Crypto World
Bitcoin Whales Rebuild Reserves With 236K BTC in 90-days
Large Bitcoin (BTC) holders have steadily increased their holdings in recent months, with the total balance climbing back to levels last seen before the October 10, 2025, market crash.
At the same time, crypto exchange data shows whale-related outflows averaging 3.5% of exchange-held BTC over a 30-day rolling period, the highest since late 2024.
BTC whale reserves return to pre-October peak
Bitcoin wallets or “whales”, holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC, have rebuilt reserves over the past three months. The cohorts increased their total balance to 3.09 million, from 2.86 million BTC on Dec. 10, 2025, a 230,000 BTC addition that restores their balance to pre-October 2025 levels.
Crypto analyst ‘Caueconomy’ said the full drawdown in whale reserves has been reversed over the past 30 days with the accumulation of 98,000 BTC. The broader distribution phase began in August 2025 (after BTC hit $124,000), after which Bitcoin struggled to sustain a rally significantly higher.
BTC spot market data supports the recovery. Throughout 2026, the average BTC order size has ranged between 950 BTC and 1,100 BTC, the most consistent stretch of large-ticket activity since September 2024.
Similar clusters appeared during the February–March 2025 correction. During that phase, retail orders accounted for the majority of activity, while large blocks appeared more intermittently and in smaller clusters.
Related: ‘Resilient’ Bitcoin holders defend BTC, but bear floor sits 20% lower: Glassnode
BTC exchange flows spike to 14-month highs
CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn reported $8.24 billion in whale BTC exchange flows moved into Binance over the past 30 days, marking a 14-month high. Retail flows reached $11.91 billion and have flattened over the same period. The retail-to-whale ratio now sits at 1.45, and it continues to drop as the larger-size deposits increase.
Parallel to these inflows, Glassnode data shows gross exchange whale withdrawals averaging 3.5% of total exchange-held BTC supply over a 30-day period, the strongest pace since November 2024.
Based on current exchange balances, that translates to roughly 60,000–100,000 BTC in withdrawals over the past month.
While gross inflows into exchanges have also increased, the elevated withdrawal ratio suggests that much of that incoming BTC is being offset by strong outbound transfers, leaving net exchange balances relatively stable.
Related: Quantum fears aren’t behind Bitcoin’s 46% drop, says developer
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Buying access to a sitting U.S. President Trump usually requires a maxed-out Super PAC donation, not a wallet full of meme coins. Yet here we are, with on-chain holdings effectively acting as tickets to Mar-a-Lago.
Fight Fight Fight LLC, a company affiliated with the viral $TRUMP memecoin, is planning to host its top 297 investors at Donald Trump’s Florida club next month.
The event, slated for April 25, is advertised as “The Most Exclusive Crypto & Business Conference in the World” and promises a luncheon with Trump as the keynote speaker.
Furthermore, the top 29 holders get an invite to an even more exclusive reception and champagne toast with the President himself.
There is a significant scheduling conflict, however. April 25 is the same night as the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., an event Trump is expected to attend for the first time.
Administration officials have stated the Mar-a-Lago event is not currently on the President’s schedule, raising questions about whether he’ll actually turn up at Mar-a-Lago.
The organizers have included a disclaimer noting that if Trump cannot attend the “all-day event,” they will reschedule it, or attendees will receive a limited edition NFT instead. This uncertainty introduces a layer of risk for crypto investors who have held onto their bags specifically for this purpose.
TRUMP Price Action: Buy the Rumor, Sell the Meme Coin?
The announcement triggered immediate volatility for the $TRUMP token. The price rallied 53% on the news to hit $4.37, a level not seen since January 31.
This behavior is typical of the high-stakes PolitiFi sector, where headlines often drive price action more than fundamental tokenomics.
The token’s top holders are a mix of pseudonymous whales and known industry figures, with previous events attracting major international players.
While the broader meme market has seen massive volume on platforms like Solana, where revenues for launchpads like Pump.fun have hit the billions, $TRUMP remains unique because its utility stems from giving holders direct physical access to political power.
If the meeting occurs, it validates the thesis that digital assets can serve as modern political donor tiers. If it fails or results in an NFT consolation prize, the resulting sell-off could be severe.
The token is currently trading at a market cap of approximately $2.7 billion, making it a heavyweight asset that can move significantly on logistical updates alone.
