By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless indicated otherwise)

Bitcoin BTC$72,786.79 is rallying alongside the U.S. dollar, a pattern that has surfaced several times since President Donald Trump won the 2024 election.

The cryptocurrency has gained over 10% since the outbreak of war in the Middle East over the weekend. Prices nearly tested the $74,000 mark at one point yesterday and are up over 2% in the past 24 hours. The CoinDesk 20 Index and major tokens including ether (ETH), XRP (XRP) and solana (SOL) rose 2% or more.

For bulls, the rally is notable not just for its magnitude but for the backdrop: It’s unfolding amid risk aversion in global equities and alongside a strengthening dollar. The Dollar Index (DXY) has gained over 1% this week and hit a high of 99.68 on Wednesday, a level last seen in November.

That combination may puzzle many market watchers. A stronger greenback typically weighs on dollar-denominated assets like bitcoin, and historically the two have tended to move in opposite directions.

Yet that inverse correlation has repeatedly been challenged since Trump returned to the White House promising pro-crypto policies. Both BTC and the DXY rose in the lead-up to and aftermath of the election, both fell in March–April 2025. Now both are rallying again.

In the meantime, the demand for BTC from the U.S. appears to be strengthening, a constructive signal for the market. The Coinbase Premium index — which measures the spread between prices on the Nasdaq-listed exchange and offshore giant Binance — rose to 0.0227% today, the highest since December, according to data source Coinglass. A premium on Coinbase is typically a sign of stronger demand from U.S. investors.

The focus now is whether the cryptocurrency can penetrate the historical make-or-break zone around $74,000. A decisive breakout would likely bolster investor confidence and draw additional buyers into the market.

Some traders are also watching the U.S. macroeconomy.

“The US Employment Situation report for February is scheduled for March 6 followed by CPI on March 11, and the next FOMC meeting on March 17-18,” Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Indian exchange Giottus.com said in an email. “All these are potential volatility catalysts for global risk assets, including crypto.”

Other macro observers remain cautious, noting that the current calm tied to the U.S. promise to escort and insure oil tankers may prove fragile.

“All it takes is one Iranian rocket for this fragile equilibrium to pitch into severe discontinuity. The threat of one Iranian rocket hitting paydirt remains real and this isn’t something that can be remedied any time soon,” economist Robin Brooks noted in a blog post. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today’s activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today

What to Watch

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

• Crypto
• Macro
  • March 5, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. initial jobless claims for week ending Feb. 28 (Prev. 212K)
  • March 5, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. nonfarm productivity QoQ prel for Q4 (Prev. 4.9%)
  • March 5, 4:30 p.m.: U.S. Fed balance sheet update for period ending March 4
• Earnings (Estimates based on FactSet data)
  • March 5: Rumble (RUM), post-market, -$0.10

Token Events

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

• Governance votes & calls
  • Uniswap DAO is voting across two linked proposals to expand v2 and v3 protocol fees to eight L2 networks and enable a new tier-based fee system across all v3 pools. Voting ends March 5.
  • Gnosis DAO is voting to provide a grant to fund the continued support, infrastructure, and maintenance of the Revoke.cash security platform. Voting ends March 5.
• Unlocks
  • March 5: Ethena (ENA) to unlock 2.24% of its circulating supply worth $18.35 million.
• Token Launches
  • March 5: WhiteBit Token (WBT) lists on Kraken.
  • March 5: Limitless (LMTS) to be listed on Coinbase.
  • March 5: Opinion (OPN) to be listed on Binance, BitMart, BingX, MEXC and others.

Conferences

For a more comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead“.

Market Movements

• BTC is down 0.13% from 4 p.m. ET Wednesday at $72,849.18 (24hrs: +2.42%)
• ETH is down 1.08% at $2,135.84 (24hrs: +3.81%)
• CoinDesk 20 is down 1.25% at 2,072.03 (24hrs: +2.75%)
• Ether CESR Composite Staking Rate is up 6 bps at 2.91%
• BTC funding rate is at 0.0026% (2.8744% annualized) on Binance

