Bitcoin price is once again testing the upper boundary of its trading range near $72,000, where selling pressure has historically emerged.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price action is currently positioned at a technically significant inflection point as the asset trades near the upper boundary of its established trading range. The $72,000 region has repeatedly acted as strong resistance on the daily timeframe, preventing sustained bullish continuation.

While Bitcoin has attempted to challenge this level again, the latest candles suggest early signs of rejection, indicating that the market may remain locked within its broader consolidation structure.

Bitcoin price key technical points

• Range-High Resistance: $72,000 continues to cap upward momentum on the daily timeframe.
• Rejection Signal: A developing rejection wick suggests weakening bullish momentum.
• Downside Risk: A close below the value area high could trigger a rotation toward lower range support.

Bitcoin’s current price action is centered around the $72,000 range-high resistance, a level that has repeatedly defined the upper boundary of the current market structure. On the daily timeframe, this region represents a major liquidity zone where sellers have consistently stepped in to defend price.

Recent price movement shows Bitcoin attempting to challenge this resistance once again, but the appearance of a rejection wick on the daily candle indicates that buyers may be struggling to maintain control. Rejection wicks often appear when price briefly pushes into a resistance zone but fails to sustain momentum, forcing the market back lower as selling pressure increases.

From a technical perspective, this behavior highlights the importance of the value area high as a confirmation level for market direction. The value area high often acts as a pivot point between bullish continuation and bearish rotation. If Bitcoin closes below this level, it would confirm that the latest attempt to break higher has failed, reinforcing the broader range structure.

Range-bound environments are characterized by price oscillating between key support and resistance levels as liquidity is redistributed across the market. In Bitcoin’s case, the broader range structure remains intact between approximately $50,000 on the downside and $72,000 on the upside.

As long as the range-high resistance continues to hold, the probability favors further rotational price action rather than a sustained breakout. This means the market may gradually move back toward lower support levels in search of liquidity.

If bearish confirmation occurs through a close below the value area high, the next logical downside target becomes the swing low within the range. This would place the broader range support near the $50,000 region back into focus.

The $50,000 level represents a historically significant support zone where strong demand previously emerged. It also marks the lower boundary of the current trading range, making it a key area where buyers may attempt to defend price once again.

Market structure analysis further supports this scenario. When an asset repeatedly fails to break above resistance, it often signals that the market requires additional liquidity before attempting another breakout. This liquidity is typically found at lower levels where stop orders and resting bids accumulate.

Because of this dynamic, rotational movements between range highs and range lows are common in consolidation phases. These cycles allow the market to rebalance supply and demand before a more decisive directional trend eventually forms.

What to expect in the coming price action

As long as Bitcoin remains below the $72,000 range-high resistance, the broader range structure is likely to remain intact. A confirmed rejection below the value area high would increase the probability of a rotational move toward the $50,000 range support, while a decisive breakout above resistance would be required to invalidate the bearish outlook.

Every time a player deposits money into an online gambling platform, they are making a decision about value. Not just the odds on a single bet or the RTP on a particular slot, but the total value the platform delivers across everything it touches — bonuses, game selection, loyalty returns, payment costs, and withdrawal speed. These factors compound over time. A platform that edges ahead on each of them delivers a meaningfully better experience over weeks and months of regular play. Unibet and ZunaBet both want to be that platform for players in 2026, but the value they deliver sits at different levels when you break it down category by category.

Unibet: A Dependable All-Round Platform

Unibet started in 1997 in Sweden and has grown into one of the more recognisable names in European online gambling. Now operating under the Kindred Group with a London Stock Exchange listing, the platform holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and regulators in several additional jurisdictions including select US states. It covers both casino gaming and sports betting from a single account and has built its brand around being a solid, reliable choice that does everything reasonably well.

The sportsbook is arguably the strongest element. Football receives deep coverage with extensive markets, joined by tennis, basketball, ice hockey, horse racing, golf, and a wide range of other sports. Live betting is smooth and responsive with competitive odds across major events. The sportsbook product has matured through years of investment and ranks among the better options in the European market.

Casino content draws from known providers including NetEnt, Play’n GO, Evolution, and others. The library holds between one and two thousand titles depending on the jurisdiction, covering slots, table games, live dealer rooms, and video poker. It is a well-rounded collection built through established studio relationships that handles mainstream categories without pushing for maximum scale.

