ParaFi, a New York-based digital asset manager backed by KKR co-founder Henry Kravis, raised $125 million for a new venture fund, Bloomberg reported.

The cash comes on top of the $325 million ParaFi said it has raised for existing crypto investment strategies since the start of 2025. The firm now manages about $2 billion.

Founder Ben Forman, who left KKR in 2018, said the new vehicle will focus on startups working in stablecoins, tokenization and onchain financial products for large institutions.

Since starting up, ParaFi has backed companies including prediction market Polymarket, crypto asset manager Bitwise, decentralized finance firm Kyber Network and custodian Anchorage.

The fundraise stands out as it comes during a weak stretch for the crypto sector. Bitcoin has fallen more than 26% from the 2026 high it hit in January, and only recently recovered the $70,000 mark. The wider market, measured via the CoinDesk 20 (CD20) index, lost one-third of its value over the same period.

Investors are starting to separate short-term token price swings from the longer-term case for blockchain-based financial infrastructure, Forman said, according to Bloomberg.

Some worry bitcoin BTC$70,069.13 could still see a deeper sell-off, but one key indicator suggests the bottom may already be behind us.

That indicator is the 30-day implied volatility, which is an options-based measure of expected price turbulence over four weeks.

The widely-tracked 30-day implied volatility indices like Deribit’s DVOL and Volmex’s BVIV surged to 90% in early February when bitcoin crashed to almost $60,000. Historically, similar spikes in volatility have coincided with peak panic and capitulation, marking price bottoms.

VIX-like contrary signal

Bitcoin’s market structure has increasingly mirrored Wall Street since the introduction of spot BTC ETFs in the U.S. in early 2024.

In this context, implied volatility has emerged as a “fear gauge” and a contrary indicator similar to the VIX, a real-time indicator measuring expected 30-day volatility of the S&P 500: It typically trends downward in stable markets but spikes sharply during moments of extreme fear that mark major market bottoms.

This dynamic was on evident early last month when bitcoin tanked. The resulting panic demand for options, mostly puts, drove DVOL and BVIV skyward to 90% and above in a manner consistent with prior capitulation events, such as August 2024, when prices tanked to and bottomed near $50,000.

The same thing in November 2022 when FTX collapsed, resulting in peak fear, sending implied volatility to 90%. At that time, bitcoin bottomed out below $20,000.

So, if history is a guide, the bitcoin downtrend that began in October at highs above $126,000 has already ended.

Some might argue that one indicator doesn’t prove much and that’s logical. But what makes it noteworthy is it’s established role in traditional markets as a contrary indicator.

A super high VIX, well above its long-term average, is generally considered a strong contrarian buy signal for long-term investors, as it represents peak market fear and “panic”.

In fact, many Wall Street strategies use the VIX as a “background indicator” to trigger systematic equity purchases. For instance, quantitative mean reversion funds use models where a ViX deviating higher significantly from its long-term average triggers an automated increase in equity leverage.

Speaking of the VIX, it reached a one-year high of 35% on March 9, nearly a month after the explosion in bitcoin volatility,. The VIX has been elevated throughout 2026 but has held below prior dislocation peaks above 60, seen during Liberation Day in April 2025.

Bitcoin mining difficulty drops 5% as miners shift to AI, opening new opportunities for efficiency gains.

Bitcoin mining difficulty has just experienced its largest drop since the 2022 bear market, declining by approximately 5%. This shift is largely driven by a growing number of miners redirecting their machines toward AI data center contracts rather than traditional block production. 

For miners who remain committed to Bitcoin mining, this temporary decrease in difficulty presents an unexpected advantage. However, the traditional mining model is under increasing pressure to evolve. Leveraging artificial intelligence can significantly improve mining efficiency. In this article, we present a carefully evaluated list of six popular AI tools for Bitcoin mining in 2026 to help miners make more informed decisions.

Why AI is transforming Bitcoin mining in 2026

Historically, Bitcoin mining has been dominated by hardware performance and electricity costs. However, as global hash rate continues to rise and mining difficulty adjusts dynamically, profit margins are becoming increasingly compressed.

