Crypto World
Stablecoin payments go ‘invisible’ in Southeast Asia as crypto card business surges
When a tourist from Bangkok taps to pay in Singapore using their Thai e-wallet, few stop to consider what powers that transaction.
But for Singapore-based StraitsX, the company behind the stablecoin infrastructure running in the background, that seamless experience is exactly the point.
Between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the same period in 2025, StraitsX saw its card transaction volume surge by 40 times, the company’s co-founder and CEO Tianwei Liu told CoinDesk.
The number of cards issued grew even faster, increasing 83-fold. That data points to one of the fastest-growing stablecoin card programs in Southeast Asia.
Those multiples, while striking, come with context. One of StratisX’s major crypto card partnerships, with RedotPay, only soft-launched in late 2024, suggesting Q4 of that year represents relatively low baseline volumes.
Across the broader crypto card industry, Artemis Analytics estimates global monthly volumes grew from roughly $100 million in early 2023 to over $1.5 billion by late 2025, a 106% compound annual growth rate, suggesting StraitsX is riding a rising tide rather than just outperforming a static market.
Dune Analytics data shows total crypto card spending tracked onchain grew 420% in 2025, from roughly $23 million in January to $120 million by December, with Visa capturing over 90% of onchain card volume. Visa’s stablecoin-linked card spend alone reached a $3.5 billion annualized run rate by Q4 2025, a 460% year-over-year increase.
Notably, RedotPay, one of StraitsX’s BIN sponsorship partners, processed over $2.95 billion in card volume in 2025, more than four times the combined volume of its 13 closest competitors, according to available data. That positions StraitsX’s infrastructure at the centre of the category’s dominant player.
The question is whether these early-stage growth rates hold as the card base matures and the novelty of stablecoin-backed spending gives way to competition on features, rewards, and cost.
The company’s core offering sits in the background. Rather than building a consumer-facing app, StraitsX provides the infrastructure for others to build on. It acts as a Visa BIN sponsor, enabling partners like RedotPay and UPay to issue cards.
When customers tap or scan to pay with these, stablecoins settle the transaction in real time, with local currency arriving instantly on the other side.
“No user cares about whether a payment runs on stablecoins or fiat; they only care if the payment goes through,” Liu said.
That attitude frames the company’s strategy: make the stablecoin layer invisible. StraitsX processes nearly $30 billion in cumulative stablecoin transactions, but its ambition goes beyond raw volume. Liu wants stablecoins to act like fiber-optic cables: present everywhere but unnoticed.
By the end of March, StraitsX expects to launch its two stablecoins, XSGD and XUSD, on the Solana blockchain. That deployment, in partnership with the Solana Foundation, marks the first time both tokens will live natively on a high-speed blockchain.
The tokens will support the x402 standard, which allows for machine-to-machine micropayments.
“When fees drop close to zero, you can suddenly move very small amounts of money, very frequently,” Liu said. “Payments start to look more like internet data flows, continuous, low cost, and embedded directly into applications.”
XSGD already leads the non-USD stablecoin market in Southeast Asia, with more than 70% share. It maintains a 1:1 peg with the Singapore dollar, backed by monthly audits. That peg gained further relevance early in the year, when the Singapore dollar hit an 11-year high against the U.S. dollar.
Looking beyond Singapore
Now, StraitsX is looking beyond Singapore. A cross-border corridor with Thailand is set to go live under Project BLOOM, a regulatory initiative from Singapore’s central bank.
The system will allow Thai travelers to scan QR codes in Singapore using KBank’s Q Wallet and pay merchants in their local currency. The transaction will convert between Thailand’s Q-money and StraitsX’s XSGD in the background, another stablecoin-powered payment hiding in plain sight.
Liu said the model follows a familiar playbook. GrabPay and Alipay+ integrations, for instance, required no user retraining. Still, the firm has seen a 400% increase in merchant transaction volume and a sixfold jump in the number of unique users transacting with those merchants month-over-month.
Similar rollouts are planned in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Like driving an electric car
Visa, one of StraitsX’s major partners, sees the shift as a natural evolution in payments. Adeline Kim, Visa’s Singapore and Brunei country manager, told CoinDesk stablecoin-backed cards don’t change the customer experience.
The cards work the same as traditional ones, complete with chargeback protections and fiat settlements.
“It’s like driving an electric car versus a car that runs on fuel on the same highway,” Kim said. “The vehicle is different, but the road signs, toll booths, and rules don’t change.”
The growth fits a pattern visible across the industry. Full-stack crypto card issuers like Rain and Reap, which hold direct Visa principal membership and manage their own settlement, have scaled rapidly. Rain to over $3 billion annualized and Reap to over $6 billion.
Remittances are a key use case. The World Bank estimates sending $200 internationally still costs an average of 6.49%. With stablecoins, those fees drop dramatically.
Looking ahead, Kim sees stablecoin cards evolving beyond utility. She expects future offerings to include real-time spending insights, cross-border perks and reward systems tailored to user behavior.
For Liu, success means disappearing. The best stablecoin infrastructure, he said, is one people don’t see. The transaction just works.
Crypto World
Bitcoin’s Six-Month Losing Streak: What On-Chain Data Says About the Market’s Next Move
TLDR:
- Bitcoin may close March 2026 negative, marking six straight months of consecutive losses for the first time in years.
- SOPR data shows mild loss realization near the 1.0 level, but lacks the prolonged capitulation seen in the 2018 bear cycle.
- Declining exchange reserves suggest supply is being held off markets, yet weak ETF flows point to absent buyer demand.
- Analysts say recovering ETF inflows, a positive Coinbase Premium, and rising on-chain activity could spark a sharp BTC rebound.
Bitcoin is approaching a rare milestone that has historically preceded major market shifts. If March 2026 closes negative, it would mark six straight months of decline.
This pattern has appeared only a few times across crypto market history. Each instance was tied to a distinct structural event.
