Crypto World
Here’s how U.S. Treasury notes could shape Trump’s Iran war and bitcoin
As the Iran war rages on, U.S. Treasury yields – the market’s gauge of borrowing costs – have surged to multi-month highs, pricing in delayed Fed rate cuts and higher inflation expectations.
The question is at what point the Treasury market, which underpins global finance, starts causing trouble for both the government and the economy, forcing the Trump administration to rethink the war or consider a mechanism to cap yields.
According to ING, that point comes when a little-known 10-year U.S. Treasury swap spread blows past 60 basis points. We are not there yet.
“Watch the 10-year swap spread. It’s just below 50bp now. If that were to shoot to 60bp, it would spell enough trouble to ultimately shape the war path. Why? It’s a measure of the de-rating of Treasuries. We need to steer clear of that. It’s not just the negative perception, it’s the added cost of funding U.S. debt,” Padhraic Garvey, CFA and regional head of research Americas at ING, said in a note to clients Friday.
Garvey emphasized that rising swap spreads aren’t just about perception; they increase the implied cost of funding for the U.S. government, making it more expensive for the heavily-indebted Uncle Sam to issue new bonds and borrow more. This could ripple through the financial system, tightening credit conditions and leading to risk aversion in both stocks and bitcoin .
“Narrow swap spreads are the good look. Wide swap spreads are the opposite,” he said.
Focus on the 10-year yield
Other observers are focused on the 10-year Treasury yield, the benchmark rate that sets borrowing costs across the U.S. economy, influencing risk-taking in both the economy and financial markets.
Since the Iran war began at the end of February, the yield has surged roughly 45 basis points to 4.37%.
According to The Kobeissi Letter, the 4.5%–4.6% range represents a critical “line in the sand.” That’s the level at which President Trump pulled back from his sweeping Liberation Day tariffs last April.
“This is in line with the rapid surge seen around ‘Liberation Day’ in April 2025. As the 10-year note yield surged above 4.50%, President Trump began floating a potential tariff pause. And, once the yield broke above 4.60%, he officially implemented a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on April 9th, 2025,” the letter noted on X.
Put simply, the bond market could soon reach a point where the Trump administration feels pressured to temper the war.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump paused attacks on Iranian infrastructure, claiming productive talks with Iran, though Iran denied having any contact. Meanwhile, early Wednesday, U.S. and Israeli forces reportedly struck new Iranian energy facilities, including a natural gas pipeline in Khorramshahr.
If the yield breaks the 4.5%–4.6% range, it could rise to 5%, the level analysts have flagged as a make-or-break point for risk assets in recent years.
According to The Kobeissi Letter, the U.S. economy cannot sustain a 5% level in the 10-year yield.
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and chief investment officer at Maelstrom Fund, has previously stated that a potential rise in the 10-year yield above 5% could trigger a mini-financial crisis, forcing the Fed to step in with liquidity injections.
In other words, bitcoin could initially drop in a knee-jerk reaction, but liquidity injections could quickly recharge bulls.
The takeaway is clear. bitcoin traders need to closely track Treasury yields and swap spreads, as shifts in these markets could directly influence risk appetite and policy decisions.
Ethereum price is trading at $2,160, caught in a high-stakes consolidation zone with a neutral prediction behind it. While recent price action marks a 55% recovery from cycle lows, on-chain data signals caution: whale wallets distributed heavily into the March peak of $2,370.
Volatility is the only certainty this week. Despite persistent energy-driven inflation data keeping pressure on risk assets, institutional interest remains sticky, evidenced by ongoing inflows into BlackRock’s staked ETH ETF. However, the distribution pattern suggests smart money is de-risking ahead of the Glamesterdam hard fork. A break in either direction seems imminent.
— BSCN (@BSCNews) March 21, 2026
MARKETS: BLACKROCK'S $ETH STAKING ETF IS ON FIRE!
