Crypto World
Australia warns on AI and finfluencers as Gen Z owns 23% of crypto
Australia’s financial regulator has published findings from a Gen Z money mindset study, highlighting how social media and artificial intelligence are shaping young investors’ approaches to money. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) released the results of a survey conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10 last year, involving 1,127 respondents aged 18–28. The study shows that roughly one in four Gen Z individuals in Australia now invest in cryptocurrency, and while there is a strong appetite for credible, trustworthy financial content, many struggle to locate it amid engagement-first material. Regulators warn that marketing on social platforms can push people toward riskier investments and, in some cases, toward scams. posted.
The regulator’s findings come as ASIC outlined a cautious stance toward crypto marketing and the broader financial-advice ecosystem. The survey reveals a generation that craves reliable content but often lands on sources built for engagement rather than accuracy. ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland highlighted that some marketing activity on social media is specifically designed to drive investments, and a portion of it promotes activity that could expose young Australians to scams. He warned that the volatility of crypto investments is not always understood by those advertising or encouraging participation, particularly when the audience is spread across a developed but complex financial landscape. issuing warning notices to 18 influencers for unlawfully promoting high-risk financial products and providing unlicensed financial advice is a sign of the regulator’s willingness to take action against misleading campaigns.
The survey, which included respondents aged 18–28, found that 63% rely on social media for financial information and guidance, 18% use artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, and 30% turn to YouTube as a source for financial content. On trust, the results show a nuanced picture: 56% of Gen Z say they somewhat or fully trust financial information found on social media, and 52% say the same about “finfluencers”—those online personalities who cover finance and investments. AI, however, stands out as the most trusted source among Zoomers, with 64% expressing trust in AI-enabled financial information.
ASIC calls for caution on crypto influencers
The study also shows a notable crypto footprint among Gen Z in Australia, with 23% reporting ownership of cryptocurrency. Among those who own crypto, 29% trade based on content from social media or influencer posts, a dynamic that prompted regulatory caution. The regulator has warned that influencers may set unrealistic expectations about investment returns, market volatility, and the realities of long-term investing. The findings reinforce concerns about how promotional content can shape risk perceptions and trading behavior in a sector that remains volatile and is subject to evolving regulatory scrutiny.
Speaking with the Australian Financial Review (AFR) on Sunday, ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland underscored the risk that marketing activity on social platforms can steer consumers toward risky crypto investments and even scams. “We’re conscious that there’s a lot of marketing activity on social media to encourage crypto investment, and our work has shown some of it is actually encouraging people to invest in scams,” he said. “It’s really important for people to be aware of those risks, because you don’t see that same volatility in other types of investments and often that volatility is driven by forces that it’s impossible for an individual sitting in Australia to understand.”
Kirkland also flagged Australian superannuation funds—the country’s $4.5 trillion retirement pool—as an area where unqualified influencers may be offering inappropriate investment guidance. “We see it most where people are lured in through social media ads and then encouraged to switch their super, because super is often people’s most valuable asset, and that’s why disreputable people often target it and why it can be so tragic if people are encouraged to put it into a risky investment,” he said.
ASIC has AI financial advice in its crosshairs
The regulator also said it is watching closely how AI tools generate financial information. Licensing requirements apply where a source is giving financial advice or making product-specific recommendations based on an individual’s circumstances. “Under Australian law, if any entity is giving financial advice, they need to be licensed. So if an AI tool, whoever’s providing it, is actually making recommendations about individual financial products, taking into account individual circumstances, that would be personal advice, so it needs to be licensed,” Kirkland noted.
Industry observers have noted that some crypto exchanges have begun integrating AI-based guidance features for customers. Platforms such as MEXC, KuCoin and Bitget have introduced AI-assisted options to accompany trading services, signaling regulators’ interest in how digital-asset markets are combining advisory capabilities with automated decision-making.
“One of the most surprising findings from this research was the degree of trust young people are placing in AI platforms,” Kirkland said, adding that the usefulness of AI depends on the specificity of questions and the quality of sources AI can draw on to provide results. The regulator’s concerns extend beyond AI itself, as evidenced by the ongoing focus on licensing requirements for those delivering financial guidance, including AI-driven advice.
ASIC’s stance on AI financial advice is set against a broader regulatory backdrop. In January, the agency signaled that crypto and AI firms exploiting licensing gaps around payments in Australia would be a top priority in 2026. The regulator’s crosshairs are not limited to platforms or influencers but extend to the legal framework that governs how digital financial products are marketed and advised upon.
The Gen Z study illuminates how a generation that grows up with social media and AI navigates risk and opportunity in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. As ASIC continues to monitor marketing practices and the deployment of AI tools in financial services, stakeholders—from investors to platform operators—will be watching closely to see how policy adapts to new behavioral realities in the digital economy.
Why it matters
First, the findings underscore a critical consumer-protection challenge: young investors actively turn to social media and AI for guidance, often without access to robust, independent sources. The potential for misinformation, exaggerated returns, or misaligned risk underscores the need for credible educational resources and transparent disclosures in fintech marketing. Regulators’ emphasis on licensing for AI-driven advice signals a move toward more formal accountability, reducing the likelihood that automated recommendations operate outside established compliance frameworks.