At the same time, fluctuating energy prices and hardware depreciation are adding further pressure. As a result, AI-powered Bitcoin mining is emerging as a more adaptive and data-driven approach.

Key advantages of AI in mining include:

• Intelligent hash rate allocation based on network difficulty and block rewards
• Energy optimization through automated selection of cost-efficient power sources
• Predictive analytics to improve mining strategies and profitability
• Automated operations to reduce manual intervention and downtime

These capabilities are reshaping how mining operations are managed, shifting the focus from raw computing power to efficiency and optimization.

Top 6 AI Bitcoin mining tools in 2026 (overview)

1. AngelBTC – AI-driven automated Bitcoin mining

AngelBTC represents a new generation of AI-powered Bitcoin mining platforms focused on automation and efficiency.

Key features include:

• AI-based hash rate optimization that adapts to network conditions
• Integration with renewable energy sources to improve cost efficiency
• Automated daily payout systems
• User-friendly interface designed for accessibility

This type of platform reduces the complexity traditionally associated with mining and allows users to participate without managing hardware or infrastructure directly. It is particularly suitable for those seeking a more streamlined mining experience.

View full contract & claim $100 free hash power!

2. BitFuFu – AI-enhanced mining pool optimization

BitFuFu combines mining pool infrastructure with AI-driven optimization:

• Dynamically selects high-performance mining pools
• Improves hash rate efficiency
• Provides transparent operational data

Best suited for users with some mining experience.

3. NiceHash – AI-Powered Hash Rate Marketplace

NiceHash operates as a hash power marketplace rather than a traditional mining provider. Its AI system is used to:

• Match buyers and sellers of hash power
• Optimize pricing mechanisms
• Increase utilization efficiency

Ideal for users seeking flexibility and control over mining strategies.

4. ECOS – AI-based contract mining platform

ECOS focuses on long-term contract mining supported by data-driven optimization:

• Automated mining operations
• Predictable performance models
• Integrated infrastructure management

Suitable for users prioritizing stability and long-term planning.

5. StormGain – Beginner-friendly AI mining app

StormGain offers a simplified entry into AI Bitcoin mining through a mobile app:

• One-click mining functionality
• AI-assisted optimization
• No hardware requirements

A practical option for beginners exploring crypto mining.

6. BeMine – AI-assisted mining equipment hosting

BeMine blends traditional mining hardware with AI optimization:

• Smart allocation of mining resources
• Energy and uptime optimization
• Fractional ownership of mining equipment

Best suited for long-term investors.

AI mining vs traditional mining: Key differences

AI-powered mining is clearly shifting the industry toward a more efficient and accessible model.

Conclusion: Mining is shifting toward efficiency and intelligence

As competition for hash rate intensifies and energy costs continue to rise, relying solely on hardware is no longer sufficient. The future of Bitcoin mining will increasingly depend on algorithmic optimization, data intelligence, and energy efficiency.

AI tools are playing a critical role in this transition. By enabling automated decision-making, predictive analysis, and optimized resource allocation, AI is making mining more efficient and accessible to a broader range of participants.

At the same time, platforms vary significantly in terms of automation, infrastructure, and transparency. Some platforms, including AngelBTC, emphasize automation and energy optimization as part of their operational model—an approach that reflects a broader industry trend.

For those considering entering Bitcoin mining in 2026, evaluating platform reliability, technical capabilities, and long-term sustainability is more important than focusing solely on short-term returns. Choosing the right tools and strategies will be a key factor in overall mining performance.

• Balancer Labs shuts down after legal and economic pressure.
• BAL token model shifts to zero emissions and buybacks.
• BAL price outlook hinges on execution of the overhaul.

Balancer Labs is set to take a sharp turn after its founder, Fernando Martinelli, proposed a radical overhaul, stating that maintaining a corporate entity tied to past incidents had become a liability.

The decision to shut down Balancer Labs follows months of pressure after a major exploit in November 2025 that drained over $100 million from the protocol and exposed both technical and structural weaknesses.

While the protocol continues to operate, the changes signal a clear break from the past.

At the centre of this shift is the BAL token, whose outlook now depends on whether the proposed overhaul can restore confidence in the once leading DeFi platform.

