Circle stock price is in a strong bull run this month, reaching its highest level since November last year, and this trend may continue as the market capitalization of the USDC stablecoin nears an $80 billion milestone.

CRCL stock jumped to $122.55, up by 147% from its lowest point this year, with its market capitalization jumping to over $30 billion.

There are signs that Circle’s business is thriving as demand for its stablecoin jumps. The supply of all USD Coin (USDC) tokens has jumped to over $79.8 billion, a $10 billion increase from the lowest point last month.  

More data shows that USDC has become the most used stablecoin in the industry. Its volume jumped to nearly $6 trillion in the last 30 days, much higher than USDT’s $1.1 trillion.

Soaring USDC supply is important for Circle because of its business model. It makes most of its revenue by investing its USDC holdings into short-term government bonds, which are now yielding about 3.5%. 

Government bond yields will likely remain elevated for a while as the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates several times this year because of the ongoing Iran war. This war will push inflation much higher than where they are today as energy and transport prices soar.

The most recent numbers showed that Circle’s business continued thriving in the last quarter of last year, with its revenue rising by 77% to $770 million and its EBITDA moving to $167 million.

In addition to this, Circle Payment Network is seeing more user adoption as it has gained 55 partners, and more are coming up. This solution has the ability to disrupt the Swift Network, which moves trillions of dollars annually. It leverages the USDC stablecoin to save money and ensure instant payouts.

Circle stock price prediction: Technical analysis 

The daily chart shows that the CRCL stock price has rebounded this month. It has already jumped above the 23.6%Fibonacci Retracement level, which is drawn by connecting its highest and lowest levels on record.

The stock has jumped above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average, while the Supertrend indicator has turned green. The Average Directional Index has moved to 40, a sign that the upward momentum is accelerating.

Therefore, the stock will likely continue rising as bulls target the 50% Fibonacci Retracement level at $174, which is about 45% above the current level.

Charles Hoskinson speaks about the 2026 funding agenda and how the Cardano ecosystem should evolve going forward.

In a recently released hour-long video, Charles Hoskinson provided considerable insights into how funding for Cardano’s ecosystem will function in 2026. He also pointed out a few pressure points and how the team plans to tackle them.

There’s nothing here that, with the money that we have, Cardano can’t fix. – Said Hoskinson, while outlining critical flaws in existing models.

The Existing Pillars in Cardano’s Funding Focus

Starting off, Hoskinson said that the ecosystem funding model is generally broken down into three layers: infrastructure, utility, and experience. He outlined that historically, Cardano’s funding has been overrepresented within the infrastructure module and underrepresented within the utility and experience modules.

Infrastructure includes nodes like Ouroboros Leios, Plutus, and Aiken, while utility is what users can do with that infrastructure. This includes building decentralized applications within the broader DeFi ecosystem. Experience, on the other hand, is how users interact with the entire system – through wallets, account abstraction, and on/off ramps.

Hoskinson pointed out that the cost to run and build a node team is about $1 to $5 million per year, requiring between 10 and 40 full-time engineers. He said that the recommended infrastructure to fund includes three already mature node projects – Haskell, Rust, and Go, unified by Project Bluepring plus Hydra, and languages such as Aiken and Plutus.

Funding Utility and Strategic Goals in 2026

Acknowledging that the current state of the Cardano ecosystem is unfavorable (low MAU, TVL, and transaction volume), Hoskinson proposes funding the Utility layer. But this comes with certain conditions, including oversight, OPEX reduction, salary cuts, and alignment with strategic goals.

The idea is to create a weighted index of project tokens, and for the treasury to purchase 10-30% of each project’s total supply in the index.

Strategic goals for the dApps included in the investment rounds should include Bitcoin DeFi, specifically by using the Pogan protocol, as well as upgrading to be hybrid dApps with Midnight for increased privacy.

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Moreover, a portion of the protocol revenue (example given with 10%) must be used to buy ADA and donate it back to the treasury. With that, these investments are expected to pay for themselves in one to three years as the treasury divests from the appreciating index.

The Experience Layer

Speaking about funding the Experience layer, Hoskinson said it needs funding to rebuild the ambassador and KOL layer, improve user onboarding, and support wallet providers.

