The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has rejected an effort by Custodia Bank to revive its legal challenge against the Federal Reserve over access to the U.S. banking system. In a March 13 decision, the appellate court voted 7–3 against rehearing the case en banc, leaving intact an earlier ruling issued in October.

Court decision in Custodia Bank vs. Federal Reserve case

That decision held that regional Federal Reserve banks have the authority to decide whether financial institutions receive a so-called “master account,” which provides direct access to the central bank’s payment infrastructure. Master accounts allow banks to send and settle payments through Federal Reserve systems without relying on intermediary institutions.

Without such access, banks must route transactions through a partner bank that already holds an account with the central bank. Custodia, a Wyoming-chartered bank focused on digital assets, has been seeking a master account since 2020. The institution has argued that direct access would allow it to offer payment and settlement services to Web3 companies while avoiding dependence on traditional banking partners. The Federal Reserve rejected the application in 2023.

Custodia Bank faces rejection in 10th circuit

Regulators cited concerns related to the bank’s crypto-focused business model, saying the activities could pose risks to safety, soundness, and financial stability. Following that decision, Custodia filed a lawsuit claiming the Federal Reserve was obligated under federal law to grant master accounts to legally chartered banks.

The bank argued that the central bank does not have unlimited discretion to deny access once an institution is properly licensed. Courts have so far sided with the Federal Reserve. The previous ruling from the Tenth Circuit determined that the law does not compel the central bank to approve every application and that Reserve Banks retain judgment in deciding whether to grant the accounts.

By declining to rehear the case, the appeals court left that interpretation unchanged. The decision also reflects ongoing tension between crypto-focused financial institutions and U.S. regulators over how digital asset businesses should integrate with the traditional banking system.

Custodia has positioned itself as a regulated bank designed to serve crypto companies, offering custody and payment services tied to blockchain assets. Access to a master account would allow the bank to settle transactions directly through Federal Reserve payment rails rather than relying on correspondent banks.

The ruling was not unanimous. In a dissent, judges Timothy Tymkovich and Allison Eid argued that the majority’s approach grants too much unchecked authority to Federal Reserve banks. The dissent warned that allowing Reserve Banks broad discretion could enable them to effectively block state-chartered institutions from accessing the core infrastructure of the U.S. financial system.

A federal appeals court rejected the final bid of crypto bank Custodia to challenge the U.S. Federal Reserve’s authority over granting master accounts, but the decision arrives at a time that the central bank is opening other avenues for such accounts.

A Fed master account grants access to the central bank’s payment rails and full services, allowing an institution to cut out go-between arrangements, so it’s been coveted by emerging crypto banks like Wyoming-chartered Custodia Bank. The bank has been fighting with the Fed for years over the initial rejection of its master-account application, and later over whether the central bank should have the final word on whether or not to grant such access.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit revealed on Friday that it declined to hear Custodia’s final appeal on that point in a 7-3 vote. However, the latest in a string of legal defeats arrives as the Fed system has cracked a door open on master accounts for crypto firms.

First, a regional bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, recently granted crypto exchange Kraken a special new limited account. Though it’s not a full master account, it carries many of the same features, and Kraken is the first crypto firm to get one for its banking arm.

At the same time, the national-level Federal Reserve board is working on a new policy to welcome crypto firms and others into so-called “skinny” master accounts that would likely be similar to Kansas City’s approach. That process is still in the early stages, so it’s unclear when crypto banks can begin applying.

Custodia representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday’s court decision. A person familiar with its efforts said Friday that the bank is still pursuing access.

In a dissent opinion circulated by the court, one of the judges argued for why the rehearing should have been granted. “Holding that the Reserve Banks have unreviewable discretion over master accounts places us on the wrong side of the statutes and, likely, that of the Constitution as well,” wrote Judge Timothy Tymkovich. “The case’s consequences for the financial industry and its impact on the state-federal balance in banking regulation make it exceptionally important.”

