Bitcoin BTC$68,503.48 is trading near $68,250, returning to a price range that dates back to early February after multiple failed attempts to convincingly surpass $75,000.

The most recent selloff occurred on Saturday, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants unless the country opened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The weekend price action led to a CME gap — the difference between the price of bitcoin when futures on the exchange end the week on Friday and when they resume trading on Sunday evening. That gap would be filled if bitcoin recovers to $70,000 on Monday.

Gold and silver took another leg down on Monday with January’s record highs now seemingly confirmed as a result of speculative mania rather than a genuine safe-haven move.

In contrast, the Dollar Index (DXY) is back trading above 100, buoyed by inflation fears and a halt to the Fed’s interest-rate-cutting cycle.

The altcoin market has underperformed bitcoin since midnight UTC, with decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens ETHFI, HYPE and SKY losing around 3% while BTC is in the black after falling on Saturday and Sunday.

Derivatives positioning

• Over $400 million worth of leveraged crypto futures bets have been liquidated in the past 24 hours. More than $280 million were longs, the most since Feb. 25, a sign bullish bets have taken a sizeable hit due to bitcoin’s Sunday drop.
• Open interest (OI) in futures tied to gold token PAXG has increased 4% in 24 hours as investors pulled capital from futures on major cryptocurrencies, including BTC. Ether’s OI increased by just under 1%.
• On decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, Brent crude, WTI crude, gold and silver perpetuals rank among the top 10 perpetual contracts by open interest, surpassing major tokens such as XRP. Volume profiles show a similar bias for traditional commodities.
• Funding rates paint a mixed picture of the market sentiment. Traders seem to be chasing bearish exposure in tokens such as XRP, BNB, SOL, TRX, DOGE and ADA, as evidenced by their negative funding rates. Meanwhile, rates for BTC, BCH, HYPe, XMR, and LINK remain positive, indicating strong sentiment.
• BCH and LINK also boast a positive 24-hour cumulative volume delta. This, coupled with positive funding rates, points to sustained net buying pressure, with leveraged traders positioning for further upside in both tokens.
• BTC’s 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, has bounced to 60% from 53% on Wednesday, indicating renewed uncertainty and fear as the Iran war drags on and major banks point to a sustained oil price rally ahead.
• Ether’s volatility index, EVIV, jumped to 84% on Sunday, the highest since early February.
• On Deribit, BTC put options are priced at a premium of eight volatility points to call options out to the June-end expiry. This indicates a strong demand for hedging against potential price declines.
• Block flows featured an outsized demand for BTC put spreads, a bearish strategy and ETH straddles, a bet on volatility.

Token talk

• CoinDesk’s DeFi Select Index (DFX) is the worst-performing benchmark on Monday, losing 0.75% since midnight UTC, while the CDMEME and SCPXC are down by around 0.4%
• Privacy tokens bucked the bearish trend, with DASH, NIGHT, and XMR all rising by 3% to 5% over the past 24 hours. The sector performed well at the tail end of 2025, buoyed by improving sentiment around anonymous transactions and improved regulatory clarity.
• CoinMarketCap’s “Altcoin Season” index is at 49/100, receding slightly from last week’s high of 53, but substantially higher than last month, when it dipped to 22.
• One reason to be optimistic is the average relative strength index (RSI), which is currently in “oversold” territory, suggesting a bounce for several altcoins could be on the cards this week.

Key Points

• Mark Zuckerberg is creating a personal AI executive assistant to streamline information access and minimize reliance on middle management
• The AI system is currently operational in its early stages and aims to flatten organizational hierarchies
• Meta is deploying enterprise AI solutions across its approximately 78,000 employees, featuring MyClaw and Second Brain (powered by Anthropic’s Claude)
• META shares started trading at $593.66, declining roughly 2.1%, notwithstanding impressive Q4 results (EPS $8.88 versus $8.16 forecast, revenue increased 23.8% YoY)
• Executive stock sales persist, with COO Javier Oliván and Director Robert Kimmitt both offloading shares on March 16th at approximately $632

Mark Zuckerberg is constructing an artificial intelligence assistant designed to support his leadership at Meta — and this isn’t speculative fiction. The Wall Street Journal disclosed this past Sunday that Meta’s chief executive is actively utilizing a preliminary version of this system to access company information more efficiently, eliminating the requirement for multiple staff layers to fulfill such requests.

This AI assistant represents a component of Meta’s comprehensive initiative to integrate agentic artificial intelligence throughout its entire organizational structure. Far from being an isolated trial, this development embodies a company-wide transformation that Zuckerberg has been signaling for more than twelve months.

