One day after recording its worst single-session loss in history, South Korea’s KOSPI surged more than 11% on Thursday, staging one of the most dramatic reversals the index has ever seen.

No major economy is more acutely wired to Middle East instability than Seoul — and this week proved it.

The Bounce of KOSPI and KOSDAQ

South Korea’s two main stock indices — the large-cap KOSPI and tech-heavy KOSDAQ — are among Asia’s most actively traded markets and a key barometer of Korean retail investor sentiment.

By mid-morning, the KOSPI had climbed to 5,682 — up from Wednesday’s close of 5,093 — after touching an intraday high of 5,715. The KOSDAQ recovered above the 1,000 level, gaining over 11%. A buy-side sidecar was triggered in early trade — a striking contrast to Wednesday’s sell-side sidecar and full circuit breaker halt. The won strengthened sharply, pulling back from an overnight high of 1,505 to trade near 1,461.

The catalyst: oil prices stabilized, with Brent crude holding at $81.40 and WTI at $74.66, and reports of back-channel contacts between Washington and Tehran lifted sentiment across Asian markets. Wall Street had closed higher on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq up 1.29%, led by Tesla (+3.44%), Amazon (+3.95%), and Nvidia (+1.66%).

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix — which had shed 21% and 22.75% respectively from their late-February peaks — rebounded 13–15% in early trade. Foreign investors, who had used both stocks as first-resort liquidity during the panic, returned as net buyers of over 710 billion won by mid-morning. Retail investors added another 600 billion won alongside them.

Why Korea Fell Harder Than Anyone Else

The scale of the crash and recovery reflects a structural reality. Over the two sessions on March 3–4, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ fell 18.43% and 17.97%, respectively — the worst and second-worst performances globally. Japan fell 6.57%, Taiwan 6.46%, and China’s Shenzhen Composite just 3.76%. US indices barely registered, declining less than 0.35% combined.

Korea imports over 70% of its energy from the Middle East and operates an export-dependent economy with high sensitivity to commodity shocks. When US-Israel strikes on Iran triggered Strait of Hormuz closure fears, global risk was concentrated in Seoul with exceptional force. Wednesday’s KOSPI decline of 12.06% surpassed even the 12.02% drop recorded the day after 9/11 — a threshold that had stood for 25 years.

What Comes Next

Analysts are cautiously optimistic but warn that the path forward depends on geopolitical developments. One analyst argued that a prolonged Hormuz blockade is self-defeating for Iran. It would cut Tehran’s foreign exchange revenues while inviting further military response. Another pointed to a potential mediator as the key turning point. At current index levels, he said, “the case for buying is strong.”

Mirae Asset set a near-term KOSPI recovery target of 5,800. Kiwoom Securities suggested the two-day selloff had effectively front-loaded the war risk premium in full.

What It Means for Crypto

For crypto markets, as BeInCrypto reported Wednesday, Korea’s retail investor base showed some resilience during the crash — with newly listed tokens on Upbit and Bithumb posting double-digit gains even as equities collapsed. But Thursday’s equity rebound may quickly reverse that dynamic.

With foreign and retail investors pouring over 1.3 trillion won back into equities in a single morning session, the stock market’s gravitational pull reasserts itself. Korea’s crypto volumes had already dropped by more than 80% during the KOSPI’s 85% bull run since President Lee’s election, and a sharp V-shaped equity recovery threatens to drain whatever crypto inflows emerged during the two-day panic.

The won pulled back from 1,505 to near 1,461. That partial recovery reduces the currency-hedge appeal that briefly boosted digital assets. The effect is already visible in the data: Bitcoin rose 6.4% in dollar terms over the past 24 hours, but gained only around 5% on Upbit in won terms — the won’s sharp rebound absorbed more than a percentage point of that gain.

If geopolitical risk continues to ease, the KOSPI could push toward Mirae Asset’s 5,800 target. Korean retail capital — historically the most swing-sensitive in global crypto markets — would likely follow equities. Not digital assets.

Bitcoin has hit its most extreme weekly oversold level on record as selling slows.

Bitcoin (BTC) has entered the most extreme weekly oversold zone in its history, according to a new report from research firm K33, even as early signs suggest that sustained sell pressure from long-term holders and institutions is finally starting to ease.

Escalating geopolitical tensions amid the war in Iran are part of the reasons behind South Korea’s worst stock market crash in decades.

The benchmark market index in South Korea, KOSPI, saw a massive decline during the last trading session, dropping by more than 12%. Undoubtedly, this last drop represents a significant escalation from earlier market movements and highlights the increasing volatility in local equity markets amid the war in Iran.