The Crypto President’s TRUMP Coin Draws Scrutiny and Praise Alike
This event underscores the blurred lines between the current administration and the crypto industry.
Trump has ushered in a drastically friendlier regulatory environment, but direct commercial engagements with token holders continue to draw scrutiny from ethics watchdogs.
Regulators are already in a complex position. With agencies moving toward clearer frameworks, like the recent coordination deals between the SEC and CFTC, the existence of a Trump-affiliated meme coin creates a unique compliance paradox.
Any forthcoming official comments from the White House that confirm his attendance will likely be the primary catalyst for the token’s price action leading up to April 25.
The post TRUMP Memecoin Investors Offered Mar-a-Lago Presidential Meeting appeared first on Cryptonews.
Crypto World
Microsoft (MSFT) Leads Cloud Race as First to Validate Nvidia’s Vera Rubin NVL72 AI System
Key Highlights
- Azure claims first-mover status by validating Nvidia’s advanced Vera Rubin NVL72 infrastructure
- Satya Nadella shared the announcement via X on Friday afternoon
- The NVL72 rack configuration provides 3.6 exaflops of computational power — a five-fold improvement over GB200 architecture
- Each rack houses 72 Rubin GPUs paired with 36 custom Vera CPUs, interconnected through sixth-generation NVLink at 260TB/s
- Competitors including AWS, Google Cloud, CoreWeave, Nebius, and Oracle plan Rubin deployments throughout 2026
In a significant move that positions it ahead of competitors, Microsoft Azure has achieved a milestone as the inaugural cloud platform to validate Nvidia’s cutting-edge Vera Rubin NVL72 infrastructure. The announcement came Friday afternoon through a social media post by CEO Satya Nadella on X, who described it as “another big step in building the next generation of AI infrastructure.”
We’re the first cloud to bring up an NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 system for validation, another big step in building the next generation of AI infrastructure with NVIDIA. pic.twitter.com/apPyKh0HRK
— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) March 13, 2026
Nvidia’s Vera Rubin NVL72 represents a complete rack-scale solution, integrating 72 Rubin graphics processors alongside 36 specially designed Arm-based Vera central processing units. These components are interconnected through sixth-generation NVLink technology, enabling data transfer speeds reaching 260 terabytes per second.
The performance gains are substantial. Every NVL72 configuration can achieve computational speeds up to 3.6 exaflops — approximately five times greater than the GB200-based infrastructure it’s designed to succeed.
Rani Borkar, who serves as President of Azure Hardware Systems at Microsoft, emphasized the extensive preparation involved. “Microsoft has years of market-proven experience in designing and deploying scalable AI infrastructure that evolves with every major advancement of AI technology,” Borkar stated.
The concept of “co-design” is central to this deployment. Microsoft has maintained a collaborative partnership with Nvidia spanning multiple years, jointly developing solutions across interconnect technologies, memory architectures, thermal management, packaging solutions, and rack-level design. This collaboration ensures seamless integration of Rubin systems into Azure’s current infrastructure without requiring architectural overhauls.
Strategic Infrastructure Planning Pays Off
Azure’s data center locations, including major facilities in Wisconsin and Atlanta, were purpose-built with the capacity to support NVL72 racks’ demanding power requirements and liquid-cooling specifications. Such forward-looking infrastructure development requires years of strategic planning.
Borkar highlighted that Azure’s advanced “superfactories” were engineered from the ground up to accommodate these powerful systems. “Rubin integrates directly into Azure’s platform without rework,” she explained, underscoring the extensive groundwork that enabled this seamless first-mover deployment.
The technology giant undertook comprehensive redesigns of electrical distribution and liquid-cooling infrastructure across numerous locations to manage the elevated power densities these advanced racks demand. This substantial capital investment is now delivering tangible competitive advantages with operational hardware while competitors continue their validation processes.
In related infrastructure developments, a BlackRock-managed investment group, with participation from Microsoft and Nvidia, recently pursued the acquisition of Aligned Data Centers in a transaction valued at $40 billion, strategically positioning for expanded worldwide capacity ahead of this next-generation hardware rollout.
Competition Preparing for Later Deployment
While Microsoft holds the early advantage, rival platforms aren’t far behind. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, CoreWeave, Nebius, and Oracle have all committed to deploying Vera Rubin infrastructure — with most targeting the latter half of 2026 for implementation.
