Crypto World
Lazarus Group suspected in Bitrefill hack that compromised hot wallets
The notorious Lazarus Group may have been behind a cyberattack on crypto e-commerce store Bitrefill, the firm estimates.
Summary
- Bitrefill linked a March 1 cyberattack to tactics associated with the Lazarus and BlueNoroff groups, after attackers compromised an employee laptop and drained funds from hot wallets.
- Around 18,500 purchase records were accessed, though the company said only limited customer information was exposed and there was no evidence of a full database breach.
Detailing the March 1 incident in a Tuesday X post, the firm said the attackers used malware, on-chain tracing, and reused IP and email infrastructure to drain funds from its hot wallets after compromising an employee’s laptop. Attackers also allegedly accessed around 18,500 purchase records, although this involved only “limited customer information.”
“We find many similarities between this attack and past cyberattacks by the DPRK Lazarus / Bluenoroff group against other companies in the crypto industries,” the firm wrote.
Bitrefill is a crypto e-commerce platform that allows customers to spend digital assets on real-world products and gift cards. It added that the attackers were primarily financially motivated, as there was “no evidence that they extracted our entire database.”
“The attackers ran a limited number of queries consistent with probing to understand what there was to steal, including cryptocurrency and Bitrefill gift card inventory,” it added.
Bitrefill did not disclose how much crypto was stolen but said it would absorb the losses from its operational capital.
“We have already significantly improved our cybersecurity practices, but vow to continue to draw learnings from this experience to make sure user and company balances and data remain maximally safe,” Bitrefill said, adding that all operations were back to normal.
The company has since strengthened its security posture and has contacted law enforcement while working with security firms to investigate and respond to the incident.
Lazarus group remains a major threat
Over the years, the Lazarus Group has been credited with some of the crypto industry’s largest hacks.
One of the biggest attacks involved crypto exchange Bybit, which lost around $1.4 billion last year. The group was also a suspected actor behind the hack of South Korean crypto exchange Upbit and UK-registered trading platform Lykke.
ETH is up 22% year-on-year while Bitcoin has shed nearly 11% over the same stretch, a divergence that is starting to show up in the charts.
Bitcoin’s market share is stuck between 58% and 60%, which is a six-month trading range that one expert says will decide whether Ethereum and smaller altcoins enter a bullish season or suffer more losses.
As such, the market observer urged keeping an eye on the level at which dominance could break, ushering in the next big move in the crypto market.
The Narrow Corridor Controlling Crypto’s Fate
Bitcoin dominance (BTC.D), which measures how much of the total cryptocurrency market cap BTC makes up, was stuck between 58% and 60% for the last 6 months. But according to analyst Ash Crypto, this consolidation has created a technical setup where a break above 60% could send dominance up to 63% or 64%.
And if that happened, it would mean that institutions are only buying Bitcoin, causing altcoins to bleed further and pushing the value of the ETH/BTC pair to new lows.
On the other hand, a break below 58% would mean that capital is leaving Bitcoin and going into Ethereum and other altcoins. The analysts said that this would confirm an ETH/BTC breakout above the 0.0320 level, which would mark the start of a genuine altcoin season.
The ETH/BTC pair itself is printing what Ash Crypto described as a bear trap, something it has done twice before.
“Break above 0.0320 and ETH starts outperforming Bitcoin,” the expert wrote. “Break below 0.0280 and new lows follow.”
At the time of writing, ETH/BTC was trading close to 0.0314, just below the critical threshold Ash Crypto had identified.
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Ethereum’s Technical Picture Gets Interesting
BTC itself has been mostly flat over the past 24 hours, staying just above $74,000 after hitting a six-week high of about $76,000 on Coinbase on Tuesday. However, there’s much more action over longer periods, with the asset up more than 6% in the last seven days and about 8% across 30 days.
Ethereum has had a pretty good performance in the last few weeks, going up about 14% in the last seven days and about 18% in both the last 14 and 30 days. At the time of writing, it was trading above the $2,300 level, up 22% from the same time last year, compared to BTC’s nearly 11% drop in the same period.