The Kraken success spurred analysts to predict other crypto names may soon join them on the rolls of firms with master accounts, but some who’ve followed the years-long battle say it’ll be slow going and dependent on which region of the reserve-bank system they’re in. The real rush of approvals may wait for the Fed to establish a nationwide approach to limited accounts.

Read More: Crypto bank Custodia files petition for a rehearing by all appellate judges

Bitcoin is pushing into a more decisive part of its recovery. After spending weeks rebuilding from the February flush, the market is no longer just defending support. It is now pressing toward a key resistance cluster around the $80K, which makes this the kind of area where a simple relief rally either matures into something bigger or gets rejected back into range.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart

The daily chart is improving, but it has not fully turned bullish yet. BTC has managed to climb from the blue demand area near $60K to $62K and is now moving toward the old breakdown region around $75K to $80K. That is an important development, because this yellow zone acted as support before the market lost it during the broader downtrend. Reaching it again shows that buyers have regained some control, but reclaiming it is a different question altogether.

The broader structure still asks for caution. The price remains below the declining 100-day and 200-day moving averages, and both of them are still sloping lower, which means the macro trend has not been repaired yet. In other words, BTC is rallying into overhead supply while still sitting under major trend filters. If buyers can force a daily acceptance above the $75K area, the technical picture would improve materially. If not, this remains a rebound inside a larger corrective phase.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart

On the 4-hour chart, the recovery looks much cleaner. Bitcoin has been carving out a rising structure with higher lows, and the latest leg higher has carried the price right back toward the upper boundary of that formation. The market is not drifting upward anymore. It is actively pressing resistance, and that usually precedes either a breakout or a sharp reaction.

Momentum supports the idea of short-term strength, with RSI pushing into the upper end of its range. Still, that also means BTC is arriving at resistance with momentum already stretched. So the next move matters. A clean break above the channel top and the $73K to $75K supply band would suggest continuation toward the next overhead zones. A rejection here, on the other hand, would likely send the price back toward the mid-range and keep the market trapped in consolidation for longer.

On-Chain Analysis

The on-chain backdrop adds an interesting twist. Bitcoin’s adjusted SOPR is still below 1, which means coins moving on-chain are, on average, still being spent at a loss. That tends to happen in corrective or transitional phases, when the market has not yet fully returned to profit-taking behavior. So despite the recent price recovery, the network data suggests the broader reset is not entirely over.

At the same time, aSOPR has started to rebound from its recent lows, which is an early sign of improving conditions. That does not confirm a new expansion phase on its own, but it does hint that the worst of the capitulation pressure may already be behind the market. Put differently, price is testing resistance while on-chain behavior is trying to heal. If those two start aligning through a confirmed breakout on the chart and a move back above 1 on aSOPR, Bitcoin’s outlook would become much stronger.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tokens outperformed the wider cryptocurrency market on Friday, with the sector’s total market capitalization rising 5% over the past 24 hours to $15.1 billion, according to CoinGecko.

Bittensor’s TAO token was among the top gainers, trading at approximately $233, up nearly 9% on the day and 33% on the week. The Artificial Superintelligence Alliance token (FET) also climbed roughly 8%, while RENDER gained 11%.

Meanwhile, Venice AI’s VVV token surged 15% to a $300 million market capitalization.

A blog post from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang comparing the AI buildout to the historical impact of electrification helped drive bullish sentiment across AI-linked tokens earlier in the week.

“AI is becoming the foundational infrastructure of the modern world. And the choices we make now, how fast we build, how broadly we participate and how responsibly we deploy it, will shape what this era becomes,” Huang wrote.

The AI token rally unfolded against a backdrop of gradually improving crypto sentiment after Bitcoin reached as high as $74,000 earlier in the day. Still, the broader environment remains fragile as geopolitical tensions tied to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continue to weigh on risk appetite.

JPMorgan just got sued for allegedly letting $328 million in crypto fraud flow straight through its accounts, and it knew. That’s the allegation at the heart of a class action that names one of the world’s most powerful banks as a knowing participant in a Ponzi scheme.

