Crypto World
Gold Price Analysis: Why US-Iran Tension Drops XAU Price
Gold price just broke its own mythology, and this is somewhat resulting in a bearish analysis. The metal that traders have leaned on through wars, recessions, and currency crises dropped 14% this month, not because the world got safer, but because a de-escalation headline was enough to trigger a mass exit.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin is trading just below $70,000, posting a 10% gain in a month while Gold bled. That divergence is the story. Donald Trump announced a five-day delay to military strikes on Iran following what he described as “very good and productive” talks, with discussion of joint Strait of Hormuz management and Iran’s potential agreement to halt nuclear pursuits 2 days ago.
Iran subsequently denied negotiations, triggering a partial recovery in gold, but the damage was done. Oil markets reacted similarly, with risk-on flows rotating out of traditional safe havens at speed. The broader question now: is gold’s safe-haven status structurally impaired, or just temporarily out of fashion?
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
Gold Price Analysis: Can XAU Reclaim $5,000, Or Is the Safe-Haven Trade Broken?
Gold’s price mechanics have changed. After surging to an all-time high near $5,600 per ounce in late January, effectively double its level from a year prior, XAU has shed roughly 20% from its peak. The Iran de-escalation headlines accelerated the decline, pulling gold down nearly 15% since early March alone before Iran’s denial softened the drop. Intraday losses mostly recovered after that denial, but the pattern is telling.
The core issue is financialization. Derivatives exposure and ETF flows now dominate gold’s price action more than physical demand or genuine crisis hedging. When risk-on sentiment flips, institutional desks unwind paper gold positions fast, faster than any geopolitical nuance can absorb. That’s not a bug in modern markets; it’s the feature.
Gold is still up almost 300% over the past decade by historical measure. But Santiment data notes Bitcoin is outpacing traditional assets including the S&P 500 and gold amid the current Middle East conflict cycle. The correlation is breaking. That matters for portfolio allocation decisions made this week.
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LiquidChain Targets Early-Mover Upside as Gold Tests Key Levels
Gold’s 10% drawdown in three weeks is a useful reminder: even “safe” assets carry rotation risk when macro narratives shift overnight. Traders watching XAU underperform Bitcoin by more than five percentage points since March 4 are already asking where early-stage upside lives, before a narrative becomes consensus. Historical macro dislocations have repeatedly front-run crypto allocation shifts, and the current setup is no different.
A new layer emerges. Only a few see it first. — LiquidChain (@getliquidchain) March 24, 2026
The future is LiquidChain 
⟁https://t.co/vqvBcdSj94 pic.twitter.com/R7ZeZ0NPGl
LiquidChain ($LIQUID) is a Layer 3 infrastructure project positioning itself as the cross-chain liquidity layer — fusing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity into a single execution environment. The architecture is built around four pillars: a Unified Liquidity Layer, Single-Step Execution, Verifiable Settlement, and a Deploy-Once Architecture that lets developers ship once and access all three ecosystems simultaneously.
The presale is currently priced at $0.01435, with more than $600K raised to date. LiquidChain has drawn attention as cross-chain infrastructure demand grows alongside multi-ecosystem trading activity. The presale also rewards stakers with more than 1700% APY in staking rewards, and is audited by Certik for safety.
Review the LiquidChain presale details here.
This article is not financial advice. Crypto assets are highly volatile. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
The post Gold Price Analysis: Why US-Iran Tension Drops XAU Price appeared first on Cryptonews.
- Sky is diversifying its revenue streams and yield strategies.
- Securitize and Maple have joined the Sky Ecosystem agent network.
- The SKY token could rally to $0.10
The Sky Ecosystem token is under sell-off pressure as negative sentiment keeps altcoins in the red.
But despite top coins wallowing in bearish territory, Sky is up 13% over the past month, and network fundamentals look bullish.
The latest boost comes from ecosystem platforms joining Sky’s agent network, including Securitize and Maple Finance.
SKY price could benefit as the project taps into diversified revenue streams and yield strategies.
Sky-backed Obex brings 8 new allocators to ecosystem
A lot of the buzz around Sky today stems from an announcement that Sky-backed platform Obex is spearheading the latest onboarding of capital allocators.
Sky Ecosystem has welcomed eight new allocators, marking the largest capital deployment from a decentralized protocol into a coordinated cohort of specialised agents.
These allocators have already borrowed up to $1 billion in USDS from the Sky Protocol, enabling deployment across innovative yield strategies.
The Sky Agent Network operates as the ecosystem’s core revenue engine.
Each agent functions as an independent capital allocator, borrowing USDS and directing it toward high-potential opportunities.
These platforms compete on risk-adjusted returns, with a portion of generated value accruing back to the Sky Protocol.
According to details, the new cohort that is helping broaden the network’s DeFi scope includes Maple Finance, Securitize, Centrifuge, River and TVL Capital.
