Crude oil prices rocketed more than 36% in one week, surpassing $91 per barrel following Iran conflict disrupting critical Strait of Hormuz routes
Major indexes suffer losses: S&P 500 down 1.5% year-to-date; Nasdaq off 3.7% since the start of January
February payrolls shocked markets with a loss of 92,000 positions versus expectations for 55,000 additions
Key earnings releases: Oracle (ORCL) Tuesday; Adobe and Hewlett Packard Enterprise follow later in the week
Critical inflation metrics arrive Wednesday (CPI) and Friday (PCE), setting the stage for the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy meeting
Wall Street concluded Friday’s trading session sharply lower, marking the conclusion of one of 2026’s most challenging weeks for equities. The S&P 500 declined 1.3% during Friday’s session, bringing year-to-date losses to 1.5%. Tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 1.6% on the day, extending its 2026 decline to 3.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed approximately 450 points.
[[IMG_4]]E-Mini S&P 500 Mar 26 (ES=F)
The primary catalyst for market distress stems from escalating conflict in Iran, severely restricting petroleum shipments through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Under normal circumstances, this critical waterway facilitates approximately 20% of global seaborne crude oil transport.
The disruption has effectively stranded roughly 16 million barrels without viable routes to market, based on analytics from Vortexa. Storage facilities have reached capacity. Production cutbacks are underway. Oil prices have exploded upward by more than 36% over seven days, breaking through $91 per barrel — representing the steepest weekly increase recorded since at least 1985.
Macquarie’s global energy strategist Vikas Dwivedi cautioned that “several weeks of Hormuz disruption will trigger cascading consequences potentially propelling crude toward $150 or beyond.” Market analysts increasingly view such levels as within the realm of possibility.
Inflation Concerns and Central Bank Policy
The dramatic surge in petroleum prices arrives at a particularly challenging moment for Federal Reserve policymakers. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly acknowledged to CNBC Friday that “the oil shock represents a genuine concern, with duration being the critical factor.”
Analysis from Goldman Sachs suggests that sustained elevated crude prices over multiple months could push annual headline inflation back toward the 3% range. This stands notably above the Federal Reserve’s established 2% objective.
Ten-year Treasury yields have advanced past 4.14%. Market expectations for interest rate reductions have moderated as participants evaluate the potential for rising energy costs to impede inflation normalization. Fed policymakers including Neel Kashkari and John Williams indicated it remains premature to fully gauge the impact.
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Wednesday’s February Consumer Price Index release and Friday’s January Personal Consumption Expenditures data will provide crucial insights into price pressures before next week’s Federal Reserve policy announcement.
[[IMG_5]]Source: Forex Factory
Employment Data Compounds Market Anxiety
The February employment situation report intensified investor concerns. American employers shed 92,000 positions, a stark reversal from analyst projections calling for 55,000 job additions. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.4% from January’s 4.3% reading.
BREAKING: The US economy unexpectedly LOSES -92,000 jobs in February, below expectations of a +58,000 gain.
The unemployment rate was 4.4%, above expectations of 4.3%.
This marks just the 2nd monthly job loss since the 2020 pandemic.
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The US labor market is clearly weakening.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 6, 2026
Certain economists attributed the weakness to temporary distortions, notably a Kaiser Permanente labor action that eliminated 37,000 positions from the tally. BNP Paribas economist Andrew Husby characterized the outcome as influenced by “exceptional circumstances.”
Alternative perspectives emerged. Bolvin Wealth Management’s Gina Bolvin identified “a divided economy — decelerating overall expansion combined with rapid technological disruption.” Block, helmed by Jack Dorsey, eliminated 4,000 positions in February, with company leadership directly citing artificial intelligence implementation as the driver.
Oracle delivers quarterly results Tuesday. Shares have plummeted more than 50% from September peak levels. The enterprise software giant recently unveiled ambitions to secure $50 billion in financing for artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion. Adobe and Hewlett Packard Enterprise also report results this week, joined by Dollar General, Li Auto, and Nio.
Ether’s price trajectory has remained tepid as institutional interest wavered and on-chain activity cooled, even as Ethereum developers push forward with upgrades designed to improve scalability and wallet security. Over the last month, the asset has struggled to sustain above $2,100, with a brief 7% uptick overshadowed by renewed selling pressure. Net outflows from spot ETFs reached roughly $225 million, underscoring dampened demand from traditional finance investors just as staking yields lag behind competing crypto yields. In parallel, on-chain metrics show a cooling in activity—base-layer fees averaged about $2.3 million weekly, down sharply from an early February peak near $8 million—while daily transaction counts hovered around 14 million.
Key takeaways
Ether price faces resistance to clear sustained gains above the $2,100 level, despite a temporary 7% rise in one session and signs that traders are paring leverage rather than building bullish bets.
ETF-related flows point to fragile institutional demand, with $225 million in net outflows versus prior inflows, as staking yields fail to outpace stablecoin alternatives.
Derivatives activity shows a nuanced picture: perpetual futures have trended negative, suggesting appetite for downside protection, while the 30-day options delta skew remains near neutral, indicating a cautious stance from option buyers.
On-chain fundamentals reveal a softer near-term environment: weekly base-layer fees around $2.3 million and a still sizeable but evolving TVL of roughly $56 billion.