Goliath Ventures ran for three years, funds landed directly in Coinbase wallets, and prosecutors say the red flags were there the entire time. If the case holds, it rewrites the liability rules for every traditional bank servicing crypto businesses.

That case is a reminder that risk in financial markets never fully goes away, and that the demand for real verification tools has never been higher. Over $2.1M has flowed into DeepSnitch AI’s presale from investors who understand that.

The platform is live today, contract analysis tools are already accessible, and the TGE hits Uniswap on March 31st. While JPMorgan’s KYC processes allegedly missed $328 million in red flags, DSNT is built to catch them before a single dollar moves.

JPMorgan sued over a crypto Ponzi scheme

Investors have filed a class action against JPMorgan, alleging the bank ignored suspicious transactions and allowed Goliath Ventures to funnel $328 million in fraudulent investor funds through its accounts.

A parallel federal criminal case targets Goliath CEO Christopher Delgado, who faces up to 30 years in prison. Prosecutors allege the scheme ran from January 2023 through January 2026, with funds flowing through JPMorgan, Bank of America, and directly into Coinbase wallets.

The lawsuit’s core argument, that JPMorgan’s own KYC processes gave it knowledge of Goliath’s unlicensed operations, sets up a significant legal test for how far traditional banks can be held liable for servicing crypto businesses later exposed as fraudulent.

The case reinforces two persistent headwinds: reputational risk from high-profile fraud and the regulatory scrutiny that follows. It also puts pressure on exchanges like Coinbase, which received funds directly, to demonstrate increasingly rigorous onboarding and transaction monitoring standards.

Top 3 crypto presales to buy in 2026: DeepSnitch AI, BlockDAG and Pepeto

DeepSnitch AI price prediction: DeepSnitch AI’s utility bid is running hot ahead of launch

The JPMorgan class action alleging the bank overlooked $328 million in fraudulent transactions is a reminder that risk in financial markets never fully goes away. Crypto is no different: rug pulls get worse in sideways conditions and bad contracts slip through when attention drifts, regardless of what narrative is dominating at the time.

DeepSnitch AI sits right at that verification layer, and it’s already live. The dashboards and contract analysis tools are accessible today, which means you’re buying into a working product before it gets broader exchange exposure.

The traction speaks for itself. Over $2.1 million raised, with more than 42 million tokens already staked. That staked supply reduces sell pressure and signals that early holders are here for the long run, not a quick exit.

At $0.04399 with nearly 190% presale growth already on the board, DeepSnitch AI has real momentum before it even lists, while competitors like Pepeto are still selling roadmap promises.

As on-chain activity keeps growing, contract verification only becomes more valuable. That’s the real asymmetry here: demand built on utility, not trend cycles.

BlockDAG news: Can BDAG win the L1 competition?

The latest BlockDAG news shows that BDAG crosses into live trading. Tokens airdropped on March 3, exchange liquidity launched March 4 at $0.05. The presale chapter closes. A harder one opens.

Early predictions target $0.08–$0.10 within months, a potential 60–100% gain from listing. Presale momentum makes that range credible. The pitch holds up too: parallel processing and high transaction throughput address real infrastructure demand, not manufactured narrative.

But open markets apply a different standard. Fundraising milestones, or bullish BlockDAG news, don’t move prices here. Developer adoption does. Live dApps do. Real network usage does.

What happens on-chain in the weeks after launch carries more signal than a hundred positive BlockDAG news. That’s where BlockDAG proves itself, or doesn’t.

Pepeto price prediction: Will frog memes make a comeback in 2026?

Pepeto targets cross-chain friction with a unified interface for all things DeFi. Presale price: $0.000000186. Staking yields reach 209% APY. Early yield-seekers arrive before any listing date exists.

The credibility layer is genuine. Dual audits from SolidProof and Coinsult cover the ground most early-stage projects skip. Token value tied to DEX volume creates a logical, legible growth story.