At the same time, ETH’s SuperTrend indicator changed from “Sell” to “Buy” for the first time since September 2025. Recall, the last two times that signal showed up, the cryptocurrency rose by 52% and 174%, respectively, prompting analyst Ali Martinez to identify $2,400 and $2,600 as the next levels to watch.
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3 Reasons This Drone Stock Soared 520% and Is Up Another 32% Today
Crypto World
BTC price treads water near $74,000 as derivatives signal caution: Crypto Markets Today
Bitcoin consolidated following Tuesday’s jump to $76,000 alongside a 33% drop in daily trading volume to $36.9 billion.
The largest cryptocurrency has added just 0.4% since midnight UTC after bouncing off $73,500 as it looks to establish a new level of support ahead of a potential bullish breakout.
While analysts predicted a fast move to $80,000 after $72,000 was taken out, price action has actually been much more measured. Traders with long positions took profits and those who were forced out of short positions are waiting on the sidelines to reenter.
Volatility has also retreated in commodities gold, silver and crude oil, with the war in Iran continuing to put complete risk-on mode on hold.
U.S. stocks are beginning to experience a period of prolonged upside; Nasdaq 100 futures are up 0.66% since midnight UTC, followed by the S&P 500, which has gained 0.5%.
Investors will be keeping a close eye on Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting because although a rate pause is all but certain, increased inflation numbers due to the surge in oil prices and weaker job numbers in the U.S. could influence sentiment at the post-decision press conference.
Derivatives positioning
- Growth in bitcoin futures open interest (OI) on major exchanges has stalled alongside slightly negative fund rates. That’s a sign that traders are not adding new bullish positions and bears are getting a slight edge.
- OI in ETH, XRP and SOL fell from early Tuesday highs as spot prices lost bull momentum. This suggests traders are unwinding positions, pointing to a cooling of speculative activity.
- OI in privacy-focused ZEC, which has gained nearly 4% in 24 hours and 31% in a week, has risen to 1.75 million ZEC, the most since Jan. 25. The increase in OI validates the recent price rise.
- Funding rates for XRP, BNB and SOL have flipped negative, indicating a bias for bearish short positions. Traders may be hedging for potential downside volatility after the Fed meeting.
- Bitcoin’s one-day implied volatility, or the expected price swing over 24 hours, remains steady at around an annualised 50%. That equates to a 24-hour move of about 2.6%. In other words, the market doesn’t see the impending Fed meeting as a major price mover for the largest cryptocurrency.
- The same can be said for ether, solana and XRP.
- On Deribit, options market positioning looks defensive in both bitcoin and ether, with skews showing a bias for put, or bearish, options.
- Block flows featured demand for limited profit potential strategies such as bitcoin call diagonal spreads and volatility bets like straddles. In ETH’s case, traders preferred risk reversals and straddles.
Token talk
- The altcoin market continues to show strength with the “Altcoin Season” index hitting its highest in six months. The reading of 54/100 is a far cry from early February, when it languished at 22/100.
- Privacy coin zcash (ZEC) was one of the best-performing altcoins on Wednesday, adding 3.4% since midnight despite the rest of the market trading relatively unchanged. It has now increased by 32% in the past week.
- Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending token MORPHO also continued its rich vein of form after rising by 2.3% since midnight to add to a monthly gain of 33%.
- The best-performing benchmark over the past 24 hours has been the
CoinDesk Smart Contract Platform Select Capped Index (SCPXC), with the index heavily weighted towards layer-1 tokens posting a 0.8% gain, while the CoinDesk Memecoin Index (CDMEME) lost ground, tumbling by 2.7%.
Ripple has expanded its financial infrastructure in Brazil, targeting deeper institutional adoption and regulatory approval. The company introduced payments, custody, and treasury tools for local institutions. Meanwhile, it plans to secure a Virtual Asset Service Provider license under Brazil’s evolving digital asset framework.
Ripple Expands Enterprise Services in Brazil
Ripple has launched a full enterprise platform tailored for Brazil’s financial institutions. The rollout includes cross-border payments, custody solutions, and treasury management tools. Moreover, the company added prime brokerage features to extend services beyond basic payment rails.
