Crypto World
How a 2.85% Price Error Triggered $27M in Liquidations on Aave
Key takeaways
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A temporary 2.85% pricing discrepancy in wstETH collateral triggered about $27 million in liquidations on Aave, showing how even small technical issues can have major financial consequences in automated DeFi lending systems.
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The liquidation wave occurred because Aave’s system briefly valued wstETH at about 1.19 ETH instead of its market value near 1.23 ETH, making some borrowing positions appear undercollateralized.
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Price oracles are critical infrastructure in DeFi because they feed external market data to smart contracts, determining collateral values, loan health and when automated liquidations should occur.
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The root cause was not a faulty price feed but a misconfiguration in Aave’s CAPO risk oracle system, where outdated smart contract parameters created a temporary cap on the token’s exchange rate.
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols use automated logic to handle everything from collateral management to risk assessment. While this setup enables a truly open and permissionless financial system, it also means that minor technical issues can snowball into significant financial disruptions.
According to risk monitoring firm Chaos Labs, a market downturn on March 10, 2026, triggered approximately $27 million in liquidations for Aave borrowers, clearly illustrating this vulnerability. In a single 24-hour window, approximately $27 million in user positions were liquidated. Surprisingly, this was not caused by a massive market sell-off but by a brief 2.85% price discrepancy affecting wrapped staked ETH (wstETH) collateral.
This event serves as a stark reminder of how critical price oracles and robust risk management frameworks are to the stability of the DeFi ecosystem.
The article explains how a 2.85% pricing discrepancy in wstETH collateral triggered about $27 million in liquidations on the Aave lending protocol. It highlights how oracle configurations, smart contract parameters and automated liquidation mechanisms can amplify small pricing errors in DeFi markets.
A sudden surge in liquidations
When a wave of liquidations occurred across Aave markets, Chaos Labs, which tracks lending protocols for unusual activity, quickly identified and flagged the surge. Early speculation among observers pointed to a possible malfunction in the price oracles, which may have mispriced collateral assets on the platform.
Price oracles serve as critical bridges, supplying external market prices to onchain applications. In lending protocols like Aave, these feeds determine whether a borrower’s collateral still sufficiently covers their loan. When the collateral value falls below the required threshold, the system triggers the automatic liquidation of the position.
The asset at the center of this event was wstETH, a token commonly used as collateral across DeFi lending ecosystems.
Did you know? Liquidations on lending protocols like Aave often happen faster than traditional margin calls. Because DeFi markets operate 24/7 through automated smart contracts, positions can be liquidated within seconds once collateral ratios fall below the required thresholds.
What is wstETH?
wstETH, or wrapped staked Ether (ETH), is a token issued through the Lido protocol, a leading liquid staking protocol.
When users stake Ether via Lido, they initially receive stETH, which represents their staked ETH plus accrued staking rewards. To improve compatibility with various DeFi applications, stETH can be wrapped into wstETH.
Due to the ongoing accumulation of staking rewards, one wstETH generally holds a value slightly above one ETH. This makes it a particularly attractive and widely adopted form of collateral in DeFi lending markets.
The pricing discrepancy
During the liquidation wave, a mismatch appeared between wstETH’s actual market value and the valuation applied by Aave’s risk system. Aave’s algorithm priced wstETH at approximately 1.19 ETH, whereas the broader market valued it closer to 1.23 ETH.
This roughly 2.85% difference caused positions collateralized by wstETH to appear more undercollateralized than they actually were.
As a result, certain borrowing positions fell below their required safety thresholds, triggering Aave’s automated liquidation process.
Why price oracles are critical in DeFi
Price oracles are essential infrastructure in DeFi. Blockchains cannot natively fetch real-world market data, so oracle services supply external price feeds for assets. These feeds directly influence:
A reported drop in collateral price can lead the protocol to deem a loan insufficiently backed, prompting the automatic liquidation of the position.
Because this mechanism operates algorithmically, even minor pricing deviations can cascade into substantial consequences.
Did you know? A small price discrepancy can have outsized effects in DeFi. Even a brief deviation in an oracle or market price of just a few percent can trigger cascading liquidations. This is especially true when many borrowers use highly leveraged positions backed by volatile crypto collateral.
The real cause: CAPO risk-oracle misconfiguration
Deeper analysis confirmed that Aave’s primary price oracle was operating normally.
The root issue instead lay in the correlated assets price oracle (CAPO) risk oracle module, an additional protective layer applied to select assets.
CAPO is specifically designed to cap the rate at which the value of yield-bearing tokens like wstETH can rise. This safeguard helps protect the protocol against abrupt price surges or potential oracle exploits.
In this case, however, a configuration inconsistency within CAPO triggered the problem.
Technical breakdown of the error
Chaos Labs disclosed that the fault originated from outdated parameters stored in a smart contract.
Two key values had fallen out of alignment:
Because these were not refreshed in tandem, CAPO computed a temporary ceiling on the allowable exchange rate that sat below the prevailing market value.
This caused the protocol to undervalue wstETH by approximately 2.85% relative to its prevailing market price.
Did you know? Aave relies on price oracles, which are data feeds that supply real time asset prices to smart contracts. If these feeds briefly reflect unusual market prices from exchanges, the protocol automatically recalculates collateral values and may trigger liquidations.
