The US, UK, and Canada have today launched a new joint initiative aimed at raising awareness of crypto fraud while simultaneously tackling crypto-related organized crime.

Known as “Operation Atlantic,” the initiative will see the US Secret Service (USSS), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and Canada’s Ontario Provincial Police contact victims, and potential victims, of crypto fraud and advise them on how to keep their crypto assets safe. 

A USSS spokesperson told Protos that the operation will last a week, and that the agencies are working alongside “private industry partners” to identify and contact victims of approval phishing.

They added, “Law enforcement personnel will then provide advice and instructions on how to secure their assets to prevent further losses. Additionally, teams will work to trace and seize stolen funds with the goal of victim restitution.”

Ripple’s new partner praised it for its infrastructure.

In a statement called “real-time cross-border payouts into the US and Canada,” i-payout, which is a global payments platform enabling businesses to deliver fast, compliant payouts to workers, merchants, and partners, said it has tapped Ripple Payments to enhance its platform.

The main goal of the collaboration is to “enable fast, transparent cross-border payouts” into the two North American markets, while “reducing settlement delays and minimizing working capital requirements for global platforms.”

Integrating Ripple Payments will allow i-payout to leverage “enterprise-grade digital asset infrastructure to accelerate settlement, improve payment transparency, and support high-volume cross-border payout flows.”

“The digital marketplace is important to the future, and Ripple is the right partner to take us there.” — Eddie Gonzalez, President, i-payout

Ripple Payments helps i-payout deliver real-time payouts into the U.S. & Canada, from days to seconds. 🌎

See how →… pic.twitter.com/WWNmJc9utQ

— Ripple (@Ripple) March 16, 2026

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The company was founded almost two decades ago, and it operates as an API-first payout platform. The statement reads that before tapping Ripple, cross-border payments into North America could take days to be completed, which ties up working capital and limits how quickly platforms could deliver funds to users.

Last week, the company behind the popular XRP token outlined plans to secure an Australian Financial Services License, which would allow it to expand its payments offering further in the country to financial institutions, fintech businesses, and enterprises.

Separately, Ripple also began a share buyback program to repurchase up to $750 million in shares from employees and investors. According to Bloomberg, this would put its valuation at a whopping $50 billion.

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Strategy and Bitmine — the two largest digital asset treasury companies by crypto holdings — disclosed fresh crypto acquisitions on Monday, continuing the aggressive accumulation that defined their activity last week.

Strategy acquired 22,337 BTC for approximately $1.57 billion at an average price of ~$70,194 per Bitcoin. The Michael Saylor-led firm now holds 761,068 BTC, acquired for a total of ~$57.61 billion at an average cost of about $75,696 per coin — meaning the entire treasury sits just 1.8% underwater at current prices, with BTC currently trading around $74,300.

The buy is Strategy’s largest this year so far, and 4,343 BTC larger than the previous purchase, disclosed last week, which had an average per coin price of $70,946, as The Defiant reported.

MSTR shares were trading around $146, up about 5% on the day so far, according to Yahoo Finance.

Also today, March 16, the CEO of Metaplanet, Simon Gerovich, added to that momentum, announcing a new capital raise for the Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm. Metaplanet raised $255 million from investors, and said an additional monetization of its equity could bring in another $276 million. The move gives the firm up to $531 million to invest in Bitcoin, toward Metaplanet’s goal of holding 210,000 BTC.

Per data from Bitcointreasuries, Metaplanet is currently the fourth-largest Bitcoin DAT, holding 35,102 BTC.

ETH Moves

Bitmine Immersion Technologies, the dominant Ethereum treasury company, also reported a fresh purchase this week. Bitmine announced today that its ETH holdings have reached 4,595,562 tokens, at an average price of $2,185 per token. The firm bought 60,999 ETH in the past week, per a press release. The latest purchase is only slightly larger than the previous week’s of 60,976 ETH, but both are notably above Bitmine’s average weekly buy of 45,000-50,000 ETH.

Bitmine now owns 3.81% of the total ETH supply, advancing toward its stated “alchemy of 5%” target. Chairman Tom Lee also noted that Bitmine acquired 5,000 ETH directly from the Ethereum Foundation to enable the EF to fund its operations without selling into the open market.

BMNR shares rallied 11% today, trading at $22.80, per Yahoo Finance. The spot price of ETH is up over 9% today to trade near $2,300.

The moves are part of a broader wave of institutional DAT activity. As The Defiant reported in August, DAT companies collectively held over $100 billion in digital assets at the time, led by publicly listed companies such as Strategy, Metaplanet, and SharpLink Gaming. The crypto treasury strategy for public firms moved from an experiment, led by Strategy, to a trend last year, as The Defiant reported.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

The crypto market news today is looking strong for Ethereum holders and anyone watching network activity. Recent data shows that Ethereum’s mainnet is seeing a comeback in daily active addresses, beating all layer 2 solutions combined for the first time in months, according to CoinDesk.