• DXY is down 0.12% at 98.99
• Gold futures are up 1.06% at $5,174.30
• Silver futures are up 2.28% at $84.51
• Nikkei 225 closed up 1.90% at 55,278.06
• Hang Seng closed up 0.28% at 25,321.34
• FTSE 100 is up 0.30% at 10,598.92
• Euro Stoxx 50 is up 0.13% at 5,878.37
• DJIA closed on Wednesday up 0.49% at 48,739.41
• S&P 500 closed up 0.78% at 6,869.50
• Nasdaq Composite closed up 1.29% at 22,807.48
• S&P/TSX Composite closed up 0.47% at 33,942.90
• S&P 40 Latin America closed up 2.26% at 3,619.17
• U.S. 10-Year Treasury rate is up 3 bps at 4.08%
• E-mini S&P 500 futures are unchanged at 6,870.50
• E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures are unchanged at 25,113.50
• E-mini Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are down 0.18% at 48,710.00

Bitcoin Stats

• BTC Dominance: 59.78% (0.9%)
• Ether-bitcoin ratio: 0.02938 (0.38%)
• Hashrate (seven-day moving average): 999 EH/s
• Hashprice (spot): $32.09
• Total fees: 3.03 BTC / $215,909
• CME Futures Open Interest: 111,485 BTC
• BTC priced in gold: 14.1 oz.
• BTC vs gold market cap: 4.88%

Technical Analysis

• The chart from Coinglass shows daily open interest in zcash (ZEC) futures.
• Open interest refers to the number of active futures contracts at any given time.
• The tally has increased to nearly 1.50 million ZEC, rising past a downtrend line.
• The breakout indicates renewed interest in ZEC futures and higher volatility ahead.

Crypto Equities

• Coinbase Global (COIN): closed on Wednesday at $208.93 (+14.57%), +0.10% at $209.14 in pre-market
• Galaxy Digital (GLXY): closed at $24.34 (+17.70%)
• MARA Holdings (MARA): closed at $9.29 (+7.27%), –0.22% at $9.27
• Riot Platforms (RIOT): closed at $16.53 (+8.11%), +0.24% at $16.57
• Core Scientific (CORZ): closed at $15.84 (+3.53%)
• CleanSpark (CLSK): closed at $10.66 (+7.79%), –0.75% at $10.58
• Exodus Movement (EXOD): closed at $12.16 (+12.28%), unchanged in pre-market
• CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI): closed at $41.20 (+8.76%)
• Circle Internet Group (CRCL): closed at $105.27 (+5.66%), unchanged in pre-market
• Bullish (BLSH): closed at $36.86 (+11.29%), –0.49% at $36.68

Crypto Treasury Companies

• Strategy (MSTR): closed at $146.44 (+10.37%), –0.30% at $146.00
• Sharplink (SBET): closed at $8.13 (+11.98%), –1.60% at $8.00
• Upexi (UPXI): closed at $1.08 (+37.58%), +1.85% at $1.10
• Lite Strategy (LITS): closed at $1.22 (+6.09%)
• Strive Asset Management (ASST): closed at $9.62 (+15.49%), +0.73% at $9.69

ETF Flows

Spot BTC ETFs

• Daily net flows: $461.9 million
• Cumulative net flows: $55.93 billion
• Total BTC holdings ~ 1.29 million

Spot ETH ETFs

• Daily net flows: $169.4 million
• Cumulative net flows: $11.83 billion
• Total ETH holdings ~ 5.79 million

Source: Farside Investors

While You Were Sleeping

On 3 March, the EUR/USD pair fell below the January low (around 1.15777), establishing the lowest level of the year. As of today, 5 March, the chart shows signs of a continuation of bearish momentum.

On one hand, demand for the USD as a “safe-haven currency” remains elevated amid the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the euro is under pressure because:
→ rising energy prices put the European Union at a disadvantage;
→ traders may be cautious ahead of today’s ECB news (Lagarde’s speech is scheduled for 20:00 GMT+3).

Technical Analysis of the EUR/USD Chart

On 19 February, we:
→ noted that bears held a certain advantage during February;
→ highlighted lower highs and lower lows at points A-B-C;
→ suggested a potential bearish scenario.

Since then, the downward movement has developed into a sequence A-B-C-D-E-F. Analysing the key patterns on the EUR/USD chart now allows us to construct a descending channel.

In this context, yesterday’s bearish reversal (indicated by the arrow) is noteworthy, as it occurred:
→ in the 0.382–0.5 Fibonacci zone, indicating a weak recovery;
→ below the channel median, which acted as resistance.

