US spot crypto ETFs saw broad-based inflows across Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana products.

US-listed spot crypto ETFs recorded another strong session of net inflows, with products tied to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) all attracting fresh capital. According to ChainCatcher data, ten spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively added 5,187 BTC, equivalent to around $376m at prevailing prices, extending a run of sessions in which new money has outweighed redemptions. The flows signal that institutional allocators and wealth platforms continue to use regulated ETF wrappers to increase or rebalance exposure, even as market volatility and macro uncertainty remain elevated.

Nine Ethereum funds also saw net buying, pulling in 43,282 ETH, or roughly $9.18m, and reinforcing the notion that demand is broadening beyond the largest asset. A spot Solana vehicle added 205,711 SOL, worth about $18.72m, underlining investor appetite for higher-beta alternatives as part of diversified crypto portfolios. The multi-asset inflows came against a backdrop of rising spot volumes and a rebound in majors, with BTC reclaiming key resistance zones and dragging correlated assets higher.

ETF flows and market structure

The latest data points to an environment where ETF products are increasingly central to price discovery and liquidity, rather than acting solely as passive wrappers. Heavy buying on strong days and more modest outflows during drawdowns suggest that long-only and advisory channels are using ETFs as entry and exit points, impacting underlying spot markets via authorized participants. This dynamic has been particularly visible around BTC where large creations and redemptions have coincided with sharp moves through key technical levels.

For issuers and exchanges, sustained inflows across multiple products strengthen the business case for expanding lineups and deepening secondary-market liquidity. Platforms such as Coinbase have already positioned themselves as core infrastructure for ETF market makers and custodians, while traditional payment networks that resemble Visa are exploring stablecoin and settlement integrations that could sit alongside ETF-based strategies. As regulatory regimes like MiCA advance and more jurisdictions consider spot listings, the US experience with Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETFs will remain a critical reference point for how regulated vehicles can channel institutional demand into the crypto market.

Western Union is moving deeper into blockchain payments with a new stablecoin initiative tied to the Solana network.

The company has partnered with Crossmint to support the rollout of USDPT, a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin that will operate on the Solana (SOL) ecosystem.

The collaboration was announced on March 4 by Crossmint and will connect the stablecoin to Western Union’s newly introduced Digital Asset Network, which links on-chain dollars to real-world cash access across its global payout infrastructure.

Stablecoin connected to Western Union’s payout network

USDPT was first revealed in October 2025, with a launch expected in the first half of 2026. The stablecoin will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank.

Western Union’s Digital Asset Network links blockchain transfers with its global cash distribution system. Through the network, users can convert digital dollars into local currency using more than 360,000 collection points worldwide, spanning over 200 countries and territories.

Malcolm Clarke, Western Union’s vice president of digital assets, said the network connects digital wallets and platforms directly to the company’s payout infrastructure. Partners such as Crossmint provide the technology layer that allows these integrations to work across blockchain systems and traditional payment rails.

This setup allows stablecoin transactions to move on-chain while still connecting to familiar cash pickup services used in many remittance corridors.

Crossmint infrastructure supports wallets and fintech apps

Crossmint will integrate USDPT into its wallet infrastructure and payment APIs, allowing fintech platforms and developers to access the stablecoin through its existing tools.

Rodrigo Fernández Touza, co-founder of Crossmint, said the collaboration links digital dollar transfers with Western Union’s global payout network.

Developers using Crossmint’s APIs can build applications that send funds on Solana while offering recipients the option to collect cash through Western Union locations where available.

The system allows fintech apps to hold value in digital dollars, transfer funds instantly on-chain, and connect to Western Union’s payout network when users need local currency.

Solana’s fast settlement speeds and low transaction costs have made it a common choice for payment-focused blockchain applications, including stablecoin transfers and cross-border transactions.

A sharp volatility spike wiped out $471m in crypto derivatives positions in one day.

Crypto derivatives traders endured another brutal reset as roughly $471m in futures positions were liquidated over a 24-hour window, according to data.

