Crypto World
Democrats to Oversee DOJ Probe Into Binance, Reports Say
Democratic lawmakers are intensifying oversight as the Department of Justice weighs a probe into Binance’s handling of Iran-related sanctions. In a joint statement, Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren and Ruben Gallego said they would oversee any DOJ inquiry to ensure the agency conducts a serious review and holds the exchange accountable for potential sanctions violations. The move follows a Wall Street Journal report that cited people familiar with the matter, indicating investigators are examining whether Iran-based entities used Binance to evade sanctions. The disclosure arrives amid broader questions about how crypto platforms enforce U.S. sanctions and how regulators scrutinize exchanges’ risk controls and compliance programs.
The WSJ report, published on a Wednesday, highlighted alleged gaps in verification and monitoring that could have allowed the movement of funds tied to sanctioned actors. In their response, the senators framed Binance as a firm with a documented tendency to place profits ahead of the law and warned that ongoing scrutiny could reveal new sanction-law breaches or reckless assistance to sanctioned networks tied to Iran.
Binance did not respond to a request for comment in this coverage window. A company spokesperson previously told Cointelegraph that the firm was “not aware of any investigations,” adding that Binance is “collaborating with regulators and law enforcement to investigate the facts.”
Last month, the legislators pressed other U.S. authorities—Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s successor and the U.S. Attorney General—to probe Binance over concerns about moving Iran-linked funds. The push underscores a concrete shift from high-profile rhetoric toward formal oversight and potential enforcement actions.
Key takeaways
- The Department of Justice is reportedly examining Binance for possible Iran sanctions evasion, per a Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar with the matter.
- A bipartisan group of U.S. senators vowed to conduct oversight to ensure a serious DOJ investigation and accountability for any wrongdoing by the exchange.
- Binance has publicly stated it is not aware of investigations, while indicating it remains open to regulator and law-enforcement cooperation.
- Binance’s legal history looms over the current scrutiny, including a November 2023 settlement in which the firm pleaded guilty to AML and sanctions violations and agreed to a substantial fine and U.S. oversight.
- Associated twists include a defamation suit Binance filed against the Wall Street Journal over related reporting and past leadership actions by Changpeng Zhao, including a high-profile money-laundering case and a later pardon event.
Market context: The episode sits within a broader climate of tightening regulatory scrutiny over crypto exchanges, with sanctions enforcement and U.S. enforcement actions shaping how platforms implement compliance controls, monitor cross-border flows, and cooperate with authorities. The events also intersect with ongoing debates about how aggressively financial regulators should police crypto-related activities versus fostering innovation.
Why it matters
The unfolding developments are significant for investors, users and builders across the crypto landscape. For users, the episode reinforces the importance of robust know-your-customer and sanctions-screening processes on exchanges, especially those operating with global liquidity pools and complex counterparties. For the market, the alleged Iran-related activity intersects with sanctions enforcement risk—a factor that can influence liquidity, exchange flows and the perceived regulatory exposure of major platforms.
From a policy perspective, the bipartisan call for oversight signals a willingness in Congress to elevate sanction-compliance risk as a central governance issue for crypto businesses. Regulators’ willingness to scrutinize and potentially sanction exchanges for lax controls could accelerate investment in compliance tooling, internal controls, and audit regimes. For Binance, the situation underscores the reputational and legal headwinds that can follow high-stakes enforcement actions, even as the firm continues to court regulatory clarity and operational resilience under scrutiny.
What to watch next
- DOJ conclusions or disclosures stemming from any formal investigation into Binance’s sanctions compliance (dates pending).
- Statements or hearings from the Senate oversight group outlining findings, scope, or requested remedies related to Binance’s conduct.
- Any regulatory actions or consent orders resulting from broader sanctions-enforcement activities involving major crypto exchanges.
- Binance’s public responses or new compliance commitments in response to renewed inquiries and potential legal actions.
- Developments in related legal proceedings, including Binance’s defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal and any outcomes related to prior AML/sanctions settlements.
Sources & verification
- Joint statement by Senators Van Hollen, Warren and Gallego on DOJ investigation into Binance compliance with U.S. sanctions law.
- Wall Street Journal report detailing the DOJ’s potential probe into Iran’s use of Binance to evade sanctions.
- Binance’s public remarks to Cointelegraph about not being aware of investigations and willingness to cooperate with regulators.
- Binance’s defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal over reporting regarding Iran-sanctions-related financing.
Regulatory scrutiny and Binance’s Iran sanctions probe
Regulatory attention on Malta-based, global crypto trading platforms has intensified, and Binance’s case sits squarely at the intersection of sanctions enforcement and exchange governance. The sequence of events paints a picture of a landscape where regulators are elevating sanctions-compliance into a central risk category for platform operators. The Wall Street Journal’s reporting framed the DOJ inquiry as a potential line of inquiry into whether Binance enabled or facilitated transactions linked to Iran-linked entities in breach of U.S. sanctions regimes, including the long-standing restrictions designed to curb financing for designated groups and programs.
