Coinbase has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Coinbase National Trust Company, according to a statement from the company.
The approval marks a regulatory milestone for Coinbase as it expands its federally supervised custody and market infrastructure operations.
The company emphasized that the approval does not authorize it to operate as a commercial bank. Coinbase stated it will not take retail deposits or engage in fractional reserve banking. Instead, the charter is intended to provide federal oversight for its custody business, which the firm says has been a core part of its operations for years.
Under the conditional approval framework, Coinbase will be required to meet specified regulatory conditions before the charter becomes fully operational. The company said it intends to use the structure to bring uniform federal standards to its digital asset custody services and related institutional infrastructure.
Coinbase framed the decision as validation of its long-standing approach of working within the U.S. regulatory system. The company said it has invested heavily in compliance and engagement with regulators and views the approval as part of a broader evolution in how digital asset firms interface with federal banking supervision.
The charter is expected to provide clearer regulatory consistency across jurisdictions, particularly for institutional custody services. Coinbase said it believes the structure could support future expansion into additional financial services, including payments-related products, while remaining within the bounds of trust company oversight.
OCC is adopting pro-crypto activities
Over the past year, federal banking regulators have taken a more active role in defining the perimeter of digital asset activities within the traditional financial system. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued updated guidance on how banks may engage with cryptocurrency custody, stablecoin-related services, and blockchain infrastructure, while continuing to evaluate applications from crypto-native firms seeking trust or banking charters.
Industry participants have pursued federal charters in part to reduce reliance on a patchwork of state licensing regimes and to gain clearer access to national banking rails. Trust bank structures, in particular, have become a focal point for firms seeking to offer custody services without engaging in lending or deposit-taking activities.
The OCC has adapted to institutional interest in regulated custody models and the growing overlap between traditional financial infrastructure and digital asset firms. Exchanges, custodians, and fintech firms have got federal oversight and support for institutional adoption and reduce regulatory uncertainty.
At the same time, policymakers have debated how far federal banking regulators should extend oversight into crypto-native business models, particularly as stablecoins and tokenized assets continue to integrate into payments and settlement systems.
The conditional approval for Coinbase’s trust charter reflects this broader regulatory shift toward structured supervision rather than ad hoc enforcement.
If finalized, Coinbase’s national trust status would place it among a small number of crypto-linked firms operating under direct federal trust oversight, signaling continued convergence between digital asset infrastructure and the U.S. regulated banking system.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Coinbase-Receives-Conditional-OCC-Approval-to-Form-National-Trust-Company-VjcZSA.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-04-02 16:12:352026-04-02 16:12:35Coinbase Receives Conditional OCC Approval to Form National Trust Company
Crypto and banking industry representatives are set to review a revised stablecoin yield proposal crafted by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks this week, as lawmakers attempt to break a months-long lobbying standoff over how — or whether — stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield.
According to reporting from Politico, a small group of crypto firms and Wall Street institutions will privately review the updated legislative text over the next two days, with crypto companies expected to see the language as early as Thursday and banks on Friday.
The process remains tightly controlled, with stakeholders permitted to view the draft only in restricted settings and barred from taking copies.
The revised proposal follows a series of staff-level negotiations between industry groups and Senate offices aimed at narrowing disagreements over stablecoin yield provisions. While some participants hope the latest draft will serve as a near-final compromise, it remains unclear whether either side will accept the terms as currently written.
Clarity Act and crypto talks are ongoing
The renewed review of a stablecoin yield proposal comes amid a broader effort in Congress to resolve one of the most contested issues in U.S. crypto regulation: whether stablecoin issuers should be permitted to offer yield-bearing products.
Stablecoins — digital tokens typically pegged to the U.S. dollar and backed by cash and short-term securities — have become a core settlement layer in crypto markets, but their regulatory status remains unsettled, particularly around interest and yield.
The fight over a U.S. crypto market-structure bill stems from a broader effort to build on 2025’s landmark stablecoin legislation, the GENIUS Act, which established a federal framework for stablecoins — requiring full backing, transparency and reserve disclosures for digital dollars.
That law was widely seen in the crypto industry as a breakthrough for regulatory clarity while attempting to align digital assets with traditional financial standards.
After the GENIUS Act’s passage, the Senate turned its attention to more expansive digital asset oversight through what’s often referred to as the CLARITY Act or the crypto market-structure bill.
This legislation aims to define how U.S. regulators would police and oversee trading platforms, tokens, custody services and other infrastructure — essentially the backbone of a regulated digital asset ecosystem.
However, negotiations bogged down over one central issue: whether regulated exchanges should be allowed to offer yield-bearing rewards on stablecoin holdings.
Banks and major financial institutions argue that these rewards resemble unregulated deposit-like products that could siphon funds away from FDIC-insured accounts, potentially threatening lending and financial stability.
Crypto firms — including major issuers like Circle and Coinbase — counter that such incentives are crucial for competitive markets and for user adoption of digital money.
The current tentative deal being negotiated between senators and the White House seeks a middle ground — potentially allowing activity-based rewards while restricting passive yield — in hopes of unlocking Senate committee action by April. Whether that compromise holds both bank and crypto support will be decisive for the future of U.S. digital asset regulation.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Wall-Street-Firms-and-Crypto-Companies-to-Review-New-Market-Structure-Proposal-in-Private-Sessions-NhFgRS.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-04-02 16:03:092026-04-02 16:03:09Wall Street Firms and Crypto Companies to Review New Market Structure Proposal in Private Sessions
Offering anonymous eSIM data plans in over 200 countries, disposable and rental phone numbers for SMS verification, WireGuard VPN access and anonymous AI chat tools, LNVPN has outgrown its original brand. The company has grown into a full-spectrum privacy infrastructure service.
The company started in 2022 as LNVPN. It began as a proof-of-concept Lightning Network VPN built for the Oslo Freedom Forum after Alex Gladstein asked the team to create a Lightning-enabled VPN for activists in oppressive regimes. The original focus was short-term VPN access paid with Lightning, allowing users to buy service by the hour or day instead of monthly subscriptions.
The service grew quickly. Users liked the flexibility of short-term access without accounts or contracts. In 2023 the company won a price in the 2023 bolt.fun hackathon and added SMS verification services. Users pay a Lightning invoice for a disposable phone number and receive a one-time confirmation code. The system uses HODL invoices so that if the code does not arrive the payment is refunded automatically.
The company later introduced eSIM data plans available in more than 200 countries. Customers buy fixed data bundles that can activate anonymously. Rental phone numbers followed last November. These let users rent a unique phone number for three, six or nine months to receive unlimited SMS messages without creating an account. At present the rental numbers are available only in the United Kingdom, with United States numbers planned for May. The team also launched anonymous AI chat services that require no sign-up or login and are free to use.
The name nadanada.me comes from the Spanish phrase for “nothing at all.” As the company stated, “What do we know about our users? Nada. What do we log? Nada. The name is the promise.”
This approach stands in contrast to traditional service providers that collect large amounts of user data, a practice that has led to repeated large-scale breaches at major corporations and government contractors.
In November 2025, analytics provider Mixpanel was hacked, exposing names, email addresses and approximate location data of some OpenAI API users. In early 2025, U.S. government contractor Conduent suffered a ransomware attack that compromised personal and health records of more than 25 million Americans. In January 2026, cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger reported that customer names and contact information were exposed through a breach at its third-party payment processor Global-e. Such incidents frequently enable identity theft, as stolen personal details like names, emails, addresses and health or financial records can be used to open fraudulent accounts, file fake tax returns or impersonate victims.
Nadanada.me represents a new generation of privacy services integrated with Lightning in pay-as-you-go models that leave no trace on the financial system or the blockchain, in defense of user privacy.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image-e1775144126268-5w5K4r.png6301200Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-04-02 15:36:182026-04-02 15:36:18LNVPN Rebrands to Nadanada.me as Privacy Infrastructure Expands with Anonymous eSIMs and Lightning Payments
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has formally begun implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, releasing its first notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and opening a 60-day public comment period.
The 87-page proposal outlines how the Treasury will determine whether state-level stablecoin regulatory regimes are “substantially similar” to the federal framework—a key threshold allowing smaller issuers to remain under state supervision.
Under the GENIUS Act, stablecoin issuers with less than $10 billion in outstanding supply can opt for state-level regulation, provided those regimes meet or exceed federal standards. The proposed rule establishes broad principles to guide that determination, while leaving states flexibility in areas like licensing, supervision, and enforcement.
According to the document, the Treasury draws a clear distinction between “uniform requirements” — such as reserve backing and anti-money laundering compliance — and “state-calibrated requirements,” where local regulators retain discretion, including capital and risk management standards.
Notably, the proposal anchors the federal benchmark largely to rules and interpretations issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, signaling its central role in overseeing nonbank stablecoin issuers that transition to federal supervision after crossing the $10 billion threshold.
The rule also clarifies that state frameworks may exceed federal requirements, so long as they do not conflict with federal law or undermine overall comparability.
U.S. crypto legislation progress
The NPRM marks Treasury’s first formal step in translating the GENIUS Act — enacted in July 2025 — into an operational regulatory regime for payment stablecoins, with final rules expected after the public comment period closes.
State regimes would also be barred from weakening core disclosure standards, with issuers required to publish reserve composition reports at least monthly — matching federal frequency requirements.
Naming restrictions would similarly apply across both frameworks, preventing state-regulated issuers from using prohibited terms in stablecoin branding.
The proposal underscores that federal law remains the baseline, noting that any future legislation passed by Congress governing stablecoin issuers would automatically apply to state-regulated firms unless explicitly stated otherwise.