Banking runs through standard infrastructure. Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Trustly, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfers, and market-specific options are all available. E-wallets offer the fastest cashout path at several hours while bank and card methods extend across multiple business days. Cross-border transactions may carry conversion charges and additional processing time. The system is thorough but carries the inherent speed limitations of traditional finance.

Player rewards at Unibet mix a points-based loyalty system in some markets with ongoing promotional campaigns across the platform. Free bets, deposit matches, free spins, and enhanced odds rotate through on a regular basis. The combined return varies by market and by timing, providing some ongoing value without a single transparent framework that tells every player precisely what their activity earns.

ZunaBet: Where Every Feature Points Toward Player Value

ZunaBet went live in 2026 under Strathvale Group Ltd with an Anjouan gaming license. A team with over 20 years of combined gambling experience designed every system on crypto-native infrastructure with one overriding objective — return more value to the player than traditional platforms do. That objective shaped the game library, the bonus structure, the loyalty programme, and the payment system in equal measure.

The game catalog makes the scale of that ambition immediately apparent. ZunaBet lists 11,294 games from 63 providers. Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Hacksaw Gaming, Yggdrasil, and BGaming headline the roster, with more than fifty other studios contributing to a library that stretches across slots, live dealer tables, and RNG games with variety that traditional operators cannot match. Having access to this many titles on a single platform means players spend less time looking for something to play and more time actually playing.

Sports betting shares top billing with the casino. Football, basketball, tennis, hockey, and major global sports get full market coverage. Esports are embedded as a core category with markets on CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports broaden the appeal. The sportsbook was engineered to stand alone rather than exist as an appendage to the casino.

The welcome bonus is built to make a strong first impression that lasts. Up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins across three deposits provides new players with a starting advantage that dwarfs what most traditional operators offer. First deposit earns 100% up to $2,000 with 25 spins. Second earns 50% up to $1,500 with 25 spins. Third earns 100% up to $1,500 with 25 spins. Each deposit creates its own bonus event, keeping value flowing across multiple funding moments.

Payments operate entirely through crypto. Over 20 coins are supported — BTC, ETH, USDT across multiple chains, SOL, DOGE, ADA, XRP, and many more. No platform fees. Blockchain-based withdrawals process without bank involvement, without business day dependencies, and without geographic speed variations. Every player on the platform gets the same fast, free financial experience.

Native apps run on iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS. A dark-themed responsive interface loads quickly across devices. Support through live chat is available at all hours.

The Opening Offer: What Your First Deposits Buy

Welcome bonuses are the most visible way a platform communicates how much it values a new player. The difference between Unibet and ZunaBet on this front sets the tone for everything that follows.

Unibet’s welcome offers vary across markets and between casino and sportsbook products. Casino bonuses typically involve deposit matches with moderate ceilings. Sportsbook offers may include risk-free bets or bonus credits. The combined value is serviceable but designed to manage the platform’s exposure rather than dramatically enhance the player’s starting position.

ZunaBet’s three-deposit structure reaching $5,000 plus 75 free spins takes a fundamentally different approach. Three separate bonus events across three deposits mean players keep receiving substantial added value well past their first session. The total package exceeds traditional welcome offers by several multiples, giving players more room to explore the platform, try different games, and build familiarity before their bonus runway expires.

Loyalty Economics: How Much Comes Back

After the welcome bonus runs out, the loyalty programme determines the ongoing return on a player’s activity. This is where the structural difference between these platforms matters most over the long term.

Unibet blends a points system in certain markets with promotional campaigns that cycle through the platform. The combination produces some return for regular players, but the value fluctuates with promotional timing and varies between markets. Calculating a precise ongoing return requires tracking multiple inputs that shift from period to period. The system works but lacks the clarity that allows players to easily understand what their loyalty is worth in concrete terms.

ZunaBet designed its loyalty system to eliminate that ambiguity. The dragon evolution programme runs six tiers — Squire at 1% rakeback, Warden at 2%, Champion at 4%, Divine at 5%, Knight at 10%, and Ultimate at 20%. A dragon mascot named Zuno evolves with each tier. Higher levels bring up to 1,000 free spins, VIP club membership, and double wheel spins.