The expansion aligns with Brazil’s structured regulatory push for digital assets and financial innovation. Ripple continues to focus on compliance while scaling operations in regulated markets. Therefore, the planned VASP license application supports its long-term presence in the country.
Brazil offers a mature financial ecosystem, which attracts global fintech firms seeking growth opportunities. Ripple has maintained a regional focus due to increasing demand for efficient settlement systems. Consequently, the company positions its infrastructure as a solution for modern financial operations.
Institutional Adoption and RLUSD Growth
Ripple Payments now operates across more than 60 markets and has processed over $100 billion globally. The platform enables faster settlement using both fiat currencies and stablecoins. Additionally, several Brazilian institutions actively use the network for payments and liquidity management.
Banco Genial uses Ripple’s system for same-day U.S. dollar disbursements and plans to integrate RLUSD into payment flows. Braza Bank supports U.S. dollar transfers and issued its BBRL stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. Meanwhile, Nomad manages treasury flows between Brazil and the United States using Ripple infrastructure.
Other firms continue to adopt Ripple’s tools for various financial operations across the region. Azify supports currency exchange into major global currencies using the Ripple system. Similarly, Attrus and Frente Corretora use the platform for cross-border payments and foreign exchange settlements.
RLUSD adoption continues to rise across Latin America, supported by institutional demand for liquidity solutions. The stablecoin has surpassed a $1.5 billion market capitalization. Furthermore, regulators in the United States oversee RLUSD through established financial authorities.
Ripple Custody has also expanded into Brazil, offering secure digital asset storage for institutions. The platform integrates compliance tools and supports staking across multiple proof-of-stake networks. As a result, firms such as CRX and Justoken now use custody services for tokenized asset operations.
CRX has settled nearly $100 million on-chain using Ripple Custody and XRPL infrastructure. Meanwhile, Justoken has tokenized over $1.7 billion in assets and plans regional expansion. This growth reflects increasing institutional reliance on blockchain-based financial systems.
RLUSD now trades on platforms such as Mercado Bitcoin, Foxbit, and Ripio across Brazil. Additionally, several financial institutions support the stablecoin for treasury and settlement use cases. This integration strengthens Ripple’s broader payments ecosystem across Latin America.
A cross-party parliamentary committee in the United Kingdom has urged the government to impose an immediate moratorium on cryptocurrency donations to political parties until stronger safeguards are in place.
In a report published on Wednesday, the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy said the government should amend the Representation of the People Bill to impose an “immediate moratorium on crypto donations” until the Electoral Commission produces statutory guidance ahead of the next general election, due by August 2029.
The committee also called for the creation of a Political Finance Enforcement Unit to oversee these activities and reduce the minimum threshold for declaring gifts tied to political donations from 11,180 British pounds ($14,900) to 500 pounds ($668), and proposed increasing the maximum custodial sentences to three years for wrongdoing involving foreign financing.
The committee cited growing foreign state threats and efforts to influence the UK’s positions on critical issues, including its relations with the US, the European Union and Ukraine.
The recommendation comes amid rising scrutiny of crypto-linked money in British politics. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK became the first party to start accepting crypto donations in 2025. Reform UK recently disclosed a $4 million donation from crypto investor Christopher Harborne in the fourth quarter of 2025, after a record $12 million gift in the previous quarter.
Crypto donations pose “unnecessary” risk for UK politics
Crypto donations pose an “unnecessary and unacceptably high risk” to the integrity of the political finance system and public trust, barring robust regulator guardrails, the report states.
“We see no democratic imperative to permit the use of crypto in political finance until adequate safeguards are in place.”
The committee also cited jurisdictions, such as Ireland, that have banned party members from accepting political cryptocurrency donations due to foreign interference concerns.
The report comes shortly after Matt Western, chair of the committee, urged the government to put a temporary halt on crypto donations to political parties, citing foreign interference risks, Cointelegraph reported on Feb. 26.