But the meme coin label is the ceiling as speculative capital chases the next opportunity. Sustaining 209% APY demands real users returning because the product works. Pepeto built something credible, but real adoption determines how far that credibility travels.

The closing thoughts

BDAG raised millions and now has to prove its blockchain was worth it beyond speculative BlockDAG news. Pepeto has the structure but not yet the users.

DeepSnitch AI already has a live product and holders who won’t stop talking about it. At $0.04399, with 190% presale gains and $2.1M raised, the fundamentals are in place before a single exchange candle prints.

Use code DSNTVIP300 to turn $30,000 into $90,000 in tokens, and if those 100x projections land, that math gets very interesting very fast.

Visit the official website for more information, and join X and Telegram for community updates.

FAQs

What is the latest BlockDAG news following its exchange listing on March 4th?

Presale tokens were airdropped on March 3rd, and exchange liquidity launched on March 4th at $0.05. The presale chapter now closes, and open market trading begins. Early price targets sit at $0.08–$0.10 within months, contingent on real developer adoption and live dApp deployment.

What do BlockDAG’s post-listing updates say about its price potential?

The early price target of $0.08–$0.10 represents a 60–100% gain from listing, credible if network usage follows. But open markets care about developer activity and live dApps, not presale momentum. Those metrics write the price story from here.

How does BlockDAG compare to DeepSnitch AI right now?

BlockDAG is transitioning from presale to open market, still unproven post-listing. DeepSnitch AI has a live platform, $2.1M+ raised, 190% presale gains, and a confirmed March 31st Uniswap launch. BlockDAG’s best case is a double. DSNT’s starting conversation is 100x.

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.

DeFi platforms like Hyperliquid are demonstrating that decentralized exchanges can rival centralized venues in execution speed and transparency, according to Delphi Digital.

The cryptocurrency options market is expanding rapidly as institutional investors increasingly rely on instruments that allow them to define risk when managing large digital asset positions.

According to the crypto research firm Delphi Digital, trading activity in crypto derivatives has accelerated significantly. In fact, volumes on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are currently running about 46% above the pace recorded during the exchange’s previous record year.

Crypto Options Market Expands

Delphi Digital said this growth indicates rising institutional participation, as funds and asset managers prefer options contracts because they allow investors to hedge large exposures while limiting downside risk to the premium paid. The firm noted that the move toward defined-risk instruments became more evident in mid-2025, when aggregate open interest in Bitcoin options reached $65 billion and exceeded Bitcoin futures open interest for the first time.

While futures are commonly used to gain leveraged exposure, options allow traders to cap potential losses on large positions, such as a $500 million Bitcoin allocation, while maintaining upside exposure. Delphi Digital explained that most of the current options activity is concentrated on a small number of centralized venues. For several years, the primary platform for crypto options trading has been Deribit, which gained additional institutional backing after being acquired in 2025 by Coinbase in a deal valued at $2.9 billion.

At the same time, options linked to the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund issued by BlackRock under the ticker IBIT introduced a new source of activity from traditional financial market participants after launching in late 2024. In addition to the rapid growth of centralized platforms, Delphi Digital said decentralized derivatives markets have also expanded, as their market share increased from about 2% to more than 10% over the past two years.

The firm pointed to the success of the decentralized trading platform Hyperliquid in demonstrating that decentralized exchanges can achieve performance levels similar to centralized venues in terms of execution speed and transparency.

However, it said that on-chain options trading has not yet experienced the same level of adoption. Among decentralized options platforms, Delphi Digital identified Derive as the largest protocol currently operating in the sector, which reported more than $700 million in notional options volume over the past 30 days. The platform originally launched as Lyra in 2021 and later rebuilt its infrastructure in 2023 using a gasless central limit order book on its own OP Stack layer-2 network, which allowed market makers to quote directly on the order book and enabled traders to execute transactions without paying gas fees.