The liquidation cascade
As soon as collateral ratios fell below the required thresholds, Aave’s automated liquidation engine activated.
Liquidators, typically high-speed trading bots, stepped in by repaying a portion of the borrower’s debt and, in return, acquiring the underlying collateral at a built-in discount.
Across the event, roughly $27 million in borrowing positions were liquidated.
Liquidators ultimately extracted around 499 ETH in combined profits and liquidation bonuses, capitalizing on the short-lived pricing misalignment.
No bad debt incurred by the protocol
Even with the volume of liquidations, Aave remained at zero bad debt. Aave founder Stani Kulechov stated that there “was no impact to the Aave Protocol.”
Chaos Labs said the platform’s core risk and liquidation mechanisms functioned as designed once positions breached their thresholds. Once positions breached their safety thresholds, liquidations proceeded according to design.
The disruption therefore remained confined to affected individual borrowers and did not threaten the protocol’s overall solvency or stability. The resulting artificial depression in collateral value pushed several borrowing positions below their liquidation thresholds.
Aave governance proposed compensating affected users through refunds funded by recoveries and decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) treasury support. This approach aligns with a shifting pattern in DeFi governance, where protocols increasingly view technical incidents as systemic infrastructure risks. They may move to compensate impacted users rather than leave them to bear permanent losses.
A reminder of oracle risk in DeFi
The event underscores that oracle design remains one of the most vital and vulnerable elements of DeFi infrastructure.
Even minor configuration mistakes can trigger outsized consequences when automated mechanisms oversee billions of dollars in collateral value.
Comparable episodes have occurred on other DeFi platforms. For example, a misconfigured oracle once temporarily valued Coinbase’s wrapped staked ETH (cbETH) at around $1 instead of approximately $2,200, sparking widespread disruption.
Such cases highlight the ongoing challenges of maintaining reliable, accurate price feeds in decentralized financial systems.
wstETH and Lido were not responsible
Contributors from the Lido ecosystem made it clear that the liquidations did not stem from any malfunction or flaw in wstETH itself.
The token operated normally throughout the event, and the underlying Lido staking protocol remained fully functional and unaffected.
The primary issue appears to have stemmed from how the Aave lending protocol processed and interpreted price data through its own risk management configuration.
Lessons for the future of DeFi
As decentralized finance continues to scale, protocols are incorporating increasingly sophisticated risk management systems to accommodate yield-bearing assets such as wstETH.
These assets present unique pricing challenges because their value increases steadily over time through accumulating staking rewards.
Effective risk models must therefore properly handle:
Even minor misalignments in these elements can escalate into widespread liquidation events.
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Incidents of military activities near Taiwan are on the rise
The latest news updates indicated that the Chinese army reinforcements augmented activities around Taiwan. The defense authorities of Taiwan have spotted a number of aircraft and naval ships navigating around the island in the recent days.In a case, at least twenty six aircraft of the Chinese military has flown close to the island on Saturday (as per the Taiwan defense ministry). Also, sixteen planes flew into various areas of Taiwanese Air Defense Identification Zone and seven Chinese vessels were also on the water.
The current action is also the part of the continued pressure development by Beijing which is aimed at putting pressure around Taiwan. We have also seen that the Chinese military has been carrying out patrols and exercises in the Taiwan Strait, which enables China to assert its position militarily and at the same time strengthens its self-assertion. There are also more air and naval activities that indicate that Beijing is keen on continuing its presence in the region.
Taiwan has retaliated by enhancing its defensive planning. The National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology confirmed fresh initiatives to come up with cost effective air defense ammunition.Lt. Gen. Lee Shih chiang clarified that the systems are meant to counter mass use of low cost weapons. The defense planners of Taiwan are of the view that this will curb the overpowering of the available missile systems.
Political Manoeuvre is a source of tension
Military activity also went along with the heightening of political tensions. Recently Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has highlighted increased defense budget and security of the democratic regime in Taiwan by the country China.Taiwan Affairs office China lamented against such comments and cautioned about any actions that may fuel tensions. Chinese authorities in Beijing mentioned that the leadership in Taiwan must not undertake any measures that enhance confrontation.
In the meantime the cryptocurrency market also began displaying recovery in spite of the geopolitical pressures. Bitcoin rose to almost seventy four thousand dollars and contributed to the general mood in the market since some digital assets appreciated as investors were lured back to risk markets following previous losses. The market players are still monitoring the political situation globally since the situation is still tense.
The geopolitical tensions worked out of Taiwan after China reinforced the timeline of reunification, which was 2026 and the military activity near the island. Taiwan has consolidated defense preparations as the international markets such as cryptocurrencies keep responding to the changing international trends.
Crypto World
OpenAI Targets $10B Private Equity Joint Venture to Accelerate Enterprise AI Deployment
TLDR:
- OpenAI is in advanced talks with TPG, Bain Capital, Brookfield, and Advent International for a $10B joint venture deal.
- Private equity firms will invest $4 billion in exchange for equity stakes and board seats inside OpenAI’s operations.
- OpenAI’s Frontier product lets enterprises deploy AI coworkers, with customers including Uber, Oracle, State Farm, and HP.
- Both OpenAI and Anthropic are racing to lock in enterprise contracts ahead of highly anticipated initial public offerings.
OpenAI is reportedly in advanced discussions with several major private equity firms to form a joint venture. TPG, Bain Capital, Brookfield, and Advent International are named as parties to the proposed deal.