Financial analysts at Bernstein have highlighted Microsoft’s first-to-validate achievement as indicative of its broader operational efficiency across cloud computing and SaaS offerings, quantifying this advantage through what they term a “Rule of 37.3%” performance benchmark.
On the trading day of the announcement, MSFT shares declined 1.57% while NVDA dropped 1.58%, movements attributed to general market weakness rather than negative sentiment regarding the validation news.
Looking ahead, Rubin Ultra, representing the subsequent evolution of this platform architecture, is anticipated to launch in 2027.
TLDR:
- Covenant-72B scored 67.1 on MMLU zero-shot, beating LLaMA-2-70B’s 65.6 under identical test conditions.
- SparseLoCo reduced communication overhead by 146x using sparsification, 2-bit quantization, and error feedback across nodes.
- Gauntlet scored every node’s contribution via loss evaluation and OpenSkill ranking, all recorded on the blockchain.
- $TAO rose 14% to $236 post-announcement, with Grayscale expanding its TAO trust for institutional investor access.
Bittensor’s Subnet 3 has trained a 72-billion-parameter AI model without a central data center. The model, named Covenant-72B, was built across more than 70 global participants.
All nodes are connected through a standard home internet. Covenant-72B outperformed Meta’s LLaMA-2-70B on the MMLU benchmark, scoring 67.1 against 65.6.
The test ran under identical zero-shot conditions. This outcome challenges long-standing assumptions about what decentralized compute can achieve.
Two Technical Innovations Drove the Decentralized Training
For years, AI crypto projects claimed decentralized compute could match centralized labs. Bittensor’s Subnet 3 now backs that claim with measurable results.
The training covered 1.1 trillion tokens across more than 70 nodes worldwide. Every node ran on 500 Mb/s commodity internet connections.
Two core innovations made this scale of training possible. SparseLoCo cut communication overhead by 146 times throughout the process.
It combined top-k sparsification, 2-bit quantization, and error feedback to keep all nodes in sync. No central server was needed to manage coordination across the network.
The second innovation, Gauntlet, handled trust and contribution scoring during training. It assessed each node through loss evaluation and OpenSkill ranking.
All scores were logged on the blockchain for full transparency. This gave every participant a verifiable record of their contribution.
Milk Road reported on the outcome via social media, noting that distributed networks can now train large models competitively. The model weights are available on Hugging Face under an Apache License.
Anyone can access, use, or build on Covenant-72B at no cost. That open approach separates it from many restricted, proprietary AI models available today.
$TAO Climbs as Market Responds to Covenant-72B Results
The market moved quickly after news of the Covenant-72B training spread publicly. $TAO, Bittensor’s native token, rose 14% to reach $236 following the announcement.
The token had also gained 36% over the prior 30-day period. Trading volume grew 167% across the past six months.
Grayscale expanded its TAO trust during the same week as the announcement. That move opened up broader institutional access to the token directly.
It came as investor interest in AI-linked crypto assets continued to grow. The timing added further upward pressure to the token’s price movement.
The combination of a technical result and institutional interest drew wide market attention. Covenant-72B’s MMLU score gives decentralized compute a credible, testable benchmark.
The result is measurable and can be reproduced under standard conditions. That distinguishes it clearly from many earlier unverified claims in the AI crypto space.
The Apache-licensed weights on Hugging Face allow any developer to verify the work independently. Bittensor’s approach shows a functioning framework for community-driven AI model training.
The network ran across 70-plus participants with no central coordination at any point. This sets a working precedent for distributed large-model training going forward.
Crypto World
Market Turmoil: How $100 Oil, Inflation Concerns, and Earnings Shaped This Week’s Trading
TLDR
- Major U.S. equity indexes recorded their third consecutive weekly decline, pressured by crude oil surpassing $100 per barrel and renewed inflation concerns.
- Oil prices jumped approximately 9% following Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions that disrupted critical shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oracle exceeded earnings projections with revenue growth exceeding 20%, driven by robust AI infrastructure and cloud computing demand.
- Gold prices retreated roughly 1% despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty, constrained by U.S. dollar strength that dampened safe-haven appeal.
- Energy sector equities led weekly gains, while consumer staples and healthcare sectors tumbled 4–5%.
American equity markets extended their losing streak to three consecutive weeks as crude oil prices breached the $100-per-barrel threshold and escalating Middle Eastern conflicts unnerved market participants. The three primary benchmarks all concluded the week ending March 13, 2026, in negative territory.