He said that the ecosystem needs somewhere between 20 and 30 high-value hackathons each year to improve the developer experience.

Hoskinson pointed out that in order for the ecosystem to attract external capital, it must be willing to invest in itself. Moreover, he outlined that fragmented and competitive treasury proposals create a “race to the bottom,” while staying firm on the fact that the strategy should be unified.

Bitcoin is still trading within a broader bearish market structure, but the recent halt at the $60,000 area shows that buyers are still defending an important support base. Although the recovery has improved short-term conditions, BTC remains below major higher timeframe resistance, which keeps the broader outlook cautious for now.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart

On the daily chart, BTC continues to trade below both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages, keeping the primary trend tilted to the downside. The price also remains beneath the descending channel’s higher trendline that has capped the market for months, which means the latest bounce has not yet changed the broader structure.

The key support zone remains around $60,000, where BTC already reacted well after the sharp sell-off. On the upside, the first major resistance still sits around $75,000 to $80,000, which is now acting as a supply zone. As long as the price stays below that region, rallies are likely to be treated as corrective rebounds inside a larger downtrend.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart

On the 4-hour timeframe, Bitcoin is still moving inside a rising channel, showing that the recovery from the local bottom remains intact in the short term. The asset is now hovering around $69,000 after another push higher, while the lower boundary of the channel continues to provide structure for higher lows.

At the same time, bulls have not yet been able to break through the upper boundary of the formation, which comes in near the $73,000 to $75,000 area and overlaps with a broader resistance zone. The RSI has also recovered toward the upper half of its range, showing improving momentum, but not yet a breakout condition. That leaves the short-term picture constructive, but still dependent on a confirmed move above channel resistance.

Sentiment Analysis

From a sentiment perspective, funding rates have turned negative again after spending most of last year in positive territory. This suggests that derivatives traders have become more cautious and negative and that short positioning has started to increase, even while the price attempts to stabilize above the recent lows.

In practical terms, that kind of reset is not necessarily bearish by itself. In fact, cooling or slightly negative funding often reflects a healthier market backdrop than overcrowded long positioning, especially after a heavy correction. So sentiment currently points to a more balanced setup, where excessive bullish leverage has been washed out, but BTC still needs a clear breakout on the chart to turn that improving sentiment into a stronger bullish continuation.

BTC experienced minor initial volatility after the numbers went out.

The United States Labor Department released the highly anticipated Consumer Price Index numbers for February, the last such data before the upcoming FOMC meeting next week.

Interestingly, experts nailed the actual numbers, with a 0.3% increase for February and a 2.4% rise year-over-year.

The increase for the previous month was slightly higher than the number for January (0.2%). Core CPI, which excludes more volatile sectors like food and energy, rose 0.2%, also matching the forecasts. In contrast, January’s increase was slightly higher MoM (0.3%).

The single-largest component of the regular CPI, shelter, jumped by 0.2% monthly and 3% annually, while rent rose by 0.1%, which is the lowest monthly increase in over five years.

Given the matched expectations, experts now believe the US Federal Reserve will keep the key interest rates unchanged during its next FOMC meeting, scheduled for the following week.

Bitcoin’s price reacted with minor volatility immediately after the Labor Department published the data for February, going from $69,000 to $69,800, where it was stopped and pushed back to around $69,300 as of press time.

It appears that the inflation data does not impact its price moves as much as it used to, as global financial markets are focused on the ongoing war between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other.

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Regulators in the United States are signaling a pivot from fragmented supervision toward a more coordinated approach to oversee evolving markets. In a joint memorandum released this week, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it is a pivotal moment to regulate harmoniously as new technologies—especially crypto—reshape how markets function. The document emphasizes that “new trading models, digital infrastructure, and onchain, automated systems increasingly blur traditional jurisdictional lines,” creating a need for consistent, technology-neutral rules that can cover participants operating across platforms and asset classes. The joint effort aims to reduce duplication, close gaps, and accelerate the path to regulatory clarity.