Meta Platforms, Inc., META

During Meta’s January quarterly earnings conference call, Zuckerberg identified 2026 as the pivotal year when artificial intelligence would begin substantially transforming the company’s internal operations. This executive AI assistant directly implements that strategic vision.

The system enables Zuckerberg to obtain internal company data more rapidly without channeling requests through numerous departments. Initial implementation indicates it’s already accelerating executive-level decision-making processes.

Meta’s workforce of approximately 78,000 employees is simultaneously gaining access to novel AI-powered tools. MyClaw provides staff members with entry to internal documentation, communication histories, and collaboration platforms, while also facilitating connections with AI agents or human colleagues.

Another application, designated Second Brain, was developed utilizing Anthropic’s Claude. This tool operates as an artificial intelligence executive assistant for staff members — assisting with task organization and rapidly surfacing pertinent information.

AI Systems Designed to Reduce Organizational Hierarchy

The underlying strategy focuses on achieving greater productivity with reduced administrative overhead. Meta aims to function more similarly to AI-first startup companies, which typically maintain leaner operational structures than established technology corporations.

By equipping individual contributors with AI-powered tools, Meta seeks to minimize the coordination stages between conceptualization and implementation. Reducing handoff points inherently decreases the personnel required to oversee those transitions.

This approach aligns with Zuckerberg’s earlier articulated objective of reducing team hierarchies. The executive AI assistant arguably represents the most prominent manifestation of this philosophy being implemented at the organization’s highest levels.

Despite considerable internal progress on artificial intelligence initiatives, META stock began Monday’s session at $593.66, declining approximately 2.1%. The shares are trading substantially beneath their 50-day moving average of $649.23 and their 200-day average of $672.42.

This decline occurred despite exceptional Q4 financial performance. Meta delivered EPS of $8.88, surpassing the $8.16 analyst consensus by $0.72. Revenue reached $59.89 billion, representing a 23.8% year-over-year increase.

Executive Stock Sales Create Additional Headwinds

Portion of the stock pressure may be attributable to insider transaction activity. On March 16th, COO Javier Oliván divested 926 shares at $632.02, decreasing his position by 6.1%. Director Robert Kimmitt sold 580 shares on the identical date at the same price point, reducing his holdings by 11.58%.

Throughout the preceding three months, company insiders have collectively sold $103.4 million in stock. This represents a significant overhang for shares already trading beneath their moving averages.

Wall Street analyst perspective remains predominantly optimistic. The consensus price target stands at $846.63, supported by 39 buy recommendations and merely 7 hold ratings. Evercore recently elevated its target to $900, while both Guggenheim and Mizuho adjusted their targets to $850.

QP Wealth Management LLC additionally revealed a fresh position comprising 6,103 shares valued at approximately $4 million, establishing META as its seventh-largest holding representing 3.6% of the portfolio.

The stock maintains a 52-week trading range between $479.80 and $796.25, and currently trades at a P/E ratio of 25.26 with a market capitalization of roughly $1.50 trillion.

As the XAU/USD chart indicates, today, shortly after the start of the trading week, gold fell below $4,150 (the low of the year). The last time prices were at this level was in early December 2025, before the rally towards the all-time high.

Why Is Gold Declining?

Gold prices are being pressured by a combination of factors, including:

→ expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer;
→ rising inflation risks driven by elevated oil prices.

In such conditions, market participants may shift capital into bonds, which appear more attractive than gold, as the metal does not generate yield.

Technical Analysis of XAU/USD

On the morning of 16 March, while analysing gold’s price movements, we identified a sequence of lower highs and lower lows (A–B–C–D–E). In addition:
→ key technical support levels were broken;
→ the outline of a descending channel was established;
→ we suggested that if bears maintained control, the price could move towards the lower boundary of the channel.

As the XAU/USD chart shows, by 18 March a renewed bearish impulse had emerged. Price not only declined towards the lower boundary (as marked by the arrow) but also broke below it, providing grounds to expand the descending channel. However, the lower boundary of the extended channel has so far held against selling pressure.

The current situation appears highly stressed:
→ from the March high, gold has lost around 25%;
→ media reports point to the worst week since 1983;
→ virtually any oscillator indicates strong oversold conditions;
→ the ATR indicator has surged to extremely high levels, which may signal cascading liquidations of long positions.