This shift is one of the most significant stories in crypto market news today because it proves the base layer still matters. Meanwhile, the real presale opportunity lies with Pepeto the God of Frogs, a mythology backed project positioned for massive returns because of its real meme economy infrastructure.

Ethereum’s mainnet is now processing more daily active addresses than all Layer 2 networks combined. The comeback shows that even with higher fees, users still value the security that only the base layer delivers.

High value transactions, DeFi protocols, and institutional capital are choosing mainnet. This puts Ethereum as a key holding heading into 2026, per Bloomberg.

Top market movers to position in for 2026

1. Pepeto the God of Frogs: The mythology that commands $7.99 million

If you are hunting for a mythology that transforms a presale into a movement, Pepeto the God of Frogs is building a kingdom on real infrastructure that has drawn $7.99 million from believers across the meme economy. The God of Frogs mythology solves the meme economy’s critical infrastructure problem by uniting swapping, bridging, and verification under one kingdom.

PepetoSwap delivers zero tax cross chain meme trading. Pepeto Bridge connects fragmented liquidity. Pepeto Exchange curates only verified tokens for the kingdom. All three products are close to being ready under the PEPE cofounder’s direction. SolidProof has verified every contract that anchors the kingdom. The PEPE cofounder who built $7 billion commands the build with his reputation staked alongside the believers.

Over $7.99 million has flowed into the presale, with the God of Frogs sitting at just $0.000000186 per token while over 4 billion tokens have been permanently burned. The mythology targets 269x at $0.00005 and 537x at $0.0001, and 200% APY staking compounds every position daily.

The mythology is not aesthetic decoration. It is the cultural force that transforms meme coin traders into loyal kingdom subjects who carry conviction through every market condition.

2. Ethereum

ETH trades at $2,283 on March 16 according to CoinMarketCap. Mainnet dominance returning is some of the most bullish crypto market news today for holders.

Smart contract activity and DeFi protocols are still building on mainnet because that is where the real security exists. Price projections for late 2026 call for ETH to push toward $2,600 to $3,000 if the bull cycle continues and institutions keep accumulating.

3. Hyperliquid

HYPE trades at $36 on March 16. The project has seen major activity on its network, including significant daily revenue and leading open interest figures. Bullish price targets sit in the $40 to $55 range by year end if market conditions stay strong.

Conclusion

The crypto market news today confirms that the strongest presale opportunities combine mythology, infrastructure, and founder credibility into something that commands conviction. The God of Frogs has spoken. The kingdom is being built on SolidProof verified contracts, three products approaching launch, and a mythology that commands loyalty no marketing budget can manufacture.

The gates will not remain open much longer. When exchange listings arrive and the God of Frogs enters the open market, the presale believers will rule the kingdom while everyone else watches from outside.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the biggest crypto market news today for traders?

Ethereum mainnet reclaiming activity dominance is major. But the real opportunity is Pepeto the God of Frogs with $7.99 million in presale capital, SolidProof verification, and three meme economy products approaching exchange listings.

Why is Pepeto the God of Frogs attracting so much capital?

The PEPE cofounder’s $7 billion track record, SolidProof verified contracts, and three infrastructure products create a mythology that commands conviction no marketing can replicate.

How does Pepeto compare to Ethereum for long term growth?

Ethereum provides stability but limited percentage upside from its massive market cap. Pepeto the God of Frogs at $0.000000186 with the PEPE cofounder offers return potential ETH cannot structurally deliver.

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.

Ethereum (ETH) is outpacing other large-cap crypto assets today, March 16, gaining over 9% in the past 24 hours. The price surge comes against a backdrop of large ETH buys, including from two early crypto investors, on-chain data shows.

ETH briefly touched $2,300 today and is currently trading around $2,280, up 9% on the day. Bitcoin (BTC) is up 2.8% today, while the remaining top-20 large-caps are mostly seeing gains between 2-6%. After ETH, Layer 1 Cardano (ADA) is up the most, gaining about 8% today, while total market cap surged 3.4%.

While today’s rally pushed ETH to its highest price in a month, the asset is still down about 30% from its mid-January levels, when ETH was trading over $3,300, and over 50% below its all-time high near $5,000, which it hit last August.

The move has been accompanied by a flurry of high-profile accumulation. Erik Voorhees, the founder of ShapeShift and one of Bitcoin and crypto’s earliest and most vocal advocates, today purchased nearly $50 million worth of ETH via two separate transactions at an average price of $2,098 per token, Lookonchain reported, citing data from Arkham. The on-chain analytics firm noted that this is Voorhees’ first ETH purchase in two years.

