premiums, shipping firms to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, and cause delays and higher freight costs. For crypto markets, increased geopolitical risk often drives short-term demand for safe-haven assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins, while raising volatility across risk assets. Traders should monitor shipping insurance notices, maritime traffic data, and energy prices for early signs of market reaction.

On-chain data shows wallet 0x172 borrowed 7 million USDC from Aave during a market dip to purchase 3,753 ETH at about $1,865 per ETH. After the purchase, the address holds 15,964 ETH, with a notional value of roughly $29.68 million at current prices. The activity was flagged by Onchain Lens and reported by PANews. No further identity or motive was disclosed. Key details: borrowed asset — USDC; lending platform — Aave; loan size — 7,000,000 USDC; acquired ETH — 3,753; post-trade ETH balance — 15,964; purchase price per ETH ≈ $1,865. Traders should note this on-chain leverage and accumulation event as a potential signal of confidence or a leverage-driven directional bet on ETH price recovery.

Dogecoin (DOGE) is trading around $0.09–$0.10 and has formed a contracting (symmetrical) triangle on shorter timeframes, with lower highs and higher lows compressing volatility and volume. The 4-hour chart targets a breakout above the triangle toward resistance near $0.105 if price breaks upward with accompanying volume expansion; a confirmed breakdown risks a decline toward a high-confluence support zone near $0.08 (0.786 Fibonacci, prior double bottom, rising weekly trendline). On the monthly timeframe, DOGE sits inside a longer-term accumulation band with a rising support trendline that has held through prior corrections — a firm monthly close inside this base would preserve the bullish long-term structure. Current readings vary between reports: the earlier piece noted DOGE trading near $0.0936 (down ~3% 24h), while the later update showed a deeper pullback to about $0.0896 (down ~9% 24h) and trading below the 200-week moving average. Traders should watch the triangle boundaries, breakout direction, and volume for confirmation, and monitor Bitcoin strength as a correlated risk factor. Key SEO keywords: Dogecoin, DOGE price, breakout, triangle compression, $0.10, $0.08 support, volume confirmation, Fibonacci retracement.

SBI Holdings and Startale plan to launch JPYSC, a yen‑pegged stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank targeted for Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approval. JPYSC will be structured as a Type III electronic payment instrument under Japan’s revised Payment Services Act. Reserves will be held in trust at SBI Shinsei Trust Bank to segregate client funds from bank assets and to meet capital and redemption requirements. Distribution and secondary liquidity will be handled by crypto exchange SBI VC Trade, while Startale supplies the blockchain infrastructure and smart contracts designed for high‑volume institutional settlement. The project is explicitly aimed at institutional use cases — cross‑border transfers, treasury management, tokenized asset settlement and future AI/agent payments — rather than retail trading. Partners say several banks and large corporates have expressed early interest. If approved and adopted, JPYSC would provide a regulated yen alternative to USD‑pegged stablecoins and could shift institutional settlement flows and FX corridors after listing and uptake.

Coinbase publicly criticized state-level regulatory moves on prediction markets as excessive and harmful to market stability, arguing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) already provides an appropriate federal framework. Ryan VanGrack, Coinbase’s head of global litigation, called some state initiatives “gaslighting” when justified by alleged CFTC resource limits. The dispute intensified after Coinbase announced a partnership with prediction-market platform Kalshi, prompting exploratory actions in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan and Nevada. Coinbase stresses prediction markets function as financial derivatives—used for price discovery, hedging and information aggregation—rather than traditional sports betting, and warns that a fragmented state-by-state regime would raise compliance costs, fragment liquidity and deter innovation. The article outlines historical CFTC engagement with event contracts (noting approvals and case-by-case reviews dating back to 2008–2012) and contrasts federal derivatives oversight with state gambling rules. Industry views vary: some favor clear federal guidance for nationwide operations; others prefer state experimentation. Key implications for crypto platforms include higher compliance burdens and potential licensing requirements absent federal clarity. (Primary keywords: prediction markets, Coinbase, CFTC, regulation; secondary keywords: Kalshi, state regulation, market fragmentation)