In this environment, traders should take into account the heightened volatility in gold prices in order to manage risk more effectively. A slowdown in the decline cannot be ruled out, supported by:
→ the proximity of the psychological $4,000 level;
→ an elevated geopolitical backdrop, primarily driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

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Key Takeaways

• Faraday Future (FFAI) has received confirmation that the SEC investigation has concluded without any enforcement action against the company or individuals involved.
• The investigation focused on the company’s 2021 SPAC merger and PIPE financing transactions, including previously issued Wells Notices that have now been resolved without charges.
• Management says the company can now concentrate on operational priorities and explore strategic funding opportunities and partnerships.
• AIxCrypto (AIXC), with FFAI as its majority controlling shareholder, noted the conclusion eliminates significant regulatory uncertainty.
• AIXC shares surged approximately 70% during premarket trading hours following the announcement.

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFAI) just received potentially its most significant positive development in recent memory. The Securities and Exchange Commission has officially terminated its inquiry into the electric vehicle company without pursuing any enforcement measures against FFAI or its leadership team.

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc., FFAI

The regulatory agency had previously delivered Wells Notices connected to FFAI’s 2021 private investment in public equity (PIPE) deal and its business combination through a special purpose acquisition company. Wells Notices represent formal indications that SEC staff may recommend enforcement proceedings — making a no-action conclusion particularly significant.

The electric vehicle manufacturer confirmed the development through an official disclosure, noting that the SEC’s extensive investigation spanning multiple years has reached its conclusion.

According to FFAI’s announcement, the company now operates with “regulatory clarity” and can dedicate full attention to core operational activities. Management emphasized the ability to pursue strategic capital raises and forge new business partnerships moving forward.

This represents a considerably clearer path than the company has enjoyed recently.

AIxCrypto’s Response

AIxCrypto (AIXC), where FFAI holds a majority controlling stake, issued its own acknowledgment of the SEC’s determination. The firm indicated that this resolution eliminates uncertainty and creates a more favorable environment for executing its strategic roadmap.

AIXC reiterated commitment to its three-tier ecosystem architecture spanning infrastructure, protocol, and application components. This encompasses development in AI Agents, Embodied AI technologies, blockchain-based coordination systems, and digital connectivity linked to tangible assets.

Market participants responded decisively. AIXC stock rocketed approximately 70% higher in premarket session following the disclosure.

FFAI shares, meanwhile, were trading down 10.34% at publication time, potentially indicating that some market participants had already anticipated a favorable resolution or are responding to broader factors affecting the security.

Investigation Scope and Context

The SEC’s inquiry examined transactions associated with FFAI’s public market entry. The company went public through a SPAC transaction in 2021, a pathway that attracted considerable regulatory examination throughout the electric vehicle industry.

PIPE financing — representing private capital invested in public companies — constituted another component of the SEC’s review. Such arrangements proliferated during the SPAC market surge and subsequently drew increased regulatory oversight.

The delivery of Wells Notices had signaled the investigation had reached an advanced phase, rendering the no-enforcement determination a particularly meaningful outcome for the organization.

FFAI emphasized that with regulatory proceedings concluded, the company stands ready to execute on business objectives without the burden of pending regulatory matters.

The 70% premarket surge in AIXC demonstrates the market’s perception of how intimately that company’s prospects were connected to the regulatory standing of its majority owner.

Based on current available data, no enforcement measures have been pursued against FFAI, its management team, or any associated individuals regarding this investigation.

As the AUD/USD chart indicates, the Australian dollar is showing weakness against the US dollar at the start of the week. Notably, we are seeing a bearish breakout below the lower boundary of an important ascending channel that had been in place since December 2025.

Among the key bearish factors:

→ increased demand for the US dollar as a safe-haven asset amid the United States’ involvement in large-scale military actions against Iran. US President Donald Trump has threatened strikes on Iranian power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, while Tehran has warned of potential attacks on key US and Israeli facilities;

→ a decline in Asian equity markets, which are sensitive to disruptions in energy supplies from the Middle East. In turn, the value of the Australian dollar is closely tied to commodity exports from Australia to China;

→ traders’ expectations ahead of inflation data due to be released on Wednesday.

Technical Analysis of AUD/USD

On 24 February, we confirmed the validity of the ascending channel, within which we:
→ identified signs of weakness during the formation of highs A and B;
→ suggested a potential break below the channel median with a move towards the psychological level of 0.7000.

Indeed, the price failed to surpass high B and moved into the lower half of the channel in early March. As shown by the first arrow, on 3 March it briefly dipped below the psychological 0.7000 level before quickly rebounding, signalling strong demand.

However, the underlying weakness near highs A and B persisted. Between 10–12 March, bulls attempted to break through these resistance levels but failed to hold above the new high. From a Smart Money Concept perspective, this resembles a liquidity grab in the buy-side liquidity (BSL) zone — a bearish signal.

