Crypto World
Iran threatens retaliation as Trump vows to “hit hard,” crypto market under stress
United States President Donald Trump has vowed to continue military operations as the country’s Middle East war with Iran enters the third week of intensified hostilities.
Summary
- Trump says U.S. will intensify strikes on Iran’s critical infrastructure over the next two to three weeks as military operations expand.
- Iran warns of “crushing” retaliation and rejects ceasefire talks, claiming US and Israeli strikes have hit only limited targets so far.
- Major cryptocurrencies have fallen in response to the recent escalation.
“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong,” Trump said, adding that the United States would no longer tolerate “state-sponsored provocation” against American assets.
Further, Trump noted that Iran has repeatedly violated the terms of every previous diplomatic deal and confirmed that U.S. forces are going to aggressively target critical infrastructure across the country.
“We are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously […] We have not hit their oil, even though that’s the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding,” he added.
The ongoing war in the Persian Gulf has rattled both traditional and emerging markets, and the escalation has led to a massive spike in oil prices immediately after Iran threatened to permanently blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the war began, Bitcoin has dropped nearly 12%; meanwhile, despite its reputation as a safe haven, Gold has also slumped sharply as a surging U.S. Dollar and rising bond yields outweigh geopolitical fears.
Trump says the oil situation will improve
Trump acknowledged concerns over surging gas prices but downplayed the economic impact, saying it was a temporary ”short-term” situation and that he expects global supply routes to open up once Tehran surrenders.
“When this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally. It’ll just open up naturally. They’re going to want to be able to sell oil because that’s all they have to try and rebuild. It will resume the flowing and the gas prices will rapidly come back down,” he said.
He went on to add that the U.S. Economy is “strong and improving” and the domestic energy sector will be “roaring back like never before.”
“Thanks to the progress we’ve made. I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly. Very shortly,” Trump said.
Iran threatens retaliation
Even though Trump said that back-channel discussions for a ceasefire were ongoing, Iranian leaders have vehemently denied that there are any serious talks underway.
After the latest speech, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has vowed a “devastating” retaliation, adding that so far, the U.S. and Israel have been striking “insignificant” targets.
A spokesperson to the Supreme Leader said the two countries have “incomplete” information about the nation’s underground military capabilities and warned that any further strikes would be met with “crushing, broader and destructive” attacks.
He added that the bulk of Iran’s missile production takes place in ”places that you do not know at all.”
On Wednesday, reports suggested that Iran has blacklisted 18 tech companies, including Silicon Valley giants like Microsoft and Google, stating they would be considered as “legitimate targets” in response to cyber strikes on Iran.
“From now on, for every assassination, an American company will be destroyed,” The Guard, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization, warned on Tuesday.
Crypto markets under pressure
Major cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin—including Ethereum, XRP, and BNB—have started to drop sharply and have losses between 3-5% as of last check.
If the macro situation continues to deteriorate, it could spell trouble for the liquidity of these volatile high-beta assets, especially as Bitcoin is hovering very close to a major support area around $65,000.
If this support breaks, it could trigger a massive wave of liquidations, potentially sending the broader market into a prolonged crypto winter fueled by geopolitical instability.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Cifra Markets aims to bring regulated, transparent access to crypto in a $2.55 trillion global market.
At the time of writing, the global cryptocurrency market is a $2.55 trillion market, yet millions of users still lack access to a regulated, transparent gateway into digital assets. Unverified peer-to-peer platforms, unregulated online exchangers, and offline dealers with questionable liquidity have long dominated the space. Cifra Markets is changing that.
In this project review, we take a deep dive into Cifra Markets to understand the unique features that set it apart.
Overview
Website: https://cifra.by/en/
Sector: Crypto broker
Supported coins: 300+ cryptocurrencies
Margin trading support: Yes
KYC verification: Required
Tokenized US stocks: Offered
What is Cifra Markets?
Cifra Markets is a licensed crypto brokerage firm operating from the Republic of Belarus, a country where cryptocurrencies have been legal and regulated at the state level since 2017. It was among the first brokers to get a license in the jurisdiction, a testament to its commitment to regulatory compliance, and establishing trust within a highly competitive financial market.
Cifra is positioned as a legal alternative to P2P crypto exchanges and operates in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. It also provides crypto trading through partnerships with regulated crypto exchanges.