The 2025 passage of the GENIUS Act marked a turning point in U.S. crypto policy, establishing the first federal framework for stablecoins and requiring full reserve backing, AML compliance, and regular disclosures.
The law is widely seen as legitimizing dollar-backed stablecoins while reinforcing U.S. monetary dominance.
Since then, attention has shifted to implementation and follow-on legislation. Treasury reports issued under the GENIUS Act are expanding oversight tools, including measures targeting illicit finance and crypto mixers.
At the same time, disputes between banks and crypto firms, especially over whether stablecoins can offer yield, have slowed broader market structure efforts.
Meanwhile, Congress is advancing complementary bills like the Clarity Act to define SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, signaling a broader push toward a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets.
EDX Markets, a cryptocurrency exchange backed by Citadel Securities, has applied for a national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, marking a step toward deeper integration between digital asset firms and the US banking system.
The application, made public on April 1 according to recent filings, would allow EDX Markets to offer custody, asset management and principal trading services while continuing to operate its existing order-matching platform. The firm said the charter would place key functions such as custody and settlement under a regulated banking structure.
EDX Markets framed the move as part of an effort to reshape crypto market structure along lines seen in traditional finance.
In its filing, the company argued that combining brokerage, exchange and custody functions within a single entity creates conflicts of interest and introduces operational risk.
A trust bank model, it said, would separate custody and settlement from trading activity, aligning digital asset infrastructure with established financial market practices.
JUST IN: A Bitcoin & crypto exchange backed by Citadel Securities applied to be a national trust bank pic.twitter.com/Ta9MNK7Mng
Chief executive Tony Acuña-Rohter said the firm expects large banks to play a central role in the next phase of digital asset adoption. He said obtaining a trust charter would position EDX Markets to serve institutional clients that require regulated custody and settlement systems.
The application arrives during a shift in federal policy toward digital assets. Under the current administration, regulators have shown greater openness to crypto firms seeking entry into the banking system. Several companies have pursued similar charters in recent months as part of a broader push to operate under federal supervision.
In December, regulators granted conditional approval for trust bank charters to firms including Circle Internet Group and Ripple. Those approvals signaled a willingness to bring digital asset firms into the regulatory perimeter that governs custody and asset management.
EDX Markets said its proposed structure would reduce systemic risk by separating functions that are often combined on crypto platforms.
The company pointed to traditional equities and derivatives markets, where exchanges, brokers, custodians and market makers operate as distinct entities. That separation, it said, limits conflicts between trade execution and asset custody while strengthening safeguards for client funds.
Founded in 2022, EDX Markets was built to serve institutional investors and financial firms entering the digital asset sector. In addition to Citadel Securities, its backers include Virtu Financial, Fidelity Digital Assets and Hudson River Trading.
The platform was designed to mirror the structure of traditional financial markets, with a focus on separating trading activity from custody and settlement.
If approved, the trust charter would allow EDX Markets to expand its custody and settlement capabilities under federal oversight. National trust banks are permitted to hold client assets, provide fiduciary services and manage portfolios, subject to supervision by the OCC.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Citadel-Backed-EDX-Markets-Applies-for-US-Trust-Bank-Charter-to-Expand-Crypto-Services-ctsBrW.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-04-01 17:21:212026-04-01 17:21:21Citadel-Backed EDX Markets Applies for US Trust Bank Charter to Expand Crypto Services
Genius Group sold its entire Bitcoin reserves to repay $8.5 million in debt, the company said today. The firm entered a Bitcoin first strategy in late 2024 after the US election, allocating most reserves to Bitcoin and building a treasury position that reached 440 BTC by February 2025.
After a court order blocked fundraising and share issuance, the company sold portions of its holdings and reduced exposure. In February 2026, Genius Group held about 84 BTC after prior sales that included roughly 86 BTC in the month before.
The remaining Bitcoin was liquidated to remove $8.5 million in liabilities and support debt repayment, leaving the company without crypto reserves and selling at a loss.
Genius Group reported Q1 2026 operational revenue of $3.3 million, up 171 percent from the prior year, with gross profit at $2.0 million and net operating profit at $2.7 million.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $600,000 as the company shifted focus toward higher margin education programs and experiential learning.
Genius Group: Rebuilding a bitcoin treasury at the right time
The company said it will rebuild its Bitcoin treasury when market conditions support renewed accumulation.
“In addition to an ongoing focus on profitable operations, the Company has restructured its debt agreements, selling the remainder of its Bitcoin Treasury and repaying in full the Company’s $8.5 million in debt. The Company will recommence building its Bitcoin Treasury when it believes market conditions are more favourable,” the company wrote in a release.
Chief executive Roger Hamilton said the group focus remains on three units: Genius School, Genius Academy, and Genius Resorts. The group said legal actions progressed during the quarter and management focus stayed on operations and growth initiatives.
Genius Group outlined a series of operational and strategic developments as it continues to reposition its business around education technology and experiential learning. The company said its Genius Academy division expanded AI-powered learning programs tailored for enterprises and government partners, aimed at workforce training and skills development.
Genius School also launched in Bali integrated primary middle and secondary curriculum under Cambridge system with focus on future education model
At the same time, Genius Resorts contributed incremental revenue through experiential education offerings, including hosted learning events in Bali that blend curriculum with immersive, on-site instruction.
The firm also reported progress on its broader infrastructure ambitions in Southeast Asia, citing continued expansion of its “Genius City” initiative in Bali. The project is designed to scale both student and residential capacity, building out a combined education and living hub.
On the financial side, the company pointed to insider buying as a signal of confidence, with its CEO accumulating a total of 5.5 million shares since 2024. Revenue growth was driven by expansion across business lines, alongside a shift toward higher-margin segments that improved the company’s overall gross margin profile.
Genius Group also reported a return to net profitability, supported by a reduced debt burden and the restructuring of financing agreements. Adjusted EBITDA turned positive, which the company said aligns with its operational targets for fiscal 2026.
Bitcoin sell pressure is rising as the bitcoin price drifts toward a sixth straight monthly loss, yet underlying flows show a split market where short-term holders exit while institutions absorb supply.
Bitcoin price traded below $65,000 late Tuesday after falling from above $74,000 earlier in March. The move has come alongside a rise in exchange inflows, with about 22,000 BTC sent to trading venues during one session, signaling distribution from recent buyers.
Despite that pressure, price has held above the $60,000 range and remains above long-term support levels.
The key question is where the coins are going.
On-chain data points to a steady transfer of supply from short-term holders to larger entities. Over the past month, roughly 63,000 BTC has been accumulated through spot exchange-traded funds and similar vehicles, offsetting a portion of the selling. That flow suggests demand from institutions has returned after several months of reduced exposure.
ETF data shows inflows have begun to stabilize after a period of sustained outflows.
U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs have recorded about $1.2 billion in net inflows in March, marking a shift in positioning. The renewed demand has not been strong enough to lift price, but it has helped absorb coins sent to market during periods of weakness.
Short-term holders, defined as wallets holding Bitcoin for less than 155 days, tend to react to drawdowns and volatility. Their selling often peaks during consolidation phases, adding supply at local lows. That pattern has emerged again as Bitcoin price struggles to reclaim momentum following a failed push above $76,000 earlier in the month.
At the same time, the supply available from these holders is finite. As coins move into longer-term storage or institutional vehicles, liquid supply tightens. If demand remains steady, that dynamic can create a base for future price stability.
Bitcoin price’s six straight months of losses
Still, macro conditions continue to shape the broader trend. Bitcoin is on track to match a rare six-month losing streak, last seen in 2018-2019. A monthly close below $67,300 would confirm the sequence, reflecting persistent pressure across risk assets.
Unlike past cycles, Bitcoin price has not yet broken below its 200-week moving average or realized price, levels that have marked prior bear market lows. That has left the market in a middle ground, with neither capitulation nor clear recovery, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data.
Nicolai Sondergaard, research analyst at Nansen, said positioning reflects uncertainty tied to macro drivers.
“Bitcoin still looks range-bound here, not outright weak but not in a clean risk-on regime either. Spot holding around $67,685 alongside exchange outflows suggests there is still underlying accumulation, but options positioning into end-of-week expiry reflects uncertainty more than conviction, with skew and IV being shaped primarily by macro inputs, dollar strength, and rate repricing rather than crypto-native demand,” Nicolai wrote to Bitcoin Magazine.
Macro signals have taken priority over crypto-specific catalysts. Oil prices above $100, shifting expectations for rate cuts, and geopolitical tensions have driven capital allocation decisions. Bitcoin price has remained correlated with equities and other risk assets, limiting the impact of internal flows.
Bitfinex analysts pointed to a change in institutional behavior as a key development.
“Institutional flows have undergone a clear regime shift. After a strong accumulation phase in early March, ETF flows have turned decisively negative, culminating in some of the largest single-day outflows from IBIT. This reversal signals active de-risking by institutional participants rather than passive rotation, removing a key pillar of support for price,” they shared with Bitcoin Magazine.
They added that broader liquidity conditions continue to dominate.
“Bitcoin has remained correlated with broader risk assets and has participated in ongoing institutional de-risking. This behaviour reflects the dominance of liquidity conditions in the current regime, where rising yields and tighter financial conditions are driving capital allocation decisions.”
For now, the market reflects a balance between distribution and absorption.
Short-term holders continue to sell into weakness, while institutions step in during dips. The outcome of that standoff will depend less on crypto-specific demand and more on whether macro conditions ease enough to support renewed risk appetite.
At the time of writing, the bitcoin price is less than $67,000.
Bitfarms is moving toward a future with no bitcoin on its balance sheet, marking one of the clearest breaks yet between legacy mining firms and the emerging AI infrastructure trade.