The senators’ response underscores the political dimension of the issue. By pledging to oversee the DOJ’s handling of the matter, they are signaling that oversight will extend beyond a single agency or incident, potentially prompting a broader review of Binance’s internal controls, transaction-monitoring capabilities, and cooperation with law enforcement. The public tension between scrutiny and corporate defense is a familiar rhythm in the crypto regulatory era: as investigations surface, exchanges lean on assurances of compliance and collaboration while lawmakers seek concrete accountability measures.
Binance’s public position has consistently emphasized cooperation with regulators and law enforcement, even as it navigates the fallout from earlier enforcement actions. The firm has faced substantial consequences in the past, including a November 2023 settlement that required a record penalty and ongoing oversight to resolve U.S. AML and sanctions concerns. The current inquiry adds another layer of uncertainty around the company’s ability to weather intensified enforcement pressures while maintaining global liquidity and user access. The defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal adds a legal counterpoint to the narrative, illustrating how market participants increasingly engage in strategic communications as investigations unfold.
Beyond Binance, the broader regulatory environment continues to evolve. The developments reflect ongoing efforts to tighten sanctions enforcement, improve compliance in cross-border crypto flows, and align exchange practices with U.S. national security objectives. For market participants, the emphasis on robust due diligence, transparent reporting, and rigorous transaction monitoring could reshape industry norms and drive investment in compliance-focused technologies and procedures. The balance between enabling legitimate crypto activity and enforcing sanctions remains delicate, with outcomes likely to influence how exchanges structure risk controls, governance, and regulatory engagement in the months ahead.
Singapore-based fintech MetaComp has closed a Pre-A+ funding round backed by Alibaba, lifting its cumulative total to US$35 million across two rounds in just three months, according to the company’s announcement. The latest round also brought in European early-stage investor Spark Venture, with Beijing-based 100Summit Partners serving as exclusive financial adviser. The capital infusion is aimed at accelerating MetaComp’s StableX Network, a cross-border payments platform designed to weave together fiat rails and stablecoin infrastructure for regulated institutions and high-net-worth clients. MetaComp previously disclosed a US$22 million Pre-A round in December 2025, signaling robust early-stage interest in regulated web2.5 payments infrastructure across Asia.
Key takeaways
- MetaComp’s Pre-A+ round, anchored by Alibaba, raises the company’s total funding to US$35 million in three months, underscoring strong demand for regulated cross-border stablecoin infrastructure.
- The round introduces Spark Venture from Europe as an investor and names 100Summit Partners (Beijing) as exclusive financial adviser, highlighting cross-regional interest.
- MetaComp previously closed a US$22 million Pre-A round in December 2025 with investors including Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund and Beingboom Capital, illustrating sustained backing for hybrid fiat-stablecoin payments.
- The company intends to scale the StableX Network to connect regulated financial institutions, stablecoin issuers and partners across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America for real-time cross-border settlement.
- Industry context points to ongoing investor appetite for regulated stablecoin infrastructure in Asia, with forecasts suggesting the stablecoin market could reach around US$2 trillion by 2028.
Sentiment: Neutral
Market context: The funding activity aligns with a broader push to build regulated stablecoin rails that complement traditional banking systems. While regulators in some jurisdictions pursue stricter issuance controls, the Alibaba-backed round signals continued strategic interest in cross-border settlement infrastructure. The market backdrop includes forecasts that place stablecoins on a trajectory toward multi-trillion-dollar scales in the coming years, underscoring a shift toward institutional-grade crypto rails alongside established fiat systems.
Why it matters
MetaComp’s expansion of the StableX Network sits at the intersection of conventional finance and tokenized wealth management. By offering a hybrid model that merges fiat rails with stablecoin networks, the platform aims to provide faster, auditable cross-border settlements for banks, wealth managers and corporate clients. The vision is to enable real-time settlement that adheres to regulatory standards, a critical requirement for institutions seeking to incorporate digital assets into traditional portfolios without sacrificing compliance or risk controls.
The leadership’s explicit framing of a “Web2.5” architecture — where fiat rails and stablecoins operate as a single, interoperable ecosystem — underscores a broader sector trend toward hybrid solutions that deliver both speed and governance. If MetaComp can successfully onboard a network of banks, regulators and stablecoin issuers across multiple regions, the company could help accelerate the adoption of regulated stablecoins for international payments and cross-border trade. The mix of investors—Alibaba alongside European and Asian advisers—signals confidence in MetaComp’s ability to navigate the regulatory and operational complexities inherent in multi-jurisdiction collaborations.
