U.S. federal prosecutors have filed a civil forfeiture action to recover roughly $3.44 million in USDt tied to an online crypto investment scam that targeted victims across several states. The funds were seized in February and March 2025, and authorities are seeking a court’s blessing for permanent forfeiture. The case highlights how fraudsters used calculated manipulation to win trust before steering victims into a fraudulent investment scheme. The investigation, which began in late 2024 after multiple losses, involved residents in Massachusetts, Utah, and South Carolina, among others, underscoring the cross-state reach of crypto-enabled scams and the persistence of enforcement actions in the sector.

Key takeaways

• The civil forfeiture action seeks about $3.44 million in USDt linked to a multi-state investment scam that operated through cryptocurrency wallets.
• The scheme revolved around a fabricated Ethereum investment, supposedly backed by physical gold, and instructed victims to purchase Ether and transfer it to wallets controlled by the perpetrators.
• Funds transferred into those wallets were routed through intermediary addresses, swapped for USDt, and moved to unhosted wallets controlled by the fraudsters.
• The case follows a pattern of trust-building and manipulation used by scammers to induce victims to invest in purported crypto ventures.
• In related enforcement actions, U.S. authorities have recovered USDt in other fraud contexts, including a romance-scam-related recovery in Massachusetts and a larger seizure tied to a “pig-butchering” scheme in North Carolina, while the stablecoin issuer has reported significant seizures tied to illicit activity in recent years.

Tickers mentioned: $ETH, $USDT

Market context: The episode sits within a broader pattern of law-enforcement focus on crypto-enabled fraud, with authorities increasingly tracing on-chain activity to recover illicit funds and coordinate action across jurisdictions. The linked actions reflect ongoing cooperation between prosecutors, financial investigators, and digital-asset tracing firms as investigators pursue complex money trails across wallets and exchanges.

What to watch next (Not financial advice):

• Whether a court grants permanent forfeiture of the USDt tied to the scheme and how the funds will be distributed to victims or used to cover administrative costs.
• Any additional civil or criminal actions against the individuals named in the complaint, including potential charges related to fraud and money laundering.
• Subsequent enforcement actions tied to similar “fake investment” narratives that exploit a trust in crypto assets.
• Updates from the stablecoin ecosystem operators and regulators regarding tracing tools and cooperation with law enforcement.

Sources & verification

• United States Attorney’s Office in Boston — civil forfeiture announcement related to USDt in a multi-state crypto scam.
• Massachusetts romance-scam case linked to USDt recoveries reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
• North Carolina enforcement action involving a large USDt seizure tied to a pig-butchering scheme.
• Tether public disclosures on USDt freezes related to illicit activity over the past three years.

Forfeiture action targets USDt-linked scam tied to gold-backed ETH pitch

The civil forfeiture filing in Massachusetts centers on a scheme in which scammers approached victims through messages designed to look like accidental outreach, using encrypted channels and digital messaging to establish a false sense of legitimacy. Once trust was established, the perpetrators marketed an “exclusive” Ethereum investment opportunity that allegedly carried the backing of physical gold. Victims were instructed to acquire Ether and forward it to wallets controlled by the fraudsters, who then moved the proceeds through a sequence of addresses to obscure the money trail.

According to prosecutors, the Ether sent by victims flowed through intermediary addresses and was converted into USDt before ending up in unhosted wallets controlled by the scammers. The operation relied on a familiar playbook in which fraudsters cultivate a sense of urgency and exclusivity, exploiting the reputation of crypto assets to convince naïve investors to part with their funds. The complaint notes that the manipulation techniques are designed to create trust quickly, enabling victims to overlook red flags and proceed with transfers that appear legitimate at the outset.

In such fraud schemes, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics and cultivate a level of trust before steering them into a fraudulent investment.

Investigators traced the activity back to late 2024, when at least four individuals reported losses, including residents in Massachusetts and others in Utah and South Carolina. The pattern aligns with a broader corpus of cases where on-chain activity is used to funnel funds from unsuspecting investors into stages that obscure the final beneficiary wallets. The asset at the center of this case, USDt, was identified as the vehicle for consolidating and moving funds after initial transfers of Ether were completed. The seizure of USDt in February and March 2025, followed by the civil action, underscores the persistent effort by law enforcement to claw back stolen assets and deter future frauds in the crypto space.