What makes Cifra unique?
1. Security is at the heart of Cifra Markets. The company operates as a registered resident of the High Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus. By operating in this region, Cifra adheres to strict requirements on asset custody, cybersecurity, independent technical auditing, and client service quality. This helps the platform to bring institutional-grade compliance to crypto users, a combination that has historically been unavailable for brokers operating in the region.
2. Cifra Markets has built its infrastructure based on principles commonly used in traditional financial standards. The platform integrates with multiple partner banks to enable instant fiat deposits and withdrawals.
3. To ensure that every transaction on the platform is legal, Cifra Markets imposes strict AML standards for all deposited cryptocurrencies. Every transaction is screened by blockchain analytics firms, such as Elliptic, and Shyft, to verify the “cleanliness” of digital assets before they are credited to client accounts. If funds are linked to sanctioned addresses or illicit activity, they are rejected and automatically returned to the original blockchain address.
4. Users are able to purchase cryptocurrency using fiat through bank transfers. They can also convert fiat into crypto, or from fiat to crypto, by using any bank in the CIS. Users can choose to deposit and withdraw funds in US dollars, euros, Belarusian Rubles, or Russian Rubles.
5. The platform provides users with access to over 300 cryptocurrencies as well as tokenized U.S. stocks, such as AAPLX, GOOGLX, NVDAX, AMZNX, HOODX, CRCLX, and more.
6. Cifra offers margin trading with leverage of up to 5x, allowing traders to enter large positions with a smaller initial capital.
7. Cifra Markets has its own trading interface and technology stack, including a Mini App designed to simplify access for beginners. This aims to reduce the complexity often associated with large global exchanges, making the platform accessible for a wide range of users.
8. Fiat and USDT can be exchanged directly through the order book in the trading application, where prices are set by participants placing their orders. For larger transactions, users have access to an OTC desk.
How to get started
Getting started on Cifra is easy and straightforward.
Firstly, add a working email address and a strong password, and then click on sign up to continue.
Next, enter a valid phone number. A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to this number, which must be verified before proceeding to the next step.
After an OTP is confirmed, the “Personal details” tab will open. Click on “Go to the next step” to proceed.
To open an account, enter additional details like citizenship, tax identification number, and location, then confirm that the data entered is correct. A progress bar at the top indicates how much of the required information has been completed.
Once the personal information is entered, the next step is to sign the agreement and open an account.
A new tab will open requesting a KYC link via SMS. The link will be sent to the phone number specified earlier. After successful KYC verification, the account will be ready to use.
Who is Cifra best suited for?
Cifra is well-suited for both retail and corporate clients, offering features that cater to individual traders as well as institutional or business-level needs. Retail traders can use the platform for straightforward activities such as buying and holding cryptocurrencies, while institutional clients can leverage advanced tools, including margin trading, tokenized assets, and portfolio management features.
Public review
With a 4.4-star rating on Google Play Store, the Cifra Markets app appears to be a reliable and user-friendly platform for cryptocurrency trading. In one of teh comments, a user said, “A convenient and user-friendly app for working with cryptocurrency. I liked that everything is official and transparent: it’s easy to open an account, there is access to popular coins, and different types of trading. Payments are familiar, support responds quickly, and using it is comfortable.”
However, one user said he was experiencing difficulties logging into the app. The issue was promptly resolved by Cifra’s customer support team, who guided him through the steps to access his account. This demonstrates the company’s responsiveness in addressing user concerns.
Conclusion
Cifra Markets stands out as a regulated, secure, and user-friendly gateway into the world of cryptocurrency. By combining state-level licensing in Belarus, robust AML compliance, and institutional-grade security standards, the platform offers a trustworthy alternative to unverified P2P exchanges that have long dominated the market. Its comprehensive infrastructure, including access to 30+ cryptocurrencies, tokenized U.S. stocks, and margin trading, caters to both retail and institutional users, making crypto trading accessible and efficient for a wide range of participants.
Beyond its technical capabilities, Cifra’s focus on transparency, ease of use, and responsive customer support reinforces its commitment to building confidence among users. For traders and businesses seeking a reliable, legally compliant, and fully-featured crypto brokerage in the CIS and beyond, Cifra Markets delivers a compelling solution that blends security, innovation, and accessibility in one platform.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
Summary
- Coinbase’s x402 payment protocol has joined the Linux Foundation to push an open, standardized infrastructure for AI-native, internet payments.
