Crypto World
Platforms offering free hash power rewards are attracting global users
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Growing interest in Bitcoin mining is reviving demand for cloud mining services, with platforms like NOW DeFi offering low-barrier entry.
Summary
- Rising ASIC costs and energy requirements are pushing users toward cloud mining as a simpler way to participate in Bitcoin mining.
- NOW DeFi is attracting new users with a $22 free hash power reward and access to renewable-energy mining operations.
- Established platforms such as NiceHash, ECOS, CryptoTab, and F2Pool continue to play key roles in the global cloud mining ecosystem.
As the cryptocurrency market enters a new phase of expansion, Bitcoin mining has once again become a key topic among investors. At the same time, rising hardware costs, fluctuating energy prices, and increasing technical barriers have pushed many retail users to seek a more accessible way to participate: cloud mining.
Compared with traditional mining models, cloud mining does not require users to purchase expensive equipment or manage complex deployment, maintenance, and electricity consumption. By renting hash power from remote data centers, users can participate in Bitcoin mining and receive mining rewards. This model is attracting more users who want to enter the crypto ecosystem with lower barriers.
Entering 2026, discussions around cloud mining have noticeably increased across the industry. One important reason is that more platforms are introducing free hash power rewards, flexible contract structures, and renewable energy mining infrastructure, allowing cloud mining to evolve from a niche activity into an accessible entry point for a broader user base.
Why cloud mining is gaining attention again in 2026
For many new users, traditional Bitcoin mining involves a significant upfront investment. Mining hardware purchases, cooling systems, electricity costs, and technical maintenance often discourage individual investors from participating. Cloud mining platforms address this challenge by centralizing infrastructure operations, significantly lowering the entry barrier for users.
Several factors are driving renewed interest in cloud mining in 2026:
- Rising hardware costs: ASIC miners have become increasingly expensive
- Growing energy efficiency requirements: More mining operations are shifting toward renewable energy
- Technological advancements: AI-powered hash power optimization and automated reward settlement improve user experience
As a result, platforms offering free trials or free hash power rewards are becoming a key focus in the cloud mining market.
Free hash power rewards are attracting new users
In today’s cloud mining market, competition among platforms is no longer limited to contract pricing. Transparency, stability, payout efficiency, and mining energy structure are also key factors. For newcomers, the ability to test a platform with minimal risk has become an important consideration.
Against this backdrop, NOW DeFi has gained attention due to its free hash power rewards and renewable energy mining infrastructure. The platform offers new users a $22 free mining reward, allowing them to experience Bitcoin cloud mining without purchasing hardware or setting up mining equipment.
In addition to free rewards, NOW DeFi emphasizes its renewable energy mining network. According to the platform, its mining infrastructure operates in several regions rich in clean energy resources, including:
- Norway
- Canada
- Iceland
- Paraguay
- Sweden
- Uruguay
These locations offer stable supplies of hydropower, wind, solar, or geothermal energy, supporting large-scale mining operations.
Example mining contracts
| Plan | Investment | Contract Duration | Estimated Daily Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Plan | $100 | 2 Days | ~$4 |
| Mid-Tier Plan | $10,000 | Varies by plan | ~$165 |
| Advanced Plan | $50,000 | Varies by plan | ~$955 |
Actual returns may vary depending on Bitcoin market prices, network mining difficulty, and other operational factors.
Other cloud mining platforms worth noting
In addition to emerging platforms, several established services remain active within the cloud mining industry.
NiceHash — a globally recognized hash power marketplace.
ECOS — a cloud mining platform operating in Armenia’s Free Economic Zone.
CryptoTab — a lightweight browser-based mining experience.
F2Pool — a long-standing mining pool established in 2013.
As the industry continues to mature, platforms offering transparent mechanisms, stable payouts, and renewable energy infrastructure are more likely to gain user trust.