Worst Stock Market Crash Since 2008

As of this writing on Wednesday, KOSPI is down by more than 12%. On the previous trading day, the benchmark index lost another 7%, marking what appears to be the worst performance since 2008.

Both Kosdaq and KOSPI hit the threshold for an emergency circuit breaker on Korea’s stock exchange, triggering 20-minute trading halts.

Commenting on the matter in a report for CNBC was Lorraine Tan, Asia’s director of equity research at Morningstar, who said:

“The decline in the KOSPI can broadly be attributed to the single-name concentration that we see in the Korean markets. […] We believe that the drop in share prices is partly driven by profit taking after a strong runup amidst a risk-off environment but also implies growing concern that the AI datacenter adoption pace might slow down due to its significantly higher energy costs than regular data centers.”

Additionally, analysts point out that South Korea’s economy is highly sensitive to oil prices, making it even more vulnerable during the war in the Middle East.

Global Tensions in Markets

Markets in Japan are also under pressure. Japan’s flagship market index, the Nikkei, is down over 5% over the last 48 hours, while the US Stock Market has been able to recover somewhat following statements from respective parties.

Crypto markets remain flat on the day. Bitcoin is up 0.6% in the past 24 hours, while the majority of altcoins are trading in the range between -1% and +1%. The total capitalization is around $2.3 trillion, down 0.1% on the day, according to CoinMarketCap.

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The crypto market rally resumed on Wednesday as a senior Federal Reserve official maintained his view that the bank should cut interest rates despite the rising inflation jitters.

Bitcoin (BTC) zoomed past the key resistance level at $72,000, leading to a broader rally among other altcoins. SPX6900 jumped by 20%, while Aerodrome Finance, Kite, Zcash, and Decred soared by over 10%. The market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies rose by 6.48%, while the futures open interest rose to over $95 billion.

Stephen Miran supports interest rate cuts 

One major reason why the crypto rally is happening is that Stephen Miran, a top Fed official appointed by President Donald Trump, expressed his support for interest rate cuts despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions and higher crude oil prices.

Miran has always argued that inflation is still low and that the labor market was still under increased pressure. As such, he believes that cutting interest rates will be ideal to supercharge the economy. He said:

“When you look at the totality of labor-market data, there’s still evidence to me that it needs more support from monetary policy.”

Miran, however, is part of the bank’s minority in his support for more interest rate cuts. The most recent Fed minutes showed that some officials supported hiking rates in the last meeting, citing the elevated inflation, which has remained above the 2% target for over four years.

Inflation may remain above this range for longer as Trump plans to implement a new 15% universal tariff as soon as this week. Also, the ongoing war in Iran has pushed crude oil and natural gas prices to the highest level in months. Higher energy prices often lead to higher inflation because they are used in transport, manufacturing, and other activities.

Crypto market rally also triggered by hopes of talks between the US and Iran 

The crypto market rally also happened as investors cheered a report saying that Iran had reached out to the United States for talks on how to end the ongoing war. Officials from the government’s intelligence office made the approach on Sunday, a day after the war started. 

Still, it is unclear whether the two sides will meet soon to talk, as they are both confident of victory. Trump has insisted that the US was ready to fight the war as long as possible. He has also not ruled out a ground operation in the country. Similarly, Iran has maintained that it was prepared to continue fighting.

Solana price is approaching the critical $95 Fibonacci resistance as rising volume and open interest signal a potential breakout or sharp rejection.

Solana (SOL) is trading at $90.20 at press time, down 7.4% over the past 24 hours. The token just touched the top of its seven-day range between $77.47 and $90.68.

It has gained 7.4% in the last week but is still down 12% over the past month and nearly 70% below its January 2025 all-time high of $293.31.

Derivatives data from CoinGlass shows traders stepping back in. Volume has risen 13% to $17 billion, while open interest climbed 6% to $5 billion.

This mix indicates that fresh positions are being opened as the price approaches a technical decision zone.

$95 emerges as a key decision point

The $95 area stands out on the chart.

If we measure the recent move from the swing high near $120 to the swing low around $80, the 38.2% to 50% Fibonacci retracement falls close to $95.

This is usually the first serious resistance during a recovery bounce. In many cases, rallies slow down or reverse at this level.

The $92–$97 region also acted as support before the price broke down. That old support may now act as resistance. Liquidity likely sits just above $95, which makes the area even more sensitive.

Price is also moving toward key moving averages, such as the 50-day EMA or 100-day SMA. When static resistance and dynamic resistance meet, the level tends to carry more weight.