Considering the above, it is reasonable to state that bears remain in control. Forex traders should not rule out further declines in EUR/USD towards a new yearly low (and a test of the lower boundary of the channel).

However, the long lower shadow at point F suggests aggressive demand around the psychological level of 1.15000, and market sensitivity to Middle East news could rapidly change sentiment.

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The crypto market was little changed on Thursday, with bitcoin BTC$72,578.05 and ether (ETH) posting gains of less than 1% as investors consolidated following Wednesday’s breakout.

While bitcoin crucially held above the $70,000 level that had rebuffed ealier rallies, it has failed to deliver an upside shift to $80,000 that some analysts predicted.

Global equities responded well to reports that Iran had secretly reached out to the U.S. in hopes of making an agreement to end the war in return for limiting its missile production.

The Dollar Index (DXY) fell as a result, but remains up by 3.5% since late January as traders attempt to rationalize potential interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve. Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would increase inflation, forcing the Fed’s hand to raise rates to keep deposits high.

Bitcoin typically rallies when the dollar weakens and falls when the currency is bullish.

Derivatives positioning

• Bitcoin futures open interest (OI) picked up, with the tally increasing to 680K BTC, the most in almost two weeks. This pattern confirms the spot price gains.
• Ether’s OI increased to 13.41 million ether, the highest since Jan. 31. Activity in XRP futures remains subdued, with OI stuck at recent lows below 1.70 billion XRP. The same can be said for Solana’s SOL.
• OI in futures tied to gold tokens Tether gold (XAUT) and PAXG$5,172.09 continues to drop as cryptocurrencies rise. Investors could be rotating money into majors as the gold price rally stalls.
• Privacy-focused ZEC’s futures activity is also picking up, with total OI ending a two-month downtrend.
• Annualized perpetual funding rates for bitcoin and ether remain mildly positive, pointing to a bullish bias. Rates, however, remain slightly negative for XRP and SOL.
• Bitcoin and ether’s 30-day implied volatility indexes remain steady in recent ranges, indicating market stability. Wall Street’s volatility index, VIX, has pulled back to 21% from Monday’s high of 28%.
• On Deribit, put skews in bitcoin and ether options have weakened, but persist alongside increased activity in higher strike calls, or bullish bets.
• Block flows in options featured demand for call calendar diagonal spreads on bitcoin and ether.

Token talk

• Layer-1 token MANTRA completed a token migration and rebrand, replacing the legacy OM token with the MANTRA ticker and implementing a 1:4 redenomination, leading to a 25% rise in token price over the past 24 hours.
• The bullish privacy token narrative at the turn of the year fell flat on its face in February as ZEC, DASH and XMR entered a deep correction, but monero (XMR) appears to now be bucking that trend, rising by 5.2% since midnight UTC and notching a 9.8% gain over the past week.
• Crypto majors dominated market gains over the past 24 hours, with the CoinDesk 5 (CF5) and CoinDesk 10 (CD10) indexes each rising around 3.1%. The DeFi Select Index and Computing Select Index were up by just 0.4% and 0.7%, respectively, over the same period.
• If bitcoin can continue to move towards $80,000 and consolidate, profits may then be rolled into more speculative altcoin bets, but for now the market remains cautious.

TLDR:

• Binance receives ISO 22301 certification verifying its global Business Continuity Management framework.
• The certification confirms Binance can maintain services during disruptions through tested recovery systems.
• Binance strengthens infrastructure with redundant data centers, monitoring systems, and 24/7 response teams.
• The exchange is aligning internal controls with the EU’s DORA framework for stronger ICT risk management.

Binance secures ISO 22301 certification for Business Continuity Management, marking a new operational milestone for the global cryptocurrency exchange.

The certification confirms that Binance maintains structured systems designed to sustain services during unexpected disruptions.

The recognition was issued by the British Standards Institution after an independent audit. The development comes as Binance continues strengthening operational resilience and aligning its internal frameworks with emerging regulatory expectations in global financial and digital asset markets.

Global Standard Confirms Binance’s Business Continuity Framework

Binance secures ISO 22301 certification after completing an external audit conducted by the British Standards Institution. The certification evaluates Business Continuity Management Systems that ensure organizations maintain operations during disruptive events.