The future of cloud mining in 2026
From an industry perspective, cloud mining is undergoing an upgrade focused on efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. For users who prefer not to manage mining hardware or technical maintenance, cloud mining offers a more convenient way to participate in Bitcoin mining.
As free hash power rewards increasingly become a user acquisition strategy, more people are able to explore Bitcoin mining with lower financial risk. This trend is contributing to the growing global adoption of cloud mining.
Among the platforms gaining attention in this evolving market, NOW DeFi has been frequently mentioned for its free mining incentives, global renewable mining network, and relatively clear product structure. For users looking to explore Bitcoin mining through a low-barrier entry point, such platforms provide an accessible starting point.
Ready to start earning free Bitcoin?
Users can register by visiting the official NOW DeFi website or downloading its mobile application. After registration, new users can claim the platform’s free hash power reward and begin participating in Bitcoin cloud mining without purchasing mining hardware.
About NOW DeFi
NOW DeFi is a technology platform focused on digital asset infrastructure and cloud mining services. The platform aims to provide users with a more efficient and transparent mining experience through its global mining network, renewable energy infrastructure, and AI-powered hash power optimization.
By leveraging green energy solutions and automated mining systems, NOW DeFi enables users worldwide to participate in Bitcoin mining with lower barriers and simplified access.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
Nasdaq said it is working with Boerse Stuttgart Group’s tokenized settlement platform Seturion to connect its European trading venues to infrastructure designed to settle tokenized securities using distributed ledger technology.
According to Monday’s announcement, the collaboration will initially focus on structured products and aims to support faster settlement of tokenized assets across European capital markets.
Seturion supports multiple asset classes across public and private distributed ledger networks and allows transactions to be settled using either central bank money or on-chain cash. Boerse Stuttgart said the platform is intended to be open to a broader network of financial institutions across Europe.
Under the partnership, Nasdaq will link its European trading venues to Seturion so that tokenized securities traded on those markets can be settled through the platform. The companies said they plan to expand participation to additional issuers, brokers and financial institutions over time.
The partnership aims to address fragmentation in Europe’s post-trade infrastructure, where securities settlement is handled by multiple national systems with differing rules and processes. By using distributed ledger technology, the companies say a shared platform could help reduce settlement times and operational complexity across European markets.
The European Central Bank in April said there was “an urgent need to integrate Europe’s fragmented capital markets, not only in the area of post-trade but also in supervision and other areas.”
The system is designed to operate within existing European regulatory frameworks, including MiFID II and the DLT Pilot Regime, which allow financial institutions to test distributed ledger technology in trading and settlement of tokenized securities.
In February, Boerse Stuttgart Group said it would merge its cryptocurrency business with Frankfurt-based digital asset trading company Tradias as part of a strategy to expand its presence in institutional crypto markets.
Related: Kraken wins Kansas City Fed approval for limited master account access
Traditional exchanges push deeper into tokenized securities
Exchange operators are increasingly exploring tokenized versions of traditional securities as part of efforts to modernize capital market infrastructure.
Nasdaq said today that it was partnering with Kraken, a US-headquartered crypto exchange, and tokenization infrastructure provider Backed to develop a gateway aimed at supporting tokenized equities while preserving issuer control.
In September, Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation said it plans to bring a subset of US Treasury securities onto the Canton Network, with the long-term goal of expanding tokenization to a broader range of assets eligible for custody at its subsidiary, the Depository Trust Company. The market infrastructure operator processed around $3.7 quadrillion in 2024.
In January, the New York Stock Exchange and its parent company Intercontinental Exchange said they were developing a platform for trading tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds that would support 24/7 trading and blockchain-based settlement.
Last week, Intercontinental Exchange announced it had taken a board seat in OKX after investing in the crypto exchange and plans to offer NYSE-listed tokenized stocks and derivatives to OKX users starting in 2026.
Tokenized public equities have grown to about $1.01 billion in total onchain value, according to data from RWA.xyz.