The projects cut across on-chain lending, tokenization, AI infrastructure plays and structured credit, among others.
By integrating these diverse sources, Sky Protocol is adding potential avenues for untapped revenue pools.
Growth could influence SKY price performance, particularly if DeFi yield optimization takes root.
SKY price outlook
The Sky Ecosystem (SKY) token is trading around $0.071, down about 3% over the past 24 hours, after touching intraday highs of $0.077, according to CoinMarketCap data.
As of March 26, the token remains roughly 13% above its late-February lows, reflecting a modest recovery.
The recent uptick has coincided with rising USDS borrowing volumes, while increased interest around agent onboarding has also supported buying activity.
These trends suggest improving network fundamentals, with the reported $1 billion USDS deployment pointing to notable capital inflows that could enhance SKY’s utility in governance and staking.
Broader tailwinds, including growing adoption of real-world assets (RWAs) and supportive regulatory developments in the US and Europe, may further support sentiment.
However, risks remain. Underperformance in yield strategies or renewed macroeconomic volatility could weigh on prices.
From a technical perspective, SKY appears to be forming a bullish flag pattern on the daily chart.
A move above $0.075 could open the door toward the next major resistance near $0.15.
On the downside, the $0.060 level is seen as key support, while the token’s all-time low stands at $0.03, reached in February.
Code is not the weakest point in crypto thefts
In crypto, security is usually regarded as a technical issue. You are asked to safeguard your private keys, rely on a hardware wallet and steer clear of phishing links. Yet a prominent case in the UK reveals that the real vulnerability in this case might have had nothing to do with code.
The UK High Court is currently reviewing a case involving the alleged theft of 2,323 Bitcoin (BTC), worth about $176 million. The theft did not stem from hacking or malware. Instead, it began with a seed phrase being exposed, which became the single point of failure in self-custody.
The dispute centers on Ping Fai Yuen, who claims that his estranged wife, Fun Yung Li, and her sister gained access to his Bitcoin by secretly recording his wallet’s recovery information.
The assets were held in a hardware wallet, designed to keep private keys completely offline and shielded from remote threats. Yet the theft still happened and it required no breach of encryption.
Court documents suggest the theft only required discovering the seed phrase.
Alleged timeline of the crypto theft
The allegations describe events that suggest surveillance rather than digital intrusion.
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The individuals in question are accused of using a camera or recording device to capture the seed phrase and related codes.
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The claimant later learned of the scheme after receiving a warning from his daughter.
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He then set up audio recording equipment, which he says captured conversations about moving the funds.
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The Bitcoin was subsequently transferred to 71 separate wallet addresses.
No additional movements have appeared on the blockchain since Dec. 21, 2023, indicating that the assets have remained inactive since the reported transfer.
Authorities are said to have confiscated devices and cold wallets as part of the inquiry, although the proceedings are still ongoing.
Did you know? In several past cases, hidden cameras, not hackers, have been the weakest link in crypto security. Physical surveillance has quietly become one of the most underestimated threats to self-custodied digital assets.
Why the seed phrase mattered in the UK crypto theft
To understand the case, you need to grasp a core principle of crypto: Whoever has access to the seed phrase has full control of the funds.
A hardware wallet shields private keys from online risks. But the seed phrase, typically 12 to 24 words, serves as a full backup of the entire wallet.
Finding the seed phrase allows anyone to:
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Rebuild the wallet on any other device
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Access all the associated funds
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Move the assets without ever touching the original hardware
Put simply, once the seed phrase becomes known, the physical device loses all relevance.
The surveillance element: An uncommon form of compromise
What stands out in this matter is the reported method used to carry out the breach.
Rather than relying on phishing or malicious software, the allegations center on visual or audio capture, possibly through a hidden camera or covert recording.
This brings attention to a seldom-mentioned risk: side-channel exposure.
Seed phrases are frequently written down, spoken or typed during setup. If any of those moments are watched or recorded:
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The phrase can be pieced together.
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The wallet can be copied elsewhere.
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Assets can be relocated without immediate traces.
In environments full of smart devices, cameras and shared spaces, this type of risk continues to rise.
The UK High Court’s early stance
The matter came before the UK High Court, where Justice Cotter examined the evidence presented.
Although this does not constitute a final decision in the case, the judge indicated that the claimant had demonstrated a very high probability of success.
Among the elements considered were:
The court also stressed the need for swift action, citing security concerns and Bitcoin’s price fluctuations.
Did you know? Some wallets now offer decoy wallets that use different PINs. This feature allows users to display a smaller balance under duress, adding a layer of protection against both physical coercion and surveillance-based attacks.
Why the assets were spread across 71 addresses
The claim states that the Bitcoin was distributed across 71 wallet addresses.