The Nasdaq-listed company confirmed it has begun selling its bitcoin holdings and plans to continue doing so over time, with CEO Ben Gagnon stating on the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings call, “In time, we will have no bitcoin.”
The approach signals a phased exit rather than a single liquidation, with management indicating it will sell into market strength while extracting remaining cash flow from mining operations.
Bitfarms held 1,827 BTC as of its latest disclosure, according to BitcoinTreasuries.net. The company generated $28.2 million in realized gains from bitcoin sales in 2025, underscoring that the transition is already underway. While it continues to mine in the near term, the stated goal is to wind down that business line and redeploy capital elsewhere.
That destination is artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure. Bitfarms is building out a 2.2 gigawatt development pipeline across North America, spanning sites in Pennsylvania, Washington, and Québec. The company expects this infrastructure to support AI-driven workloads, with revenue contributions targeted to begin in 2027.
Bitcoin mining isn’t cutting it anymore for Bitfarms
The shift reflects a broader recalibration across the mining sector. Faced with tighter margins, rising competition, and the long-term impact of bitcoin halving cycles, many miners are exploring alternative uses for their energy assets.
Data centers designed for AI and cloud workloads offer a path to steadier demand and contracted revenue, in contrast to the volatility tied to bitcoin prices.
Bitfarms’ transformation also includes a corporate overhaul.
Shareholders have approved a redomiciliation from Canada to the United States alongside a rebrand to Keel Infrastructure. The transition is expected to close around April 1, with shares set to trade under the ticker KEEL shortly after.
The new identity is meant to reflect a business centered on energy and compute infrastructure rather than digital asset production.
Management framed the pivot as the culmination of investments made over the past year. “Everything we built in 2025 — the sites, the team, the balance sheet — was in service of one thesis,” Gagnon said, pointing to rising demand for AI infrastructure. The company has positioned its portfolio in regions with grid access and power availability, which it sees as key constraints in the current data center market.
As of late March, Bitfarms reported total liquidity of about $520 million, including both cash and bitcoin holdings. The gradual sale of its remaining BTC is expected to support ongoing development while simplifying the balance sheet. The company also repaid $100 million in debt tied to a prior financing facility, a move aimed at improving flexibility as it enters a capital-intensive buildout phase.
Financial results highlight the pressures behind the shift. Bitfarms reported $229 million in revenue for 2025, up 72% year over year, but posted a net loss of $284 million. A significant portion of that loss stemmed from changes in the fair value of digital assets and impairment charges, reinforcing the volatility inherent in holding bitcoin on the balance sheet.
Bitfarms has made clear it does not plan to compete directly in cloud services. Instead, it aims to supply powered land and data center capacity, enabling customers to deploy compute resources.
The model aligns with a growing class of firms that focus on the physical layer of the AI stack, where access to electricity and permitting has become a bottleneck. Bitcoin miners fit well into that stack because of their existing infrastructure.
Bitfarm’s stock was up over 5% at times today. BITF is currently priced at $1.89 a share.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pics-30-vNzaaM.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-31 16:05:262026-03-31 16:05:26Bitfarms (BITF) Started Selling All of Its Bitcoin, Pivoting Fully to AI Infrastructure
A new research paper from Google has intensified debate over whether Bitcoin can adapt in time to withstand advances in quantum computing, pushing developers and investors to confront a risk long treated as theoretical.
Google’s quantum division said this week in a new whitepaper that future machines could break widely used encryption far more efficiently than previously estimated, including the elliptic curve cryptography that underpins Bitcoin wallets.
The research suggests attacks that once appeared decades away may arrive sooner, with some scenarios modeling the ability to crack encryption in minutes under advanced conditions.
The findings do not imply an immediate threat. Today’s quantum computers remain far below the scale required to break modern cryptographic systems. But the paper reduces the estimated resources needed, narrowing the gap between theory and practice and shifting attention toward preparation rather than dismissal.
Google has already set a 2029 target to transition its own systems to post-quantum cryptography, reflecting a broader shift among large technology firms and governments toward defensive planning.
Is Bitcoin under threat?
For Bitcoin, the implications are specific and structural. The network relies on digital signatures that could, in principle, be reversed by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer. Roughly one-third of the total Bitcoin supply sits in addresses where public keys have been exposed, creating a defined set of targets under certain attack models.
Separate analyses cited in the research estimate that about 6.7 million Bitcoin may be exposed to varying degrees under quantum attack scenarios, including coins held in older address formats where public keys remain permanently visible on-chain.
More immediate concerns focus on transaction windows. When a Bitcoin transaction is broadcast, its public key becomes visible before confirmation. Google’s research suggests a theoretical attacker could exploit that gap, solving for the private key within the same time frame it takes for a block to be mined.
That has shifted the conversation among developers from abstract risk to engineering timelines.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao pushed back on what he described as exaggerated concerns, arguing that most cryptographic systems, including Bitcoin, can migrate to quantum-resistant algorithms without destabilizing the network.
He noted, however, that execution remains a constraint. Coordinating upgrades across a decentralized ecosystem could lead to competing proposals, software fragmentation and potential forks, while users holding assets in self-custody would need to actively migrate funds to new wallet structures.
The Bitcoin ecosystem has begun early-stage work on quantum resistance. A recent proposal, known as BIP 360, introduces new transaction formats designed to remove or reduce exposure to vulnerable cryptographic assumptions. The proposal remains in draft form, but test implementations are already running in experimental environments, allowing developers to evaluate quantum-safe signatures in practice.
Even proponents describe the effort as a starting point rather than a solution. Any upgrade would require broad coordination across a decentralized network, a process that can take years to reach consensus and deploy.
That timeline is central to the emerging debate. Estimates suggest a full migration to quantum-resistant cryptography in Bitcoin could take the better part of a decade, depending on adoption and coordination across wallets, exchanges and infrastructure providers.
The risk, developers say, is not only technological but organizational. Bitcoin has no central authority to mandate upgrades, and changes to its core protocol require agreement among a global set of participants with differing incentives.
Developers are currently working on a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal to strengthen Bitcoin against quantum, with a test net already deployed pic.twitter.com/bFVgkCDvuS
The issue also extends beyond cryptocurrency. The same class of cryptography secures banking systems, government communications and large parts of the internet.
In theory, the same cryptographic systems that secure Bitcoin also underpin global banking infrastructure, payment networks and government communications.
Google and cybersecurity agencies warned that attackers may already be collecting encrypted data today in anticipation of future quantum capabilities, a strategy known as “store now, decrypt later.”
Any viable quantum attack would not be isolated to crypto markets, but would extend across financial institutions and critical systems that rely on public-key encryption. Bitcoin is not uniquely vulnerable, but it is uniquely transparent. Its ledger makes exposure visible, and its open-source development model makes its response observable in real time.
Market reaction has remained muted so far, with prices largely unaffected by the latest research.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Googles-New-Quantum-Research-Reignites-Push-to-Harden-Bitcoin-4fbgb5.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-31 14:49:062026-03-31 14:49:06Google’s New Quantum Research Reignites Push to Harden Bitcoin
Square, the payments platform owned by Block, has begun automatically enabling bitcoin payments for eligible U.S. sellers starting today, marking a major expansion in the company’s push to integrate bitcoin into everyday commerce.
The move, touched on by Square product lead Miles Suter on X, shifts the feature from an opt-in tool introduced in late 2025 to a default setting now activated across millions of merchants.
Sellers will still receive USD as their default settlement currency, with bitcoin payments seamlessly converted in the background.
Square first unveiled its “Square Bitcoin” initiative in October 2025, introducing integrated bitcoin payments and wallet functionality for small businesses.
At launch, merchants could choose to enable bitcoin acceptance at checkout, with support for Lightning Network payments, instant settlement, and zero processing fees through 2027.
A broader rollout followed in November 2025, but adoption remained voluntary.
Today’s update removes that friction entirely. Eligible U.S. sellers now have bitcoin payments enabled automatically, without requiring manual activation in their Square settings. Merchants retain the ability to opt out or adjust preferences.
JUST IN: Today, millions of Square merchants “will begin having Bitcoin payments automatically enabled.”
With the change, customers can pay in Bitcoin at checkout while merchants continue to receive USD by default. The system is designed to abstract away volatility and settlement complexity, positioning bitcoin as a payment rail rather than a speculative asset for merchants.
Square’s integration leverages Lightning Network infrastructure to enable near-instant transactions, aiming to make bitcoin usable in everyday retail environments such as cafés, salons, and local shops.
Suter has described the rollout as a foundational step toward bitcoin functioning as “everyday money,” pointing to the scale of Square’s merchant network as a catalyst for adoption.
Earlier this year, Cash App, a mobile payments app from Block, also announced major upgrades to its Bitcoin offering, including zero-spread pricing, lower fees, expanded withdrawal limits, and new funding rails such as ACH and wire transfers.
According to Suter, eligible users can now withdraw up to $10,000 daily and $25,000 weekly, positioning Cash App as one of the most cost-effective Bitcoin on-ramps in the U.S.
The update aims to simplify Bitcoin usage, with automatic conversion between USD and Bitcoin and improved user experience across the platform.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Square-Begins-Automatic-Bitcoin-Payment-Rollout-to-Millions-of-U.S.-Merchants-vlTBRe.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-30 17:14:062026-03-30 17:14:06Square Begins Automatic Bitcoin Payment Rollout to Millions of U.S. Merchants
Bitcoin price moved higher Sunday night into Monday after remarks from Donald Trump indicating the United States is engaged in discussions with a new leadership structure in Iran and that progress toward a potential agreement is underway.
