[PRESS RELEASE – Panama City, Republic of Panama, March 10th, 2026]

Online poker site CoinPoker launched a new software client and mobile app in March 2026 alongside rake-free poker games and the signing of new sponsored players.

Joining the site’s ambassador team – already including some of the top names in poker, such as three-time Triton Series champion Mario Mosböck and WSOP Online main event champion Benjamin ‘Bencb’ Rolle – are Abby Merk and Alejandro ‘Papo MC’ Lococo.

https://x.com/CoinPoker_OFF/status/2030009912424849452

United States pro Abigail ‘Abby Poker’ Merk is an award-winning poker content creator from Chicago, ranked among the top female players in Illinois. With a background in volunteering, tutoring, and mentorship, Abby has also trained women in leadership skills and strategic thinking through the game of poker.

Freestyle rapper Papo MC has over $15 million in live tournament earnings – the #2 ranked player in Argentina behind Nacho Barbero – and a World Series of Poker bracelet.

Other household names of poker, such as Jean-Robert Bellande, Faraz Jaka, Mariano, YoH ViraL, Nik Airball, and Brantzen Wong, have also recently announced partnerships with CoinPoker.

https://x.com/mariomosboeck/status/2030247270378020932

Rake-Free Poker Games

Throughout March, CoinPoker is hosting rake-free poker games – players receive all cash game rake and tournament fees back daily, in the form of various promotions. In the first half of the month, players can potentially earn 100% flat rakeback credited to their accounts at 08:00 UTC each day.

In the second half of March, CoinPoker is returning all rake to players in the form of Splash Pot cash drops, CoinRaces leaderboards, and a Level Up Series of tournaments with boosted prizepools and refunded buy-ins – making for free poker tournaments until March 31.

Level Up Series

The Level Up tournament series debuts the site’s new multi-day tournaments and features such as bubble protection, blind rollback, final table deals and more. These events run alongside the site’s regular freerolls and MTTs, with added value in the prizepool and a full rebate on the rake.

That free poker event made headlines on PokerStrategy, and the 100% rakeback promotion was featured on Esports Insider.

Following its new software rollout, CoinPoker has also been rated among the best poker apps by the likes of Card Player Magazine and Gambling Insider and seen record traffic, rivalling the likes of GGPoker with over 7,000 players online for launch day.

The new poker app and desktop client include in-built player stats powered by PokerIntel, new games like PLO6, All-in or Fold, and Bomb Pot formats, and new features like EV cashouts, Interactive Emojis, and Throwables at the tables. No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and PLO5 are also available, now with an improved lobby and table interface.

Throughout March, all of its poker games are essentially free to play to debut the new software, and its welcome bonus offer of 150% up to $2000 also returns in April onwards.

About CoinPoker

CoinPoker is an online poker site available for download on Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android, alongside an in-browser web client for free poker on mobile.

The platform’s tournaments and cash games are played in stablecoin Tether (USDT). Other major cryptocurrencies are also accepted, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC, and 25+ countries can also deposit by bank transfer.

Alongside free poker action against real opponents around the world, the site also has an attached crypto casino and sportsbook.

Website: https://coinpoker.com/

The ETFs recorded their worst outflow day since late January.

Ripple’s cross-border token has joined the overall market resurgence over the past day, jumping by 4% and touching $1.40.

What’s particularly interesting about this pump today is that it comes despite the substantial outflow from the spot XRP ETFs yesterday.

Why Is XRP Up Today?

XRP was rejected at nearly $1.50 last week when the entire crypto market rebounded after the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran. Alongside most altcoins and the market leader, XRP dumped to $1.35 in the following days and even slipped to $1.32 on Sunday when BTC dropped to $65,500.

It reacted well to the latest correction and went on the offensive, especially in the past 12 hours or so. As of now, the token trades at just over $1.45 for the first time since last Friday. Perhaps a large portion of this jump today could be attributed to the aforementioned market-wide revival propelled by Trump’s remarks yesterday evening that the war with Iran is “very complete, pretty much.”

Separately, today’s gains come just shortly after Ripple’s official channel on X outlined some of the major advancements in the Ripple Payments infrastructure, including over $100 billion in transactions, reaching more than 60 markets, and having 51 real-time rails.

$100B+ processed.
60+ markets.
51 real-time rails.
RLUSD at $1B market cap in under a year.