This step carries several implications:
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It makes tracking and recovery more difficult.
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It avoids drawing attention to a single large transfer.
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It fragments the holdings, which can delay legal and investigative efforts.
Although the blockchain’s transparency allows movements to be traced, spreading the funds adds layers of complexity and time to any recovery process.
The dusting attack concern
The claimant also expressed concern about a possible dusting attack on the addresses involved.
Dusting refers to sending tiny amounts of crypto to wallets in order to:
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Monitor subsequent activity
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Link addresses to real identities
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Identify valuable targets for future attacks
If wallet addresses become public, they can attract additional scrutiny, even if no further activity occurs.
Why this matter extends beyond a single conflict
On one hand, this case remains a private legal dispute. On the other, it serves as a case study in the broader risks of crypto custody.
It demonstrates that:
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Hardware wallets limit digital threats, yet leave human factors untouched.
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Threats from those close to the owner can outweigh those from outside attackers.
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Exposure of the seed phrase can result in a complete loss of control.
Above all, this shows that crypto security involves far more than just devices; it relies heavily on environment, conduct, trust and relationships.
Security lessons from the case
This example reinforces several straightforward guidelines:
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Keep the seed phrase completely hidden from cameras, phones and connected devices.
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Avoid storing recovery information in places that others can access.
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Separate personal identity from wallet control whenever possible.
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Use multiple layers of protection for large holdings.
More sophisticated arrangements may include additional passphrases, split backups or multisignature setups. Each of these methods is designed to reduce reliance on a single vulnerable element.
The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has completed its review of a Department of Labor (DOL) proposal that could reshape how 401(k) fiduciaries evaluate alternative assets, including digital-asset exposure.
The OIRA’s website shows the review concluded on March 24, with the action marked “consistent with change” and the proposal classified as “economically significant.” The DOL is now expected to publish the proposed rule for a standard 60-day public comment period, which is usually followed by revisions and the issuing of a final rule.
The proposal follows President Donald Trump’s Aug. 7, 2025, executive order directing federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans, including exposure to digital assets through certain investment vehicles.
The order directed the DOL to reevaluate restrictions around alternative assets in defined-contribution plans, including digital assets, private equity and real estate. It also called for inter-agency collaboration between the US Treasury Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission on supporting rule changes.
The completed review clears an interagency hurdle for a proposal that could widen the path for alternative assets in US defined-contribution retirement plans.
Crypto-linked exposure moves closer to 401(k) market
On May 28, 2025, the DOL rescinded a 2022 compliance release that urged fiduciaries to be “extremely cautious” when considering crypto for 401(k) retirement plans, signaling a broader shift in the federal government’s stance toward retirement-plan exposure to digital assets.
The US retirement market reached a record $48.1 trillion in financial assets on September 30, 2025, according to a report by the Investment Company Institute (ICI).
Indiana advances crypto retirement access
Other US states have launched their own legal initiatives to make digital assets a retirement plan asset.
Related: Major Australian pension fund mulls crypto offerings amid growing demand
On Feb. 25, Indiana lawmakers passed a bill that would require certain state retirement and savings plans to offer a self-directed brokerage option with at least one crypto investment option by July 1, 2027.
The bill would allow Indiana citizens to hold Bitcoin (BTC) and digital assets as part of their retirement plans for the first time.
Magazine: Quitting Trump’s top crypto job wasn’t easy: Bo Hines
Wall Street bank Citi says proposed limits on stablecoin rewards in the latest draft of U.S. market structure legislation would be a setback for Circle (CRCL) but not a fundamental threat to the investment case.
“We view this development potentially (but not necessarily) as a scaling setback, but not a thesis killer,” wrote analysts led by Peter Christiansen in the Tuesday report.
The draft bill allows narrowly defined rewards programs as long as they don’t resemble bank deposit interest, the analysts said. A broader ban on third-party rewards would not directly affect Circle’s net revenue, as the firm already passes most of its reserve income to distribution partners like Coinbase (COIN).
Still, the analysts expect weaker incentives to hold USDC, which they characterize as a payment instrument rather than a security, could temporarily reduce circulation and secondary-market liquidity. “We still maintain the view that stablecoin volume is the key indicator of adoption, not circulation.”
Citi has a high risk rating on Circle stock with a $243 price target. The shares were trading around $100 at the time of publication.
Circle shares fell roughly 20% on Tuesday, after a draft of the U.S. Clarity Act raised the prospect of banning yield on passive stablecoin balances, sparking concerns about the attractiveness of yield-bearing crypto products.
The move was compounded by broader investor anxiety around how the rules could impact stablecoin-related revenues and incentives, alongside fresh competitive pressure after Tether signaled plans for a full Big Four audit and potential U.S. expansion.
The Circle selloff on Tuesday reflected a market misread of the draft Clarity Act, according to Wall Street broker Bernstein.