Rakeback cuts through the complexity of points and promotions with a single number — the percentage of qualifying wagers that comes back to the player. It runs on every session at a fixed rate. No promotional calendar to consult. No point conversion tables to decode. At 20%, the return is both substantial and completely transparent. Over months of regular play, consistent rakeback at these rates generates more cumulative value than a mixed system of points and variable promotions.

The Hidden Cost of Payment Friction

Value is not just what a platform gives you. It is also what it does not take away. Traditional payment infrastructure introduces costs and delays that chip away at player value in ways that are easy to overlook individually but significant in aggregate.

Unibet supports a wide range of payment methods, each with its own characteristics. E-wallets process faster. Bank methods take days. Currency conversion adds costs for international players. No single transaction feels particularly costly, but across dozens of deposits and withdrawals over months of play, the cumulative impact of banking friction is real.

ZunaBet neutralises that friction completely. Zero fees on every transaction. No conversion charges. No processing delays. Money moves at blockchain speed in both directions, and the player keeps everything they deposit and everything they withdraw. Over the same timeframe that traditional banking quietly erodes value, ZunaBet’s zero-cost instant processing preserves it entirely.

More Games, More Value

A larger game library is not just about bragging rights. It translates directly into player value through increased variety, better chances of finding games that match individual preferences, and a longer useful lifespan on the platform before content fatigue sets in.

Unibet’s one to two thousand games serve casual and moderate players adequately. But players who explore broadly, favour niche categories, or simply enjoy discovering new titles will eventually feel the limits of a traditionally sized library.

ZunaBet’s 11,294 games from 63 providers create a fundamentally different dynamic. The sheer volume means players can rotate between categories, discover new studios, and find hidden favourites for months without running out of fresh options. That sustained novelty keeps the platform engaging over time in a way that smaller libraries struggle to achieve.

Where the Value Actually Lives

Unibet has spent nearly three decades building a platform that delivers reliable all-round performance. Strong regulatory standing, a competitive sportsbook, and a recognised brand give it real strengths. For players who prefer traditional banking and value established European regulation, Unibet provides a dependable experience.

ZunaBet delivers more value in every category that directly impacts the player. A welcome bonus reaching $5,000 across three deposits versus moderate traditional offers. Over 11,000 games versus one to two thousand. Rakeback up to 20% versus a mixed system of points and variable promotions. Instant crypto payments with zero fees versus conventional banking with its delays and costs. A sportsbook with permanent esports markets versus one focused primarily on traditional sports.

When value is the question, the answer comes down to measurement. On bonus size, game count, loyalty returns, and payment efficiency, ZunaBet leads at every point. For players in 2026 who choose based on what they measurably receive from a platform, ZunaBet offers the better deal by a margin that is hard to argue with.

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.

The Bitcoin price news cycle is running with Binance Research’s data that reveals that the 12 months following US midterm elections have averaged a 54% Bitcoin gain across the three post-midterm years on record.

Binance is calling the pattern a post-midterm stretch, which could potentially be the strongest recovery window in the cycle.

Yet, this is expected to come in November, which may not do much for the current BTC price forecast. This is why fresh opportunities are so potent.

For example, DeepSnitch AI, a presale with $2.1M raised and 100x-300x community projections, is releasing on March 31, making it the perfect bridge until the midterm elections recovery materializes.

Can midterm elections trigger Bitcoin’s next recovery?

Binance Research published data showing that Bitcoin has logged significant drawdowns during midterm election years, including a 73% decline in 2018 and a 64% drop in 2022. Yet, a sharp rebound always followed in the 12 months following the vote.

Resolving political uncertainty through election outcomes has historically been the trigger for powerful risk asset rallies. With the November 2026 midterms eight months out, Binance suggests the setup could mirror previous cycles if macro conditions stabilize.

It’s worth stressing that the current situation is messy, to say the least. Oil briefly spiked to $95 per barrel, and overall escalation at that level keeps pressure on risk assets regardless of what historical election cycles suggest. The Bitcoin price news right now is caught between a bullish long-term pattern and a volatile near-term macro environment without a clear ending in sight.

This is exactly why traders are exploring altcoins and presale projects until the situation stabilizes.