Related: UK Lords launch stablecoin inquiry as Bank of England moves to finalize rules
Crypto donations raise concern in the UK
Political cryptocurrency donations are legal in the UK, subject to permissible rules under the Electoral Commission guidance. UK lawmakers reportedly started considering a ban on political cryptocurrency donations in December 2025.
Weeks later, seven senior UK Labour Party MPs have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to ban crypto for political donations, Cointelegraph reported on Jan. 12.
“Crypto can obscure the true source of funds, enable thousands of micro donations below disclosure thresholds, and expose UK politics to foreign interference,” wrote business and trade committee chair Liam Byrne, one of the seven signatories of the letter.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
Bitcoin heads into the March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting with strong momentum, trading above $74,000 after eight consecutive daily gains. However, data compiled by bitcoin lender Two Prime suggests this strength may mask a recurring pattern, FOMC meetings have historically acted as short term bearish catalysts for BTC.
Looking at 2025, bitcoin posted negative returns in the 48 hours following seven of eight FOMC meetings. Even in May, when BTC rallied sharply, the broader trend points to consistent post meeting weakness regardless of whether the Fed held rates or shifted policy direction. This reinforces the idea that the event itself, rather than the outcome, drives volatility.
The upcoming decision is unlikely to deliver surprises. Markets are pricing a near certainty, around 99%, that the Federal Reserve will hold rates steady in the 350 to 375 basis point range. Meanwhile, the futures market is only pricing in a single 25 basis point rate cut by the end of the year, reinforcing a higher for longer backdrop. Even with a new Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, expected to take over in June.
Macro risks further complicate the picture. Escalating conflict in the Middle East and oil prices hovering around $100 a barrel are likely to put upward pressure on CPI inflation numbers, limiting the Fed’s flexibility to ease policy on top of a weakening jobs market.
With bitcoin entering the meeting in a buoyant state, the risk shifts toward a classic sell the news reaction.
Spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds drew in $138.2 million in net inflows over the past day, their highest single-day inflows since Feb. 25.
Summary
- Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $138.2 million in daily inflows, marking their highest since late February and extending a six-day inflow streak.
- Institutional demand strengthened amid Bitmine’s continued ETH accumulation, with Fundstrat’s Tom Lee calling a potential market bottom near $2,150.
- ETH price traded near $2,328, with price approaching a breakout above $2,400 as markets await the Federal Reserve rate decision.
According to data compiled by SoSoValue, BlackRock’s ETHA led the inflows of the day with $81.7 million entering the fund. The largest investment manager’s Staked ETH ETF (ETHB) followed with $67.2 million in net inflows.
More modest inflows came from Grayscale’s ETH and ETHE funds, which drew in $15.4 million and $9.4 million, respectively. Part of these gains were offset by Fidelity’s FETH, which experienced $35.4 million in withdrawals.
The latest inflows extend the investment products’ inflow streak to six straight days during which they managed to pull in over $385 million from investors. On a weekly basis, Ethereum ETFs have entered their fourth positive week, attracting nearly $440 million in total.
The surge in institutional interest comes as Bitmine, the leading Ethereum treasury company chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, continues its aggressive ETH accumulation strategy amid broader macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty rising from the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Lee has recently called a market bottom for Ethereum after it fell to a local low of $2,150 on Monday, suggesting that the recent pullback may have marked the end of the short-term downtrend and could pave the way for a recovery.
At press time, Ethereum (ETH) price was trading sideways at $2,328 after bulls failed to break past the $2,400 resistance on Tuesday.
Markets now appear to be awaiting the Federal Reserve interest rate cut decision scheduled to be revealed later today. It is largely expected that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will choose to hold interest rates steady in the current range of 3.5% to 3.75%, with CME FedWatch Tool data showing odds of over 98% for a pause.
On the 4-hour chart, ETH price has been trading within an ascending parallel channel pattern that it has respected since mid-February this year. A breakout from the upper trendline of the pattern has historically signaled a positive reversal in momentum. At press time, the ETH price was close to breaking out from that upper side.