Ripple Payments brings it all together: fiat, stablecoins, 75+ licenses, so businesses can move money globally without the patchwork: https://t.co/f5yXTWOPQk pic.twitter.com/1IpEci84d4

Advertisement

— Ripple (@Ripple) March 9, 2026

What’s Next?

Analyst CW weighed in on XRP’s price performance, noting that long positions continue to “increase gradually,” adding that investors are “quietly preparing for a rise.”

You may also like:

Fellow analyst CryptoWZRD explained that the asset had closed the previous daily candle indecisively, and added that Ripple’s coin needs “more positive sentiment from XRPBTC, which will help the move.”

They said that positive territory would be visible once XRP reclaims the $1.4230 level; otherwise, it could face another price drop.

XRP Daily Technical Outlook:$XRP closed indecisively. We need more positive sentiment from XRPBTC, which will help the move. Above $1.4230 is positive territory. Below that level, the market will decline further 🧙‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/0plZtDiFrD

— CRYPTOWZRD (@cryptoWZRD_) March 10, 2026

XRP ETFs Bleed Again

In contrast to the notable 4% gains charted today, the spot XRP ETFs have continued to see substantial withdrawals. Data from SoSoValue shows that investors pulled out a total of $18.11 million from the funds yesterday, the highest single-day net outflow since January 29.

Last week also ended in the red, although it began on a strong note and the ETFs had recorded a 7-day green streak, which was broken on March 5. As of now, the cumulative net inflows have dropped to $1.22 billion from a recent peak of $1.26 billion.

Key Highlights

• Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin proposes DVT-lite to enable “one-click” staking accessibility for institutional participants
• In February, the Ethereum Foundation deployed 72,000 ETH through a streamlined “DVT-lite” configuration
• The DVT-lite framework deploys identical validator keys across multiple machines, ensuring automatic failover if one system fails
• The Foundation’s 72,000 ETH deposit sits in the validator activation queue with expected activation on March 19
• Network-wide staking has reached 37.5 million ETH, valued at roughly $76.5 billion, accounting for 31% of circulating supply

Vitalik Buterin, co-creator of Ethereum, is championing a new approach to make staking more accessible to institutional players through a streamlined distributed validator technology variant dubbed DVT-lite. Buterin contends that overly complicated technical requirements are undermining network decentralization and believes ETH holders should participate in staking without requiring specialized expertise.

Through a social media post on X, Buterin outlined his vision to transform distributed staking into a “maximally easy and one-click” experience for institutions. He detailed an architecture where validators operate within simplified containerized systems, such as Docker containers, with automatic peer-to-peer cluster connectivity.

The architecture employs a single validator key distributed across multiple machines. When one machine experiences downtime, backup systems seamlessly assume validation duties, minimizing exposure to penalties — referred to as “slashing” — that result from validator inactivity.

This approach diverges from traditional DVT implementations, which fragment private keys across numerous machines and demand continuous inter-node coordination. While traditional DVT offers enhanced security, it introduces significant configuration complexity. DVT-lite targets delivering comparable advantages with substantially reduced operational overhead.

According to Buterin, the notion that blockchain infrastructure management requires specialized professionals is “awful and anti-decentralization.” He emphasized the urgent need to confront and dismantle this perception.

Foundation Pilots DVT-Lite With Major Deployment

The Ethereum Foundation has already implemented DVT-lite in real-world conditions, deploying 72,000 ETH through this system in February. These funds currently await activation in the validator entry queue, with full staking scheduled for March 19.

Buterin revealed his intention to personally adopt this configuration and encouraged other major ETH stakeholders to do likewise. His objective is distributing validator control across a broader participant base rather than consolidating power among a limited group of specialized operators.

Earlier in January, he had proposed “native DVT” integration directly into the protocol layer, enabling staking participation without dependency on individual nodes. DVT-lite represents the immediate, implementable iteration of that broader concept.

Staking Activity Continues Surging Despite Market Conditions

Even as Ether trades near $2,068 and has lagged behind other assets recently, staking participation continues showing robust growth.

The validator entry queue currently contains 3.2 million ETH, creating a 55-day waiting period for new validators. Meanwhile, the exit queue holds merely 29,000 ETH with only a 12-hour processing time.

Across the entire network, 37.5 million ETH is actively staked. This figure represents 31% of Ethereum’s total supply and carries an approximate market value of $76.5 billion based on prevailing prices.

