A crypto-backed development push on the Caribbean island of Nevis is drawing scrutiny as a Belgian-born investor advances a plan to convert roughly 2,400 acres into a tech-friendly, libertarian enclave. Destiny, the project led by Olivier Janssens, has proposed a steady stream of citizen grants alongside a multi-decade infrastructure program, aiming to reshape a portion of Nevis into what its proponents describe as a futures-focused urban community. The initiative comes with a controversial twist: residents could begin receiving monthly stipends of $100 in the near term, a policy that critics say amounts to political influence-peddling and raises anti-corruption concerns as the government weighs the proposal. The latest figures show Destiny intends to pour $50 million into the island’s infrastructure to fund hospitals, health centers, villas and job creation, while distributing a share of profits to citizens and a sovereign wealth fund. The project seeks authorization under St. Kitts and Nevis’ Special Sustainability Zones regime, a framework that parliament passed in 2025 to facilitate such developments.

Key takeaways

• Destiny plans to acquire and restructure about 2,400 acres on Nevis, pairing a major land redevelopment with a $50 million infrastructure program to fund hospitals, health centers and housing.
• Residents would receive $100 per month once the final government agreement is approved, up from the initial 30 East Caribbean dollars (about US$11) announced in November 2025.
• Opponents argue the stipend is an attempt to sway public opinion and government decisions, calling for an investigation under anti-corruption law.
• The project is pursuing permission under the territory’s Special Sustainability Zones regime, approved in 2025 to enable large-scale, sovereign-backed development initiatives.
• Destiny’s model reflects a broader crypto-inflected “city-building” trend discussed by founders seeking new governance experiments, including high-profile figures who advocate land-buying and community creation as a form of “exit” from traditional institutions.

Tickers mentioned:

Sentiment:

Market context: The Nevis proposal arrives amid a wave of crypto-enabled urban ventures that leverage offshore jurisdictions and new regulatory regimes to test governance, funding models and citizen-participation schemes within a evolving regulatory landscape.

Why it matters

The Destiny project sits at the intersection of crypto wealth, political risk and economic development in a small Caribbean jurisdiction. By proposing to buy and restructure a sizable tract of land and commit a substantial infrastructure budget, Destiny taps into a growing appetite among cryptocurrency founders to experiment with new urban forms. The approach blends private capital, tokenless governance concepts and citizen benefits, raising questions about accountability, long-term sustainability, and how such schemes should be regulated in jurisdictions that balance attracti­on with the need for oversight.

At the heart of the debate is the compensation mechanism promised to residents. Destiny has signaled a monthly stipend of $100 would be paid immediately after final government approval to participate in the venture. That figure marks a substantial increase from its earlier commitment of 30 East Caribbean dollars per month (roughly US$11). Critics argue that this is a form of influence buying, designed to curry favor with local authorities and sway public sentiment. Kelvin Daly, a member of Nevis’ Reformation Party, condemned the move as a coercive pressure tactic, arguing it amounts to private-sector interference in domestic socioeconomic policy. He urged authorities to probe potential breaches of anti-corruption laws in connection with the program.

Destiny’s leadership frames the project as a pathway to broader economic resilience. The plan envisages 10% of profits returned to Nevis’ citizens and another 10% funneled into the territory’s sovereign wealth fund, aligning private development with public benefit. If approved, the initiative would begin channeling tens of millions into the island’s infrastructure, including healthcare facilities and housing, while creating jobs for residents and potentially catalyzing further private sector investment. The framework under which Destiny seeks approval—St. Kitts and Nevis’ Special Sustainability Zones Act—was crafted to authorize and regulate ambitious, cross-border development efforts in a way that is meant to balance innovation with oversight. The 2025 act represents a formal mechanism to enable such projects, providing a legal pathway for foreign-backed ventures that promise social and economic returns to local communities.

The broader crypto city-building trend has drawn attention from prominent figures in the space. Balaji Srinivasan, a former Coinbase executive and early advocate of technologically driven, community-led cities, highlighted the concept at the Network State Conference in Singapore in October 2025. In his remarks, Srinivasan urged crypto and tech enthusiasts to collectively acquire land and assemble tech-forward communities, framing the endeavor as Silicon Valley’s “ultimate exit” from perceived failings in traditional U.S. institutions. He also presented research suggesting there are about 120 “start-up societies” in varying stages of development worldwide, underscoring the scale of this movement beyond a single project. The discourse surrounding these ideas highlights a broader aspiration within parts of the crypto ecosystem to reimagine governance, citizenship, and public services through distributed, decentralized methods.