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The crypto industry is entering a cycle of adjustment that has shifted from speculative behavior to structural fundamentals due, in part, to the passage of major legislation such as the GENIUS Act in the United States and MiCA in the EU. This shift places greater weight on how individual networks generate revenue, manage supply, and attract sustained user activity.
As a result, investors are increasingly examining protocol upgrades, token mechanics, and real usage metrics when assessing long-term price potential rather than relying on short-term narratives. In practical terms, that means looking at projects with real traction – so here are five that could break out in 2026 based on trading ranges, on-chain usage, and adoption trends.
HYPE and the $100 Scenario
Hyperliquid recently announced the HIP-3 upgrade, which adds gold and silver to the list of assets it covers. These changes helped the price of its native HYPE token rise to about $33. Some market watchers are suggesting it can eventually fly past its current all-time high of just under $60 and hit as much as $100 in 2026.
Looking at HYPE’s technical picture above reinforces this constructive fundamental view. For example, the 50-day exponential moving average is trending higher and could soon cross above the 200-day EMA. That would form a “golden cross,” a pattern many analysts view as a bullish buy signal.
Furthermore, the MACD has extended above its signal line on the daily chart, meaning there is increasing bullish momentum. The RSI is also around 60, which suggests strong buying pressure but still leaves room for more upside before the asset starts to look overbought.
But reaching $100 would require more than just price expansion. It would mean that volume growth, buybacks, and burns would continue, and there would be deeper liquidity across tokenized assets on Hyperliquid.
If the platform maintains its lead in on-chain derivatives and successfully integrates more institutional-grade margin tools, the token could consolidate its value. And based on its current volume profile, facilitating $2.6 trillion worth of trades in 2025, and market penetration, a move toward $100 before year-end is within the boundaries of fundamental growth – assuming the ecosystem continues to attract high-liquidity markets.
BNB’s $2,000 Target
Ranked as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, BNB was trading near $640 as of this writing, nearly 54% off its peak. However, from a technical standpoint, the asset is showing early signs of stabilization after a downtrend that began toward the end of January.
The 10- and 20-day exponential moving averages were of special interest, with TradingView data showing them flattening out while the RSI climbed higher for the first time in several weeks. That implies the selling pressure may be reducing, with the reversal leading some supporters to suggest that the next bull run will push BNB to $2,000.
Price forecast estimates indicate that BNB is expected to increase gradually over time, with a near-term price target of $610 and an expected average price of $640–$820 at approximately the mid-point of the forecast horizon.
Analyst Duo Nine supports this scenario and anticipates the first price target for BNB will be just below $700. If that level is reclaimed, the market watchers believe $900 will be the threshold.
However, reaching $2,000 in 2026 would require that the BNB Chain register more activity on-chain, and there would also need to be more clarity about how regulators treat tokens linked to exchanges.
Solana to $300
A strong run at the tail end of last year gave traders hope that 2026 could be the year Solana (SOL) finally hits the $300 milestone.
The coin’s narrative revolves around withstanding change in the market and keeping a loyal developer base focused on high-throughput applications. According to recent data, the network has the second-largest market share in DeFi and has at times had more 24-hour DEX trading volume than Ethereum.
Over the past week, SOL has gained more than 9%, outpacing the broader market. According to chartist Ali Martinez, the coin is currently range-bound, with support at $76 and resistance around the $90 level. A move above $90 would signal a potential shift toward upside continuation, with analyst Crypto Patel suggesting last month that once SOL outgrows its corrective phase, it could go past $300, even hitting $500 or $1000.
But to reach these elevated price points, there needs to be continued development, a stable network with solid performance, and wider Layer 1 infrastructure usage, driven by the clarity of the regulatory environment in key markets.
However, it must also be noted that Ethereum and other fast chains remain highly competitive, and outages, as seen in the past, could also impact SOL’s risk profile, making it more difficult to pass the record-breaking price milestone.