Coins to watch in March 2026

1. DeepSnitch AI: Anticipation for a DSNT pump sky-high after the March 31 launch date was announced

Midterm tailwinds are a real force, according to Binance. Yet, who can wait for months until the chart moves an inch?

DeepSnitch AI was not only resilient to volatility, but it also doesn’t require macro conditions to run. The Uniswap launch (more CEX and DEX listings will likely follow) is on March 31, and the platform is already live.

This basically means that the community projections that go as high as 300x are backed by an actual product instead of oil prices.

While its breakout potential is clear, the underlying utility is the main driver of hype. Combining five AI agents into a live dashboard, DeepSnitch AI centralizes lifesaving crypto analytics services into a single window.

From tracking sentiment shifts and FUD to finding breakout setups, the dashboard practically does the same thing you’d need a dozen other tools for.

Ultimately, the Bitcoin price news cycle rewards traders who position early, and DeepSnitch AI offers the last chance to get it at $0.04399. The returns could be parabolic, especially if you apply the DeepSnitch AI discount codes that give you as many as 300% extra tokens for large allocations – so save the date.

2. Bitcoin: What’s next for Bitcoin?

According to CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin pumped to $71.4K on March 13.

BTC market news is currently bullish, especially with the idea of a post-midterm relief rally. But what’s the Bitcoin price analysis today projecting?

In short, Bitcoin is gearing up for a test of the 50-day SMA. Since the overall vibe favors the buyers, it’s very likely that Bitcoin could challenge the $74K resistance next. If it closes, then the Bitcoin price news will go through the roof as this would complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern, which could culminate in a test of $84K.

Since the bear market is still around, though, Bitcoin losing the support and turning down from the current levels could either lock it in a tight range or push the price back to $62.5K, negating the entire setup.

3. Solana: Will Solana finally move?

Solana swapped hands at $88 on March 13, according to CoinMarketCap.

Still in its $76-$95 range, Solana traders are hoping that the bullish Bitcoin price news will rub off on SOL. However, the technical setup itself is solid, and if SOL pushes past $95, it’s only a matter of time until it targets $117.

Further decline and a close below $76 will run the coin down to $67 or even as low as $57.

Final thoughts: Why wait around?

Bitcoin logging 54% average gains in the 12 months after midterms is a key historical data point that could play out again. That’s practically months and months of handling losses, hoping that the November pump saves your bag.

DeepSnitch AI cuts through both the Bitcoin price news and murmurs about the altseason. March 31 launch on Uniswap is where the magic will happen, and hopefully, the 100x-300x price predictions will turn out to be true.

It’s worth stressing that even a smaller rally is more than worth it with the exclusive bonuses you still have time to claim. If you’re investing $30K+, enter the DSNTVIP300 code at checkout and claim 300% extra DSNT tokens after launch.

Jump aboard the DeepSnitch AI presale train before the window closes. For the latest updates, check out what the community is cooking up on X or Telegram.

FAQs

1. What does Binance Research’s midterm data mean for the Bitcoin price news?

Post-midterm years have averaged 54% BTC gains across three cycles. November 2026 is the trigger date. Near-term Bitcoin price news remains volatile with oil at $95 and Middle East escalation keeping pressure on risk assets.

2. What are the key Bitcoin price levels traders are watching right now?

BTC is pushing toward the 50-day SMA with $74K as the critical resistance. Closing above it completes a bullish ascending triangle targeting $84K. Losing current support reopens $62.5K and potentially invalidates the entire short-term setup.

3. Why are traders choosing DeepSnitch AI over waiting for Bitcoin price news to improve?

March 31 TGE beats an eight-month wait on midterm tailwinds. Live platform, $2.1M raised, Uniswap listing confirmed, and 100x-300x community projections that don’t depend on oil prices or Senate schedules to play out.

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.

U.S. regulators are preparing to release new banking rules that will affect how banks handle digital assets on their balance sheets. The Bitcoin Policy Institute plans to challenge how the framework classifies Bitcoin risk. The group aims to influence upcoming Federal Reserve proposals linked to international banking standards.

Bitcoin Policy Institute Challenges Bitcoin Risk Treatment

The Bitcoin Policy Institute plans to respond to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming proposal on bank asset risk weighting. The organization intends to review the proposal and submit formal comments. It seeks regulatory changes that could reshape how banks treat Bitcoin exposure.