Destiny’s public-facing materials emphasize a long-term commitment to the Nevis landscape. The project contends that the land purchases and infrastructure investments would not only provide amenities for residents but also help position Nevis as a testing ground for governance models that blend private capital with public benefit. Still, the initiative’s reception on the ground has been mixed, with critics warning that high-profile incentives could distort local decision-making processes and invite scrutiny from anti-corruption watchdogs. The Nevis government’s timeline for final approval remains unclear, and observers will be watching closely for how regulators interpret the Special Sustainability Zones Act in the context of this proposal.

Sources and statements tied to the project point to a nuanced dynamic between ambition and risk. An email report cited by the Financial Times describes the monthly payment structure and its conditional nature on securing a final agreement, while the Special Sustainability Zones Act page on SKNIS outlines the statutory framework that would govern such initiatives. Destiny’s communications and the timing of government decisions will likely shape both investor confidence and local sentiment in the months ahead. The discourse around this project sits at the confluence of venture capital appetite, political accountability, and the evolving regulatory landscape for crypto-enabled urban experiments.

Project Destiny, preview. Source: Destiny.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has a long-standing place in the lore of Destiny’s founder, with Janssens described as an early investor and a former member of the Bitcoin Foundation board in 2015, during which the group’s status was publicly questioned. This history is cited in discussions about the project’s credibility, as well as the broader narrative of crypto-led city-building that continues to attract both supporters and critics.

What to watch next

• Timeline for final government approval under the Special Sustainability Zones Act, with any public disclosures from SKN authorities.
• Regulatory or anti-corruption inquiries related to the $100 monthly stipend proposal and the broader governance framework.
• Progress on Destiny’s $50 million infrastructure plan, including hospital and housing milestones and job-creation metrics for Nevis residents.
• Reactions from local communities and political parties to the citizen-profit-sharing model and the long-term governance structure of the project.
• Updates from other high-profile crypto-city initiatives, including any new documents or speeches from proponents like Balaji Srinivasan and related ventures.

Sources & verification

• Financial Times reporting on Destiny’s payment proposal and government-facing communications (email seen by FT).
• Special Sustainability Zones Act 2025 documentation from SKNIS outlining the regulatory framework.
• Destiny’s public materials and references to the proposed $50 million infrastructure program and profit-sharing commitments (Destiny.com).
• Balaji Srinivasan’s Network State Conference remarks and the referenced document detailing a 120-start-up-society framework.
• Historical references to the Bitcoin Foundation’s status and Janssens’ involvement in 2015 (as cited by crypto press and analysis).

Destiny’s Nevis plan tests crypto-led city-building and regulatory risk

Olivier Janssens, a crypto veteran whose early Bitcoin investments and past board roles have anchored him in the sector’s lore, is steering a bold experiment on Nevis. The Destiny project envisions acquiring and restructuring approximately 2,400 acres with an eye toward crafting a “tech-friendly libertarian” community that blends innovation with public-services investment. The proposed model relies on a mix of private capital and public benefits—chief among them a 10% profit share for citizens and another 10% for Nevis’ sovereign wealth fund—paired with a robust infrastructure program aimed at improving healthcare facilities, housing, and local employment.

While the economic calculus sounds appealing on its face, the political optics of the plan have triggered friction. A key demand from opponents is greater scrutiny of the incentive structure and the potential for influence on public decision-making. Kelvin Daly, a member of Nevis’ Reformist Party, publicly described the plan as “influence buying” and urged authorities to look into possible breaches of anti-corruption statutes. The social contract being advanced with Destiny would hinge on final government approval—an approval that has yet to be publicly reconciled with the island’s regulatory environment. The dispute underscores a broader tension in crypto-city projects: the desire to accelerate development through outsized private funding versus the need for transparent governance and credible oversight.

Destiny’s formal path forward rests on the Special Sustainability Zones regime, a 2025 statute designed to accommodate ambitious, cross-border schemes that promise measurable community benefits. The legal framework aims to strike a balance between attracting foreign investment and ensuring governance remains accountable to residents. In parallel, Destiny’s critics and supporters alike are watching a broader narrative in which crypto founders advocate for a more decentralized, entrepreneurial approach to city-building as a potential alternative to traditional governance models. The movement is not isolated: Balaji Srinivasan highlighted similar ideas at a major conference in Singapore, circulating a vision of “start-up societies” and land ownership as a lever for sustainable, tech-forward communities. The discussion signals both opportunity and risk as jurisdictions weigh the implications of crypto-enabled development in a world where regulatory expectations are still evolving.

The Financial Times report, SKNIS documentation, and Destiny’s own materials collectively frame a transformation in how offshore territories might partner with private developers to deliver public goods. If the government ultimately approves the plan, Nevis could become a focal point for a new class of experiments at the intersection of crypto finance, governance, and urban planning. The next steps will likely reveal whether such ventures can responsibly balance private ambition with public accountability, and whether residents see meaningful long-term dividends beyond the immediate monthly stipends.