Alibaba’s involvement comes at a sensitive juncture for stablecoins issued outside mainland China. The company has previously explored deposit-token technology for overseas transactions even as authorities tighten issuance rules within the country. The contrast between policy posture and private-sector experimentation highlights a nuanced landscape where international collaborations may unlock regulated cross-border flows, even as domestic issuance remains constrained. The broader market context, including forecasts of substantial growth for stablecoins, suggests a potential win for platforms that can demonstrate robust compliance, interoperability and measurable settlement improvements.
MetaComp’s strategic direction also rests on a global expansion blueprint. By extending the StableX Network to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, the company aims to capture markets with rising demand for compliant, real-time settlement services. The model envisions a hub-and-spoke arrangement, linking financial institutions with stablecoin issuers and technology partners to streamline remittances, supplier payments and institutional treasury operations. Such an approach could address persistent inefficiencies in traditional cross-border rails while offering a path for asset managers and financial institutions to participate more directly in tokenized wealth solutions.
What to watch next
- Regulatory updates in target regions as MetaComp expands the StableX Network and pilots cross-border settlement solutions.
- New partnerships with banks, stablecoin issuers and wealth-management platforms to demonstrate live use cases and scale pilots.
- Possible follow-on funding rounds or strategic investments, including potential continued support from Alibaba and additional strategic investors.
- Public milestones on onboarding institutions and the rollout timeline for expansion into Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Sources & verification
- MetaComp press release: Alibaba-backed Pre-A+ round, total US$35 million in three months (PR Newswire)
- MetaComp press release: December 2025 Pre-A round totaling US$22 million, with investors including Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund and Beingboom Capital (PR Newswire)
- Summary of MetaComp’s expansion and regional focus (MetaComp page) (MetaComp)
- Stablecoin market projections and regulatory context cited by industry coverage (Standard Chartered projection; referenced via Cointelegraph) (Cointelegraph — Stablecoin forecast)
- Regulatory stance on stablecoins and issuance (China crackdown context referenced in coverage) (Cointelegraph — Alibaba and stablecoins in China)
MetaComp expands StableX Network to accelerate cross-border finance
Singapore-based MetaComp announced a new Pre-A+ funding round led by Alibaba, raising the cumulative total to US$35 million across two rounds in three months. The round also features Spark Venture, a European early-stage investor, with 100Summit Partners (Beijing) acting as exclusive financial adviser. The capital infusion follows MetaComp’s earlier December 2025 disclosure of a US$22 million Pre-A round, which included a roster of notable investors such as Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund and Beingboom Capital. The company said the funds will be directed at expanding the StableX Network, a platform designed to harmonize regulated financial institutions, stablecoin issuers and other partners through blockchain-based infrastructure.
At the heart of MetaComp’s strategy is a belief in a Web2.5 architecture where traditional fiat rails and stablecoin networks function together as a single, interoperable system. Tin Pei Ling, MetaComp’s co-president, underscored this vision, saying, “MetaComp was built on a single conviction: that the future of cross-border finance is neither purely traditional nor purely digital — it’s the integrated Web2.5 architecture where fiat rails and stablecoin networks operate as one.” The capital infusion is expected to accelerate the scaling of StableX Network beyond its current footprint into new markets and partnerships that can support real-time settlement with compliance at the forefront.
MetaComp’s expansion plan targets Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, areas where regulators are increasingly receptive to cross-border settlement innovations that preserve safety and oversight while delivering faster settlement times. The network aims to create a bridge between regulated financial institutions and stablecoin issuers, enabling institutions to access tokenized wealth products and stablecoin-based liquidity tools within a compliant framework. The move aligns with a broader industry trend toward building scalable, regulator-friendly infrastructure that can support institutional participation in the digital asset ecosystem.
The partnership profile around this round—Alibaba alongside European and Chinese advisers—reflects a cross-border approach to building out the infrastructure that could underpin more efficient remittances, cross-border corporate payments and wealth-management solutions in the years ahead. While regulatory policies differ across jurisdictions, the strategic emphasis on compliance and interoperability suggests that MetaComp intends to pursue a steady, institution-focused growth path rather than a rapid, consumer-facing rollout.
Investors have paid fees to hold Ethereum in ETFs for years while leaving the network’s native yield on the table, and that inefficiency disappeared this morning when BlackRock turned Ethereum into a productive asset for Wall Street by entering the staking race.
For the first time in US market history, the world’s largest asset manager is offering a product that captures both price appreciation and the network’s validator rewards. Now investors don’t have to choose between holding and earning, both are on the table.
This news comes as the Ethereum price surged +2.8% overnight and is currently trading back above $2,100 as we head into the weekend.