Uniswap’s $20 Projection
The case for Uniswap (UNI) climbing to $20 was strengthened on December 25, 2025, when tokenholders voted to flip the protocol’s fee switch, allowing a portion of its revenue to be used for a buy-and-burn program.
The move means that some of Uniswap’s profits are now being used to raise the value of UNI, and the results have been clear: the token has gone up more than 17% in the last week, bringing it to just under $4.00, according to CoinGecko.
Another indicator to consider is Uniswap’s market cap to TVL ratio. UNI currently holds the 37th spot in terms of market cap, with a value of around $2.5 billion. Meanwhile, DefiLlama puts the platform’s TVL at $3.12 billion, giving a ratio of 0.81 and indicating that UNI is quite undervalued.
With the token’s worth now tied to measurable revenue and supply reduction, and given that fundamentals have not been priced in, there is some upside potential that could push UNI to $20. This is more so, given that Uniswap recently won full dismissal of a scam token class action lawsuit, with the judge ruling the platform cannot be held liable for the misconduct of third-party token issuers.
WFI to Reach $100?
WFI is the native token of the WeFi ecosystem, which is building core infrastructure for a fully on-chain financial system and decentralized on-chain banks (deobanks). Crowned as the digital bank of the year for 2025 by Finance Feeds, WeFi has pushed WFI’s strong performance in the market.
The initiative offers its users the opportunity to manage their own crypto assets and use numerous services related to conventional banking, such as payment processing, fund transfers across borders, and savings account options.
According to data from CoinGecko, WFI has had an eventful 12 months, gaining well over 400% in the timeframe, which pushed it to a new all-time high of $3.00 in January 2026.
That yearly rise stands in sharp contrast to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple’s XRP, which are all heavily in the red for the same period.
If WeFi keeps growing its user base, and corporate stablecoin settlements expand as management anticipates, WFI’s demand profile could change materially, taking it from $3 to $20, $50, and potentially $100 in 2026.
Zcash Open Development Lab, which Zcash devs formed after leaving Electric Coin Capital, raised funds from prominent crypto VCs.
The recently founded firm Zcash Open Development Lab (ZODL) — formed by the core developers of Zcash (ZEC) after they recently exited Electric Coin Capital — announced today, March 9, that it has secured over $25 million in seed funding to support the privacy-focused ecosystem.
A number of prominent venture capital firms and investors participated in the seed round, including Paradigm, a16z crypto, Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Cypherpunk Technologies, Maelstrom, Chapter One, Balaji Srinivasan, Haseeb Qureshi, and Mert.
In a separate X post today, the founder of ZODL and former CEO of ECC, Josh Swihart, explained the move, the recent organization shifts, and the org’s goals post-funding:
“ Ultimately, we intend to deliver a private, decentralized financial system as an alternative to legacy institutions. This funding allows us to bring these ambitions to life, without relying on Zcash dev fund grants to get there.”
The price of ZEC rallied nearly 10% to over $215 on the news, making it the second-best performer among the top-100 crypto assets today.
ECC to ZODL
The fundraising round marks a major milestone for the new firm, which formed after a governance dispute in January that resulted in the entire core development and leadership team at ECC leaving.
ECC’s wallet app, Zalshi — now rebranded to Zodl — was a key focus of the dispute, as ECC and the nonprofit board overseeing it, Bootstrap, disagreed about the app’s development strategy.
Under Swihart’s leadership, the former ECC team swiftly moved to form a new entity and wallet, which are effectively rebrands of ECC and Zalshi, respectively. Swihart also clarified at the time that the team had no intentions of leaving the Zcash ecosystem or its core development.
This article was generated with the assistance of AI workflows.
The Trump administration’s cybersecurity framework names cryptocurrency and blockchain as technologies requiring federal protection, a first for a U.S. presidential strategy document.