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Another project developing similar capabilities is Kyan Exchange, which is currently operating in beta on the Arbitrum network and is preparing for a mainnet launch.

The research firm said demand for options is also tied to the growth of structured financial products used by asset managers, which rely on derivatives to generate yield while maintaining defined risk profiles. It pointed to income-focused strategies such as covered-call products used in traditional markets and noted that derivative income funds collectively manage more than $100 billion in assets.

Regulation Side of Things

Delphi Digital added that the regulatory environment surrounding crypto derivatives may also be beginning to change, citing a joint statement issued in September 2025 by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that enabled spot crypto asset trading on regulated exchanges.

Meanwhile, the Clarity Act bill, which aims to create clear regulations that should help promote cryptocurrency adoption, has hit an impasse. But if the legislation ultimately moves forward, it would represent a significant milestone for the industry.

The Dubai edition of Token2049 has been postponed until 2027 after organizers cited safety concerns linked to rising geopolitical tensions due to the Iran-Isreal-US war. The decision follows the cancellation of another major industry gathering, the TON Gateway event, which had also been scheduled to take place in Dubai.

Token2049 Dubai event postponed to 2027

In a statement posted on X, organizers of Token2049 said the event would not take place this year and would instead return in April 2027. “In collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, and in light of the ongoing uncertainty in the region and its impact on safety, international travel, and logistics, Token2049 Dubai will be postponed to 21–22 April 2027,” the event organizers wrote in an announcement.

The announcement came a day after TON revealed it would completely cancel its Gateway conference in the city. The Telegram-linked project indicated that while the planned gathering would not proceed, the team hopes to introduce an alternative format later this year.

For participants who had already purchased passes to Token2049 Dubai, organizers said tickets will remain valid for the rescheduled event in 2027.

Attendees may also choose to transfer their passes to the Singapore edition of the conference scheduled to take place later this year. Pricing for the Dubai event had ranged widely depending on ticket tier. Early bird access began at $699, while standard passes reached $1,499.

Premium packages offering VIP perks such as exclusive lounges and priority access were listed at $5,999 on the conference’s ticketing page, which remains active on the website. It remains unclear whether participants who prefer not to attend the future event will be eligible for refunds. Organizers have not yet clarified that policy publicly.

The statement from Token2049 also addressed attendees who had already arranged travel to Dubai for the conference, which had originally been planned for April 29–30. Organizers advised participants to contact airlines and hotels directly to adjust their bookings where possible.

“We know this is disappointing news for many of you who have already made plans, and we don’t take that lightly,” the organizers wrote on the conference website. “Preparations for the event were progressing strongly. However, ensuring the global crypto industry can gather safely, and at the scale and quality that define Token2049, remains our top priority,” they added.

Before the postponement, the Dubai conference had been expected to feature prominent figures from across the digital asset industry, including Shayne Coplan, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, and Jeremy Allaire.

Meanwhile, attendees of the canceled TON Gateway event have been informed that ticket refunds will be processed within approximately two weeks. Organizers said further details about a replacement event format may be announced later in the year.

As the conflict involving Iran drags on and global energy supplies risk prolonged disruption, most financial assets are likely to behave like risk assets, according to Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone in a recent interview with Cointelegraph.

Despite major price swings across commodities, stock market volatility has remained relatively low, a divergence McGlone considers unsustainable. Historically, such imbalances tend to resolve through increased volatility in equities — often during broader market corrections.

That unusual volatility dynamic is also showing up in gold, a market traditionally viewed as a safe haven.

“Right now, 180-day volatility on gold is almost 2.5 times that of the S&P 500,” McGlone said. “So it’s no longer a store of value.”

In the interview, McGlone also discusses why Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader crypto market may be acting as a leading indicator for global risk assets. With the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index already significantly down from its peak, he argues that crypto could be signaling a potential downturn in traditional markets.

The macro backdrop, he suggests, increasingly resembles past periods of stress, including the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis, when energy prices spiked before sharply reversing during a global economic slowdown.