Ethereum price has crossed the middle band of the Bollinger Bands at $2,261 and was closing in towards the $2,435 level, which marks the upper band of the technical indicator.
Hence, ETH price eyes a break above the $2,400 psychological resistance, bound to $2,435 next. This rally could then extend to as high as $2,751 if bullish momentum lasts. That target is calculated by adding the height of the ascending channel formed to the point at which the breakout occurs.
Meanwhile, failure to hold the $2,262 support, which forms the middle band, will likely see the price retreat toward the lower trendline of the current channel.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
XRP just tested the key $1.6 resistance level. Can it break it?
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions: Analysis
Key support levels: $1.4
Key resistance levels: $1.6
XRP is Challenging the Key Resistance
As expected, XRP has rallied all the way to the key resistance at $1.6. Buyers tried to break this level, but sellers returned to defend it. At the time of this post, the price is found in a pullback as it consolidates under this level.
Buyers will need more force and momentum if they want to break this resistance. That becomes possible if the volume increases, since so far, volume levels have been rather flat. This shows some hesitation here from market participants.
Is a Reversal Possible?
If bulls can turn $1.6 into key support, then this downtrend is likely over, and a sustained reversal will follow, sending XRP back to $2 and beyond. However, this price action remains too uncertain to be confident about such an outcome.
Should the overall market remain bullish with Bitcoin moving above $75k, then XRP has a good shot at higher levels. On the other hand, if the market remains flat, then XRP will also struggle to move above $1.6.
RSI Bullish Cross
On the weekly chart, the RSI just made a bullish cross, which is an early signal that a major reversal could be ahead of us. While this is still early, a price above $1.6 would confirm this breakout and see buyers return in force.
Best to be patient here and let the price develop to build confidence. Ideally, the RSI will continue to make higher highs, which would be a clear signal that sellers have lost control.
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GBP/USD started a fresh decline below 1.3300. USD/CAD is consolidating gains and might aim for a fresh increase above 1.3750.
Important Takeaways for GBP/USD and USD/CAD Analysis Today
· The British Pound started another decline from 1.3500.
· There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at 1.3305 on the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen.
· USD/CAD is showing positive signs above the 1.3660 support zone.
· There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at 1.3610 on the hourly chart at FXOpen.
GBP/USD Technical Analysis
On the hourly chart of GBP/USD at FXOpen, the pair struggled to continue higher above 1.3500. The British Pound started a fresh decline and traded below 1.3400 against the US Dollar.
The pair even traded below 1.3300 and the 50-hour simple moving average. Finally, the bulls appeared near the 1.3200 level. The recent swing low was formed at 1.3198, and the pair is now consolidating losses.
On the upside, the pair is now facing hurdles near the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the 1.3483 swing high to the 1.3198 low at 1.3265.
The first major breakout zone for a recovery wave could be near a key bearish trend line at 1.3305 and the 50-hour simple moving average. The next key pivot zone sits near the 50% Fib retracement at 1.3340. A close above 1.3340 could open the doors for a move to 1.3415. Any more gains might send the pair toward 1.3500 in the coming days.
If there is a fresh decline, initial support on the GBP/USD chart sits at 1.3200. The next major area of interest could be 1.3165, below which there is a risk of another sharp decline. In the stated case, the pair could drop toward 1.3050.
USD/CAD Technical Analysis
On the hourly chart of USD/CAD at FXOpen, the pair formed a strong base above 1.3500. The US Dollar started a fresh increase above 1.3600 and 1.3650 against the Canadian Dollar.
The bulls pushed the pair above the 1.3680 and 1.3700 levels. The pair cleared the 50-hour simple moving average and settled above 1.3700. A high was formed at 1.3741, and the pair is now consolidating gains.
There was a minor pullback, but the pair remained stable above 1.3700 and the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the 1.3525 swing low to the 1.3741 high.
The first key support is near the 50-hour simple moving average at 1.3660 and the 50% Fib retracement. The main breakdown zone seems to be forming near a key bullish trend line at 1.3610 on the same USD/CAD chart.
A downside break below the 1.3610 could push the pair further lower. The next key area of interest might be 1.3525, below which the pair might visit 1.3440.