ISO 22301 is an internationally recognized framework designed to verify readiness, response capability, and recovery speed following operational interruptions. Organizations receiving the certification must demonstrate structured risk management and continuity procedures.

Binance operates several safeguards designed to maintain stable service availability during infrastructure or security disruptions. These safeguards include redundant data centers, secure data backups, and continuous monitoring systems.

The platform also maintains a 24-hour incident response structure designed to detect and address technical issues quickly. Disaster recovery planning and technology continuity procedures form part of the operational framework.

Binance Chief Executive Officer Richard Teng addressed the milestone in a public statement shared on X.

In the post, Teng stated, “Binance is now ISO 22301-certified. I’m proud to share that we’ve secured ISO 22301 certification for Business Continuity Management.”

He added that the recognition confirms Binance’s ability to maintain seamless services even during unexpected operational disruptions.

Alignment With EU Digital Operational Resilience Requirements

Alongside the certification, Binance continues aligning operational frameworks with the European Union’s Digital Operational Resilience Act. The regulation aims to strengthen technology risk management standards across financial entities.

The DORA framework requires firms to maintain resilient infrastructure, structured reporting processes, and stronger oversight of operational risks. Binance has introduced measures designed to meet these requirements.

The company is expanding internal controls while refining incident reporting procedures across its operational teams. The framework also improves monitoring of third-party service providers supporting the platform’s infrastructure.

These measures focus on improving system reliability and maintaining platform access during technology-related disruptions. The approach also allows earlier identification of operational risks and faster response coordination.

Binance Chief Security Officer Jimmy Su also addressed the certification in an official company statement.

Su said, “Achieving the ISO 22301 certification marks a milestone for Binance, affirming that our Business Continuity Management system meets a globally recognized standard.”

He stated that the framework allows users to maintain confidence in the safety and accessibility of their assets at all times.

The certification arrives as digital asset platforms continue strengthening operational safeguards and resilience standards across global markets.

Key Takeaways

• Google’s security researchers reveal Coruna exploit framework designed to steal cryptocurrency from iPhones.
• The exploit framework successfully compromises iOS versions 13 through 17.2.1 via WebKit vulnerabilities.
• Multiple threat actors deploy identical exploits for both espionage campaigns and financial cybercrime.
• Malicious code targets cryptocurrency wallets, QR codes, and stored notes containing sensitive credentials.
• Immediate iOS updates or Lockdown Mode activation recommended for device protection.

Security researchers at Google have uncovered a sophisticated exploitation framework specifically designed to compromise iPhones operating on iOS versions ranging from 13 to 17.2.1. According to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, cybercriminals leverage this exploit toolkit to extract cryptocurrency wallet credentials and other valuable financial data. Google’s analysis reveals that the framework has been adopted by various malicious actors conducting both state-sponsored surveillance and widespread financial fraud operations.

Google monitors Coruna exploit framework distribution among cybercriminal groups

The Threat Intelligence division at Google first encountered this exploitation toolkit while investigating targeted surveillance activities during the early months of 2025. Security analysts at Google observed threat actors utilizing the framework through specialized JavaScript code engineered to profile iPhone hardware. This profiling mechanism determines specific device models and firmware versions before deploying customized exploitation sequences.

Google subsequently traced connections between this identical exploit framework and watering-hole compromises specifically aimed at Ukrainian internet users. The malicious JavaScript appeared embedded within legitimate but compromised websites, loading through concealed iFrames that activated exclusively when visitors accessed sites using iPhones. Google’s research team attributed these intrusion attempts to UNC6353, a threat actor suspected of conducting Russian intelligence operations.

Further investigation by Google revealed the same exploitation toolkit operating across extensive networks of deceptive Chinese financial platforms. These fraudulent websites presented themselves as legitimate cryptocurrency exchanges and online gambling services to deceive potential victims. Google’s findings indicate that financially motivated cybercriminals subsequently adopted the toolkit for mass-scale criminal operations.

Google researchers document exploit sequences across multiple iOS releases

According to Google’s technical analysis, the Coruna framework encompasses five complete exploitation sequences utilizing twenty-three distinct security vulnerabilities. The toolkit successfully compromises iPhone devices operating any firmware version between iOS 13 and iOS 17.2.1. Google’s security analysts verified that attackers weaponize WebKit browser vulnerabilities as the initial attack vector to gain code execution on victim devices.