- A new x402 Foundation has been set up with Coinbase and Cloudflare as co-founders, and Stripe as a founding member, alongside planned participation from firms including Google, AWS, Visa and Mastercard.
- Linux Foundation CEO Jim Zemlin and Google Cloud Web3 head James Tromans say the initiative will advance interoperable, AI-driven transaction standards under transparent, community governance.
Coinbase’s x402 protocol has formally joined the Linux Foundation, with the goal of turning its AI-focused payments stack into an open, standardized layer for internet-native transactions, according to reporting from CoinDesk. Designed to embed stablecoin payments directly into the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code, x402 lets APIs, apps and AI agents pay for services programmatically over the web without bolted-on billing flows.
To steward the standard, Coinbase and Cloudflare have created the x402 Foundation, with Stripe as a founding member and a broader coalition of payments and tech companies signaling plans to join. The ecosystem site lists Adyen, Amazon Web Services, American Express, Ant International, Base, Circle, Google, KakaoPay, Mastercard, Microsoft, Polygon Labs, Shopify, Solana Foundation and Visa among organizations that have expressed intent to participate as contributors or partners.
Linux Foundation chief Jim Zemlin said the x402 Foundation will drive development of the protocol “in an open, community-governed way,” emphasizing principles of transparency, interoperability and broad participation. The governance model is designed to keep x402 vendor-neutral: the specification is licensed under Apache 2.0, with “zero protocol fees, zero account creation, zero vendor lock-in,” and any server stack able to implement it in a short timeframe, as one analysis of the emerging payments race put it.
James Tromans, managing director for Google Cloud’s Web3 and digital assets business, said Google’s participation in the foundation reflects a commitment to “supporting interoperable, AI-driven transaction standards” that can work across clouds and networks. Stripe, meanwhile, has added x402 support on Base while also promoting its own solutions, effectively hedging by backing an open protocol alongside proprietary rails, according to recent ecosystem coverage.
Launched by Coinbase in 2025, x402 was pitched as a way to let AI agents, browsers and back-end services pay directly for APIs, content and compute by piggybacking on the existing HTTP request/response flow. A Coinbase developer post explained that a server can respond with a 402 code and payment terms, the client can settle in stablecoins such as USDC, and then automatically retry the request with a proof of payment, all without accounts, subscriptions or manual invoicing.
Cloudflare has already shipped x402 support in its Workers and AI Agents SDK, allowing developers to add machine-to-machine payments at the edge for use cases like model-to-model calls, paywalled APIs and streaming content. With the Linux Foundation now fronting governance and a cross-industry membership lining up behind the x402 Foundation, Coinbase is effectively betting that a neutral, open protocol can become the default way AI systems pay each other over the internet.
Gold is flashing conflicting signals in today’s prediction, softening price globally, yet renewed physical demand is emerging in key markets. In India, gold traded at a premium this week for the first time in two months, as lower spot prices triggered a surge in physical buying.
This is giving a mixed signal. Indian consumers are price-sensitive and move fast when dips arrive. Meanwhile, geopolitical pressure from the broadening US-Iran conflict continues to create safe-haven crosscurrents, typically bullish for gold. Yet oil is absorbing institutional hedging flows that would historically have landed in gold.
The metal is caught between its own fundamentals and political pressure.
Broader macro conditions, US equity recovery, persistent crypto ETF demand, and Middle East uncertainty are compressing gold’s near-term upside while keeping its floor intact.
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Gold Price Prediction: Metal Momentum Melting Away?
Gold spot prices pulled back sharply enough to trigger the first Indian physical premium in two months, signaling that lower prices are clearing demand but not generating fresh upside momentum. Volume patterns suggest buyers are opportunistic at the moment.
Key technical levels to watch: macro analysts tracking cross-asset flows note that gold’s ability to hold above its 50-day moving average will determine whether the current softness is a buyable dip or the early stage of a deeper retracement. Momentum indicators are flat-to-negative on the daily chart, with no clear catalyst for a reversal spike unless geopolitical escalation accelerates safe-haven demand.