The total crypto market cap is also up, climbing +2% over the past 24 hours and reclaiming the crucial $2.5 trillion level in the process.
BlackRock Enters the Staking Race: ETHB Launches on Nasdaq
BlackRock officially launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB) on the Nasdaq exchange today. The product is distinct from the firm’s existing iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which holds over $6.5Bn in assets but serves strictly as a passive price tracker.
This new vehicle intends to stake between 70% and 95% of its ether holdings to generate yield. However, the fee structure is aggressive. While the standard sponsor fee is set at 0.25%, BlackRock has implemented a promotional waiver that reduces the cost to 0.12%.
This rate applies to the first $2.5Bn in Net Asset Value (NAV) or for the first 12 months of trading, whichever threshold is breached first.
Jessica Tan, Head of Americas for iShares, positioned the launch as a direct response to client demand for products that reflect the full economic reality of the asset class.
The trust joins a BlackRock digital asset platform that now oversees approximately $130Bn in assets, cementing the firm’s dominance in the digital asset ETF space.
DISCOVER: Next Crypto to Explode in 2026
The BlackRock Ethereum Institutional Pivot: Yield is No Longer Optional
This launch signals that institutional adoption has moved beyond simple exposure. Until recently, regulatory friction prevented US issuers from including staking mechanics in exchange-traded products, forcing investors to choose between the safety of an ETF and the yield of direct ownership. That choice is no longer binary.
The arrival of ETHB suggests that regulators are increasingly comfortable with the technical nuances of proof-of-stake blockchains. Recent coordination between the SEC and CFTC has likely smoothed the path for these more complex structured products.
For allocators, the implications are mathematical: holding ample ETH without staking it is now a decision to accept underperformance relative to the benchmark.
Competitors like Fidelity and Grayscale are now on the defensive. With BlackRock successfully packaging staking rewards into a 0.12% fee product, the pressure to upgrade existing spot ETFs into staking-enabled vehicles will be immediate. The market standard for an Ethereum product has just been raised.
Supply Dynamics: The Scarcity Squeeze for ETH USD
The launch of ETHB introduces a new demand sink for the Ethereum network. Unlike spot ETFs, which simply hold coins in cold storage, staking ETFs lock those coins into the validator network. This reduces the actively circulating supply available for trading.
If capital rotates aggressively from the BlackRock Ethereum ETHA product to its new ETHB staking fund, or if new money enters specifically for the yield, the percentage of ETH locked in staking contracts will rise.
This aligns with broader market trends where Ethereum’s scarcity index is already turning positive. A successful ETHB launch accelerates this dynamic by institutionalizing the lock-up process.
With ETH USD facing immediate resistance at $2,150, the launch of BlackRock’s new Ethereum staking ETF could send it surging straight to the next target at around $2,400.
EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales to Buy in 2026
The post BlackRock Launches iShares Staked Ethereum Trust With 82% Rewards appeared first on Cryptonews.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said Friday that he is no longer closely aligned with the Future of Life Institute, a group that received SHIB tokens from him in 2021.
Buterin said the institute originally pitched him a broad roadmap for reducing existential risks, including those tied to artificial intelligence, biology and nuclear threats, along with wider pro-peace and pro-epistemics initiatives. He said that helped motivate the Shiba Inu (SHIB) donation.
Buterin said the institute later moved toward cultural and political advocacy around AI risks, an approach he described as materially different from the strategy outlined when he donated.
“My worry is that large-scale coordinated political action with big money pools is a thing that can easily lead to unintended outcomes, cause backlashes, and solve problems in a way that is both authoritarian and fragile, even if it was not originally intended that way,” he wrote.
Buterin expresses disagreements to FLI’s current approach
The FLI describes its mission as reducing extreme risks and steering transformative technologies to benefit humanity.
“We need policies to help ensure that AI development improves lives everywhere – rather than merely boosts corporate profits,” the organization states on its website.
However, Buterin said some of the group’s proposals focus on placing safeguards in biosynthesis devices and AI models so that they refuse to produce harmful outputs.
“I view this as a very fragile solution: there are many ways to jailbreak, fine-tune or otherwise get around such restrictions,” he added.
Cointelegraph reached out to the FLI for comments, but had not received a response by publication.
Related: Vitalik says ‘at present’ his donations yield better gains than investments
FLI cashed out $500 million from the SHIB donation
In 2021, Buterin received large amounts of SHIB tokens and other dog-themed tokens as developers attempted to use his name as a marketing tactic. He later allocated some of those tokens to charitable causes.
The FLI was one of the organizations that received tokens from Buterin. However, he said he did not expect the value of the donated tokens to reach roughly half a billion dollars.
“I thought that surely they would cash out at most $10-25M, because there’s no way the SHIB market is deep enough to cash out more,” he wrote. “Instead, they managed to cash out something like $500M.”