The S&P 500 declined approximately 1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated around 2%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped roughly 1.3%. Smaller-capitalization stocks mirrored this weakness, with the Russell 2000 shedding about 1.8%.
Energy markets dominated headlines. Crude oil prices skyrocketed approximately 9% after military tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran created significant disruptions to maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Market observers characterized the move as one of the most dramatic weekly spikes in oil futures witnessed since the 1980s.
Just 2 hours after markets closed:
President Trump is now threatening to strike oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, which accounts for 2% of global supply, if Iran doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz.
In fact, last month, production coming from Kharg Island hit 3 million… https://t.co/pzI2GuoCoz
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 14, 2026
The surge in energy costs reignited inflation anxieties across financial markets. Producer price index readings exceeded forecasts marginally, stoking fears that elevated costs might cascade to end consumers in coming weeks.
This development places the Federal Reserve in a challenging position. While market participants continue anticipating interest rate reductions later in 2026, the timeline has grown increasingly uncertain as energy-fueled inflation muddles the monetary policy landscape.
Oracle Shines During Earnings Season
Oracle emerged as the week’s most impressive earnings performer. The technology giant delivered fiscal third-quarter results that surpassed analyst estimates, with consolidated revenue expanding beyond 20% and artificial intelligence infrastructure sales exhibiting triple-digit percentage gains.
Company executives provided optimistic forward guidance, forecasting high-teens revenue expansion continuing through fiscal year 2027. Shares surged during extended trading sessions but concluded the week essentially unchanged as market participants balanced the positive outlook against a stock price still trading more than 50% beneath prior-year peaks.
Campbell Soup presented a contrasting narrative. While the packaged food manufacturer marginally exceeded adjusted earnings expectations, management issued conservative 2026 projections that disappointed Wall Street, triggering share price declines.
Energy and industrial companies defied the broader market weakness, with numerous mid-capitalization firms delivering solid quarterly reports supported by improving demand fundamentals and expanding export markets.
Precious Metals Retreat While Energy Equities Surge
Gold momentarily reclaimed the $5,100-per-ounce level Friday morning but ultimately closed the week approximately 1% lower. U.S. dollar strength combined with diminishing rate-cut expectations counterbalanced traditional safe-haven buying interest.
Energy stocks emerged as unambiguous weekly leaders. Leading U.S. energy-focused exchange-traded funds advanced 2–3% over the five-day period. Marathon Petroleum and competing refining companies climbed high-single-digit percentages as investors anticipated enhanced profit margins stemming from elevated crude prices.
Consumer staples and healthcare represented the weakest performing sectors, each surrendering 4–5%. Market participants rotated capital away from these defensive categories as input cost pressures mounted and earnings vulnerability increased.
Financial stocks also underperformed, weighed down by emerging concerns regarding private-credit exposures at systemically important institutions. Technology ended modestly lower overall, although mega-cap technology names demonstrated greater resilience compared to smaller software enterprises.
The Cboe Volatility Index climbed from late-February readings as market participants increased spending on downside hedging strategies, signaling heightened caution entering the following week’s trading sessions.
Key Takeaways
- USYC, Circle’s tokenized Treasury product, has expanded to $2.2 billion in supply, surpassing BlackRock’s BUIDL fund
- BUIDL’s dominance has declined significantly, with market share dropping from 46% at its height to approximately 18%
- A partnership with Binance enabled USYC to serve as off-exchange collateral on BNB Chain, resulting in $1.84 billion deployed on that blockchain
- Tokenized U.S. Treasury products have reached an all-time high of $11 billion in total value, climbing 27% year-to-date
- Market expansion intensified throughout January’s crypto market correction as traders sought yield-generating blockchain-based instruments
In a significant milestone for blockchain-based financial products, Circle’s USYC token has claimed the top position among tokenized U.S. Treasury offerings, displacing BlackRock’s BUIDL fund from its leading role. This development signals an evolution in the rapidly expanding sector focused on bridging traditional finance with distributed ledger technology.
USYC’s total supply has reached approximately $2.2 billion, based on analytics from RWA.xyz. This volume exceeds BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, which currently maintains around $2 billion in assets under management.
The USYC product came under Circle’s control in early 2025 following the company’s acquisition of Hashnote, which originally created the token. This investment vehicle provides holders with access to yields from U.S. Treasury securities while maintaining the benefits of blockchain-based asset management.