The arrangement carries a pre-money valuation of roughly $10 billion. Private equity firms would collectively invest $4 billion in exchange for equity stakes and board seats.
This development positions OpenAI for rapid, large-scale corporate adoption across PE-managed portfolios worldwide.
Private Equity Opens the Door to Hundreds of Portfolio Companies
The proposed joint venture gives OpenAI access to hundreds of companies managed under private equity. TPG alone manages over $200 billion in assets across diverse industries.
These firms collectively control airlines, hospitals, retail chains, logistics networks, and media outlets. Rather than pursuing individual corporate clients, OpenAI would reach entire portfolios through a single deal structure.
Board seats as part of the arrangement also give PE firms direct influence over OpenAI’s deployment decisions. Their role goes beyond writing checks — it involves shaping how AI tools are rolled out.
As noted by @MilkRoadAI, these firms own companies spanning millions of workers and trillions in combined assets. OpenAI effectively gains a distribution network built over decades of PE operations.
At the center of this deal sits a product called Frontier, launched last month. Frontier allows enterprises to build and manage AI coworkers for real business functions.
Current customers already include Uber, State Farm, Oracle, and HP. The product targets organizations looking to automate core workflows using purpose-built AI agents.
Beyond software, OpenAI introduced Forward Deployed Engineers as a companion enterprise offering. These are full-time OpenAI staff who embed physically inside client companies.
They map existing workflows, integrate AI into systems, and hand back an operational solution. The minimum contract for this service starts at $10 million per engagement.
OpenAI and Anthropic Race to Lock In Enterprise Adoption Before IPO
OpenAI’s enterprise business already generates $10 billion in annualized revenue, reflecting strong corporate traction. That figure positions the company ahead of a possible public offering.
Anthropic is also pursuing enterprise customers through a similar deployment strategy. Both companies are working to secure corporate adoption before going public.
The competition to control enterprise AI infrastructure has grown considerably in recent months. Whoever embeds deepest into corporate systems holds lasting leverage over long-term contracts.
OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineers are already active inside global banks, telecoms, and automotive companies. Their presence now covers operations across three continents.
The private equity route sidesteps the traditional enterprise sales cycle entirely. Instead of pitching each company individually, OpenAI moves through PE firm relationships at scale.
MilkRoadAI described this as OpenAI finding “a backdoor” into PE-owned companies. That framing speaks to the speed and reach this deal structure could provide.
The proposed joint venture marks a shift in how AI companies pursue large-scale deployment. Private equity’s operational depth makes it a natural distribution channel for enterprise AI.
OpenAI appears to be constructing both a technology platform and a corporate access machine simultaneously. The outcome of these talks may define how AI reaches major organizations in the years ahead.
Prediction markets platform Polymarket says it has now banned and reported users who pressured an Israeli journalist with death threats to amend a news article about an Iranian missile strike that was the subject of a $17 million prediction market.
The Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian wrote in a report on Monday that he began receiving messages to change his report about an Iranian missile that struck outside the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh on March 10.
“As far as I now understand, the emails I received were intended to confirm whether or not a missile had hit Israel on March 10 in order to resolve a prediction on Polymarket,” he wrote.
The market allowed bets on what date Iran would strike Israel, with over $17 million currently wagered on March 10.
The rules state the market “will resolve to ‘Yes’ if Iran initiates a drone, missile, or air strike on Israel’s soil on the listed date,” however, a clause in the rules adds that “missiles or drones that are intercepted” wouldn’t be counted even if they land in Israel.
“My minor report on a missile striking an open area was now in the middle of a betting war, with those who had bet ‘No’ on an Iranian strike on Israel on March 10 demanding I change my article to ensure they would win big,” Fabian wrote.
No injuries are reported in Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack on Israel, the fourth today.
One missile struck an open area just outside Beit Shemesh, first responders say and footage shows.
Sirens had sounded across the Jerusalem area, the West Bank, and parts of southern… pic.twitter.com/j6sovAsDwz
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 10, 2026
Trading volumes on prediction markets, the largest being Polymarket and Kalshi, have surged in the past year, but critics and lawmakers have warned that popular markets tied to war and political events could incentivize insider trading.
Journalist gets death threats over report
Fabian said he received emails, messages and calls to change his report to say the strike was a missile fragment, with one individual also fabricating a message to make it appear that Fabian agreed the missile was intercepted.
Fabian said he received lengthy, threatening messages in Hebrew from someone called “Haim,” who told him to alter the report or there would be “damage you have never imagined you would suffer.”
Fabian said Haim warned he was “at risk,” that they would invest money “to finish you,” that he “made a fatal mistake” and that he had made “enemies who will be willing to pay anything to make your life miserable.”
Haim also gave “specific details” about his parents, family and neighborhood, he added.
Fabian said he went to the police over the threats, who are now investigating.
Polymarket said in a statement posted to X on Monday that it “condemns the harassment & threats directed at Emanuel Fabian — or anyone else for that matter.”
Related: Israel arrests two over Polymarket trades on military operations
“This behavior violates our Terms of Service & has no place on our platform. We’ve banned the accounts for all involved & will pass their info to the relevant authorities,” it added.
Fabian added that, before the threatening messages, a colleague from another media outlet had contacted him, saying an acquaintance was requesting to change the report.