FLI announced in June 2021 that a $25 million multi-year grants program had been made possible by support from Buterin and the Shiba Inu community.
Magazine: Human brain cell wetware plays Doom, fly’s mind uploaded: AI Eye
ETH is currently close to the buying zone, but the sell side is miles away.
Ethereum’s ETH is gaining steam on the day after the world’s largest asset manager launched a staked ETH tracking its performance in the US.
The token is currently challenging the $2,100 level after a 3% daily increase, but one popular analyst, who has focused on the longer term, laid out what he called a dream trade for ETH.
When to Buy and Sell ETH
Ali Martinez, the crypto analyst with nearly 165,000 followers on X, noted in a recent post that the accumulation zone is close by. He believes investors should accumulate the largest altcoin at levels around $1,070. Although the asset slipped below $1,500 last year, it has not traded anywhere near Martinez’s buy target since December 2022, at the end of the bear market.
If investors are indeed able to purchase ETH at these low levels, then the ‘dream’ profit-taking scenario would be at over $8,600. It’s worth noting that the altcoin has never even come close to such peaks. It would have to stage a 300% surge from its current level (or 700% from the accumulation zone) and smash through its 2025 all-time high of almost $5,000 to materialize Martinez’s trade.
The dream trade for Ethereum $ETH:
• Accumulate near $1,070
• Take profits around $8,670 pic.twitter.com/lBY8ThOsB7— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 13, 2026
Bullish News for ETH
Fellow analyst CW outlined two factors that could propel ETH to new peaks soon. First, they noted that there’s a notable uptick in the Ethereum active addresses, which “indicates bullish market movements.” A similar pattern was visible near the bottom at the aforementioned bear cycle in 2025, and ETH’s price went on a roll in the following months.
The increase in $ETH active addresses indicates bullish market movements.
Although the price of $ETH has fallen, the network has actually become more active.
This pattern has been observed consistently near the bottom since 2022. This is expected to be due to increased… pic.twitter.com/FLwikGFfsn
— CW (@CW8900) March 13, 2026
You may also like:
In a separate post, the analyst outlined that Ethereum’s realized capitalization (calculated by the total value of all ETH coins based on the price when they last moved, rather than the current market price) has turned positive again. This, according to their estimations, is a clear signal about “the start of a full-scale bull market.”
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Singapore-based MetaComp said Friday it completed a new funding round backed by Alibaba, as the company expands its stablecoin payment infrastructure.
MetaComp completed a Pre-A+ round backed by Alibaba, bringing the cumulative total to $35 million across two rounds in three months, according to the announcement.
The latest round also featured the European early-stage venture capital investor Spark Venture, with Beijing-based 100Summit Partners serving as exclusive financial adviser.
MetaComp previously announced closing a $22 million Pre-A funding round in December 2025 from investors including Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund and Beingboom Capital.
The raise adds to signs of investor interest in regulated stablecoin infrastructure for cross-border payments in Asia.
MetaComp’s StableX Network to expand worldwide
Founded in 2018, MetaComp serves global financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals by offering hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions and access to traditional and tokenized wealth management products.
With the new capital, MetaComp plans to expand its StableX Network, a platform that connects regulated financial institutions, stablecoin issuers and other partners through blockchain-based infrastructure.
Related: Stablecoin payments startup Kast raises $80M at $600M valuation: Report
MetaComp said the network will expand across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where it sees growing demand for compliant, real-time cross-border settlement.
“MetaComp was built on a single conviction: that the future of cross-border finance is neither purely traditional nor purely digital — it’s the integrated Web2.5 architecture where fiat rails and stablecoin networks operate as one,” MetaComp co-president Tin Pei Ling said.
Alibaba explores stablecoin projects despite China’s crackdown on issuance
Alibaba’s backing is notable given earlier reports that the company was exploring deposit-token technology for overseas transactions even as mainland China kept tight restrictions on stablecoin issuance.
In February, the government reiterated its stance, saying foreign and domestic companies cannot issue stablecoins pegged to the national currency without approval.
The stablecoin market is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2028, according to institutions including Standard Chartered.
Magazine: Is China hoarding gold so yuan becomes global reserve instead of USD?
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia’s annual GTC 2026 event takes place March 16–19, beginning with Jensen Huang’s keynote address on Monday.
- Analysts are looking for clarity on component supply chains—specifically wafers, memory, and optics—and Vera Rubin chip rollout timelines.
- Projected free cash flow for this fiscal year stands at $178 billion, which would set an unprecedented record for corporate profitability.
- Of the 70 analysts tracking NVDA, 93% maintain Buy ratings, with consensus price targets around $267–$273, suggesting ~45–49% potential gains.