A full reset of Balancer’s economic model

The proposed changes leave very little of the old system intact as all BAL emissions are set to be halted completely.

The veBAL governance system is also being scrapped.

Incentive programs that once drove liquidity are being shut down across the board, including partner fee splits and vote market mechanisms, which were once considered core pillars of growth but are now viewed as sources of inefficiency and value leakage.

Under the proposal, all protocol fees will be redirected to the DAO treasury, marking a major shift from the previous structure, where only a small portion was captured.

Liquidity providers are also being prioritised differently.

Swap fees in V3 will be reduced to make the platform more competitive to attract organic liquidity rather than relying on token rewards.

At the same time, a large buyback and burn plan is being introduced.

Up to 35% of the BAL token supply could be removed over time. This is paired with compensation for former veBAL participants.

The goal is to reset both supply dynamics and user confidence.

Why Balancer is making this move now

The timing of this overhaul is not random.

The numbers behind the protocol tell a clear story. Despite generating over a million dollars in annual fees, very little value was being retained.

At the same time, emissions were creating constant sales pressure. This imbalance made long-term growth nearly impossible.

Another issue was governance concentration.

Large players, including Aura Finance, had significant influence over decisions. This created misaligned incentives within the ecosystem.

The exploit in November 2025 only made things worse as it introduced ongoing legal risks tied to the existence of a corporate entity.

According to Fernando Martinelli, this made the structure unsustainable and shutting down Balancer Labs removes that liability and pushes the protocol closer to a fully decentralised model.

Meanwhile, operations are expected to continue under a new structure to ensure development and maintenance do not come to a halt.

Balancer (BAL) price forecast

At press time, the BAL token was currently trading near $0.15, just slightly above its recent lows.

This places it in a critical zone where sentiment can shift quickly. The first key level to watch is the recent support around $0.126.

A break below this level could signal further downside and loss of confidence.

On the upside, resistance sits near $0.1785, which has capped price movements in recent weeks.

A sustained move above this level would suggest improving sentiment as the market reacts to the overhaul. Beyond that, the $0.20 level becomes an important psychological barrier.

Traders should watch how the price behaves relative to the proposed buyback zone. If buybacks are executed effectively, they could provide a strong floor for price action.

However, the biggest factor remains execution.

The success of the overhaul will determine whether the Balancer (BAL) price stabilises or continues to struggle.

Regulation is poised to reshape Decentralized Finance into a tightly interconnected network of ecosystems, each with its own risk, compliance and access profile. It won’t carve DeFi into two isolated camps—one fully compliant and the other entirely open—but rather will knit together multiple lanes that can interoperate at the contract level. This perspective, offered by Mitchell Amador, founder and CEO of Immunefi, suggests a future where regulatory pressure in 2026 accelerates a layered DeFi world that embraces both permissionless innovation and regulated access.

Amador argues that DeFi has never operated as a single monolith. Instead, it has always lived in parallel lanes that cater to different risk appetites and user bases. The first lane remains permissionless: anyone can deploy, provide liquidity or use leverage without identity verification. This is where price discovery and stress testing occur in public view, and where the sector has historically moved faster than traditional financial players. A second lane includes protocols with built-in safeguards—liquidation rules, governance structures and oracle protections—yet without identity requirements. The newest tier adds a heavily controlled access point, with KYC, geofencing and compliance filters at the gateway. Yet the same underlying smart contracts can be reached through various entry points.

Key takeaways

• DeFi operates across multiple compliance lanes today. Permissionless networks coexist with guarded but non-identifying protocols, creating a spectrum of risk management and liquidity options.
• Liquidity drives cross-lane interoperability. Capital seeks onchain liquidity, 24/7 global access and rapid settlement, pushing regulated sectors to engage with permissionless infrastructures.
• The GENIUS Act and institutional appetite for yield push activity into DeFi. By limiting yield-bearing stablecoins, regulators redirect capital toward DeFi protocols that offer attractive, onchain returns.
• Security innovation begins in open markets and travels downstream. Lessons from permissionless ecosystems—bug bounties, real-time monitoring and AI threat detection—will inform institutional-grade defenses once proven effective.