Key takeaways

• The SEC and CFTC formalized a cooperative framework through a memorandum of understanding to coordinate oversight across crypto, digital assets, and related financial technology.
• The agencies commit to providing regulatory clarity and certainty grounded in technology-neutral regulations, alongside a shared data approach on issues of common regulatory interest.
• A “minimum effective dose” regulatory strategy will be pursued to foster innovation while safeguarding market integrity and competitiveness on a global stage.
• The memo references ongoing efforts to build a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets and lists existing initiatives such as a crypto-specific task force and an advisory committee to shepherd innovation.
• The document underscores the intent to reduce turf wars that have long tied up regulatory progress and pushed activity to other jurisdictions.

Tickers mentioned:

Market context: The move comes as the U.S. regulatory landscape weighs how to supervise a rapidly evolving crypto ecosystem amid questions about liquidity, risk management, and the integration of blockchain-based infrastructure with traditional markets. The coordination effort aligns with broader policy conversations about stabilizing the regulatory backdrop for platforms that span trading, clearing, data services, and pooled investment vehicles, while attempting to maintain U.S. competitiveness in a fast-changing global environment.

Sentiment: Neutral

Market context: The joint approach is positioned to influence how market participants operate across venues and asset classes, potentially shaping future product design and compliance pathways.

Price impact: Neutral. The memorandum outlines regulatory intent rather than immediate market actions, though clarity can influence investment planning and capital allocation over time.

Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. The framework’s emphasis on clarity and proportionate regulation may encourage cautious entry as participants await concrete guidance and implementing rules.

Market context: In the broader crypto environment, policymakers have signaled that a stable, predictable regulatory regime is conducive to attracting institutional participation while preserving safeguards against misuse and market abuses.

Why it matters

The memorandum marks a notable shift in how two principal U.S. regulators approach an industry that has long challenged traditional supervisory paradigms. By committing to a technology-neutral regulatory posture, the SEC and CFTC aim to shield investors and market participants from duplicative requirements while ensuring that new trading models—whether on centralized exchanges, cross-border platforms, or on-chain systems—operate within a coherent framework. The emphasis on harmonization is especially meaningful as market participants increasingly move assets and data across platforms, including trading venues, clearinghouses, data repositories, and other intermediaries that span both securities and derivatives landscapes.

The agencies are explicit about their intent to share information and data on issues of “common regulatory interest,” a move that could improve how authorities monitor systemic risk, detect fraud, and respond to emerging technologies such as smart-contracts and automated trading systems. In parallel, the memo signals a broader effort to craft a “fit-for-purpose regulatory framework for crypto assets,” signaling that policy makers recognize crypto-specific dynamics within the wider financial system. The move builds on prior steps, including the establishment of a crypto-focused task force and advisory bodies intended to keep pace with innovation while preserving market integrity. The tone of the document—emphasizing clarity, predictability, and collaboration—aims to reduce the jurisdictional friction that has historically complicated compliance and innovation alike.

As SEC chair Paul Atkins framed it, the legacy of misaligned rules and overlapping registrations created an environment where innovation sometimes sought refuge offshore or migrated to jurisdictions with clearer expectations. The quote underscores a long-running frustration: “For decades, regulatory turf wars, duplicative agency registrations, and different sets of regulations between the SEC and CFTC have stifled innovation and pushed market participants to other jurisdictions.” By acknowledging that friction and pledging a more coordinated approach, the agencies are signaling a potential rebound in U.S. competitiveness in the crypto arena while maintaining robust supervisory standards.

The scope of the plan extends beyond crypto alone. The memo notes that the new regulatory posture will touch a broad spectrum of market activity—from trading platforms to clearinghouses, data repositories, and even pooled investment vehicles and intermediaries that operate across securities and derivatives frameworks. In doing so, it aligns regulatory objectives with the realities of digital rails, on-chain settlement, and cross-asset trading that have increasingly blurred traditional borders. The effort also reflects ongoing efforts to ensure technology-driven innovation—across crypto and AI—remains embedded within U.S. policy while avoiding a blanket deregulation that could invite abuse. The intention is to foster a dynamic, globally competitive market environment with clear guardrails for participants at every level of the value chain.