BlackRock introduced BUIDL to the market in early 2024 through a collaboration with Securitize, a specialized tokenization platform. During its strongest period in May 2024, BUIDL commanded 46% of the entire tokenized Treasury sector. However, increased competition has reduced that figure to roughly 18% today.
These tokenized Treasury products function by converting U.S. government debt instruments into digital tokens deployed on blockchain infrastructure. This structure enables investors to generate returns while simultaneously leveraging these tokens as collateral for trading activities — a capability that traditional Treasury investments cannot easily provide.
Binance Partnership Drives USYC Expansion
Much of USYC’s impressive recent expansion stems from its integration with Binance. The cryptocurrency exchange incorporated USYC as eligible off-exchange collateral for institutional derivative products on BNB Chain starting in July 2024.
This arrangement permits USYC to be maintained either through Binance Banking Triparty services or through Ceffu, the exchange’s institutional custody solution. Following this integration, USYC’s presence on BNB Chain has surged to $1.84 billion.
In a Friday post on X, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire described the utilization of tokenized Treasury products as collateral as “a major emerging use case.”
The dual benefit of generating yield while simultaneously deploying an asset as trading collateral represents a substantial advantage compared to maintaining stablecoins or fiat currency, which generally produce no returns.
Market Reaches New Heights
According to data from RWA.xyz, the aggregate tokenized U.S. Treasury sector has achieved an unprecedented valuation exceeding $11 billion. This milestone represents approximately 27% growth, translating to roughly $2.5 billion in additional value, since the beginning of 2026.
Expansion accelerated notably during January’s cryptocurrency market volatility. This trend indicates that certain market participants redirected funds into tokenized Treasury products to secure consistent yields while awaiting more favorable conditions for crypto market re-entry.
Compared to conventional financial systems, blockchain-based tokens deliver near-instantaneous settlement, complete reserve transparency, and continuous availability — characteristics that continue to attract institutional capital.
Securitize, which co-manages the BUIDL fund, had not provided commentary by publication deadline.
As of mid-March 2026, USYC maintains its leadership position within a sector that has now surpassed $11 billion in aggregate holdings.
TLDR
- Investors acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations will pay approximately $10 billion to the Trump administration
- Major investors include Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund
- Initial payment of $2.5 billion has been transferred to Treasury, with additional installments scheduled
- The U.S. TikTok entity carries a valuation of approximately $14 billion, though experts debate whether this is accurate
- The transaction stems from legislation mandating ByteDance divest its stake in TikTok’s American business
The Trump administration negotiated an agreement that allowed TikTok to continue operating across the United States. Under the terms of this arrangement, the investors who assumed control of TikTok’s American operations committed to paying approximately $10 billion to the federal government.
This substantial fee comes in addition to the capital invested to establish a new domestically-based entity operating the popular social media platform. Key investors such as Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX from Abu Dhabi transferred approximately $2.5 billion to the U.S. Treasury upon completion of the transaction in January. Additional payments are scheduled until the full $10 billion amount is satisfied.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company based in China, completed the transaction in January. The deal established a joint venture with majority American ownership called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. This newly formed entity oversees U.S. user information, mobile applications, and proprietary algorithms.
ByteDance retains close to 20% ownership in the restructured entity and has licensed its algorithmic technology to the venture. The American entity must also distribute profits back to ByteDance.
Vice President JD Vance stated the restructured U.S. TikTok entity holds a valuation near $14 billion. Technology industry analysts have challenged this figure, suggesting it significantly underestimates the company’s true worth.
How the Fee Compares to Typical Deal-Making
The $10 billion government fee represents an almost unparalleled arrangement for a government facilitating a private sector transaction, according to business historians. To put this in perspective, investment banking fees on standard deals typically amount to less than 1% of total transaction value. Bank of America expects to collect approximately $130 million for its advisory services on Norfolk Southern’s $71.5 billion acquisition — representing one of the largest individual banking fees ever recorded.
Administration representatives defend the fee structure as appropriate. They emphasize Trump’s critical role in preserving TikTok’s presence in America and navigating complex negotiations with Chinese authorities while satisfying national security requirements from Congress.
The transaction was mandated by legislation enacted during Trump’s initial presidential term. That statute compelled ByteDance to significantly reduce its ownership position in TikTok’s American operations or face a complete shutdown. Congressional leaders had expressed significant concerns about a Chinese-owned corporation maintaining access to personal information of more than 200 million American citizens.