Ethereum roadmap progress—account abstraction and the Hegota upgrades—reflects continued innovation, including plans to pay gas in non-ETH tokens and to streamline finality, though these developments have not yet sparked a meaningful uplift in demand for Ether (CRYPTO: ETH).
Ether (ETH) has traded in a narrow range after retaking a push above $2,000 and then failing to hold gains, with a persistent risk-off mood weighing on risk assets. The broader market context remains fragile, as investors weigh the appeal of staking rewards against yields available from competing crypto products. The recent ETF flows offer an imperfect gauge of institutional appetite: while some weeks show inflows, overall the trend has tilted toward net withdrawals, pressuring Ether bids on spot markets.
In the derivatives space, ETH perpetual futures dipped into negative territory on Tuesday, signaling a tilt toward bearish positioning. This metric has lingered below its neutral range of roughly 6%–12% annualized funding for the better part of a month, hinting at a lack of conviction for a sustained breakout. By contrast, the ETH options risk gauge held near the neutral zone (-6% to +6%), with puts trading at a modest premium to calls—an indication that some market participants are seeking downside protection even as broader sentiment remains unsettled. Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL) stands at about $56 billion, a figure that underscores the chain’s retained mainstream appeal even as demand ebbs and flows.
From an on-chain operations perspective, activity on the base layer has cooled. Average weekly fees settled around $2.3 million after spiking to around $8 million in early February, suggesting traders are paring activity or seeking efficiency through layer-2 solutions rather than increasing on-chain transactions in native Ether. Transaction counts over the past week hovered around 14 million, a sign that interest is not converging on a rapid upcycle at current price levels. Layer-2 rollups are central to the upgrade narrative, but the expected uplift in native Ether demand has yet to materialize in a meaningful way.
Another facet of the narrative is the evolving perception of Ethereum’s roadmap. Vitalik Buterin has indicated that account abstraction—a shift toward smart accounts that could improve user experience and security—will likely arrive within a year, after more than a decade of development. The associated Hegota fork, which introduces gas payments in non-ETH tokens via specialized DEXs, alongside a “general-purpose public mempool” and removals of certain privacy platforms’ public broadcasters, could alter how users pay for transactions and how data is organized on-chain. These changes, if implemented smoothly, may gradually reduce bottlenecks and enhance privacy, but they have not yet translated into a decisive pickup in Ether demand.
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Market participants also weigh the health of the Ethereum treasury and governance-related developments. Sharplink (SBET US), the treasury vehicle linked to Ethereum insiders and chaired by a figure closely tied to the ecosystem, reported a net loss of $735 million in 2025. The setback underscores the risk profile of on-chain treasuries and the potential liquidity challenges that can accompany large-scale treasury management operations in a bear market environment. While this is not a direct price driver, it does color investors’ confidence in Ethereum’s ecosystem funding and long-term sustainability.
Beyond upgrades and funding dynamics, the slow pace of native-chain scalability improvements has tempered enthusiasm for Ether. The market has been watching for concrete progress on account abstraction and related scalability shims, while also keeping an eye on gas economics within cross-chain constructs. In this environment, Ether’s momentum has remained constrained, with the broader crypto market wrestling with risk sentiment and macro considerations that influence ETF inflows, staking yields, and liquidity conditions across the sector.
The confluence of tepid price action, cautious ETF flows, and evolving protocol upgrades suggests Ether is navigating a transitional period: the anticipation of structural improvements is real, but immediate demand catalysts have not yet arrived. The absence of a strong directional breakout—despite some positive signals around network upgrades and security improvements—points to a market that is waiting for clearer catalysts or a shift in macro liquidity to re-energize bids for Ether.
Why it matters
For investors, the current environment highlights the importance of differentiating between short-term price momentum and long-run network value. Ethereum remains the dominant platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications, with TVL and developer activity continuing to anchor the ecosystem—even as near-term demand indicators show fragility. The ongoing upgrades, particularly around account abstraction and gas-payment innovations, could, if fully realized, lower friction for users and merchants and help rebuild confidence in Ethereum’s on-chain utility.
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From a builder’s perspective, the roadmap emphasizes security, efficiency, and privacy enhancements that could unlock new use cases and improve end-user experience. The Hegota upgrade, with its approach to gas payments and mempool management, signals a willingness to rethink fundamental economics and data flows on the network. If governance and implementation proceed smoothly, developers could accelerate rollouts of scalable dApps, which in turn may attract new capital and spur renewed demand for Ether.
For the market as a whole, Ethereum’s trajectory continues to influence how investors evaluate layer-1 chains and the broader risk appetite in crypto markets. ETF dynamics, staking options, and on-chain metrics will remain intertwined with macro cycles, regulatory developments, and the pace at which scalability improvements translate into tangible user adoption. In this environment, ETH’s performance will depend on a mix of technical progress, product-market fit for layer-2 solutions, and the capacity of institutional participants to translate macro liquidity into constructive demand rather than speculative positions alone.
What to watch next
Follow updates on the US ETF staking pathway and any subsequent inflows or outflows in the coming quarters to gauge institutional appetite for Ether exposure.
Monitor progress on account abstraction finality and the timeline for the Hegota fork, including any security or privacy-related milestones.
Track layer-2 adoption metrics, including transaction throughput and fee dynamics, to assess whether these solutions effectively translate into higher on-chain activity for Ether.
Observe changes in staking reward economics relative to competing yield sources, and any shifts in stablecoin yields that influence capital allocation within crypto treasuries.