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on six individuals and two companies it says helped North Korea convert $800 million in 2024 into crypto to launder the money and fund its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said Thursday that the operation placed IT workers into foreign companies and channeled their earnings back to Pyongyang. The network operated across multiple countries including Vietnam, Laos and Spain, according to the Treasury.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has for years targeted cryptocurrency protocols and networks to steal and launder funds. Last year, hackers linked to the country stole a record $2 billion of crypto, according to the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

The sanctioned network relied on a mix of crypto infrastructure, including centralized exchanges, hosted wallets, decentralized finance (DeFi) services and cross-chain bridges, to facilitate movement of the funds, Chainalysis said in a post on its website.

OFAC’s designation included 21 crypto wallet addresses across several blockchains including Ethereum, Tron and Bitcoin, reflecting what the Chainalysis researchers described as the DPRK’s increasingly multichain approach to moving and obscuring illicit funds.

“The North Korean regime targets American companies through deceptive schemes carried out by its overseas IT operatives, who weaponize sensitive data and extort businesses for substantial payments,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in the statement.

According to Treasury, DPRK-backed teams used fraudulent documentation, stolen identities, and fabricated personas to gain employment with legitimate companies, including those in the U.S. and allied countries.

The North Korean government then reportedly appropriated most of the wages earned by these overseas IT workers, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for its WMD and ballistic missile programs. Some of the workers were able to introduce malware into company networks to extract proprietary and sensitive information.

Among those sanctioned is Nguyen Quang Viet, CEO of Vietnam-based Quangvietdnbg International Services Co., whom the Treasury said converted roughly $2.5 million into cryptocurrency for North Korean actors between mid-2023 and mid-2025.

Key Takeaways

• Zillow (Z) touched a 52-week low at $41.91, representing a 38% decline year-over-year
• Shares are trading 55% beneath the 52-week peak of $93.88
• JPMorgan argues that concerns over AI threats and legal issues are exaggerated
• Company’s board greenlit a $1.25 billion expansion to its stock repurchase program
• Shares climbed approximately 6% Friday following JPMorgan’s analysis before the March 24 AI event

Zillow’s shares experienced a turbulent week before staging an unexpected Friday recovery.

Following a dip to a 52-week bottom of $41.91 early in the week, Zillow (Z) rallied approximately 6% Friday after receiving supportive commentary from JPMorgan. The investment firm challenged the pessimistic outlook that has weighed on shares.

Zillow Group, Inc. Class C, Z

The real estate platform has shed roughly 38% of its value over the trailing twelve months. In just the last half-year, shares have plunged almost 49%. At its nadir, the stock was changing hands 55% under its 52-week peak of $93.88.

Despite the substantial markdown, the company maintains a market capitalization approaching $10 billion.

JPMorgan contended that prevailing worries surrounding artificial intelligence threats, pending litigation, regulatory headwinds, and modifications to listing protocols are being magnified beyond reason by market participants. The firm believes investors are failing to properly value Zillow’s fundamental business operations and long-range strategic positioning.

The financial institution also highlighted Zillow’s forthcoming AI summit scheduled for March 24 as a possible inflection point. JPMorgan suggested the gathering could showcase how Zillow’s proprietary data assets, integrated operations, and end-to-end platform provide the firm with sustainable competitive advantages.

Technical indicators continue flashing a “sell” signal for the equity, which remains down approximately 40% year-to-date. Daily trading volume averages roughly 4.3 million shares.

Fourth Quarter Results: Modest Performance

Zillow delivered Q4 2025 financial results that presented a split outcome. The company posted revenue of $654 million, exceeding analyst projections of $650.23 million. However, earnings per share registered at $0.39, falling marginally short of the $0.40 consensus estimate.

On the analyst coverage side, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered its price objective from $65 to $60 while maintaining its Market Perform designation. The research group observed that Zillow’s 2026 outlook aligned largely with Street expectations, though profitability headwinds stemming from litigation expenses were identified as a risk factor.

William Blair similarly maintained its Market Perform stance following the buyback disclosure.

Share Repurchase Initiative Bolstered

Zillow’s board of directors authorized a substantial enhancement to its stock repurchase framework. Management added $1.25 billion to the existing authorization, elevating total remaining buyback capacity to approximately $1.3 billion.

InvestingPro analytics identified Zillow as possibly trading below intrinsic value at present price levels. The service additionally observed that the equity has exhibited significant price volatility, aligning with recent trading patterns.

JPMorgan’s assessment and the March 24 AI summit represent the primary near-term catalysts capturing investor attention.

The TRUMP token rallied from an all-time low after news that Donald Trump will host an exclusive investor gala.

President Donald Trump has announced an exclusive gala and conference for the leading Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin investors to be held at Mar-a-Lago in April 2026.

Reacting to the news, the token surged by more than 50% just moments after it had recorded a new all-time low.