Separately, Arkham also today flagged that pseudonymous early Ethereum participant 0xbilly — who was an active voice in governance forums in Ethereum’s early days — purchased more than $17 million worth of ETH for about $2,270 per coin.

Corporate accumulation, at least from the largest ETH holders, is also continuing. Today, Tom Lee’s Bitmine announced its latest ETH purchase — slightly higher than last week’s and well above its weekly average — continuing to double down on its target of holding 5% of the Ethereum supply, as The Defiant reported.

Meanwhile, 5,000 ETH of Bitmine’s latest buy (worth over $10 million) was purchased from the Ethereum Foundation itself in an over-the-counter sale over the weekend.

The surge comes at a moment of renewed discussion and interest in Ethereum’s roadmap. The Ethereum Foundation recently outlined its 2026 protocol priorities, with a focus on scalability, user experience, and security ahead of the anticipated Glamsterdam upgrade. More recently, on Friday, the Foundation published the EF Mandate, a part manifesto, part guide for the ecosystem and the EF that has sparked renewed debate.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

Digital asset wealth management platform Abra is heading to the public markets. Abra Financial Holdings announced today it has entered into a definitive business combination agreement with New Providence Acquisition Corp. III (Nasdaq: NPACU). The combined company is expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker “ABRX.”

Founded in 2014, Abra offers institutions and high-net-worth clients a suite of crypto-native services, including segregated custody, trading, yield strategies, collateralized lending, and advisory, through its SEC-registered investment advisor.It recently launched USDAF, a yield-bearing Solana-native synthetic dollar, extending its reach into decentralized finance (DeFi).

The deal values Abra at $750 million pre-money, with existing backers — including Blockchain Capital and Pantera Capital — rolling 100% of their interests into the combined entity. The transaction could deliver up to $300 million in cash held in trust, subject to redemptions. Cantor Fitzgerald is acting as financial and capital markets advisor to Abra.

Abra previously faced some regulatory headwinds. The SEC filed charges against Abra’s parent entity, Plutus Lending, for failing to register its Abra Earn lending product and for operating as an unregistered investment company. The case was ultimately settled in August 2024, with Abra consenting to an injunction and agreeing to pay civil penalties without admitting or denying the allegations.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

Bithumb, one of South Korea’s leading crypto exchanges, has been fined by the country’s anti–money laundering and counter-terrorism financing agency.

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has slapped a 36.8 billion won ($24.6 million) fine and ordered a six-month partial suspension after finding millions of violations of the country’s anti-money laundering rules.

The sanctions stem from violations of the Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information, the Financial Services Commission said, according to local media.

According to the FIU, Bithumb committed about 6.65 million violations. Around 3.55 million involved failures to carry out required customer identity verification, while 3.04 million were related to cases where the exchange failed to properly block transactions that should have been blocked.

The suspension targets services for newly registered users. Existing customers will still be able to trade and move funds on the platform, according to initial reports on these sanctions.

Regulators also issued personnel penalties. Bithumb’s chief executive received a reprimand warning, while the exchange’s reporting officer was suspended for six months.

The violations surfaced during on-site inspections of South Korea’s five largest crypto exchanges, Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit and Gopax, conducted between 2024 and 2025.

The case comes as South Korean regulators tighten oversight of the crypto market. Last year, the FIU handed Dunamu, the operator of the country’s largest exchange, Upbit, a three-month partial suspension and a 35.2 billion won fine for compliance gaps. Korbit, a rival platform, faced a smaller penalty of 2.73 billion won, along with institutional warnings.

Bithumb, founded in 2014, ranks among the largest exchanges in South Korea by trading volume, according to CoinGecko data. The partial suspension comes just a month after Bithumb mistakenly distributed billions of dollars worth of bitcoin to users.

CoinDesk has reached out to Bithumb for comment, but hasn’t heard back at the time of writing.

Key Takeaways

• PayPay (PAYP) set its IPO price at $16 per ADS on March 11, coming in under the anticipated $17–$20 range, generating approximately $880 million in proceeds
• The stock launched on Nasdaq March 12 with an opening price roughly 19% higher than the offering price, establishing a company valuation near $12.7 billion
• PAYP closed Friday March 13 at $21.14, representing a 16.41% gain and pushing market capitalization toward $14.1 billion
• Macquarie launched coverage with an Outperform recommendation and $22.90 target, highlighting PayPay’s commanding 65% QR code market position and 72 million user base
• ARK Invest reportedly purchased PAYP shares during the initial surge, while CEO Ichiro Nakayama mentioned potential for Tokyo Stock Exchange dual-listing

PayPay Corporation launched a successful Nasdaq debut last week, trading significantly above its initial public offering price and attracting early analyst attention within its first few trading days. The Japanese mobile payment platform, backed by SoftBank, has officially joined the public markets, capturing considerable Wall Street interest.