Launched last week, @Blackrock's $ETHB staking ETF has already reached an AUM of more than $250 million.
Blackrock is not the first to launch an @Ethereum staking ETF but the weight carried by the firm puts it on a fast-track… pic.twitter.com/3OgLtTc513
The technical posture is mixed. While the Layer-2 ecosystem boasts more than $30 billion TVL, the immediate price action on the daily chart is testing trader resolve. Can the bulls defend the $2,000 level?
Ethereum Price Prediction: Can ETH Hold Support at $2,000?
As of this morning, Ethereum (ETH) sits at $2,160, posting a healthy +4.5% gain over the last 24 hours. The asset is currently respecting the 52-week range midpoint, utilizing the DEMA 9 at approximately $2,100 as dynamic support. This level is critical; a daily close below could trigger a slide toward the next major liquidity pool at $2,000.
Momentum indicators are flashing warning signs while the RSI hovers in neutral territory at 52 on the daily. This structure often precedes a volatility contraction before a violent expansion. Analysts note that a decisive reclaiming of $2,350 is required to invalidate the bearish distribution thesis.
Should broader market sentiment improve, perhaps tailored by a dovish FOMC dot plot, ETH could target the psychological $2,500 barrier. Conversely, if the projected +10.88% monthly forecast fails to materialize, the 50-EMA near $2,050 acts as the ultimate line in the sand for the bulls.
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
Bitcoin Hyper Targets Early Mover Upside as Ethereum Stalls
While Ethereum battles localized resistance and macroeconomic headwinds, capital is beginning to rotate (as it often does during consolidation phases) into high-beta infrastructure plays. Sophisticated traders are eyeing the emerging Bitcoin Layer 2 narrative, which promises to unlock trillions in dormant BTC capital.
Leading this charge is Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), the first-ever Bitcoin Layer 2 solution to integrate the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM). While Ethereum struggles with gas revenue issues, Bitcoin Hyper claims to deliver transaction speeds faster than Solana itself, directly on the Bitcoin network.
The market appetite for this utility is quantifiable. The project has already raised an amount of more than $32 million in its ongoing presale. Priced currently at just $0.0136, the token offers an entry point significantly lower than established L2s with 36% APY rewards.
The protocol features a Decentralized Canonical Bridge for seamless BTC transfers and supports high-speed smart contracts that break Bitcoin’s historical limitation of non-programmability.
Disclaimer: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. You could lose all of your capital.
The post Ethereum Price Prediction: Will Critical Support Break? appeared first on Cryptonews.
- TRON DAO announced the expansion of its AI Fund from $100 million to $1 billion.
- The fund targets identity, payments, RWAs & autonomous finance.
- What does this mean for agentic economy and TRX price?
TRON DAO has dramatically escalated its commitment to artificial intelligence by expanding its AI Fund from $100 million to $1 billion.
According to an announcement, the newly scaled fund will target early‑stage companies building core infrastructure for the “agentic economy.”
But what does this mean for TRX as the crypto project eyes AI‑driven payment systems, tokenized assets, and decentralized applications on the TRON blockchain?
TRON DAO expands AI Fund to $1 billion
The scaled‑up AI Fund marks a strategic pivot from a moderate development pool into a major capital‑allocation vehicle for AI‑native infrastructure.
TRON announced the expansion of its AI Fund from $100 million to $1 billion. The fund will target investments in and acquisitions of early-stage companies building core infrastructure for the agentic economy.
The fund will prioritize the development and consolidation of agent… pic.twitter.com/5K7shMrFDp
— TRON DAO (@trondao) March 23, 2026
TRON DAO has stated that the fund will focus on investments and acquisitions in early‑stage companies that build foundational tools for agent‑to‑agent interactions.
These include AI‑driven smart contracts, identity protocols, and machine‑to‑machine payment rails.
By concentrating on “core infrastructure,” Tron aims to deepen its integration with the emerging agentic economy, where AI systems execute financial and contractual operations autonomously on‑chain.