That journalist later confronted their acquaintance over the request, who admitted to placing bets on Polymarket and offering a portion of the winnings if the report was changed.
“The attempt by these gamblers to pressure me to change my reporting so that they would win their bet did not and will not succeed,” Fabian said. “But I do worry that other journalists may not be as ethical if they are promised some of the winnings.”
The results of the market over when Iran would strike Israel on Polymarket were in dispute at the time of writing, with “No” bettors asserting the explosion on March 10 was an intercepted missile.
However, Fabian later reported that the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the missile that exploded outside of Beit Shemesh was not intercepted.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
Editor’s note: Bitcoin is testing a key resistance near $74,000 as ETF inflows help lift prices, but a convincing breakout remains elusive amid evolving macro signals. The upcoming Fed meeting and the potential impact of oil prices add a layer of policy risk that traders will weigh against the market’s appetite for risk, while AI tokens gain momentum and a major payments firm expands its crypto footprint. This note sets up the themes in the press release and what readers should monitor in the days ahead.
The consensus is for the Fed to hold rates on Wednesday, but if Chairman Powell signals in his press conference that the central bank is prepared to raise rates should oil prices remain elevated or continue rising, this could trigger a sell-off in cryptoasset prices,” said Peters.
Key points
- Bitcoin edged higher last week, gaining 11%, but it remains stuck below the $74,000 resistance.
- US bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $763 million in net inflows over the past week, with Strategy revealing a purchase of 17,994 BTC (~$1.28B).
- AI-related tokens TAO and FET surged about 47% as Nvidia’s AI remarks spurred interest in on-chain AI networks.
- Mastercard launched the Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, connecting 85+ firms to accelerate crypto initiatives.
- Bitcoin hit the 20 million supply milestone, underscoring scarcity dynamics as the final coins approach.
Why this matters
Bitcoin’s movement near a major resistance, supported by ETF inflows, shows liquidity and macro signals can drive crypto momentum. The Fed meeting and possible policy shifts linked to oil prices could influence risk appetite, while Nvidia’s AI comments and the AI-token rally reflect ongoing sector maturation. The 20 million BTC milestone also reinforces scarcity dynamics that may shape sentiment in coming months.
What to watch next
- Fed rate expectations and the dot plot release could impact crypto prices and risk assets.
- Bitcoin’s price action around the $74k level to determine breakout or correction.
- Continuation of Nvidia-related AI token momentum and implications for on-chain AI networks.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
Bitcoin struggles to break $74,000 resistance as ETF inflows rise
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – March 16, 2026: Bitcoin edged higher last week, gaining 11%, yet it continues to struggle to convincingly break through the $74,000 resistance level, according to Simon Peters, crypto analyst at eToro.
US bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $763 million in net inflows over the past week, helping to push prices higher. Strategy, the largest bitcoin treasury company by total holdings, also disclosed another significant purchase of 17,994 bitcoin for approximately $1.28 billion.
Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve meeting this week could prove pivotal in determining whether bitcoin breaks above the $74,000 level or experiences a correction. While markets had previously anticipated a dovish pivot, a sudden spike in oil prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East may prompt the Fed to reconsider its outlook.
“The consensus is for the Fed to hold rates on Wednesday, but if Chairman Powell signals in his press conference that the central bank is prepared to raise rates should oil prices remain elevated or continue rising, this could trigger a sell-off in cryptoasset prices,” said Peters.
The meeting will also see the release of the Federal Reserve’s latest “dot plot”, offering insights into where each Federal Open Market Committee participant believes interest rates should be by the end of the year, next year and over the longer term.
AI tokens surge amid Nvidia comments
Among the biggest movers in the crypto market over the past week were AI-related tokens TAO and FET, both rising 47% as investors rotated into the sector following bullish remarks about artificial intelligence by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
Ahead of Nvidia’s GTC AI conference this week, Huang described AI as “essential infrastructure”, stating that every company and nation will build and use it.
These comments have renewed interest in on-chain, decentralised AI networks, pushing tokens such as TAO and FET higher.
Mastercard launches crypto partner program
Mastercard has launched its Mastercard Crypto Partner Program, a new global initiative bringing together more than 85 companies across the crypto ecosystem, including exchanges, stablecoin issuers and blockchain development teams.
The program aims to foster dialogue and collaboration as the crypto sector continues to mature. Participants will work with Mastercard teams to combine the speed and programmability of blockchain technology with Mastercard’s merchant network spanning more than 210 countries.
The initiative builds on Mastercard’s existing digital asset activities, including its Start Path blockchain track, Engage platform and Crypto Card program.
Bitcoin reaches 20 million supply milestone
Bitcoin reached a historic milestone last week when the 20 millionth bitcoin was mined, marking the issuance of more than 95% of the cryptocurrency’s total capped supply of 21 million coins.
The milestone was reached on 10 March at block height 931200, 17 years after the network first launched. Due to Bitcoin’s halving schedule, the remaining one million coins are expected to take approximately another 114 years to be mined, with the final bitcoin projected to enter circulation around the year 2140.
Crossing the 20 million milestone again highlights Bitcoin’s scarcity dynamics. With demand continuing to outpace the new supply issued daily by miners and many holders unwilling to sell at current prices, the market could be positioned for a significant move higher over the coming months and years.