Analysts XWIN Research Japan studied this trend using CryptoQuant on-chain data. Their findings indicate the current cycle differs from past downturns in one key way.
Historical Comparisons Reveal Context for Bitcoin’s Extended Decline
Bitcoin’s 2014 four-month decline followed the collapse of the Mt. Gox exchange. That event damaged market trust and caused SOPR to become deeply unstable.
The data reflected a breakdown in market function itself, not a standard correction. It was a structural failure rooted in a single catastrophic exchange collapse.
The six-month decline from August 2018 to January 2019 followed the ICO bubble burst. SOPR stayed below 1 for a prolonged period, indicating widespread capitulation and forced selling.
The market underwent a full reset throughout that phase. A trend reversal followed as buying pressure eventually returned in early 2019.
Today’s SOPR reads near or slightly below 1, but sustained sub-1 behavior has not emerged. Loss realization is occurring, yet full capitulation has not taken place.
This separates the current phase from those earlier structural collapses. The market has not reached the same depth of distress seen in 2018.
In a post on Cryptoquant, analyst XWIN Research Japan noted that prior declines were driven by persistent selling pressure. The current downturn, however, is shaped by absent demand rather than forced exits.
That distinction changes how analysts should interpret this period. The framing of weakness matters when assessing potential recovery paths.
Demand, Absence, and On-Chain Signals Shape the Current Outlook
Exchange reserves are declining, which suggests supply is being held rather than actively sold. Yet weak Coinbase Premium data points to insufficient institutional buying interest in the market.
ETF flows have remained unstable, limiting new capital entry into the space. Together, these readings describe a market in pause rather than in freefall.
XWIN Research Japan noted that institutional infrastructure remains intact despite prolonged price weakness. Capital, however, has not returned in meaningful volume to the market.
Analysts describe this as a structural pause rather than a market breakdown. The market holds its footing but lacks the demand to move higher.
A sustained recovery would require ETF inflows to rebound and Coinbase Premium to turn positive. Rising on-chain activity would also need to accompany those developments.
If these signals align, analysts anticipate a sharp Bitcoin price recovery could follow. The timing of that convergence remains the central question for market participants.
Bitcoin now sits between structural resilience and cyclical weakness. Without full capitulation, further price consolidation is possible in the near term.
However, conditions for a reversal exist if demand returns. Monitoring on-chain data closely will be essential to tracking when the next directional move begins.
Crypto World
Ethereum Teams Propose ‘Economic Zone’ to Unify Layer-2 Ecosystems
A new collaborative framework proposed by developers from Gnosis and Zisk, with support from the Ethereum Foundation, aims to knit Ethereum’s sprawling layer-2 ecosystem into a more cohesive execution fabric. The initiative, dubbed the Ethereum Economic Zone (EEZ), envisions cross-rollup interactions that would allow smart contracts on different rollups to run in lockstep with one another and settle back to Ethereum in a single transaction—without the need for traditional bridges.
Presented in an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the EEZ would mitigate a central tension in Ethereum’s scaling approach: dozens of rollups have increased throughput, but liquidity, infrastructure, and user activity remain fragmented across separate networks. If realized, the framework could enable shared infrastructure across rollups and streamline settlement to Ethereum, reducing duplication and the burden of cross-chain transfers for developers and users alike.
The effort positions Ethereum researchers and a broader ecosystem behind a formal standard for interoperable rollups, with Gnosis and Zisk among the early contributors. The project also signals a broader push to move beyond isolated scaling layers toward a more unified execution layer architecture. Early participants include infrastructure providers and DeFi protocols exploring a common standard for interoperable rollups.
Key takeaways
- EEZ would allow cross-rollup smart-contract execution to occur synchronously, bypassing bridges and settlement bottlenecks.
- The proposal targets liquidity fragmentation by enabling shared infrastructure and cohesive interaction among rollups and Ethereum mainnet.
- The EEZ Alliance has been formed to coordinate standards and push adoption as Ethereum’s scaling landscape evolves.
- Gnosis and Zisk anchor the initiative, with involvement from Ethereum researchers and other industry actors; Jordi Baylina (Zisk) cites zero-knowledge proving expertise as a key component.
- Technical details and performance benchmarks are slated for release in the coming weeks as the framework moves from concept to design and potential deployment.
Interoperability in the spotlight as scaling debate intensifies
The EEZ proposal arrives amid a long-running discussion within the Ethereum community about the trade-offs of a rollup-centric scaling path. Rollups have pushed throughput higher than base Ethereum, but the field has grown into a tapestry of separate ecosystems, each with its own liquidity and user base. Data from L2BEAT indicates there are more than 20 active layer-2 networks with collectively close to $40 billion in total value locked, distributed across networks like Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism. The outcome has been a parallelized execution environment rather than a single, consolidated scaling layer.
Industry voices have recently highlighted concerns about the architecture of some L2s. Vitalik Buterin suggested in a February X post that the original vision for L2s and their role in Ethereum may require a rethink, pointing to potential weak points in centralized sequencers and trusted bridges. The ensuing discussion among L2 builders underscored a spectrum of views on whether scaling alone remains the priority or if interoperability and unified settlement should take a more central role in the network’s evolution.
Karl Floersch, co-founder of Optimism, has acknowledged the need for L2s to evolve beyond simple scaling mechanics, citing ongoing technical hurdles. Steven Goldfeder, co-founder of Offchain Labs (the team behind Arbitrum), emphasized that scaling remains a core function as rollups continue to handle higher transaction throughput than Ethereum itself. The EEZ concept could be seen as a response to these ongoing debates, offering a pathway to reduce cross-network friction while preserving the performance advantages of rollups.
What changes with EEZ—and what remains uncertain
If the EEZ framework progresses, it would potentially enable applications to share infrastructure across multiple rollups and settle their state to Ethereum in a coordinated fashion. This would reduce duplication of validators, data availability resources, and bridging overhead, while preserving rollups’ high throughput. The defining feature would be a synchronized execution model that subscribes to a common standard, enabling more seamless inter-rollup communication and a more unified user experience.