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has publicly argued that Solana (SOL) better matches Satoshi Nakamoto’s decentralization ideals than Ethereum (ETH). Yakovenko’s core claim is that Solana’s architecture prioritizes node accessibility and ledger verifiability: anyone can run a single Solana node to verify the full ledger without specialized hardware, which he says reduces permission and systemic fund-theft risks. He contrasted this with Ethereum’s model, noting 32 ETH staking requirements for validators and criticizing governance mechanisms like multi-signature security councils. The two articles compare decentralization across multiple dimensions — validator/node counts, client diversity, geographic distribution, staking minimums, and finality. Reported figures differ by source and timing: approximate metrics cited include Ethereum node counts in the hundreds of thousands versus Solana validator counts in the low thousands (examples given: ~900,000 nodes for Ethereum vs ~3,400 validators for Solana), and Solana’s sub-second finality (~400 ms) compared with Ethereum’s longer finality window (minutes). Experts caution decentralization is multi-dimensional and a spectrum; trade-offs exist between security, scalability and decentralization. Stanford researcher Dr. Elena Martinez (cited) emphasizes these are architectural and political trade-offs rather than a simple ranking. For traders: the debate may affect investor sentiment and reputational risk perceptions for SOL and ETH. Key trading-relevant takeaways: (1) claims of greater decentralization can support narratives of lower censorship or custodial risk for SOL; (2) Ethereum’s broad client ecosystem and larger staking base retain arguments for resilient security and institutional adoption; (3) technical nuances mean neither chain is strictly superior across all metrics — market reactions are likely to be driven more by narrative and on-chain incidents than by theory alone. Both networks continue upgrades aimed at improving decentralization metrics. Traders should monitor on-chain metrics (validator behavior, client diversity, geographic distribution), governance developments, and any operational incidents that could swiftly change risk perceptions.

Morgan Stanley has applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to form Morgan Stanley Digital Trust, National Association — a national trust bank that would provide regulated digital-asset custody, fiduciary services, trading, settlement and staking for U.S. clients. The application, which opened a public comment period with the OCC, would let Morgan Stanley reduce dependence on third‑party custodians and offer vertically integrated crypto services under a national trust framework. This move follows the bank building a digital-assets unit (led by Amy Oldenburg), filings for spot Bitcoin, Solana and staked‑ETH ETFs, and partnerships to add crypto trading to retail platforms. It also aligns with a broader trend: the OCC has recently granted conditional trust charters to several crypto-native custody and infrastructure firms (e.g., BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, Circle, Ripple, Paxos) and fintechs (Bridge, Crypto.com), intensifying competition between traditional banks and crypto firms over regulated digital-asset infrastructure. For traders: the charter, if approved, could improve institutional custody capacity and on‑ramps, increase regulated liquidity and product availability, and potentially lower counterparty risk — factors that may support greater institutional participation and stability in the U.S. crypto market.

Bitcoin fell toward $63,000 after the US and Israel announced coordinated strikes on Iran. The military action, confirmed by US President Donald Trump, targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and included a direct appeal for Iranians to “take over your government.” With traditional US markets closed until futures open, crypto markets reacted in isolation: BTC slipped nearly 4% intraday and recorded over $250 million in liquidations within four hours. The move comes as Bitcoin faces additional pressure from hot US inflation data and is set to close its fifth consecutive losing month. Key data points: BTC tested the $63,000 support level; liquidations exceeded $250 million (four-hour window); geopolitical escalation follows a prior Iran offensive in 2025 that previously triggered sharp crypto volatility. Traders should note heightened short-term volatility, thinner liquidity while TradFi markets are closed, and macroeconomic headwinds from inflation data. This is market reporting, not investment advice.

Bitcoin dropped below $66,000 after U.S. producer price index (PPI) data came in hotter than expected, triggering a broad sell-off in technology stocks and reducing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The hotter PPI reading weakened hopes for near-term policy easing, lowering risk appetite across crypto markets and pushing the broader crypto market down roughly 3%. Analysts flagged key technical levels: a break under $65,500 could target $62,500–$63,000, while holding support may allow a rebound toward $68,500–$70,000. Factors that could stabilize or reverse the downturn include renewed institutional inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs or easing macroeconomic concerns.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed detection of a missile launch directed toward Israeli territory, underscoring persistent regional security risks. The IDF’s layered detection and interception network — including Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow systems — identified launch signatures, assessed trajectory and activated civilian alerts within seconds. The article cites historic interception rates above 90% in recent conflicts (e.g., ~4,360 projectiles in 2021 with >90% interception; ~1,500 in 2023 with >95%) and notes hundreds of projectiles on the northern front since Oct 2023. Experts emphasize the critical role of advanced radar, satellite sensors and AI-driven analytics in rapid threat classification and response, while human commanders retain final engagement authority. Broader impacts include diplomatic responses, military posturing, brief market reactions (notably energy and local currencies), and heightened civilian preparedness. The report highlights ongoing technological evolution — integration of multi-sensor networks, AI for predictive analysis, and network-centric command — and concludes the event reaffirms Israel’s layered defenses amid persistent geopolitical tensions.