McGlone also shares his outlook on oil prices, interest rates, and the role of US Treasuries, which he still views as one of the few assets that could benefit if volatility rises and economic growth slows.

Could the current oil shock trigger a broader market correction? And what does it mean for Bitcoin, stocks, and the global economy?

Watch the full interview with Mike McGlone to hear his full macro outlook and market predictions.

A selloff in both Wall Street and crypto markets hasn’t slowed Circle’s relentless rise. The stablecoin issuer’s stock has more than doubled since early February, with Bernstein analysts expecting further gains as stablecoins continue expanding beyond crypto’s more speculative use cases.

The technology is already moving deeper into traditional finance. UK insurance giant Aon recently piloted stablecoin payments for insurance premiums with Coinbase and Paxos, a move that could make cross-border premium payments faster and more efficient.

Elsewhere, Bitcoin (BTC) miner Canaan is taking a contrarian approach to treasury management, increasing its BTC holdings even as many competitors sell. And in traditional finance, Wells Fargo has filed a trademark for crypto-related services, suggesting large banks are still quietly preparing for deeper involvement in digital assets.

Circle stock surges on stablecoin tailwinds

Shares of stablecoin issuer Circle are rallying sharply in 2026 as Wall Street warms to the long-term growth story behind digital dollars. Analysts at Bernstein recently reiterated an “Outperform” rating on the stock, setting a $190 price target — roughly 60% above current levels.

Circle’s stock price has already more than doubled since early February and is up roughly 49% year-to-date, outperforming both the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index during the same period.

Bernstein’s bullish outlook hinges on accelerating stablecoin adoption across payments, financial infrastructure and onchain settlement. As the issuer of USDC (USDC), the world’s second-largest US dollar-pegged stablecoin, Circle is increasingly viewed as a key beneficiary of the industry’s push into mainstream finance.

Canaan boosts Bitcoin reserves while other miners sell

Bitcoin miner Canaan is expanding its BTC treasury amid a market downturn, while many rival public mining companies are reducing their holdings.

The company mined 86 BTC in February, increasing its total Bitcoin holdings to 1,793 BTC. Canaan also reported holding 3,952 Ether (ETH), bringing its total crypto reserves to record levels.

The accumulation trend stands in contrast to much of the mining sector. Several publicly traded miners have sold significant portions of their Bitcoin reserves over the past several months as tighter margins and post-halving economics put pressure on balance sheets.

Canaan, meanwhile, continues to expand its mining footprint, including operations in Texas — one of the largest mining hubs in the United States.

Aon pilots stablecoin payments for insurance premiums

Global insurance broker Aon is exploring the use of stablecoins to settle insurance premiums, working with crypto companies Paxos and Coinbase on the initiative.

The goal is to streamline cross-border payments, which often involve multiple banks, currency conversions and settlement delays. Stablecoins could allow insurers and clients to move funds more quickly while reducing costs and processing time.

For the insurance industry, faster settlement could simplify premium collection, improve cash flow management and reduce the administrative work tied to international payments. It may also make it easier to handle large cross-border policies and reinsurance transactions.

The pilot reflects a broader trend of stablecoins use expanding beyond crypto trading into real-world financial use cases, particularly in areas where global payments remain slow and expensive.

Wells Fargo files trademark for crypto services 

US banking giant Wells Fargo has filed a US trademark application for “WFUSD,” signaling potential plans to expand deeper into crypto services.

The filing covers a range of blockchain-related offerings, including crypto trading, payments, digital wallet services and software for staking and custody. It also references financial services built on distributed ledger technology.

The trademark is significant because Wells Fargo is the fourth-largest US bank, with about $1.95 trillion in assets as of Q3 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Trademark filings don’t necessarily guarantee a product launch, but they often indicate areas companies are exploring. In this case, the scope suggests Wells Fargo may be evaluating crypto-based payments or a tokenized dollar product under the WFUSD name.

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