The broader enforcement environment has featured other high-profile seizures and recoveries. In one Massachusetts romance-scam, prosecutors sought to recover approximately $327,829 in USDt linked to the fraud, illustrating how fraud schemes frequently cross state lines and involve specialized money-laundering techniques. In North Carolina, authorities seized more than $61 million in USDt tied to a large “pig-butchering” operation that exploited fake investment platforms to defraud victims. The pattern across cases demonstrates the active role of federal and state agencies in tracing and recovering illicit cryptocurrency proceeds, as well as the cooperation with token issuers who can provide granular insight into on-chain flows. Moreover, the stablecoin issuer has publicly stated it has frozen about $4.2 billion in USDt associated with suspected illicit activity over the past three years, a signal of intensifying collaboration with enforcement agencies and financial-tracing firms.

Beyond the immediate forfeiture action, the case signals how prosecutors may pursue similar targets across multiple jurisdictions as crypto crime evolves. The combination of on-chain tracing, wallet clustering, and the ability to identify conversion points — from Ether purchases to USDt settlements — creates a realistic path for asset recovery even when funds traverse several intermediary addresses. The use of USDt, a widely held stablecoin, also elevates the stakes for both criminals and investigators: stablecoins can serve as convenient liquidity vehicles, but they are increasingly subject to oversight and tracing, as well as rapid freezing capabilities when law enforcement highlights illicit use.

For investigators, the Massachusetts case underscores the importance of cross-agency collaboration and the value of public-facing charges that illustrate the mechanics of frauds to the general public. For victims and potential investors, it reinforces the need for due diligence when confronted with “exclusive” investment pitches involving crypto assets and promises of gold-backed guarantees. The incident also provides a practical reminder that even legitimate-seeming projects can be misused by bad actors who exploit the complexity and perceived legitimacy of digital assets to obscure theft.

What to watch next

• The court’s ruling on the permanent forfeiture of the USDt tied to the scheme and the disposition of forfeited assets.
• Any follow-on charges or civil actions against the individuals named in the complaint and any new indictments stemming from the same ring.
• Potential additional recoveries tied to similar “fake investment” narratives and broader trends in crypto-tracing capabilities.
• Regulatory and industry responses to enforcement actions, including updates to anti-fraud measures and enhanced due-diligence standards for crypto investment communications.

Why it matters

This case illustrates how on-chain tools and traditional investigative methods converge to dismantle crypto-enabled fraud. It shows that law-enforcement agencies are increasingly capable of tracing funds across multiple wallets and converting assets during the investigation, even as criminals attempt to conceal their tracks through intermediary addresses and currency swaps. For investors, the episode reinforces the need to scrutinize claims of guaranteed returns, especially those tied to crypto assets and claims of external guarantees like physical-gold backing. For exchanges and wallets, the ongoing enforcement environment emphasizes the urgency of implementing robust identity checks, monitor-uplift protocols, and rapid cooperation with authorities when suspicious patterns emerge.

Overall, the action in Massachusetts sits within a wider ecosystem of investigations and seizures that aim to deter crypto fraud and reinforce accountability for asset flows in a rapidly evolving market. While the case does not define the entire crypto landscape, it contributes to a growing body of precedent demonstrating that illicit proceeds can be traced, frozen, and returned to victims even as fraudsters attempt to exploit the anonymity and speed of digital currencies.

• Internet Computer price jumped 12% to near $3 during Asian trading hours.
• The ICP token hit the intraday highs amid news of listing support by Upbit.
• If ICP breaks above $3, it could retest highs of $4.55.

The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) token rose sharply early Wednesday, trading to $2.94 amid a two-fold spike in daily trading volume.

While the uptick comes amid a slight resurgence in broader cryptocurrency market volatility, what else might have catalysed ICP’s gains?

As of writing on March 11, 2026, the token’s price hovered around $2.76, and the key question is whether bulls can extend the upward move.

Why did the ICP price spike?

The gains for the Internet Computer token mirror those of the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance and Render tokens, both of which traded higher amid fresh AI sentiment.

Bitcoin’s tick up to near $71k also looks to have buoyed altcoins.

However, one specific reason the ICP price is up today could be news that Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, will list ICP for spot trading.