Unlike many prior stress events, this wave hit short-sellers hardest, with about $348m in short liquidations compared to $123m from longs, suggesting that bears were caught leaning too aggressively into downside bets as prices rebounded. The skew was particularly pronounced in flagship contracts tied to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), where a swift move higher forced exchanges’ risk engines to close underwater positions into rising markets.

The liquidation pattern reflects a market where sentiment flipped from cautious to overly pessimistic before the latest rally. In the lead-up to the move, open interest had rebuilt as traders added fresh short exposure on the assumption that recent gains would fade. When spot prices broke higher instead, those trades were rapidly unwound, amplifying the upside through a classic short squeeze dynamic. The episode underscores how quickly positioning can turn and how reliance on high leverage—regardless of direction—exposes traders to abrupt, forced exits when liquidity thins and volatility spikes.

Leverage squeeze and positioning reset

In the aftermath of the $471m flush, derivatives metrics suggest that some of the froth on the short side has now been cleared, with funding rates normalizing and open interest stabilizing at slightly lower levels. For BTC and other large-cap assets, that reset may provide a cleaner backdrop for spot-led moves, reducing the immediate risk of another squeeze in either direction. However, the frequency of large liquidation events in recent weeks indicates that many market participants continue to run elevated leverage, quickly rebuilding directional bets once prices show a trend.

Exchanges are likely to face renewed scrutiny over headline leverage limits, margin policies and transparency around liquidation algorithms, particularly as institutional interest in derivatives grows alongside ETF and structured-product flows. Platforms like Coinbase, which emphasize regulated derivatives offerings, and policymakers advancing frameworks similar to MiCA will watch closely how these episodes impact market integrity. Until leverage metrics show a more durable decline, professional desks may keep gross exposure in check, use options to hedge tail risks, and monitor liquidation dashboards to avoid positioning where cascading forced selling or buying can quickly overwhelm order books.

BTC is currently trading near $72,000, extending its rebound from last week’s pullback and reclaiming key resistance after testing lower support levels. The move toward $72,000 comes alongside a broader recovery in crypto majors, with renewed inflows into spot BTC products and higher derivatives activity signaling improving risk appetite. Market outlook for BTC remains cautiously bullish at these levels: trend structures have turned constructive again, but elevated volatility around $72,000 leaves room for sharp swings if macro or geopolitical sentiment deteriorates.

Bitcoin price held steady on Thursday as investors focused on the upcoming US non-farm payrolls data scheduled for Friday this week.

Bitcoin (BTC) token was trading at $72,450, up by 20% from its lowest level this year, meaning it has moved into a local bull market. 

The recent rebound started on Wednesday after reports that Iran had reached out to the Americans to end the war. Still, the odds of a ceasefire happening in the near term are slim as the three sides commit to fighting. This explains why Brent and West Texas Intermediate jumped to $84.15 and $78.

Bitcoin price will next react to the upcoming US non-farm payrolls data, which will come out on Friday. Economists polls by Reuters expect the upcoming report to show that the labor market softened in February.

The average estimate is that the economy created 70k jobs, much lower than the 110k it created in January. They also expect the report to reveal that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%.

These numbers are important as the Federal Open Market Committee will meet on March 17 and 18. Economists believe that the bank will leave rates unchanged between 3.50% and 3.75%. 

A weak NFP report may push some Fed officials to support a rate cut. In a statement on Wednesday, Stephen Miran maintained that the bank should slash rates, citing the jobs market.Fed officials are concerned about inflation, which may accelerate because of the ongoing war in the Middle East. 

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experience more demand when the Fed is cutting interest rates. 

Bitcoin price forecast: Technical analysis 

BTC price has staged a comeback recently, moving from the year-to-date low of $60,000 to $72,700. It has moved above the crucial resistance level at $71,000, its highest level on February 15. This price was also the neckline of the inverted head-and-shoulders pattern.

The coin has already flipped the Supertrend indicator from red to green and moved above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average.

It is also hovering near the 23.6% Fibonacci Retracement level, which is drawn by connecting the all-time high and the lowest level this year.

The most likely Bitcoin price prediction is bullish, with the key target being the psychological level at $80,000. On the flip side, a drop below the key support level at $70,000 will cancel the bullish outlook.