The exploitation framework incorporates sophisticated techniques to circumvent advanced security mechanisms including pointer authentication controls. Following successful initial compromise, attackers deliver encrypted binary components specifically crafted to inject additional malicious modules into the operating system. Google’s technical documentation describes a specialized loader component that infiltrates code directly into iOS power management system processes.

Google additionally documented that the exploit framework intentionally avoids compromising devices operating with Lockdown Mode enabled or during private browsing sessions. The toolkit employs advanced fingerprinting methodologies to confirm it exclusively targets authentic iPhone hardware. Google’s technical assessment demonstrates that attackers meticulously engineered the framework to deploy version-specific exploit sequences tailored to each target device.

Google security team identifies crypto wallet theft as primary objective

Google‘s security analysts determined that the ultimate malware payload concentrates on harvesting financial credentials and cryptocurrency information stored within compromised devices. The malware systematically scans filesystem contents and image files searching for cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrases and banking-related references. Google documented that the malicious code specifically searches for BIP39 mnemonic seed phrases and associated wallet backup terminology.

The malicious application possesses capabilities to analyze photographic content stored on compromised devices, specifically scanning for QR code patterns containing wallet credentials or transaction information. Upon successfully identifying valuable data, the malware establishes connections with attacker-operated command infrastructure to exfiltrate the stolen information. Google’s analysis confirmed the malware additionally searches Apple Notes application data for content referencing banking credentials or cryptographic recovery keys.

Google verified that the exploitation framework no longer successfully compromises the most recent iOS firmware releases. Nevertheless, Google strongly advises users to immediately update devices currently operating outdated operating system versions. The security team additionally recommends activating Lockdown Mode on devices where immediate updates prove impractical, significantly reducing vulnerability to similar exploitation attempts.

The launch of X Money has moved into a high-profile limited external beta, sparked by recent social media activity from Elon Musk and William Shatner.

While speculation regarding cryptocurrency integration is high, current reports indicate the initial rollout focuses primarily on fiat services.

Shatner tapped for X Money beta rollout

Actor William Shatner recently confirmed his involvement in the beta, posting about the “42nd X Money opportunity”. With X’s permission, Shatner has been auctioning invites to the payment service for charity. His posts revealed key features of the service, including:

• 6% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on cash deposits.
• A $25 welcome gift for new beta users.
• An all-black X debit card offering cashback on eligible purchases.

Musk’s “Everything App” vision

Elon Musk reinforced the significance of the launch by retweeting screenshots of the new interface and debit card.

He also share a post from Teslaconomics on X Money stating, “This will be big”.

Two board members of American Bitcoin (ABTC), the bitcoin mining company backed by the Trump family, have made significant open-market share purchases of the firm’s stock, according to a Thursday filing.

Justin Mateen, co-founder of Tinder and an ABTC board member since March 2025, bought approximately 1.3 million shares at an average price of about $1 per share. The stock closed at $1.15 on Wednesday.

Fellow board member Richard Busch, a partner at law firm King & Ballow, purchased about 330,000 shares over the last two days.

The timing is notable, as the trading window opened after ABTC released its latest earnings report, making these the first purchases insiders could make following the disclosure.

The bitcoin mining firm reported a $59 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2025, as the sharp decline in the price of the largest cryptocurrency reduced the value of its holdings.

Eric Trump said in a Wednesday post on X that American Bitcoin now holds more than 6,500 BTC, an increase of over 500 BTC since the last disclosure. The update places the firm among the world’s 17 largest publicly traded bitcoin holders.

The miner went public in September, less than a month before bitcoin reached a record high. The stock has struggled along with the price of BTC, the shares tumbling from about the $8 level to the current $1.15.

ABTC is following a dual strategy of BTC mining and direct purchases. About one-third of its bitcoin comes from mining operations, while the remainder is acquired through open-market purchases and strategic transactions, largely financed by stock sales. The firm is 20% owned by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

The company announced Tuesday that it had bought 11,298 ASIC miners, a move that it said will increase its mining capacity by about 12%.

Read more: Eric Trump’s American Bitcoin buys 11,298 ASIC miners, increasing mining capacity by 12%