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Abra, a digital asset wealth management platform, is pursuing a public listing via a reverse merger with New Providence Acquisition Corp. III, signaling another path for crypto-focused firms to access traditional capital markets as investor appetite for digital assets shows signs of revival. The parties announced that they had signed a definitive agreement that sets Abra’s pre-money equity valuation at $750 million. Existing investors, including Pantera Capital, Blockchain Capital, RRE Ventures, Adams Street and SBI, will roll over their shares into the combined entity rather than cashing out, aligning incentives as the company pivots toward public-market growth. Upon closing, the merged company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker ABRX (EXCHANGE: ABRX), expanding Abra’s reach into institutional custody, yield strategies, crypto-backed lending, treasury management and trading services.
Abra was founded in 2014 by CEO Bill Barhydt and has grown into a platform serving high-net-worth individuals, institutions and family offices. Its investment-management arm, Abra Capital Management LP, is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, enabling portfolio management services for select clients. The strategic move comes as Abra reorganizes its U.S. operations in the face of regulatory scrutiny, a theme that has shaped many crypto-adjacent businesses over the past few years.
Abra’s regulatory trajectory has been a focal point of its recent evolution. In 2024, the company reached a settlement with regulators in 25 U.S. states related to its Abra Earn crypto lending product, agreeing to return assets to investors and wind down the program for U.S. clients. The settlement underscored the balancing act between expanding crypto-adjacent wealth management capabilities and adhering to evolving regulatory requirements. The company’s leadership has signaled a shift toward institutional and wealth-management services as part of its long-term strategy.
Public-market ambitions among crypto players have gained renewed attention, with SPACs re-emerging as a route for crypto-adjacent firms to access liquidity and institutional capital, though observers warn of notable risks. Jessica Groza, a partner at Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, noted that while the SPAC model can deliver rapid liquidity and valuation flexibility, it also entails volatility, potential dilution, opaque disclosures, technical complexity and regulatory uncertainty. The commentary reflects a broader industry debate about the best route to public markets as crypto firms balance growth with governance.
In contrast to SPACs, traditional initial public offerings have continued to attract some crypto players. Circle Internet Group stock started trading on the New York Stock Exchange in mid-2025 after a high-profile IPO, illustrating appetite for regulated access to public markets. Gemini followed later that year, debuting on Nasdaq. The broader trend includes other blockchain-focused firms pursuing public-market listings, as well as speculation around hardware and custody players that could follow in the footsteps of this IPO wave. For instance, Ledger has been linked to potential U.S. IPO discussions, and Copper has drawn interest from institutional investors as a crypto-custody and custodial-solution provider seeking public-market access.
Crypto companies increasingly eye public markets
Abra’s planned merger is part of a wider shift where digital-asset companies seek public-market visibility to attract traditional capital. SPAC-focused paths remain appealing to some, given the speed of liquidity and access to institutional investors, but market watchers emphasize the caveats that accompany SPACs, including valuation uncertainties and disclosure complexities. The public-market impulse in crypto wealth management also reflects a desire to standardize governance and reporting as institutions become more comfortable with on-chain and off-chain custody, reporting, and risk controls.
Why it matters
For investors, Abra’s move highlights the ongoing effort to diversify exposure to crypto wealth-management services within regulated structures. A Nasdaq listing could provide greater transparency and a clearer governance framework for clients and counterparties, potentially broadening institutional participation in a space that has historically been characterized by faster-moving private rounds and opaque disclosures. For builders and operators, the case underscores the need to align product strategy with regulatory expectations, particularly as custody, lending and treasury-management offerings mature in parallel with public-market access.
From a market perspective, the Abra transaction contributes to a narrative of crypto firms seeking traditional capital channels while navigating a shifting regulatory landscape. The balance between accelerating growth and maintaining rigorous compliance will shape how future public-market entrants are perceived by buyers, banks and asset managers. As SPAC activity re-emerges and IPOs continue to surface, the industry is watching whether this wave translates into durable liquidity and sustainable business models, or simply a shortened runway shaped by market volatility and evolving policy.
What to watch next
- Closing timeline for the Abra-NPAC III merger and any required regulatory approvals.
- Public trading commencement on Nasdaq for ABRX and subsequent liquidity milestones.
- Regulatory developments affecting Abra Earn-like products and the company’s broader wealth-management offerings.
- Progress of other crypto-adjacent firms pursuing public markets, including any updates on Circle (NYSE) and Gemini (Nasdaq).
Sources & verification
- Abra announces definitive agreement with New Providence Acquisition Corp. III via Business Wire (official press release and details).
- Abra Earn settlement coverage and regulatory context from Cointelegraph (regulatory settlement in 25 states).
- Industry context on SPACs and crypto revival from Kohrman Jackson & Krantz, including commentary by Jessica Groza.
- Public IPO activity in the crypto space: Circle Internet Group stock on NYSE and Gemini on Nasdaq (Cointelegraph coverage).
- Additional related IPO discussions for Ledger and Copper in crypto custody and infrastructure spaces (Cointelegraph coverage).