Second, the study highlights the evolving risk landscape around crypto participation among younger demographics. With 23% of Gen Z reporting crypto ownership and 29% of them trading as a result of influencer content, the regulatory focus on finfluencers and marketing practices gains renewed urgency. This is particularly salient as the Australian market approaches broader financial-technology innovations and digital asset service providers push deeper into mainstream finance.
Finally, the integration of AI bots by crypto and fintech platforms is prompting regulators to rethink the boundaries between information and advice. The balance between innovation and consumer protection will likely shape future licensing, disclosure, and advertising standards. In Australia, that balance currently hinges on whether AI-driven guidance crosses into personalized financial advice, a threshold that triggers licensing requirements and stricter oversight.
What to watch next
- ASIC’s ongoing monitoring of social-media marketing for financial products and potential enforcement actions against misleading campaigns.
- Any new guidance or licensing requirements addressing AI-based financial advice and tools that tailor recommendations to individuals.
- Regulatory scrutiny of crypto and fintech platforms deploying AI-based trading guidance or “trading partners.”
- Regulatory priorities in 2026 around payments licensing and licensing expectations for AI-enabled financial services.
Sources & verification
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Gen Z and money advice study — 26-049mr: https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2026-releases/26-049mr-asic-urges-gen-z-to-sense-check-money-advice-as-social-media-fuels-riskier-financial-decisions/
- Australian Financial Review interview with ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland on Gen Z and AI trust: https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/gen-z-puts-trust-in-ai-for-financial-advice-asic-says-don-t-20260311-p5o9iy
- ASIC cracks down on unlawful finfluencers in global push against misconduct: https://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/asic-cracks-down-on-unlawful-finfluencers-in-global-push-against-misconduct/
Crypto World
Micron (MU) Stock: AI Memory Boom Drives Massive Growth Expectations for Wednesday Earnings
TLDR
- Micron’s Q2 FY26 earnings release is scheduled for March 18, with analyst estimates calling for approximately $19.1B in revenue, marking a 137% year-over-year increase
- Earnings per share projections range from $8.60 to $8.74, reflecting approximately 460% annual growth
- The company’s HBM inventory is completely sold out through calendar year 2026, with capacity covering only 50%–66% of major customer requirements
- Micron finalized the acquisition of a Taiwan-based chip manufacturing facility, planning DRAM and HBM output starting in fiscal 2028
- Wall Street analysts from Wedbush and Wells Fargo increased their price targets to $500 and $470 respectively, while 27 analysts maintain a consensus Strong Buy rating
Micron Technology is preparing to unveil its fiscal Q2 2026 results this Wednesday, March 18, and market watchers are anticipating remarkable figures.
Wall Street consensus calls for quarterly revenue approaching $19.1 billion, representing approximately 137% growth versus the year-ago quarter. For earnings per share, projections land between $8.60 and $8.74 — more than quintupling the Q2 FY25 result.
The catalyst fueling this explosive growth is artificial intelligence. Hyperscale data centers powering AI workloads require enormous memory resources, creating insatiable demand for both DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM) that far exceeds current industry production capabilities.
Micron has publicly acknowledged it can fulfill only 50% to two-thirds of memory orders from several major customers. Rather than a limitation, this represents significant pricing leverage.
Production Constraints Persist
Expanding semiconductor fabrication facilities requires multi-year timelines. Micron projects that substantial new production capacity won’t be available until 2027 at minimum. Between now and then, the chipmaker has completely allocated its HBM output for the entirety of calendar 2026.
This persistent supply-demand mismatch is the critical metric analysts are monitoring ahead of Wednesday’s results. Should Micron’s leadership indicate this imbalance extends through 2026 and beyond, the pricing power narrative remains firmly in place.
Based on at-the-money straddle pricing, options markets are anticipating approximately 10.6% volatility in either direction following the earnings announcement.
Shares have already climbed roughly 42% year to date, last trading near $425.96.
Street Lifts Price Objectives
Wedbush’s Matthew Bryson elevated his MU price target to $500 from $320 while maintaining an Outperform rating. His analysis highlights strengthening earnings projections even as the stock trades below historical peak valuations typical for memory sector companies.
Wells Fargo analyst Aaron Rakers also maintained a Buy rating and raised his target to $470 from $410. Rakers projects peak earnings potential of $50–$60 per share, with normalized long-term earnings power between $30–$40. He anticipates management will address competitive dynamics around HBM4 related to Nvidia’s forthcoming Rubin GPU platform.
Across 27 Wall Street analysts currently covering the stock, the consensus stands at Strong Buy — comprised of 26 Buy ratings and one Hold. The mean price target reaches $448.07, suggesting roughly 5% appreciation from present levels.
Regarding capacity expansion, Micron wrapped up its purchase of the P5 fabrication facility from Powerchip Semiconductor located in Tongluo, Taiwan. The site features approximately 300,000 square feet of cleanroom infrastructure. Micron intends to modernize the facility for DRAM and HBM manufacturing, targeting initial production shipments in fiscal 2028.