Liquidity as the bridge between lanes

One of the central premises is that complete isolation of compliant DeFi is unlikely. Institutional participants will demand the liquidity and depth that onchain markets provide, including 24/7 access and fast settlement that traditional venues struggle to match. This dynamic means regulated platforms will increasingly ride on top of permissionless liquidity pools, rather than exist in a vacuum separate from the open sector. The GENIUS Act—widely discussed for its stance on yield-bearing stablecoins—illustrates a regulatory nudge that redirects capital toward onchain protocols in search of reliable returns.

Amador notes that the incentive to access deep liquidity is powerful enough to tolerate some complexity and risk, at least in the near term. If the onchain liquidity proposition remains compelling, the market will continue to push for more integrated frameworks where regulated actors can participate meaningfully without sacrificing core advantages of permissionless markets.

Security as an arena-driven evolution

Despite a recent history of high-profile exploits, Amador emphasizes that the center of gravity for robust security innovation will continue to sit in permissionless DeFi. The sector has produced a suite of defensive tools—bug bounty programs, real-time monitoring, and increasingly sophisticated AI-driven threat detection—that mature and then migrate to institutional environments as confidence in these approaches grows. The article notes that even as losses from hacks and exploits have topped billions in recent periods, the onchain security playbook developed in the open market remains the most effective proving ground for new defenses, which can later be standardized for broader adoption.

As part of this evolutionary cycle, onchain “firewalling” and automated vulnerability scanning are likely to become standard in open DeFi and subsequently form a core part of institutional risk management. The broader message is that adversarial conditions—where security is truly stress-tested—drive the best defenses, and those defenses can lift the entire ecosystem as they are adopted across lanes.

Regulation as a catalyst for a connected DeFi future

The overarching forecast is not a fracturing of DeFi into incompatible silos but a maturation toward a set of interoperable layers that remain deeply linked through onchain architecture. Regulation is expected to mold the ecosystem into tiers with varying compliance and access permissions, while preserving the composability that makes DeFi uniquely powerful. For investors and builders alike, the implication is clear: regulatory clarity will invite more institutions to participate, not by abandoning innovation, but by plugging into a broader, more liquid and efficient network.

In this view, TradFi’s distance to DeFi shortens as institutions seek the efficiency and scale of decentralized markets. The structural advantages of onchain liquidity—nonstop operation, settlement speed and depth—remain compelling enough to motivate regulatory models that accommodate both innovation and risk controls. As Amador frames it, the future of DeFi is not a binary choice between compliant and permissionless worlds; it is a layered, networked ecosystem where governance, access and security evolve in tandem with regulatory expectations.

“The future of DeFi hinges on interoperability,” Amador writes, a sentiment echoed by observers who view regulation as a unifying force rather than a dividing line. As policymakers refine frameworks, the industry will continue to test and standardize security innovations in the open, with the expectation that these advances become the backbone of institutional adoption as well.

Related commentary notes the growing interest in onchain alpha for sophisticated trading firms, underscoring how traditional finance is increasingly looking to open markets for liquidity and efficiency. For further context, see discussions around onchain opportunities for Wall Street’s advanced traders and the ongoing regulatory debates shaping yield and custody models in crypto markets.

Readers should keep an eye on how regulators define access gates and risk controls across different DeFi lanes, and which platforms prove most adept at maintaining liquidity while safeguarding users. The next set of policy decisions could determine which lanes become the default rails for institutional participation and which remain vibrant, experimental corridors that continue to push innovation forward.

XRP (XRP) stayed under pressure as traders watched resistance near the upper end of its recent range. 

The token traded at about $1.40, while market data showed a supply wall between $1.57 and $1.59. That zone has limited the pace of recovery after the losses seen in February.

XRP traded near $1.42 at the time of reporting, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $2.46 billion. The token posted a small daily gain of 0.42%, but it remained down 5.95% over the last seven days. Its market cap stood at about $87.09 billion, based on a circulating supply of 61 billion XRP.

Price action has stayed weak as XRP struggles to move back above nearby resistance. Market data points to heavy supply between $1.57 and $1.59, and that area has capped recent upside attempts. As long as XRP stays below that band, traders may keep watching for more range-bound movement.