The comments helped lift risk appetite across digital assets after a weekend dip that briefly pushed bitcoin price toward the $64,000 area.
The rebound added to a broader pattern of rangebound trading, with bitcoin holding between roughly $65,000 and $70,000 as markets continue to digest geopolitical developments, macroeconomic signals, and shifting liquidity conditions.
The latest move followed a period of uneven price action marked by late-week weakness and early-week stabilization.
Geopolitical risk tied to Iran remains a key driver of sentiment. Tensions around energy infrastructure, shipping routes, and potential escalation scenarios continue to feed uncertainty across global markets, with crypto responding to headline changes alongside equities and commodities.
The conflict between Iran and Israel has escalated sharply, with U.S. and Israeli strikes hitting Iranian targets while Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, including strikes that affected Kuwait and other Gulf states, pushing the regional death toll above 1,900 in Iran and over 1,200 in Lebanon.
President Donald Trump has alternated between claiming diplomatic progress and issuing severe threats to destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, and the strategic Kharg Island export hub if a deal is not reached soon.
The fighting has widened regionally, with Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates intercepting incoming missiles and drones, while tensions over shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz continue to raise global energy concerns.
Diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, with Pakistan attempting to mediate indirect talks involving regional powers, even as leaders like U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggests regime change in Iran may be underway.
Bitcoin price reaction
Bitcoin price has been stuck in a tight range around $70,000 since mid-February because multiple forces are offsetting each other. On one side, institutional investors have been selling covered call options on their Bitcoin holdings to earn extra income, which shifts “gamma” exposure onto market makers.
Those market makers then hedge by buying when prices fall and selling when prices rise, which naturally dampens volatility and reinforces range-bound trading.
At the same time, macro factors like safe-haven demand and rising U.S. yields are pulling Bitcoin price in opposite directions, keeping it trapped between roughly $65,000 and $75,000.
Investors continue to rotate toward yield-bearing and lower-volatility assets while reducing exposure to risk assets tied to global uncertainty. Crypto markets remain reactive to headlines rather than driven by sustained inflow momentum.
Despite softer institutional demand, underlying activity has not fully reversed. Prior weeks of inflows remain significant in scale, suggesting continued longer-term allocation interest even as near-term positioning shifts.
For now, bitcoin price remains anchored in a tight trading band shaped by geopolitical developments, ETF flow trends, and expectations around upcoming U.S. economic data.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bitcoin-Price-Teeters-on-Iran-Talks-as-Geopolitics-and-Options-Flows-Trap-Price-in-Narrow-Range-XEmNuz.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-30 15:19:402026-03-30 15:19:40Bitcoin Price Teeters on Iran Talks as Geopolitics and Options Flows Trap Price in Narrow Range
ABTC has crossed 7,000 BTC in corporate reserves, marking more expansion of its Bitcoin treasury following its Nasdaq listing. The company reported its holdings have nearly tripled since launch, while “satoshis per share” have more than doubled over the same period.
ABTC now ranks among the top publicly traded Bitcoin-holding firms globally, coming in at #16, according to bitcointreasuries.net.
American Bitcoin has been aggressively expanding its mining operations, purchasing over 11,000 ASIC machines this month to significantly boost hashrate capacity.
The company plans to scale its fleet toward ~89,000 rigs and ~28 EH/s, focusing on self-mining BTC at lower costs rather than market purchases.
Executives say this strategy is designed to increase Bitcoin holdings efficiently, with strong reported mining margins.
ABTC co-founder Eric Trump also took to X earlier this month and said that major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, are lobbying in Washington to restrict higher-yield crypto and stablecoin products through legislation like the CLARITY Act, aiming to protect traditional banking profits.
ABTC’s rough stock performance
The company reported a challenging fourth quarter earlier this year as bitcoin’s 23% price decline triggered a $227 million non-cash mark-to-market loss and a $59 million net loss. Revenue for the quarter was $78.3 million, slightly below estimates but up from $64.2 million a year earlier, with full-year revenue of $185.2 million.
The firm ended last year with 5,401 BTC and has since grown holdings above 6,000 BTC through mining and open-market purchases.
The company said roughly one-third of its bitcoin came from mining, the rest from acquisitions. It operates at a 53% mining margin, indicating profitability despite volatility.
Since its Nasdaq debut in September of 2025, shares have fallen sharply from peak levels, down over 90%.
Industry peers such as MARA and Riot are diversifying into AI infrastructure, while Hut 8 supports American Bitcoin and expanded credit facilities to $400 million, alongside a $200 million revolving line from Two Prime, strengthening liquidity.
At the time of writing, shares of ABTC are near $0.90 a share.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
Morgan Stanley is poised to shake up the spot bitcoin ETF market with a sharply lower fee structure, as new filing details show its upcoming Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) will charge just 0.14% annually — undercutting every existing U.S. competitor.
The fee, disclosed in updated trust documents shared by Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, comes in 11 basis points below BlackRock’s flagship iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which currently charges around 0.25%.
The aggressive pricing positions MSBT as the cheapest spot bitcoin ETF on the market at launch, signaling a deliberate push to capture both internal advisory flows and external investor capital.
The move carries particular weight within Morgan Stanley’s own ecosystem. With roughly $8 trillion in wealth management assets and a network of thousands of financial advisors, fee sensitivity has been one of the barriers to broader ETF adoption across advisory channels.
A lower-cost in-house product could remove that friction, allowing advisors to allocate to bitcoin without facing conflicts tied to recommending higher-fee third-party funds.
Industry observers say that dynamic could materially shift flows.
Phong Le, CEO of Strategy, recently described the product as a potential “Monster Bitcoin” catalyst, estimating that even a modest 2% allocation across Morgan Stanley’s platform could translate into roughly $160 billion in demand.
That figure would far exceed the size of any existing spot bitcoin ETF and underscores the importance of distribution, not just product design.
Morgan Stanley’s bitcoin ETF is coming
The fee disclosure arrives as MSBT moves closer to launch. The fund has already received a listing notice from the New York Stock Exchange, a step widely viewed as signaling that trading could begin imminently pending final regulatory clearance. If approved, the product would become the first spot bitcoin ETF issued directly by a major U.S. bank rather than an asset manager.
Structurally, MSBT mirrors existing spot bitcoin ETFs. The trust will hold bitcoin directly, with Coinbase serving as custodian and prime broker, while BNY Mellon will handle administration, transfer agency, and cash custody.
Since their debut in 2024, U.S.-listed spot bitcoin ETFs have easily attracted more than $50 billion in inflows, driven largely by retail and self-directed investors. Adoption within wealth management platforms has been slower, often constrained by internal policies, fee considerations, and portfolio construction guidelines.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $66,000.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Morgan-Stanley-Set-to-Undercut-Bitcoin-ETF-Rivals-With-0.14-Fee-Ahead-of-Launch-8BlKK5.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-27 21:52:352026-03-27 21:52:35Morgan Stanley Set to Undercut Bitcoin ETF Rivals With 0.14% Fee Ahead of Launch
As of March 27, 2026, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index reads 13, placing sentiment in Extreme Fear. The current price of bitcoin is near $66,000.
The index spans 0 to 100, with lower readings tied to fear-driven market conditions and higher readings tied to greed-driven conditions.
The metric compiles inputs across price volatility, market momentum, trading volume, Bitcoin dominance, social sentiment, and Google Trends activity. The combined dataset forms a sentiment gauge used to track emotional conditions across Bitcoin markets.
Readings in the Extreme Fear range have aligned with prior stress phases in BTC market cycles.
Bitcoin Magazine Pro data highlights these zones as periods marked by liquidity contraction, elevated volatility, and forced positioning in derivatives markets.
JUST IN: The #Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index is now at 13, “Extreme Fear”
In prior reporting, deep fear readings have coincided with accumulation behavior among long-term holders, alongside reduced speculative activity across spot and derivatives venues.
Earlier market drawdowns examined in Bitcoin Magazine Pro research show similar sentiment conditions during deleveraging events, where sharp price declines matched rapid sentiment compression.
In those phases, volatility expansion and liquidity withdrawal appeared alongside increased Bitcoin dominance as risk appetite shifted away from altcoin exposure.
Bitcoin uncertainty
Earlier today, Bitcoin price fell to its lowest level in more than two weeks, dropping below roughly $66,000 as liquidations exceeded $300 million in long positions over the previous 24 hours.
Short liquidations were far lower, showing that leveraged bullish traders were primarily forced out of the market. The move followed a broader shift in global risk sentiment as equities weakened and macroeconomic pressure increased.
The decline in BTC coincided with a risk-off environment across traditional markets. Nasdaq 100 futures had fallen about 10% from prior highs, while oil prices rose toward $100 per barrel amid escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Military activity and missile exchanges between the two countries continued despite diplomatic efforts, and the United States delayed direct escalation while negotiations remained open.
Regional instability contributed to concerns over energy supply routes, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
BTC had briefly approached higher levels earlier in the week on hopes of diplomatic progress, but those gains reversed as uncertainty returned. Price action remained within a broader range between $60,000 and $75,000 that had persisted for several weeks, following a prior peak above $120,000 in late 2025.
Institutional flows showed mixed signals. Spot BTC exchange-traded funds recorded billions in inflows earlier in March, but more recent sessions saw outflows.
On-chain data showed continued withdrawals from exchanges, suggesting long-term holders moved assets into self-custody. Options markets showed about $14 billion in expirations, which influenced price stability near key strike levels around $75,000.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bitcoin-fear-and-greed-index-hits-extreme-fear-at-9ZuybT.webp6301200Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-27 16:14:532026-03-27 16:14:53Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index Hits Extreme Fear at 13 Out of 100
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has completed a $600 million direct cash investment in prediction market platform Polymarket as part of a broader equity fundraising round, according to a company announcement.