The transaction was initially disclosed in January 2026.
TLDR
- Senate Banking Committee approval before April’s end is critical, or the CLARITY Act’s 2026 passage probability plummets
- Prediction markets show declining confidence: Polymarket at 56% (down 9 points), Kalshi at merely 30% by June
- Central controversy revolves around permitting stablecoin issuers to distribute yield to holders
- Coinbase withdrew endorsement in January, asserting a flawed bill is worse than no legislation
- Gnosis co-founder cautions the legislation might consolidate crypto control among centralized entities
Time is running short for the CLARITY Act, America’s proposed cryptocurrency market structure legislation. According to Galaxy Research head Alex Thorn, the bill requires Senate floor consideration by early May to maintain viable 2026 passage prospects. This necessitates Senate Banking Committee clearance before April concludes.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has publicly acknowledged the April timeline appears unrealistic. Current Senate priorities center on the SAVE America Act, relegating the CLARITY Act to secondary status on the legislative calendar.
According to Thorn, each day of postponement reduces available time for floor consideration. Without committee approval during April, he characterized 2026 passage prospects as “extremely low.”
Prediction platforms mirror this growing skepticism. Polymarket indicates the legislation’s 2026 enactment probability has declined 9 percentage points to 56%. Kalshi demonstrates greater pessimism, calculating 30% likelihood before June and merely 7% before May.
Stablecoin Yield Remains Central Flashpoint
The most contentious issue involves stablecoin yield distribution. The controversy focuses on whether stablecoin issuers should possess authority to pass interest earnings to users.
Representative French Hill stated that prohibiting stablecoin yield represents a non-negotiable requirement for Senate advancement. Traditional banking institutions contend that interest-bearing stablecoins would divert deposits from regulated financial entities.
Cryptocurrency firms counter that reward-bearing stablecoins enhance payment utility. Coinbase retracted support during January. CEO Brian Armstrong argued the current draft undermines decentralized finance, prohibits stablecoin yield, and restricts tokenized real-world assets. “We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill,” he declared.
Senator Angela Alsobrooks suggested compromise from both factions may prove necessary. White House crypto adviser and Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal also condemned banks for impeding progress.
DeFi and Regulatory Turf Wars Still Unresolved
Thorn suggested the stablecoin controversy may not represent the final hurdle. He identified outstanding questions regarding decentralized finance regulation, developer liability protections, and SEC-CFTC jurisdictional boundaries.
Attorney Jake Chervinsky noted that banking institutions also express concern about stablecoin liquidity migrating toward DeFi platforms, beyond just yield distribution issues.
Gnosis co-founder Dr. Friederike Ernst cautioned the bill’s present framework threatens to channel all cryptocurrency activity through licensed intermediaries. She expressed concern this could consolidate crypto infrastructure control among a limited group of major institutions.
Ernst acknowledged the legislation includes positive elements, such as safeguarding peer-to-peer transactions and self-custody rights, plus defining SEC and CFTC regulatory boundaries.
Senator Bernie Moreno expressed continued optimism for April passage and presidential signature. Thorn indicated that schedule now appears increasingly unrealistic.
The week could prove pivotal for markets, including bitcoin , with the U.S. Federal Reserve among seven major central banks set to announce interest-rate decisions while war-driven oil price gains threaten to reignite inflation in the global economy.
Most of the central banks are expected to keep interest rates steady, but hawkish comments from policymakers, driven by inflation concerns, could trigger downside volatility across risk assets.
While reflationary environments have historically supported bitcoin, rising inflation expectations are pushing bond yields higher and tightening financial conditions, André Dragosch, European head of research at Bitwise, told CoinDesk. Those conditions generally make riskier investments less attractive.
Still, geopolitical tensions are currently dominating the market backdrop, according to Dragosch. Historically, such shocks tend to fade quickly, and bitcoin has often delivered above-average returns after periods of elevated geopolitical risk.
“Investors should generally fade these kinds of events and view them as short-term buying opportunities,” Dragosch said.
Bitcoin is trading at what Dragosch called the “biggest macro discount” on record, with sentiment near FTX-collapse lows. “We are probably closer to the bottom than the top,” he said.
What to Watch
(All times ET)
- Crypto
- March 17: Lava Network (LAVA) to expand with 17 new chain integrations and nine new blockchain ecosystems.
- March 19: Walrus (WAL) final deadline for Tusky users to migrate their data.
- March 23: Backpack token generation event occurs, with 250 million tokens (25% of total supply) to be distributed.