Several questions remain as the project moves from concept to design. How would a cross-rollup execution model handle security guarantees across diverse rollups with different trust assumptions? What governance and standardization processes would be needed to ensure broad acceptance across the ecosystem? And crucially, what would adoption look like in practice—how quickly would developers and users pivot to a shared framework, and what incentives would drive this transition?
Early work emphasizes collaboration among major ecosystem players, with the EEZ Alliance positioned to coordinate development, testing, and eventual rollout. While concrete technical specifications are not yet public, the timeline anticipates forthcoming detail on implementation strategies, performance benchmarks, and compatibility assurances across major rollups.
What to watch next
Developers expect a more detailed technical outline in the weeks ahead, accompanied by benchmarks illustrating how cross-rollup synchronization would perform under realistic workloads. The EEZ Alliance’s progress will also be a key indicator of whether the broader ecosystem is ready to adopt a shared standard that could reduce cross-network friction while maintaining or enhancing security, reliability, and user experience.
Investors and builders should monitor how the EEZ concept interacts with ongoing efforts to modularize Ethereum’s scaling stack, including cross-layer collaboration, data availability solutions, and zk-based tooling. The question of whether a unified cross-rollup framework can gain rapid traction remains open, but the proposal clearly signals a deliberate shift toward interoperability as a central pillar of Ethereum’s long-term scaling strategy.
As Ethereum’s scaling architecture continues to evolve, the next few quarters could reveal whether the EEZ Alliance becomes a conventional standard, or whether the path toward a truly cohesive rollup economy will require alternative approaches. For now, the industry is watching a select group of core contributors test a bold idea: how to turn multiple high-throughput networks into a single, more efficient ecosystem without surrendering the strengths that have driven their rapid growth.
Readers should stay tuned for technical disclosures and real-world experimentation that would demonstrate the practicality of cross-rollup synchronization and the feasibility of shared infrastructure across rollups—an outcome that could reshape how developers build and users interact with Ethereum’s scaling frontier.
Crypto World
How a $100 Oil Shock Is Putting Bitcoin’s Digital Gold Status to the Test
TLDR:
- Brent crude consolidating at $100.66 places 30% of global oil supply under critical logistical risk at the Strait of Hormuz.
- Institutions moved $11.574 billion in Bitcoin through OTC desks, locking supply as a strategic reserve amid cost-push inflation fears.
- Bitcoin’s $65K–$70K structural support zone holds a 65% survival probability, contingent on no global credit market capitulation.
- A systemic stress scenario tied to April 6th liquidity risk could push Bitcoin toward a corrective low of $54,000 per coin.
The ghost of 1973 is back, and oil at $100 is forcing a reckoning across global markets. Brent crude has consolidated at $100.66 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz faces active geopolitical tension.
Roughly 30% of the world’s oil supply now sits under critical logistical risk. Bitcoin, priced at $66,339.88 after a 3.45% weekly decline, is caught in the crossfire.
On-chain data tracked by GugaOnChain reveals $12.3351 billion in institutional movement reshaping how the market absorbs this pressure.
Oil’s 1973 Echo Puts Bitcoin’s Neutral Infrastructure Under the Spotlight
The 1973 oil crisis repriced nearly every asset class as supply disruptions spread across global economies. Today’s energy shock carries a structurally similar fingerprint, with physical logistics facing blockade-level risk at a critical shipping corridor. Unlike oil, Bitcoin moves without ships, pipelines, or territorial dependencies.
GugaOnChain described Bitcoin as a liquidity rail that operates outside physical blockades entirely. This framing positions the asset differently from commodities that rely on geographic infrastructure to settle and clear. When oil freezes at a chokepoint, Bitcoin settlement continues at the same pace.
Source: Crptoquant
That distinction becomes relevant as cost-push inflation pressures mount from rising energy prices. Institutions appear to be responding to this dynamic through heavy over-the-counter accumulation.
Of the $12.3351 billion tracked on-chain, 93.83%—approximately $11.574 billion—flowed through OTC desks away from public exchanges.
This volume signals a deliberate strategy to lock Bitcoin as a strategic reserve during the current macro disruption. Smart money is absorbing mobile supply during the panic rather than exiting.
The 1973 parallel holds here too — those who held hard assets through the energy crisis largely preserved purchasing power.
Bitcoin’s $65K–$70K Support Zone Faces a Systemic Stress Test
The $65,000–$70,000 range now serves as a structural support zone anchored by Bitcoin’s realized price. GugaOnChain estimates a 65% probability that this zone holds through the current volatility cycle. That probability, however, depends on global credit markets avoiding a full capitulation event.
The probability of a broader liquidity crunch in traditional markets currently sits between 45% and 50%. Such an event would trigger margin calls across leveraged positions, forcing temporary liquidations even where demand remains fundamentally strong. The shallow exchange order book raises the risk of moves exceeding 8% to above 70% on any geopolitical trigger.
GugaOnChain flagged April 6th as a concentrated risk window, calling it a global liquidity solvency test. A systemic stress scenario during this period could drive a corrective move toward $54,000. Derivative hedges are recommended as active protection around this specific date for exposed portfolios.
The overall asymmetry remains neutral-to-positive given the supply lock-up through OTC channels. Forced scarcity from institutional accumulation creates a structural floor even as downside scenarios remain on the table.
Bitcoin’s trial by fire, much like 1973, will ultimately determine whether the asset earns its place as a credible reserve in an energy-disrupted world.
Crypto World
Ethereum Flippening Odds Rise as Bitcoin Stays Out
Ethereum’s effort to reclaim the market’s No. 2 spot is facing a different obstacle this year: a booming stablecoin economy. While Bitcoin remains the dominant benchmark, the faster-growing sector of dollar-denominated crypto assets is reshaping how capital flows through the space, with USDT leading the charge and pulling liquidity away from ETH at the margins.