If US-Iran tensions escalate sharply, ETF outflows from equities resume, and gold rebounds toward recent highs on genuine safe-haven rotation. Physical demand provides a price floor, gold consolidates in a tight band, and directional conviction stays low while crypto dominates headlines.
The data points to the base case as most probable near-term. Gold isn’t collapsing.
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Maxi Doge: The Dog That Eats Metals
Gold’s muted momentum is precisely the environment that pushes speculative capital toward higher-velocity opportunities. Those hunting asymmetric upside aren’t waiting for gold to find direction. They’re looking earlier in the cycle.
Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is an ERC-20 meme token built around a 240-lb canine juggernaut embodying 1000x leverage trading mentality.
The presale has raised more than $4,7 million at a current price of just $0.0002811, with 66% APY staking as a bonus for holders. Features include Holder-Only Trading Competitions with leaderboard rewards, a Maxi Fund treasury for liquidity and partnerships, and meme-first viral marketing with measurable community traction.
Research Maxi Doge before committing capital.
This article is not financial advice. Conduct your own research before investing.
The post Gold Price Prediction: Metal Price Melting appeared first on Cryptonews.
Speculation is growing online that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, may be posting on X with help from inside the United States.
The theory stems from unusually polished English posts, US-focused messaging, and an account label showing “connected via the US App Store.” Some users claim the tone feels “too American” to be organic.
However, there is no clear evidence that the account is run from the US or by Americans. The App Store label can reflect device settings or routing, not physical location.
American commentators are overstating these details. X settings show that Ghalibaf’s account was most likely accessed via an iPhone using a US-region Apple ID, or a VPN / routing setup
So, it doesn’t prove physical presence in the US.
What is clear is the messaging itself has changed.
Ghalibaf, a former IRGC commander and now a central political figure in Iran’s wartime leadership, has begun speaking directly to American audiences.
He references gas prices, economic hardship, and political decisions in Washington. His posts increasingly mirror US political language and online culture.
At the same time, he has made comments that resemble market commentary. In one example, he suggested investors should interpret political signals as indicators of market direction.
These posts stop short of financial advice but frame the war through economic consequences.
This shift aligns with a broader strategy. Iranian officials are using English-language posts to shape foreign public opinion during the conflict.
By focusing on economic pain and market reactions, Ghalibaf’s messaging makes the war feel immediate to US audiences.
The bigger story may not be where the posts come from, but why they sound this way. Ghalibaf is not just acting as a political figure in the war.
He is operating in the information space, where influence over perception can matter as much as actions on the ground.
The post Why Iran’s Top War Operator Suddenly Sounds Very American appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Key Takeaways
- The OCC has granted Coinbase conditional authorization to establish a federally chartered trust entity
- This charter is limited to custody operations and market infrastructure, excluding retail deposits and traditional banking
- Final approval hinges on Coinbase completing multiple regulatory and administrative requirements
- The federal designation is anticipated to expand Coinbase’s reach among institutional investors
- Coinbase’s current New York state trust charter and BitLicense continue operating without interruption
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued conditional authorization for Coinbase (COIN) to launch Coinbase National Trust Company, a federally chartered trust institution.
This OCC charter is tailored exclusively for custody operations and market infrastructure services. The crypto exchange will not accept consumer deposits or function as a conventional fractional reserve banking institution under this authorization.
According to Greg Tusar, Co-CEO of Coinbase Institutional, the clearance provides “federal regulatory uniformity to the custody and market infrastructure business we have been building for years.”
Coinbase filed its national trust charter application with the OCC in October of last year. The platform currently operates under a limited-purpose trust charter issued by the New York Department of Financial Services, which authorizes digital asset custody services at the state level through Coinbase Prime, its institutional division.
The federal charter represents a significant upgrade. “We’re the custodian to over 80% of the world’s digital asset ETFs, but there are a number of other asset managers and hedge funds and others that would like to see the entity that they face have this kind of charter,” Tusar explained.
Essentially, the OCC certification unlocks opportunities that state-level authorization alone cannot provide.
Coinbase’s institutional division reported $245.7 billion in assets under custody as of June 2025 — representing approximately 7% of the entire cryptocurrency market, based on figures from its charter filing.
Outstanding Requirements for Final Approval
Conditional authorization differs from full approval. Before the charter becomes operational, Coinbase must convene its inaugural board meeting, implement corporate bylaws, set up payment infrastructure, and successfully complete a pre-launch examination by the OCC.
