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US appeals court denies Custodia Bank rehearing in Fed case

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U.S. Federal Reserve urges new rules for crypto derivatives

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.

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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.

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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.

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Crypto World

Bitcoin Strength Stuns Bears But They Haven’t Given Up Yet

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Bitcoin Strength Stuns Bears But They Haven’t Given Up Yet

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin sits above $71,000 as weak US economic data and the US and Israel-Iran war drive investors toward scarce assets.

  • Tech stocks’ correlation to BTC and rising oil prices suggest that the 5-month correction from $126,000 might not be over.

Bitcoin (BTC) jumped above $73,000 on Friday, successfully locking in the 70,000 support for the week. These gains occurred as the US reported weak economic activity data, triggering concerns of an impending recession while the war in Iran continues to drag on.

While socio-economic events and institutional inflows might have led to Bitcoin’s bullish momentum, traders are still questioning if the bear market has actually ended.

Economic turmoil, growing investor appetite for BTC back Bitcoin’s breakout

The US economy grew by a mere 0.7% between October and December 2025, which was a significant downgrade from previous estimates, according to a US Commerce Department report released on Friday. While the final report is due April 9, the risks of a recession throughout 2026 have increased, driving investors away from US Treasuries.

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US 10-year Treasury yield vs. Bitcoin/USD. Source: TradingView

Yields on the US 10-year Treasury surged to 4.26%, meaning investors are demanding a higher return to hold those assets. The mere risk of additional liquidity causes traders to seek shelter in scarce assets. This partially explains why the S&P 500 traded just 5% below its all-time high despite the worsening economic conditions.

WTI oil futures (left) vs. S&P 500 futures (right). Source: TradingView

On Monday, the S&P 500 futures plummeted to their lowest levels in over three months after oil prices briefly surged to $119.50. The US decision to temporarily authorize the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea helped to cool off some of the risks. This move, announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday, eased the markets’ short-term concerns.

US-listed spot Bitcoin ETF daily net flows, USD. Source: CoinGlass

Institutional demand for Bitcoin has also been signaled as a potential driver for the recent bullish momentum. Spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) faced four consecutive days of net inflows totaling $583 million, while analysts estimate that Strategy (MSTR) accumulated over $900 million through the yield-bearing STRC instrument.

Related: Bitcoin’s ‘extremely precise’ macro signal puts $100K target back in play

Bitcoin’s momentum turned bullish, but the bear market carries on

At first glance, the economic backdrop points toward liquidity injections and rising institutional interest in Bitcoin. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the five-month correction following the $126,000 peak in October 2025 has ended. 

Bitcoin’s 50-day correlation with the Nasdaq 100 sits at 84%. As concerns grow over sticky inflation and stagnant economic growth, the odds of a stock market pullback increase. Traders are unlikely to use Bitcoin as a hedge, especially given its recent underperformance compared to gold.

Adding to this, oil prices remain $30 higher than levels seen before the war in Iran began. These high fuel costs hit consumer spending and create inflationary pressure, which reduces the capital retail traders have available for crypto investments.

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Inflows to the spot BTC ETFs have surged as $2.14 billion entered the ETFs from Feb. 24 to March 4, driving a 14% rally. However, prices slipped 10% over the next four days as those flows reversed. This suggests spot ETF activity is just reacting to Bitcoin’s price rather than acting as a leading indicator.

Whether Bitcoin stays above $70,000 over the weekend may not shift investor sentiment. While a five-week consolidation and several tests of the $64,000 support show bulls’ confidence, the recent price action hasn’t delivered a clear signal for a breakout.