From a network‑level perspective, this expansion is designed to accelerate the development of AI‑centric decentralized applications (dApps) on TRON.
Significantly, it could also increase the utility of USDT‑based flows that already dominate the ecosystem.
Analysts note that TRON’s emphasis on low‑fee transactions and high‑ throughput makes it a natural environment for AI agents that need to perform frequent, low‑value operations at scale.
The AI Fund’s $1B war chest is expected to attract more developers, startups, and institutional partners to build and deploy AI‑enhanced products directly on the TRON network.
What does this mean for TRX price?
The expansion of the AI Fund does not directly alter TRX’s supply‑demand mechanics. It doesn’t outline buy‑backs or burns.
However, potential implications for TRX’s long‑term price trajectory are likely.
AI and blockchain convergence is a dominant narrative, and this move can only reinforce TRON’s positioning.
The multi‑year commitment can attract more developers, capital, and transaction volume to the ecosystem.
In this case, it would mean higher on‑chain activity and transaction fees. Automated trading bots, yield‑harvesting systems, and cross‑chain payment routers could all bolster this outlook.
TRX, as the native utility and gas‑payment token, could benefit in such an environment where AI‑funded projects drive adoption and demand.
The price of TRX has hovered near $0.30 over the past few weeks, largely under pressure alongside the broader market.
However, long-term bullish sentiment remains, with the token about 29% off its all-time high of $0.44 reached in December 2024.
Recent resilience has come amid increased buying from Tron Inc.
TLDR:
- Hostplus manages over A$150 billion and is now exploring Bitcoin access for self-managed retirement accounts.
- CIO Sam Sicilia confirmed member demand is driving the fund’s renewed interest in digital currency options.
- Any crypto offering through Choiceplus requires full regulatory approval before launching in the next financial year.
- Australia’s pension sector holds little crypto exposure, making Hostplus a potential industry trailblazer here.
Australia’s Hostplus pension fund, managing over A$150 billion, is exploring cryptocurrency investment options for its members.
Chief Investment Officer Sam Sicilia confirmed the fund is reviewing Bitcoin and other digital assets. This move could make Hostplus one of the first major Australian pension funds to offer crypto access. Any rollout depends on regulatory approval and remains in the design phase.
Hostplus Eyes Bitcoin Access Through Choiceplus Platform
The fund is looking at offering crypto through its Choiceplus investment option. This platform allows members to self-manage their retirement savings portfolios. Currently, Choiceplus accounts for roughly 1% of the fund’s total assets under management.
Member demand is a key driver behind this consideration. Sicilia pointed directly to member correspondence as evidence of that interest.
“There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say ‘why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?’” he said.
Digital asset products could potentially be available as early as next financial year. However, consumer protections and regulatory compliance must come first. Several design and structural questions still need to be resolved before any launch.
Sicilia also noted that crypto has matured considerably since Hostplus first evaluated it nearly a decade ago. “We’re now at the stage where we’re revisiting digital currencies, not just Bitcoin, but just the broader range of digital currencies,” he said.
That broader scope reportedly includes assets such as music rights alongside traditional cryptocurrencies.
Regulatory Approval Remains Central to Any Crypto Rollout
Australia’s pension sector, worth A$4.5 trillion, has largely avoided cryptocurrency exposure. AMP became the first major fund to announce a Bitcoin futures investment back in 2024. Hostplus taking a similar step would mark a notable shift in industry posture.
The fund has been firm that it will not move forward without full regulatory clearance. Sicilia made the fund’s position clear on timing.
“We’d love to get regulatory tick off, even if it means waiting another six months,” he said. That patience reflects the fund’s broader investment philosophy.
“We are long-term investors. Six months doesn’t really move the dial for us,” Sicilia added. The fund is prioritizing a compliant and well-structured rollout over a rushed launch. Member protections remain at the center of that approach.