CleanSpark increased its Bitcoin holdings despite selling most of February’s mined coins.

Bitcoin (BTC) miner CleanSpark reported a solid production update for February, underscoring how listed miners are navigating a higher price environment by both monetizing output and building balance-sheet exposure.

The company mined 568 BTC during the month, lifting its year-to-date tally to 1,141 BTC, according to figures highlighted by ChainCatcher. At the same time, CleanSpark sold 553.02 BTC at an average price of $66,279, using the rally to raise cash while still modestly increasing net holdings. By month-end, the firm’s treasury had grown to 13,363 BTC, reflecting a strategy that combines operational funding needs with a long-term bullish stance on the asset.

The approach illustrates how miners are adjusting after previous cycles where many either dumped most production to cover costs or, conversely, hoarded coins through deep drawdowns. With BTC trading near cycle highs and hash rate competition intense, CleanSpark’s blend of opportunistic selling and ongoing accumulation aims to keep leverage and dilution in check while preserving upside participation. Investors closely watch such treasury decisions, as they can influence both balance-sheet resilience and sensitivity to future price swings. Miners that sell too aggressively may underperform in bull phases, while those that over-accumulate risk liquidity stress if conditions deteriorate.

Miner treasuries and market signaling

CleanSpark’s latest update feeds into the broader discussion about how miner balance sheets impact market structure and supply dynamics. When miners sell into strength but maintain or increase core holdings, they effectively drip-feed liquidity to the market without completely removing their potential to become forced sellers during downturns. In aggregate, miner flows can influence short-term supply-demand imbalances, particularly around key events such as halvings, regulatory shifts or large ETF-driven inflows. Watching how firms manage inventories offers clues about industry confidence in current prices and future trajectories.

For institutional investors and analysts, miner treasury strategies are increasingly assessed alongside metrics like production cost per coin, energy contracts, and diversification into adjacent businesses such as high-performance computing or AI infrastructure. Some miners have partnered with platforms like Coinbase for custody or financing solutions, while others look to strike structured deals with energy providers and financial institutions akin to Visa’s partnerships in the payments world. As regulatory clarity, including regimes like MiCA, expands, miners that can demonstrate disciplined capital allocation and robust governance around their BTC holdings may enjoy better access to traditional financing and a valuation premium over less transparent peers.

The quantum computing race is edging closer to a commercially viable milestone, with PsiQuantum revealing progress toward a facility that could house a million qubits. The company, which has tied its plans to a collaboration with Nvidia, says the ambitious Chicago site will rely on advanced error-tolerant architectures to deliver usable quantum power at scale. In parallel, the crypto community remains deeply engaged in the implications for Bitcoin’s security, a debate that has intensified as quantum research advances and real-world milestones creep closer to feasibility.

Key takeaways

• PsiQuantum is moving toward a 1-million-qubit facility described as capable of powering commercially useful quantum computation, backed by a $1 billion fundraising round announced in September and a collaboration with Nvidia.
• A construction update showed 500 tons of steel erected in six days for the Chicago site, underscoring the rapid pace of on-site development.
• The crypto community is split on risk: some warn quantum breakthroughs could threaten Bitcoin’s cryptography, while others expect the threat to remain distant, potentially a decade or more away.
• Analyses and statements emphasize that only a small portion of Bitcoin addresses would be susceptible today, with broader resistance possible through post-quantum upgrades and other safeguards.
• Key technical benchmarks frame the discussion: preliminary estimates suggest far more qubits than needed to break current cryptography, but practical, scalable quantum systems remain the central hurdle.

Tickers mentioned: $BTC

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Neutral. The article frames potential quantum risk as a broad strategic consideration with limited near-term price signals.

Market context: Quantum progress is unfolding amid a broader crypto market focus on security, post-quantum readiness, and regulatory considerations shaping risk sentiment and investment flows.

Why it matters

The convergence of quantum computing and crypto security is more than a theoretical concern. If large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum devices become viable, the cryptographic foundations underpinning much of today’s digital assets could face fundamental redesigns. The Bitcoin network, which relies on elliptic-curve signatures, would be the most visible test bed for resilience in the face of quantum threats. In 2024, researchers and industry players have intensified discussions about preemptive upgrades, including hard forks and post-quantum cryptographic standards, as a means of safeguarding long-term security without interrupting existing operations.