Overall, the memorandum presents a practical, measured approach to reform. It acknowledges the importance of regulatory clarity and a transparent, consistent framework as prerequisites for sustained innovation, while preserving the safeguards that have been central to U.S. market integrity. The combined message from the SEC and CFTC is that the time is right to reduce fragmentation, adopt common standards where feasible, and accelerate the adoption of rules that reflect the realities of digital markets without stifling experimentation.

Source-linked remarks and the framing of this initiative underscore a broader policy conversation about how to balance innovation with investor protection. The collaboration signals a willingness to use data-driven insights to calibrate rules rather than relying on static templates that fail to account for rapid technological evolution. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve—with new protocols, asset classes, and onchain activity—the joint MOU could become a cornerstone of a more predictable regulatory environment for market participants and builders alike.

The memorandum notes that the agencies have already undertaken and supported various initiatives in pursuit of these goals, including a crypto-specific task force and an advisory committee designed to ensure that crypto, AI, and other emerging technologies continue to advance in the United States. This alignment of policy instruments with a forward-looking view on technology signals an intent to keep the U.S. at the cutting edge of global financial innovation while anchoring it with robust governance and risk controls. The path forward will likely involve further policy statements, guidelines, and practical implementation steps that translate the memo’s principles into day-to-day compliance and product development decisions for a wide range of market participants.

In sum, the MOU represents more than a symbolic gesture. It aims to convert long-standing aspirational goals—coherence, clarity, and competitive vitality—into a tangible regulatory posture that can accommodate a rapidly changing market landscape. By emphasizing minimum regulatory levers that deliver the desired outcomes, the agencies hope to avoid stifling innovation while ensuring that the rules stay fit for purpose as technology, markets, and participants continue to evolve.

What to watch next

• Publication of a detailed joint framework or guidance clarifying how crypto assets fit within the securities and commodities regimes.
• Updates to data-sharing protocols and information exchange between the SEC and CFTC, particularly around surveillance and enforcement coordination.
• Formation or expansion of the crypto-specific task force and advisory committees with specific governance and reporting milestones.
• Regulatory actions or policy statements that reflect the “minimum effective dose” approach and how it will be applied to new products and platforms.

Sources & verification

• Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, sec.gov/files/mou-sec-cftc-2026.pdf
• SEC/CFTC press release announcing the historic memorandum, sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026-26-sec-cftc-announce-historic-memorandum-understanding-between-agencies
• Cointelegraph piece on regulatory clarity for crypto industry and related policy discussions, https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-industry-us-clarity-act-community-banks-stablecoin-yields
• Cointelegraph article discussing CFTC chair and blockchain/prediction markets, https://cointelegraph.com/news/cftc-chair-backs-blockchain-prediction-markets-truth-machines
• Cointelegraph Magazine feature exploring Clarity Act risks and regulatory missteps in Europe, https://cointelegraph-magazine.com/clarity-act-micas-defi-mistake-lawyer-warns/

Coordinated oversight marks a new phase for U.S. crypto policy

In a joint memorandum that frames its purpose around the need for clearer, more harmonized rules, the two agencies describe a strategic shift toward cooperation that could redefine how digital assets and related technologies are supervised in the United States. The document reinforces a commitment to provide regulatory clarity that covers the entire stack—from on-chain trading and data infrastructure to off-chain venues and the regulated products that span securities and derivatives. The stated aim is to reduce duplication, close jurisdictional gaps, and foster a regulatory environment where innovation can flourish under predictable guardrails. While the tone is cautious, the emphasis on data-sharing and mutual recognition signals a move away from legacy rigidity toward a more integrated, responsive approach to a market that has grown increasingly cross-border and technologically sophisticated.

The public rationale centers on practical governance: align enforcement expectations, avoid conflicting registrations, and harmonize how market participants across platforms operate under one ecosystem of rules. The collaboration is presented as a necessary modernization to keep pace with rapid advances in digital infrastructure, automated trading, and onchain settlement that now link traditional financial activities with decentralized technologies. It is a step toward a more coherent U.S. policy stance, one that acknowledges the gravity of cross-cutting innovations while maintaining robust protections for investors and market integrity.