Watch governance and treasury developments surrounding Sharplink and other ecosystem vehicles for potential spillovers into market sentiment and long-term funding models.
Sources & verification
Laevitas.ch data on ETH perpetual futures funding rates and the associated market dynamics referenced in the discussion of negative territory.
Laevitas.ch ETH 30-day options delta skew data used to illustrate risk sentiment and option market positioning.
Stablecoin yield comparisons, particularly Sky Lending (formerly MakerDAO), with yields around 3.75% versus staking at roughly 2.8%.
Reported 2025 net loss of Sharplink (SBET US) at $735 million, as noted in the article’s references to ecosystem treasury performance.
Ethereum market reaction and key details
Ether (CRYPTO: ETH) has faced a challenging backdrop in recent weeks as ETF outflows and a cautious risk appetite converge with ongoing protocol evolution. The ongoing debate over how best to price and pay gas — including considerations around non-ETH payment options and the potential for a public mempool—frames investors’ expectations for near-term catalysts. While the fundamentals point to a robust long-term role for Ethereum in decentralized finance and smart contracts, the near-term price action suggests traders are prioritizing risk management over aggressive exposure. For now, the market is awaiting clearer signals from upgrades, regulatory movements, and institutional flows before committing to a sustained bid higher than the current range around the $2,000s to $2,200s band.
Market participants should continue to monitor the evolving relationship between staking economics and competing yields, as well as the degree to which Layer-2 ecosystems translate on-chain activity into meaningful Ether demand. In addition, the health of the Ethereum treasury and governance actions surrounding major ecosystem initiatives will be important for assessing long-term resilience and strategic direction. The next steps for Ethereum hinge on delivering scalable, secure, and user-friendly improvements that can convert optimism about upgrades into tangible use cases and capital inflows.
Crypto company Ripple said it is set to secure a key financial services license in Australia through the acquisition of an Australian payments firm, adding to an international license grab over the last year.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ripple said it will buy BC Payments Australia, a corporate entity tied to the European Banking Circle Group, allowing it access to the company’s Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), which is set to become a requirement for certain crypto companies to provide financial services in the country.
The acquisition of BC Payments Australia is set to close on April 1, according to a report from The Australian, citing comments from Ripple APAC managing director Fiona Murray.
Murray said there was “enough institutional interest in digital assets to warrant the investment for us.”
Ripple is obtaining an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). As we continue to bridge TradFi with the next gen of digital infrastructure, regulatory compliance remains the foundation of everything we build:… pic.twitter.com/JNF1iQSyG7
In Ripple’s statement, Murray said “Australia is a key market for Ripple” and that an AFSL would strengthen the company’s ability to scale its payments business throughout the country.
“With the AFSL in place, Ripple Payments can manage the full lifecycle of a transaction, from onboarding and compliance through funding, FX, liquidity management, and final payout, while integrating both traditional banking rails and digital assets.”
Ripple has been working to expand its collection of international licenses over the last year.
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In addition to recently securing conditional approval for a national trust banking charter in the US, Ripple has also won payment licenses in Singapore, the UAE and the UK over the last 12 months.
The firm has also been working to expand use cases for XRP (XRP) and its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin through key acquisitions in recent months, most notably non-bank prime broker Hidden Road and corporate treasury platform GTreasury.
The acquisition of Hidden Road — now Ripple Prime — made Ripple the first crypto-native company to own and run a multi-asset prime broker, covering everything from clearing, financing and brokerage across digital assets, derivatives, swaps, foreign exchange, and fixed-income products for institutional clients.
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Ripple’s plans for Australia come as lawmakers introduced the Digital Asset Framework bill last year, which passed through the lower house in February and is now before the Senate.
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the country’s top markets regulator, has also proposed rules for the crypto sector.
ASIC has also been pushing for crypto trading platforms to secure AFSLs, stating in October that it wouldn’t take any action over licensing matters until at least June 30, 2026.
Crypto exchange Coinbase is also looking to secure an AFSL in the coming months.
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Murray hopeful Australia will end crypto debanking
Murray told The Australian that she hopes the move to AFSLs will end the widespread crypto debanking issue in Australia, which has seen many banks impose blocks or restrictions on customers attempting to deposit funds to crypto exchanges.
In an interview with Cointelegraph at the XRP Australia conference on Feb. 27, OKX Australia CEO Kate Cooper said the banking barriers continue to affect adoption in the country.
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“It’s absolutely still a challenge in the industry,” Cooper said. “I don’t think there’s been any improvements. And we’re working hard with governments to encourage them to set some standards around it.”
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
Thai digital asset operators froze 47,692 mule accounts in 2025 alone.
Thailand’s digital asset industry has stepped up its efforts to tackle money laundering linked to mule accounts.
Crypto exchanges in the Southeast Asian country have frozen more than 10,000 suspicious accounts under a newly enforced measure known as the “Speed Bump,” according to the Thai Digital Asset Operators Trade Association (TDO).
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Major Anti-Money Laundering Push
While speaking to the Bangkok Post, Att Thongyai Asavanund, chief executive of KuCoin Thailand and chairman of the TDO, said mule accounts remain one of the most significant vulnerabilities within the crypto ecosystem.
Criminal groups typically move illicit funds through a network of multiple bank accounts before combining the money into a single account that is used to transfer funds to a crypto platform. Once the funds arrive on the platform, they are quickly converted into digital assets and transferred overseas.