Outside major pension funds, Australia’s self-managed super funds hold around A$3 billion in crypto. These SMSFs represent about A$1.2 trillion of the broader pension system.
That existing exposure shows retail appetite for crypto within retirement structures is already present. Once approvals are secured, a structured crypto offering could follow within the next financial year.
Opinion by: Dr Corey Petty, chief evangelist at Logos
When early cryptocurrencies were conceptualized, the vision was not one of complex leverage strategies, celebrity rugpulls and government treasuries. Rather, cypherpunks sought, through cryptographic tools, to empower people through the privacy-given freedom to exchange goods and services without the threat of government overreach and mass corporate surveillance
The crypto landscape is turning from one of decentralized networks into an extension of traditional finance. Centralized exchanges regularly account for over 80% of daily crypto transactions. If crypto is to hold onto its original ethos, privacy cannot be optional.
Privacy is a tool for carving out the most important properties that support individual freedom in the digital realm: permissionlessness and censorship resistance.
Privacy as a principle to surveillance capitalism
In this era of regulation, blockchain’s peer-to-peer value proposition means little to institutions. With a pro-crypto administration in the United States, institutions have poured billions into decentralized finance (DeFi). This liberatory technology is quickly becoming a backend for institutional finance, complete with surveillance architecture and walled gardens.
A recent report by Samsung showed that nine out of 10 Europeans are worried about their online privacy while remaining unaware of the options available to them, like the potential of blockchain to safeguard this privacy. Policies like the UK’s push for crypto firms to report customer data have been accepted across industries. Protocols are hardwiring surveillance architecture and compliance-heavy frameworks that mandate data tracking into their offerings — all in an effort to secure institutional validation and large-scale inflows.
Prioritizing profit over purpose by design, perpetuates inequality. The unique properties of blockchain allowed for censorship-resistant solutions that have more recently been used to leverage highly lucrative airdrops, memecoins and casino-style trading strategies, as flagship cryptocurrencies have grown in value.
Products have begun to alienate the very people that crypto was designed to uplift. Instead of get-rich-quick schemes and institutional lobbying, DeFi should be prioritizing accessible financial tools: low-cost layer-2 solutions that reduce transaction fees to pennies, intuitive user interfaces that don’t require technical expertise and products that address real-world needs with the end goal of enabling financial freedom for millions of people.
From a lost cause to a brighter future
If DeFi will not advocate for crypto’s potential for self-sovereignty, then it is up to the remaining cypherpunks to find other avenues to apply it. Self-governance is perhaps the most comprehensive example of such an application, offering freedom of choice for people over how they wish to be governed and by whom, providing an exit from financial institutions and state-corporate surveillance.
In blockchain governance, the same ledger that supports transparent financial transactions ensures open and immutable voting systems. Tokenized citizenship models can enable fluid participation and serve as an anonymous yet functional digital ID, ensuring access to services.
Using smart contracts, cyberstates — also called network states — enable communities to form voluntary associations based on shared values rather than geographic boundaries. Citizens can exit oppressive jurisdictions and opt into governance systems that align with their principles, creating competitive markets for governance where the best systems attract the most participants.
Rather than being subject to the surveillance and control of traditional nation-states through cryptographically secured systems that take privacy as a cornerstone principle, individuals can organize in decentralized communities, govern themselves through direct democracy, and return sovereignty to the individual, fulfilling the original cypherpunk vision.
Related: Network states will one day compete with nation-states
Early visions are already being built. Charter cities and projects are pioneering experiments that combine blockchain governance with physical communities. Meanwhile, decentralized physical infrastructure networks are demonstrating that blockchain has transformative functions far beyond finance, enabling communities to collectively own and operate real-world infrastructure from agricultural supply chains to computing power.
As blockchain technology reaches the masses and institutional adoption becomes inevitable, it is time to reclaim the founding mission. The technology that was built to free individuals from centralized control must not become another tool of that control.
Opinion by: Dr Corey Petty, chief evangelist at Logos.