The announcement on Mar 11 revealed pairs against the Korean won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT).

As with other such listings, Upbit’s move could open ICP to millions of new users.

Notably, support on Upbit significantly enhances liquidity and trading volume for ICP, with the exchange boasting a dominant market share in one of the world’s most active crypto regions.

The Internet Computer Protocol aims to provide native cloud computing capabilities that could replace traditional cloud services and IT infrastructure, positioning ICP as a foundational blockchain for Web3 applications.

Analysts anticipate this listing will catalyze further adoption, particularly as South Korean retail investors flock to innovative layer-1 projects amid rising interest in AI and decentralized tech.

ICP price analysis

ICP’s climb to near $2.90 follows a period of consolidation that saw prices fluctuate between $2.30 and $2.60.

The sharp rise on Wednesday allowed buyers to breach the resistance, with data indicating bulls did it on elevated trading volumes. Could ICP prices go higher?

From a technical perspective, the daily chart paints a potential short-term bullish picture.

The daily RSI has gained but is still below the overbought territory, while the MACD is signalling upside momentum with an expanding histogram.

Bulls have also pushed above the 50-day moving average (currently at $2.60).

If upside momentum holds, a breach and successful retest of $3.00 could pave the way for gains to the 200-day moving average at $3.73.

A key support-turned-resistance zone hovers around $4.55.

However, market sentiment remains cautious as the Fear & Greed Index metric lingers in the “fear” territory.

As such, the positive trajectory for ICP holders could yet flip negative.

If prices fall below $2.50, the immediate demand reload zones could be $2.35 and then $2.20.

TLDR

• OpenAI intends to integrate Sora AI video generation directly into ChatGPT, according to The Information’s sources
• The standalone Sora mobile application debuted in September 2025 with a TikTok-inspired interface
• January 2026 saw installation numbers plummet 45% compared to the previous month, based on Appfigures analytics
• By early 2026, Sora had disappeared from Apple’s top 100 applications in the U.S. App Store
• Even a collaboration with Disney couldn’t reverse declining user engagement

According to sources familiar with the situation, OpenAI is developing plans to incorporate its Sora AI video generation technology directly into ChatGPT. The Information broke this story on March 11, 2026, citing insiders with direct knowledge of the initiative.

OpenAI is planning to bring its AI video generator Sora directly into ChatGPT, allowing users to create and share AI-generated videos from simple prompts. The company is also expected to continue running Sora as a standalone app.

Source: Reuters pic.twitter.com/ff402CtMab

— Tech Crypto Cricket Hub (@Anurag9793) March 11, 2026

Official confirmation from OpenAI remains pending. The company failed to provide a statement when contacted during non-business hours.

Initially, Sora debuted as an independent mobile application in September 2025. The platform enabled users to produce and distribute AI-created video content through an interface that closely resembled TikTok’s design.

Users could input text descriptions to generate corresponding videos. The platform also permitted creation of content based on copyrighted intellectual property, which users could then post to social media-inspired feeds within the application.

While the launch generated initial buzz, the application encountered significant challenges entering 2026. Both installation rates and revenue from users experienced dramatic declines.

TechCrunch reported in January 2026, citing Appfigures analytics, that Sora experienced a 45% month-over-month decrease in installations during January. Revenue from users simultaneously declined.

The application slipped out of the top 100 rankings on Apple’s U.S. App Store. Google’s Play Store reflected similarly disappointing performance metrics.

OpenAI had established an agreement with Walt Disney to enable video generation featuring Disney intellectual property within Sora. However, this high-profile partnership failed to generate sustained user growth.

ChatGPT Integration Strategy

Incorporating Sora directly into ChatGPT would provide the video generation technology with exposure to a substantially larger audience. With hundreds of millions of active users, ChatGPT’s reach dwarfs the user base Sora achieved independently.

According to The Information’s reporting, OpenAI intends to maintain the standalone Sora application even after completing the ChatGPT integration. Specific timing for the rollout has not been disclosed.

Integrating video generation capabilities into ChatGPT will likely increase OpenAI’s infrastructure expenses. Video-based AI models require significantly more computational resources than text-focused applications.

The AI Video Generation Landscape

Sora faces competition from video generation platforms developed by Meta and Alphabet’s Google. Both technology giants have committed substantial resources to advancing text-to-video artificial intelligence capabilities.