The Ethereum Foundation’s 72,000 ETH commitment will transition to active validation status on March 19, following completion of the entry queue process.

Artificial intelligence developer Anthropic has filed a lawsuit against multiple U.S. government agencies, accusing the federal government of unlawfully blacklisting its technology after the company refused to allow certain military uses of its AI systems.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against a broad group of federal entities and officials, including the Departments of War, Treasury, State, and Homeland Security, as well as the Federal Reserve and Securities and Exchange Commission.

Anthropic alleges the government retaliated against the company after it refused to permit its AI model family, known as Claude, to be used for lethal autonomous warfare or mass surveillance of Americans.

According to the complaint, tensions escalated after government officials demanded that Anthropic remove those restrictions and allow the Department of War to make “all lawful use” of the technology. The company said it agreed to expand cooperation but maintained its two key safety limitations.

The dispute culminated in a directive from Donald Trump, ordering federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic’s technology, followed by a decision from the Department of War to label the firm a “Supply-Chain Risk to National Security.”

The designation barred military contractors and partners from doing business with Anthropic, effectively cutting the company out of the defense supply chain. Several agencies subsequently halted contracts or instructed employees to stop using the company’s AI systems.

Anthropic argues these actions violate the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act, and constitutional due-process protections. The company claims the measures were taken in retaliation for expressing concerns about the safety and reliability of AI systems used in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.

The complaint states the government’s actions have already led to canceled contracts and could jeopardize hundreds of millions of dollars in near-term business, while also damaging the company’s reputation and commercial relationships.

Anthropic is asking the court to declare the government’s actions unlawful and block enforcement of the directives while the dispute is litigated.

Tron (CRYPTO: TRX) DAO has joined the Agentic AI Foundation, signaling a strategic tilt toward AI agents and scalable, open on-chain infrastructure. In a Monday announcement, the Tron DAO stated that the network would become a member of AAIF and would hold a seat on its governance board. The move aligns with a broader industry push to develop interoperable standards for AI-enabled transactions, aiming to avoid fragmented ecosystems as agents operate across services.

The DAO argued that interoperable frameworks will play a critical role in enabling AI agents to operate across platforms without creating fragmented ecosystems. In recent weeks, industry commentary has emphasized the need for scalable blockchain infrastructure to support AI-powered automation, with Stripe executives noting a structural gap in capacity that must be addressed as AI agents gain traction (more from Cointelegraph). The integration of AAIF underscores Tron’s view that open standards and collaboration are essential to realizing this vision.

The AAIF is steered by the Linux Foundation and is designed to foster open-source development for agentic AI, while establishing governance, safety, and interoperability standards for the space. Tron joins a growing cohort of members that includes Circle and JPMorgan, a signal that traditional finance and crypto players are converging on shared, cross-chain AI infrastructure.

Tron’s founder, Justin Sun, has framed AI as a defining priority for 2026, arguing that the network’s speed, scalability, and low transaction costs make it well suited to host AI-driven agent transactions. The project also points to concrete steps already in motion, such as the Bank of AI—a financial layer built for AI agents by AINFT—which launched on Tron and BNB Chain in mid-February (see announcement).

According to DeFiLlama, Tron has been a standout in network revenue across recent windows, a signal that AI-related activity could be contributing to usage. The latest figures show Tron revenue around $1.01 million over the past 24 hours, $6.54 million over the past seven days, and $25.58 million over the past 30 days, underscoring robust real-world activity even before broader AI deployments fully unfold.

Sun has been vocal about the link between AI-driven demand and network usage, noting that “AI is scaling fast. When agents transact, demand shows up in the network metrics. TRON keeps leading on real usage.” The remarks reflect a broader industry expectation that AI agents will push throughput and liquidity considerations to the forefront of blockchain planning.

Industry observers have pointed to infrastructure shortcomings as AI agents scale, with Stripe’s leadership highlighting the need for more robust blockchain ecosystems. A Cointelegraph piece cited by Stripe leadership framed AI agent activity as a driver of demand that will require blockchains capable of handling billions of transactions per second, a benchmark many networks are racing toward as real-time AI-enabled automation expands.

Looking ahead, proponents say AAIF-backed standards could unlock more scalable, cross-chain workflows for AI agents, while Tron’s ongoing collaboration with other backbone platforms aims to reduce interoperability friction. The Bank of AI initiative, along with continued development of cross-chain tools and governance mechanisms, could help set the pace for how AI agents operate in mainstream crypto ecosystems.