Abra eyes Nasdaq through SPAC merger, as crypto wealth platforms push into public markets
Abra’s strategy centers on delivering institutional-grade wealth-management services within a regulated structure, leveraging custody, yield strategies, lending and treasury-management capabilities. The SPAC merger with New Providence Acquisition Corp. III, driven by a $750 million pre-money valuation, frames Abra as a diversified, regulated-access platform aimed at institutional clients that demand robust risk controls and clear reporting. By rolling over existing investor positions, Abra signals confidence in the public-market journey and a commitment to continuity for its backers, a signal that could influence how other crypto-native wealth managers evaluate liquidity options in the coming years.
The company’s pivot follows a regulatory episode that underscores the careful navigation required when expanding crypto-backed financial products. Abra Earn’s wind-down and asset returns in 2024 illustrate the tension between growth ambitions and compliance obligations, a balance that public-market investors will scrutinize closely. The SPAC path, while time-efficient and capital-accessible, demands heightened transparency and governance that could reassure risk-averse institutions while presenting new challenges in disclosures and reporting.
The crypto market rose 3.5% to $2.6 trillion on Monday, March 16, as investors returned to risk assets after rotating from traditional hedges.
Summary
- The crypto market rallied as Bitcoin surpassed the $74K resistance as investors rotated away from traditional safe-haven assets.
- Demand for crypto ETFs returned with $1.34 billion in inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs and nearly $180 million in inflows into Ether-linked funds this month.
- The Crypto Fear and Greed Index has moved back to neutral levels.
Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s leading crypto asset, rallied 4% to break above the $74,000 resistance level for the first time in over five weeks, while Ethereum (ETH) was up 6% over the past 24 hours, trading at $3,243 at press time.
Other major altcoins such as XRP (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE) recorded gains ranging between 4% and 5% each. Some of the top performers of the day were Pepe (PEPE), Polkadot (DOT), and Bonk (BONK), all of which brought in double-digit gains.
As prices rose, it triggered liquidations of highly leveraged traders in the crypto derivatives markets. According to data from CoinGlass, crypto liquidations mounted to $370 million, with the majority coming from short sellers who were forced to buy back their positions.
The total open interest of the market went up 8% over the last trading session, increasing liquidity across the board and providing the necessary momentum to push the market higher.
The crypto market surged as investors turned toward Bitcoin and other risk assets amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have driven crude oil prices to multi-year highs.
Notably, oil benchmarks like Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) have moved above $95 each. Iran aims to push prices as high as $200 over the coming weeks, sparking global concerns regarding runaway inflation.
Investors seem to be rotating capital from safe-haven assets like gold into cryptocurrencies, likely eyeing digital assets as a better hedge against currency debasement. Notably, the gold price has dropped back under $2,500 after hitting record peaks earlier, while silver prices have dipped by 3% over the past 24 hours.
Data from SoSoValue shows that institutional demand for crypto ETFs has also seen an uptick. U.S. Bitcoin ETFs have drawn in $1.34 billion in net inflows so far in March, while their Ethereum counterparts have experienced $180 million in inflows. In comparison, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) has faced consistent outflows over the last two weeks.
The crypto market rebound was a standalone event that deviated from the traditional Asian stock markets today. Notably, Chinese stock indices like the Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite dropped by over 0.70%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped by over 1.2%.
Market rose as investors bought the U.S.-Iran war news
Crypto prices also rallied today as investors appear to be buying the dip following the initial shock of the U.S.-Iran conflict.
While Bitcoin fell sharply before military actions between the two nations escalated, hitting lows near $63,000 in late February, the current rally suggests the market has already priced in the immediate risks of war.
Crypto Fear and Greed Index returns to neutral threshold
The market rebound also comes as investor sentiment seems to have improved significantly from weeks earlier. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index reading has moved back to neutral levels of 40, up from the extreme fear zone of 16 seen at the beginning of March. As of now, the neutral sentiment seems to have stabilized the floor for major assets.
Will Bitcoin price keep rising?
Looking ahead, the key drivers that will decide the near-term trajectory for the crypto market include the Federal Reserve interest rate decision scheduled for Wednesday and the ongoing progress regarding the conflict in Iran.
Economists generally expect the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged between 3.50% and 3.75% while hinting at a continued status quo as inflation remains elevated.
If the military conflict shows signs of de-escalation, we could see a sustained relief rally in digital assets. However, any hawkish commentary from the Fed regarding sticky inflation could quickly dampen the current market enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, analysts at Marex also pointed to improving spot market signals that may be supporting the current recovery.
“The Coinbase premium turning positive for the first time in 10 weeks is the kind of detail investors should pay attention to,” Marex analysts noted in a statement to crypto.news.
“It suggests that spot demand is finally returning onshore rather than the move being driven purely by leverage. When the premium flips positive, rallies tend to hold better because real money is lifting offers instead of traders simply closing short positions.”
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Crypto World
Remittix Could Sit Amongst Top Crypto Assets Like Cardano and Solana by the End of 2026
Cardano and Solana have taken years to build a position within the market that many of the original cryptocurrency investors can only dream of.
That is to say, they have built a position within the market as large, liquid, and well-known cryptocurrencies safely nestled within the upper echelon of the cryptocurrency market. Both Cardano and Solana have accomplished this by building support within the developer community.
Now, a different project is being discussed in the same breath. Remittix (RTX), currently priced at $0.13 and having raised $29.7 million in private funding, is generating the kind of early momentum that investors who tracked Cardano and Solana in their formative stages will find familiar.