The new investment follows ICE’s previously disclosed $1 billion commitment made in October 2025. With the latest infusion, ICE says it has now fulfilled its obligations under the investment agreement, which also includes plans to purchase up to $40 million in additional Polymarket securities from existing holders.
Polymarket, a blockchain-based prediction market platform that allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, has drawn increasing attention from institutional investors amid growing interest in event-driven data markets and decentralized financial infrastructure.
Polymarket has support for bitcoin deposits, giving users a direct way to fund their accounts with BTC alongside other existing crypto options.
ICE stated that the investment is not expected to materially impact its financial results or capital return plans. Final valuation details of the latest transaction are expected to be disclosed once the fundraising round is fully completed.
The move further signals traditional financial market infrastructure firms expanding into alternative data and crypto-adjacent platforms. ICE, which operates major exchanges including the NYSE, continues to diversify into digital markets, data services, and fintech infrastructure.
Polymarket has become one of the most prominent prediction market platforms globally, leveraging blockchain rails to facilitate trading on political, economic, and cultural outcomes.
The companies emphasized that the announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit securities. Market observers say the scale of ICE’s investment underscores rising institutional interest in prediction markets as both a trading venue and a data source.
Polymarket’s embrace by TradFi
In the past year, the relationship between the crypto-native prediction market and traditional financial powerhouse Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has become one of the most closely watched intersections of decentralized markets and institutional capital.
Polymarket, launched in 2020 by founder Shayne Coplan, has grown into one of the largest blockchain-based prediction platforms, where users trade shares on the outcomes of future events — from elections to economic indicators and geopolitical developments — using cryptocurrency rails.
In late 2025, Polymarket re-entered the U.S. market under full Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulation after previously being blocked amid enforcement actions, marking a significant shift from its earlier status as an offshore, lightly regulated venue.
In December 2025, Polymarket launched its U.S.-focused app after the CFTC approval, restoring American access to its prediction markets and initially offering sports betting with plans to expand into other categories like propositions and elections.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
Bitcoin price fell below $66,500 on Friday, hitting its lowest level in more than two weeks as a wave of long liquidations and mounting macroeconomic stress weighed on the crypto market..
Data shows nearly $300 million in long positions were liquidated over the past 24 hours, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data, compared with roughly $50 million in short liquidations, pointing to an unwind of crowded bullish positioning in crypto futures. The imbalance reflects a market that had leaned heavily long and is now adjusting as sentiment shifts.
The bitcoin price selloff coincided with a broader risk-off move across global markets. Nasdaq 100 futures have fallen about 10% from their January highs, while oil prices climbed near $100 per barrel amid escalating geopolitical tensions tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Earlier today, Israel said it will escalate strikes on Iran after renewed waves of Iranian missile attacks, while both sides continue exchanging fire despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
President Trump has paused U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for 10 more days to allow negotiations, even as reports suggest the Pentagon is considering deploying up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the conflict is widening regionally, with shipping disruptions reported in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf states on alert after strikes, and Iranian casualties reportedly nearing 2,000 as international talks continue in Europe.
The surge in crude has renewed inflation concerns and pressured risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin price dynamics
Bitcoin price briefly approached $71,500 this week on optimism tied to a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East. Those gains reversed as uncertainty around negotiations resurfaced, pushing prices lower and reinforcing sensitive market conditions.
Despite the recent decline, bitcoin price continues to trade within a defined range between $60,000 and $75,000 that has held for several weeks, even months. The asset remains well below its October 2025 peak above $126,000 following a broader market correction.
Institutional flows present a mixed picture. U.S.-listed spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded sustained inflows earlier in March, totaling about $2.5 billion over five weeks. That momentum has slowed in recent sessions, with net outflows emerging and signaling a pause in accumulation as investors respond to macro uncertainty.
At the same time, on-chain data indicates continued withdrawals of bitcoin from centralized exchanges over the past month. This trend suggests longer-term holders are moving assets into self-custody, a pattern often associated with accumulation rather than distribution.
Despite this, Morgan Stanley is a step closer to launching its spot Bitcoin ETF, MSBT, after the New York Stock Exchange posted a listing notice — signaling an imminent debut that could make it the first such product from a major U.S. bank, alongside offerings from BlackRock and Fidelity.
Options markets add another layer of complexity. Roughly $14 billion in bitcoin price options are set to expire, representing a significant share of open interest.
Hedging activity tied to these contracts has contributed to subdued volatility, with price action gravitating toward key strike levels near $75,000.
As these contracts roll off, the stabilizing effect from derivatives positioning may fade, leaving bitcoin more exposed to external catalysts.
With geopolitical risks elevated and macro conditions tightening, the market faces a period where price movements may become more reactive and less constrained by structural flows.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bitcoin-Price-Slides-to-Two-Week-Low-as-Liquidations-Top-300-Million-and-Macro-Pressure-Builds-EzN7eV.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-27 13:51:512026-03-27 13:51:51Bitcoin Price Slides to Two-Week Low as Liquidations Top $300 Million and Macro Pressure Builds
Trust Wallet, the self-custody crypto wallet with over 220 million downloads, announced the launch of the Trust Wallet Agent Kit, a new infrastructure that enables AI agents to execute real crypto transactions across more than 25 blockchains — while keeping users fully in control.
For the first time, AI can take actions in a user’s wallet — but only within the permissions and boundaries defined by the user.
The Agent Kit integrates with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and is available via a command line interface (CLI), giving developers the tools to build and test AI-powered crypto workflows safely and efficiently, according to a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine.
The launch follows the recent opening of Trust Wallet’s Developer Portal, which allowed AI agents read-only access to data across more than 100 chains. While the Developer Portal provided context for understanding users’ crypto positions, the Agent Kit adds a wallet-connected layer, enabling user-directed actions and automated workflows.
“AI can understand what a user wants to do with their money — but it needs a trusted layer before it can safely act on it,” said Felix Fan, CEO of Trust Wallet. “The Agent Kit is that layer. Developers can now build agents that execute on real wallets, within rules users set — and we’ll expand those capabilities as users build confidence in what AI can do on their behalf.”
Interestingly, a new Bitcoin Policy Institute study from this month found that frontier AI models overwhelmingly favor digitally-native money, with Bitcoin chosen in 48.3% of scenarios and dominating as a long-term store of value at 79.1%.
Stablecoins lagged behind, and traditional fiat was rarely selected, as AIs cited Bitcoin’s fixed supply, decentralization, and self-custody as key advantages.
AI agents working on your behalf
The Agent Kit supports two modes of interaction. The first is a dedicated AI agent wallet, where users preconfigure permissions for tasks such as dollar-cost averaging, alerts, and limit-based strategies without per-transaction approvals.
The second — unique in the industry — connects an AI agent directly to a user’s existing Trust Wallet through WalletConnect, where agents propose transactions that users approve before execution. Custody always remains with the user, ensuring safety and control.
At launch, the Agent Kit supports more than 25 blockchains, making it the broadest AI-connected wallet infrastructure available today. The toolkit comes equipped with full DeFi infrastructure, including swaps, automations, limit orders, alerts, and risk scoring, along with developer features such as ENS resolution and message signing.
Developers can set up a working AI agent in under 15 minutes.
Looking ahead, Trust Wallet plans to integrate AI directly into its wallet for all 220 million users, providing in-wallet insights, automated strategies, personalized alerts, and approved transaction suggestions.
Later this year, an Agent Marketplace will allow developers to publish reusable agent strategies and trading bots, while users can explore and deploy them directly from their wallets, the company said.
With the Agent Kit, Trust Wallet aims to become the foundation for self-custody in an AI-driven world, giving users the benefits of automation while ensuring their assets remain under their control.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Trust-Wallet-Launches-Agent-Kit-That-Lets-AI-Execute-Crypto-Transactions-Under-User-Control-SDZadK.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-26 17:26:122026-03-26 17:26:12Trust Wallet Launches Agent Kit That Lets AI Execute Crypto Transactions Under User Control
Brazil has enacted a landmark law that allows authorities to channel crypto seized from criminal organizations directly into public security initiatives, marking a major step in the country’s crackdown on organized crime.
Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Law No. 15.358 equips law enforcement with unprecedented powers to freeze, block, and seize both traditional and digital assets, including crypto, during investigations.
The legislation also permits the provisional use of seized cryptoassets, with judicial approval, to fund police operations, intelligence work, officer training, and other public security efforts—even before final convictions.
The law specifically targets ultraviolent criminal organizations, paramilitary groups, and private militias, broadening the definition of crimes and significantly increasing penalties for acts such as controlling territories, obstructing police, or using encrypted messaging apps and privacy tools to conceal illicit activity.
Authorities can now suspend access to exchanges, digital wallets, and online platforms during investigations, with permanent restrictions applied upon conviction.
The legislation also facilitates international cooperation for asset recovery and intelligence sharing, aiming to track and recover illicit proceeds across borders.
The law further strengthens civil measures, allowing courts to seize property, block funds, and liquidate assets connected to criminal activity.
It establishes a national criminal database that integrates the financial structures of known criminal groups, improving coordination between police, prosecutors, and the judiciary.
Brazil’s attempt at a bitcoin reserve
Back in February 2026, Brazilian lawmakers reintroduced a bill proposing the creation of a Strategic Sovereign Bitcoin Reserve (RESBit) to gradually acquire one million bitcoins over five years.
The bill, presented by Federal Deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD/CE), outlines a comprehensive framework to integrate Bitcoin into the country’s financial strategy and diversify national reserves.