President Donald Trump announced a US military operation targeting Iranian facilities involved in long-range missile development, describing the strikes as defensive measures to neutralize an imminent threat. The operation aims to degrade missile production, dismantle research infrastructure and signal US resolve against regional aggression. The Pentagon has not disclosed participating units or weapons; reporting cites precision strikes rather than a large-scale invasion. Global responses included calls for restraint from US allies, condemnation from Russia and China, an emergency UN Security Council session, and heightened regional military readiness. Financial markets reacted immediately: oil prices spiked and safe-haven assets like gold rose amid fears of Persian Gulf disruptions. Legal questions about executive war powers and the War Powers Resolution prompted demands for congressional briefings. Analysts warn of potential Iranian retaliation, proxy attacks, shipping disruptions and setbacks to nuclear diplomacy (JCPOA revival). The operation marks the most significant direct US action against Iran in decades and could reshape short- and medium-term geopolitical risk premiums that affect commodity and crypto markets.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 10% global tariff to take immediate effect after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he could not use emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs during peacetime. The court held that IEEPA had not historically been used to levy tariffs and emphasized that Congress holds exclusive taxing and tariff authority. In response, Trump said he will retain existing national security (Section 232) and Section 301 tariffs and sign an order to add a 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act, citing alternative legal authorities including the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and the Trade Act of 1974. The announcement follows prior tariffs imposed under IEEPA—25% on many Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on Chinese imports—meant to address alleged national security and public health threats. Markets sensitive to policy uncertainty, including equities and cryptocurrencies, have historically reacted negatively to similar tariff escalations due to increased economic uncertainty and investor risk-off behavior.

Minnesota lawmakers are considering House File 3642, a proposal to ban crypto ATMs statewide after law-enforcement reports of growing kiosk-linked fraud targeting vulnerable residents. Representative Erin Koegel introduced the bill to the House Commerce, Finance and Policy Committee; testimony described crypto ATMs as an effective tool for scammers who coerce victims — including elderly people — into making irreversible cryptocurrency deposits (one cited case involved $80,000). The Minnesota Department of Commerce supports HF 3642 and plans a broader consumer-protection package that would incorporate the ban. Minnesota already imposed 2024 limits requiring new-user deposit caps (about $2,000) and operator refunds for scam victims, but HF 3642 would go further by outlawing the machines entirely. Around 350 licensed crypto ATMs operate in the state, run by firms such as Bitcoin Depot and CoinFlip; industry groups argue kiosks provide physical access to digital assets and call for clear, consistent regulation rather than an outright ban. Separately, Bitcoin Depot announced it will phase in ID verification for every ATM transaction citing misuse risks. For traders: this proposal could reduce on‑ramp convenience and local liquidity for retail buyers in Minnesota, raise compliance costs for operators, and signal increased regulatory scrutiny that could influence regional kiosk networks nationwide. Primary keywords: crypto ATMs, Bitcoin ATMs, HF 3642, crypto fraud, Minnesota.

Bybit has launched fixed-rate borrowing within its Unified Trading Account (UTA) Loan product, now offering up to 10x leverage and fixed tenors of up to 180 days. Effective Feb. 28, 2026, fixed-rate loans are available via Manual Borrow in UTA (Assets → Unified Trading Account → Borrow). The UTA consolidates spot, derivatives and borrowing under one account with shared collateral and integrated margin. Previously UTA loans were floating-rate and hourly interest with no set maturities; the new option lets users lock both interest rate and maturity in advance for longer-term, predictable financing. Borrowing quotas are reserved for the selected term once approved, and users can re-borrow within the original loan period after early repayment without extending the maturity. The change enables traders to deploy leveraged strategies with clearer cost visibility and longer horizons — a relatively uncommon integrated structure in crypto markets where fixed-rate loans are usually short-dated or separate from leveraged frameworks. Bybit is the world’s second-largest exchange by trading volume and serves over 80 million users.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office announced that a newly declared operation targeting Iran will be named "Roaring Lion." State media (CCTV) reported the announcement on Feb. 28. No operational details, timeline, or claimed objectives were provided in the report. The item was presented as a brief government statement without additional context or corroborating information from other sources. The announcement may signal escalation in Israeli-Iran tensions, but the lack of specifics leaves the scope and immediate implications unclear.