Although blockchain technology enables operators to track wallet addresses and observe transaction flows across the network, Asavanund acknowledged that a major limitation remains the difficulty of identifying the real person controlling a wallet. He explained that while operators can see a wallet address and its activity on the blockchain, determining the true beneficial owner behind that address is often extremely challenging.
To address the problem and slow the movement of suspicious funds, the TDO has introduced the Speed Bump mechanism, which imposes a 24-hour transaction lock on transfers of 50,000 baht or more. During this holding period, users are required to complete additional know-your-customer checks, including video verification, before the funds can be released.
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According to Asavanund, the delay is designed to disrupt the speed that criminal networks rely on to move money through the system before it can be detected. The association said the enhanced screening process has already led to the suspension of thousands to tens of thousands of accounts suspected of operating as mule accounts.
However, crypto operators are facing rising compliance costs and operational pressures as they manage frozen accounts and investigate suspicious transactions. Criminal groups have also attempted to bypass these controls by recruiting new individuals to open replacement accounts once previously used accounts are blacklisted.
In addition to the Speed Bump measure, the TDO is coordinating with authorities to strengthen broader safeguards within the financial system. These efforts include linking suspect databases with the Bank of Thailand’s payment system and law enforcement agencies to help screen individuals classified as high risk under different risk categories.
Other Industry Measures
Last August, Thailand launched a program called TouristDigiPay, allowing foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrency into Thai baht for payments during their stay. Under the scheme, tourists must open an account with a regulated digital asset business and e-money provider and complete strict identity checks.
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In June, the government approved a five-year tax exemption on cryptocurrency profits for domestic traders to encourage more funds to remain within the country. The decision followed a sharp decline in foreign inflows after authorities introduced stricter taxation on foreign income brought into Thailand the previous year. Meanwhile, the Thai Revenue Department said it is preparing to implement the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), which supports global sharing of digital asset account data.
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The Bank Policy Institute is reportedly weighing filing a lawsuit against the OCC over it granting more bank trust charters to crypto firms.
A lobbying group for some of the largest banks that do business in the United States may be heading to court over crypto’s growing access to the U.S. banking system. The Guardian first reported the news, citing a source familiar with the lobby’s thinking.
The Bank Policy Institute (BPI) — whose members include Bank of American, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Santander, and HSBC, among many others — is considering filing a lawsuit against the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) over the regulator’s move to grant national trust bank charters to crypto and fintech firms. The BPI has not yet decided whether to proceed with legal action, per The Guardian.
At the heart of the dispute is a question of competitive fairness. Banks argue the OCC’s move grants federal approval to bank-like activities without the same supervision, controls, and safeguards required of traditional banks.
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BPI’s board includes JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon, and Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan, among other executives of Wall Street’s largest players.
The banking charter pipeline for crypto firms has grown rapidly under OCC Comptroller Jonathan Gould, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in last July.
In December, the OCC granted conditional national trust bank charter approvals to several crypto firms, including BitGo, Ripple, and Paxos. A growing number of other companies have followed since.
Most recently, as The Defiant reported, Crypto.com received conditional approval to charter Foris Dax National Trust Bank, and Revolut and Zerohash became the latest crypto-linked firms to file applications with the OCC in early March.
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The question of crypto firms competing with banks has extended beyond the OCC. Amid the ongoing Senate consideration of a broad crypto market structure bill, JPMorgan’s CEO told CNBC that stablecoin issuers paying interest on customer balances should face the same rules as traditional lenders — a position that has become a central sticking point holding up passage of the CLARITY Act in Congress.
This article was generated with the assistance of AI workflows.
Bitcoin surged above $71K, triggering a crypto short squeeze that liquidated over $100M in bearish positions.
Ethereum followed Bitcoin’s breakout, reclaiming $2,050 as the crypto market cap expanded rapidly.
Over $150B flowed back into the crypto market within 36 hours as momentum traders returned.
Analysts identify $75K BTC and $2,100 ETH as major liquidation zones in derivatives markets.
Crypto Short Squeeze is driving renewed momentum across digital asset markets after Bitcoin climbed above $71,000 and Ethereum moved past $2,050. The rally triggered more than $100 million in short liquidations across major exchanges within 36 hours.
Bitcoin Breakout Triggers $100M Short Liquidation Cascade
Crypto Short Squeeze activity intensified after Bitcoin reclaimed the $70,000 psychological resistance level. The breakout triggered forced liquidations across derivatives markets.
Data from trading platforms shows that more than $100 million worth of short positions were liquidated. Traders who expected lower prices were forced to close their positions.
When short traders exit losing positions, they must buy the asset back. That process creates additional upward pressure on price.
BREAKING: $100 Million worth of short positions liquidated as Bitcoin reclaims $71,000 and Ethereum reclaims $2,050.
BTC is up 8.61% in the last 36 hours, adding $113 billion to its market cap.
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ETH is up 8.18% in the last 36 hours, adding $19 billion to its market cap.
Bitcoin’s price increased by roughly 8.61% during the last 36 hours. The rally added nearly $113 billion to the asset’s total market capitalization.
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Technical charts show consecutive higher highs and higher lows during the surge. This pattern reflects steady buying pressure during the breakout.
The move above $70,000 also triggered clusters of stop-loss orders. Many short sellers placed liquidation levels just above that resistance zone.