The White House recently published President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America, which states that the administration will pursue “supporting the security of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies” as part of a broader effort to “build secure technologies and supply chains that protect user privacy from design to deployment.”
This marks the first time a U.S. presidential cybersecurity document has explicitly named blockchain as a protected technology class, placing it alongside post-quantum cryptography and AI in the administration’s national security priorities.
The document also contains language with potential enforcement implications for crypto, calling on the government to “uproot criminal infrastructure and deny financial exit and safe haven,” framing cybercrime and intellectual property theft as “some of the greatest threats to global economies.” The administration also signed a companion executive order on the same day targeting cybercrime and fraud, which is expected to shape how agencies enforce the policy.
On the regulatory side, it commits the administration to streamlining compliance burdens across the board, pledging to “streamline cyber regulations to reduce compliance burdens, address liability, and better align regulators and industry globally” so that “the private sector has the agility necessary to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats.”
For crypto, the bottom line is a dual message: recognition as critical infrastructure worthy of federal protection, paired with a signal that the administration will pursue the illicit finance channels that the industry has long struggled to police.
The PENGU token is up 7% in the past 24 hours.
Pudgy Penguins has officially launched Pudgy World, a free-to-play browser-based game.
Set across a fictional frozen landscape called The Berg, the game features 12 unique towns for players to explore. The central storyline tasks players with helping the character Pengu track down a missing friend named Polly, with mini-games woven throughout. The multiplayer setup means players can explore The Berg together in real time.
The launch marks a significant milestone for one of crypto’s most successful crossover brands. Pudgy Penguins was purchased by current CEO Luca Netz in 2022 and has since evolved from a forgotten relic of 2021’s NFT summer into one of the top collections in the NFT space.
What has set Pudgy Penguins apart from its peers is an aggressive push into mainstream consumer products. The brand’s IP coverage expanded steadily under Netz, with physical toys featured in Walmart and Amazon, a children’s book deal with Random House, and a mobile game called Pudgy Party, which became the top-ranked mobile racing game in Apple’s App Store within three days of its release.
The ecosystem’s PENGU token is up 7% in the past 24 hours, trading at a $440 million market capitalization.
Pudgy World is designed to bring the brand’s broad audience, spanning physical retail, social media, mobile gaming, and crypto, into a single, shared interactive space.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Traders compare crypto futures platforms as derivatives activity grows across major exchanges.
Summary
- Futures platforms BTCC, Binance, and Bybit differ in leverage, fees, and margin systems as derivatives trading grows.
- BTCC offers up to 500x leverage, compared with Bybit’s 200x and Binance’s 125x on major perpetual futures pairs.
- Binance, Bybit, and BTCC all provide USDT perpetual futures, but only Binance and Bybit offer coin-margined contracts.
Growing institutional and retail participation in cryptocurrency derivatives markets has prompted traders to examine the technical specifications of futures trading platforms more closely. Comparisons between BTCC, Binance, and Bybit reveal differences in leverage availability, trading costs, margin systems, and platform features.
Leverage and fees
Higher leverage allows traders to control larger positions with smaller margin deposits, but also increases the risk of liquidation when prices move against a position.
Bybit offers up to 200x, and Binance caps leverage at 125x on major perpetual futures pairs. BTCC offers the highest maximum leverage of the three platforms, at up to 500x on select perpetual futures contracts.
On maker fees — charged when a trader places a limit order that adds liquidity to the order book — Binance and Bybit both charge 0.02%, while BTCC charges 0.025%. On taker fees — charged when a trader executes a market order — Bybit charges the highest rate at 0.055%, followed by BTCC at 0.045% and Binance at 0.04%. All three platforms offer tiered fee structures in which higher trading volumes or account balances qualify users for reduced rates.
Contract types and margin modes
All three exchanges offer USDT-margined perpetual futures contracts, which settle in Tether (USDT). Binance and Bybit additionally offer coin-margined contracts, which allow traders to use cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ether as collateral. BTCC focuses on USDT perpetual contracts.