Key takeaways

• Tron formally joins the Agentic AI Foundation and secures a seat on its governance board, signaling a strategic emphasis on AI-driven on-chain activity.
• The AAIF, run by the Linux Foundation, pursues open-source development and governance standards for agentic AI, emphasizing interoperability and safety.
• Circle and JPMorgan are among the notable peers already participating, highlighting a growing convergence of traditional finance and crypto on shared AI infrastructure.
• Tron’s leadership frames 2026 as a pivotal year for AI, citing speed, scalability, and low fees as competitive advantages for hosting AI agent transactions.
• The Bank of AI, launched on Tron and BNB Chain, demonstrates concrete actions toward enabling AI agents to operate within financial rails.
• Industry analysis points to a broader need for scalable infrastructure as AI agents push blockchain usage higher, aligning with evolving governance and interoperability standards.

Market context: The development of open, interoperable AI infrastructure is now a major theme across crypto and fintech, with industry voices calling for scalable, cross-chain frameworks to support AI agents’ growing transaction load. The Stripe reference and AAIF’s governance framework underscore a shift toward standardized tooling and safety regimes as AI-enabled automation becomes more prevalent in on-chain ecosystems.

Why it matters

The move places Tron at the center of a broader industry shift toward AI-native blockchain infrastructure. By aligning with AAIF, Tron signals a commitment to open standards that could reduce fragmentation as AI agents operate across ecosystems. For developers, this could translate into more interoperable tooling and safer, more accessible AI-enabled transaction flows. For investors and users, the coordination around governance and safety standards may improve confidence in deploying AI agents on public blockchains, potentially driving increased usage and liquidity.

From a builder’s perspective, the collaboration with AAIF and the Bank of AI demonstrates a path to scalable, real-world AI on-chain experiences. The emphasis on interoperability could lower integration costs and accelerate cross-chain AI workflows, while the Linux Foundation-backed governance framework seeks to balance experimentation with oversight. This balance matters for risk management, regulatory alignment, and long-term adoption of agentic AI across decentralized networks.

Finally, the involvement of established financial players such as Circle and JPMorgan suggests that traditional finance is increasingly eyeing AI-enabled on-chain operations. As AI agents become more capable, the market will closely watch how governance, safety, and interoperability standards evolve, and which ecosystems emerge as the most reliable environments for scalable AI-driven transactions.

What to watch next

• AAIF governance milestones and interoperability standard updates in the coming quarters.
• TRON’s cross-chain activity metrics and throughput as AI agent usage grows on the network.
• Adoption metrics for the Bank of AI across Tron and BNB Chain and any subsequent integrations with other networks.
• Additional AAIF members announced and their collaboration plans with existing participants.
• Regulatory signals and policy developments affecting open-infrastructure projects for AI on-chain ecosystems.

Sources & verification

• Tron DAO announcement of AAIF membership and governance seat: https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/2031241691064316309
• AINFT Bank of AI launch on Tron and BNB Chain: https://x.com/OfficialAINFT/status/2023026587088851265
• DeFiLlama revenue data for Tron: https://defillama.com/revenue/chains
• Stripe’s infrastructure gap discussion linked to AI agents (Cointelegraph): https://cointelegraph.com/news/stripe-ai-agents-will-require-blockchains-hit-1b-transactions-per-second

Tron anchors AI-driven interoperability on-chain

Tron (CRYPTO: TRX) DAO’s latest collaboration with the Agentic AI Foundation marks a deliberate shift toward building a cooperative AI-enabled ecosystem. The decision to join AAIF and secure a seat on its governance board underscores a belief that future AI agents will demand robust, cross-platform interoperability rather than bespoke, siloed systems. The Linux Foundation-backed foundation positions itself as a hub for open-source development, safety standards, and governance protocols—an environment where major players in both crypto and traditional finance co-create the scaffolding for AI agents to transact reliably and at scale.

In practical terms, the partnership signals an emphasis on standardization and shared infrastructure that could reduce friction for developers building AI agents across networks. Tron’s leadership argues that their platform’s speed and cost advantages render it particularly suitable for processing high-velocity AI transactions, while the ongoing Bank of AI initiative demonstrates concrete steps toward bridging AI-coded workflows with real-world financial rails. As the AI landscape evolves, observers will be watching for how AAIF’s governance and cross-industry collaboration translate into tangible benefits for users and builders alike.