The Case for Remittix Reaching Top-Tier Status
Cardano is currently trading at $0.2619, down 1.06% on the day. It has a market capitalization of $9.45 billion and a trading volume of $371.55 million, which is up 41%. It is interesting to note that its trading volume is increasing in a period when markets are generally weak.
It is also continuing to enhance its DeFi and smart contract offerings with its ongoing developmental releases. Additionally, it has a proof-of-stake blockchain that has gained traction among institutions as a possible solution for projects looking for a more energy-efficient alternative to the traditional proof-of-work-based blockchain network.
The price of Solana is currently trading at $87.88. This is a decrease of 0.17% on the day. The market capitalization is $50.2 billion, while the trading volume is $2.12 billion, which is down by 57.69%. Solana is considered to be among the most used blockchain networks within the crypto world.
It is a preferred blockchain because of its gas fees and transaction speeds. That is why it is a preferred choice for decentralized applications that are consumer-facing. Cardano and Solana have come to where they are today because of their focus on providing a solution to real-world problems for real-world users.
Cardano solved the problem of providing a blockchain that had rigorous design and peer review. Solana solved the problem of providing high-speed, low-cost transactions. Remittix is providing a solution to the problem of moving funds between cryptocurrencies and traditional bank accounts.
What Remittix Is Building Toward
The argument for Remittix sitting alongside Cardano and Solana by the end of 2026 rests on product delivery, market size, and exchange accessibility. Remittix is targeting the $19 trillion global payments market with a PayFi platform that enables crypto-to-fiat transfers across 30-plus countries. That use case is not speculative. Cross-border remittances and international business payments are among the largest and most persistent frictions in global finance.
The Remittix Wallet is already live on the Apple App Store as a fully functional cryptocurrency wallet. Community coverage of the wallet’s development has been consistent since launch, and the app has crossed 100,000 downloads before a single major CEX listing. Crypto-to-fiat functionality will be integrated into the wallet once the PayFi platform is complete, and a Google Play release is in progress for Android users.
With $29.7 million raised in private funding and RTX currently at a low price of just $0.13, Remittix enters the exchange listing phase with verifiable product traction and an investor base that has been growing steadily. Future listings on BitMart and LBank are confirmed, with additional top-tier CEX announcements expected as the project reaches further milestones.
The Foundations Remittix Has Built Before Listing:
- Live wallet on the App Store with 100,000+ downloads
- CertiK-audited smart contracts and fully verified team
- $29.7M in private funding, 723.8M tokens in holder wallets
- Crypto-to-bank transfers at launch across 30+ fiat currencies
- 15% USDT referral rewards claimable daily via dashboard
Holders can also earn 15% of each referred purchase paid in USDT, through the Remittix referral program. That passive income structure rewards community participation before the token has even reached the open market, a feature that neither Cardano nor Solana offered at equivalent stages of their development.
How Projects Move from Early-Stage to Top-Tier
Cardano and Solana both spent time as early-stage altcoins before the crypto market recognised their full potential. What separated them from the hundreds of projects that did not scale was a combination of working technology, real user adoption, and access to liquidity through centralized exchanges.
Remittix currently has working technology in the form of a live wallet. Real user adoption is building through downloads and referral activity. Exchange liquidity is the next stage, with confirmed listings on the way and further announcements expected.
For crypto investors identifying the best crypto to buy now at an early stage, the comparison to Cardano and Solana is not about price targets. It is about recognising the structural conditions that allow a project to grow from a private funding round into a recognised digital asset with sustained market presence.
Discover the future of PayFi with Remittix by checking out their project here:
Website: https://remittix.io/
Socials: https://linktr.ee/remittix
Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.
Bitcoin surged past $75,000 early Tuesday, helped by shifting dynamics in the derivatives market.
Prices hit a high of $75,800, convincingly topping the long-term resistance corridor between $73,750 and $74,400, which reversed price trends three times since 2024, according to CoinDesk data.
The so-called bullish breakout happened as traders closed bearish short positions initiated during the early February sell-off.
“In bitcoin, the recent move has been driven largely by sizeable put selling around the $55,000 and $60,000 strikes, as traders increasingly recognized that these options were unlikely to expire in the money with only days remaining. The unwinding of these downside hedges has contributed to the latest bullish price action,” Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, said in a note to clients.
A put option is a derivative contract that gives the right to sell the underlying asset, in this case, BTC, at a fixed price before a certain date. Traders buy puts when they think the price might fall or when they want protection against losses. It’s basically an insurance against price drops, while a call option provides upside exposure.
Traders aggressively bought put options at $60,000 and lower levels in early February as bitcoin crashed, nearly hitting the $60,000 on some exchanges. However, since then, market sentiment has stabilised, forcing traders to reassess their bearish positions.
The unwinding of these bearish bets also has second-order bullish effects.
“The selling or closing of Bitcoin put options reduces downside hedging pressure and forces market makers to buy BTC to rebalance their exposure, creating supportive flows that can push prices higher,” Thielen said.
CoinDesk warned last week that the rally could accelerate as prices near $75,000, largely due to market makers’ expected hedging activities.
So far, however, there has not been a significant upside call buying. This suggests the move has so far been driven more by hedge unwinds than by aggressive bullish positioning, Thielen explained.
Altcoins surge
Bitcoin’s rally has lifted the broader crypto market, with the CoinDesk 20 Index gaining 5% to 2,202 points over the past 24 hours.