The legislation would prohibit selling bitcoins seized by judicial authorities, allow federal taxes to be collected in Bitcoin, and encourage public companies to participate in Bitcoin mining and storage.
RESBit would emphasize transparency and security, requiring public disclosure of holdings and use of cold wallets, multisignature wallets, and other recognized storage methods.
If approved, Brazil would join a small group of countries holding national Bitcoin reserves, following examples like El Salvador and proposals in the United States.
Also, French utility giant Engie is considering adding battery storage or bitcoin mining data centers at its newly launched 895-MW Assu Sol solar plant in Brazil to offset curtailment losses and boost project economics, Reuters reports.
Despite entering full commercial operation this month, the northeast Brazil facility has already faced grid-imposed restrictions that limit output when supply exceeds demand.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Brazil-Passes-Law-Turning-Seized-Crypto-into-Public-Security-War-Chest-6CxJ2E.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-26 15:09:222026-03-26 15:09:22Brazil Passes Law Turning Seized Crypto into Public-Security War Chest
MARA, a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin miner expanding into digital energy and
AI infrastructure, announced a major balance sheet restructuring on Thursday.
The company said they sold 15,133 Bitcoin for approximately $1.1 billion between March 4 and March 25 to fund the repurchase of its 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2030 and 2031.
The company will repurchase $367.5 million of its 2030 notes for $322.9 million and $633.4 million of its 2031 notes for $589.9 million.
The purchases represent an approximate 9% discount to par value and are expected to generate roughly $88.1 million in cash savings. The transactions are scheduled to close on March 30 and March 31, pending customary conditions.
Following the repurchases, MARA’s outstanding convertible debt will decline by about 30%, reducing total convertible notes from roughly $3.3 billion to $2.3 billion.
The move also limits potential future shareholder dilution tied to the notes’ conversion feature. After the repurchases, $632.5 million of 2030 notes and $291.6 million of 2031 notes will remain outstanding.
The company has made it clear they are pivoting toward artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
Shares of MARA were up 6% in premarket trading following the announcement.
MARA CEO: Selling bitcoin strengthens our balance sheet
CEO Fred Thiel described the transactions as part of a broader capital allocation strategy.
“Our decision to sell a portion of our Bitcoin holdings reflects a strategic move designed to strengthen our balance sheet and position the company for long-term growth,” Thiel said.
He added that the repurchases preserve shareholder value and provide the company with greater financial flexibility as it expands beyond Bitcoin mining into digital energy and AI/HPC infrastructure.
The company intends to use the remaining proceeds from the Bitcoin sales to support general corporate purposes. MARA’s current Bitcoin holdings now total 38,689 BTC, down from 53,822 BTC at the end of February.
At current market prices, the holdings are valued at approximately $2.7 billion. The update places MARA behind only Twenty One Capital in terms of corporate Bitcoin holdings.
MARA’s capital structure prior to the transactions included $1.0 billion in 2030 notes and $925 million in 2031 notes. Following the repurchases, the principal amounts will be $632.5 million and $291.6 million, respectively.
Other convertible notes remain unchanged, including $48.1 million of 1.0% notes due 2026, $300 million of 2.125% notes due 2031, and $1.025 billion of 0.0% notes due 2032.
J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC acted as financial advisor, while Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP provided legal counsel.
MARA develops technologies that harness excess energy to power high-performance computing applications and accelerate digital infrastructure deployment. The company has stated it plans to sell Bitcoin “from time to time” as part of its 2026 capital and liquidity strategy.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
Morgan Stanley’s long‑awaited spot Bitcoin exchange‑traded fund, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), has taken a major procedural step toward trading after the New York Stock Exchange confirmed an official listing notice for the product.
Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas says the listing typically signals a launch is “imminent.”
If approved by regulators, MSBT would mark the first spot Bitcoin ETF issued directly by a major U.S. bank rather than an asset manager. Existing U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have been launched by firms such as BlackRock and Fidelity.
Morgan Stanley’s wealth management division oversees one of the largest networks of financial advisors in the industry, with roughly 16,000 advisors and trillions in client assets under management.
That distribution reach could make MSBT a significant channel for Bitcoin exposure in traditional portfolios.
The ETF’s fee structure has not yet been disclosed. The flagship U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF from BlackRock, iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), currently charges around a 0.25% management fee, with other issuers ranging from 0.20% to 0.30% annually.
Morgan Stanley’s bitcoin moves
Last week, Morgan Stanley confirmed that its proposed spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund will trade under the ticker MSBT on NYSE Arca, according to an updated filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The filing details the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, a passive investment vehicle designed to track the spot price of bitcoin through direct holdings. Shares will reflect the value of bitcoin held in custody, allowing investors to gain exposure through brokerage accounts without owning the cryptocurrency directly.
Speaking at the Digital Asset Summit on Tuesday, Amy Oldenburg, Head of Digital Asset Strategy at Morgan Stanley said that Wall Street’s move into digital assets reflects a long-term effort to modernize financial infrastructure.
“We’ve been on a journey around the entire modernization of financial infrastructure for years,” she said, rejecting the idea that banks are acting out of fear of missing out.
The trust plans to seed the fund with 50,000 shares, expected to raise roughly $1 million in initial proceeds.
Coinbase Custody Trust Company will serve as the primary bitcoin custodian, holding most assets in cold storage and facilitating transfers tied to share creation and redemption.
BNY Mellon will handle administration, transfer agent duties, and cash custody, managing accounting, shareholder records, and cash operations for the trust.
The structure mirrors models used across the spot bitcoin ETF market, with a portion of holdings moving into trading wallets during share creation or redemption, when authorized participants exchange cash for bitcoin or redeem shares for the underlying asset.
The filing notes that custody insurance is in place but shared across multiple clients and may not cover all losses, a standard disclosure among spot bitcoin ETFs.
Bitwise Asset Management has become the first strategic yield partner in Lombard’s Bitcoin Smart Accounts ecosystem, signaling a growing bridge between institutional custody and productive on-chain Bitcoin deployment.
The collaboration is designed to unlock yield and liquidity for an estimated $500 billion in BTC currently held in regulated custody, without requiring asset transfers or modifications to existing custodial arrangements, Lombard said.
Scheduled for a Q2 2026 launch, Bitcoin Smart Accounts will allow high-net-worth individuals, institutional asset managers, and corporate treasuries to earn yield or borrow against BTC while maintaining full control of their assets.
Bitwise will provide institutional-grade yield strategies, combining DeFi lending with curated real-world asset portfolios, while Morpho will facilitate stablecoin liquidity for borrowing products.
Jacob Phillips, co-founder of Lombard, highlighted the significance of institutional adoption: “Following the February introduction of Bitcoin Smart Accounts, we’ve observed substantial demand for solutions that enable productive Bitcoin deployment while preserving existing custody. Bitwise brings the credibility and capabilities required to serve this market at scale.”
The partnership addresses longstanding operational inefficiencies in institutional Bitcoin markets. Traditionally, holders seeking liquidity faced three limited options: exiting custody, using opaque OTC lending channels, or selling assets — each presenting risk, cost, or lost upside.
Lombard’s Smart Accounts leverage custodian-integrated infrastructure to recognize Bitcoin positions as collateral using cryptographic receipts (BTC.b) without transferring the underlying asset.
Generate returns while preserving bitcoin
Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise, framed the collaboration as a milestone for institutional Bitcoin: “We’re seeing growing demand for strategies that generate returns while preserving Bitcoin’s core properties.
This partnership helps shape an ecosystem where BTC can function as productive, yield-generating capital while maintaining security and compliance standards.”
According to Horsley, the recent BTC rebound and dip is attracting institutional interest, with investors viewing sub-$70,000 levels as an opportunity to accumulate. While some retail traders remain cautious, looking for signs that the market has found a floor, larger investors are approaching the pullback with a different perspective.
Horsley believes long-term holders may feel uncertain during price drops, whereas institutions are seizing the chance to enter at levels they previously thought were out of reach. Some buyers are taking advantage of broader market weakness, as BTC becomes part of a wider selloff in liquid risk assets, creating renewed opportunities for accumulation.
The architecture for the collaboration is designed to scale. Each new custodian or protocol integration increases the utility of the system, creating network effects akin to those seen in ACH or SWIFT over decades.
Lombard plans to expand custodian partnerships and whitelisted protocol integrations throughout 2026, aiming to mobilize hundreds of billions in institutionally held BTC into productive on-chain capital.
Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.
Bitcoin’s price has steadied after recent volatility, suggesting the worst of the market turbulence may be behind investors.
Following a sharp weekend selloff that pushed bitcoin from around $75,000 to lows near $67,000, the digital asset has rebounded, supported by signs of constructive U.S.–Iran talks and easing selling pressure from ETFs and long-term holders.
Despite closing the week down roughly 6%, the cryptocurrency shows resilience in its current range.
Research from K33 highlights that bitcoin has been trading sideways between $60,000 and $75,000 in recent weeks, a pattern often linked to market bottoms.
K33 Head of Research Vetle Lunde noted that this consolidation reflects stabilization in both exchange-traded product flows and long-term holder behavior. “With bitcoin trading below $100,000, fewer investors are inclined to exit positions, helping anchor prices,” Lunde said.
ETF flows have turned mildly positive since late February, signaling an end to the heavy distribution phase that began after October’s all-time highs.
Meanwhile, supply held for more than six months is rising again, reinforcing the market’s structural stability.
Broader financial conditions remain uncertain, with rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and a hawkish Federal Reserve limiting risk appetite. Open interest in bitcoin perpetual swaps hovers near yearly lows, funding rates remain negative, and institutional participation has been muted.