PsiQuantum’s latest milestones illustrate the industrial-scale ambitions of quantum developers. The Chicago facility, designed to host one million qubits, is emblematic of the sector’s transition from lab-scale experiments to facilities that could underpin commercial computing for AI, simulation, and optimization workloads. A project of this magnitude hinges on both hardware breakthroughs—error correction, qubit coherence, scalable manufacturing—and software ecosystems capable of harnessing quantum advantage in practical use cases. The $1 billion fundraising and the Nvidia collaboration signal a broad, multi-industry push to de-risk the path to practical quantum advantage, even as critics note that true utility remains some years away.

From a crypto-security perspective, the debate has evolved beyond “if” to “when.” Some Bitcoin proponents argue a quantum-capable attacker could eventually compromise keys and signatures, potentially undermining the integrity of holdings and transactions. Others, including prominent voices in the ecosystem, emphasize that current cryptographic schemes can be fortified through a combination of longer-term keying practices and post-quantum cryptography, reducing the immediacy of risk. A widely cited line of reasoning holds that even if a quantum computer could break certain cryptographic keys, the actual volume of affected funds might be limited, given the distribution of private keys across the network and the ongoing movement toward more secure standards.

Academic and industry analyses also illustrate that the number of qubits needed to break modern cryptography is a moving target. A recent preprint suggested that cracking 2048-bit keys would require on the order of 100,000 qubits, while Bitcoin relies on significantly smaller 256-bit keys in its most widely used schemes. The contrast underscores both the promise and the uncertainty of leveraging quantum capabilities for cryptanalytic purposes. The scale and error-correction requirements for a practical attack remain substantial, and much of the crypto community views rapid, decisive “quantum bursts” as a longer horizon phenomenon rather than an immediate crisis.

Beyond the security implications, the quantum discourse intersects with broader tech policy and infrastructure planning. The industry’s attention to post-quantum resilience is feeding into discussions about upgrade paths, governance, and the choreography of ecosystem-wide transitions—whether through protocol-level changes, new cryptographic standards, or multi-year roadmaps to migrate away from vulnerable primitives. The ethical and operational challenges of such migrations—including compatibility with existing wallets, exchanges, and custodians—add layers of complexity to an already evolving landscape.

In public statements, PsiQuantum has stressed that it has no plans to exploit quantum capabilities to extract private keys from public ones. Co-founder Terry Rudolph reiterated at a Bitcoin-focused quantum summit that the company’s mission centers on building reliable quantum hardware and software, not on weaponizing cryptographic breaks. This distinction is important for framing the broader industry’s stance: while the threat is acknowledged, the path to actionable security solutions is a collaborative, proactive process rather than a single, dramatic inevitability.

Within the investment and research communities, assessments like those from CoinShares have suggested that even a quantum breakthrough would not instantly destabilize Bitcoin. They estimated that a relatively small subset of the total Bitcoin supply—roughly 10,230 BTC—would be at “quantum-vulnerable” addresses, which, at prevailing prices, could be managed through routine trading and standard risk controls. Such figures reinforce the view that the market’s immediate reaction to quantum news would likely be measured, with systemic safeguards and hedging strategies mitigating abrupt price shocks.

What to watch next

• Milestones for PsiQuantum’s Chicago facility: timelines for qubit generations, error correction performance, and integration with Nvidia’s hardware stack.
• Advancements in post-quantum cryptography standards and standardized migration plans for Bitcoin and other major networks.
• Regulatory and governance developments around crypto security, including any formal endorsements or requirements for post-quantum readiness.
• New research clarifying the practical qubit counts needed to threaten current cryptography, and whether optimistic estimates translate to real-world risk.
• Public disclosures from major exchanges and wallet providers about their preparedness for quantum-era threats and planned upgrade pathways.