This opinion article presents the author’s expert view, and it may not reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. This content has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance. Cointelegraph remains committed to transparent reporting and upholding the highest standards of journalism. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
Key Takeaways
- Between March 18 and March 21, 2026, whale addresses acquired 470 million DOGE tokens amid declining prices
- Current DOGE price hovers around $0.093–$0.095, reflecting a monthly decline of approximately 4.61%
- Market observers identify $0.15 as a potential upside target should accumulation trend persist
- Liquidation data reveals $12.37 million worth of short positions concentrated at the $0.0928 level, setting up potential squeeze conditions
- Market analyst Ali Charts highlighted 28 billion DOGE transactions occurring at $0.074, establishing it as critical demand territory
Dogecoin has experienced downward pressure throughout recent trading sessions, registering monthly declines near 4.61%. However, the meme coin managed to climb approximately 4.78% over the previous 24-hour period and was recently changing hands around $0.09489.
The cryptocurrency sector overall has been navigating a risk-averse environment influenced by international developments. DOGE hasn’t escaped this challenging atmosphere, yet certain deep-pocketed investors seem to be capitalizing on reduced prices to expand their holdings.
Large Holders Accumulate During Price Weakness
During the four-day span from March 18 through March 21, 2026, substantial DOGE wallets absorbed 470 million tokens. This purchasing activity occurred while everyday investors displayed minimal confidence, echoing historical patterns that have occasionally preceded price recoveries.
Market observers tracking this data indicate DOGE might advance toward $0.15 should this accumulation pattern maintain momentum. Such a move would deliver approximately 67% gains from current trading levels.
The strategic timing of these whale transactions deserves attention. Significant holders seldom execute large-scale purchases without underlying rationale, and accumulating during geopolitically influenced market weakness indicates confidence in DOGE’s future trajectory.
In a separate observation, cryptocurrency analyst Ali Charts shared on X that 28 billion DOGE changed hands at the $0.074 price point, identifying it as a crucial foundation level for the asset.
Bearish Bets Accumulate Around $0.0928
Futures market information paints a more reserved picture for immediate price action. Based on CoinGlass’s DOGE liquidation tracking, $12.37 million in bearish positions are bunched together at $0.0928. Conversely, bullish positions totaling $4.13 million are positioned at $0.0892.
The Long/Short Ratio presently registers at 0.9504, indicating bearish positions marginally exceed bullish ones. While the differential remains modest, sentiment tilts toward defensive positioning.
This clustering of short contracts near $0.0928 warrants observation. Should DOGE rally to that threshold with sufficient force, these bearish positions risk liquidation, potentially fueling an accelerated upward movement.
Technically speaking, DOGE penetrated above a descending trend line at $0.0935 and reached a peak of $0.0957 before experiencing modest retracement. Critical resistance barriers exist at $0.0955, $0.0980, and $0.1020. If $0.0980 successfully transitions into support following a breakout, the subsequent objective would approach $0.1020, with $0.1050 and $0.1120 representing extended targets.
Regarding downside risks, support structures are positioned at $0.0928, $0.0920, and $0.090. A decline beneath $0.090 could direct DOGE toward $0.0880 or potentially $0.0865.
Aave’s decentralized autonomous organization backed a proposal to move its V4 protocol toward deployment on Ethereum mainnet, signaling broader support for the upgrade after weeks of governance tension and contributor exits.
On Monday, the proposal to deploy Aave V4 on the Ethereum mainnet garnered near-unanimous support from the DAO, with more than 645,000 votes in favor and less than one vote against, and no abstentions, according to data from the offchain voting platform Snapshot.
The vote marks a shift from earlier divisions within the Aave community, signaling broad alignment around the protocol’s direction as it moves toward formalizing V4’s deployment.
According to Aave founder Stani Kulechov, the proposal is expected to advance toward an Aave Improvement Proposal (AIP) vote, a binding onchain vote that would allow the protocol to deploy and activate V4 on Ethereum.