Still, K33 describes the environment as constructive. Reduced selling pressure, stabilized flows, and range-bound price action suggest bitcoin may be transitioning out of a distribution phase toward a potential bottom.
For medium- and long-term investors, the current low $70,000 levels could represent an attractive entry point, even as macro uncertainty keeps upside limited in the near term.
What’s going on in Iran?
Negotiations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel are ongoing but remain indirect and uncertain.
The U.S. has put forward a multi-point proposal aimed at ending the current conflict, reopening key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, and limiting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Talks are being mediated through countries such as Oman and Pakistan rather than conducted face-to-face.
This reflects a common strategy where Iran avoids signaling concessions domestically while remaining engaged diplomatically.
Major disagreements remain. Iran is demanding an end to military actions, security guarantees, and compensation, while rejecting limits on its missile program. The U.S., meanwhile, is pushing for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activity.
The situation remains unstable, with diplomacy and military activity happening simultaneously.
When most people download Bitcoin Core, their interaction with the build system is over in a few clicks. They grab the executable binary of the software, verify a signature (hopefully!), and start running a Bitcoin node. What they immediately see is running software. What they don’t see is the build system and extensive processes that produced that software. A build system that represents Bitcoin’s principles of decentralization, transparency, and verifiability.
Behind that download lies years of engineering work designed to answer a simple question: “Why should anyone trust this software?” The answer is: you shouldn’t have to. You should be able to verify.
In a time when software supply-chain attacks make global headlines, from compromised npm packages, backdoored libraries, rogue CI servers, Bitcoin Core’s build process stands as a quiet project of discipline. Its methods may seem slow and complicated compared to the frictionless convenience of “push to deploy,” but that’s the point. Security isn’t convenient.
To understand Bitcoin Core’s build system, we should understand:
Bitcoin Core’s Build System Philosophy
Reproducible Builds
Minimizing Dependencies
No Auto-Updates
Continuous Integration
Ongoing Adaptation
Bitcoin Core’s Build System Philosophy
When it comes to Bitcoin’s decentralization, most people focus on miners, nodes, and developers. But decentralization doesn’t stop at the protocol’s participants. It extends to the way the software itself is built and distributed.
One principle in the Bitcoin ecosystem is “don’t trust, verify.” Running your own node is an act of verification, checking every block and transaction against the consensus rules. But the build system itself gives you another opportunity to verify, at the software level. Bitcoin is money without trusted intermediaries and Bitcoin Core works to be software without trusted builders. The build system takes great lengths to ensure that anyone, anywhere, can independently recreate the exact same binaries that appear on the bitcoincore.org website.
This philosophy traces back to Ken Thompson’s 1984 essay Reflections on Trusting Trust, which warned that even a clean-looking source code can’t be trusted if the compiler that built that software was itself compromised. Bitcoin’s developers took that lesson to heart. In the words of Bitcoin Core contributor Michael Ford (fanquake):
“Reproducible builds are critical, because no user of our software should have to trust that what’s contained inside is what we say it is. This must always be independently verifiable.”
A statement that is both a technical goal and part of the Bitcoin ethos.
In the security world, people talk about “attack surfaces.” Bitcoin Core’s build system treats the build process itself as an attack surface to be minimized and defended.
Reproducible Builds: Verification all the way down
The process of producing a Bitcoin Core release begins with the open-source codebase on GitHub. Every change is public. Every pull request is reviewed. But the journey from human-readable code to runnable binary software involves compilers, third-party libraries, and operating-systems which are themselves potential vectors for tampering, backdoors, or errors.
“Trusted third parties are security holes” – Nick Szabo (2001)
To address these concerns, Bitcoin Core architected a build process pipeline using Guix, a package manager designed to create reproducible, deterministic software environments.
When a new Bitcoin Core release is tagged, multiple independent contributors build the binaries from scratch using Guix. Each builder works in an isolated environment that guarantees identical toolchains, compiler versions, and system libraries. If all builders produce identical-bit outputs they know the build is deterministic.
Contributors then cryptographically sign the resulting binaries and publish those signatures on a separate GitHub repository ‘guix.sigs’ that lists these attestations for each release of Bitcoin Core. Some builders are Bitcoin Core developers, but it is not a requirement as the attestation process is open to anyone from the public. In fact, many non-code-contributors regularly contribute signatures.
This process is known as reproducible builds, and it is the antidote to Thompson’s “trusting trust.” It means anyone can take the open-source code, the same Guix environment, and independently confirm that the official binary matches what they built themselves. While reproducible builds can verify the software is a genuine representation of the software’s source code, the software’s correctness is left to processes around thorough testing and code review.
Most people will never perform a full compilation or check the Guix manifests or compare build hashes. They don’t need to. The existence of that infrastructure, and the people maintaining it, gives every user a foundation of earned confidence.
The official binaries on bitcoincore.org aren’t just “produced by the Bitcoin Core maintainers”. They’re the intersection of dozens of independent builders’ outputs. What you eventually download is what everyone else built and verified to be authentic.
It’s verification all the way down.
Minimizing Dependencies: Less to Trust
Reproducibility is one side of the equation. The other is minimizing what needs to be reproduced. Bitcoin Core’s code is not the only code executed when running Bitcoin Core. Bitcoin Core also relies on external, third-party code and libraries to speed up development and productivity.
Over the past decade, Bitcoin Core developers have steadily stripped away these unnecessary and sometimes problematic third-party dependencies, like OpenSSL and MiniUPnP. Whether it is an external library or toolkit, these dependencies add complexity or import hidden assumptions. Projects like Boost and Libevent, once staples of Core’s codebase, are gradually being phased out or replaced with simpler, self-contained alternatives.
Why? Because every dependency you inherit is a potential supply-chain risk. It’s more code you didn’t write, don’t audit, and can’t fully control. Reducing dependencies makes the build system leaner, safer, and easier to verify.
Brink recently highlighted this effort in its “Minimizing Dependencies” blog post[1], noting that it’s not just a matter of simplicity, it’s about preserving the project’s security and autonomy. Each removed dependency is one fewer external party the project must trust and one less potential for a backdoor.
The eventual goal is to produce fully static binaries: executables that contain everything they need to run, with no dynamic or runtime dependencies. This self-containment means no reliance on external libraries that could differ from one operating system to another.
In a world where most software grows heavier and more dependent on centralized package ecosystems, Bitcoin Core is moving in the opposite direction: toward minimalism and independence.
No Auto-Updates
In most modern software, users are shielded from decisions of what software version to update to, or decisions to update the software at all. You install an app, and it quietly and automatically updates itself to the latest versions in the background. While this is convenient, it is antithetical to Bitcoin Core’s philosophy.
Bitcoin Core has never included automatic updates, and developers have said it never will. Automatic updates concentrate power. They create a single group that can push (potentially malicious) code to every node on the network. This is exactly the sort of centralized control Bitcoin was built to avoid. By requiring users to manually download, verify, and install new versions, Bitcoin Core reinforces individual responsibility and verifiable consent.
The build system and the lack of auto-updates are two halves of the same principle. Only the node runner decides what to run and can verify that the software that is run is authentic.
Continuous Integration: Move slow and fix things
In Silicon Valley, continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) are the hallmarks of agile software development. Ship fast. Iterate faster. Let automation do the rest.
Bitcoin Core takes a different approach. Its CI systems exist not to accelerate deployment but to safeguard integrity. Automated builds test consistency across platforms. Bitcoin Core’s build system is designed to be agnostic to hardware and operating systems as much as possible. The project can build binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows as well as for multiple architectures including x86_64, aarch64 (ARM), and even riscv64. The continuous integration system ensures this compatibility as well as software integrity by performing hundreds of tests for each proposed change.
The result is a culture where “continuous integration” means continuous testing, verification and security, not continuous innovation.
Move slow and fix things.
Ongoing Adaptation: Are we done yet?
The build system isn’t static. Developers continue to refine it by reducing dependencies, improving cross-architecture builds, and exploring a fully static build future with zero runtime dependencies.
While Bitcoin Core’s build system strives for determinism, the build system itself cannot be static. The world it operates within is constantly shifting. Operating systems, compilers, libraries, and hardware architectures all change. Each new release of macOS or glibc, every deprecation of a compiler flag, or emerging CPU architecture introduces subtle incompatibilities that must be addressed. A build system that stood still would, over time, cease to build at all.
The paradox of reproducible builds is that they require continual evolution to remain reproducible. Developers must constantly pin, patch, and sometimes replace toolchains to preserve determinism against a moving backdrop of change. Maintaining this balance between stability and adaptability is part of Bitcoin’s ongoing resilience.
This piece is the Letter from the Editor featured in the latest Print edition of Bitcoin Magazine, The Core Issue. We’re sharing it here as an early look at the ideas explored throughout the full issue.
Publicly listed DV8 (SET: DV8) has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Rakkar Digital, a licensed digital asset custodian in Thailand.
This move represents DV8’s first direct entry into regulated digital asset operations and marks a strategic pivot toward building infrastructure that institutional investors can rely on across Asia.
Rakkar Digital, with over $700 million in assets under custody, was established as a joint venture between SCBX, the parent company of Siam Commercial Bank, and Fireblocks, a global digital asset infrastructure provider, according to a note shared with Bitcoin Magazine.
Early backing from SCB 10X helped lay the foundation for its growth. For DV8, the company’s regulatory standing, operational framework, and trust among institutional clients made it a natural fit.
Custody lies at the heart of any institutional-grade digital asset strategy. It demands licensing, compliance, security expertise, and constant engagement with regulators.