Five-year data show a striking divergence in growth patterns. ETH’s market capitalization rose by about 11.75% over the past five years to roughly $240 billion, but USDT tallied a far larger ascent, expanding by approximately 622.5% to more than $184 billion in market cap. XRP and USD Coin have also outpaced ETH in growth over the same horizon. That dynamic helps explain traders’ evolving bets on whether ETH can hold or reclaim its No. 2 ranking in 2026. On Polymarket, more than 59% of wagers are currently predicting ETH will drop from the No. 2 position in 2026, up from around 17% at the start of the year, signaling a shift in sentiment as the stablecoin economy strengthens.
Key takeaways
- Stablecoins are reshaping market leadership: ETH’s five-year market-cap growth trails USDT, XRP, and USDC, signaling a broader reallocation of capital away from ETH toward dollar-pegged assets.
- USDT dominates the stablecoin landscape: the total stablecoin market sits near $310 billion, with Tether controlling about 58% of that share.
- Weak ETH demand from institutions: US spot Ethereum ETFs have seen assets under management fall about 65% year-to-date, dipping to roughly $11.76 billion in March from $31.86 billion in October last year.
- Market fragility and risk-off dynamics: macro headwinds—from tariffs to geopolitical tensions and shifting expectations for rate cuts—have amplified demand for liquidity and safety, benefiting stablecoins.
- Technical setup points to potential near-term downside: Ether is forming a bear-flag pattern, with a measured downside target around $1,250 if the breakdown persists into mid-2026.
Why stablecoins are pulling the rug from under ETH
ETH’s price dynamics have historically benefited when risk appetite was broad and capital flowed into sustained growth narratives around decentralized finance and smart-contract infrastructure. But the current macro environment has encouraged more conservative positioning and a preference for liquidity and capital preservation. Stablecoins—crypto dollars designed to maintain peg to the U.S. dollar—serve as a ready-made conduit for capital during risk-off phases. This dynamic helps explain why USDT’s market capitalization has surged while ETH’s growth has lagged behind some of its peers.
Market data show the broader stablecoin sector has grown to about $310 billion, a level that reflects deep liquidity and the willingness of traders and institutions to park cash in a familiar, compliant asset rather than chase the latest DeFi yield. With USDT accounting for the lion’s share of this market, investors gain access to rapid risk management, arbitrage opportunities, and flexibility in a choppy macro backdrop. In contrast, ETH’s value creation remains tethered to the crypto cycle and the willingness of market participants to take on price risk for longer-term network fundamentals.
These forces help explain why ETH’s market cap expansion has not kept pace with the sheer scale and velocity of stablecoins. For traders and builders, the implication is clear: even as Ethereum remains foundational to DeFi and smart contracts, it faces structural headwinds when overall risk sentiment cools and liquidity seeking behavior drives inflows into dollar-pegged assets.
Institutional demand for ETH cools as stablecoins flourish
The narrative around Ethereum ETFs has also shifted. Data tracked by Glassnode show that US spot Ethereum ETF balances have declined sharply, with assets under management sliding from about $31.86 billion in October last year to roughly $11.76 billion in March—a drop of around 65%. This trend underscores how institutional appetite for ETH, whether through spot structures or related products, has cooled in the face of competing liquidity instruments and a more cautious macro environment.
Industry observers point to a few contributing factors: hedging and liquidity preferences during a risk-off cycle, evolving regulatory expectations around ETF products, and a general rotation of capital toward assets with visible liquidity profiles in volatile markets. While Ethereum remains a core infrastructure asset for many users and developers, the near-term flow dynamics suggest that institutional catalysts for a sustained ETH price breakout may be harder to come by without broader risk-on momentum.
What to watch next: price structure and market sentiment
From a technical standpoint, Ether appears to be navigating a bear-flag formation on shorter timeframes. A breakdown below the structure’s lower trendline would, in this reading, increase the probability of a corrective move toward the low-$1,000s region. A commonly cited target sits near $1,250 by June, should the pattern play out as anticipated. Of course, chart-based forecasts carry uncertainty, and headlines—ranging from regulatory developments to macro policy shifts—can alter the trajectory quickly.
Beyond price, the evolving balance between ETH and stablecoins in market liquidity is a critical barometer. If risk appetite improves and demand for ETH returns, the relative performance gap could narrow as DeFi activity, NFT markets, and institutional participation regain steam. Conversely, further strength in the stablecoin market and continued preference for cash-like liquidity could keep ETH price gains muted even as the broader crypto ecosystem remains active in pockets of use and development.
Key signals to watch include: changes in stablecoin issuance and redemption trends, ETF inflows or outflows for ETH-related products, and macro developments that alter risk sentiment or the expected pace of Federal Reserve policy. If the bear-case scenario unfolds, investors will want to monitor whether ETH can anchor a bottom while stablecoins continue to absorb a large share of new liquidity in the crypto space.
Ultimately, the question for 2026 remains partly about ETH’s fundamental resilience and partly about the broader appetite for dollar-denominated liquidity in a volatile market. As the ecosystem evolves, investors, traders, and builders will need to weigh ETH’s role as infrastructure against the advantages that stablecoins offer in terms of liquidity, risk management, and cross-asset flexibility.
Readers should keep an eye on ETF flow patterns, the pace of stablecoin growth, and the macro signals that drive risk-on versus risk-off dynamics. Those factors will help determine whether ETH can reverse the current trajectory or whether stablecoins will continue to crowd out its price drivers in the near term.
Crypto World
Russia’s Dual-War Windfall: How Two Conflicts Are Driving Oil Toward $150 Per Barrel
TLDR:
- Russia’s monthly oil revenue doubled to $24 billion as Brent crude surpassed $100 per barrel.
- Ukraine’s drone strikes have taken roughly 40 percent of Russian export refining capacity offline.
- Iran’s attack on Ras Laffan removed 17 percent of global LNG and 33 percent of helium supply.
- Western sanctions capped Russian oil at $60 per barrel, but the dual-war supply shock made it void.