RSI has recovered from oversold conditions below 30 and is now approaching the 50 mark. If momentum stalls there, sellers may regain control. Volume on the bounce has not exploded, which suggests this could still be a corrective move rather than a full trend reversal.

If SOL pushes above $95 and holds, the next upside zone sits around $105–$110. If it gets rejected, $85 could come back into view.

Solana price short-term outlook

For March 2026, the short-term outlook remains cautiously optimistic. Some analysts expect a move into the $95–$105 range if buying pressure continues. A break above $100 is possible, but volatility is still elevated and sentiment across crypto remains fragile.

Prediction markets show mixed positioning. While some traders are betting on a move above $110, many still anticipate that SOL will remain below $100 in the near future. 

Fundamentally, institutional investment in Solana-related products has increased. DeFi, stablecoins, and memecoins are all still experiencing on-chain activity. The longer-term narrative is further supported by payment use cases such as Visa’s USDC settlements.

For now, the chart is clear. A daily close above $95 would shift short-term structure in favor of buyers. If that level holds as resistance, the broader downtrend stays intact.

[PRESS RELEASE – Tallinn, Estonia, March 4th, 2026]

CryptoJets, a global private jet and helicopter brokerage, has announced a partnership with Transacta to support the growing demand for cryptocurrency payments in private aviation.

The growing demand for fast and secure crypto payments

Demand for cryptocurrency payment options in luxury travel continues to grow as wealth shifts toward younger generations. The private aviation sector is increasingly embracing digital currencies, driven by both practical needs and broader market development.

Built for travelers who value privacy, speed, and flexibility, CryptoJets operates with access to a global network of more than 5,000 charter operators, providing on-demand private jet and helicopter services to clients worldwide.

As the volume of crypto-funded bookings continued to grow, the company identified the need to further optimize payment speed, settlement reliability, and geographic coverage. Through its partnership with Transacta, CryptoJets is expanding its route network and operational capacity across 180 countries while offering clients a more streamlined way to process high-value charter payments.

“Crypto payments have already been part of how our clients prefer to pay,” said Erik Rand, Head of Operations at CryptoJets. “This partnership allows us to process those payments faster, improve settlement across markets, and scale our operations without compromising on compliance or client experience.”

Expertise in settling high-value transactions for luxury merchants worldwide

Built on years of experience working with luxury businesses, Transacta delivers payment solutions for merchants handling large, complex deals — without operational friction and under bespoke client requirements.

Transacta‘s financial rails allow CryptoJets to process large transactions in crypto and settle them in fiat to their bank account within 1–2 business days, meeting all legal requirements.

“We’re starting a new chapter together with CryptoJets. And for us, this partnership is a challenge we’re excited to take on — improving the speed and overall quality of payment processing for high-value charter transactions.” said Dmitrijs Maceraliks, CEO of Transacta.

About Transacta:

Founded in Estonia in 2018, Transacta (previously Transcrypt OÜ) offers a regulated payment infrastructure that enables merchants to accept crypto payments with instant fiat settlement. Transacta is licensed by the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit, registered with FinCEN in the U.S. and FINTRAC in Canada, and operates under FINMA supervision.

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) sits at the edge of a broader push by Elon Musk to turn X into a pervasive payments platform, as the company tests external beta features for X Money. The early test phase highlights cashback on certain card purchases and a 6% annual percentage yield on deposits, according to screenshots and posts from beta testers that circulated this week. Hollywood actor William Shatner, famous for his Star Trek captain role, was among the first to publicly participate, signaling Musk’s intent to generate buzz through high-profile user involvement. Deposits in the beta are reportedly held by Cross River Bank and insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 per person, adding a familiar consumer-protection layer to the experiment. The effort underscores Musk’s broader plan to fuse payments, messaging, and AI-driven functionality into a single app ecosystem.

Key takeaways

• External beta testing for X Money is underway, with screenshots showing cashback on select card purchases and a 6% APY on deposits.
• Deposits are held by Cross River Bank and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per person, aligning with standard U.S. consumer protections.
• William Shatner participated in the beta rollout, and engaged in an auction-based approach to invite a broader set of testers.
• Several links suggest X Money is still tightly aligned with Musk’s goal of an all-in-one platform, but the extent of any crypto integration remains unclear.
• X Money’s progress sits within a broader narrative of Musk’s push to expand payments functionality and digital services on X, including licensed money transmission and peer-to-peer payments initiatives.

Tickers mentioned: $DOGE

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Neutral. The rollout appears to be a strategic product test rather than a market-moving initiative.