Earlier this month, Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi faced legal action from retail shareholders of competing social media platforms. These investors are attempting to overturn the government’s approval of the ByteDance joint venture transaction.
The Broader Pattern of Government Stakes in Private Companies
The TikTok deal represents one element of a larger trend. The Trump administration has similarly secured nearly 10% ownership in Intel. It negotiated to receive a portion of chip sales to China from Nvidia as consideration for granting export authorization. The administration has also acquired equity positions in additional corporations and maintains a “golden share” in U.S. Steel after Nippon Steel’s acquisition.
The Wall Street Journal initially disclosed the $10 billion fee amount on March 13, 2026.
Crypto World
Oil Markets Surge Past $100 as U.S. Military Strikes Hit Iran’s Kharg Island Facilities
TLDR
- American military forces eliminated all defense installations on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export facility responsible for approximately 90% of the nation’s crude shipments
- President Trump deliberately avoided targeting petroleum infrastructure but issued warnings that terminals face destruction if Iran continues Hormuz blockade
- Brent crude surged past the $100 threshold in the aftermath of the military operation
- Vessel traffic navigating the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted from 84 daily transits to under 10 ships
- Operation Epic Fury has claimed the lives of 13 American military personnel; Saudi-based refueling aircraft sustained damage in retaliatory action
In a Friday announcement, President Trump confirmed that American military forces successfully neutralized all defense positions stationed on Kharg Island, Iran’s critical petroleum export terminal.
The President utilized his Truth Social platform to disclose that U.S. Central Command executed the operation specifically to eliminate Iranian military defenses protecting the strategic island. In his statement, Trump emphasized his decision to preserve the petroleum facilities “for reasons of decency,” while simultaneously cautioning that such restraint hinges on Tehran permitting unobstructed maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran issued a swift response, declaring that any assault on its energy sector would trigger immediate retaliatory destruction of energy infrastructure belonging to nations providing assistance to Washington.
Vice President JD Vance revealed that Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, sustained injuries during the military strikes. “We don’t know exactly how bad,” Vance said.
Operation Epic Fury has resulted in thirteen American military casualties to date.
At Prince Sultan air base located in Saudi Arabia, five refueling aircraft belonging to the U.S. Air Force were struck and suffered damage while grounded. Two defense officials verified the attack occurred, though no fatalities were reported.
The Defense Department is deploying a Marine expeditionary unit alongside additional naval vessels to the Middle Eastern theater. Trump further announced that the U.S. Navy will shortly commence escort operations for oil tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil Prices and Supply Disruptions
Brent crude has been hovering around the $100 per barrel threshold. The Kharg Island military operation propelled prices decisively above that psychological barrier.
Since March 2, the Strait of Hormuz has experienced near-complete maritime paralysis. Vessel traffic has crashed from a 2026 average of 84 daily transits to fewer than 10 ships, based on ACLED tracking data.
Kharg Island functions as the export point for approximately 90% of Iranian crude oil shipments. Energy analysts from SEB had previously highlighted significant global supply vulnerabilities should the island’s export terminals face military action, projecting potential price spikes far exceeding current conflict-driven levels.
The International Energy Agency orchestrated an unprecedented coordinated release of 400 million barrels from strategic petroleum reserves worldwide in an effort to stabilize energy markets.
Federal Reserve and Inflation Concerns
ING analysts suggest the Federal Reserve may be compelled to maintain elevated interest rates for an extended period. The primary concern centers on surging energy expenses driving inflation metrics further from the central bank’s 2% objective.
The Gulf region crisis has triggered cost increases for fertilizer and plastic feedstock materials, creating ripple effects throughout consumer pricing structures.
Market participants are closely monitoring potential counterattacks from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces. The Pentagon’s deployment of a Marine expeditionary unit to the region indicates preparations for potential conflict escalation.
Oil prices remain elevated above $100 per barrel while daily vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz persist at fewer than 10 ships according to the most recent available information.