Russia’s oil revenue has surged sharply as two concurrent conflicts disrupt global energy supply chains. Ukrainian drone strikes have degraded roughly 40 percent of Russian export refining capacity in recent weeks.
At the same time, Iran’s strikes on Gulf infrastructure pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel. Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov and President Putin have both publicly forecast oil reaching $150 per barrel. Russia appears financially positioned to benefit from both conflicts running simultaneously.
Russia Benefits as Iran’s Gulf Strikes Push Oil Above $100
Russia supplied Shahed drone technology and design upgrades to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over recent years. Those drones, combined with Chinese BeiDou-guided ballistic missiles, struck the Ras Laffan complex in Qatar.
The attack removed 17 percent of global LNG export capacity and 33 percent of global helium supply. The energy shock from those strikes quickly pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel.
Russia’s monthly oil revenue consequently doubled to $24 billion as crude prices climbed. The Western sanctions price cap of $60 per barrel has since become functionally irrelevant at current market levels.
Sanctions were designed to target Russian oil pricing, but both conflicts have instead targeted global supply directly. Supply disruptions have overpowered the sanctions framework that was originally built to limit Russian earnings.
On March 27, Lavrov publicly warned of what he called “the most severe energy crisis in human history.” Putin followed by openly forecasting oil at $150 per barrel shortly after.
Both leaders are stating a price target that enriches Russia with every dollar crude rises above current levels. Social media analyst Shanaka Anslem Perera described it as a self-amplifying feedback loop that continuously benefits Russia.
Perera wrote: “Russia arms Iran. Iran closes Hormuz. Hormuz closure spikes oil. Oil spike enriches Russia.” He further noted that Russia needs neither Hormuz reopened nor its own refineries fully operational.
Russia needs both disruptions to persist so their combined effect drives oil toward $150. The compound supply shock, as a result, overwhelms a sanctions architecture never designed for this dual-war scenario.
Ukraine Retaliates Against Russian Refineries and Builds New Alliances
Ukraine struck the Tuapse refinery complex, one of Russia’s largest, setting it ablaze with precision drones. Combined with weather damage and maintenance backlogs, approximately 40 percent of Russian export refining capacity is now offline.
Each barrel of Russian refined product removed from markets tightens global supply further. Every tightening, in turn, pushes oil closer to the $150 target Russia has publicly forecast.
That same week, Ukrainian President Zelensky traveled to Saudi Arabia for high-level diplomatic engagements. Ukraine offered its battle-tested anti-drone expertise to protect Gulf LNG and helium infrastructure directly.
Ukrainian technology has already proven effective against the same Shahed variants Iran deploys in the broader region. This opened an unexpected military technology export market for Ukraine among the world’s wealthiest nations.
The OECD revised US inflation projections upward to 4.2 percent, directly linking the change to the Iran-driven energy shock. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink stated publicly that $150 oil would likely trigger a global recession.
Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries and Iran’s pressure on Gulf supplies are tightening markets from opposite directions.
Russia, however, continues collecting elevated revenue from price premiums generated by both disruptions running at once.
Perera closed his widely shared analysis with a sharp observation: “Two wars. One price. One beneficiary. The arsonist is selling fire insurance.”
The feedback loop connecting both conflicts shows no sign of breaking under current conditions. Russia’s oil earnings continue to grow beyond what any sanctions cap was structured to contain.
As long as both wars persist, Russia’s financial position remains stronger than at any prior point since invading Ukraine.
Crypto World
Dogecoin’s Repeating Cycle Structure Points to Potential Markup Phase Ahead
TLDR:
- Dogecoin is printing a consistent accumulation-markup-pullback cycle near $0.09, signaling structured price behavior.
- Analysts note shallow pullbacks and tight consolidation zones that point to underlying demand supporting DOGE price.
- A long-term MACD crossover is forming on macro timeframes, a signal that has historically preceded DOGE rallies.
- The $0.05 support level remains critical, as a hold with MACD confirmation could trigger a broader bullish reversal.
Dogecoin is once again following a recurring cycle pattern that analysts say could fuel fresh rally expectations. The token has been trading near $0.09, where chart structures show a consistent sequence of accumulation, markup, and pullback phases.
Adding to the outlook, a long-term MACD signal is now forming on macro timeframes. These two developments are drawing close attention from traders watching for the next directional move in DOGE.
Recurring Accumulation Cycle Points to Potential Markup Phase
Dogecoin has been printing a recognizable cycle structure that technical analysts describe as methodical. Crypto analyst Bitcoinsensus recently outlined the pattern, noting three repeating phases: accumulation, markup, and pullback. The consistency of this structure across multiple cycles is what separates it from typical sideways price action.
Each accumulation phase begins with a contraction in volatility. Price trades within a tight range as buyers absorb available supply at lower levels. This compression phase tends to persist until a liquidity event triggers the next move upward.
The markup phase that follows is typically sharp and measured. Bitcoinsensus noted that these moves often begin with stop hunts, clearing out weak hands before price advances. Rather than forming a sustained trend, these bursts reflect structured participation, likely algorithmic in nature.
After each markup, Dogecoin enters a shallow pullback that respects prior breakout zones. These retracements hold above key support areas, reinforcing the presence of underlying demand. If the current consolidation near $0.09 maintains this structure, the next markup phase could be forming.
MACD Signal on Macro Chart Strengthens Rally Expectations
Beyond the micro-cycle structure, a broader technical signal is now building on Dogecoin’s macro chart. Crypto Logic Lab flagged a developing MACD crossover forming on longer-term timeframes, not the daily, but higher macro charts. This type of signal has historically preceded sustained rallies in DOGE.
Bears are currently targeting the $0.05 level as a key zone to test before the crossover confirms. The strategy involves pushing price lower to shake out long positions and trigger stop losses. Both sides of the market are watching this level, making it the central battleground for this cycle.