Sources & verification

• PsiQuantum’s fundraising and Nvidia collaboration announcements
• Public posts by PsiQuantum co-founder Peter Shadbolt about the Chicago site and steel construction
• Official statements from PsiQuantum regarding non-use of quantum tools to derive private keys
• CoinShares’ February research on quantum risk to Bitcoin
• ArXiv preprint discussing qubit requirements to break various cryptographic standards

Quantum ambition tests crypto’s future guardrails

The case of PsiQuantum illustrates a defining moment for the crypto ecosystem: a single project’s trajectory toward a million-qubit capability is forging the boundary between theoretical threat and practical reality. The Chicago facility, described as capable of hosting a million qubits and powered by a plan that includes hundreds of tons of steel and a substantial funding package, embodies a new kind of industrial ambition. If realized, it would mark a leap from demonstrations in laboratory environments to a platform that can sustain complex computations at scale—an essential step for applications in AI, materials science, and optimization that quantum machines promise to accelerate.

Yet the same development timeline that excites researchers also intensifies crypto-security debates. The Bitcoin network, by design, relies on cryptographic primitives that must withstand not only current attack methods but also those that quantum machines might enable in the future. The cornerstone question—when could a sufficiently powerful quantum computer emerge to threaten private keys—drives ongoing discussions about potential fork strategies, cryptographic upgrades, and the transitional work needed to preserve user funds without disrupting network operation.

Industry observers emphasize that while the mathematical potential of quantum attacks is real, the practical path from theory to exploitation remains riddled with engineering hurdles. The demand for robust error correction, high-fidelity qubits, scalable control systems, and fault-tolerant software stacks creates a gulf between today’s research devices and a weaponized quantum infrastructure. In this sense, PsiQuantum’s progress is a reminder that the crypto security debate is less about overnight collapse and more about sustained vigilance, iterative upgrades, and cross-disciplinary collaboration among hardware developers, cryptographers, and policy makers.

As posture and preparedness become part of routine risk management, the crypto community’s emphasis on post-quantum resilience—whether through hybrid cryptographic schemes, larger key sizes, or forward-looking migration plans—will continue to shape investor sentiment and infrastructure decisions. The debate is not only about Bitcoin’s long-term security but also about how the wider financial system adapts to a quantum-enabled future. If the next few years deliver measurable progress toward scalable, reliable quantum systems, the industry could begin to operationalize safeguards well before any exploitation materializes, translating research milestones into practical risk management and clearer governance pathways.

Crypto exchange OKX, which was just valued at $25 billion after a strategic investment from New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) parent Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), is launching a social network built directly into its trading app, the latest example of social media and digital asset platforms converging as traders increasingly rely on online communities for market signals.

The feature, called Orbit, allows users to post market commentary, livestream discussions and create trading groups while also displaying verified performance metrics such as portfolio returns, profit and loss and win rates, OKX said Thursday. The company said the feature is designed to help users distinguish credible trading insights from hype or manipulated social media posts.

Orbit will roll out gradually beginning Feb. 26 to a limited group of users before expanding more broadly once its beta testing phase concludes.

The launch comes as social interaction plays a growing role in crypto markets. Many traders now gather ideas from online platforms where screenshots, posts and influencer commentary can quickly shape sentiment around assets such as bitcoin BTC$71,245.23 or ether (ETH).

“People using our app will have a native social channel where ideas are shared with posts, livestreams and group chats,” said Haider Rafique, managing partner at OKX, in a statement.

Several platforms have begun blending trading with social media features. StockTwits, for example, is a social platform focused on equities where traders share ideas using ticker symbols such as $AAPL or $TSLA to create real-time conversations about markets. In crypto, newer networks such as Farcaster had emerged as decentralized alternatives, operating as Ethereum-based social protocols designed to function as blockchain-native versions of platforms like X.

“This is quite popular in equities trading,” Rafique said. “We want to bring similar features and give traders a place where they can share their performance and interpretation of the markets.”

OKX said Orbit aims to add accountability to social trading by allowing users who choose to share metrics to verify them directly within the trading app. The platform also supports market-specific discussions using cashtags such as $BTC, $ETH and $SOL and allows traders to create both public and gated communities.