Market context: The beta reflects a growing trend of tech platforms expanding payment rails and financial services, even as the regulatory and compliance framework for such services continues to evolve. The move also aligns with broader industry activity around on-platform payments, wallet features, and bank-partnered deposit solutions as tech giants explore monolithic app ecosystems.

Why it matters

The X Money beta narrative is more than a product test; it signals Musk’s intent to transform X into a centralized hub for financial and digital services. By layering cashback rewards and a comparatively high yield on deposits, the program aims to demonstrate real-world value for users who might otherwise rely on standalone payment apps or traditional banks. The involvement of a high-profile tester like William Shatner — who has publicly advanced charity efforts tied to the beta — illustrates a strategy to accelerate user acquisition through media attention and social reach.

From a regulatory and risk perspective, the move to partner with Cross River Bank and FDIC insurance offers some reassurance to users wary of digital wallets. The “everything app” concept, which Musk has described as a place where all money flows through X, relies heavily on a broad regulatory permission set, including state money transmitter licenses and FinCEN-registration for peer-to-peer payments. As X expands its financial services ambitions, observers will be watching how the company navigates licensing, consumer protections, and interoperability with existing payment rails. The absence of a clear, public crypto integration within X Money—despite Musk’s long-running affinity for meme-based assets—also matters, as it signals a cautious, perhaps modular approach to crypto features rather than an immediate push.

On the crypto front, speculation remains active around whether DOGE could be woven into future X Money features, given Musk’s past affinity for the memecoin. A direct crypto integration has not been announced, and the beta materials focus on fiat-based rewards and insured deposits rather than on-chain assets. This restraint may reflect a prudent step as the platform tests core payments and deposit mechanics, while keeping potential future crypto capabilities as a future-leaning option rather than a current priority. The existing environment around payments on social platforms — including licenses, security standards, and consumer protections — will continue to shape whether and when deeper crypto integrations might appear.

X, Shatner to expand beta testing

The beta rollout has taken a noticeable step forward with a public auction approach to inviting testers. Shatner has used a $42 handout from Musk to raise funds for charity, and, with X’s permission, auctioned 42 beta invites for $1,000 each. The winners receive a $25 welcome gift card and a metal X Money debit card bearing their X username from Visa’s partnership. This approach, which blends charitable framing with premium access, aims to generate momentum and equity among early adopters. A second auction round subsequently opened, offering an additional 166 beta invites at the same price point. The model appears designed to monetize scarcity while building a small, engaged testing community that can provide real-world feedback before broader deployment.

Participation criteria are straightforward but precise: US residents over 18 who maintain an active X account in good standing qualify for eligibility. This gating ensures compliance with banking and payments regulations while allowing Musk’s team to observe how a controlled cohort interacts with cashback incentives, deposit yields, and ATM-like features that may be part of the X Money experience. Those involved in the beta can look forward to a metal debit card and other tangible perks as the program scales, though the exact timelines for a wide rollout remain fluid.

Meanwhile, the crypto question lingers. While Dogecoin speculation continues to hover around the project, there is no explicit confirmation of crypto payments or token integration within X Money in the current beta materials. Musk’s broader aim to transform X into an essential, all-purpose platform remains evident, with X Money acting as a critical piece of the puzzle rather than the entire blueprint. The strategic emphasis appears to be on securing a reliable, regulated base for payments and deposits, possibly paving the way for optional crypto features once the core system proves stable and scalable.

No sign of crypto

The public-facing beta materials emphasize consumer banking-like features rather than on-chain instruments. DOGE speculation is part of the broader discourse around X’s future, but no concrete integration has been announced in the current beta. The focus remains on tangible benefits for users through cashback and deposit yields, along with a secure, insured funding arrangement via a vetted banking partner. This careful stance suggests that any crypto functionalities would be evaluated separately, ensuring compliance and user protection before any broader integration is pursued.

What to watch next

• How many additional beta invites are issued and the pace of expansion beyond the initial rounds.
• Whether X reveals more details about crypto capabilities or any planned DOGE-related features inside X Money.
• Regulatory updates or additional licensing steps across states as X deepens its payments infrastructure.
• Updates on the user experience of cashback and deposit yields, including any changes to FDIC insurance coverage or partner banks.
• Public statements from Musk or X leadership outlining a concrete timeline for a wider launch and potential product integrations.