Once those orders were activated, automated buying accelerated the rally. Such chain reactions often amplify volatility in derivatives-driven markets.
Meanwhile, total cryptocurrency market capitalization expanded by nearly $150 billion during the same period. This rapid increase suggests both liquidation-driven demand and fresh spot buying.
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Ethereum Rally and Key Liquidation Zones at $75K and $2,100
Crypto Short Squeeze momentum extended to Ethereum as the asset climbed above $2,050. The second-largest cryptocurrency mirrored Bitcoin’s breakout strength.
Ethereum recorded an 8.18% gain during the same 36-hour period. The move added about $19 billion to Ethereum’s market capitalization.
Price action shows buyers defending higher support levels since the $1,930 consolidation region. This structure indicates continued participation across large-cap cryptocurrencies.
While both assets moved higher, derivatives heatmaps reveal new liquidation zones forming. These zones could influence the next price movements.
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Bitcoin currently faces a dense cluster of short positions between $74,000 and $75,500. Analysts describe this area as a liquidity magnet for leveraged traders.
If Bitcoin reaches $75,000, forced buying from liquidated shorts could accelerate the rally. Some traders expect rapid movement toward $78,000 if liquidation pressure builds.
Ethereum faces a separate liquidation structure near $2,100. Many leveraged long traders placed liquidation levels around that support region.
Estimates indicate nearly $850 million in Ethereum long positions remain exposed near that price range.
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If Ethereum drops toward $2,100, automated selling could trigger a long liquidation cascade. Under that scenario, the next major support level appears near $1,900.
Such divergence between Bitcoin and Ethereum would increase volatility across crypto markets. Traders would also watch Bitcoin dominance as capital shifts between major digital assets.
Brian Armstrong says AI agents cannot open bank accounts but can hold crypto wallets.
Coinbase launched Agentic Wallets via the x402 protocol for fast AI-to-AI payments.
Wallets enable gasless trading on Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network.
Mastercard and crypto firms build solutions to support AI agent commerce.
Brian Armstrong’s AI agents and crypto wallets discussion gained attention after the Coinbase CEO highlighted that autonomous AI programs will soon dominate financial transactions.
Armstrong stated that AI agents cannot open bank accounts, but they can generate crypto wallets and transact globally.
Coinbase Launches Agentic Wallets for Machine Transactions
On March 9, Brian Armstrong posted on X explaining that AI agents will soon outnumber humans in financial activity. He argued that traditional banks cannot serve AI because of the Know Your Customer requirements.
Very soon there are going to be more AI agents than humans making transactions.
They can’t open a bank account, but they can own a crypto wallet. Think about it.
AI agents require payment capabilities to execute assigned tasks autonomously. Without bank accounts, agents cannot pay for services like server hosting or software tools.
Coinbase introduced Agentic Wallets on February 11, 2026, via its x402 protocol. The protocol is designed for machine-to-machine payments and has processed over 50 million transactions by the time of Armstrong’s post.
The wallets can be created and funded quickly through Coinbase developer tools. They also allow gasless trading on Base, Coinbase’s layer‑2 network built on Ethereum.
Armstrong emphasized that AI agents can own crypto wallets immediately, bypassing the human identity verification barrier. This capability positions crypto as a natural infrastructure for the coming machine economy.
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Other crypto leaders have shared similar views on AI-driven financial activity. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao predicted that AI agents will produce millions of times more transactions than humans.
Industry Prepares for AI Agent Commerce
Traditional financial companies are developing systems to accommodate agent-driven transactions. Mastercard launched Verifiable Intent, a framework co-developed with Google, to track AI purchases securely.
The system creates a cryptographic record linking the consumer’s authorization, the AI agent’s action, and the transaction. It uses selective disclosure to share only the necessary information with merchants and issuers.
Meanwhile, crypto platforms continue to expand blockchain-based payment rails for AI agents. EigenCloud partnered with Google Cloud to serve as a verifiable backbone for agent transactions.
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The Ethereum Foundation also established the dAI Team to make Ethereum a preferred settlement layer for machine-driven commerce.
These efforts illustrate two approaches: traditional finance builds trust layers, while crypto platforms provide blockchain-native solutions.
Taken together, these developments indicate that AI agents are likely to rely on crypto wallets for autonomous transactions.
Coinbase’s Agentic Wallets and blockchain infrastructure offer immediate solutions for machine-to-machine financial operations.
BitGo will provide custody and trading services for StableX Technologies’ digital asset treasury as it plans to acquire up to $100 million in crypto tokens tied to the stablecoin sector.
According to Tuesday’s announcement, BitGo Bank & Trust, N.A. will serve as the custodian for StableX’s digital asset holdings, while BitGo’s trading platforms will help execute the company’s planned acquisitions through its over-the-counter liquidity desk.
StableX (SBLX) is a publicly traded company focused on stablecoin infrastructure and related technologies. Shares of the Nasdaq-listed company gained as much as 9% in afternoon trading following the news, before closing up 1.6%.
Chen Fang, chief revenue officer at BitGo, told Cointelgraph that the “partnership underscores BitGo’s expanding role as the go-to infrastructure provider for a new wave of publicly traded companies building digital asset treasury strategies.” He added:
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“The StableX deal is notable because it goes beyond Bitcoin-centric treasury strategies. It signals demand for institutional custody infrastructure around stablecoin ecosystem tokens.”