Crypto World
Meta (META) Stock Drops as Company Plans Major Layoffs to Finance Massive AI Investment
Key Highlights
- Meta may eliminate approximately 20% of its total workforce — potentially affecting 16,000 workers
- The workforce reduction aims to finance a massive $600 billion AI infrastructure investment extending to 2028
- Mark Zuckerberg has directed top executives to develop headcount reduction strategies
- The company recently purchased AI agent platform Moltbook and invested $2 billion in Chinese AI firm Manus
- Meta’s “Avocado” AI system has underperformed against internal benchmarks
Meta Platforms appears poised to execute its largest workforce reduction since 2022, with internal discussions pointing toward eliminating 20% or more of current staff. Given Meta’s December employee count of approximately 79,000, this translates to around 16,000 positions potentially being eliminated.
The information surfaced Thursday via Reuters, which spoke with three individuals with direct knowledge of the discussions. However, neither timing nor precise figures have been finalized. When contacted, a Meta representative characterized the reporting as “speculative” and focused on “theoretical approaches.”
These potential reductions stem from Meta’s ambitious artificial intelligence strategy. The social media giant has pledged to invest $600 billion in data center construction and AI infrastructure through 2028 — an expenditure requiring significant cost reductions in other areas.
Zuckerberg’s vision has become increasingly apparent. Speaking in January, he noted witnessing “projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.” This efficiency narrative underpins Meta’s current trajectory.
According to two Reuters sources, senior executives have already instructed department heads to develop workforce reduction plans. While still in preliminary phases, the strategic direction appears firmly established.
Aggressive AI Investment Strategy
These workforce changes coincide with Meta’s aggressive AI spending. Meta recently completed the acquisition of Moltbook, an AI agent-focused social platform. Additionally, the company is committing at least $2 billion toward Chinese AI startup Manus.
To attract elite AI researchers, Meta has extended compensation packages valued at hundreds of millions of dollars spanning four years to scientists joining its superintelligence division.
The paradox is striking: the very AI investments necessitating specialized hires may simultaneously trigger widespread job eliminations. The astronomical costs of constructing AI infrastructure are pushing the company toward operational streamlining across other divisions.
Should the 20% reduction materialize, it would represent Meta’s most significant downsizing since its “Year of Efficiency” initiative. That restructuring eliminated 11,000 positions in November 2022, with an additional 10,000 cuts following in early 2023.
Meta follows an industry-wide trend. Amazon announced 16,000 job eliminations earlier this year. Block reduced its workforce by nearly 50%, with CEO Jack Dorsey explicitly attributing the cuts to AI capabilities reducing staffing requirements.
Challenges with Avocado AI Model
Meta’s substantial AI investments haven’t guaranteed smooth execution. The company’s Llama 4 models faced scrutiny following questionable performance on initial benchmarks. Behemoth, the flagship variant, was ultimately canceled ahead of its anticipated summer launch.
Meta’s superintelligence division is currently developing Avocado, a new model designed to rebuild credibility in the company’s AI efforts. However, early results have reportedly disappointed internal stakeholders.
Bernstein analysts have identified a “trough of disillusionment” affecting consumer AI adoption — an apt description of Meta’s current AI product positioning.
META stock declined 3.83% during regular trading following the news, though shares recovered modestly in after-hours activity as market participants evaluated the potential margin benefits of reduced headcount.
Current figures show Meta employed 78,900 people as of its December regulatory filing. A 20% workforce reduction would decrease that total to approximately 63,000 employees.
TLDR
- The XRP Ledger recorded 2.7 million daily payments, marking a 12-month peak, even as XRP’s value dropped 26% since January
- Automated market maker pools expanded to nearly 27,000 while tokenized real-world assets on the platform climbed 35% over 30 days to $461 million
- The token currently hovers near $1.42, representing a 62% decline from its December 2025 high of $3.65
- Technical analysts highlight critical support between $0.80–$0.95, while a surge past $3.32 could unlock targets ranging from $27–$48
- Despite XRP’s $84 billion market capitalization, XRPL’s total value locked remains at a modest $47.54 million
The XRP Ledger is experiencing unprecedented network utilization, yet the token’s market performance tells a contrasting story. Currently valued at approximately $1.42, XRP has shed 26% of its value year-to-date and sits 62% beneath its late-2025 zenith of $3.65.
Successful payment transactions on the XRP Ledger recently climbed above 2.7 million daily, establishing a new 12-month benchmark. This represents a substantial increase from approximately 1 million recorded in late 2025, with the blockchain consistently handling 20 to 26 transactions every second.
The platform’s automated market maker infrastructure has expanded to encompass nearly 27,000 pools, facilitating trading for more than 16,000 distinct tokens. Currently, twelve million XRP sits deposited within these liquidity pools.