A revived 2026 retelling of the Terra collapse has reframed the narrative away from algorithmic failure toward insider advantage and a recurring Bitcoin sell pattern dubbed the “10am Dump” (around 10:00 ET). Social media and commentators link the pattern to institutional actors—especially TradFi market makers and ETF authorized participants (APs) such as Jane Street—citing the opacity of off‑chain ETF creation/redemption, delayed disclosures (e.g., 13F) and cross‑market execution paths. CoinFound argues the dispute reflects a structural transparency gap: Bitcoin pricing is increasingly shaped by traditional‑market schedules and off‑chain execution, creating a “semi‑transparent” market where chain‑onchain verification clashes with off‑chain ETF mechanics. Rather than personifying blame, CoinFound recommends focusing on measurable structural variables (time‑windowed volatility, leverage and liquidation metrics, ETF flows, mint/redemption and on‑chain vs off‑chain flow divergence, and concentration of holdings) to turn speculation into testable hypotheses. For traders, the piece underscores that observed 10:00 ET volatility can arise from ordinary rebalancing, liquidity reconstitution at US market open, delta‑hedging by market makers, or leverage‑amplified order‑book gaps — not necessarily deliberate manipulation. The article concludes the controversy will persist until market auditability and disclosure improve, and urges participants to track quantifiable market microstructure and fund‑flow indicators to better separate structural fragility from malicious activity.

Israel announced a preventive military strike against Iranian military targets, marking a major escalation in long-standing tensions. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallard said forces targeted developing Iranian capabilities judged to pose a future threat; explosions were reported in Tehran near government buildings and air-raid sirens sounded across Israeli cities. Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency, suspending schools and public gatherings. Israeli media reported the operation was coordinated with U.S. forces, though Washington has not confirmed direct combat involvement. Analysts identify possible targets including nuclear and missile facilities, drone production sites and command centers. Iran is expected to respond asymmetrically through regional proxies (Hezbollah, militias in Syria/Iraq, Houthi attacks) while avoiding all-out conventional war. Global markets reacted immediately: oil jumped about 8% and shipping routes near the Persian Gulf were rerouted; airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran. International responses ranged from calls for restraint (U.S., EU, U.N.) to condemnations from Russia and China. Civilian disruption includes reported power outages and emergency responses in Tehran and widespread emergency measures and psychological support services in Israel. Traders should watch oil prices, risk-on/risk-off flows in crypto and equities, safe-haven demand (USD, gold), regional supply-chain/shipping disruptions, and any confirmation of broader US military involvement or accelerating Iranian retaliation. Key figures: Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallard; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (sites near his office reported affected). Keywords: Israel preventive strike, Iran escalation, oil prices, Middle East conflict, market volatility.

BTC perpetual futures on major exchanges (Binance, OKX, Bybit) show a consistent, slight short bias over the latest 24‑hour window. Aggregated long/short ratios range around 48.8% long vs 51.2% short, with Bybit the most short‑skewed. Open interest remains near yearly/all‑time highs while funding rates are neutral to mildly negative, suggesting cautious positioning or institutional hedging rather than strong bearish conviction. Traders should treat this as a short‑term sentiment snapshot: the narrow short skew raises the risk of sharp short squeezes if BTC rallies, and high open interest increases liquidation vulnerability. Recommended monitoring: funding rates, cross‑exchange long/short divergence, open interest shifts, spot-BTC flows and liquidation clusters. Manage leverage, use tighter stops, and combine this indicator with multi‑day trends and on‑chain/spot metrics before taking directional risk.