Aave V4 introduces a modular architecture for on-chain credit markets
Aave V4, proposed by Aave Labs on March 19, introduces a shift toward a more modular protocol design. It includes architecture intended to separate liquidity from market-specific risk.
Under the model, shared liquidity pools, or “Hubs,” provide capital, while “Spokes” define distinct borrowing environments with tailored risk parameters and exposure limits. According to Aave Labs, the design “preserves the depth and efficiency of unified liquidity while allowing for more precise risk management.”
Related: Aave governance dispute escalates as ACI and Aave Labs publish dueling reports
Aave Labs said the new structure is designed to support a broader range of financial use cases, including assets with different risk profiles, maturities, or offchain dependencies.
According to the proposal, V4 would allow new collateral types and structured credit markets to emerge while maintaining a unified liquidity.
Near-unanimous vote follows exit of key Aave contributors
The strong backing for Aave V4 comes after a period of governance tension that saw several core contributors step back from the DAO.
On Feb. 20, BGD Labs, a long-time technical contributor, said it would end its involvement with Aave after four years, citing an “asymmetric organizational scenario” and what it described as an “adversarial position” toward its work on the protocol’s existing version.
On March 3, the Aave Chan Initiative, a major governance delegate and service provider, also announced plans to exit after a clash over a proposed funding package. ACI founder Marc Zeller said the organization would wind down its operations after voicing concerns over governance standards and voting dynamics.
Magazine: Banks want to run Vietnam’s crypto exchanges, Boyaa’s $70M BTC plan: Asia Express
TRON DAO has expanded its artificial intelligence fund from $100 million to $1 billion as it pushes deeper into infrastructure for the agentic economy. The new plan targets early-stage startups and acquisitions in areas linked to AI-driven payments, digital identity, tokenized assets, and financial software for autonomous systems.
Summary
- TRON DAO raised its AI fund to $1 billion for agentic economy infrastructure investments.
- The fund targets identity systems, stablecoin rails, RWA, and autonomous finance developer tooling.
- TRON says its network scale and USDT activity support future AI-driven payment systems.
TRON DAO said the larger fund will support companies building core tools for AI-based economic activity. The investment focus includes agent identity systems, stablecoin payment rails, tokenized real-world assets, and developer tools for autonomous finance.
The group said the move builds on ideas it set out in 2023. Those ideas include stablecoins serving as a payment layer for AI agents and tokenized equity becoming part of digital ownership models.
The fund expansion comes as more blockchain groups move toward AI-linked payment systems. TRON joins a wider push across the sector as networks and payment firms test infrastructure for machine-led commerce and autonomous transactions.
Ethereum has also moved into this field, but with a different approach. In September 2025, the Ethereum Foundation launched its dAI Team and said it wants Ethereum to become the ”preferred settlement and coordination layer” for AI agents and the machine economy.
Moreover, TRON said its network is built to support this market because of its large user base and stablecoin activity. Public figures linked to the announcement said the blockchain has more than 370 million user accounts and more than $85 billion in circulating USDT.
The announcement also pointed to heavy transaction flow across the network. TRON said daily transaction volume is above $21 billion, a figure it used to support its case for handling AI-led payments at scale.
Fund comes as payment protocols gain attention
Interest in agentic payments has increased in recent months as new protocols and wallet tools enter the market. Research from Artemis said x402 has become a popular option among developers building this type of payment flow.
TRON’s larger fund places it more directly in that race. The latest move shows the group wants a stronger role in the infrastructure layer behind AI payments and tokenized financial systems.