- Macro
- March 16, 8:30 a.m.: Canada consumer price index (CPI) YoY for February (Prev. 2.3%)
- March 17, 4:30 a.m.: Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate decision est. 4.1% (Prev. 3.85%)
- March 17, 10:00 a.m.: U.S. Pending Home Sales MoM for February (Prev. -0.8%)
- March 18, 6 a.m.: Eurozone consumer price index (CPI) for February. MoM est. 0.7% (Prev. -0.6%); YoY est. 1.9% (Prev. 1.7%)
- March 18, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. PPI for February. YoY est. 3.7% (Prev. 3.6%); Core PPI YoY est. 3.2% (Prev. 3.6%)
- March 18, 9:45 a.m.: Bank of Canada interest rate decision Est. 2.25% (Prev. 2.25%)
- March 18, 10:00 a.m.: U.S. Factory Orders MoM for January (Prev. -0.7%)
- March 18, 2:00 p.m.: Fed interest rate decision Est. 3.50%-3.75% (Prev. 3.50%-3.75%); FOMC economic projections
- March 18, 2:30 p.m.: Fed Chair press conference
- March 18, 5:30 p.m.: Central Bank of Brazil Selic rate decision Est. 14.50% (Prev. 15%)
- March 18, 11 p.m.: Bank of Japan interest rate decision Est. 0.75% (Prev. 0.75%)
- March 19, 4:30 a.m.: Swiss National Bank interest rate decision Est. 0% (Prev. 0%)
- March 19, 8 a.m.: Bank of England interest rate decision Est. 3.75% (Prev. 3.75%).
- March 19, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Initial Jobless Claims for week ending March 14 Est. 215K (Prev. 213K)
- March 19, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index for March (Prev. 16.3)
- March 19, 9:15 a.m.: ECB interest rate decision for main refinancing rate Est. 2.15% Prev. 2.15%
- March 19, 4:30 p.m.: Fed Balance Sheet for week ending March 18 (Prev. $6.65T)
- March 20, 8:30 a.m.: Canada PPI YoY (Prev. 5.4%); MoM (Prev. 2.7%)
Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)
- March 16: Bakkt Holdings (BKKT), post-market, -$0.47
- March 16: Bitcoin Depot (BTM), pre-market, -$0.47
- March 16: Cango (CANG), post-market, -$0.34
- March 17: CEA Industries (BNC), post-market, $0.69
- March 18: Bitfarms (BITF), pre-market, -$0.03
- March 19: Gemini Space Station (GEMI), post-market, -$0.91
- March 20: BitFuFu (FUFU), pre-market, $0.01
Token Events
- Governance votes & calls
- March 17: Mantle (MNT) to host State of Mind Ep. 07, discussing CeDeFi milestones and DeFi strategies.
- March 18: Jupiter (JUP) to hold its weekly Planetary Call community session with team updates.
- March 18: head of marketing & PR to discuss ecosystem updates.
- Decentraland DAO is voting on whether to allow registered users to customize the color of their avatar name tag and to add a more accessible volume slider to the UI sidebar. Voting ends March 16 and 17.
- Convex Finance is voting on Curve and Frax gauge weight allocations for the week of March 12, directing vlCVX voting power across hundreds of liquidity pools. It’s also voting on FXN gauge weight allocations for the same period. Voting ends March 17.
- Aavegotchi DAO is voting to finalize its 2026–2027 multisig signers election, preserving the 5-of-9 threshold and setting quarterly signer compensation. Voting ends March 17.
- Aavegotchi DAO is running Ballot 3 to elect seven of the remaining 10 nominees as multi-sig signers, completing the nine-signer roster for the DAO Foundation wallet. Voting ends March 17.
- Aura Finance is voting on Balancer gauge weight allocations for the week of March 12, directing vlAURA voting power across Balancer pools on Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Gnosis, Base and Avalanche. Voting ends March 17.
- ShapeShift DAO is voting on establishing and funding a new International UX workstream for six months to maintain professional multilingual translations of the ShapeShift app and website. Voting ends March 17.
- WalletConnect Network is voting on allocating 50 million WCT tokens as a dedicated rewards budget for WalletConnect Pay in 2026. Voting ends March 18.
- ENS is voting on a one-time transfer of 900,000 USDC from the ENS Endowment to wallet.ensdao.eth to cover a shortfall in stream payments owed to ENS Labs. Voting ends March 18.
- Cratos DAO is voting on extending the current mobile app reward standard deadline by one month to April 30, 2026. Voting ends March 19.
- Lightchain AI DAO is voting on a temporary 90-day team authority proposal, which grants the core team temporary operational authority for 90 days to make day-to-day and strategic decisions. Voting ends March 22.
- Unlocks
- March 16: Arbitrum (ARB) to unlock 1.78% of its circulating supply worth $9.65 million.
- March 20: LayerZero (ZRO) to unlock 5.64% of its circulating supply worth $52.45 million.
- Token Launches
Conferences
TLDR
- On March 15, Robert Kiyosaki issued warnings about an intensifying financial “giant crash”
- The author highlighted panic in private credit markets and distress among leading banks
- Kiyosaki deployed millions to acquire oil assets, precious metals, Bitcoin, and Ethereum
- He contrasted his investment strategy with Warren Buffett’s cash-heavy approach
- The financial educator forecasts higher valuations for gold, silver, and Bitcoin post-crash
The bestselling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, issued fresh concerns on March 15 about an escalating financial crisis. His warnings focused on turbulence in private credit markets and mounting pressure on established banking institutions.