TLDR

• Ethereum surged past the $2,000 threshold while Solana posted the strongest gains among major cryptocurrencies following Trump’s announcement that U.S. military goals in Iran were “pretty well complete”
• American equity futures posted gains Tuesday following a turbulent trading day; crude oil prices plummeted from peaks above $119 down to approximately $88 per barrel
• Digital asset investment vehicles attracted $619 million in capital over the week despite significant market volatility, with bitcoin-focused products capturing the majority
• Bitcoin’s three-month correlation coefficient with the S&P 500 reached 0.78, indicating alternative cryptocurrencies are amplifying broader market movements
• The upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting scheduled for March 17–18 represents the next critical event, with any hawkish stance potentially pressuring higher-risk digital assets

Digital currency markets alongside U.S. equity futures experienced significant upward movement Tuesday following President Donald Trump’s declaration that hostilities with Iran were approaching conclusion, calming anxieties that had destabilized worldwide markets merely twenty-four hours prior.

Trump addressed journalists Monday evening, stating U.S. military goals were “pretty well complete” while expressing his belief that the conflict was progressing “very far” beyond its initially projected four-to-five week duration. He echoed these sentiments in statements to CBS News, indicating adversarial forces had essentially been stripped of their naval and aerial combat capabilities.

Oil markets responded immediately. West Texas Intermediate crude, which had momentarily surged beyond $119 per barrel during Sunday’s overnight session, declined to approximately $88. Brent crude retreated to roughly $92 per barrel.

Asian stock indices jumped 2% Tuesday after experiencing a 3.7% decline Monday. Technology equities within the MSCI Asia Pacific index soared 3.5%. Dow Jones futures increased 0.28%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 contracts similarly advanced.

Within cryptocurrency markets, ether appreciated 2.6% to reach $2,029, recapturing the $2,000 threshold it has struggled to maintain since February’s conclusion. Solana demonstrated the strongest performance with 2.9% gains, hitting $85.67. BNB increased 2.6% to $639. XRP climbed 1.7% to $1.37. Dogecoin managed just 1% growth and continues trading 1.4% lower for the week.

Market intelligence firm Nansen’s analysts observed that cryptocurrency markets had “already absorbed the negatives and priced them in,” indicating reactions were driven by news cycles rather than fundamental economic deterioration.

Institutional Capital Continues Flowing Into Digital Assets

Notwithstanding recent market turbulence, professional investors maintained their acquisition pace. CoinShares documented $619 million in cryptocurrency fund contributions for the week concluding Friday. Bitcoin investment vehicles captured $521 million of those inflows, elevating total assets under management to $108.3 billion.

These capital inflows occurred during a week witnessing the S&P 500 erasing $1 trillion in market capitalization during a single trading session while the U.S. economy eliminated 92,000 employment positions.

Ryan Kirkley, co-founder and CEO of Global Settlement, observed that spot bitcoin ETFs are “attracting capital even as price weakens,” highlighting how institutional participants view price declines as strategic accumulation opportunities.

Ethereum’s subsequent critical resistance sits at $2,500, where FxPro market strategists suggest a sustainable upward trajectory could be validated. Solana continues trading approximately 55% beneath its cycle peak and has lagged ether during every rally attempt since October.

XRP has maintained consolidation between $1.30 and $1.45 throughout most of March. Regulatory clarity stemming from Ripple’s previous legal resolution has proven insufficient to independently catalyze upward price action.

Federal Reserve Decision Emerges as Next Critical Catalyst

Kirkley highlighted that bitcoin’s 90-day correlation coefficient with the S&P 500 has climbed to 0.78, representing one of the strongest relationships since mid-2022. When bitcoin demonstrates tight coupling with traditional equities, alternative cryptocurrencies amplify directional movements in both upward and downward scenarios.

The Federal Reserve convenes March 17–18. Any hawkish communication or indication of potential interest rate increases would disproportionately impact higher-risk digital asset categories.

Regarding corporate developments, Oracle is scheduled to release quarterly results Tuesday, with Adobe reporting Thursday. February’s Consumer Price Index statistics arrive Wednesday, followed by January’s Personal Consumption Expenditures data Friday.