Crucially, the memo does not suggest deregulation. Instead, it emphasizes a calibrated approach—what the agencies describe as a “minimum effective dose” strategy—intended to achieve policy objectives with the least intrusive regime that still deters misuse and preserves market health. If implemented effectively, this framework could reduce the fragmentation that has historically hindered cross-venue activity and could accelerate product development, while ensuring that oversight remains fit for purpose in a fast-moving landscape.

The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England said that the institution remains open to reviewing the proposed rules for pound-denominated stablecoins.

The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sarah Breeden, has reportedly said she has been disappointed by the lack of constructive engagement on the bank’s proposed rules to regulate stablecoins pegged to the British pound.

She said that the institution has been “genuinely open” to changing its proposals.

Recall that the proposed regulatory regimen planned to ensure that sterling-denominated stablecoins remain safe and redeemable at face value. The rules also required issuers to be thoroughly supervised by the Bank of England if they were to be designated as systemic by the Treasury, and they must 100% back their coins with high-quality assets.

Some of the key rules include:

• Systemic issuers must hold at least 40% of the reserves as deposits at the Bank of England
• up to 60% in short-term UK government debt
• Coins have to be redeemable at par
• Issuers must maintain very resilient business models
• Stablecoins used predominently for trading have to remain regulated by the country’s FCA.

XRP appears to be consolidating before its next major move.

Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions: Analysis

Key support levels: $1

Key resistance levels: $1.4

XRP is Consolidating Around $1.4

Over the past few weeks, XPR has been moving flat around $1.4, currently acting as key resistance. This price consolidation around this level can be interpreted as bullish since sellers were unable to secure a lower low.

This price action is encouraging buyers to return, and the current weekly candle is green. If it closes the week like this, then the resistance will likely break and turn into a key support.

Downtrend Over?

With sellers unable to push the price lower, XRP has been moving sideways. This is a key signal that the market structure may be about to change. This makes a reversal possible in the future.

While buyers still appear shy here, they are slowly gaining momentum. This will likely be amplified as soon as the $1.4 resistance falls. Should they fail, then XRP has solid support at $1.2 and $1.

MACD Bullish Cross

The 3-day MACD crossed bullish, which is a major signal that momentum is turning bullish. If this is sustained in the coming week, then higher price levels appear inevitable.

A clean break above $1.4 will also open the way for XRP to test the $1.6 and $1.8 resistance levels next. Bears will be in serious trouble at that point because it opens the way for this cryptocurrency to retest $2.

Changpeng Zhao ranked above Bill Gates on the 2026 Forbes billionaires list, but he says the figures are wrong.

Forbes’ newly announced 2026 Billionaires list shows that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is now richer than tech mogul Bill Gates.

CZ came in 17th place in the magazine’s annual ranking of the richest people in the world, while Gates is placed not far from him at 19th.

CZ Outranks Gates in Forbes Billionaire List

Released annually, the Forbes Billionaires List provides a real-time snapshot of the wealth of the most prolific entrepreneurs, investors, heirs, and celebrities worldwide. According to Forbes’s website, as of March 11, 2026, the former Binance executive has a net worth of $111.1B, while Gates’ is listed as $105.7B.

The data also suggests that CZ’s wealth has been growing steadily over the past three years, thanks to his Binance-linked crypto holdings. But, on the other hand, the tech billionaire’s riches have remained relatively stable and are tied to his Microsoft shares and philanthropic commitments.

Zhao has since responded to the piece, outlining on social media that the information shared is inaccurate.

“Didn’t read the Forbes article, but if you just look at the little chart 👇, you know it’s wrong.”

In his X post, CZ questioned how the publication calculated the figures, pointing out that crypto prices had already fallen by more than 50% in 2026, yet his reported net worth had increased.

Zhao also believes that Forbes’ calculations are “way off.” He gave another example by comparing ByteDance’s $150 billion valuation to its former CEO’s $69 billion net worth. The Forbes official website notes that the 2026 ranking was based on calculations of stock prices and exchange rates as of March 1.

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The publication also explained that it looks at the different assets a billionaire is believed to control to come up with a gauge of their wealth, including stakes in public companies, private businesses, real estate, art collections, and other investments.