“Crash accelerates,” he wrote on X. “Private credit funds are panicked as investors withdraw their money. Major big-name banks and brand-name financial institutions are in trouble.”
Kiyosaki also referenced economist Jim Rickards, noting that he has officially proclaimed the United States has entered a “New Depression.”
In response to these conditions, Kiyosaki revealed he deployed millions of dollars in capital last week. His purchases included additional oil wells, precious metals, and cryptocurrency holdings.
“Last week I took millions in cash and purchased more oil wells, more gold, silver, and bitcoin,” he wrote.
The financial educator confirmed he’s also accumulating Ethereum as part of his diversified acquisition strategy.
Kiyosaki referenced Warren Buffett’s well-known cash accumulation strategy, recognizing it as a tactical approach to maintain liquidity and acquire undervalued assets when markets decline.
Kiyosaki vs. Buffett: Two Different Crash Strategies
Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, has been building its cash position for some time. Kiyosaki acknowledged the logic, saying “Cash is not trash in a crash.”
However, Kiyosaki emphasized that his investment philosophy differs fundamentally. Rather than stockpiling currency, he’s converting it into tangible assets.
“I doubt Warren Buffett would do what I do,” he wrote.
For investors lacking a clear strategy, Kiyosaki provided straightforward guidance. He suggested that remaining on the sidelines might be the wisest choice during market turbulence for those without a defined plan.
The author also highlighted Middle East geopolitical instability as an influencing factor. He noted that persistent attacks on oil tankers navigating the Strait of Hormuz are elevating crude prices, which directly benefits his Texas-based oil well investments.
Why Kiyosaki Keeps Buying Bitcoin
Kiyosaki has maintained a vocal stance on Bitcoin acquisitions for multiple years. He consistently categorizes it alongside precious metals as a “real asset” due to its mathematically limited supply of 21 million coins.
He has repeatedly stated his conviction that Bitcoin represents a superior investment compared to gold. Market corrections, according to him, present optimal opportunities to expand holdings.
His Bitcoin-related statements have attracted scrutiny for apparent contradictions. One post claimed he never purchased Bitcoin above $6,000, while subsequent posts documented purchases at significantly elevated price levels.
Regardless of the debates, he continues to publicly endorse Bitcoin and Ethereum as fundamental components of his investment approach.
Kiyosaki maintains his belief that valuations for gold, silver, and Bitcoin will surge following a substantial market crash. While acknowledging his predictions could prove incorrect, he expresses strong confidence in his current positions.
The financial author initially forecast his “giant crash” scenario in his 2013 publication Rich Dad’s Prophecy. His warnings have intensified in frequency as 2026 approaches.
Australia’s Senate Economics Legislation Committee has backed a bill that would require crypto exchanges and tokenization platforms to comply with the country’s existing financial services regime, recommending that the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 be passed.
The move on March 16 brings Australia a step closer to a bespoke licensing framework for “digital asset platforms” (DAPs) and “tokenised custody platforms” (TCPs), aimed at closing gaps in oversight of platforms that hold customer assets following the collapses of high‑profile digital asset businesses, such as FTX.
The bill, first introduced by Assistant Treasurer and Financial Services Minister Daniel Mulino in November 2025, would treat DAPs and TCPs as financial products under the Corporations Act and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Act, pushing most centralized exchanges and tokenized custody businesses that hold client assets into the Australian Financial Services Licence regime.
Related: Ripple targets April for Australian financial license via acquisition
Licensed platforms must meet ASIC-set custody and settlement standards, comply with tailored disclosure rules for retail clients, and operate under platform‑specific conduct and governance requirements, while small providers with annual transaction thresholds under 10 million Australian dollars ($7 million) and some public blockchain infrastructure are exempt.
Industry groups warnings around terminology
Industry groups cited in the report, such as law firm Piper Alderman, warned that the broad “digital token” and “factual control” tests could inadvertently include wallet software and infrastructure providers in non-unilateral-control setups, including common multi‑party computation (MPC) configurations.
US blockchain firm Ripple Labs backed “control” as the “appropriate nexus” for the regulatory perimeter, but argued that the bill needed to better accommodate modern security architectures such as MPC wallets.
It warned that, on a strict reading of the “factual control” test, technology‑only providers holding a single key shard could be misclassified as regulated custodians, and urged lawmakers to clarify that an entity does not exercise factual control unless it can unilaterally transfer an asset without the client’s cooperation.
Related: Australia warns of AI, ‘finfluencers’ as Gen Z crypto ownership reaches 23%
The committee acknowledged these concerns, but sided with Treasury’s plan to refine the perimeter through future regulations rather than rewriting the core definitions.
Coinbase hails progress but warns on debanking risk
In an email statement to Cointelegraph, Coinbase Australia director and APAC managing director John O’Loghlen welcomed the recommendation as “an important step for Australia’s standing in the global digital economy.” He argued that the country had the capital and talent to lead in digital assets, but still needed clear rules to unlock that potential.