If there is another increase, the pair might face hurdles near 1.3740. A clear upside break above 1.3740 could start another steady increase. In the stated case, the pair could test 1.3780. A close above 1.3780 might send the pair toward 1.3850. Any more gains could open the doors for a test of 1.4000.
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Bitcoin spot ETFs in the United States extended their inflow streak to seven consecutive days on Monday, marking the longest run of fresh capital since late 2025. Data compiled by SoSoValue show spot BTC ETFs adding $199.4 million, lifting the seven-day sum to roughly $1.2 billion. The persistence of inflows signals renewed institutional interest in regulated access to crypto exposure, even as total year-to-date (YTD) inflows remain negative when measured against earlier peaks. In parallel, the broader crypto ETF ecosystem posted mixed but resilient momentum across assets, underscoring a cautious but steady reallocation toward crypto-linked vehicles.
Within the same framework, total trading volumes for spot BTC ETFs slipped to about $2.6 billion, while assets under management (AUM) climbed to $96.7 billion. The dynamic suggests that new money is entering through regulated vehicles, but the macro cadence of inflows remains softer than the high-water marks seen in late 2025. The year-to-date balance continues to tilt negative, with roughly $1.8 billion in cumulative monthly outflows offset by about $1.7 billion in cumulative inflows. The divergence highlights that while the appetite for regulated crypto access persists, investors are weighing risk, regulatory clarity, and the path to profitability as markets evolve.
The rebound in Bitcoin ETFs coincides with broader strength in crypto investment products. Across the sector, crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) accrued about $2.7 billion over the previous three weeks, lifting year-to-date inflows to around $1.2 billion, according to data cited in industry trackers. The pattern aligns with a gradual reset in risk sentiment as investors reassess the trajectory of mainstream crypto assets, seeking diversified exposure through regulated structures rather than direct custody. The momentum also underscores ongoing demand for bottom-line transparency and on-ramp infrastructure, amid shifts in macro liquidity and regulatory expectations.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin spot ETFs added $199.4 million on Monday, extending a seven-day inflow streak to about $1.2 billion and signaling renewed institutional appetite for regulated access to BTC exposure.
- Ether ETFs drew $138.3 million—the strongest weekly print since March 4—while Solana ETFs brought in $17.8 million, marking the largest weekly inflows for SOL in the same period.
- XRP ETFs posted $4.64 million in inflows for the period, the first positive print after an eight-day losing streak, even as overall XRP ETF outflows totaled $56.8 million from March 5–16.
- Bitcoin ETFs remain the standout driver of the trend, with total assets under management near $96.7 billion and weekly volumes pacing at a subdued level relative to previous peaks.
- Ether ETFs continue to lag on a year-to-date basis, ceding $364.5 million in net outflows YTD after inflows of $358.5 million in March and earlier outflows in January and February.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $ETH, $XRP, $SOL
Sentiment: Neutral
Market context: The ETF rebound mirrors a broader, cautious reacceleration in crypto investment products, with multi-week inflows suggesting a measured return of interest from institutions and a willingness to diversify exposures through regulated vehicles as volumes trend modestly higher and risk sentiment improves.
Why it matters
The sustained inflows into spot BTC ETFs, and the broader uptick across Ether and Solana products, point to a disciplined market response to evolving regulatory clarity and infrastructure. Investors appear to be seeking regulated entry points to digital assets, balancing the desire for crypto exposure with risk controls, liquidity standards, and clear reporting. The seven-day BTC inflow run, coupled with an AUM near $97 billion, underscores that institutions remain willing to place capital into products that offer price discovery, custody guarantees, and transparent settlement frameworks.
At the same time, the divergence between Bitcoin’s robust ETF inflows and Ether’s persistent YTD outflows highlights a nuanced allocation dynamic among asset classes within crypto. While BTC remains the marquee entry for many institutions, Ether’s ongoing pressure may reflect a combination of concerns about network congestion, macro capital allocation, and regulatory posture around major ETH-related developments. The Solana narrative—its best weekly inflow in this cycle—adds a complementary vector, suggesting that select layer-1 ecosystems with active developer activity and practical use cases continue to attract capital through dedicated ETFs.