Cross-margin and isolated margin modes are available across all three platforms. Binance and Bybit also offer portfolio margin, which allows traders to offset positions and reduce capital requirements. BTCC does not list portfolio margin as a feature.
All three platforms maintain insurance funds intended to cover losses that exceed a trader’s margin balance during liquidation events. Each exchange also employs an auto-deleveraging mechanism, which reduces the positions of profitable traders when insurance funds cannot fully absorb a liquidation shortfall. Margin calls are issued across all three platforms when a trader’s equity falls below maintenance thresholds.
Demo and simulated trading
BTCC offers a demo trading environment that operates within the main platform interface using virtual funds. Binance and Bybit provide simulated trading through separate testnet environments. Testnets are distinct from demo environments, as they run on separate blockchain infrastructure rather than replicating live platform conditions.
BTCC was founded in 2011, making it the oldest of the three exchanges. Binance launched in 2017 and grew to become one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume. Bybit was founded in 2018 with a focus on derivatives trading.
The three platforms offer comparable core functionality in several areas, including USDT perpetuals, cross and isolated margin modes, insurance funds, and tiered fee structures, while differing on leverage ceilings, taker fee rates, contract variety, and the scope of available margin tools.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
Bitcoin whipsawed between $65k and $69k as oil spiked then retreated, underscoring that macro energy shocks still script BTC’s role as a global risk barometer.
Summary
- Bitcoin rebounded from $65k toward $69k after oil slid from near $120 on strategic-reserve headlines, tying BTC’s bounce directly to easing energy shock fears.
- Traders framed BTC as a high-beta gauge of global risk appetite, watching the $67k area as a key line in the sand for whether the rally sticks.
- Spot data show BTC hovering near $68.6k with over $50.7b in volume as Ethereum and Solana lag or outperform on the risk curve rotation.
Bitcoin (BTC) reminded markets on Monday that macro still writes the script. After sliding to roughly $65,000 earlier in the session, the benchmark cryptocurrency snapped back toward $69,000 as crude oil retreated sharply from near $120 per barrel on headlines that strategic reserves could be tapped. CoinMarketCap summed it up bluntly: “Bitcoin recovered to around $69,000 after falling to $65,000, rebounding as oil pulled back sharply from near $120 per barrel following reports that strategic reserves may be tapped.”
That sequence – energy shock fears, then relief, then a crypto bid – was not lost on traders watching the tape. One macro‑focused account responded that “when energy shock fears fade, crypto catches a bid almost immediately,” framing BTC as a high‑beta expression of global risk appetite rather than an isolated digital asset. Another observer at Zeconomy wrote: “From 65K to 69K on an oil pullback is a good reminder that BTC still trades like a global risk barometer,” underlining how quickly flows rotate once pressure eases in commodities.
At the same time, positioning around key levels remains central to how this move is being read. Aequalis Lab argued that “if it holds 67k, next week could get spicy,” pointing to the mid‑$60K band as a line in the sand for trend traders. Short‑term sentiment, at least among vocal bulls, has already flipped back toward accumulation: one trader insisted that “$69K proves the dip was just a blip, accumulation continues,” while another suggested that future “nostalgia about buying BTC at current levels” will dominate once prices move to “levels that seem somewhat unbelievable to most of the market.”
For now, spot data show Bitcoin trading near $68,600, up about 2.5% over the last 24 hours, with 24‑hour turnover above $50.7 billion and a market capitalization north of $1.35 trillion. Ethereum changes hands around $2,011, down roughly 3.7% on the day with a market cap of about $260.2 billion, while Solana trades near $83.76, up roughly 2.7% over the same period as liquidity rotates down the risk curve.
Analysts say Bitcoin increasingly sits inside ETFs and corporate treasuries.
Bitcoin reserves held on centralized exchanges have fallen back to levels last seen in 2019. Data shared by crypto market analyst Dark Fost shows that exchange reserves have been steadily declining since 2022.