This decision to embed Sora within ChatGPT represents part of OpenAI’s larger initiative to move beyond text-only functionality. Industry observers view multimodal platforms capable of processing video, images, and audio as the inevitable evolution of AI applications.

Microsoft maintains a significant investment position in OpenAI and has incorporated OpenAI’s technologies throughout its product ecosystem, including Bing search and Microsoft 365 productivity software.

OpenAI’s current approach suggests a strategic emphasis on unifying its various offerings under the ChatGPT umbrella, which continues to be the company’s most successful and widely adopted platform.

Oracle (ORCL) shares jumped 11% in premarket trading on Wednesday after the company delivered stronger than expected results and pushed back against fears of a looming “SaaS apocalypse,” easing investor concerns about both AI disruption and its recent debt raise.

Revenue climbed 18% to $17.19 billion, beating the $16.92 billion analysts, according to Wall Street Journal. Cloud revenue rose 41%, while cloud infrastructure sales increased by 81%, highlighting strong demand tied to artificial intelligence.

Management used the earnings call to directly address concerns that generative AI could undermine traditional software vendors. Executives argued the opposite, saying customers want AI embedded directly into mission critical systems rather than replacing them with standalone tools.

The results also helped calm worries about Oracle’s balance sheet after the company said it planned to raise up to $50 billion in debt and equity to fund AI infrastructure. Oracle said $30 billion has already been raised through investment-grade bonds and mandatory convertible preferred stock, with demand heavily oversubscribed.

Oracle’s gains also lifted the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) about 1% in premarket trading, where Oracle is the fourth-largest holding. The move contrasted with bitcoin, which is down roughly 0.5% ahead of U.S. CPI data, suggesting the tight correlation between software stocks and bitcoin may be easing.

Earlier this year the two had moved closely together. IGV fell about 34% from its October high, a decline that coincided with bitcoin’s roughly 50% correction as both software stocks and crypto sold off in tandem.

The healthcare industry is entering a new era of digital transformation where technology is redefining how patients access care and how medical organizations deliver services. Rising patient expectations, increasing operational complexity, and a global shortage of healthcare professionals are pushing providers to adopt smarter and more scalable solutions. Today’s patients expect instant responses, seamless appointment scheduling, and easy access to reliable medical guidance.

To meet these growing demands, many organizations are adopting AI chatbots for healthcare as intelligent digital assistants that enhance patient engagement and streamline healthcare operations. A medical AI chatbot, powered by artificial intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning, can simulate human-like conversations and provide real-time healthcare support. These systems can answer medical queries, schedule appointments, assist with symptom assessment, and send medication reminders.

As a result, AI chatbots in the healthcare industry are becoming essential tools for delivering AI-powered healthcare support and improving healthcare accessibility. Increasingly, healthcare organizations are partnering with an experienced AI Chatbot Development Company to implement scalable AI healthcare assistant solutions and advanced AI Chatbot Development Services that improve patient care while optimizing operational efficiency.

Understanding AI Chatbots in the Healthcare Industry

An AI chatbot in the healthcare industry is a software-based virtual assistant designed to communicate with patients and healthcare professionals through natural language interactions. These chatbots use technologies such as Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine learning algorithms, and clinical knowledge databases to interpret user queries and provide relevant responses.

Unlike traditional rule-based chat systems, modern Medical AI chatbots are capable of understanding context, analyzing patient symptoms, and guiding users toward appropriate healthcare resources. They can operate across multiple platforms, including hospital websites, mobile apps, messaging platforms, and telehealth portals.

According to research from IBM, conversational AI technologies can significantly reduce administrative workload in healthcare by automating routine patient interactions such as appointment scheduling and information requests. Similarly, healthcare solutions developed by Microsoft demonstrate how integrating AI assistants with electronic health records can improve care coordination and streamline communication between patients and providers.

For healthcare providers seeking digital transformation, implementing AI Chatbot Development Services enables the creation of customized conversational AI platforms tailored to hospital workflows, patient engagement needs, and regulatory compliance requirements.

Why Healthcare Organizations Are Adopting AI Chatbots

Healthcare providers across the world are increasingly adopting AI healthcare assistants to address several operational and clinical challenges.