Trump’s Second Gala Event

The TrumpMeme X account described the April 25 gathering at Mar-a-Lago as “the most exclusive crypto and business conference in the world & gala luncheon.” The announcement invited the top 297 holders of the TRUMP meme coin to come and join the U.S. president and 18 other undisclosed personalities at the event.

The website also promotes an “exclusive bonus” offering a VIP reception and talk to 29 qualifying members. According to the post, VIP eligibility is based on participants’ time-weighted TRUMP holdings as recorded on April 10, 2026. Additionally, investors must maintain at least the same balance through April 26 to retain full VIP benefits.

This isn’t the first time Trump has held such an event. Last year, the president hosted a similar gala dinner for the 220 largest investors of the coin. At that conference, attendees holding more than $111 million in TRUMP received priority seating. Overall, the event raised about $148 million, and some seats cost attendees up to $1.5 million.

As a result, critics argued that the president was profiting directly from his office by tying access to him with crypto investments. Some legal experts also described the dinner as “a simple bribe,” implying that the investors were made to pay for influence.

TRUMP Token Rallies by 30%

Prior to the news breaking about the TRUMP gala, the meme coin had been on a downward spiral, going from nearly $5.80 in January to a new all-time low on March 12, when it struck $2.73 per CoinGecko data.

You may also like:

However, it perked up immediately after the announcement, first shooting straight to $4.5, before gradually making its way to the $4 level, where it still was at the time of writing.

The project’s team has been making efforts to try and revive interest in the meme coin through new ecosystem initiatives.  Last month, it announced plans for yield and liquidity programs through Kamino vaults, new market makers, and a fund to back ecosystem projects.

However, those efforts had not resulted in increased trading activity, with the price sticking largely to its downward spiral. But now, the new price marks an over 30% improvement in the last 24 hours, with longer timeframes also turning green. Across seven days, TRUMP was up more than 25%, while the increase stood at nearly 15% over two weeks.

On the monthly timeframe, the meme coin has gained over 28%, although it is still down nearly 60% year-on-year and sits approximately 95% from its January 2025 all-time high.

Key Points

• International authorities successfully dismantle SocksEscort network, confiscating 34 domains and 23 servers globally.
• Criminal operation compromised more than 369,000 routers across 163 nations worldwide.
• Law enforcement freezes $3.5 million in cryptocurrency linked to the illicit proxy service.
• AVRecon malware served as the backbone for SocksEscort, facilitating fraud, ransomware distribution, and DDoS campaigns.
• International collaboration demonstrates effective cross-border cooperation in combating sophisticated cybercrime.

A sophisticated international cybercrime operation has been successfully dismantled following coordinated action by Europol and United States law enforcement agencies. The operation targeted SocksEscort, an illicit proxy service that weaponized more than 369,000 compromised devices spanning 163 nations. Authorities confiscated multiple domains and servers while freezing $3.5 million in cryptocurrency assets, effectively terminating this extensive IP cloaking scheme.

The enforcement action resulted in the disconnection of compromised modems, rendering the criminal service inoperable. Affected nations will receive notification regarding infected routers within their jurisdictions to enable follow-up actions. This collaborative takedown represents a milestone achievement in global efforts to combat sophisticated cybercrime infrastructure.

The SocksEscort platform enabled threat actors to conceal their geographical locations while executing fraud schemes, ransomware campaigns, and various digital offenses. Operating as a commercial service, it provided access to over 35,000 proxy connections to paying customers seeking anonymous criminal operations. Law enforcement officials indicate this IP cloaking infrastructure enabled extensive attack campaigns and significant financial crimes.

Worldwide Criminal Infrastructure Exposed

Investigators documented SocksEscort operations spanning 163 countries, with infections affecting residential and small business networking equipment. The malicious infrastructure redirected internet communications through compromised devices, effectively obscuring the true origin points of criminal traffic. Thousands of victims in the United States and United Kingdom were identified, demonstrating the operation’s extensive international footprint.

Threat actors exploited this network to infiltrate banking systems and cryptocurrency platforms, while also submitting fraudulent financial claims. One documented U.S. victim suffered approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency losses attributed to attacks routed through this infrastructure. The criminal enterprise reportedly commenced operations in 2020 and experienced rapid expansion.

By February 2026, SocksEscort maintained access to 8,000 compromised routers, with 2,500 located within U.S. borders. Black Lotus Labs conducted extensive tracking of the botnet, identifying the AVRecon malware as the operational foundation. This IP cloaking infrastructure represented a substantial threat to global digital security.

Coordinated Enforcement Action and Continuing Probes

Europol and the Department of Justice spearheaded a synchronized enforcement operation, confiscating 34 domain names and 23 servers distributed across seven countries. U.S. authorities successfully froze $3.5 million in cryptocurrency directly associated with SocksEscort financial transactions. Compromised devices were systematically disconnected, eliminating the operational IP cloaking infrastructure.