Investors are conflating who earns yield with who distributes it, the broker said in a Wednesday report. Circle earns reserve income from USDC backing assets, while platforms like Coinbase (COIN) pass some of that yield to users, the actual target of the proposed rules.
The draft would ban yield on passive stablecoin balances but allow activity-based rewards tied to trading or payments. Bernstein analysts led by Gautam Chhugani said this pressure on Coinbase’s ~3.5% USDC yield product, likely forcing a restructure. Circle’s model remains unaffected. The firm does not pay yield to holders and generated $2.64 billion in reserve income in FY2025.
The report noted that USDC growth, from ~$30 billion to $80 billion in two years, is driven by trading, payments and collateral demand, not yield.
Bernstein has an outperform rating on Circle shares with a $190 price target.
Coinbase is treading carefully in negotiations over the Clarity Act, privately signaling to Senate staff that it is dissatisfied with the latest compromise while stopping short of publicly opposing the bill, according to people familiar with the matter.
Read more: Circle selloff may be overdone as crypto bill weakens Coinbase edge, say analysts
Crypto World
Fannie Mae Now Accepts Crypto as Mortgage Collateral: But There Is a Catch That Could Cost You Thousands
A $100,000 Crypto bitcoin position now qualifies a borrower for a GSE-backed mortgage, but only $40,000 to $50,000 of it actually counts.
FHFA Director William J. Pulte’s June 25, 2025 directive ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept cryptocurrency as financial reserves without requiring conversion to dollars, a direct reversal of Fannie Mae’s longstanding guideline B3-4.1-04 that had blocked digital assets from underwriting since 2022.
The surface headline is historic. The mechanism underneath it is where the real trade-off lives.
Mortgage company Better Home & Finance and Coinbase Global are the first to operationalize the shift, announcing this week a crypto mortgage product that allows borrowers to pledge crypto holdings against a Fannie Mae-backed loan. The institutional adoption signal here is hard to overstate, this is the $12 trillion U.S. residential mortgage market formally recognizing Bitcoin reserves as collateral-adjacent assets.
The analytical question is what the volatility haircut actually costs holders, and whether the math still works for the average BTC or ETH position size.
- FHFA directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on June 25, 2025 to accept crypto as mortgage reserves without forced liquidation.
- A 50–60% volatility haircut applies — $100,000 in BTC counts as $40,000–$50,000 toward reserve requirements.
- Assets must be held on U.S.-regulated exchanges; self-custodied cold wallets are currently excluded.
- Better Home & Finance and Coinbase are the first lender-exchange pair to launch a Fannie-backed crypto mortgage product.
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The Haircut Mechanism: What FHFA’s Framework Actually Allows
The FHFA framework introduces what it calls a risk-based volatility haircut, a percentage reduction applied to the market value of crypto holdings before they count toward reserve requirements.
Current guidance puts that haircut at 50–60%, meaning a borrower holding $100,000 in BTC can claim between $40,000 and $50,000 in qualifying reserves. The bear case is concrete: a borrower who needs $80,000 in reserves must hold $160,000–$200,000 in crypto to clear the threshold. That’s a steep overcollateralization requirement by any conventional lending standard.
The bull case is equally concrete. Before June 25, those same crypto holders had two options, sell the position and crystallize a taxable event, or disqualify the asset entirely. Now a BTC position held for institutional-grade exposure can anchor a mortgage application while staying on-chain. The preserved market upside during the loan approval window alone is a material benefit for anyone holding meaningful Bitcoin reserves.
Custody rules are non-negotiable under the framework. Assets must be stored on U.S.-regulated centralized exchanges, Coinbase, Kraken, and Gemini qualify; self-custodied cold wallets do not.
Per the FHFA’s July 3, 2025 formalized requirements, lenders will verify holdings via exchange API integrations, and assets must clear AML compliance thresholds.
Staked assets and DeFi-locked positions are excluded from the current automated underwriting systems. That distinction cuts out a significant slice of the sophisticated crypto-holder population who’ve moved assets off exchanges, and it’s the friction point right now.
Pulte framed the directive as enabling GSEs to assess the “full spectrum of asset information” for creditworthy borrowers, per public statements following the announcement. Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced the 21st Century Mortgage Act to codify the policy in statute, explicitly prohibiting forced crypto liquidation.
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
How BTC and ETH Holders Actually Use This: The Practical Workflow
For a borrower holding BTC or ETH on a qualifying exchange, the crypto mortgage workflow starts with documentation: exchange-generated statements showing asset balances, ownership verification, and 60-day holding history consistent with standard reserve seasoning requirements.
The GSE-backed loan covers the property; the crypto remains on the exchange as a verified reserve asset rather than being converted to cash. No liquidation, no taxable event, no forced exit from a position.