Sources & verification

• Elon Musk: X Money external beta live next 1-2 months (Cointelegraph article)
• Elon Musk confirms X Money beta-testing launch 2025 (Cointelegraph article)
• Elon Musk X Financial Services X Money App 2025 (Cointelegraph article)
• Dogecoin price index (DOGE) (Cointelegraph DOGE index)
• Kraken wins Kansas City Fed approval for limited master account access (Cointelegraph article)

What the rollout means for users and the market

The X Money beta illuminates a broader trend of technology platforms expanding financial services with a regulatory-compliant backbone. By partnering with established banks and offering FDIC-insured deposits, X attempts to balance user appeal with consumer protections. The charity-driven invitation strategy, highlighted by Shatner’s involvement, underscores a marketing approach aimed at accelerating adoption while maintaining a narrative around social impact. For builders and investors, the test signals how a technology-first platform may evolve to handle payments, wallets, and identity services in a tightly controlled environment before any broader crypto integration is contemplated.

From a market perspective, the experiment sits against a backdrop of liquidity and risk sentiment shaped by macro developments and regulatory scrutiny. The emphasis on real-world benefits—cashback and yields—coupled with a robust compliance footprint, could influence user expectations for digital wallets and platform-based payments. If X Money proves scalable and reliable, it may set a benchmark for other social platforms seeking to monetize user activity through financial services without compromising security and regulatory alignment.

What to watch next

• Upcoming beta expansion milestones and any official timeline updates from X.
• Clarity on crypto-related features or token support within X Money, if any.
• Regulatory developments affecting money transmission licenses and P2P payment capabilities on X.

XRP downtrend resumes. Can buyers put a stop to it?

Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions: Analysis

Key support levels: $1

Key resistance levels: $1.4

XRP’s Downtrend Resumes

After the price spiked in both directions, sellers appear to have gained the upper hand, as they managed to defend the $1.4 resistance, which is currently preventing bulls from regaining the initiative.

At the time of this post, XRP is struggling to hold above $1.35 and may retest the $1.28 level, which briefly halted the downtrend last week.

Bears Have the Initiative

With the past two weekly candles closing in red, sellers have full control over the price action right now. This makes the outlook bearish and may open the way for XRP to fall all the way to $1. This is the most important support level on the chart.

Buyers could return around $1.2, but it is too early to say if they will manage to reverse the downtrend there since any weakness could encourage sellers to increase their pressure.

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MACD Wants to Reverse

The MACD is already bullish on the daily timeframe and is signaling a potential reversal on higher timeframes, such as the 3-day view. The histogram is making higher lows and appears ready to move to the positive side.

If the 3-day MACD crosses bullish, buyers will have a clear opening to regain control of the price and begin a relief rally. That will be confirmed if they manage to turn $1.4 into a key support later on.

Elon Musk’s new payment app X Money has rolled out limited external beta testing this week, with early screenshots showing that users will be eligible for cashback and yield on deposits.

One of the beta testers was Hollywood actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series.

Several screenshots shared by Shatner show that X Money users will be able to earn cashback on certain card purchases and earn 6% annual percentage yield on deposits. 

Another screenshot shows that deposits are held by Cross River Bank, a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and are insured up to $250,000 per person.

X Money is part of Musk’s “everything app” vision

On Feb. 11, Musk said X Money would go to external beta before launching to X users worldwide. It had been in closed beta testing since at least May 2025.

The integration of crypto payments into X Money remains a mystery, however.

X Money is part of Musk’s broader vision to make X an everything app, from payments and private messaging to AI chatbot services through Grok, creator content, identity and more.

“This is intended to be the place where all money is. The central source of all monetary transactions,” Musk said in February, calling it a “game changer.”

X, Shatner to expand beta testing 

Shatner has since used the $42 Musk sent him to raise money for charity. With the permission of X, Shatner auctioned out 42 X Money beta invites for $1,000 each. 

Each of the 42 winning bidders would receive a $25 welcome gift card from X and also $1, initially sent to Shatner by Musk. 

After the first auction, Shatner and X opened up a second round of invites, auctioning out another 166 beta invites, also for $1,000.

To be eligible, users must be US residents over 18 and maintain an active X account in “good standing.”

Those who register will be able to receive a metal X Money debit card with their username from X’s partner, Visa, Shatner noted.

No sign of crypto

Musk’s appreciation for Dogecoin (DOGE) has sparked speculation in the crypto community that the memecoin could be part of X’s future, but nothing concrete has come of it, let alone any integration into X Money.

Related: Kraken wins Kansas City Fed approval for limited master account access

X Money marks a return to the payment space for Musk, having founded X.com in the late 1990s before it merged to become PayPal.

Over the last few years, X has secured money transmitter licenses in over 40 US states and registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to make peer-to-peer payments possible on the platform.

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