Affected nations are receiving official notifications to facilitate continued investigations and potential prosecution efforts. The operation showcases the power of international coordination in neutralizing sophisticated cybercrime infrastructure. The disruption of this router-based IP cloaking operation will substantially hinder similar criminal activities moving forward.

SocksEscort specifically exploited small-office and home-office networking devices, providing criminals with capabilities to execute precision fraud operations. Law enforcement confirmed the proxy infrastructure facilitated ransomware deployment, distributed denial-of-service attacks, and illegal content distribution. The termination of SocksEscort eliminates one of the most extensive IP cloaking operations documented in recent years.

US equities keep climbing, but JPMorgan data show retail equity buying down about 30%, shifting crypto’s driver mix toward macro funds just as Iran, oil and inflation risks linger.

US equities are grinding higher on the surface, but retail is quietly stepping off the gas — a mix that keeps the risk‑on narrative alive while thinning out the marginal buyer underneath crypto.

U.S. indices extend gains

Major U.S. stock indices opened higher, with the Nasdaq 100 and Russell 2000 each up more than 1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average added about 0.7% in early trading. The move extends a broader pattern of dip‑buying and resilience across U.S. equities, even as macro headlines around Iran, oil and inflation continue to inject bouts of volatility. Tech and small caps leading the advance reinforces the idea that investors are still willing to lean into higher‑beta risk, a backdrop that has historically correlated with strong flows into Bitcoin and large‑cap crypto.

What matters here for crypto is not just the level of indices, but the regime: higher equities, narrower credit spreads and contained volatility indexes tend to support appetite for leveraged trades in BTC and ETH. As long as this regime persists, sharp equity pullbacks are more likely to be seen by macro funds as tactical buying opportunities rather than the start of a broader de‑risking, which tempers the odds of a synchronized dump across stocks and digital assets.

JPMorgan flags retail fatigue

Underneath the headline gains, though, JPMorgan data shows U.S. retail investors are starting to ease off. In a note cited by the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch, the bank reports that retail net buying of U.S. equities has slowed by roughly 30% versus prior weeks, breaking a several‑month pattern of persistent dip‑buying. Weekly flows into equity ETFs have dropped by about 22% over the period, with investors cutting both ETF contributions and single‑stock purchases.

JPMorgan’s team describes these trends as signs of “persistent” or “ongoing” fatigue, rather than a single‑day wobble, with Monday marking the largest net‑selling day for individual stocks in about a month. That shift matters because the same cohort that has aggressively bought U.S. tech and thematic ETFs has also been a marginal buyer of crypto‑adjacent stocks and, to a lesser extent, spot Bitcoin products.

Implications for crypto positioning

For crypto traders, the combination of strong index prints and softer retail flows means the marginal driver of risk is skewing more institutional and macro rather than retail FOMO. If equities keep drifting higher while retail accelerates its slowdown, Bitcoin and Ethereum may increasingly trade off futures flows, systematic strategies and macro funds’ views on inflation and the Fed, rather than Reddit‑style chase behavior.

The main risk to watch is a scenario where retail fatigue deepens just as a macro shock hits — for example, hotter‑than‑expected inflation or a renewed spike in oil linked to Iran — removing the “buy the dip” bid that has repeatedly stabilized both stocks and crypto over the past quarters. Until then, the tape remains risk‑on, but the composition of buyers is quietly shifting in a way crypto desks cannot ignore.

TLDR

• Yield-bearing stablecoins grew 15 times faster than the broader stablecoin market over six months.
• Circle’s USYC and Paxos’ USDG led gains with market cap increases of 198% and 169%.
• The total value of yield-bearing stablecoins reached $22.7 billion after an 11% monthly rise.
• Maple’s Syrup USDC offered the highest weekly yield at 4.54% APY, according to Messari.
• US lawmakers remain divided as the Senate delays action on the crypto market structure bill.

Yield-bearing stablecoins expanded rapidly over the past six months, according to Messari. The research firm reported that these tokens grew 15 times faster than the broader stablecoin market. However, US lawmakers remain divided over how federal law should treat crypto-linked yield.

Messari published its findings on Thursday and outlined sharp market cap increases across major tokens. The report showed that yield-bearing products attracted rising demand while the overall stablecoin market grew modestly. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to debate provisions in pending digital asset legislation.

USYC and USDG Lead Growth in Stablecoins Segment

Circle’s USYC recorded a 198% increase in market capitalization over six months. Paxos’ Global Dollar (USDG) posted a 169% rise during the same period. Messari stated that these gains far outpaced the 9% growth in the broader stablecoin market.