1. Rising Patient Demand

Modern healthcare systems must handle millions of patient inquiries daily. Patients expect immediate responses to their health concerns, but healthcare professionals cannot always provide instant support due to limited availability. AI chatbots help bridge this gap by offering 24/7 digital healthcare assistance, ensuring patients receive timely guidance even outside regular hospital hours.

2. Administrative Burden

Administrative processes consume a large portion of healthcare resources. Tasks such as appointment scheduling, billing inquiries, and patient follow-ups can overwhelm medical staff. By deploying healthcare conversational AI, hospitals can automate these repetitive interactions, allowing doctors and nurses to focus more on patient care.

3. Limited Access to Healthcare

In many regions, access to healthcare professionals remains limited. Patients living in rural or underserved areas may struggle to obtain medical guidance quickly. AI-powered healthcare support systems can provide initial assistance, symptom assessment, and referral guidance, helping improve healthcare accessibility.

4. Rising Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs continue to increase globally. Reports from Gartner suggest that automation technologies such as conversational AI can significantly reduce operational expenses by streamlining service interactions and reducing administrative overhead.

Major Use Cases of AI Chatbots for Healthcare

1. AI-Driven Symptom Assessment and Medical Triage

One of the most impactful applications of AI chatbots for healthcare is automated symptom assessment and medical triage. Patients can describe their symptoms through a medical AI chatbot, which uses artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and clinical data models to analyze patient inputs.

These systems compare symptoms with large medical knowledge bases and evidence-based clinical frameworks to provide preliminary health guidance. Based on the evaluation, the chatbot may recommend self-care instructions, suggest booking a consultation with a healthcare professional, or advise urgent medical attention when necessary.

This capability significantly improves healthcare accessibility, particularly for patients seeking quick medical guidance outside of regular clinic hours. By acting as a first line of digital support, AI chatbot in healthcare industry solutions help reduce unnecessary hospital visits while ensuring that critical cases are prioritized. As healthcare organizations increasingly adopt AI-powered healthcare support, automated triage systems are becoming an essential component of modern digital health platforms.

2. Appointment Scheduling and Patient Communication

Administrative workflows remain one of the biggest operational challenges in healthcare systems. Hospitals and clinics handle thousands of appointment requests, patient inquiries, and service interactions every day. Managing these processes manually often leads to long response times, scheduling errors, and increased administrative workload.

This is where AI healthcare assistants play a transformative role. Intelligent chatbots can automate tasks such as appointment booking, rescheduling, reminders, insurance information requests, and patient communication. Through simple conversational interactions, patients can check available time slots, confirm bookings, receive appointment notifications, or ask questions about clinic services.

By implementing healthcare conversational AI, medical organizations can streamline patient communication while improving service efficiency and reducing administrative overhead. Many healthcare providers now collaborate with an experienced AI Chatbot Development Company to design tailored AI Chatbot Development Services that integrate seamlessly with hospital management systems, patient portals, and electronic health record platforms.

3. AI Chatbots for Mental Health Support

Mental health services remain one of the most under-resourced areas in global healthcare. Millions of individuals struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression but often delay seeking professional support due to stigma, limited access to therapists, or high treatment costs.

In response to this growing challenge, AI chatbots for healthcare are increasingly being used to provide digital mental wellness support. A medical AI chatbot designed for mental health can engage users in conversational interactions, offer stress management strategies, provide mindfulness exercises, and guide individuals through evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Research and media reports indicate that younger generations are increasingly comfortable using AI-based digital tools for emotional support and mental health awareness. While these systems cannot replace licensed therapists, they play an important role in early intervention, emotional check-ins, and directing users toward professional care when needed. As a result, AI-powered healthcare support platforms are becoming valuable companions in modern mental health ecosystems.

4. Chronic Disease Monitoring and Long-Term Care

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, asthma, and hypertension require consistent monitoring and long-term care management. Healthcare providers often face challenges in maintaining continuous engagement with patients between clinic visits.

This is where AI healthcare assistants offer significant value. Chatbots can help patients manage chronic conditions by sending medication reminders, tracking symptoms, collecting daily health updates, and encouraging lifestyle improvements. Patients can report key health indicators such as blood sugar levels, blood pressure readings, or physical activity data directly through chatbot conversations.