Crypto analyst Javon Marks said XRP is showing strength on lower time frames after “what looks to be a macro breakout retest.” He added that this retest could support a continuation move if buyers keep defending the current zone.

Marks also repeated his long-term target of $15 or higher for XRP. That call remains far above the current market price, but his view has added to the debate around whether XRP is forming a base after the recent pullback. For now, the chart still shows a market trying to stabilize below a major supply zone.

Exchange reserve data shows unusual pattern

CryptoQuant analyst APTRekt said XRP has shown a different pattern from many other crypto assets. In many markets, price gains often come with falling exchange reserves as investors move coins off exchanges. In XRP’s case, reserve balances on Binance have often risen alongside price increases.

The analyst also said exchange inflows and outflows tend to rise before strong price moves, with inflows usually higher than outflows. That pattern suggests that selling activity remains active even before rallies begin. It also shows that XRP’s price behavior may not follow the usual spot accumulation model seen in other assets.

In addition, another CryptoQuant analyst, Arab Chain, said Binance whale outflows for XRP over 30 days dropped to about 1.285 billion XRP, the lowest level since early February. The reading points to slower withdrawal activity from large holders.

Lower whale outflows may mean more XRP is staying on exchanges instead of moving into long-term storage. That could reflect a cautious stance among large investors as they wait for a clearer market direction. If this trend continues, traders may keep watching exchange activity closely for signs of renewed demand or added selling pressure.

Tether, the crypto company behind the most popular stablecoin USDT, said Tuesday it has selected a “Big Four” auditing firm to conduct its first full financial statement audit.

“The Big Four Firm was selected through a competitive process because the organisation is already operating at Big Four audit standard,” said Simon McWilliams, Chief Financial Officer of Tether. “The audit will be delivered.”

The company has long published periodic attestations of the assets backing the value of its $184 billion U.S. dollar stablecoin USDT. A full audit goes further: It requires a detailed review of assets, liabilities, controls and reporting systems.

Tether did not name the firm that will complete the audit. The Big Four term is used for top accounting firms Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC.

The move follows years of criticism over whether Tether has fully demonstrated that USDT is fully backed by reserves. The company says its holdings consist largely of U.S. Treasury bills, along with smaller allocations to gold, bitcoin and a range of loans. That mix has drawn scrutiny from critics who question the liquidity and risk profile of some assets, especially during periods of market stress.

Since Donald Trump joined Israel’s war with Iran at 1:15am New York time on February 28, bitcoin (BTC) has rallied 8% while gold has fallen 18%.

At the onset of war, BTC was trading at $65,492 and gold was at $5,279 per ounce. By Monday evening, however, BTC had jumped to $70,700 while gold had tumbled to $4,300.

All this means that BTC now buys 32% more gold than it did on the morning of Operation Epic Fury.

Indeed, the world’s most valuable precious metal shed 12% in a single week, its worst seven-day stretch since 1983. Investors who bought gold as war insurance watched their policy lose a fifth of its value in four weeks.

Safe haven investors get a margin call

Gold’s initial move on the start of the conflict was a fakeout. It spiked higher after the Strait of Hormuz oil tanker shipping lane closure but reversed hard.

US Treasury yields climbed and the dollar strengthened, two forces that typically dampen the price of gold regardless of how many warships are in the Persian Gulf.

The sizable SPDR Gold Shares ETF hemorrhaged $4.2 billion in the first week of the war, breaking the record for weekly outflows in the fund’s history.

Investors pulled 25 tonnes of physical gold backing from the world’s biggest gold ETF within seven days.

Bitcoin absorbed the same shock yet held onto its gain. It even outperformed the S&P 500 Index which has fallen over 3% since the war began.

CoinDesk Indices presents its daily market update, highlighting the performance of leaders and laggards in the CoinDesk 20 Index.

The CoinDesk 20 is currently trading at 2044.07, down 0.2% (-3.83) since 4 p.m. ET on Monday.

Ten of 20 assets are trading higher.

Leaders: APT (+4.4%) and XLM (+1.5%).

Laggards: DOT (-2.3%) and XRP (-1.3%).

The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based index traded on multiple platforms in several regions globally.