The firm said the largest yield-bearing stablecoins now function like money market funds or bank deposits. “The winners don’t do payments,” Messari wrote in the report. It added that leading issuers focus on single-asset exposure rather than payment use cases.

Yield-bearing stablecoins began outpacing overall supply growth in mid-October 2025. The trend pointed to a stronger demand for blockchain-based dollar products offering yield. Stablewatch data showed the sector reached $22.7 billion after an 11% rise in 30 days.

That figure doubled the $11 billion recorded in May 2025. Still, yield-bearing tokens account for 7.4% of the $303 billion stablecoin market. The share stood at 4.5% in May last year.

USDD, USDY, and Top APYs Draw Policy Scrutiny

Tron DAO-linked Decentralized USD (USDD) rose 114% in market value over six months. Ondo Finance’s Ondo US Dollar Yield (USDY) increased 91% during the same timeframe. DefiLlama ranked Sky’s sUSDS, Ethena’s sUSDe, and Maple’s Syrup USDC among the largest by value.

Maple’s Syrup USDC offered a 4.54% annual percentage yield this week. Maple USDT followed with a 4.17% APY, while Sky Lending’s sUSDS posted 3.75%. Ethena’s USDe delivered a 3.49% APY, according to Messari data.

Lawmakers continue to debate how to regulate yield-bearing stablecoins under federal law. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber will not advance the market structure bill before April. Banking groups argue that yield features could shift deposits away from traditional banks.

The Senate Banking Committee delayed its markup in mid-January as bipartisan talks continued. President Donald Trump criticized the delay and urged faster action on the bill. The House passed the Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act on July 17, 2025.

The GENIUS Act became law on July 18, 2025, and it restricts interest on payment stablecoins. However, the law allows third-party platforms to offer reward programs tied to holdings. Debate over yield provisions continues as the Senate reviews the legislation.

Bitcoin BTC$71,859.13 is adding to overnight gains in early U.S. trading on Friday, continuing to show strong relative price action after many months of underperformance to assets like stocks and precious metals.

Trading at $73,500, bitcoin is higher by nearly 5% over the past 24 hours, with most of those gains coming after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday evening said the Trump administration is taking concrete steps to try and cap surging oil prices.

Bitcoin is now higher by about 11% since the Iran war broke out, outperforming broad U.S. stock indices and gold, both of which have lost ground since the bombs began dropping about two weeks ago.

WTI oil on Friday is trading at $94.50 per barrel, down from a high of nearly $98 on Thursday. U.S. stocks are posting gains of about 0.5%.

Oil raises stagflationary risk

The recent spike in oil prices is putting direct pressure on household budgets and, if sustained, could weaken consumer spending and slow economic growth, according to Olu Sonola, head of US economics at Fitch Ratings.

“Yes, the broader economy is still expected to grow at trend, but that forecast increasingly looks fragile as downside risks accumulate. … The Fed can shrug off pockets of weakening growth, but resurgent inflation severely limits its room to maneuver, leaving policy potentially stranded for months,” he wrote in a note.

Relief bounce

After a period of some of the worst sentiment in bitcoin’s history, it’s perhaps not too surprising that there’s been some modest gains of late.

Funding positioning of perpetual futures traders has been negative for the longest period since late 2022, K33 Research analyst Vetle Lunde noted. This means traders who are shorting bitcoin are paying longs to keep their trades open, resulting in a negative funding rate. Late 2022, of course, coincided with the aftermath of the FTX crash when BTC traded around $16,000 versus $69,000 one year earlier.

The 30-day average funding rate has now been negative for 14 consecutive days, the longest since December 2022, Lunde pointed out. These negative streaks coincided with local price bottoms over the past seven years, he added.

In the meantime, bitcoin open interest in perpetual and dated futures has risen 9% over the past 24 hours to around 700,000 BTC, the highest level since Feb. 6. Add it all up, and that creates the conditions for a short squeeze.

Friday gain

The day isn’t over yet, but this would be the first Friday gain since the Middle East conflict began on Feb. 27. That might suggest a less volatile weekend for crypto, which has gotten in the habit of declining on Saturdays and Sundays in recent weeks.

March is also shaping up to be a turning point for bitcoin. The asset is up about 8% so far this month. Again, it’s early, but a March advance would break BTC’s five-month losing streak.

BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) saw a strong debut on the Nasdaq on Thursday, March 12, drawing $43.48 million in net inflows and recording $16.54 million in trading volume on its first day, according to data from SoSoValue.

The only U.S. spot ETH ETF to outperform ETHB in net inflows on the day was Fidelity’s FETH, which pulled in just over $52 million, and saw $83.91 million in trading volume yesterday.

BlackRock’s spot-only Ethereum ETF, ETHA, saw $18.68 million in net inflows on the same day.

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart called the debut “very, very solid for a day 1 ETF launch” in an X post on Thursday.