The worked math matters here. A borrower purchasing a $500,000 home under a conventional GSE loan typically needs 2–6 months of mortgage payments in reserves, amounting to roughly $15,000–$45,000, depending on the loan product. At a 50% haircut, clearing a $45,000 reserve requirement demands $90,000 in BTC or ETH held on a regulated exchange.
That threshold is accessible for the cohort of crypto-native wealth holders the FHFA is explicitly targeting, but it excludes borrowers with smaller positions who would still need supplemental cash reserves.
Freddie Mac is operating under the same FHFA directive and must submit board-approved proposals for review, watch for finalized approved-asset lists specifying whether altcoins beyond BTC and ETH qualify, and whether haircut percentages differ by asset volatility profile. Regulatory momentum across major economies is accelerating GSE timelines on this front. The implementation is not complete, it’s the opening framework, and the edge cases haven’t been stress-tested by a market drawdown yet.
Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now
The post Fannie Mae Now Accepts Crypto as Mortgage Collateral: But There Is a Catch That Could Cost You Thousands appeared first on Cryptonews.
The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has completed its review of a Department of Labor (DOL) proposal that could reshape how 401(k) fiduciaries evaluate alternative assets, including digital-asset exposure. Reginfo.gov indicates the review concluded on March 24, with the action labeled “consistent with change” and the proposal deemed economically significant. The DOL is now expected to publish the proposed rule for a standard 60-day public comment period, a typical step that precedes revisions and a final rule.
The move sits inside a broader policy push from the executive branch. President Donald Trump’s August 7, 2025, executive order directed federal agencies to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans, including digital assets via qualified investment vehicles. The order also directed the Department of the Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission to coordinate on enabling rule changes, signaling an inter-agency push to rethink the boundaries of what retirement plans can hold.
The regulatory moment follows a related shift at the Department of Labor in May. The DOL rescinded a 2022 compliance release that advised fiduciaries to be “extremely cautious” about crypto in 401(k) retirement plans, a move that another way signaled the government’s evolving stance toward crypto exposure in defined-contribution accounts.
Taken together with market context, the policy signals arrive as the U.S. retirement market sits near historic scales. A record $48.1 trillion in financial assets was reported as of September 30, 2025, according to the Investment Company Institute (ICI), underscoring the potential impact of any broadening of asset access in 401(k) plans.
Separately, state-level momentum continues to unfold. In Indiana, lawmakers passed a bill on February 25 that would require certain state retirement and savings plans to offer a self-directed brokerage option with at least one crypto investment by July 1, 2027. The bill would allow Indiana residents to hold Bitcoin and other digital assets as part of their retirement portfolios for the first time.
Key takeaways
- The OIRA review of the DOL proposal concluded on March 24 and is described as economically significant, with the rule set to enter a 60-day public comment period after publication.
- The move aligns with a broader White House directive, via an August 2025 executive order, to expand access to alternative assets in 401(k) plans and calls for inter-agency coordination on rule changes involving crypto and other alt assets.
- In late May 2025, the DOL rescinded its 2022 guidance urging fiduciaries to be cautious about crypto in 401(k) plans, signaling a shift in regulatory posture toward digital-asset exposure.
- Contextualizing the policy, the U.S. retirement market’s asset base reached about $48.1 trillion by September 2025, highlighting the potential scale of any policy shift.
- State-level action, notably Indiana’s February 25 measure, would require crypto exposure options in certain public retirement plans within a few years, illustrating a broader trend toward practical access beyond federal rulemaking alone.
Interagency push aims to redefine fiduciary considerations
At the core of the DOL proposal is a potential redefinition of how fiduciaries evaluate and select investments within defined-contribution plans. By expanding the set of permissible assets to include digital assets alongside traditional alternative classes—such as private equity and real estate—the rule could widen the menu available to plan sponsors and participants. The forthcoming public-comment process will be crucial in detailing which asset types are eligible, how custody and valuation would be handled, and what risk management standards would apply. The inter-agency framing, reinforced by the executive order, suggests a coordinated effort to address cross-cutting issues such as investor protections, fiduciary duties, and market integrity as crypto markets mature.
Market scale adds urgency to policy shifts
The potential policy change arrives against a backdrop of substantial retirement asset accumulation. ICI’s latest quarterly data show that total U.S. retirement assets stood at a record $48.1 trillion as of September 2025, underscoring the magnitude of any shift that could broaden exposure to digital assets through 401(k) plans. For institutions managing retirement funds, the policy signal could influence product design, investment governance, and the timing of launches for crypto-inclusive retirement vehicles.