The company has committed to collaborating closely with OCC regulators to satisfy all outstanding conditions.
Meanwhile, Coinbase’s existing New York BitLicense and state-level trust charter remain active and unchanged. Coinbase, Inc. continues its operations under NYDFS supervision without disruption.
Other Applicants Pursuing Federal Charters
Coinbase isn’t the only crypto firm seeking this regulatory status. The OCC granted conditional approvals to multiple digital asset companies late last year, including BitGo, Circle Internet Group, Fidelity Digital Assets, Ripple, and Paxos.
Additionally, EDX Markets — backed by Morgan Stanley and Citadel Securities — along with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s most significant cryptocurrency initiative, have submitted national trust charter applications.
The federal charter also establishes infrastructure for emerging payment solutions and complementary financial services, targeting both institutional partners and retail users as primary beneficiaries.
While Congress has moved forward with market structure legislation, federal supervision of crypto custody providers has remained inconsistent. This OCC approval fills that regulatory void for institutional services without requiring completed legislative action.
The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has approved cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s application for a national bank trust charter after six months of consideration.
In a Thursday X post, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal said the company received conditional approval for the OCC application, following December approvals for Ripple Labs, BitGo, Circle, Fidelity Digital Assets and Paxos.
Although the company said in October it had “no intention of becoming a bank” if approved, the move by US regulators marks one of the most significant forays into bridging crypto and traditional finance.
“Coinbase is not becoming a commercial bank,” said vice president of institutional product Greg Tusar in a Thursday blog post. “We will not be taking retail deposits. We will not be engaging in fractional reserve banking. This charter is about bringing federal regulatory uniformity to the custody and market infrastructure business we have been building for years.”
Tusar said that the company would continue to operate under the Department of Financial Services in New York, where it holds a BitLicense and a state charter as a limited-purpose trust company.
The OCC approval, coupled with Coinbase’s state-level efforts, came as the company is in the middle of a debate on issues stalling a digital asset market structure bill in Congress, including over stablecoin yield.
CEO Brian Armstrong said in January that the exchange could not support the legislation as written. Lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee later postponed a markup, which is necessary before a potential floor vote on the bill.
Related: Coinbase exec says Senate CLARITY compromise is close, but no markup date set
At the time of publication, the OCC website showed no change to Coinbase’s application, which it marked as received by the banking regulator. Cointelegraph reached out to the exchange for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Coinbase faces legal pushback over prediction markets
The crypto platform rolled out prediction market bets for US-based users in January as part of a partnership with Kalshi.
In lawsuits filed preemptively against state gaming authorities in Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan, Coinbase argued that the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as a federal regulator, had the authority to oversee prediction markets. Many of the cases were ongoing as of Thursday.
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The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Illinois and various state officials on Thursday over the state’s efforts to shutter prediction market providers.
Illinois sent cease-and-desist letters to some prediction market providers, arguing that the companies were offering sports gambling products that should be regulated under state law. The CFTC has argued that prediction markets are offering swaps products, which are regulated under the federal Commodity Exchange Act and therefore are under the “exclusive jurisdiction” of that regulator.
In the lawsuit, the CFTC continued this argument, saying Illinois’s efforts “intrudes on” the CFTC’s role, and that federal law preempts state regulations in this matter.
“Event contracts are derivative instruments that enable parties to trade on their predictions about whether a future event — which may relate to economics, or elections, or climate, or sports, or anything else of a potential financial, economic or commercial consequence — will occur,” the filing said.
The CFTC, especially under current Chairman Mike Selig, has argued that prediction markets are federally regulated, even as many of these companies expand to allow customers to place bets on sporting events. States, under both Republicans and Democrats, have pushed back. Nevada’s Gaming Control Board secured a temporary restraining order against Kalshi last month, with a hearing set for Friday.
The CFTC will participate in an appeals court hearing before the Ninth Circuit later this month, in a consolidated case involving the North American Derivatives Exchange, Kalshi and Robinhood.
Read more: Prediction markets backlash builds possible stormcloud for 2027
Anthony Scaramucci is openly backing Michael Saylor’s high‑yield Bitcoin strategy at the same time he jolts markets with a tongue‑in‑cheek X video announcing a 2028 presidential run, sharpening the line between his crypto advocacy and broader economic message.