The move comes during a period of expansion for the company. OKX just received a strategic investment from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the global trading giant that owns the New York Stock Exchange. The deal valued the San Jose, California-based firm at about $25 billion.

As part of that partnership, OKX plans to introduce tokenized stocks and crypto futures products, signaling deeper integration between traditional financial markets and digital asset platforms.

Core Scientific has lined up a $500m loan from Morgan Stanley, with an option to double it.

Bitcoin (BTC) mining firm Core Scientific has secured a substantial financing line from Morgan Stanley, marking another sign that large banks see opportunity in the infrastructure underlying digital assets and high-performance computing.

The 364-day facility provides $500m in initial capacity with an option to increase the total to $1b, giving the company sizable firepower to expand and reconfigure its asset base. Core Scientific plans to use the proceeds to acquire and develop real estate, cover construction and development costs, and lock in new energy contracts—steps that support both its bitcoin mining operations and its push into hosting workloads for artificial intelligence and other compute-intensive applications.

The deal highlights how miners with significant power footprints and data center expertise are repositioning themselves as broader infrastructure providers rather than pure-play BTC proxies. By tapping a major institution like Morgan Stanley, Core Scientific is signaling both confidence in its growth trajectory and a willingness to tie its capital structure more closely to traditional credit markets. For the bank, the facility offers exposure to a blend of digital asset-linked cash flows and more conventional data center economics, potentially with collateral in the form of real estate and energy agreements.

Miners, AI and institutional credit

Core Scientific’s financing underscores a trend in which large miners seek to diversify revenue streams by courting AI and cloud clients, leveraging existing sites, cooling solutions and power contracts. As demand for training and inference capacity grows, miners with access to stable, relatively cheap energy are pitching themselves as attractive counterparts for hyperscalers and specialized AI firms. At the same time, they must balance these opportunities with the cyclical nature of bitcoin mining, where profitability can swing sharply with the BTC price and network difficulty.

For institutional lenders and investors, these dynamics create both risk and opportunity. Facilities like the one provided by Morgan Stanley allow banks to structure deals that are secured not just by digital assets but also by hard infrastructure and long-term contracts, potentially making them more palatable within existing risk frameworks. Successful execution could encourage more traditional institutions and platforms such as Coinbase’s institutional arm to deepen their engagement with miners through custody, hedging and capital markets services. As regulatory regimes, including MiCA-style frameworks abroad, bring greater clarity to digital asset activities, miners capable of demonstrating diversified, well-financed business models may find it easier to attract large-scale credit and equity capital.

Key Takeaways

• Oracle is preparing to eliminate thousands of positions throughout various departments, with cuts potentially beginning this month.
• The workforce reduction stems from escalating expenses tied to an ambitious AI data center expansion strategy.
• Certain positions targeted for elimination are those Oracle anticipates automating through AI technology.
• The tech giant intends to secure $45B–$50B in funding during 2026 for its cloud infrastructure development.
• Oracle’s Q3 fiscal 2026 financial results are scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 10.

Over the last year, Oracle has pushed hard into AI infrastructure, securing major partnerships with OpenAI, xAI, and Meta. However, this aggressive expansion strategy now carries significant financial implications — including substantial workforce reductions.

Oracle Corporation, ORCL

According to a Thursday Bloomberg report, Oracle is gearing up to eliminate thousands of positions companywide. These workforce reductions may commence as early as this month.

These planned layoffs represent a more extensive initiative than Oracle’s typical periodic workforce adjustments. The cuts will affect numerous business units, with some specifically targeting positions that management expects artificial intelligence to handle in the future.

Earlier this week, Oracle discreetly initiated a review of vacant positions within its cloud computing division, essentially pausing or halting recruitment efforts in that segment.

The underlying issue involves financial constraints. Oracle has invested enormous sums building the data center infrastructure necessary to fulfill its AI cloud service agreements.

Last December, Oracle disclosed that fiscal 2026 capital expenditures would exceed its initial $35 billion projection by $15 billion — bringing the total to $50 billion.