StableX has already begun building its digital asset treasury, previously announcing purchases of tokens including FLUID and Chainlink’s LINK (LINK) in October.
BitGo, a digital asset infrastructure company founded in 2013, provides custody, trading and other services for institutional crypto clients. The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in January, pricing its shares at $18 in its initial public offering.
The stock rose about 25% on its first day of trading before reversing course and later falling below its IPO price. The NYSE-traded shares closed up more than 11%.
Interest in the stablecoin sector has grown as the total stablecoin market capitalization has climbed to more than $314 billion, according to the latest DefiLlama data. Though dedicated investment products remain limited, some investors are beginning to focus on the infrastructure that supports these tokens.
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In September, Bitwise filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a Stablecoin & Tokenization ETF designed to track companies and digital assets tied to the stablecoin and tokenization sectors.
The proposed exchange-traded fund would follow an index composed of companies involved in stablecoin issuance, infrastructure, payments and exchanges, alongside crypto assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).
In January, MarketVector Indexes also launched benchmarks focused on stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization infrastructure, which underpin two exchange-traded funds from Amplify ETFs: the Amplify Tokenization Technology ETF (TKNQ) and the Amplify Stablecoin Technology ETF (STBQ).
Several stablecoin issuers are also publicly traded companies. Circle issues the USDC stablecoin, the second-largest dollar-pegged token in circulation, while PayPal launched its PayPal USD stablecoin (PYUSD) in 2023 to support blockchain-based payments and settlement.
Western Union, one of the world’s largest remittance providers, recently announced its planned stablecoin settlement system will run on Solana and include a US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT), which the company expects to launch in the first half of 2026.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig is trying to drag prediction markets and crypto out of the legal grey zone by scrapping a de facto ban and replacing it with a derivatives‑style rulebook the agency, not the states, will control.
Summary
Selig withdrew the 2024 event‑contracts ban proposal and a 2025 staff advisory, ordering a new rulebook meant to “support the responsible development” of event markets.
The CFTC is asserting “exclusive jurisdiction” over prediction markets and moving to back a registered exchange against Nevada’s gambling rules, setting up a federal–state pre‑emption fight.
Through Project Crypto with the SEC, Selig wants unified crypto rules, a shared token taxonomy and onshored perps and tokenized assets, in return for tighter surveillance and insider‑trading enforcement.
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig is trying to drag prediction markets and crypto out of a legal grey zone and into a federal framework that looks more like traditional derivatives – while fighting off states and gamblers at the same time.
According to a new report in CoinDesk, “Selig reiterated the CFTC will issue guidance to clarify how prediction markets, known as event contracts in regulation, can list and trade products under U.S. law and will launch a rulemaking process seeking public input on how the fast-growing sector should be overseen.”
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Event contracts: from ban threat to rulebook
In his first major policy speech on January 29, 2026, Selig said the CFTC will scrap a 2024 proposal that would have effectively banned sports‑ and politics‑related event contracts and withdraw a 2025 staff advisory that warned platforms off sports markets, admitting the advisory had “inadvertently added to the uncertainty present in our markets.” Instead, he ordered staff to draft a new “event contracts rulemaking” to “establish clear standards for event contracts that provide certainty to market participants” and “support the responsible development of event contract markets,” which the CFTC views as tools to hedge risk and aggregate information, not just wagers.
At the same time, Selig is asserting turf. In speeches, an Axios interview and an AP‑covered Wall Street Journal op‑ed, he has argued that prediction markets fall under the Commodity Exchange Act and that the CFTC has “exclusive jurisdiction” over them, vowing the agency “will no longer remain passive while overly aggressive governments undermine [its] jurisdiction… by attempting to impose statewide bans on these innovative products.” The commission has already asked the Ninth Circuit for permission to file an amicus brief backing a CFTC‑registered exchange in its fight against Nevada’s attempt to regulate event contracts as gambling, setting up an eventual pre‑emption clash that could go as high as the Supreme Court.
Insider trading, surveillance and Project Crypto
Selig’s stance is not a free pass. He has repeatedly framed exchanges as the “first line of defense” against insider trading, and law‑firm summaries of his agenda stress that prediction platforms should upgrade compliance, particularly around the “permissible use of material non‑public information.” The Department of Justice is already circling: the U.S. Attorney for SDNY has publicly warned that “placing a bet through a prediction market doesn’t insulate you from fraud,” citing cases where bettors used inside information about a basketball player’s availability to rig prop bets – the same logic that could apply to political, policy or war‑related markets.
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Crypto is woven into this. In the same speech, Selig announced “Project Crypto,” a formal coordination with the SEC intended to deliver “clear, durable rules of the road” for digital‑asset markets, including joint work on a crypto‑asset taxonomy and expanded eligibility for tokenized collateral. He also said he wants to “onshore perpetual and other novel derivative products so that they can flourish… subject to appropriate safeguards,” signalling that the CFTC is willing to own perps, tokenized stocks and prediction markets – as long as they move inside its regulatory perimeter.
Put bluntly: Selig is offering crypto and prediction markets a deal. The CFTC will fight states that want to treat everything as gambling and will abandon blanket bans on sports and political contracts – but in exchange, platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi must accept heavy surveillance, insider‑trading enforcement and a derivatives‑style rulebook rather than the degen free‑for‑all that built the first wave of volume.