The Federal Reserve recently announced plans to issue a public consultation on implementing global Basel standards. These standards guide how banks measure asset risk and determine capital requirements. Consequently, regulators will define how digital assets appear within bank balance sheets.

The institute argues that the current Basel framework assigns Bitcoin an extremely high risk classification. Under the rules, banks must treat Bitcoin holdings as high-risk assets. Therefore, financial institutions face stricter capital requirements when holding cryptocurrency.

Basel Rules Assign High Capital Requirements To Bitcoin

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision created global rules that guide banking risk management. These rules classify assets according to their potential financial risk. As a result, banks must hold different levels of capital depending on the asset category.

Within this system, Bitcoin falls into a high-risk category that carries a 1,250 percent risk weighting. Such a rating requires banks to hold equivalent capital for any Bitcoin exposure. Consequently, banks must fully back Bitcoin positions with approved collateral.

Other assets receive far lower classifications under the same regulatory framework. Cash, government bonds, and physical gold carry zero percent risk weighting. Therefore, banks can hold these assets without allocating additional regulatory capital.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute argues that the classification places digital assets at a structural disadvantage. The organization claims the treatment limits financial institutions that want to offer Bitcoin-related services. As a result, banks may avoid integrating Bitcoin into their operations.

Federal Reserve Moves Toward Final Basel Implementation

The Federal Reserve plans to introduce rules that complete the final stage of Basel implementation in the United States. Regulators intend to strengthen financial stability while maintaining support for economic activity. Therefore, the proposal aims to balance growth and financial safety.

Supervisory officials stated that the rules should improve regulatory efficiency across the banking sector. They also intend to maintain strong risk management across financial institutions. Consequently, banks will adjust capital strategies based on the finalized guidelines.

The upcoming proposal will open a public comment period before regulators finalize the framework. Organizations, financial institutions, and policy groups will submit feedback during this stage. Therefore, regulators may revise aspects of the proposal before issuing final rules.

The debate over Bitcoin’s classification has grown since the Basel Committee introduced crypto guidelines in 2021. The committee placed digital assets in a high-risk category called Group Two. Under that structure, banks can hold only limited amounts of these assets.

Group Two assets remain capped at a small percentage of a bank’s overall holdings. The rule restricts exposure to assets considered volatile or uncertain. Consequently, the classification continues to shape how global banks approach cryptocurrency services.

TOKEN2049, which was due to take place in Dubai in April, has reportedly been cancelled amid growing concerns for conference goers’ safety due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.

As reported by Wu Blockchain, a document was sent to TOKEN2049 sponsors warning that the event would be pushed back to April 2027 due to “current geopolitical conditions” and their impact on “international travel, participation, and event logistics.” 

It claimed that preparations for the conference had been continuing and that the decision “was not taken lightly.” 

Organizers said, “ensuring the global crypto industry can gather safely, and at the scale and quality that define TOKEN2049, remains our top priority.” 

Read more: Is ‘cloud seeding’ behind Dubai floods that wrecked TOKEN2049?

It noted that sponsors for the 2026 event will be carried over to next year’s conference, and stressed that it remains committed to maintaining its “long term presence” in Dubai.

The cancelation comes just four days after TOKEN2049 told Fortune that the event would continue as planned and preparations were in full swing. 

A separate conference for TON, a cryptocurrency once associated with Telegram, cancelled its May Dubai event yesterday due to the ongoing conflict. 

Dubai arrests people filming Iran strikes in the country 

The ongoing war in the Middle East has led to retaliatory attacks from Iran targeting US-Israel allied states in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai. 

Drone attacks reportedly targeted the city’s financial centre earlier today, while drones fell near its airport earlier in the week.

It’s also been targeted by missile fire, and the Burj Al Arab and luxury Palm Jumeirah area, both situated near the intended TOKEN2049 venue, have been attacked.

Several people have been arrested and charged after filming and posting the attacks. 

Crypto exchange Bybit has introduced a new artificial intelligence feature that allows automated trading through external AI assistants. The tool enables users to connect AI systems and execute trades using simple natural language commands. The launch reflects a broader push among crypto platforms to integrate AI into digital asset trading services.