Summary
- Scaramucci calls himself a “big fan” of Michael Saylor while dissecting Strategy Inc.’s roughly 11.5% perpetual yield tied to Bitcoin, warning that leverage and drawdowns remain real risks.
- In a previous crypto.news story, he linked that same wealth‑gap narrative to stalled CLARITY legislation in Washington and his long‑term Bitcoin thesis.
- His April 1 “Mooch 2028” video on X, framed as an April Fools’ gag, doubles as a campaign‑style address on inequality, debt and digital assets.
In a recent episode of the All Things Markets podcast, SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci and Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz pulled apart Strategy Inc.’s (NASDAQ: MSTR) use of high‑yield perpetual securities, which Scaramucci said can deliver “four quarterly dividend payments equivalent to a yield of approximately 11.5%” for Bitcoin believers. He was explicit about his own position: “I’m a big fan of Saylor, and obviously SkyBridge owns a lot of Bitcoin. We don’t hold any of those assets, but I just wanted to disclose that to people.”
Saylor’s 11.5% Bitcoin‑backed yield under scrutiny
Novogratz stressed the structure’s dependence on leverage: “It’s leverage on the strategy,” he said, arguing Saylor currently enjoys a “big margin of safety” because of his large Bitcoin corpus but that a sharp drop in BTC would “inevitably” eat into that cushion. He warned that if Bitcoin crashed to around $30,000, perpetual investors “naturally” fear losing principal, because they “don’t have the right to get their money back” and Saylor can theoretically halt dividends, which would likely push the instrument to a steep discount.
That nuanced pitch to yield‑hungry Bitcoin holders landed just hours before Scaramucci’s latest viral video on X, where he stood in his office wearing a “Mooch 2028” cap and declared, “I’m running for President of the United States in 2028… Join me and help me heal America.” The clip, posted on April Fools’ Day, was quickly framed by outlets like Benzinga and Breitbart as a prank, but it reads like a test balloon: he references his ill‑fated 11‑day stint in Donald Trump’s first White House and insists, “I do believe I can help guide this country in the right direction.”
In a separate BeInCrypto interview covered by BloomingBit, Scaramucci said that passing the CLARITY Act, Washington’s flagship crypto market‑structure bill, is “not an easy situation,” adding that “in the current political environment, securing 60 votes in the Senate is almost impossible.” Earlier comments to Coinness underscored how partisan rancor over Trump’s launch of a memecoin, which he said earned between $600 million and $700 million, has further poisoned the well for bipartisan crypto rules.
Price‑wise, Scaramucci has hardly turned cautious: in February he told Benzinga that Bitcoin “doesn’t reward being early, but being patient,” even as BTC traded near $70,981, down about 7.2% on the day, and more recently has floated scenarios of $2 million to $3 million per coin over the next decade. For a would‑be “Mooch 2028” candidate, the message is clear enough — leverage can juice returns, but the real bet is that Bitcoin outlasts U.S. political dysfunction.
Key Takeaways
- Needham reduced HOOD price target from $100 down to $90 while maintaining its Buy recommendation
- Compass Point lowered its target from $127 down to $108, retaining its Buy stance
- March data revealed declining volumes across equity, options, and cryptocurrency trading
- HOOD shares have plummeted 52% in the last six months and 38% since the year began
- The company’s banking arm has exceeded $1.5 billion in total deposits
Robinhood Markets has encountered significant headwinds this week as several Wall Street analysts have lowered their price expectations following the release of disappointing March trading data.
On Wednesday, Needham’s John Todaro revised his price target downward from $100 to $90, though he maintained his bullish Buy rating. His decision stemmed from observations of decelerating growth throughout virtually all segments of the platform.
“We view HOOD as the most advanced financial services platform in its evolution toward a comprehensive financial super app, however the latest volume data and reduced net interest income suggest a more subdued operating environment,” Todaro explained.
The March performance report, published March 30, indicated equity notional trading volumes reached approximately $196 billion. The platform processed 187 million options contracts, while cryptocurrency trading notional volumes totaled $16 billion.
Todaro adjusted his equities and options projections for the first quarter of 2026 downward but maintained his cryptocurrency volume forecasts unchanged, noting that declines in that sector had already been incorporated into previous models. He also reduced revenue expectations for both 2026 and 2027, primarily due to anticipated lower trading activity and diminished net interest income.