State-level experiments foreshadow adoption
Beyond federal action, state legislatures are already testing the waters. Indiana’s bill would mandate at least one crypto option within a self-directed brokerage framework offered by state retirement and savings plans, with a deadline for July 1, 2027. If implemented, residents would be able to hold BTC and other digital assets in retirement accounts through a regulated, state-backed vehicle. This development mirrors broader regulatory debates about how to reconcile investor access with safeguards, and how to integrate digital assets into mainstream retirement planning.
For observers, the next steps are clear. The DOL’s proposed rule will enter a public-comment phase, during which industry participants, fiduciaries, and plan sponsors will weigh the practical implications of expanded crypto access, including governance standards, valuation, liquidity, custody, and tax treatment. At the same time, market participants should watch how the Treasury and the SEC respond to the inter-agency directive and how state initiatives like Indiana’s law interact with potential federal- or plan-level changes. The ongoing dialogue between regulators, plan sponsors, and asset managers will shape not only the pace of adoption but also the safeguards that accompany broader crypto exposure in retirement portfolios.
As the public comment window opens, readers should stay attentive to how proposed asset categories are defined, what risk controls are proposed, and when a final rule might be expected. Until then, the policy trajectory suggests a gradual but consequential shift in how mainstream retirement investing could accommodate digital assets in the years ahead.
Source framing: The regulatory review referenced here tracks with Reginfo.gov records and reporting noted in Cointelegraph coverage, including the DOL’s May 2025 guidance reversal and the August 2025 executive-order push. For additional context, Indiana’s legislature and related policy discussions were reported in contemporary coverage tied to state-level crypto retirement access initiatives.
MARA Holdings just moved $1.1 billion worth of Bitcoin, and the BTC USD market barely flinched. Bitcoin sits at the $70,000 level, consolidating inside a descending correction channel with short-term moving averages flashing neutral, and the full implications of this institutional liquidation might have already been fully priced in.
Between March 4 and March 25, MARA Holdings sold 15,133 BTC for approximately $1.1 billion to fund a sweeping debt restructuring. Proceeds are being deployed to repurchase $1.0 billion of 0.00% convertible senior notes, $367.5 million of 2030 notes for $322.9 million, and $633.4 million of 2031 notes for $589.9 million.
Both tranches were acquired at approximately 9% below par, generating an estimated $88.1 million in immediate balance sheet value.
BTC USD and MARA Balance Sheet
The repurchases slash MARA’s total convertible debt from roughly $3.3 billion to $2.3 billion, or a 30% reduction, while cutting future shareholder dilution risk tied to note conversions. With BTC USD already under pressure from risk-off flows and falling equities, the timing of a 15,000-coin dump into this market deserves close scrutiny.
CEO Fred Thiel framed it plainly: “Our decision to sell a portion of our bitcoin holdings reflects a strategic capital allocation move designed to strengthen our balance sheet and position the company for long-term growth.”
When Bitcoin’s spot price stalls and a top mining firm is actively liquidating holdings to cover debt, the question worth asking is: where does upside actually come from at this stage of the cycle? Spot BTC at $70K level carries a trillion-dollar market cap. The leverage, if it exists, is elsewhere.
Bitcoin Hyper Targets Early Mover Upside as BTC Tests Critical Support
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is positioning directly inside that gap. It’s built as the first Bitcoin Layer 2 with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration, targeting sub-second finality and low-cost smart contract execution on Bitcoin’s security layer, performance to exceed Solana itself.
The presale has raised more than $32 million at the current early phase. Hyper is priced at a low $0.0136, with staking live and a high 36% APY available to early stakers.
Wow! Now this looks like it'll lead somewhere nice. — Bitcoin Hyper (@BTC_Hyper2) March 26, 2026
Bitcoin just found its fast lane. 
https://t.co/VNG0P4GuDo pic.twitter.com/ayZQyRm7m3
Core infrastructure includes a Decentralized Canonical Bridge for BTC transfers and a high-speed execution environment that brings programmability to Bitcoin without sacrificing its underlying trust model. The presale has drawn attention alongside recent BTC price volatility as traders look for asymmetric exposure.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile. Always do your own research before investing.
The post MARA Dumped 15K BTC USD: $1.1 Billion To Strengthen Balance Sheet appeared first on Cryptonews.
Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has slashed its $20.33 billion STRK at-the-market (ATM) offering on March 22 after selling just 5% of its 269.8 million share goal.
The bitcoin (BTC) treasury company has slashed the number of authorized STRK shares by 85% from 269.8 million to 40.3 million, and has sold only 14.02 million.
Switching focus, the company simultaneously quadrupled authorized shares of its quasi-pegged preferred, STRC, as well as a massive increase of its MSTR common stock ATM.
The market barely noticed.
Strategy’s own X account announced the filing by trumpeting new $21 billion STRC and $21 billion MSTR authorizations. It didn’t mention the sunsetting of STRK — the company’s first dividend-paying preferred public share offering — on social media.