In a broader sense, the data point to a maturing market for regulated crypto exposure. As more assets gain ETF and ETP coverage, the space benefits from standardized liquidity, clearer valuation references, and the ability to participate in professional portfolios without direct custody. Yet the year-to-date performance gap—with Ether ETFs in negative territory and XRP experiencing mixed inflows—serves as a reminder that the sector remains sensitive to macro shifts, regulatory signals, and shifting risk appetites among sophisticated buyers and fund managers.
What to watch next
- Next week’s BTC ETF inflow data: Will the seven-day streak extend further, and how will AUM adjust in response to price volatility?
- Ether ETF performance: Will the YTD outflows abate, and can ETH-based products reclaim momentum as network fundamentals improve?
- Solana ETF flows: Monitor whether SOL continues to post outsized weekly inflows, signaling renewed appetite for ecosystem exposure.
- XRP ETF trajectory: Track subsequent inflows/outflows after the March period, as regulatory clarity and market sentiment evolve.
- Regulatory and product developments: Any new approvals or structural changes to US crypto ETFs that could alter investor demand.
Sources & verification
- SoSoValue data on US BTC spot ETF inflows and seven-day totals, including the $199.4 million print on Monday.
- SoSoValue asset page for US BTC spot ETFs: https://sosovalue.com/assets/etf/us-btc-spot
- Three-week crypto ETP inflow flow data referenced in market coverage: https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-etp-1-billion-inflows-three-straight-weeks-gains
- Past inflow reference for the October 2025 run and related context: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etfs-record-6-day-inflow-streak-longest-since-october
- Crypto ETF and asset mix commentary noting Ether ETF underperformance and SOL inflows: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-rebound-bernstein-long-term-holder-base
ETF inflows persist as spot BTC ETFs extend seven-day streak
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has continued to draw institutional interest as US spot BTC ETFs record their seventh straight day of inflows, lifting the weekly total to around $1.2 billion. The latest $199.4 million addition arrived on Monday, reinforcing a narrative of growing comfort with regulated exposure to digital assets within portfolio allocations. While the pace of fresh money remains well short of the lofty peaks seen during the October 2025 surge, the pattern matters for liquidity and price discovery in a market that has historically been driven by spot demand, futures hedging, and macro liquidity cycles.
Across altcoins, the appetite looks uneven but constructive. Ether (CRYPTO: ETH) led inflows among non-Bitcoin ETFs with about $138.3 million, the strongest weekly print since early March. Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) followed with approximately $17.8 million, marking the largest weekly inflow for SOL in the current cycle. XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) posted $4.64 million in fresh inflows after an eight-day stretch of outflows, signaling a potential re-engagement with regulatory-friendly exposure to ripple-linked assets. Despite the upticks, XRP ETFs still faced a net outflow of $56.8 million for the March 5–16 window, underscoring that investor sentiment remains split across the crypto spectrum.
Overall, Bitcoin ETFs have been the most durable source of capital, with total assets under management approaching $96.7 billion and trading volumes hovering around the $2.6 billion mark for the latest reporting period. In contrast, Ether ETFs are underwater for the year, with approximately $364.5 million in net outflows so far in 2026, following March inflows of $358.5 million and earlier sizeable movements in January and February. The broader market narrative—driven by ongoing institutional testing of regulated exposure, macro liquidity, and the evolving crypto regulatory landscape—remains a critical factor shaping flows across BTC, ETH, XRP, and SOL.
As the sector recalibrates, market participants are watching whether the flow environment remains constructive, particularly given the resilience seen in three straight weeks of positive crypto ETP inflows. The data points, while not guaranteeing sustained rallies, do suggest a continued willingness to explore crypto exposure through regulated vehicles, a trend that could influence pricing dynamics, risk management strategies, and the pace of product innovation in the months ahead. The coming weeks will be telling as new data illuminate the balance between cautious optimism and the persistent volatility that characterizes crypto markets.
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