Bybit Launches AI Trading Skill For Automated Trading

Bybit has launched an AI Trading Skill that allows external AI assistants to perform trading actions on its platform. The feature enables users to access market data, place trades, and manage assets through natural language prompts. As a result, traders can interact with the exchange without relying on a traditional trading interface.

The system connects with several AI assistants that interpret instructions and convert them into trading commands. Users can issue requests to check prices, open positions, or review portfolio balances through conversational prompts. Consequently, the feature simplifies trading operations and reduces the time required to execute market actions.

The exchange designed the AI Trading Skill to operate without complex installation processes. Users only need to connect supported AI assistants through secure API authentication. Therefore, traders can quickly activate the system and begin using AI-driven commands across their accounts.

AI Agents Execute Trades Through Extensive API Access

The AI Trading Skill operates through a network of 253 API endpoints that enable wide access to trading functions. These endpoints allow AI assistants to retrieve market data and execute various trading instructions instantly. As a result, AI systems can process commands and respond to market conditions more efficiently.

Users can chain several commands together and follow up with additional requests within a single conversation. The system also supports advanced operations such as margin lending and price differential trading strategies. Consequently, traders can manage multiple tasks without navigating separate trading dashboards.

Bybit also integrated real-time market intelligence through WebSocket data streams that deliver continuous market updates. These streams help AI assistants analyze live market conditions and respond to price movements quickly. Therefore, automated trading decisions can occur faster than manual execution.

The exchange described the feature as its most comprehensive AI integration across trading and digital asset management. Earlier tools provided analysis and strategy support, but required manual action from traders. However, the new framework allows AI agents to move from analysis to direct execution.

Safeguards Aim To Protect Users During AI-Driven Trading

Bybit added several safeguards to ensure that automated trading operates securely within its ecosystem. The exchange requires new users to perform test trades in a testnet environment before accessing live markets. This step allows traders to experiment with AI commands while avoiding financial risk.

All live trades require manual confirmation from the user before the order reaches the market. This control mechanism ensures that traders maintain final authority over every transaction. Consequently, AI assistance does not remove human oversight during trading activity.

The system also protects account data through secure API authentication that manages communication between AI assistants and the exchange. Users do not need to expose sensitive credentials when connecting to the feature. Therefore, the infrastructure reduces security risks while supporting automated trading commands.

Crypto exchanges have steadily expanded artificial intelligence tools to improve trading efficiency and platform accessibility. Other major exchanges have released AI tools that assist with market monitoring, strategy generation, and automated execution. As AI adoption grows, exchanges continue to test new ways to combine automation with digital asset trading services.

The XRP Ledger is reviewing two proposed amendments that could expand lending functions and strengthen vault infrastructure. Validators have begun voting, yet early participation remains limited. Current results suggest the proposals still face significant hurdles before reaching activation requirements.

Data from XRPScan shows that validators have submitted only a small portion of the required votes. The network requires a strong consensus before any protocol change becomes active. Consequently, both amendments remain far from the necessary approval threshold.

The proposed changes target deeper financial functionality across the XRP ecosystem. Developers designed them to enhance lending capabilities and asset management tools. However, the current voting pace indicates that activation may take longer than expected.

SingleAssetVault Amendment

Validators are currently assessing the v3.1.0 SingleAssetVault amendment across the network. The proposal introduces vault mechanisms designed for single asset management within decentralized environments. As a result, developers expect stronger custody options for on-chain financial applications.

So far, only eight validators have recorded votes supporting the proposal. This number remains well below the required activation threshold. Therefore, the amendment currently shows limited progress toward implementation.

The XRP Ledger requires at least 28 validator approvals to activate protocol changes. This requirement represents roughly 80 percent of the network’s validator set. Without that support, the activation process automatically resets after the voting period ends.

Lending Protocol Amendment

Validators are also reviewing the v3.1.0 Lending Protocol amendment during the same voting cycle. This proposal introduces infrastructure for native lending services within the XRP Ledger ecosystem. Consequently, developers aim to expand decentralized finance capabilities directly on the network.

The amendment has gathered only six validator votes so far. That participation rate equals about 17% of the total validator pool. Therefore, the proposal remains far below the required approval threshold.