His revised $90 target price reflects 27 times Needham’s discounted fiscal 2027 EV/EBITDA calculation.
This adjustment came one day after Wolfe Research’s Steven Chubak lowered his target from $115 to $81 — representing approximately a 30% reduction. His revision followed a decline in cryptocurrency transaction revenues, further pressured by broader digital asset market weakness.
Compass Point Joins Downgrade Chorus
Compass Point’s Ed Engel similarly decreased his price objective on Wednesday, moving from $127 to $108 while preserving his Buy rating. His forecasting models project Q1 revenue coming in 9% beneath consensus expectations, with shortfalls anticipated across all three primary business lines.
Engel observed that retail trading activity typically decelerates after five to six straight months of volatile market conditions, and that most retail investor favorites have generally declined since early October.
He made a comparison to April 2025, when analysts were reducing forecasts ahead of Liberation Day. Engel proposed that should markets recover, Robinhood could emerge as a significant beneficiary considering the 2026 IPO calendar.
HOOD shares have now declined 52% during the past six months and trade 46% beneath their 52-week peak of $153.86. The stock currently carries a P/E multiple of 34.14 and commands a market capitalization of $63.1 billion. InvestingPro’s analysis indicates the stock appears overvalued at present price levels.
Banking Segment Provides Encouraging Signs
Despite trading challenges, not all indicators are negative. Robinhood’s banking operation has surpassed $1.5 billion in deposits, serving nearly 100,000 funded customers — representing an approximately 50% deposit increase over a recent timeframe.
Bernstein SocGen Group reduced its price target from $160 to $130 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The investment firm continues to forecast 25% earnings per share expansion by 2026 and a 30% revenue compound annual growth rate spanning 2025 through 2027.
Jefferies launched coverage with a Buy recommendation and an $88 price target, highlighting opportunities from expanding global retail participation and a diversified product offering.
According to TipRanks, HOOD maintains a Strong Buy consensus recommendation based on 15 Buy ratings and 2 Hold ratings, with an average price target of $117.33 — suggesting approximately 67% potential upside from current trading levels. The most optimistic price target among analysts reaches $147.
The company’s complete first-quarter earnings report is scheduled for release in May.
Soluna Holdings, a publicly traded Bitcoin (BTC) mining and AI infrastructure company focused on renewable energy, announced on Thursday that it closed a $53 million deal to acquire a wind farm to power its upcoming Project Dorothy 3 AI data center campus.
The Briscoe Wind Farm, located in Briscoe County, Texas, has a potential capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW), according to the company’s announcement.
The company forecasts that the facility will generate annualized revenue between $20 million and $24.4 million.
Shares of Soluna are up by about 7.6% following the news, and are trading at about $0.76 at the time of writing.
Soluna expanded into AI data center infrastructure in February 2024, amid an industry-wide pivot toward AI and high-performance computing infrastructure to shore up declining revenues from the crypto mining business.
Related: AI data center gold rush sparks debate over impact on Bitcoin mining
Miners adopt renewable energy solutions amid profit squeeze
The Bitcoin mining industry faces several economic headwinds, including declining block rewards, rising energy costs and compressing profit margins, with many companies operating near or below breakeven levels.
Up to 20% of mining companies aren’t profitable, according to a March 2026 report from asset manager CoinShares.
The average cost to mine a single Bitcoin rose to nearly $80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, CoinShares said. Bitcoin is currently trading well below that level.
“Q4 2025 marked the most challenging quarter for Bitcoin miners since the April 2024 halving,” the report said.
The October 2025 market crash, which caused Bitcoin to plummet from an all-time high around the $125,000 level to a low of about $60,000, and rising network hashrate have placed even more pressure on the industry, CoinShares said.
Bitcoin mining companies sold over 15,000 BTC between October and early March to cover operating expenses, and the pace of selling has continued in recent weeks.
Several Bitcoin mining companies, including The Pheonix Group and Sangha Renewables, have adopted renewable energy solutions to power their operations and remain competitive amid a challenging business environment.
Canaan, a mining hardware manufacturer and mining company, partnered with Soluna in September to deploy a wind-powered BTC mining facility at the Briscoe, Texas site.
Related: AI may already use more power than Bitcoin — and it threatens Bitcoin mining
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