- Despite rising earnings estimates, Nvidia shares have remained relatively stagnant in 2026, trading near $185 with roughly 1% year-to-date decline.
Nvidia (NVDA) enters what many consider its most critical week of 2026. The company’s flagship GTC conference begins Monday, March 16, and continues through March 19. Chief Executive Jensen Huang is scheduled to open the event with his keynote presentation—likely sporting his iconic leather jacket.
Shares have traded sideways for several months, lingering around the $185 mark since August of last year. An 8% pullback materialized earlier this year before the stock rebounded. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s profit projections have continued trending upward.
Analysts project free cash flow for the fiscal year concluding in January 2027 will reach $178 billion—representing an 85% increase year-over-year. For perspective, Saudi Aramco established the historical benchmark for free cash flow in 2022 at approximately $150 billion. Should Nvidia achieve current consensus estimates, it would claim the title of most profitable corporation ever recorded.
Looking further ahead, analysts anticipate that milestone will be surpassed again, with free cash flow projections climbing to $233 billion in fiscal 2028.
Investor Focus Areas
Analyst scrutiny will concentrate on several critical topics. Supply chain visibility tops the list. Nvidia must demonstrate that its upcoming Vera Rubin chip deliveries remain on schedule and customer orders are being fulfilled according to commitments. Any indication of delays would likely trigger market volatility.
AI infrastructure spending sustainability represents another major concern. Tech giants including Amazon and Alphabet are projected to deploy $660 billion toward AI infrastructure throughout this year. Amazon’s capital expenditures alone have surged from approximately $50–$60 billion annually to an estimated $190 billion for the current year. Barclays research suggests total AI-related capital spending across the industry could reach $1 trillion by 2028.
Product development strategy also demands attention. The AI semiconductor landscape is transitioning from model training applications toward inference workloads—the deployment of trained models in production environments. This evolution creates different chip requirements.
Inference operations consist of two distinct phases: prefill, where input tokens are processed simultaneously (optimized for parallel GPU architecture), and decode, which generates output sequentially and benefits from purpose-built hardware designs.
Groq Integration Strategy
Nvidia invested approximately $20 billion last year to license intellectual property from Groq, an emerging chip company, while bringing its engineering team in-house. Groq develops LPUs—language processing units—engineered specifically for cost-effective, high-efficiency decode operations.
Market participants will be seeking specifics on how Groq’s LPU architecture integrates into Nvidia’s broader chip strategy going forward. This acquisition positions the company to compete more effectively against cloud providers building proprietary silicon.
Truist Securities anticipates “comments around market sizing and growth rates, along with product introductions, to be a modest positive for the stock.”
UBS characterizes the disconnect between its optimistic Nvidia earnings forecasts and the stock’s current discounted valuation as “seemingly unsustainable.” Nevertheless, UBS maintains that a transformative catalyst emerging from the conference appears “hard to see.”
Trading at 17 times projected earnings for next fiscal year, Nvidia currently commands a valuation multiple below the S&P 500 average. Among 70 analysts providing coverage, 93% assign Buy recommendations.
Consensus price targets cluster around $267–$273, implying potential appreciation of 45% to 49% from present levels.
Bitcoin (BTC) may approach a market bottom, with a macro model tied to the US and China’s benchmark 10-year bond yields hinting at a potential rally toward $100,000 in the months ahead.
Key takeaways:
-
Bitcoin whales show signs of accumulation that were seen near the 2023 market low.
-
BTC holds key long-term support while “oversold,” increasing the chance of a recovery.
History rhymes? BTC flashes ‘precise’ bullish cross
The model, shared by analyst AO, applies a Stochastic RSI oscillator to the product of US10Y and CN10Y.
When overlaid with Bitcoin’s historical price action, the indicator shows that bullish crossovers from oversold levels have historically appeared near major BTC market bottoms.
For instance, in 2013, the crossover preceded a 8,700% surge in Bitcoin prices. Similar signals appeared before the 2017 bull run (+1,900%), the 2020–2021 cycle (+600%), and the 2023 rebound (+350%+).
In March, the Stoch RSI flashed another “extremely precise” bullish crossover, according to analyst Crypto Rand, who said the signal suggests Bitcoin is “going way higher.”
Whale behavior backs case for a Bitcoin bottom
Onchain data tracking Bitcoin whales support the macro outlook discussed above.
For instance, Bitcoin wallets holding between 1,000 BTC and 10,000 BTC resumed accumulation during the recent price decline, resembling the behavior seen near earlier market bottoms.
For instance, the same cohort began buying in early 2023 near the price lows before Bitcoin went on to rally more than 350%.
Related: STRC may help Strategy reach 1M Bitcoin milestone before BlackRock
Similar accumulation phases by large holders also appeared before the 2017 and 2020 bull runs. This setup may improve Bitcoin’s odds of bottoming out earlier than some analysts predict.