If voting participation does not accelerate, the activation timer will expire. When that happens, the amendment returns to a pending state. Validators may then reconsider the proposal during a future voting round.

Amendment Oversight and Security Context

Protocol amendments carry major consequences because they directly modify core blockchain functionality. Developers, therefore, apply strict governance rules before enabling any change. The XRP Ledger uses extended validator voting periods to confirm broad consensus.

A recent example demonstrated why careful review remains essential. Security researchers discovered a vulnerability in the proposed Batch amendment, known as XLS-56. That issue appeared during its voting phase and never reached activation.

The flaw could have allowed attackers to withdraw funds from user wallets. Notably, the exploit did not require access to private keys. Early detection prevented potential damage and reinforced the network’s review process.

Such events highlight the importance of gradual amendment adoption. Validators must carefully examine technical risks before approving protocol upgrades. Consequently, the slow progress of current proposals reflects the network’s cautious governance approach.

Why Arthur Hayes is bullish: In an interview with CoinDesk’s Jennifer Sanasie on MArkets Outlook, Hayes said Hyperliquid has separated itself from competing perpetual futures exchanges with real usage rather than incentive-driven volume.

• Hayes told Sanasie he sold his firm’s HYPE position around $50–$55 ahead of expected token unlock pressure but turned bullish again after the team chose not to sell most of its monthly token allocations.
• He said Hyperliquid still generates close to a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate based on 30-day fee data.
• The platform’s HIP-3 permissionless listing system has expanded trading beyond crypto into assets like oil or equity indices.

What’s driving activity: Hayes said traders are increasingly using Hyperliquid to access markets unavailable through traditional platforms.

• Retail traders can trade assets like oil or Nasdaq proxies 24/7 on-chain using stablecoins and crypto wallets.
• Hayes said leverage of 10x–20x is often available compared with the 2x–3x many retail investors receive on traditional brokerage platforms.
• Weekend geopolitical events, such as sudden conflict announcements, have pushed traders to use Hyperliquid while traditional markets are closed.

Why Hyperliquid stands out: Hayes argued Hyperliquid’s liquidity and trading metrics show more genuine market activity than rival decentralized exchanges.

• Many competing platforms rely on wash trading or token incentive programs to inflate activity, Hayes said.
• He evaluates exchanges using the ratio of trading volume to open interest, which he said helps identify genuine trading demand.
• Hayes said Hyperliquid has the lowest ratio among major perpetual DEXs, indicating more “real” trading.
• The platform also offers the lowest slippage for large bitcoin perpetual trades ranging from $100,000 to $10 million, he said.

What could derail the thesis: Hayes said rising hype and stronger competition could signal a potential exit point.

• He said he would reconsider his position if HYPE’s price-to-earnings ratio rises sharply and market sentiment becomes overwhelmingly bullish.
• Another risk is whether competitors offering lower fees can erode Hyperliquid’s roughly 70% share of perpetual DEX revenue.
• Hayes said maintaining strong revenue and continued restraint in team token selling are key to sustaining the bull case.

Beyond HYPE: Hayes also highlighted privacy-focused crypto projects as a developing narrative.

• He said Zcash could benefit from growing concerns about blockchain surveillance and AI-powered transaction analysis.
• Hayes cited Zcash’s cryptographic upgrades and privacy model as reasons he favors it over alternatives like Monero.

Bitcoin outlook: Hayes maintained his aggressive forecast for Bitcoin.

• He reiterated that Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by the end of the year despite missing earlier targets.

The Ethereum Foundation released the EF Mandate today, a foundational document it says functions as part constitution, part manifesto. The 38-page document, published by the EF’s board today, March 13, as a PDF and on-chain, aims to articulate the “promise of Etheruem,” as well as the EF’s role in the ecosystem.

Per the Mandate, the EF defines its role not as Ethereum’s owner or ruler, but as a steward with one core mission: ensuring Ethereum becomes and stays a decentralized, resilient tool for user self-sovereignty.

The Mandate also reaffirms the definition of Ethereum as humanity’s “World Computer” as the ecosystem’s first “promise” — what the EF says represents a “common computational substrate that anyone can interact with trustlessly, permissionlessly, and persistently.” Ethereum’s second promise, per the EF Mandate, is to enable self-sovereign coordination at scale, without coercion or capture.