Indeed, in January 2025, Michael Saylor’s Strategy announced that it had raised $563.4 million in STRK after targeting just $250 million for that capital raise.
At the time, publications called that raise “upsized” or “oversubscribed,” even though Saylor offered a 20% discount on liquidation preference to manufacture STRK’s so-called oversubscription.
$700 million sold of a $21 billion goal
By March 2025, Strategy had authorized the sale of up to $21 billion in 8% perpetual preferred shares convertible into MSTR at $1,000 per share. A year later, approximately $20.3 billion of that capacity remained unsold.
Demand was weak from the start and ended in a 94.8% shortcoming: 14.02 million shares sold of 269.8 million authorized.
As of March 22, 2026, $20.33 billion STRK remained unsold.
Strategy priced STRK’s initial offering at $80, a 20% discount to its $100 liquidation preference, raising roughly $563 million selling 7.3 million shares from unsurprisingly motivated buyers whose positions had gained 20% within three weeks as STRK traded up to $100 per share.
Barron’s correctly reported on lackluster STRK demand before shares even debuted, with Strategy offering steep discounts to induce buying.
Quarterly reductions in STRK demand
Within a few months, STRK sales soon slowed to a trickle. Indeed, by the end of Q1 2025, Strategy had only sold $765 million, or just $202 million more across two months than it had sold in January.
By the end of Q2, STRK notional had increased 59% to $1.22 billion. That would be its final quarter of substantial growth.
At the end of Q3, the total face value of STRK was $1.36 billion, a mere 11% increase from Q2, and by the end of Q4, STRK notional was $1.4 billion, a mere 2.7% increase.
As of today, STRK’s notional has increased just 0.3% or $3.9 million more year-to-date.
By the time the company pulled the plug this week, STRK had produced a notional value of $1.4 billion after the company sold roughly 14 million shares out of an authorized 269.8 million.
Strategy raised about 95% less from STRK than it could have, had investors wanted to its buy its fully authorized quantity of shares.
Read more: Strategy fails to list options on its flagship preferred, STRK
Trading 25% below par
Yesterday, STRK closed for trading at $75.20. That gives its 14 million outstanding shares a market value of roughly $1.05 billion, $348 million below the notional on which Strategy pays its 8% dividend.
The stock briefly rallied above $129 in July 2025, when optimism around the embedded MSTR conversion feature peaked. It’s since lost 42% of that value.
The conversion option lets holders swap into MSTR at $1,000. MSTR trades near $140, making that option deeply out of the money and nearly worthless.
Strategy now owes roughly $112 million per year in STRK dividends on the shares it did manage to sell. To service those dividends, the company posted a $5.4 billion operating loss in fiscal year 2025.
STRK dividends, by design, never stop.
Sunsetting the first preferreds
Saylor didn’t kill STRK entirely.
The same 8-K registered a new STRK ATM for up to $2.1 billion, a 90% reduction. With 40.3 million shares now authorized and 14 million outstanding, about 26 million shares of issuance remains.
Although the company might sell some more STRK in the future, it seems unlikely given the above quarterly trend toward zero.
The real emphasis at the company is on STRC, Strategy’s variable-rate and quasi-pegged preferred paying 11.5% annualized dividends. STRC raised over $1.18 billion in net proceeds in a single week of March 2026.
That one week dwarfed STRK’s entire ATM output over twelve months.
Strategy wants investors focused on STRC. The company’s first preferred offering, however, was supposed to raise up to $26.9 billion and will instead be remembered for the $25 billion it never raised.
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Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Rising costs push Bitcoin mining out of reach, driving users toward free cloud mining options.
Summary
- Rising mining costs push users to free cloud mining, with platforms offering contracts, trial hashpower, and no upfront investment.
- Modern cloud mining emphasizes transparency, defined returns, and legitimate access to real BTC mining infrastructure.
- AngelBTC provides a $100 free mining contract, connecting users to real Bitcoin mining powered by renewable energy.
The economics of Bitcoin mining have changed. Rising hash rates, tighter margins, and increasing energy costs have pushed traditional mining further out of reach for individual users.
As a result, free Bitcoin cloud mining has become one of the fastest-growing entry points into crypto, especially for users searching:
- mine BTC without investment
- cloud mining without hardware
- free BTC mining sites 2026
Unlike early-stage platforms built on vague promises, today’s leading providers are shifting toward contract-based mining models, trial hashpower, and bonus-backed onboarding systems.
This allows users to access real mining environments without upfront costs.
2026 cloud mining landscape: Key trends
The free Bitcoin cloud mining industry in 2026 is shifting toward transparency, efficiency, and legitimacy.