Subsequently in February, Oracle unveiled its intention to raise between $45 billion and $50 billion throughout 2026 to finance additional cloud infrastructure expansion. This funding strategy encompasses a new at-the-market equity offering valued up to $20 billion alongside mandatory convertible preferred securities.

Mounting Expenses, Growing Investor Anxiety

The capital-raising announcement unsettled investors already concerned about Oracle’s increasing debt obligations. The corporation depleted approximately $10 billion in cash reserves during just the first six months of fiscal 2026.

Oracle’s shares declined over 15% throughout the previous year, and the enterprise has fallen short of Wall Street’s revenue projections in eight out of its most recent ten quarterly reports.

As of May 2025, Oracle maintained a global workforce of approximately 162,000 full-time employees.

Major Partnerships and Client Base

Oracle’s principal cloud computing clients comprise OpenAI, Meta, Nvidia, AMD, TikTok parent company ByteDance, and Elon Musk’s xAI venture. The massive $300 billion OpenAI partnership notably elevated Oracle’s position among top-tier cloud service providers.

However, supporting these high-demand customers demands extensive infrastructure — and that infrastructure comes with hefty price tags.

Oracle currently faces the challenge of maintaining its aggressive growth trajectory while implementing greater financial prudence. The upcoming workforce reductions represent one component of this balancing act.

The company will release its third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings report on Tuesday, March 10.

Quick Overview

• GPT-5.4, OpenAI’s most advanced professional model, became available on March 5, 2026
• Financial professionals gain access to integrated tools connecting FactSet and Third Bridge platforms
• Direct integration now available within Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets environments
• The release positions OpenAI as a direct competitor to Anthropic’s Claude for Financial Services
• ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro members can begin using the model immediately

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, OpenAI introduced GPT-5.4, its newest artificial intelligence model designed specifically with professional applications in mind. The update features specialized capabilities tailored for finance industry users.

The updated system can create spreadsheets, documents, and slide presentations with significantly reduced iterations. It performs web searches to compile data and deliver responses to sophisticated queries.

This release incorporates specialized financial capabilities that establish connections with FactSet Research Systems and Third Bridge data services. These features target professionals conducting financial research and developing investment documentation.

The model now functions directly within Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets applications. OpenAI simultaneously released a ChatGPT add-in specifically designed for Excel.

This launch intensifies competition with Anthropic, which previously introduced Claude for Financial Services. Both organizations are vying for enterprise clients prepared to invest in premium AI solutions.

Performance Metrics and Testing Results

During internal evaluations focusing on investment banking spreadsheet operations, GPT-5.4 achieved an 87.3% success rate, representing a substantial improvement from GPT-5.2’s 68.4% score. When human evaluators compared presentations, they selected GPT-5.4 output 68% of the time over its predecessor.

Using GDPval, a benchmark that evaluates AI performance across 44 different professional roles, GPT-5.4 equaled or exceeded human professional standards in 83% of test cases. The previous GPT-5.2 version achieved 70.9% on identical assessments.

The model recorded 75% accuracy on OSWorld-Verified, a benchmark measuring desktop navigation capabilities using visual inputs and pointer commands. Human participants scored 72.4% on the same evaluation.

OpenAI characterizes this as their most accurate model to date. Incorrect statements occur 33% less frequently than with GPT-5.2.

Access and Cost Structure

GPT-5.4 is becoming accessible to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro members starting today under the designation GPT-5.4 Thinking. The preceding GPT-5.2 Thinking version will remain operational for three additional months before discontinuation on June 5, 2026.

Enterprise and Edu subscription holders can activate early access via administrative controls. GPT-5.4 Pro becomes available for Pro and Enterprise tier subscribers.

API usage costs begin at $2.50 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. These rates exceed GPT-5.2 pricing, which stood at $1.75 and $14 respectively.

The system accommodates up to one million tokens of contextual data in Codex. Regular API calls handle 272,000 tokens, with expanded requests incurring double the standard rate.

According to OpenAI, GPT-5.4 delivers superior token efficiency compared to GPT-5.2, potentially offsetting higher per-token costs through reduced overall usage.

The model can be accessed through Codex, the company’s AI development tool, and via the standard API using the identifier gpt-5.4.