BTC technicals hint at rebound toward $100,000
Bitcoin’s weekly chart is also showing early signs of a potential rebound.
Over the past month, bears failed to push BTC decisively below its 100-week simple moving average (100-week SMA, the blue line), a level that has often marked the price bottom in past cycles.
Following the March 2020 test, Bitcoin rebounded by more than 1,000% from that support line, while a similar bounce in 2019 preceded gains of over 300%.
Additionally, BTC’s relative strength index (RSI) has slipped into oversold territory below 30, suggesting that the price has fallen too far, too fast, increasing the chances of a recovery.
A decisive rebound from the 200-week SMA could send the BTC price toward $100,000 by August, where the 50-week SMA and 1.618 Fibonacci level converge.
Conversely, some analysts warned about a potential bull trap if Bitcoin fails to rise above the $78,000 resistance level, which is key for a bullish trend reversal.
Below the spot price, the areas of interest include the 200-week exponential moving average at $68,300 and the $60,000-65,500 support zone.
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.
One of the major crypto conferences in Dubai has been rescheduled for next year.
One of the largest annual crypto-oriented events, Token2049 in Dubai, has reportedly been rescheduled for next year.
According to Wu Blockchain, the Dubai TOKEN2049 conference will be hled on the 21st and 22nd of April in 2027. It was originally supposed to take place in April this year.
Per the official statement:
This decision was not taken lightly. Preparations for the event were progressing strongly. However, ensuring the global crypto industry can gther safely, and at the scale and quality that define TOKEN2049, remains our top priority.
Exclusive: The Dubai TOKEN2049 summit, originally scheduled for April 29-30, 2026, has been postponed to April 21-22, 2027. This comes after several locations in Dubai were attacked by Iranian drones and shrapnel, prompting many in the crypto industry to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/aSl4qbRKKr
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) March 13, 2026
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
The price of XRP is stabilizing near a key technical level even as institutional flows weaken, raising questions about the token’s next move.
Summary
- XRP spot ETFs recorded about $6.08 million in daily net outflows, signaling softer institutional demand.
- The token is trading around $1.41, consolidating after falling from highs near $1.90 earlier this year.
- Momentum indicators such as the RSI near 50 and a rising Awesome Oscillator suggest bearish pressure may be fading.
The Ripple token (XRP) was trading around $1.41 on March 13, gaining roughly 2.4% on the day, according to data from Crypto.News. The token has been consolidating in a narrow range after declining from highs near $1.90 earlier this year, suggesting that the market is searching for a new directional catalyst.
Institutional sentiment appears to be softening. Data tracking XRP spot exchange-traded funds shows daily net outflows of about $6.08 million, while total net assets across these products remain close to $967 million.
The chart indicates that after several sessions of inflows earlier in March, ETF activity has turned negative with multiple red days in a row, signaling that some institutional investors may be reducing exposure or locking in profits following previous gains.
Despite the cooling ETF demand, XRP has managed to maintain support above the $1.40 level, an area that traders are closely watching as a potential pivot for the next move.
XRP price analysis
From a technical perspective, momentum indicators suggest that bearish pressure is gradually fading. The relative strength index (RSI) currently sits near 50, reflecting neutral momentum and a balance between buyers and sellers.
Meanwhile, the Awesome Oscillator has steadily climbed toward the zero line after spending several weeks in negative territory, a shift that typically indicates weakening downside momentum and the possibility of a trend reversal.
Additional support for market sentiment could come from developments around Ripple, which recently launched a $750 million share buyback program aimed at repurchasing shares from early investors and employees.
While the buyback does not directly affect XRP supply, it is often viewed by market participants as a sign of confidence in the broader ecosystem surrounding the token.
Technically, XRP faces immediate resistance near $1.45 to $1.50, a zone that has repeatedly capped recent rallies.
A decisive breakout above that level could open the path toward $1.60 and potentially $1.70, while failure to hold above $1.30–$1.35 could expose the token to renewed downside pressure.
Crypto World
Can Ethereum price rally continue above $2100 as BlackRock’s staked Ethereum ETF launches?
Ethereum’s price rallied to a weekly high of $2,144 on Friday following the strong debut of investment manager BlackRock’s staked Ethereum ETF.
Summary
- Ethereum price broke past the $2,100 resistance level on March 13.
- BlackRock’s staking ETF ETHB pulled in $15.5 million in trading volume on launch day.
- A bullish SMA crossover is close to confirmation on the daily chart.
According to data from crypto.news, Ethereum (ETH) price shot up nearly 6% to $2,144 during Friday morning Asian time before stabilizing around $2,100 at the time of writing. At this valuation, the second-largest crypto asset by market cap sits 11% above its weekly low and over 18% from its lowest point in February.