Key Highlights
- XRP currently hovers around $1.43–$1.44 after posting gains of approximately 2.77%–4.13% over the last day
- Strong support established near $1.36, with repeated successful defenses by buyers
- Breaking above $1.50 could trigger upward momentum toward $1.60, $1.80, and possibly $2.00
- Social media buzz around Visa’s XRP-related hiring has amplified bullish sentiment
- Technical analysts remain divided, with long-term projections ranging from $5–$7 upside to potential downside at $0.87
XRP continues to trade within the $1.43–$1.44 corridor following a daily rally that delivered between 2.77% and 4.13% gains. With approximately 61 billion tokens in circulation, the digital asset maintains a market capitalization exceeding $88 billion.
While short-term momentum appears positive, the token has surrendered nearly 6% of its value across the previous week. Market participants are closely monitoring several critical technical thresholds.
The asset has demonstrated resilience by repeatedly bouncing from the $1.36 support zone. This persistent defense indicates strong buying pressure at that price floor.
Technical chart formations reveal a series of compact candlestick patterns, which market analysts often interpret as consolidation preceding a significant directional move. Declining volatility metrics further reinforce this interpretation.
Critical Resistance Looms at $1.50
Should buyers successfully drive XRP beyond $1.50, the immediate upside objectives emerge at $1.60, followed by $1.80. Market observers note a CME futures gap positioned around $1.70, which technical traders often view as a potential price magnet before any substantial correction materializes.
The psychological $2.00 threshold represents the next major obstacle if momentum carries through the $1.50 barrier. Technical strategists also reference $1.80 as a rally destination that gained traction during discussions in March.
Failure to breach current resistance could result in prolonged sideways price action until sufficient buying pressure accumulates to challenge overhead levels again.
From a bearish perspective, analyst CasiTrades has identified a corrective wave pattern suggesting XRP could retreat to $0.87 if the price violates the consolidation trendline support. A breakdown beneath $1.40 would serve as an initial alert signal for this downside scenario.
Conversely, the same analyst notes that a rally above $1.65 would invalidate the bearish structure and restore bullish control.
Social Sentiment and Corporate Adoption Trends
A social media post from John Squire generated significant attention within the XRP community, declaring: “$15 trillion. Visa just announced it’s hiring more XRP and crypto engineers.” This announcement amplified the already optimistic sentiment surrounding the digital asset.
As additional corporations investigate blockchain-enabled payment infrastructure, institutional attention toward XRP has remained consistently strong.
Long-term technical analyst CW8900 identifies an ascending channel formation on the charts, with foundational support positioned between $1.00 and $1.10. Should bullish momentum accelerate within this channel structure, mid-range targets of $5–$7 enter the realm of possibility.
Resistance zones near $2.00 and $3.50 stand as primary hurdles that must be cleared before any substantial breakout scenario unfolds.
As of this writing, XRP trades at $1.44 with immediate resistance positioned at $1.50.
Key Takeaways
- The corporate entity Balancer Labs is ceasing operations following a November 2025 security breach that cost $110 million
- The protocol’s total value locked has plummeted 95% from its 2021 high of $3.5 billion to approximately $157 million
- BAL token emissions will cease entirely under a comprehensive restructuring initiative
- Protocol operations will transition to the Balancer Foundation and DAO, with all fees flowing to the treasury
- Token holders will have access to a buyback program offering fair exit opportunities
The corporate force behind one of decentralized finance’s prominent trading platforms is calling it quits.
Balancer Labs co-founder Fernando Martinelli revealed this week that the company responsible for developing and supporting the Balancer decentralized exchange is discontinuing operations. This decision comes in the wake of a November 2025 security incident that resulted in approximately $110 million in stolen digital assets — marking the third major security compromise in the platform’s operational history.
According to Martinelli, the security breach “introduced significant and persistent legal risks,” rendering continued operations untenable. In a governance forum post, he stated that Balancer Labs had transformed into “more of a burden than a benefit to the protocol’s long-term viability.”
CEO Marcus Hardt explained that the organization’s expenditures to incentivize liquidity far exceeded generated revenues. This imbalanced spending model was simultaneously eroding value for Balancer token stakeholders.