O’Loghlen also warned that “the anti-competitive practice of debanking is rampant despite the government endorsing measures to address it back in 2022,” and urged Canberra to prioritize implementing the Council of Financial Regulators’ recommendations.
With the committee’s backing in hand, the bill now moves to the Senate for debate and a final vote at a later date.
Magazine: 6 weirdest devices people have used to mine Bitcoin and crypto
Key Highlights
- The digital asset cleared the critical $1.426 resistance barrier for the first time since the beginning of 2026 following an extended period of sideways price action.
- Price surged from approximately $1.41 to $1.47 within 24 hours, accompanied by a volume increase exceeding 250%.
- The token is currently maintaining levels above $1.4550 and the 100-hour Simple Moving Average, with immediate targets identified near $1.48–$1.50.
- Real-world asset tokenization on the XRP Ledger continues expanding, with commodity tokens nearing $1.14 billion in total value.
- Maintaining support above the $1.43–$1.44 zone could open the door for further advances toward $1.50 and possibly $1.55.
On March 16, 2026, XRP finally broke free from a stubborn resistance level that had confined price action for several months during the early part of 2026.
The cryptocurrency rallied from the $1.41 region to reach an intraday peak of $1.4798 during the most recent trading session. Volume activity exploded by more than 250% as the breakout unfolded, with approximately 170 million tokens traded at peak levels.
Price action is currently stabilizing just above the $1.4550 level, maintaining its position over the 100-hour Simple Moving Average.
The pivotal barrier that finally broke was positioned at $1.426—a level that had repeatedly rejected upward momentum during multiple rally attempts in recent months. After clearing this threshold on robust volume, the asset rapidly advanced toward the $1.47 zone.
Near-term technical analysis reveals a pattern of ascending lows developing post-breakout. This formation indicates buying pressure is attempting to establish the previous resistance area as fresh support.
Rising Activity on the XRP Ledger
The price breakthrough doesn’t seem to correlate with any specific XRP-related news event. That said, on-chain activity across the XRP Ledger has been steadily increasing.
Tokenization of real-world assets on the network has shown continuous growth. Commodity-backed tokens on the XRP Ledger climbed toward $1.14 billion in valuation during 2026’s opening quarter.
Critical Price Zones Under Observation
XRP now confronts its next resistance barrier in the $1.48 to $1.50 range. Historical price action shows that rallies have encountered difficulty in this zone, making a decisive move beyond $1.50 particularly significant.
Should the asset successfully breach $1.50, market participants are eyeing subsequent targets at $1.5250 and $1.5320. Continued strength could drive price action into the $1.55 territory.
For downside protection, the essential support zone lies between $1.43 and $1.44. This represents the breakout level, and maintaining these prices is crucial for validating the current upward movement.
A decline beneath $1.4325 would mark a 50% Fibonacci retracement of the entire move from $1.3855 to $1.4798. Further weakness could find support around $1.410, with the primary demand zone located near $1.3680.
Currently, XRP is holding above $1.4550 with the 100-hour Simple Moving Average providing immediate support.
TLDR
- SOL has climbed to the $92–$93 range, posting gains of approximately 4–5% daily following a 13% weekly increase.
- Institutional demand persists with SOL-focused ETFs recording $10.70 million in net weekly capital inflows.
- Futures Open Interest surged more than 7% within 24 hours to reach $5.57 billion, accompanied by $14.43 million in bear position liquidations.
- The 50-day EMA at $94.17 represents immediate technical resistance, with the 100-day EMA at $109.58 serving as the subsequent upside target.
- Real-world asset tokenization on the Solana network has expanded to approximately $873 million, based on Bitwise data.
Solana is demonstrating a notable rebound following its steep correction from the January 2026 high near $295. The digital asset has accumulated approximately 13% in gains throughout the past seven days and currently hovers within the $92–$93 price zone.
Exchange-traded funds dedicated to SOL accumulated $7.60 million in a single trading session on Friday, elevating the seven-day aggregate to $10.70 million. This sustained capital influx demonstrates persistent institutional appetite despite the recent downward pressure on prices.
Within the derivatives market, futures Open Interest experienced an upward movement exceeding 7% over a 24-hour period, reaching $5.57 billion. Bearish traders absorbed substantial losses, with short liquidations accounting for $14.43 million of the total $15.50 million in forced position closures.
The present trading level remains marginally beneath the 50-day Exponential Moving Average positioned at $94.17. Successfully closing above this threshold on a daily timeframe could establish momentum toward the 100-day EMA target of $109.58.
Technical momentum signals are exhibiting bullish tendencies. The MACD indicator has crossed into positive territory while the RSI registers at 58, positioned above neutral levels.
Real-World Asset Growth Supports Solana’s Case
Among the most compelling narratives supporting SOL’s price recovery is the expansion of tokenized real-world assets on its blockchain infrastructure. Bitwise research indicates that RWAs on Solana have reached approximately $873 million in valuation, spanning on-chain treasury products, private credit instruments, and yield-generating assets.
Spot-based Solana ETFs, which received regulatory approval in late 2025, have maintained capital attraction even throughout periods of adverse price movement. These investment vehicles provide traditional financial market participants with SOL exposure without the complexities of direct cryptocurrency custody.