These insights allow healthcare professionals to monitor patient health remotely and identify potential risks early. By supporting continuous patient engagement, AI chatbot in healthcare industry solutions improve treatment adherence and enable proactive healthcare interventions. Healthcare providers working with an AI Chatbot Development Company can implement customized monitoring systems that deliver scalable AI-powered healthcare support for chronic disease management.

5. Post-Treatment Support and Recovery Monitoring

Patient care does not end when a treatment or surgical procedure is completed. Recovery periods often require ongoing communication between patients and healthcare providers to ensure proper healing and prevent complications.

A medical AI chatbot can serve as a reliable digital companion during the recovery phase. Patients can receive medication reminders, follow-up appointment notifications, and guidance on post-treatment care instructions. They can also ask questions related to recovery timelines, diet restrictions, or expected symptoms during the healing process.

If patients report unusual symptoms or complications, the chatbot can alert healthcare professionals or recommend immediate medical attention. By delivering continuous AI-powered healthcare support, these systems help healthcare providers maintain patient engagement even after discharge.

As digital healthcare ecosystems continue to evolve, healthcare conversational AI solutions are becoming essential tools for improving recovery outcomes and enhancing long-term patient satisfaction.

Benefits of AI Chatbots in Healthcare

Healthcare organizations implementing AI chatbots for healthcare gain several strategic advantages.

1. Continuous Patient Support

AI chatbots operate around the clock, ensuring patients receive healthcare guidance whenever they need it. This improves accessibility and reduces patient frustration caused by long waiting times.

2. Improved Operational Efficiency

By automating routine interactions, AI-powered healthcare support systems reduce administrative workload and allow healthcare professionals to focus on complex clinical tasks.

3. Enhanced Patient Engagement

Personalized reminders, educational content, and health tracking features help patients stay engaged with their treatment plans and healthcare journeys.

4. Scalable Healthcare Services

Healthcare providers can use healthcare conversational AI to manage large volumes of patient interactions simultaneously, making it easier to scale services without expanding workforce resources.

Future Trends in Healthcare Conversational AI

The evolution of AI chatbots in the healthcare industry is accelerating as new technologies emerge. Future healthcare chatbots are expected to integrate with electronic health records, wearable devices, and remote monitoring tools. This will enable AI systems to provide highly personalized healthcare insights based on real-time patient data. Another emerging trend is the development of AI virtual health assistants capable of supporting both patients and healthcare professionals. These assistants can analyze clinical documentation, summarize patient histories, and assist doctors in decision-making processes. Technology companies such as Microsoft and IBM are already investing heavily in these innovations, which are expected to transform healthcare delivery in the coming years.

Building Smarter Healthcare Systems with Healthcare Conversational AI

Artificial intelligence is transforming the healthcare ecosystem by enabling faster, more accessible, and patient-centric medical services. One of the most impactful technologies driving this change is AI chatbots for healthcare, which streamline communication between patients and healthcare providers while supporting essential operational tasks. From automated symptom assessment and appointment scheduling to medication reminders and mental health support, AI chatbots in the healthcare industry are improving care delivery and operational efficiency.

By providing real-time responses and continuous digital assistance, these intelligent systems enhance patient engagement while reducing administrative workloads. As healthcare organizations continue to adopt digital technologies, AI healthcare assistants and conversational AI platforms will play a key role in building smarter, more efficient healthcare environments. Antier offers advanced AI Chatbot Development Services to help healthcare organizations deploy secure and scalable conversational AI solutions.

Bitcoin BTC$69,516.39 traded at $69,500 mid-morning in Europe after giving up Tuesday’s gains following a rejection at $71,750.

The largest cryptocurrency dropped 0.55% since midnight UTC, a loss dwarfed by several altcoins, with zcash (ZEC) and aave AAVE$109.86 falling by 4.5% and 2.1%, respectively.

Gold and the dollar are little changed, while U.S. stock index futures added 0.15%.

The price action is still being dictated by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which continues to rage even after conflicting comments from U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Oil remained volatile as a result, falling to as low as $81 per barrel on Tuesday before bouncing back to $89 during the European session on Wednesday.