The value of tokenized real-world assets on the ledger climbed to $461 million, representing a 35% expansion over the preceding 30 days. During this same timeframe, stablecoin transfer volume reached $1.19 billion, with the total stablecoin market cap on XRPL standing at $339 million distributed among 35,800 holders.
A significant portion of this network utilization connects to Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin and tokenized instruments that employ XRP temporarily as a bridge asset. These operations don’t generate enduring demand for holding the token long-term.
Why Activity Isn’t Lifting XRP’s Price
When XRP facilitates a cross-border transaction for mere seconds to connect two fiat currencies, it doesn’t create persistent buying pressure. The blockchain processes more volume, but the token functions as a fleeting intermediary.
According to DeFiLlama, the XRP Ledger’s total value locked reaches only $47.54 million. By comparison, Solana maintains approximately $4 billion in TVL. Ethereum commands over $40 billion.
Daily decentralized exchange volume on XRPL fluctuates between $4 million and $8 million. For a Layer 1 blockchain carrying an $84 billion market valuation, these figures remain relatively modest.
The 30-day RWA transfer volume of $149 million — representing an increase exceeding 1,300% — does suggest genuine institutional participation in the asset tokenization sector.
What Analysts Are Watching
Analyst EGRAG CRYPTO highlights a critical accumulation zone spanning $0.80 to $0.95, where several technical signals align, including convergence of the 21, 50, and 100 exponential moving averages alongside a sustained ascending trendline.
Should XRP recapture the 21 EMA and escape its present corrective formation, the subsequent price objective would land near $2.20. The base-building phase could extend through Q2–Q3 2026.
Analyst Ali Martinez recognizes a long-term ascending triangle configuration with horizontal resistance positioned around $3.32. A decisive move above this threshold projects macro objectives spanning $27 to $48.
Analyst Crypto Patel observes a validated multi-year triangle breakout, with a projected bull-market target approaching $50.
The $1.27–$1.30 support region has withstood numerous retests. Historically, XRP delivers an average 18% gain during March.
US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) logged their first five-day inflow streak of 2026, bringing in roughly $767.32 million this week.
The funds recorded $180.33 million in net inflows on Friday, extending the run of positive flows that began earlier in the week. The strongest day of the streak came on Tuesday, when spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs attracted $250.92 million, according to data from SoSoValue.
The last time the funds saw a comparable streak was in late November 2025, when spot Bitcoin ETFs logged five consecutive days of net inflows from Nov. 25 to Dec. 2, bringing in a combined $284.61 million.
Overall, the ETFs now hold $91.83 billion in net assets, with cumulative net inflows reaching $56.14 billion and roughly $4.93 billion in total value traded on the day.
Related: BlackRock says ‘exotic’ crypto ETFs not part of its strategy
Ether ETFs see 4-day inflow streak
Meanwhile, US spot Ether (ETH) ETFs recorded $26.69 million in net inflows on Friday, extending a four-day run of positive flows. The streak began on Tuesday, when the funds added $12.59 million, followed by $57.01 million on Wednesday and a stronger $115.85 million on Thursday, the largest inflow during the period.
The four-day stretch has brought roughly $212.14 million into spot Ether ETFs, reversing the outflows seen earlier in March. As of today, cumulative net inflows into US spot Ether ETFs stands at $11.79 billion, while total net assets across the funds reached $12.26 billion, with about $1.30 billion in value traded on the day.
The recent stretch marks the first sustained inflow run for spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs this year after a volatile start to 2026 that saw several days of heavy outflows across the products.
Related: Bitcoin ETFs add $251M as Goldman Sachs tops XRP ETF holders
Bitcoin range-bound as Middle East tensions rise
Rising tensions in the Middle East and volatility in energy markets are weighing on global risk sentiment. According to Bitunix analysts, escalating conflict around the Strait of Hormuz and elevated oil prices have increased macro uncertainty and reduced expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts, prompting investors to focus on short-term liquidity rather than long-term risk exposure.
Against this backdrop, Bitcoin remains range-bound. Bitunix said derivatives liquidation heatmaps show a key short-liquidity cluster near $71,300, which is acting as near-term resistance, with a larger concentration between $72,000 and $73,500.
On the downside, liquidity support sits around $69,000, with deeper long liquidation levels near $68,800, suggesting BTC may continue consolidating unless macro catalysts trigger a breakout.
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