Crypto Logic Lab noted that the MACD signal is forming ahead of any price breakout, which represents the optimal positioning window.
A hold at $0.05 combined with MACD confirmation would strengthen the case for a reversal and a broader rally. A breakdown below that level, however, would cancel the bullish setup entirely.
The convergence of the recurring cycle pattern and the developing macro MACD signal gives rally expectations a stronger technical foundation.
Traders are watching for a breakout above the recent local high as confirmation. Until then, the $0.05 support zone remains the critical level to monitor for directional clarity.
Crypto World
APEMARS Vs Solana & Bitcoin
The crypto market is buzzing again, are you watching closely or missing out? With Bitcoin showing renewed strength and Solana gaining momentum from recent ecosystem growth, investors are actively hunting for the best altcoins to invest before the next breakout wave hits.
While Bitcoin holds dominance and Solana continues scaling with faster transactions, a new contender is quietly building explosive potential. Enter APEMARS ($APRZ), currently in presale and already generating serious buzz. As major coins make headlines, smart investors are positioning early in projects like APEMARS that could deliver life-changing returns before hitting exchanges.
APEMARS: The Best Altcoins To Invest Before The Next Surge
If you’re searching for the best altcoins to invest, timing is everything, and APEMARS is right at that sweet spot. Still in presale, it offers a rare early-entry opportunity that most investors only wish they had with projects like Solana or even Bitcoin in their early days.
APEMARS is currently in Stage 14 (Drift King) of its presale, priced at $0.00017238, with a projected listing price of $0.0055. That’s a massive 3,090% ROI potential from this stage alone. With over 1,505 holders, $345K+ raised, and 22.84 billion tokens sold, the momentum is undeniable. The numbers aren’t just stats, they signal growing demand and shrinking opportunity.
Staking System Powering Long-Term Growth
One of the strongest features of APEMARS is its staking system, known as the APE Yield Station. Offering an impressive 63% APY, it allows investors to grow their holdings passively. Inspired by Mars’ extreme conditions, this mechanism isn’t just creative, it’s strategic. With a mandatory 2-month lock post-launch, it helps stabilize early trading and reduces sell pressure, giving the project a stronger foundation right out of the gate.
Orbital Boost Referral System Driving Viral Expansion
APEMARS also introduces a powerful referral system called the Orbital Boost System. Once you contribute at least $22, you unlock the ability to earn 9.34% rewards for both you and your referrals. This creates a community-driven growth engine where users are incentivized to spread the word, fueling organic expansion and increasing demand as the presale progresses.
How To Buy APEMARS
Getting started with APEMARS is simple:
- Visit the official presale platform
- Connect your crypto wallet (like MetaMask)
- Choose your investment amount
- Confirm the transaction
- Secure your tokens before the next stage price increase
Turn $2,000 Into A Massive Win: APEMARS ROI Breakdown
Let’s talk real numbers, because this is where things get exciting.
If you invest $2,000 today at Stage 14 price ($0.00017238), you’ll receive approximately 11.6 million tokens.
- At launch price ($0.0055): Your $2,000 becomes approximately $63,800
- If APEMARS reaches $1: Your investment skyrockets to $11.6 million
- At $5: You’re looking at a jaw-dropping $58 million+
This is why early investors hunt presales. While others chase trends, you position yourself before the wave hits. If you’ve ever regretted missing early Bitcoin or Solana, this is your second chance.
Solana Surges With Ecosystem Growth And Institutional Attention
Solana has recently been gaining traction again, fueled by increased developer activity and institutional interest. Faster transaction speeds and lower fees continue to make it a strong competitor in the smart contract space.
With growing adoption in DeFi and NFTs, Solana is proving its resilience after past challenges. Many analysts are optimistic about its future, and it often appears in discussions around Bitcoin price prediction and broader altcoin market movements. However, while Solana offers stability, its explosive growth phase may already be partially priced in.
Bitcoin Holds Strong As Market Confidence Returns
Bitcoin remains the backbone of the crypto market. Recent bullish sentiment, ETF developments, and macroeconomic factors have helped it maintain strong price support.
As always, Bitcoin is seen as a safer long-term hold, especially during uncertain times. But for investors seeking exponential returns rather than steady growth, Bitcoin’s size limits its upside compared to emerging projects. It sets the tone for the market, but smaller caps like APEMARS create the real wealth opportunities.
Conclusion
The search for the best altcoins to invest often leads investors to established names like Bitcoin and Solana, but the biggest gains usually come from getting in early. APEMARS is still in its presale phase, offering a rare opportunity to enter before exchange listings drive prices higher. With strong tokenomics, staking rewards, and viral growth mechanisms, it’s designed for momentum.
If you’re serious about finding the best crypto to buy now, APEMARS stands out as a high-potential contender. Opportunities like this don’t stay open forever. As stages progress and prices rise, early access disappears. Don’t wait until it trends, position yourself now and be part of the journey before the masses arrive.
Using the information curated by best crypto to buy now, this analysis presents an overview of crypto rankings and growth opportunities.
For More Information:
Website: Visit the Official APEMARS Website
Telegram: Join the APEMARS Telegram Channel
Twitter: Follow APEMARS ON X (Formerly Twitter)
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Altcoins To Invest
What Are The Best Altcoins To Invest In 2026?
The best altcoins to invest include emerging presale projects like APEMARS, alongside established coins. Early-stage investments often provide higher ROI potential compared to already matured cryptocurrencies.
Is APEMARS ($APRZ) A Good Investment?
APEMARS ($APRZ) offers strong presale metrics, staking rewards, and referral incentives. Its early entry price and structured growth model make it appealing for high-risk, high-reward investors.
How Does Bitcoin Price Prediction Affect Altcoins?
Bitcoin price prediction often reflects broader market sentiment. When XRP and major altcoins rise, it signals bullish momentum that can positively impact smaller projects like APEMARS.
Can APEMARS Compete With Solana And Bitcoin?