Remember: Preserve all tokens like [[EMBED_0]], [[IMG_0]], [[LINK_START_0]], [[LINK_END_0]], [[SCRIPT_0]], [[FIGURE_0]] etc. exactly as they appear. These are placeholders for embeds, images, and links that must not be changed.

TLDR

• BTC climbed back above $70,000 following a weekend decline to approximately $65,000
• Crude oil retreating from ~$120 to ~$90 per barrel helped calm inflation concerns
• President Trump’s remarks regarding possible resolution to Iran conflict improved market optimism
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States recorded $568 million in net inflows last week; total cumulative inflows surpass $55 billion
• Polymarket probability of BTC reaching $75,000 in March surged from 34% to 56% within 24 hours

Bitcoin experienced a significant decline to approximately $65,000 during the weekend before staging a comeback above $70,000 by Tuesday morning during Asian market hours. The downturn was sparked by a spike in crude oil prices following supply disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, which sent WTI and Brent crude beyond $100 per barrel for the first time in several years.

The turnaround commenced as petroleum prices pulled back and overall market confidence strengthened.

President Donald Trump indicated that the current conflict involving Iran might conclude in the near future. While noting it probably wouldn’t finish this week, he warned that the United States would strike back “20 times harder” should Iran attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Crude oil retreated to approximately $90 per barrel on Tuesday following Monday’s peak near $120. This decline helped alleviate concerns about worldwide inflation acceleration that had disturbed financial markets.

Asian equity markets bounced back on Tuesday, recouping portions of Monday’s declines. U.S. markets also recorded gains during overnight trading, with Bitcoin following the positive shift in risk appetite.

Bitcoin ETF Capital Flows Stay Strong

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States maintained consistent investor interest throughout the market turbulence. Net capital inflows totaled approximately $568 million last week, compared to $787 million the previous week, per SoSoValue data.

Total cumulative net inflows for all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF offerings have now exceeded $55 billion. Preliminary figures indicated Monday’s inflows were approximately $57 million, although not all providers had released data at publication time.

Market maker Enflux observed that Bitcoin demonstrated greater resilience than equities and certain traditional safe-haven assets during the initial market downturn. The company noted that BTC briefly dropped below $66,000 before finding stability in the $66,000–$68,000 zone.

Market Expectations Pivot Rapidly

Decentralized prediction platform Polymarket revealed a dramatic change in trader forecasts. The likelihood of Bitcoin hitting $75,000 in March soared from approximately 34% to 56% within one day as BTC recovered the $70,000 threshold.

Researchers at Glassnode observed that momentum indicators, ETF demand patterns, and profitability measurements are showing enhancement. They noted, however, that capital flow dynamics remain subdued and speculative market participation continues to be constrained.

From a technical analysis perspective, Bitcoin encounters resistance around the $69,250 and $69,600 levels. Breaking decisively above $69,600 could pave the way toward $70,500 followed by $72,000.

Critical support zones are positioned at $68,000 and $67,500. The primary support floor remains established around $65,500.

Market participants are currently monitoring the upcoming U.S. January CPI data scheduled for Wednesday and the February PCE index release set for Thursday.

TLDR

• The Himalayan nation transferred 175 Bitcoin valued at $11.85 million from its sovereign reserves on Monday, per Arkham Intelligence blockchain tracking data.
• The kingdom’s Bitcoin treasury has declined 58% from approximately 13,000 BTC in late 2024 to about 5,400 BTC currently.
• Throughout 2026, Bhutan has liquidated roughly $42.5 million in Bitcoin and USDT, with several transfers directed to QCP Capital trading firm.
• The nation’s sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding and Investments, oversees these assets accumulated via hydroelectric-powered mining operations with virtually no cost basis.
• Last December, the country committed up to 10,000 BTC toward financing the Gelephu Mindfulness City special economic zone development.

The small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has been systematically liquidating portions of its sovereign Bitcoin treasury during the early months of 2026, with on-chain analysis revealing a methodical reduction of the nation’s cryptocurrency reserves.

Druk Holding and Investments, the state-controlled investment vehicle, transferred 175 Bitcoin valued at $11.85 million on Monday to a wallet address that had previously received 184 Bitcoin during February.

The February receiving address subsequently forwarded its assets to yet another wallet, which has accumulated 1,910 Bitcoin since 2024.