As The Defiant reported yesterday, ETHB is BlackRock’s third crypto ETF and its first to incorporate staking, combining spot ETH exposure with monthly staking income. Coinbase Prime handles ETH custody, per the firm’s press release.

The product carries a 0.25% sponsor fee, waived down to 0.12% for the first year on up to $2.5 billion in assets.

According to the fund’s prospectus as of March 11, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), BlackRock intends to stake between 70% and 95% of the trust’s ETH holdings “under normal market circumstances.”

BlackRock also said in its prospectus that it will stake ETH either via its ETH custodian, aka Coinbase, with one or more staking services providers, which could be Coinbase affiliates, or “other approved third-party validators.”

As The Defiant previously reported, ETHB is not the first staked ETH product in the U.S., but BlackRock’s market dominance across both Ethereum and Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. makes ETHB’s entry a significant moment for the staked ETH market.

The launch follows key regulatory milestones that cleared the path for yield-bearing crypto ETFs. An SEC division issued staff guidance last May stating that staking is not a securities transaction — a staff-level position, not a formal rule — and the SEC formally acknowledged BlackRock’s staking filing last July.

The spot price of ETH rallied about 6% over the past 24 hours, reaching almost $2,200. ETH is now up on the weekly and monthly timeframes, 7% and 12% respectively.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

Editor’s note: This editorial previews the joint effort by AMC Robotics and HIVE to push AI-driven robotics compute infrastructure. The partners say the collaboration will use HIVE’s GPU AI Cloud resources to back AMC’s Kyro platform as it scales from lab testing toward real-world deployment, with demonstrations of autonomous navigation and heat detection highlighted in Tokyo. Beyond immediate compute needs, the companies are exploring broader cooperation in AI optimization, data processing, and scalable infrastructure to support future product initiatives.

As we continue to expand our AI-driven robotics solutions, access to reliable and scalable infrastructure is increasingly important.

Key points

• AMC Robotics and HIVE are collaborating to advance AI-driven robotics compute infrastructure.
• AMC will use HIVE’s GPU AI Cloud compute resources to support development, testing, and deployment of Kyro and related robotics solutions.
• Kyro demonstrated autonomous navigation, abnormal heat detection, and remote operation at the Tokyo Security Show 2026.
• The collaboration may expand to AI optimization, data processing, and infrastructure scalability with future arrangements subject to mutual terms.

Why this matters

The partnership signals growing demand for scalable AI compute as robotics move toward real-time edge applications. By combining Kyro’s autonomous platform with HIVE’s GPU AI Cloud, AMC and HIVE aim to improve performance, flexibility, and scalability, accelerating innovation at the AI-robotics frontier and enabling real-time video processing and navigation in challenging environments.

What to watch next

• Further collaboration across AI optimization, data processing, and infrastructure scalability as opportunities emerge.
• Progress of Kyro from lab demonstrations to real-world deployment with scalable compute resources.
• Expansion of HIVE’s BUZZ GPU AI Cloud infrastructure to support robotics workloads globally.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

AMC ROBOTICS AND HIVE ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO ADVANCE AI-DRIVEN ROBOTICS COMPUTE INFRASTRUCTURE

12 Mar 2026

AMC Robotics and HIVE Announce Collaboration to Advance AI-Driven Robotics Compute InfrastructureThis news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s prospectus supplement dated November 25, 2025 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated October 31, 2025. San Antonio, TX, March 13, 2026 — AMC Robotics Corporation (Nasdaq: AMCI) (“AMC Robotics” or the “Company”), an AI-driven robotics solutions provider, and HIVE Digital Technologies (“HIVE”) (TSX.V: HIVE) (Nasdaq: HIVE) (FSE: YO0) (BVC: HIVECO), a global leader in sustainable digital infrastructure and AI compute, today jointly announced a strategic collaboration focused on advancing next-generation AI-driven robotics applications and scalable infrastructure capabilities.

Through this collaboration, AMC Robotics has begun utilizing HIVE’s GPU AI compute infrastructure and related services to support the Company’s expanding development, testing, and deployment needs. In parallel, the two companies are actively exploring broader areas of cooperation, including potential collaboration across AI optimization, data processing, and infrastructure scalability to support future product initiatives.

AMC Robotics recently featured its AI-powered quadruped robot Kyro™ at the Tokyo Security Show 2026, as an active demonstration of autonomous security technology. The robot serves as a mobile AI edge computing platform, capable of operating independently in complex environments and supporting real-time monitoring and inspection. During the exhibition, Kyro™ performed live demonstrations of autonomous navigation, abnormal heat detection, and remote operation, showcasing how robotics can support security and inspection tasks in challenging environments.