Ether (ETH) has gained nearly 8% to $2,360, helped by increasing demand for bullish options bets. XRP (XRP) and solana (SOL) have gained 8% and 4%, respectively.
ZEC, PEPE, DOT, and VIRTUAL are other standout performers.
Crypto World
South Korea’s Hana Financial and Standard Chartered partner to explore crypto and stablecoins
South Korea’s Hana Financial Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Standard Chartered Group to collaborate on digital asset initiatives.
Summary
- Hana Financial Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Standard Chartered to cooperate on digital asset initiatives, including potential work around stablecoins.
- The partnership brings together the two banks’ global networks and financial expertise as they explore cryptocurrency-related services.
- Hana has continued to expand its digital asset footprint through custody services and stablecoin research.
Local media reports from March 16 claim that the two institutions plan to leverage their combined expertise and global networks to expand their presence in traditional finance.
As part of the partnership, the two companies will also explore joint initiatives in digital finance involving cryptocurrencies. Reports suggested the plans also include stablecoins.
“The partnership between Hana Financial Group and Standard Chartered Group, leveraging their extensive global networks and diverse financial know-how, will serve as a strong competitive edge in the global financial sector.’ Ham Young-joo, Chairman of Hana Financial Group, said in an accompanying statement.
‘We will create new growth opportunities by generating synergies in future financial domains, including digital assets,” he added.
Recently, both firms have been stepping up their involvement in digital asset markets as banks around the world look to integrate blockchain-based financial services.
Hana Financial Group is one of South Korea’s major financial conglomerates, and it has already explored stablecoin issuance through a partnership with KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group.
As reported by crypto.news on Nov. 10, 2025, Hana will work with the other financial groups and major technology companies to develop the infrastructure required for potential Korean won pegged stablecoins and related digital payment systems.
Back in 2023, Hana partnered with crypto custodian BitGo to develop its digital asset custody services. Subsequently, the two and local telecommunications giant SK Telecom set up BitGo Korea, where Hana owns a 25% stake.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered has launched products tied to crypto ETFs and has also ventured into other crypto-facing institutional services, including spot crypto trading desks and regulated digital asset custody.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the banking giant was also set to receive a stablecoin issuance license in Hong Kong as part of the city’s effort to build a regulated digital asset ecosystem. It had previously signalled plans to issue a Hong Kong dollar pegged stablecoin through a joint venture.
Cardano Returns to Top 10 by Market Capitalization
Cardano moved back into the top ten cryptocurrencies after a broad market rebound lifted several major tokens. The asset gained nearly ten percent in daily trading and strengthened its market position. Consequently, the rally pushed Cardano ahead of Hyperliquid in overall valuation.
Cardano now holds an estimated market capitalization of about $10.34 billion. That figure places the asset tenth among global cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, Hyperliquid follows closely with a market value of nearly $10 billion.
The rebound followed a strong week for digital assets across the market. Major tokens advanced as equity markets recovered and risk appetite improved. At the same time, altcoins rose faster than Bitcoin during the recent trading sessions.
Altcoin performance outpaced Bitcoin during the latest surge. Cardano gained roughly nine percent within twenty-four hours while Bitcoin added about three percent. Therefore, traders shifted toward higher volatility assets during the rally.
Market indicators also showed renewed strength across alternative cryptocurrencies. The altcoin season index climbed to forty-eight out of one hundred. That level marked the highest reading in more than two months.
ADA Futures Activity Signals Strong Leverage Demand
Derivatives data also supported the upward move in Cardano’s price. Open interest in ADA futures increased sharply during the same period. The metric rose by nineteen percent and reached about $508.67 million.
This expansion outpaced growth recorded in many large cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin futures open interest increased about seven percent during the same period. Consequently, Cardano led derivatives growth among major digital assets.
Funding rates across perpetual contracts remained positive as trading volume increased. Positive funding typically signals stronger demand for long positions in futures markets. Moreover, cumulative volume deltas indicated buyers dominated trading activity.
Higher open interest often reflects stronger participation in leveraged trading. Market participants used futures contracts to amplify exposure during the rally. As a result, derivatives markets played a central role in recent price movements.
These developments also coincided with broader optimism in the altcoin market. Trading activity increased as prices rose across several tokens. Therefore, Cardano benefited from both market momentum and derivatives demand.
Van Rossem Hard Fork Signals Upcoming Network Upgrades
Developers continue preparations for Cardano’s upcoming protocol update known as the Van Rossem hard fork. The upgrade aims to introduce improvements within the network’s next development phase. Implementation will begin with the release of Cardano Node version 10.7.0.
The update will serve as an integration point for multiple ecosystem tools. According to Intersect, the release will include features beyond standard hard fork functionality. In addition, developers plan iterative improvements to the existing 10.6.x node series.
Testing will begin across preview and pre-production networks before the final launch. These environments allow developers to confirm stability before mainnet activation. After successful testing, the upgrade will transition to the live blockchain.
The node release represents a key step in Cardano’s technical roadmap. Engineers expect the version to support additional development across decentralized applications. Consequently, the upgrade may expand network functionality and ecosystem tools.
Further minor updates may follow after the initial release, depending on performance results. Developers will evaluate system behavior during integration and testing stages. Therefore, the hard fork process will continue through several coordinated upgrade phases.
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