Blockchain intelligence firm Arkham Intelligence, which monitors these transactions, reports that Bhutan has transferred approximately $42.5 million in Bitcoin and USDT from its sovereign holdings throughout 2026.

February witnessed four distinct transfers: the 184 Bitcoin transaction, two separate transfers to QCP Capital trading firm totaling approximately 200 Bitcoin valued at $15 million, and a $1.5 million USDT deposit to a Binance wallet.

Arkham observed that when Bhutan previously moved comparable Bitcoin volumes in February, the transaction was associated with a $7 million sale executed through QCP Capital.

The consistent pattern of transfers to identical counterparties in comparable amounts suggests a deliberate treasury management strategy rather than emergency liquidation.

How Bhutan Built Its Bitcoin Stack

The Buddhist kingdom launched government-backed Bitcoin mining operations in 2019, utilizing nearly exclusively surplus hydroelectric power generated from its mountainous river systems.

By the end of 2024, Bhutan had amassed approximately 13,000 Bitcoin, establishing itself among the world’s most significant sovereign Bitcoin holders.

After the April 2024 Bitcoin halving event reduced mining rewards to 3.125 Bitcoin per block, mining economics deteriorated and accumulation rates decreased.

Since Bhutan acquired its Bitcoin through mining operations powered by excess renewable energy, its acquisition cost is essentially negligible — resulting in pure profit from every sale, contrasting sharply with corporate entities that purchased at prevailing market rates.

What Bhutan Is Doing With the Money

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay disclosed in a March 2025 Al Jazeera interview that revenue from Bitcoin liquidations has financed healthcare initiatives, environmental conservation programs, and government employee compensation.

In December 2025, Bhutan unveiled a national Bitcoin Development Pledge, allocating up to 10,000 BTC to capitalize Gelephu Mindfulness City, a proposed special economic zone designed to utilize digital assets as monetary reserves.

The Numbers Today

Bhutan’s current Bitcoin holdings stand at approximately 5,400 Bitcoin, ranking it seventh globally among sovereign holders.

The United States maintains the largest government-held Bitcoin position at 328,372 Bitcoin, valued at nearly $22 billion.

Bhutan’s treasury, which peaked above $1.5 billion when Bitcoin approached $119,000, now carries a valuation near $374 million with Bitcoin trading around $69,000.

Druk Holding and Investments has not issued a response to media inquiries.

Decentralized exchange Hyperliquid’s permissionless platform, which lets anyone create perpetual futures tied to any asset, is more popular than ever.

Since its debut on Oct. 13, the so-called HIP-3 market has steadily gained traction, with open interest — the total value of all active contracts — hitting a record $1.2 billion on Sunday, according to data source ASXN. It has since remained at all time highs in a sign of growing adoption and activity on the platform.

The growth has been driven by booming activity in futures tied to equities and commodities, including oil, gold, and silver. It highlights how decentralized markets are increasingly being used to trade traditional assets, especially as a tool for price discovery over weekends when traditional exchanges are closed.

This story is worth discussing, Arca said in a weekly update, nothing the massive surge in activity on Hyperliquid.

“Interestingly, on Hyperliquid, just 7 of the top 30 markets are crypto pairs, while the vast majority are commodity and equity pairs on Trade.XYZ. This makes sense given the moves in silver, gold, and oil over the past few months, and it is a testament to Hyperliquid that we finally have a real platform where tokenized trading of RWAs is happening in meaningful size,” the firm said.

As of writing, the tokenized equity futures contract XYZ100-USDC led the pack, with open interest of $213 million, followed by the oil-focused CL-USDC at $169.8 million. Other top contracts included futures tied to Brent crude, the S&P 500, silver, and gold.

CL-USDC led in trading volume, seeing $1.62 billion in activity over 24 hours.

This follows the weekend surge in prices for select few crude oil grades, like the Murban crude, which traded at $103 per barrel, as conflict in the Middle East intensified, disrupting tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Major oil benchmarks, such as Brent and WTI, surged above $110 per barrel on Monday, before crashing into two figures.

HIP-3, Hyperliquid’s builder-deployed perpetual futures, have shaken up how markets are made. Instead of limiting new contracts to a small set of validators, anyone can launch a market by staking 500,000 HYPE tokens — which serve as both a security deposit and a guard against spam.

This essentially puts the power to create markets in the hands of the community, opening the door to a far wider range of trading opportunities than traditional platforms allow.