Forbes Breaks Down Its Wealth Estimates

In Zhao’s case, most of his assumed wealth is believed to originate from his ownership stake in Binance. Forbes’ data shows that he still owns roughly 90% of the exchange. This represents a huge share of his fortune if the company’s valuation is taken into account.

On top of that, he is also believed to hold a large amount of BNB tokens linked to the Binance ecosystem. CZ has shared in the past that his crypto portfolio contains about 98.5% in BNB and only 1.3% in BTC. Despite this, the exact amounts remain undisclosed.

Gates’ wealth, on the other hand, was calculated very differently. The outlet said that most of his fortune has historically been tied to his stake in Microsoft. Forbes, however, revealed that his ownership in the firm has dropped to less than 1% after years of donations and asset diversification.

The tech mogul has given more than $59 billion to the trust that funds the Gates Foundation over the past couple of years. According to Forbes, this has reduced his overall net worth, and as a result, his placement on their list has also dropped.

TLDR:

• Tokenized real-world assets grew 66% in 2026, rising from $14B to $23.6B in total on-chain market value.
  
• Tokenized funds lead the sector with $10.5B as treasury bills and bonds transition onto blockchain rails.
  
• Tokenized commodities reached $6.5B, with gold-backed assets driving global investor participation.
  
• Tokenized equities climbed near $4B as blockchain enables fractional ownership and continuous trading.

Tokenized real-world assets recorded strong growth in 2026 as blockchain infrastructure expanded across financial markets.

The sector’s on-chain market value rose from about $14 billion in January to roughly $23.6 billion, reflecting increased institutional participation and broader asset tokenization.

Institutional Funds Accelerate Tokenized Real-World Assets Growth

Tokenized real-world assets are expanding rapidly as traditional financial products move onto blockchain networks. Market data shows the sector increased by about 66% during 2026.

Tokenized funds represent the largest portion of this growth. The category currently holds roughly $10.5 billion in total on-chain value.

These funds include tokenized treasury bills, bonds, and money market instruments previously managed through conventional financial infrastructure. Their presence shows that institutional-grade assets are entering blockchain-based markets.

Investors are increasingly exploring these products due to faster settlement and transparent transaction records. Blockchain ledgers provide continuous verification of ownership and asset movements.

Traditional markets often rely on multi-day settlement processes and fixed trading schedules. Tokenized funds remove many of these constraints by enabling faster transfers and easier distribution.

Institutional participation also strengthens market credibility and attracts additional investors. Financial institutions continue testing tokenization strategies to expand digital asset offerings.

Market participants often discuss this transition across digital finance platforms. Infrastructure improvements are also supporting the rise of tokenized funds. 

Custody solutions, regulatory frameworks, and token issuance platforms have developed significantly. As these systems mature, tokenized real-world assets continue to integrate familiar financial instruments with blockchain infrastructure.

Commodities and Equities Expand Blockchain Market Access

Tokenized real-world assets also include commodities and equities that continue gaining traction. These asset classes broaden the tokenization ecosystem across financial markets.

Tokenized commodities currently represent about $6.5 billion of the sector. Gold-backed tokens account for a large portion of this value.

Gold remains widely recognized as a store of value across global markets. Tokenization allows investors to access exposure through blockchain-based digital tokens.

This structure enables fractional ownership of commodities that were historically difficult for smaller investors to access. Investors can hold smaller units of value linked to physical reserves.

Blockchain transfers also allow near-instant movement of commodity tokens between participants. These transactions occur without many traditional intermediaries.

Tokenized equities represent another growing segment, currently valued at nearly $4 billion. Companies can issue blockchain-based shares representing fractional ownership.

Unlike traditional stock exchanges, tokenized equities can trade continuously. Blockchain markets operate around the clock rather than within fixed trading hours.

Startups and small enterprises are also exploring tokenized fundraising models. These structures allow companies to issue tokenized equity or debt instruments.

Investors can participate through digital platforms that facilitate compliant token issuance and trading. Platforms such as InvestaX provide infrastructure for these processes.

Through tokenization, businesses gain access to broader investor pools while improving liquidity opportunities. Tokenized real-world assets, therefore, continue expanding across both institutional and emerging market participants.