A video demonstration of AMC Robotics’ Kyro™ platform in action is available at https://amc-media.amcx.ai/rebotdog.mp4. Additional information on AMC’s robotic solutions can be found at https://amcx.ai/solutions/robotic-dogs/.

As AMC Robotics continues advancing AI-driven robotics applications, particularly for real-time video processing and navigation, access to scalable GPU computing infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. HIVE has been expanding its GPU AI Cloud infrastructure globally through its BUZZ HPC subsidiary, servicing growing enterprise demand across AI training, inference, and now robotics workloads, where it will provide AMC Robotics with the compute resources needed to support its growing development and deployment activities.

The collaboration reflects a shared vision between AMC Robotics and HIVE to accelerate innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics, and intelligent infrastructure. By leveraging HIVE’s technical capabilities and AMC Robotics’ application-driven robotics platform, the parties aim to enhance performance efficiency, development flexibility, and long-term scalability.

“As we continue to expand our AI-driven robotics solutions, access to reliable and scalable infrastructure is increasingly important,” said Sean Da, CEO of AMC Robotics. “Our collaboration with HIVE supports our current operational needs while also opening the door to potential deeper collaboration as we look ahead.”

Frank Holmes, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of HIVE, stated, “We are seeing the next turn of the AI industrial revolution with the advent of robotics, for security, for logistics, and many new novel applications in manufacturing. This is accelerating as the autonomy, stability, and accuracy of AI-enabled robots evolve. These machines will take on the dangerous, the dull, and the impossible, and the companies building the infrastructure behind them will define the next decade. We are seeing massive investment from the most valuable companies in the world into AI robotics (notably Tesla’s Optimus robots), and the HIVE and AMC Robotics strategic collaboration positions our firms right in the center of these growing markets.”

Aydin Kilic, President & CEO of HIVE, said, “We believe robotics applications may represent a growing area of demand for AI compute infrastructure. As our GPU AI Cloud platform expands globally to service growing AI demand and broad industrial use cases, we see meaningful opportunities to work with AMC Robotics as it advances intelligent robotics applications across a growing range of use cases. As innovators in our respective fields, HIVE’s BUZZ GPU AI Cloud will provide scalable and high-performance compute for AMC Robotics’ ramp from lab to real-world deployment at scale.”

The companies emphasized that the collaboration is expected to evolve over time as HIVE scales its global infrastructure and AMC Robotics moves toward production deployment. Any future arrangements would be subject to further evaluation and mutually agreed terms.

About AMC Robotics Corporation

AMC Robotics (Nasdaq: AMCI) is an AI-driven robotics company focused on developing intelligent, scalable hardware and software solutions. The Company’s quadruped robotic platform, Kyro™, enables industries to automate inspection, security, and operational tasks through autonomous mobility and AI-powered perception. For more information, please visit www.amcx.ai.

About HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.

Founded in 2017, HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. is the first publicly listed company to mine digital assets powered by green energy. Today, HIVE builds and operates next-generation Tier-I and Tier-III data centers across Canada, Sweden, and Paraguay, serving both Bitcoin and high-performance computing clients. HIVE’s twin-turbo engine infrastructure-driven by hashrate services and GPU-accelerated AI computing-delivers scalable, environmentally responsible solutions for the digital economy.

For more information, visit hivedigitaltech.com, or connect with us on:

X: https://x.com/HIVEDigitalTech
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HIVEDigitalTech
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivedigitaltechnologies/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/hiveblockchain

On Behalf of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.

“Frank Holmes”
Executive Chairman

For further information, please contact:

Nathan Fast, Director of Marketing and Branding
Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman
Aydin Kilic, President & CEO

Tel: (604) 664-1078

Craig Mychajluk, Managing Director – Investor Relations, Alliance Advisors IR

E: AMCRoboticsIR@allianceadvisors.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, debt levels, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, and the effects of regulation. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s management’s current expectations, projections, and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. When used in this communication, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions, or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors include, but are not limited to: (a) challenges in opening operations in new jurisdictions, including but not limited to compliance with local ordinances, obtaining any necessary permits and regulatory oversight; (b) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the new operations; (c) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; (d) the ability to continue to meet the applicable stock exchange listing standards; (e) the effect of the Company’s recently completed business combination with AlphaVest Acquisition Corp (“AlphaVest”) on the Company’s business relationships, performance, and business generally and the risk that such transaction further disrupts current plans and operations of the Company or its subsidiaries; (f) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the transaction with AlphaVest, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (g) changes in applicable laws or regulations, including legal or regulatory developments (including, without limitation, accounting considerations); (h) the possibility that AMC Robotics may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (i) AMC Robotics’ estimates of expenses and profitability; and (j) other risks and uncertainties indicated under “Risk Factors” contained in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the transaction with AlphaVest, and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by AMC Robotics. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

The Company assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. The Company gives no assurance that it will achieve its expectations.