Derivatives positioning

• Bitcoin’s failure to build momentum above $70,000 has proved costly for bulls holding leveraged long bets. In the past 24 hours, over $220 million worth of crypto futures bets have been liquidated, with longs accounting for most of the tally.
• Open interest (OI) in dollar-denominated bitcoin futures on major exchanges has declined to 226,000 BTC from 233,000 BTC. This indicates that the overnight price drop hasn’t really seen traders short the falling market. The same dynamic is seen in solana (SOL) and ether (ETH) futures.
• Activity in XRP futures continues to grow, with open interest rising to 1.74 billion tokens, the highest since Feb. 23.
• Broadly speaking, OI has decreased in most alternative tokens over the past 24 hours, a sign of renewed capital outflows.
• TRX, CC and XMR stand out with a bullish combination of positive annualized funding rates and cumulative volume delta (CVD), pointing to active buying in the futures market. Most other coins have flat to negative funding rates and CVDs.
• Bitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, fell for a third straight day, but its major averages — the 50-, 100- and 200-day measures — are now stacked one above the other. That’s a bullish signal, meaning volatility could pick up.
• The same is true for the ether volatility index. Moreover, Wall Street’s VIX index is up 4% at 26%, pointing to elevated volatility in stocks that could spill over into cryptocurrencies.
• On the CME, open interest in BTC futures has dropped to $7.39 billion, the lowest since September 2024, alongside an equally sharp drop in ETH futures. Clearly, institutional appetite for the two tokens remains weak.
• On Deribit, BTC and ETH protective puts continue to trade pricier than calls, although demand for downside protection has weakened notably since early last month. On decentralized exchange Derive, traders are increasingly betting on a rally above $80,000, alongside put selling on Deribit, Derive told CoinDesk.

Token talk

• AI token internet computer (ICP) led a mixed altcoin sector on Wednesday, rising by more than 8% after it was listed on Korean exchange Upbit. Daily trading volume jumped from $65 million to $267 million after the listing as retail investors poured in.
• Continuing the AI theme, FET$0.1590 jumped, notching a 6% gain over the past 24 hours.
• AI’s positive performance can be attributed in part to a rare blog post from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who claimed that AI is an industrial buildout comparable to electrification.
• The rest of the altcoin market receded on Wednesday, with decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens curve (CRV) and jupiter (JUP) losing 6.5% apiece in the past 24 hours.
• Crypto sentiment is slowly improving as the Fear and Greed index is at 25/100, moving into “fear” territory after more than a month stuck in the “extreme fear” zone.
• The uptick comes as a result of the crypto market’s relative strength since the start of the war in Iran, with bitcoin and the broader market outperforming precious metals and U.S. equities since March 1.

Nasdaq-listed Solmate Infrastructure has announced plans to build a Solana infrastructure hub in the United Arab Emirates alongside a corporate restructuring and capital overhaul.

According to a March 10 press release, the company will reposition itself as an institutional-grade provider of Solana infrastructure in Abu Dhabi following a board-approved proposal to realign the company’s legal structure and corporate identity with its blockchain-focused strategy.

Currently operating under the legal entity Brera Holdings PLC, the company will change its legal entity name to Solmate Infrastructure PLC as part of this transition. However, its Nasdaq ticker SLMT will remain the same.

“This transformation is the culmination of Brera’s strategic shift toward infrastructure opportunities we see in Abu Dhabi. By focusing our capital and corporate identity on Solana, we are positioning ourselves to be a central player in the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy,” Solmate CEO Marco Santori said in a statement.

As previously reported by crypto.news, the company first transitioned its strategy last September when it added a Solana-focused digital asset treasury and infrastructure business alongside its soccer ownership operations following a $300 million private investment backed by ARK Invest, RockawayX, and the Solana Foundation.

At the time, the company’s leadership said the move reflected a long-term conviction in the Solana ecosystem and outlined plans to accumulate SOL while building validator infrastructure and staking operations in Abu Dhabi.

In the latest announcement, the company said it will streamline its non-core assets by winding down two underperforming soccer teams while only retaining its flagship Italian club Juve Stabia. It will use the “liberated capital to accelerate its UAE based Solana infrastructure expansion.”

The company has also proposed a 10-for-1 reverse stock split, which is “subject to shareholder approval.” The stock split would consolidate every 10 Class A and Class B shares into one share and increase the nominal value from $0.05 to $0.50 without issuing fractional shares.

This will allow the company to position its shares within a more conventional trading range preferred by institutional investors, it said.