Per the document, the EF’s mandate consists of two main principles: ensuring Ethereum stay decentralized and resilient, specifically as a tool for self-sovereignty; secondly, “scaling the guaranteed availability of self-sovereignty to users ready to
exercise it directly.”

The document states that a core aim of the EF within the first of its mandates is to ensure that Ethereum remain “CROPS” — censorship resistant, open source, private, and secure. This collection of properties, the EF says, is the non-negotiable baseline for all EF decisions for Ethereum, at both the protocol and application layers, per the Mandate.

“May the Foundation fall on its own sword if it fails to uphold its solemn promise to Ethereum,” an illustrated part of the EF Mandate reads.

Buterin Responds

Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, posted a detailed breakdown of the Mandate on X today, describing Ethereum’s as “a sanctuary technology” built to “preserve technological self-sovereignty” and “ensure that no single person, organization or ideology’s victory in cyberspace can be total.”

Buterin outlined the EF’s role as well, including developing “the zero option” at the Ethereum application layer — UX that “goes hard” on security, privacy, and respecting user agency — while leaving broader adoption-first efforts to outside players. “Such work has its natural home outside the EF,” he wrote.

The Mandate also formally enshrines passing the “walkaway test” as the EF’s norttart for Ethereum. Buterin first introduced the concept on Jan. 12, as The Defiant reported at the time.

The walkaway test refers to making sure Ethereum is robust and resilient enough to function and evolve even if the EF and the protocol’s core developers “disappeared tomorrow.” The Foundation frames its own diminishing relevance as the truest measure of success, arguing that despite what may sound like a contradiction, “we believe, and history shows us time and again, that the only way to grow a garden into something truly infinite is to choose subtraction,” referring to the eventual “subtraction” of the EF itself as steward of Ethereum.

“For we are building nothing less than the machinery of freedom — not just for today, but for the next thousand years,” the Mandate states in its closing section.

The release comes amid significant internal change at the EF, following leadership restructuring last summer, and more recently, executive departures.

“We are doubling down on Ethereum,” Buterin wrote in his X post today, “and are excited about its next chapter.”

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

Robinhood’s February data show crypto notional volumes up 9% to $25b while equity, options and event contracts shrink, proving speculative energy has rotated back into coins.

Robinhood’s February numbers are clear: crypto is where the life is, everything else is fading.

Robinhood crypto volume jumps in February

Robinhood reported February crypto notional trading volumes of $25.0 billion, up 9% month‑on‑month and 74% year‑on‑year. Of that, $9.4 billion ran through the Robinhood app itself, with the remaining volume routed via Bitstamp, which Robinhood acquired in 2025 and now uses as its institutional and deep‑liquidity back‑end. This follows January’s $22.9 billion in crypto volume, meaning Robinhood has printed back‑to‑back months of sequential growth in digital‑asset activity to start 2026.

The crypto growth comes as Bitcoin trades near all‑time highs and volatility returns across majors and meme‑adjacent tokens, pulling in both retail flow on the app and larger tickets via Bitstamp. For Robinhood, that mix is ideal: more notional, fatter spreads and higher engagement in a product line that was supposed to be dead post‑2021 but is now the only one actually inflecting up.

Equities, options and event contracts slump

Everything outside crypto is going the other way. Equity notional trading volume in February came in at $194.4 billion, down 14% from January, even though that still marks a 36% increase versus a year earlier. Options contracts traded fell to 180.3 million, a 10% month‑on‑month decline and only a 9% gain year‑on‑year, with average daily option volume at 9.5 million contracts, down 5% versus January.

The sharpest hit is in Robinhood’s event contracts — its prediction‑market‑style product. February saw just 2.4 billion event contracts traded, a 29% drop from January’s level, giving back a chunk of the growth the firm had touted as part of its post‑meme diversification story. That tells you where speculative energy has rotated: away from binary macro bets and back into leveraged plays on BTC and friends.

What this rotation really means

From a market‑structure perspective, Robinhood is simply reflecting the broader tape: crypto volatility plus upside trends are attracting flows at the margin, while single‑stock and options trading cools off after a heavy run. For crypto markets, more retail flow through Robinhood and Bitstamp means more noise, more forced buying and selling around headlines, and fatter tails on both sides when the Fed or macro shocks hit.