This trend has accelerated following the collapse of the FTX exchange.
Bitcoin Supply Migration
In November 2022 alone, more than 325,000 BTC were withdrawn from exchange reserves as investors moved their assets off centralized platforms. As a result of this continued outflow, total BTC reserves on exchanges accessible to retail investors have now dropped to roughly 2.7 million BTC.
Among these platforms, Binance alone accounts for approximately 20% of the remaining reserves. When platforms primarily used by professional investors are included in the analysis, Coinbase Advanced ranks first, holding close to 800,000 BTC. However, this figure is still about 200,000 BTC lower than the level recorded in July 2025.
Dark Fost stated that while the FTX collapse played a major role in encouraging investors to hold assets in private wallets, two additional developments have also contributed to the reduction in exchange balances. The first is the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in January 2024. At the time of their introduction, exchange reserves were still above 3.2 million BTC. Since then, ETFs have accumulated around 1.3 million BTC, which represents roughly 6.7% of Bitcoin’s total supply and effectively removes that amount from exchange liquidity.
The second factor is the growth of digital asset treasury companies (DATs) that hold Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Collectively, these firms now control about 1.1 million BTC, or nearly 5% of the total supply. Both ETF holdings and corporate treasuries represent a growing share of Bitcoin supply held in structured financial vehicles.
“Over the long term, this transformation could play an important role in market liquidity and price formation, even if these structural effects always take time to fully materialize.”
Geopolitical Tensions Halt Breakout
Against this backdrop of changing supply patterns, Bitcoin entered the second week of March under pressure as markets remained focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East. The cryptocurrency recently failed a breakout attempt above $70,000 as the ongoing US-Iran conflict contributed to broader market uncertainty. Despite the pullback, crypto trader and analyst Michaël van de Poppe said BTC’s current price action does not represent a worst-case scenario.
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In his latest post on X, the trader noted that Bitcoin continues to trade within a range but described the performance as relatively strong given the current market conditions. According to him, oil prices surged about 15% on Monday to their highest levels since 2022, while gold and commodities declined, and the Nasdaq fell significantly. Van de Poppe added that if the US stock market opens higher and oil prices begin to correct, Bitcoin could regain momentum toward $70,000.
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Mining Bitcoin on a desktop in 2026 may sound simple, but is it profitable? Do rising network difficulty and energy costs mean the end of PCs as Bitcoin mining equipment?
Already on a tear ahead of the war in Iran, Circle (CRCL) might be an unlikely beneficiary of the conflict.
The stock rose 10% on Monday, outperforming other crypto-linked equities, with the shares now up by 86% over the past month, though they remain sharply lower since their peak post-IPO frenzy last summer.
Japanese bank Mizuho said part of the Circle rally reflects the jump in oil prices following the escalation in Middle East tensions. Higher crude prices could reignite inflationary pressures, potentially reducing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Other things being equal, stablecoin issuers are thought to benefit from higher interest rates as that means higher yields on their invested dollars.
Indeed, oil prices have surged since hostilities erupted in the Gulf, with WTI crude up roughly 35% since Feb. 28. Higher energy prices tend to fuel inflation and can limit central banks’ ability to cut interest rates.
Positioning has surely played a role as well.
While the company reported solid growth in USDC supply in its fourth-quarter earnings, analysts say the magnitude of the move likely reflected a crowded short trade ahead of the release.
“The magnitude of the move wasn’t purely about the headline numbers. Positioning was the real catalyst,” said Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research.
According to his data, hedge funds had accumulated sizable bearish bets ahead of the report. That setup created what Thielen described as a “high-probability short squeeze rather than a fundamental re-rating.”
Short interest currently stands at about 13% of the float, equivalent to roughly two days to cover, according to FactSet data.
Read more: Circle moves $68 million in just 30 minutes by using its own stablecoin for internal payments
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