The rally gained momentum after BlackRock recorded a very strong debut with its iShares Staked Ethereum ETF (ETHB) on Nasdaq. The first Ethereum ETF from the world’s largest asset manager to include staking pulled in around $15.5 million in trading volume on its first day.
For context, the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB) operates by holding spot Ethereum and dynamically staking between 70% and 95% of its reserves directly on the Ethereum network. This structure allows investors to receive 82% of staking rewards through monthly distributions. This largely differs from existing Ethereum ETFs, where investors forego staking rewards, making those older products much less appealing.
As such, there is a strong possibility that investors could begin rotating their capital from other ETH ETFs, including BlackRock’s own ETHA, which offers no staking, into the new ETHB.
Investors who have previously stayed on the sidelines due to the lack of yield could now also enter the market while enjoying the added benefits of staking rewards. This shift, driven by those who finally see the ETF as a productive asset, could likely act as a fresh catalyst to sustain the current uptrend.
Meanwhile, besides the ETF news, a sharp drop in crude oil prices provided extra tailwinds. Brent crude dropped 7% today, renewing investor demand for risk assets, including Ethereum, as they rotate away from traditional safe-haven assets.
On the daily chart, technical indicators seem to suggest that Ethereum’s price could sustain its rally above $2,100 in the short term.
Notably, the 20-day moving average appears to be close to confirming a bullish crossover with the 50-day moving average. Meanwhile, the Aroon Up remains at 35.71%, which is comfortably above the Aroon Down at 7.14%. Ethereum’s RSI has also yet to enter the overbought area.
This suggests there is still room for the uptrend to continue before any potential exhaustion or reversal occurs.
For now, $2,200 could act as the immediate resistance that traders will be watching closely for signs of a breakout. A move above that level could act as a definitive confirmation of a positive shift in market sentiment.
A rally above that mark would also invalidate a major bearish pattern. As previously reported by analysts at crypto.news, the price has been forming a bearish flag pattern over multiple months.
Bearish flag patterns are considered some of the most bearish formations in technical analysis. If ETH falls towards $1800, it would confirm the pattern.
McDonald’s customers urged to take key action before March 17
WA finally above GST floor as deal hailed 'success'
Alibaba joins MetaComp’s $35M stablecoin fundraise
Smart energy pays enters the US market, targeting scalable financial infrastructure
Why Israel is blocking foreign journalists from entering
Bitcoin: We’re Entering The Most Dangerous Phase
Weekly Pay Quiz: Can You Solve This Math Riddle? #quiz #finance #shorts
OMG SCARY Cardano Founder: Worst Crypto Era in History #crypto #cryptocurrency #xrp #finance #oil
The First Financial Scam in History #history #finance
-
Business7 days ago
Form 8K Entergy Mississippi LLC For: 6 March
-
News Videos4 days ago10th Algebra | Financial Planning | Question Bank Solution | Board Exam 2026
-
Fashion7 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Ann Taylor
-
Crypto World4 days agoParadigm, a16z, Winklevoss Capital, Balaji Srinivasan among investors in ZODL
-
Tech2 days agoA 1,300-Pound NASA Spacecraft To Re-Enter Earth’s Atmosphere
-
Tech3 days agoChatGPT will now generate interactive visuals to help you with math and science concepts
-
Politics7 days agoTop Mamdani aide takes progressive project to the UK
-
Business3 days agoExxonMobil seeks to move corporate registration from New Jersey to Texas
-
Sports6 days agoThree share 2-shot lead entering final round in Hong Kong
-
Sports5 days agoBraveheart Lakshya downs Lai in epic battle to enter All England Open final | Other Sports News
-
NewsBeat2 days agoResidents reaction as Shildon murder probe enters second day
-
Entertainment6 days agoHailey Bieber Poses For Sexy Selfies In New Luscious Lip Thirst Traps
-
Business5 days agoSearch for Nancy Guthrie Enters 37th Day as FBI Probes Wi-Fi Jammer Theory
-
Business2 days agoSearch Enters Sixth Week With New Leads in Tucson Abduction Case
-
NewsBeat3 days agoPagazzi Lighting enters administration as 70 jobs lost and 11 stores close across Scotland
-
Tech4 days agoDespite challenges, Ireland sixth in EU for board gender diversity
-
Business4 days agoSearch Enters 39th Day with FBI Tip Line Developments and No Major Breakthroughs
-
NewsBeat2 days agoI Entered The Manosphere. Nothing Could Prepare Me For What I Found.
-
Business6 days agoIran war enters second week as Trump demands ’unconditional surrender’
-
Sports4 days agoSkateboarding World Championships: Britain’s Sky Brown wins park gold