In South Korea, authorities have recovered and liquidated a tranche of cryptocurrency seized in a phishing-linked custody incident, while prosecutors signal a broader shift in how crypto losses are treated in debt-restructuring cases. The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office disclosed that 320.8 Bitcoin were sold at prevailing market prices, yielding roughly 31.59 billion won (about $21.5 million) that was transferred to the national treasury. The sale was staged over an 11-day window in late February and early March to minimize market impact, according to local coverage. The episode follows a complex chain of events that began with a custody breach and culminated in a government-controlled wallet and subsequent liquidation.
Key takeaways
Authorities sold 320.8 Bitcoin at market prices, transferring about 31.59 billion won to the state treasury.
The liquidation occurred over 11 days, from Feb. 24 to March 6, to limit potential market disruption.
The Bitcoin was originally seized from a suspect tied to an illegal gambling operation that allegedly handled roughly 390 billion won in wagers between 2018 and 2021.
Bitcoin had been lost during a custody handover in August 2025 after a phishing scheme compromised asset managers, with funds traced to a hacker’s wallet.
On Feb. 17, the assets were moved to a government-controlled wallet after exchanges were asked to freeze the address; on Feb. 19, prosecutors reported the hacker had returned 320.88 BTC.
Separately, courts in Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju are reevaluating how crypto losses are treated in personal rehabilitation, potentially excluding crypto losses from liquidation value calculations.
Price impact: Neutral. The staged sale aimed to minimize market disruption by spreading liquidations over more than a week.
Market context: The case underscores how authorities manage liquidations of crypto assets recovered from criminal activity and how regulators are weighing crypto losses within broader debt-restructuring frameworks, reflecting a maturing approach to crypto custody and asset recovery in a tightening regulatory environment.
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Why it matters
The events illuminate how public authorities handle crypto assets recovered through law enforcement. By selling the seized Bitcoin in measured, market-aware batches, the prosecutors sought to avoid abrupt price movements that could ripple through exchanges and related markets. The proceeds, funneled into the national treasury, also demonstrate a tangible channel through which illicit activity—now partly deterred by stricter controls—contributes to public financing. The episode illustrates both the challenges of asset tracing in the wake of phishing scams and the practical steps governments are taking to re-integrate recovered funds into legitimate channels.
Beyond the immediate liquidation, the incident feeds into a broader discussion about how crypto losses are treated in personal debt restructurings. Local outlets reported that newly established rehabilitation courts in three cities are moving toward guidelines that would generally exclude crypto investment losses from liquidation calculations. In effect, losses tied to cryptocurrency investments could be treated more like ordinary asset losses rather than speculative debts, potentially reducing repayment obligations for individuals entering court-supervised debt relief. The shift would align crypto losses with other non-liquid assets in some rehabilitation scenarios, signaling a nuanced stance as courts adapt to digital assets in financial distress cases.
The broader regulatory and judicial response matters because it shapes risk and recovery dynamics for investors, creditors, and service providers operating in Korea’s crypto ecosystem. The February and March developments show that authorities are increasingly capable of tracing and recovering stolen or misappropriated crypto, and they are prepared to take decisive steps—such as freezing exchange addresses and coordinating with overseas partners—to facilitate recovery and orderly liquidations when possible.
What to watch next
Follow-up guidelines from rehabilitation courts in Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju detailing how crypto losses are treated in liquidation calculations, with potential implementation timelines.
Any additional recoveries or reversals related to the phishing incident, including further tracing of the hacker’s wallet or subsequent asset movements.
Regulatory clarifications on how crypto assets are valued in debt restructurings and how this may affect individuals undergoing rehabilitation in Korea.
Further actions by prosecutors or financial authorities to coordinate with exchanges or international partners in asset freezes or return processes.
Sources & verification
Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office statements and reported sale details (local coverage via Chosun Ilbo English edition).
BTC sale details and the related transfer amount to the national treasury as reported by The Chosun Ilbo.
Reports on the custody breach and the phishing incident that led to the loss and subsequent recovery of Bitcoin (linked in coverage of the case).
EToday’s report on rehabilitation courts and proposed guidelines for crypto-loss treatment in debt restructuring cases.
What the article topic means for readers
South Korea’s handling of recovered crypto assets demonstrates a practical approach to asset recovery and governance, highlighting how authorities balance market stability with the need to return funds to public coffers. The development also reflects a broader trend: as crypto markets mature and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, legal frameworks are increasingly capable of integrating digital assets into traditional financial processes, from custody management to debt resolution. For investors and builders, the episode underscores the importance of robust custody controls, vigilant monitoring of phishing risks, and a clear, evolving set of rules that can affect how crypto holdings are valued during legal proceedings.
What to watch next
Expected publication of rehabilitation guidelines in the three cities and any formal adoption timelines.
Updates on any additional recoveries or legal actions tied to the phishing incident or the illegal gambling operation.
Regulatory clarifications on crypto asset valuation in debt restructurings and potential implications for individual borrowers.
Sources & verification
Chosun Ilbo English coverage on the 320.8 BTC sale and the 31.59 billion won transfer.
Official statements from the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office regarding the timing and rationale of the sale.
EToday reporting on rehabilitation courts’ evolving treatment of crypto losses in debt restructuring.