Paradigm, the crypto-focused venture firm behind early bets like Uniswap and Coinbase, is raising up to $1.5 billion to expand into artificial intelligence, robotics and convergent projects that combine blockchain with AI. Building on an 18-month investment thesis, the fund will target three core areas: decentralized AI infrastructure (verifiable model training and distributed compute), autonomous economic agents (robots with programmable money and smart contracts) and verifiable machine learning (cryptographic proofs for model auditability). Paradigm plans to deploy both growth-stage lead checks and many early-stage bets, set up dedicated teams and technical due diligence frameworks, and apply its cryptographic expertise to identify cross-sector opportunities. The move is positioned as diversification from pure crypto exposure and comes amid regulatory scrutiny (EU AI Act and potential US AI rules) and emphasis on ethics and safety. For crypto traders, this signals material VC capital reallocation toward AI/robotics, possible acceleration of tokenized or blockchain-enabled AI and robotics projects, and shifting liquidity dynamics that could influence sentiment and funding for infrastructure tokens related to decentralized compute and verifiable ML.

President Donald Trump announced the United States faces a “major and difficult decision” on Iran, urging a peaceful resolution while reiterating demands that Iran stop uranium enrichment. The remarks coincided with confirmed precautionary staff withdrawals from several U.S. embassies in the Middle East and raised pressure on the administration to clarify its strategy. European diplomats urged preservation of the JCPOA framework; regional allies requested briefings and assurances. Historical context: the 2015 JCPOA collapsed for the U.S. after its 2018 withdrawal and subsequent “maximum pressure” sanctions; Iran has since expanded enrichment beyond the JCPOA’s 3.67% limit, per IAEA reports. Analysts outline three main paths: return to JCPOA (unlikely), an interim agreement to freeze enrichment, or increased pressure risking escalation. Military action is widely viewed as a last resort due to Iran’s asymmetric capabilities. Immediate market effects included a roughly 2% rise in Brent crude futures; traders should expect heightened oil volatility, rising shipping insurance costs through the Strait of Hormuz, and sensitivity in global risk assets. Short-term: heightened geopolitical risk likely boosts oil and safe-haven flows and raises volatility across crypto and equity markets. Long-term: outcomes depend on policy direction—de-escalation could stabilize markets, while prolonged sanctions or conflict risk sustained energy price pressures and broader market disruption. This report is informational and not trading advice.

A joint US-Israel military strike on Iran escalated regional tensions and prompted market turbulence, driving a rapid sell-off in risk assets including Bitcoin. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the action a “preemptive operation,” warning of possible Iranian drone and ballistic missile retaliation. The US reinforced its military presence with fighter jets and assets to Israel amid fears the operation could widen into a broader conflict. Given Iran’s central role in global oil flows, energy markets monitored the situation for supply disruption risk. Crypto markets reacted sharply: Bitcoin fell more than 6% within 24 hours to about $63,300 as investor risk appetite waned and recovery attempts were undone. Analysts expect continued volatility in both energy and crypto markets while geopolitical uncertainty persists. (Main keywords: Bitcoin, geopolitical tension, Iran strike, market volatility.)

Ripple will release 1 billion XRP from its escrow on March 1, 2026, as part of its monthly supply-management program that began in 2017. The escrow originally held 55 billion XRP and allows up to 1 billion XRP to be released on the first day of each month to support liquidity needs (including On-Demand Liquidity) and institutional partnerships. February’s unlock saw 1 billion XRP released (≈$1.63bn); Ripple re-escrowed roughly 700 million XRP and left a net ~300 million XRP added to circulation, leaving about 33.895 billion XRP in escrow. If March follows the same pattern, escrow could fall to ~33.595 billion XRP. Market participants note the headline “1 billion” figure overstates actual supply change because Ripple frequently re-locks a large share of each monthly release. Price context: at publication XRP traded near $1.31, down ~7% in 24 hours and ~8.6% on the week, below the 50-day SMA ($1.69) and 200-day SMA ($2.26). The 14-day RSI was ~39.9, indicating weakening momentum but not deeply oversold. Traders should monitor the actual re-escrow amount (how much of the 1 billion is re-locked), ETF flows and short-term technicals (50-day SMA, RSI) because the net increase in circulating supply can create short-term selling pressure and affect liquidity. The earlier summary (Jan/Feb) also noted historical behavior: Ripple normally re-locks about 60%–80% of monthly releases, leaving ~200–300 million XRP net per month; and the SEC settlement in August 2025 (including a $125m penalty) cleared the way for U.S. spot XRP ETFs, which have seen substantial inflows — another key supply/demand factor traders should track alongside escrow releases.