While Solana and Bitcoin are established, APEMARS has higher growth potential due to its early stage. It targets exponential returns rather than stability.
When Is The Best Time To Buy APEMARS?
The best time is during presale stages like Stage 14, where prices are still low. Early participation increases potential ROI before exchange listings.
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.
Crypto World
How Stake.com and ZunaBet Compare in 2026
Crypto gambling has grown steadily over the past few years, and 2026 has brought more competition to the space than ever. Stake.com remains one of the biggest names in the industry, but it is no longer the only platform drawing serious attention. ZunaBet entered the market this year and has quickly become a talking point among crypto gamblers. This comparison looks at both platforms across bonuses, game selection, loyalty rewards, and overall value.
What Stake.com Brings to the Table
Stake.com has been around since 2017. It operates under a Curaçao license and has grown into one of the most visited crypto gambling sites in the world. The platform covers both casino games and sports betting, with support for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and several other cryptocurrencies.
A big part of Stake’s identity is its library of original games. Titles like Plinko, Crash, Mines, and Dice are provably fair and have developed a loyal following. Outside of originals, Stake carries slots and live dealer tables from well-known providers including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, and Evolution.
The sportsbook side covers major leagues and sports globally, including football, basketball, tennis, MMA, and a solid esports section. Stake has earned a reputation for sharp odds and a straightforward betting experience.
Where Stake stands apart from most competitors is its approach to bonuses. There is no welcome bonus. No deposit match, no free spins for signing up. Instead, Stake operates an invite-only VIP program where rewards are unlocked based on wagering volume over time. Benefits at higher tiers include rakeback, weekly and monthly bonuses, and tailored offers. This setup favors players who are already planning to bet frequently and in larger amounts.
What ZunaBet Offers as a Newcomer
ZunaBet went live in 2026 under the ownership of Strathvale Group Ltd. It holds an Anjouan gaming license and was built by a team with more than 20 years of combined experience in online gambling. The platform was designed from the ground up as crypto-first, meaning crypto is the primary way to deposit and withdraw rather than a secondary option bolted onto a fiat system.

The game library is hard to ignore. ZunaBet lists over 11,000 games from 63 different providers. That roster includes Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Yggdrasil, BGaming, and Evolution, covering slots, table games, and live dealer options. With 60+ providers feeding into one platform, the variety is among the widest available in the crypto casino market right now.
Sports betting is fully integrated. The sportsbook covers football, basketball, tennis, NHL, and combat sports, along with esports markets for CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports are included too. Everything sits under one account, so switching between casino and sports is seamless.

ZunaBet supports more than 20 cryptocurrencies. The list includes BTC, ETH, USDT on multiple chains, SOL, DOGE, ADA, XRP, and others. The platform charges no processing fees on its end, and withdrawals are built to process quickly. Apps are available for iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS, and live chat support runs around the clock.
Welcome Bonus: A Clear Split
The most obvious difference between these two platforms is what happens when you first sign up.
Stake gives you nothing upfront. There is no deposit match and no free spins. You start playing, and if you wager enough over time, you may eventually get invited into the VIP program. That works for a certain type of player, but it asks for commitment before giving anything back.
ZunaBet goes in the other direction with a welcome package worth up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins. It breaks down like this: the first deposit is matched at 100% up to $2,000 with 25 free spins, the second deposit is matched at 50% up to $1,500 with 25 spins, and the third deposit is matched at 100% up to $1,500 with another 25 spins. Spreading the bonus across three deposits keeps players coming back rather than dumping everything into one session.

For anyone who wants value from day one, ZunaBet has the clear edge here. A $5,000 bonus ceiling gives players real room to explore the library and sportsbook with extra funds backing them up.
Loyalty Rewards: Open vs Invite-Only
Stake runs a closed VIP system. Players are invited based on their activity, and the exact thresholds are not publicly listed. Once you are in, the rewards — rakeback, reload bonuses, and personalized offers — can be significant. But if you are a casual or mid-level player, you may never see the inside of that program.
ZunaBet handles loyalty differently. Its system is themed around dragon evolution and has six named tiers: Squire, Warden, Champion, Divine, Knight, and Ultimate. Rakeback starts at 1% at the lowest level and climbs to 20% at the top. Other perks include up to 1,000 free spins depending on tier, VIP club access, double wheel spins, and a gamified experience built around a dragon mascot called Zuno.

The important distinction is that ZunaBet’s system is transparent and open to everyone from the start. You can see the tiers, see the rewards, and track your own progress. There is no guessing about whether you qualify or waiting for an invitation that may not come. For most players, that openness is more motivating than a mystery system operating behind the scenes.
The Crypto Advantage Over Traditional Operators
Both Stake and ZunaBet sit firmly in the crypto camp, which already separates them from traditional operators like DraftKings, BetMGM, FanDuel, and Caesars. Those platforms were built around bank transfers, credit cards, and regulated fiat currencies. Withdrawals can take days. Fees add up. Payment options are limited by region.
Crypto platforms skip most of that. Transactions are faster, fees are lower, and players have more control over their funds. ZunaBet pushes this further with support for 20+ coins and zero platform processing fees. For players who already live in the crypto world, this is how they expect a gambling platform to work.
Traditional platforms still hold advantages in terms of regulatory trust and brand recognition in markets like the US and UK. But for players outside those tightly regulated markets, or for anyone who simply prefers crypto, platforms like Stake and ZunaBet are the more practical choice.
Where Things Stand
Stake.com has years of trust built up. It has a massive user base, a recognizable brand, and a VIP system that delivers real value to its most active players. If you already know you are going to wager heavily and consistently, Stake rewards that over time.
ZunaBet is making a pitch to everyone else — and doing it well. A generous welcome bonus, a game library with over 11,000 titles, broad crypto support, and a loyalty program that does not hide behind an invite wall add up to a compelling package. It feels built for the current moment, designed for players who grew up with crypto and expect their gambling platform to reflect that.