Balancer’s Dramatic Decline
During its zenith in late 2021, Balancer commanded nearly $3.5 billion in total value locked, positioning it as a foundational component of DeFi infrastructure alongside platforms like Aave, Uniswap, and Curve.
Today, that figure stands at just $157 million — representing a catastrophic 95% reduction. The project’s market capitalization has contracted to $10 million, with the token currently trading around $0.16, dramatically below its historical peak.
The November security incident accelerated this downward trajectory. Total value locked contracted by an additional $500 million during the two-week period immediately following the exploit.
Neverthstanding these setbacks, Martinelli noted the protocol continues generating over $1 million in fees across the most recent three-month period. While insufficient for current operational requirements, this revenue stream could sustain a more streamlined organization.
Proposed Restructuring Framework
Balancer Labs leadership has outlined a comprehensive transformation plan. BAL token emissions would be eliminated entirely, dismantling what Martinelli characterized as a “self-perpetuating incentive system that depletes more value than it creates.”
The existing veBAL governance framework would also be discontinued. Martinelli argued it had been “dominated” by meta-governance entities, compromising representative decision-making.
Protocol fee distribution would be restructured to channel 100% of revenue to the DAO treasury, up from the current 17.5% allocation. The v3 protocol share would decrease to 25% to encourage more sustainable liquidity provision.
A BAL token buyback initiative would provide holders with exit liquidity at reasonable valuations.
Key personnel from Balancer Labs would transition to a newly formed organization designated Balancer OpCo, contingent on governance approval. Martinelli plans to withdraw from any official capacity while remaining available for advisory support.
The product roadmap will consolidate around five core pool categories: reCLAMM pools, liquidity bootstrapping pools, stablecoin pools, weighted pools, and expansion to non-EVM blockchain networks.
The Balancer DAO has been presented with two governance proposals addressing the restructuring plan and tokenomics modifications.
BAL was trading at $0.72 on Tuesday morning.
Hostplus is reviewing whether to add crypto exposure to its investment menu after member interest in digital assets continued to grow.
Summary
- Hostplus is studying crypto access after members asked for digital assets in retirement portfolios.
- Any crypto option would likely launch through Choiceplus, pending approval and consumer protection checks.
- Growing SMSF crypto activity shows rising interest in digital assets among Australian retirement savers.
A Bloomberg report said the fund is considering a model that would give access through its Choiceplus option, though the plan still needs regulatory approval and further design work.
Hostplus is one of Australia’s largest super funds by member count. It has about 2.2 million members, and it ranks among the country’s biggest retirement funds by assets under management, according to Canstar.
Its chief investment officer, Sam Sicilia, said member requests helped keep the issue on the table. He said,
”There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say, ‘Why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?’” according to Bloomberg.
Choiceplus could be the path for a launch
The report said any crypto access would likely sit inside Hostplus’ Choiceplus option. That part of the fund allows members to manage parts of their retirement savings more directly than standard investment options.
Sicilia said the offer could arrive as soon as the next financial year if the structure is approved. He also said, ”We’d love to get regulatory tick-off, even if it means waiting another six months,” showing the fund is willing to wait for formal clearance.
In addition, the proposal is still at an early stage. It would need regulatory approval before any launch, and the fund also needs to address consumer protection issues tied to crypto access in retirement products.
Australia’s superannuation market remains large and tightly watched by regulators. APRA said it supervises financial institutions with about A$10.1 trillion in assets, while industry reporting has placed total superannuation assets near A$4.5 trillion by late 2025.
Broader crypto interest is growing in retirement markets
Large super funds have moved slowly on direct crypto access, but some parts of the market have already taken steps. AMP introduced Bitcoin futures exposure in May 2024 as part of its investment approach, according to the report.
Self-managed super funds remain a major route for Australians who want crypto in retirement portfolios. BTC Markets said SMSF registrations on its platform rose 69% year over year in the 2024–2025 financial year, pointing to continued interest from retirement-focused investors.
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