Blockchain metrics corroborate this institutional interest. Active wallet addresses have exceeded the 5 million threshold while daily transaction volume approaches 87 million.
Network and Supply Context
The Solana validator network has expanded to encompass more than 2,000 validators according to certain estimates, though the count of active validators may be closer to 795. The Solana Foundation’s proportion of staked SOL tokens has declined substantially from above 40% in 2020 to below 6% by late 2025.
The network operates with an annual inflation rate of approximately 4%. Roughly 67% of SOL tokens remain staked, effectively constraining the freely circulating supply available for trading.
Funding rates across perpetual swap contracts remain relatively neutral to marginally negative at approximately −0.0095% daily. This metric indicates that leveraged long positions have not yet entered an aggressive accumulation phase.
Immediate downside support is identified within the $76–$80 range. Significant overhead resistance persists near $245–$250, corresponding to the January peak formation.
Presently, SOL exchanges hands at approximately $92–$93 with the 50-day EMA at $94.17 functioning as the immediate technical barrier.
Key Points
- Institutional crypto platform BlockFills declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on March 15, 2026
- Assets valued at $50M–$100M were reported against debts ranging from $100M–$500M
- Customer withdrawals were halted in February following approximately $75 million in losses
- A federal court issued an order freezing 70.6 Bitcoin connected to BlockFills after Dominion Capital filed suit
- Co-founder Nicholas Hammer resigned as CEO; Joseph Perry assumed the interim leadership position
On March 15, 2026, BlockFills—a Chicago-based institutional cryptocurrency trading and lending platform—submitted Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents to the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Reliz Ltd., the platform’s primary operating entity, initiated the bankruptcy alongside three related companies. The documentation revealed assets valued between $50 million and $100 million, while liabilities ranged from $100 million to $500 million.
As an institutional service provider, BlockFills offers liquidity solutions, financing options, and risk-management tools to professional clients such as hedge funds, asset management firms, and cryptocurrency mining operations. According to company data, the platform facilitated over $60 billion in transaction volume throughout 2025—representing a 28% increase compared to the previous year.
The platform maintains a client base of approximately 2,000 institutional investors and has received backing from notable investors including Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, CME Ventures, and Nexo Inc.
In February, BlockFills announced the suspension of both customer deposits and withdrawals, attributing the decision to worsening market conditions. Company representatives stated the pause was necessary to safeguard the business and client interests while working toward restoring adequate liquidity.
According to CoinDesk’s reporting, the platform had suffered losses totaling roughly $75 million and had actively pursued acquisition offers or emergency capital injection prior to the bankruptcy declaration.
Bitcoin’s significant price decline appears to have contributed substantially to the firm’s financial difficulties. The leading cryptocurrency plummeted from above $97,000 to below $64,000 during the period spanning mid-January through early February 2026.
Court Actions Intensified Financial Strain
In early March, a US court issued an order freezing 70.6 Bitcoin associated with BlockFills operations. This action followed litigation initiated by Dominion Capital, a client alleging misappropriation of customer assets and improper commingling of funds.
Dominion Capital’s complaint asserted that BlockFills leadership had repeatedly acknowledged possessing a balance sheet deficit and improperly mixing client assets.
A federal judge additionally granted a temporary restraining order against the platform in response to Dominion Capital’s lawsuit. The court mandated a comprehensive accounting of all customer funds as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.
The Financial Times published a report on March 6 indicating that BlockFills had begun preparing for restructuring proceedings and was actively consulting with legal and advisory professionals.
Executive Transition Amid Crisis
Co-founder and chief executive Nicholas Hammer vacated his leadership position during the unfolding crisis. Joseph Perry accepted the appointment as interim chief executive officer.
In BlockFills’ official announcement, the company characterized the Chapter 11 filing as the “most responsible path forward” following extensive discussions with investors, clients, and creditors.
Management indicated the bankruptcy process would provide necessary time to stabilize operations, secure additional liquidity sources, and evaluate potential strategic alternatives or transactions.
The BlockFills bankruptcy echoes the 2022 cryptocurrency lending sector collapse, which saw major platforms including Celsius, Voyager Digital, BlockFi, and Genesis all declare bankruptcy following severe market corrections.
Joseph Perry currently oversees the company as it navigates the court-supervised restructuring proceedings.
The updates were introduced on Pi Day 2026 – March 14.
After a few consecutive days of dropping hard following a major fake-out rally, PI’s price has finally turned green in the past day, challenging the coveted $0.20 level.
The reasons behind today’s bounce could be attributed to the overall market resurgence, but also the new updates announced by the Core Team during the weekend.
PI Price Bounces
Pi Network’s native token was perhaps the most volatile altcoin in the past week, which, for the most part, was going well for the asset. At one point, it registered a massive 30% surge on Friday morning, skyrocketing to almost $0.30, which became a five-month peak. This came after the veteran US exchange Kraken said it would list PI for trading.