Stake set the standard for crypto casinos. ZunaBet is showing what the next version of that standard could look like — more games, better upfront value, and a rewards system that treats every player like they matter from the first deposit. For anyone shopping for a new platform in 2026, ZunaBet is the one generating the most buzz right now.
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.
Crypto World
Ethereum Dominates Tokenized Assets Market With 61.4% Share and $206.2 Billion Value
TLDR:
- Ethereum secures 61.4% of tokenized assets, reaching $206.2 billion in total market value globally.
- Tokenized asset market cap on Ethereum has grown over 40% year over year.
- Institutional voices point to blockchain adoption across equities, bonds, and real estate markets.
- Market data shows Ethereum leading infrastructure for tokenization and stablecoin settlement.
Ethereum accounts for 61.4% of all tokenized assets, totaling $206.2 billion in value. Data from Token Terminal shows steady expansion, with the network’s tokenized asset market cap rising more than 40% year over year.
Ethereum’s Expanding Role in Tokenized Markets
Recent data shared by Coin Bureau on X places Ethereum at the center of tokenized asset activity. The post notes that over $206.2 billion worth of assets currently settle on the network. This figure represents more than half of the global tokenized asset market.
The growth rate also stands out. Token Terminal data shows a year-over-year increase exceeding 40%. This trend reflects rising adoption across financial applications using blockchain infrastructure. As a result, Ethereum continues to lead in both scale and activity within this segment.
The data arrives during a period of steady development within the Ethereum ecosystem. Market participants have observed increased focus on practical use cases rather than long-term theoretical upgrades. This shift appears to align with the broader expansion in tokenized asset value recorded over the past year.
At the same time, tokenization continues to gain attention across financial sectors. Market data suggests that institutions are exploring blockchain systems to represent traditional assets digitally. Ethereum remains a primary platform for these activities due to its established infrastructure.
Market Voices Point to Growing Tokenization Demand
Comments shared by Etherealize on X feature insights from Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan. He describes Ethereum as a leading network for both stablecoins and tokenized assets. According to Hougan, recent developments show a stronger focus on market-driven outcomes.
He also points to broader financial trends supporting tokenization. Statements referenced include views from regulators and asset managers who expect blockchain-based systems to expand. These perspectives reflect growing institutional attention toward tokenized markets.
Hougan compares the current stage of tokenization to early skepticism around exchange-traded funds. He notes similarities in adoption patterns, where gradual acceptance leads to wider use over time. The comparison suggests a familiar path of market development within financial innovation.
The discussion also touches on the scale of traditional markets. Equities, bonds, and real estate collectively represent large asset classes.
Tokenization offers a method to represent these assets on blockchain networks. Ethereum’s current share positions it as a key infrastructure layer for this transition.
Meanwhile, the network’s 61.4% share indicates continued concentration of activity. As tokenized markets expand, Ethereum remains closely tied to this growth.
Data from Token Terminal provides a snapshot of current positioning, while market commentary reflects ongoing developments across the sector.
Crypto World
Iran’s Top Power Broker Shares Trading Advice As Trump’s TACO Trade Falters
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted what amounted to trading advice on X (Twitter), calling Trump’s pre-market announcements a “reverse indicator” and urging followers to take the opposite side of every energy move.
The post added a surreal layer to a week that saw Wall Street’s most popular dip-buying strategy collapse under the weight of real geopolitical risk.
The TACO Trade Hits a Wall
The Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) trade defined market behavior for much of 2025. Traders bought every Trump-induced dip, expecting a reversal within days. That playbook worked reliably during tariff standoffs with China, Canada, and the EU.
However, it broke down last week. Trump extended his deadline to strike Iranian energy infrastructure from March 27 to April 6. The expected relief rally never came.
Barclays strategist Emmanuel Cau noted that repeated flip-flopping was undermining market confidence. Investors stopped treating delays as a path to peace. They began seeing them as tactical pauses before further escalation.
The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow tracker slashed Q1 growth estimates to 2%, down from 3.1% just a month earlier.
Meanwhile, CME FedWatch data shows markets pricing in rates holding steady through late 2026, with only a modest probability of any move.
This represents a far cry from the multiple rate cuts investors expected at the start of the year.
Ghalibaf and the Bond Market Warning
Ghalibaf, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander who has emerged as Iran’s most visible wartime political figure, went beyond denying U.S. talks.
He told followers that Trump’s pre-market posts serve as profit-taking setups.
“Pre-market so-called ‘news’ or ‘Truth’ is often just a setup for profit-taking. Basically, it’s a reverse indicator. Do the opposite,” wrote Ghalibaf.
Separately, Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke said bond vigilantes had turned against Trump due to the combined pressure of the tariff war and the Iran conflict.
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield has climbed to 4.46%, approaching the 4.5% threshold that forced Trump to pause reciprocal tariffs in April 2025.
Ghalibaf had also warned earlier in the week that financial institutions buying U.S. Treasury bonds were legitimate military targets.
That statement added direct geopolitical risk to the bond market’s existing fiscal concerns.
Why the Old Playbook No Longer Applies
The TACO strategy worked because Trump’s trade counterparties were rational economic actors. China, the EU, and Canada all wanted stability and accepted face-saving compromises.
Iran presents no such dynamic. Its supreme leader was killed in the opening strikes.
Its military infrastructure has been hit repeatedly. Yet Tehran has not moved toward negotiations. Ghalibaf himself accused Washington on Sunday of planning a ground invasion while publicly signaling that talks were underway.
With Brent crude above $110 per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz still effectively closed, the economic damage from the war is already embedded in prices.
Dip-buyers who relied on TACO logic now face a market in which the geopolitical premium is no longer a temporary spike but a structural feature.
The question heading into next week is whether the 10-year yield crossing 4.5% will force the White House to act, as it did during last year’s tariff crisis, or whether a real war proves harder to walk back than a trade dispute.
The post Iran’s Top Power Broker Shares Trading Advice As Trump’s TACO Trade Falters appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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