Market reaction and key details
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) movements in this case illustrate how public institutions are integrating digital assets into traditional financial operations. The phased sale approach aimed to minimize market impact while generating visible state revenue from assets formerly tied to criminal activity. The broader takeaway is a signal that regulatory and judicial ecosystems are adapting to the realities of crypto custody, theft, and recovery, with potential downstream effects on liquidity, investor sentiment, and the design of future enforcement actions.
Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure
Editor’s note: In the UAE market backdrop, geopolitical headlines and oil swings are driving short-term moves even as long-term fundamentals remain the guiding principle for patient investors. This piece previews the context behind the latest downdrafts in the Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, highlights which sectors are leading the selling, and sets up what readers should watch as markets react to headlines and macro signals. The aim is to provide a concise, balanced view before the official press release details.
Key points
DFM down ~17% since March 4 reopening; ADX down ~6% over eight sessions.
Banking and property names led the selloff; Emaar, Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Aldar, and First Abu Dhabi Bank hit 5% daily limit-down.
Oil volatility and geopolitical headlines are driving sentiment; intraday moves highlight headline sensitivity.
Defensive, dividend-paying companies may offer stability during volatility.
Why this matters
Volatility is being driven by headlines and macro shifts, with Gulf markets sensitive to oil flows and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. While the market treats the oil shock as temporary, sentiment remains fragile. For long-term investors, focusing on solid balance sheets and reliable cash flows can help weather short-term turbulence, as suggested by the analyst commentary.
What to watch next
Look for de-escalation signals or policy actions that could lift Gulf market sentiment.
Monitor upcoming US CPI data and energy prices for hints on global monetary policy and oil direction.
Watch for any shifts in oil markets tied to Middle East developments that could set the tone for sentiment.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
UAE Markets Face Sharp Volatility as Geopolitical Headlines Drive Investor
Investors urged to focus on long-term fundamentals as regional markets react to oil swings and geopolitical developments
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – March 10, 2026: UAE equity markets have experienced a difficult stretch in recent sessions, reflecting the heightened volatility currently dominating global financial markets. According to market analysis from eToro, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has fallen around 17% since reopening on March 4, marking six consecutive days of losses, while the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has declined close to 6% across eight straight sessions.
Banking and property stocks have led the selloff, with major names including Emaar, Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Aldar, and First Abu Dhabi Bank repeatedly hitting the 5% daily limit-down cap. Dubai’s real estate index has been particularly affected, dropping roughly 20% over five sessions and erasing all gains made earlier this year.
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Commenting on the current market environment, Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro, said volatility has become a defining feature of global markets.
Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst At Etoro
“Volatility is the price of entry in markets right now, and investors who understand that will be far better positioned than those who try to time their way around it. This is a market being driven by headlines and those headlines can turn on a dime, making this a particularly challenging environment for investors,” Gilbert said.
Market sentiment remains heavily influenced by geopolitical headlines. On Monday, global markets demonstrated how quickly sentiment can shift, with the S&P 500 reversing early losses to close 0.8% higher after comments from US President Donald Trump suggested that tensions with Iran could be nearing resolution. That late-session rebound has carried into Asian markets, where indices opened higher following the US recovery.
Oil markets have been at the center of recent volatility. Crude prices experienced dramatic swings during Monday’s session, trading in a nearly USD 40 range before retreating after signals of potential de-escalation in the Middle East.
“Such extreme intraday moves in oil markets highlight just how headline-driven the current environment has become,” Gilbert added. “A single comment from a political leader can reverse billions of dollars in market losses within hours.”
While higher oil prices typically strengthen fiscal positions across the Gulf region, this particular surge is different because it is tied directly to disruption within the region itself. Infrastructure, trade flows, and broader economic activity have all been affected, offsetting some of the benefits governments typically receive from higher crude prices.
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The Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted, forcing several Gulf producers to scale back output, while the G7 has indicated it stands ready to release strategic petroleum reserves if supply disruptions intensify. For now, markets appear to be treating the current oil shock as temporary rather than structural, an important distinction for investors assessing the outlook.
Periods of heightened volatility can often lead investors to make decisions driven by fear. However, history shows that some of the strongest market rebounds occur immediately after the sharpest declines.
“The worst time to make investment decisions is when fear is at its highest,” Gilbert said. “Selling after a sharp market decline risks locking in losses and missing the early stages of a recovery, which can have long-term implications for portfolio performance.”
In uncertain market environments, defensive and dividend-paying companies often provide greater stability. Businesses with strong balance sheets, consistent cash flows, and resilient demand tend to perform better during periods of geopolitical stress.
“During times like this, boring can be brilliant,” Gilbert said. “Investors should be focusing on companies with strong balance sheets, reliable cash flows, and businesses that people continue to spend with regardless of geopolitical developments.”
Looking ahead, de-escalation signals could create room for a recovery in UAE markets, especially given how much negative sentiment has already been priced into equities. While the recent selling has been severe, it has also been broad-based, suggesting that any relief rally could be equally sharp.
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Investors will also be closely watching upcoming US inflation data, with the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures expected later this week. Rising energy prices have already prompted markets to reassess the outlook for interest rate cuts, and a stronger-than-expected CPI reading could further influence global monetary policy expectations.
For now, investors should expect continued volatility driven by geopolitical headlines and macroeconomic developments. However, for patient long-term investors, such periods can also present opportunities to focus on fundamentally strong companies positioned to weather short-term market turbulence.
About eToro
eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we’ve created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media centre here for our latest news.
Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure
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