- Bonus-based free mining — Most platforms now offer welcome bonuses, trial contracts, or limited free hashpower instead of unlimited free mining
- Contract-driven models — Clear hashrate, duration, and daily ROI define modern bitcoin mining contracts
- Green energy mining — Hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy improve cost efficiency and sustainability
- User focus on legitimacy — Searches increasingly target legit cloud mining sites and safe BTC mining platforms
8 verified free Bitcoin cloud mining sites in 2026
1. AngelBTC — Contract-Based free mining with real infrastructure
AngelBTC has emerged as a structured platform focused on transparent, contract-based Bitcoin cloud mining, replacing vague earning models with clearly defined returns.
New users receive a $100 free mining contract, allowing immediate participation in real mining operations without any upfront cost. Unlike simulation-based platforms, these contracts are connected to actual mining infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
AngelBTC Mining contracts overview
| Contract Name | Price | Duration | Daily Return | Total Return |
| Solar 5TH | $100 | 1 Day | 1.00% | $1 |
| Solar 5TH | $200 | 2 Days | 2.00% | $8 |
| Wind 10TH | $600 | 5 Days | 2.00% | $60 |
| Hydropower 15TH | $1100 | 5 Days | 2.20% | $121 |
| Hydropower 25TH | $2350 | 5 Days | 2.50% | $293.75 |
| Wind 40TH | $3950 | 4 Days | 2.70% | $426.6 |
| Hydropower 70TH | $9500 | 3 Days | 3.00% | $855 |
| Geothermal 120TH | $14500 | 2 Days | 3.30% | $957 |
| Natural Gas 200TH | $23500 | 1 Day | 4.00% | $940 |
| Hydropower 500TH | $49500 | 1 Day | 5.00% | $2475 |
Claim a $100 bonus and start mining instantly
How these contracts work
- Fixed duration with predictable returns
- Daily BTC earnings settlement
- Fully automated mining process
- No hardware or technical skills required
This structure aligns with high-intent searches such as: Bitcoin mining contracts 2026 / daily BTC mining profit / passive income bitcoin mining
Why contract transparency matters
AngelBTC reflects a broader shift in the cloud mining industry:
- From vague promises → structured mining ROI
- From unclear payouts → defined daily earnings
- From speculation → data-driven mining contracts
2. BitFuFu — Institutional-grade mining with trial access
BitFuFu provides access to large-scale mining farms and offers trial hashpower packages.
Key Features:
- Enterprise mining infrastructure
- High-performance ASIC mining
- Integration with major mining pools
- Scalable mining contracts
3. ECOS — Regulated mining platform with demo contracts
ECOS operates within a compliant framework and offers demo mining contracts.
Key Features:
- Regulated mining environment
- Built-in wallet and analytics
- Long-term contract options
- Strong compliance positioning
4. StormGain — Free mobile Bitcoin mining entry
StormGain delivers a simplified, app-based mining experience.
Key Features:
- No upfront investment required
- One-click mining activation
- Integrated crypto trading
- Beginner-friendly interface
5. NiceHash — Flexible hashpower marketplace
NiceHash enables users to buy and allocate hashpower dynamically.
Key Features:
- Flexible mining strategies
- Transparent pricing system
- Algorithm switching
- Advanced user control
6. BeMine — Fractional ASIC mining model
BeMine allows users to access real mining hardware through shared ownership.
Key Features:
- Fractional ASIC mining
- Real infrastructure exposure
- Flexible entry options
- Transparent allocation
7. Binance Pool — Integrated mining ecosystem
Binance Pool combines mining with a global crypto trading ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Multi-asset mining support
- Seamless account integration
- Strong liquidity infrastructure
- Global accessibility
8. Kryptex — Entry-level mining software
Kryptex offers hybrid mining through local and cloud optimization.
Key Features:
- Easy setup
- Beginner-friendly system
- Automatic optimization
- Low entry barrier
Final thoughts
Starting Bitcoin cloud mining without upfront cost is now more accessible, but also more competitive.
The most reliable platforms in 2026 are no longer those promising unlimited free mining, but those offering:
- Structured mining contracts
- Transparent daily returns
- Verifiable infrastructure
Among them, AngelBTC represents a shift toward professional cloud mining platforms, combining accessibility with real mining exposure.
For users searching:
- free Bitcoin cloud mining sites 2026
- mine BTC without hardware
- legit cloud mining platforms
The key takeaway is clear: Sustainable mining always outperforms short-term “free” promises.
Because in today’s mining industry: transparency builds trust — and trust drives long-term crypto income.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
CoinDesk Indices presents its daily market update, highlighting the performance of leaders and laggards in the CoinDesk 20 Index.
The CoinDesk 20 is currently trading at 1985.11, down 3.2% (-65.39) since 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
None of the 20 assets are trading higher.
Leaders: CRO (-2.2%) and BTC (-2.2%).
Laggards: AAVE (-5.6%) and ADA (-4.8%).
The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based index traded on multiple platforms in several regions globally.
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