In the short term, a rebound from the March low (around 0.6950) is possible. However, when considering a broader outlook, traders should not rule out:
→ the 0.7000 level turning into resistance;
→ further development of a downward trend within an increasingly well-defined descending channel.

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Bitcoin BTC$68,610.53 bulls should be on their toes: A key momentum indicator that has been disturbingly accurate at flagging selloffs since the largest cryptocurrency hit a record high in October has just triggered.

The indicator is the moving average convergence divergence histogram, better known as the MACD. It’s just crossed below zero for the third time, indicating a renewed bearish shift in momentum.

What is MACD anyway?

Before we dive into the market signal, let’s see how the MACD works.

The indicator uses two lines. The first is the MACD line, calculated by subtracting the 26-day exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-day EMA. The gap between the two helps indicate momentum.

The other is the Signal line, which is the nine-day exponential moving average of the MACD line itself.

The really interesting part, though, is the histogram. That plots the difference between the MACD and Signal lines.

When the histogram turns positive, it signals bullish momentum; when it turns negative, as now, it signals bearish momentum. In both cases, the slope’s steepness indicates how strong the momentum is.

The indicator is popular because it cuts through market noise to provide a clear picture of trend strength and changes. And right now, it’s screaming “bearish.”

BTC gets crushed when MACD turns red

Since bitcoin topped out above $126,000 in October, MACD has developed an almost-perfect track record. When it turned bearish, bitcoin crashed hard. When it flipped bullish, there were weak bounces that went nowhere.

The evidence is damning. Bitcoin’s weekslong back-and-forth trading above $100,000 came to an abrupt end after the histogram crossed below zero on Nov. 3. Prices plummeted from around $106,000 to $80,000 by Nov. 21.

A brief bounce followed, as the MACD turned positive. But it was short-lived. Just two months later, on Jan. 20, the MACD flashed bearish again with bitcoin around $90,000. The result was the same as before — a face-ripping decline to nearly $60,000 by Feb. 6, once again followed by a minor bounce, backed by a positive MACD with upside capped at around $75,000.

So far, every bullish MACD cross has produced nothing but disappointing bounces that quickly fade, paving the way for deeper selloffs once the indicator turns red. It’s a strong signal that sellers are firmly in control, capable of crushing any attempts by the bulls to regain momentum.

And now, the indicator is flashing red again. Sure, past performance doesn’t guarantee future results. But when a signal with such a strong track record is flashing red, traders are better off paying heed than throwing caution to the wind. Bitcoin’s resilience during the war with Iran may be about to crumble.

Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT said Monday he uncovered a coordinated network of accounts on X using exaggerated or fake war and geopolitical posts to lure users into crypto scams.

The investigation identified more than 10 linked X accounts allegedly purchased with follower bases that pushed sensational content and scam links, according to an X thread and screenshots shared by ZachXBT.

The fake accounts used AI to impersonate prominent social media influencers such as Mario Nawfal, flooding X with “doomposts” and driving engagement before promoting fake crypto giveaways and pump-and-dump token schemes. “Onchain evidence suggests the scheme profited six figures,” ZachXBT said, adding that the group has been farming engagement and may be preparing another scam.

The report highlights the persistent problem of fake accounts and bot activity on social media platforms like X, even as the company says it is taking steps to combat such behavior.

Scam mechanics based on viral geopolitical posts

According to ZachXBT, the scheme started with accounts that had existing followers. These accounts repeatedly posted exaggerated war or political content, often sensational or misleading, which quickly went viral and attracted millions of views.

Once attention peaked, the fake accounts pivoted to promote fraudulent token giveaways or scam tokens. One such promotion involved the pump-and-dump crypto scam referred to as Oramama on Feb. 22, ZachXBT noted.

ZachXBT spotted numerous large accounts in the replies and quotes that fell for the engagement bait, only to boost the post’s reach unknowingly.

Social media’s scam problem persists despite platform changes

The revelation comes as social media platforms like X have been trying to clamp down on bots and scam activity.

Last month, X’s product chief Nikita Bier announced enhanced anti‑bot detection and removal measures, along with user flags for AI‑generated content, as part of broader efforts to curb automated spam and misinformation.

Still, the ZachXBT findings expose how quickly coordinated accounts can build engagement and mislead users.

Related: Coinbase-backed CoinDCX founders questioned in fraud case: Report

The investigator suggested that platform manipulation should lead to bans and legal consequences, calling social media users to review recent posts and account details before engaging with any content.

ZachXBT also shared a list of X users he believes to be involved in the scam in case they change usernames or deactivate their accounts.

Magazine: Are DeFi devs liable for the illegal activity of others on their platforms?