PayPay Corporation American Depository Shares, PAYP

The company established its IPO pricing at $16 per ADS on March 11 — a figure that fell short of the marketed $17 to $20 range. This cautious pricing strategy reflected broader market uncertainty stemming from international geopolitical developments. The offering generated approximately $880 million through the sale of roughly 55 million ADSs. Lead underwriters included Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Mizuho, and Morgan Stanley.

When trading commenced on March 12, PAYP launched approximately 19% above its offering price. The momentum continued building throughout the session.

By the closing bell on Friday March 13, PAYP settled at $21.14 — representing a $2.98 increase, or 16.41% daily gain. Trading volume exceeded 14 million ADSs during the session. The stock reached an intraday peak of $21.98 while touching a low of $19.81.

This Friday closing price elevated PayPay’s market capitalization to approximately $14.1 billion, rising from the roughly $12.7 billion valuation established at the IPO opening. Extended-hours trading showed modest retreat to around $20.80.

The public offering represents the most significant U.S. IPO from a Japanese enterprise in ten years. It additionally marks SoftBank’s first substantial U.S. public market debut of a majority-controlled portfolio investment since Arm’s 2023 listing.

Macquarie Launches Coverage with Bullish Stance

On March 16, Macquarie began coverage of PAYP with an Outperform designation and established a $22.90 price objective.

The investment firm highlighted PayPay’s commanding presence in Japan’s QR code payment ecosystem — controlling approximately 65% market share and serving roughly 72 million users, equivalent to about three-quarters of Japan’s smartphone-equipped population. QR code transactions account for one in five cashless payments across Japan.

Macquarie observed that PayPay is evolving beyond a simple payment wallet into a comprehensive digital financial services platform encompassing money transfers, savings products, lending solutions, and investment services. The platform currently serves around 16 million card holders, maintains 9.7 million bank accounts, and manages 1.54 million securities accounts.

Japan’s cashless payment adoption reached 42.8% in 2024. Government objectives target 65% penetration by 2030, while QR code payment adoption has expanded at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 75% from 2019 through 2024.

Macquarie projects PayPay’s revenue will achieve ¥456.5 billion in the fiscal year concluding March 2027, reflecting 21.6% year-over-year growth, while operating profit is expected to surge 73.6% to ¥135.1 billion.

Future Outlook for PAYP

CEO Ichiro Nakayama ceremonially opened Nasdaq trading on debut day. Subsequently, he has expressed receptiveness to potentially pursuing a dual listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

ARK Invest was documented as having acquired PAYP shares during the early post-listing momentum — demonstrating institutional appetite for the stock.

PayPay is currently executing the integration of Line Pay operations, with complete merger completion scheduled for late March 2026.

For the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2025, PayPay’s payment division gross merchandise volume surpassed ¥15 trillion.

The US Secret Service, UK National Crime Agency, and Canadian authorities have partnered to disrupt fraudulent schemes related to crypto, raise awareness of scams, and recover stolen funds.

In a Monday notice, law enforcement agencies from the three countries — including Canada’s Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Securities Commission — said that they had launched “Operation Atlantic,” focusing on identifying people at risk of losing or those who had already lost crypto through “approval phishing” schemes.

“Approval phishing and investment scams cost victims millions in financial loss each year,” said Brent Daniels, deputy assistant director for the US Secret Service’s Office of Field Operations. The agencies said they hope to identify and disrupt these scams in near real-time.

According to blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis, approval phishing scams involve “the scammer trick[ing] the user into signing a malicious blockchain transaction that gives the scammer’s address approval to spend specific tokens inside the victim’s wallet, allowing the scammer to then drain the victim’s address of those tokens at will.”

According to the Ontario Securities Commission, Operation Atlantic built upon the commission’s Project Atlas. The operation was launched in 2024 by the Ontario Provincial Police with the US Secret Service and targeted crypto fraud networks. 

The initiative will also work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the City of London Police, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Related: SEC drops case against BitClout founder with prejudice

Are different phishing scams on the rise?

Phishing scams usually involve different methods, seemingly from legitimate sources, that trick users into giving fraudsters access to their crypto wallets. According to crypto intelligence platform Nominis’ monthly report, phishing attacks increased sharply in February, but the amount stolen in crypto-related scams and exploits overall fell to $49 million from $385 million in January.

Chainalysis launched Operation Spincaster in 2024, targeting “approval phishing” scams, which it reported had resulted in $2.7 billion in crypto stolen between May 2021 and July 2024.

Magazine: All 21 million Bitcoin is at risk from quantum computers