At the time, the token had added more than 100% since its February all-time low of $0.1312. However, the bears were quick to intervene and didn’t allow any further gains. Just the opposite; PI nosedived on Saturday morning with double-digits and plummeted toward $0.20. It slipped below that level on Sunday as most of the crypto market was retracing.
However, it has rebounded to just north of that coveted line as of now after a 4% daily increase. While this price jump could be linked to the gains registered by the broader crypto market today, it could also be a direct response to the recent ecosystem developments.
Pi Day and Updates
In the weeks leading up to PI’s big breakout attempt, the Core Team behind the project announced a few key updates that ultimately upgraded the protocol to v19.9. The next one, v20.2, was expected by March 12. More importantly for the community, perhaps, was March 14 – known as Pi Day due to its resemblance to the mathematical constant π (3,14).
With its announcement, the team outlined several key updates, including the successful migration to v20.2. The Pi Launchpad was also released on Testnet, which is still available only through the Pi Browser. It aims to introduce a new ecosystem token model focused on product utility and user acquisition.
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The initial version of the Pi Launchpad has been released as a Pi App on the Testnet with a test token! Because the Launchpad introduces new concepts for many Pioneers and uses mechanisms that differ from typical token launches in Web3, it is being introduced on Testnet first so…
— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) March 16, 2026
The other developments were the start of the second Mainnet migrations, the release of the first round of KYC validator rewards, and the integration of Pi payments in the Pi App Studio.
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Key Highlights
- Bitcoin surpassed $74,000 after multiple unsuccessful attempts at breaking this resistance level
- Altcoins showed strong performance with Ether up 14.3% weekly and Solana gaining 12%
- Short sellers suffered massive losses totaling $344 million, with $284.9 million from short positions alone
- Commercial shipping resumed through the Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran tensions showed signs of de-escalation
- Traditional markets responded positively with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures rising approximately 0.5% each
The leading cryptocurrency finally pushed past a critical price point that had rejected advances on four separate occasions over the previous two weeks. [[LINK_START_3]]Bitcoin[[LINK_END_3]] was changing hands slightly above $74,000 during Monday morning trading, representing a 2.9% increase over 24 hours and a weekly gain of 9.7%.
The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Ether, advanced 7.7% during the session and posted a weekly increase of 14.3%, reaching $2,261. Solana demonstrated similar strength with a 5.6% daily gain and 12% weekly advance to $93, marking its best seven-day performance in several months.
The rally extended across the broader digital asset market. Dogecoin touched the $0.10 level for the first time since early March, climbing 4.6% on the day and 10.6% for the week. BNB advanced 3.8% to reach $683, while XRP posted a 4.2% gain to $1.47.
A significant factor behind the price surge was forced liquidation of bearish positions. According to CoinGlass tracking data, $344 million worth of positions were liquidated across 91,978 traders during the previous 24-hour period. Bearish bets accounted for $284.9 million of these liquidations, representing approximately 83% of the total. Ether short positions suffered the most severe losses at $127.9 million, with Bitcoin shorts losing $124.5 million and Solana shorts giving up $18.5 million. A single Bitcoin short position on Bitfinex worth $6.94 million represented the largest individual liquidation.
Hormuz Strait Situation Shows Improvement
Global economic conditions experienced a notable shift during the weekend period. President Trump announced ongoing diplomatic communications with Iran, although Iranian officials disputed any requests for ceasefire negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi clarified that the Strait of Hormuz remained closed exclusively to vessels from “enemies,” representing a softening from the complete blockade implemented when hostilities commenced.
Two vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas destined for India successfully navigated through the strait on Sunday, marking the first commercial passage since the conflict’s outbreak.
Oil prices adjusted accordingly. Brent crude was trading near $104 after previously touching $106.50 following American military strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary petroleum export facility. West Texas Intermediate fell beneath the $100 threshold. The US dollar index declined 0.3%.
The combination of declining oil prices and dollar weakness created favorable conditions for speculative assets. Reduced energy costs and a softer dollar typically enhance liquidity dynamics for digital currencies and similar risk-oriented investments.
Equity Markets Gain Ahead of Federal Reserve Decision
Traditional equity index futures posted gains during Monday’s session. Contracts linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.4%. Both S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures advanced approximately 0.5%. These gains would represent the first positive trading day following five consecutive sessions of declines. The S&P 500 concluded the previous week at levels not seen since November.
Market participants are focused on two major developments scheduled for this week. Nvidia’s yearly GTC conference commenced Monday featuring a presentation from CEO Jensen Huang. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s March 17-18 monetary policy gathering is approaching.
Market consensus anticipates the Fed will maintain current interest rate levels. However, the updated economic projections and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Wednesday press briefing will be crucial in determining market expectations for potential rate reductions later this year. Persistently high oil prices could present challenges to the inflation narrative as policymakers deliberate.
The superior performance of alternative cryptocurrencies deserves attention. Historical patterns suggest that when Ether outpaces Bitcoin by more than four percentage points during a weekly period, it often indicates expanding risk appetite throughout the market rather than defensive positioning into the dominant digital asset.
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