By acquiring Rakkar Digital, DV8 said they gained a platform already meeting those standards, giving the company a firm foothold in Asia’s evolving digital asset ecosystem.
This deal follows DV8’s September 2025 investment in Bitplanet, a Korean digital asset treasury platform.
Taken together, these steps illustrate a consistent approach: backing regulated, resilient businesses that enhance DV8’s ability to operate across borders while meeting institutional expectations.
DV8 was originally a media company but is now transforming into a builder of regulated digital asset infrastructure, the company said.
Bitcoin as a reserve asset
Over the last five years, Bitcoin has become a more and more popular treasury reserve asset for traditional finance companies.
Strategy (MSTR) has become the flagship case study in the evolution of bitcoin treasury strategies in the corporate world.
Under the leadership of Michael Saylor, Strategy shifted from a traditional software business to a firm whose primary reserve asset is Bitcoin, pioneering a model where BTC sits at the heart of corporate balance sheet strategy.
Strategy uses capital markets to finance its BTC accumulation. Instead of hoarding cash or traditional securities, Strategy has consistently issued equity and convertible debt to fund Bitcoin purchases, aiming to maximize its “BTC per share” metric and align shareholder value with long‑term BTC appreciation.
This model has inspired other corporations like DV8 to consider adding bitcoin to their treasuries. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading slightly below $70,000 after flirting with $71,000 earlier this morning.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/DV8-Becomes-First-Bitcoin-Treasury-Company-in-Southeast-Asia-with-Digital-Asset-License-Awk6SD.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-24 16:25:112026-03-24 16:25:11DV8 Becomes First Bitcoin Treasury Company in Southeast Asia with Digital Asset License
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has launched a new Innovation Task Force aimed at developing clear regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies in U.S. derivatives markets.
CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said the task force will focus on crypto assets, blockchain, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and prediction markets. “By establishing a clear regulatory framework for innovators building on the new frontier of finance, we can foster responsible innovation at home,” Selig said.
The task force will collaborate with the SEC and its Crypto Task Force, as well as the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee, which includes over 30 executives from companies like Kalshi and Nasdaq. Michael J. Passalacqua, senior advisor to the Chairman, will lead the initiative.
Selig emphasized the goal of creating a space for innovators to engage directly with regulators. The move comes amid increasing coordination between the CFTC and SEC on crypto regulation, including recent guidance clarifying jurisdictional boundaries.
The CFTC is also intensifying oversight of prediction markets, asserting authority despite opposition from states citing local gaming laws.
SEC and CFTC join hands over crypto
Earlier this month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the CFTC announced a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at harmonizing their regulatory approaches to the digital asset and emerging technology sectors.
The agreement made it clear they have a commitment to support innovation, protect investors, and reduce duplicative or conflicting rules that previously created a “turf war” between the agencies.
Also, the two agencies issued joint guidance last week clarifying that most digital assets — including stablecoins, digital commodities, and collectibles — are not securities, introducing a formal “token taxonomy” while reserving traditional securities laws only for blockchain-based assets resembling equities or debt.
The framework also clarifies that crypto activities like mining, staking, and airdrops generally do not qualify as securities transactions, and that an asset’s classification can change.
Under the MOU, the SEC and CFTC will coordinate oversight, data sharing, and joint rulemaking, particularly around product definitions, clearing, margin, trade reporting, and intermediaries.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins said that the effort seeks to align definitions of digital assets as securities or non-securities and provide a clear, predictable regulatory framework.
Selig said that harmonization will modernize the regulatory landscape, reduce burdens, and close gaps, helping maintain U.S. financial market leadership.
The agencies also launched a Joint Harmonization Initiative, co-led by Robert Teply (SEC) and Meghan Tente (CFTC), to facilitate cross-agency coordination in policymaking, examinations, risk monitoring, and enforcement.
This coordinated approach marks a major step toward clarity and efficiency for bitcoin and crypto firms, investors, and other market participants navigating U.S. financial regulations.
Capital B, Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company, has completed the acquisition of 44 bitcoin for €2.7 million, bringing its total holdings to 2,888 BTC.
The purchases were executed as part of the company’s ongoing Bitcoin Treasury Company strategy, which aims to increase the number of bitcoin per fully diluted share over time, according to a company press release seen by Bitcoin Magazine.
The company also finalized multiple capital raising operations. An “ATM-type” capital increase with TOBAM generated €0.5 million through the issuance of 669,906 new shares at €0.76 per share.
Additionally, €3 million was raised via share subscription warrants, with €2 million subscribed by TOBAM and €1 million by UTXO Management.
These operations funded the latest BTC acquisition and supported the company’s broader treasury strategy.
Capital B reported a year-to-date (YTD) BTC Yield of 0.72%, equivalent to a gain of 20.4 BTC and €1.2 million. The company also achieved a quarterly BTC Yield of 0.72%, highlighting the incremental growth of its bitcoin holdings relative to fully diluted shares. The average acquisition cost of its BTC portfolio stands at €92,495 per coin, representing a total investment of €267.1 million.
Swissquote Bank Europe SA, a Luxembourg-registered virtual asset service provider (VASP), executed the bitcoin acquisition and provided secure custody through Taurus technology. The company maintains an additional 60 BTC for operational needs, separate from its treasury holdings.
Capital B is listed on Euronext Growth Paris and specializes in data intelligence, artificial intelligence, decentralized technology consulting and development, and corporate treasury.
Bitcoin surges
Bitcoin surged to $71,000 on Monday, rebounding from weekend lows near $67,000, following a sudden easing of geopolitical tensions after Donald Trump announced a five-day pause on planned U.S. strikes against Iran.
The pause came after what Trump described as “very good” and “productive” talks with Tehran, reversing the market’s defensive posture from prior threats to target Iranian energy infrastructure.
Amid this backdrop, Strategy continued its corporate bitcoin accumulation, albeit at a slower pace. Between March 16 and March 22, the company acquired 1,031 BTC for $76.6 million at an average price of $74,326 per coin, funded through common stock sales. This contrasts with the prior two weeks, when Strategy deployed over $1 billion into bitcoin via equity and preferred share offerings, signaling a more measured approach.
Strategy now holds 762,099 BTC, purchased for approximately $57.7 billion at an average cost of $75,694 per coin.
Disclaimer: Bitcoin Magazine is owned by Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA). Nakamoto Inc. also owns UTXO Management.
Strategy has moved to sharply expand its capacity to raise capital through at‑the‑market equity and preferred offerings, adding new Wall Street agents and reshaping its preferred stock authorization to favor a key floating‑rate series.
The steps, disclosed in a March 23 Form 8‑K, give the company scope to sell up to an additional $44.1 billion in securities on top of large existing programs.
In the filing, Strategy said it entered joint agreements with Moelis & Company LLC, A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners, and StoneX Financial Inc., adding them as sales agents under its Omnibus Sales Agreement dated November 4, 2025.
That agreement already named TD Securities (USA), The Benchmark Company, Barclays Capital, BTIG, Canaccord Genuity, Cantor Fitzgerald, Clear Street, Compass Point, H.C. Wainwright, Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Maxim Group, Mizuho Securities USA, Morgan Stanley, Santander US Capital Markets, SG Americas Securities, and TCBI Securities doing business as Texas Capital Securities as agents.
Under the joinders, each of Moelis, Alliance, and StoneX becomes an agent on the same contractual footing as the original banks, with the right and obligation to place Strategy’s securities in at‑the‑market, or “ATM,” transactions.
JUST IN: Michael Saylor’s Strategy announces new $42 billion plan to buy more Bitcoin pic.twitter.com/w2WA2YIzHl
Alongside the added agents, Strategy and the syndicate executed three “Additional Program Addenda” that establish new ATM programs for its Class A common stock (ticker MSTR), its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC), and its 8.00% Series A Perpetual Strike Preferred Stock (STRK).
These addenda operate under Section 8(i) of the Omnibus Sales Agreement and are structured so they do not cancel or limit rights under the underlying framework.
The company then filed new prospectus supplement annexes under its automatic shelf registration statement, which became effective on January 27, 2025.
Those annexes authorize at‑the‑market offerings of:
Up to $21.0 billion of new Class A common stock (the “New Common ATM Shares”).
Up to $21.0 billion of new STRC preferred shares (the “New STRC ATM Shares”).
Up to $2.1 billion of new STRK preferred shares (the “New STRK ATM Shares”).
In other words, Strategy has established new ATM programs to sell up to $21 billion of common stock, $21 billion of STRC preferred, and $2.1 billion of STRK preferred shares.
These programs supplement existing authorizations, with the old STRK program replaced by the new $2.1 billion offering.
These new capacities sit alongside existing shelf authorizations. Strategy had previously registered the sale of about $15.85 billion of common stock and $4.2 billion of STRC preferred under prior annexes and the base prospectus, and it intends to keep using those prior prospectuses until those capacities are fully sold.
In contrast, the company terminated its prior STRK preferred ATM program effective March 22, 2026, and the new $2.1 billion STRK annex replaces that earlier effort.
Strategic tilt in preferred structure
To support this mix of funding options, Strategy also amended its charter with two targeted preferred stock actions. A Certificate of Increase raised authorized shares of STRC preferred from 70,435,353 to 282,556,565, more than tripling the pool available for issuance. A separate Certificate of Decrease reduced authorized STRK preferred shares from 269,800,000 to 40,270,744.
Both certificates were adopted by the board’s Pricing and Financing Committee under authority granted in the company’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Section 151(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Strategy also said they secured legal opinions confirming that its new ATM shares — both common and preferred — will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
The 8‑K clarifies that no offers or sales are happening yet, and any actual issuances will depend on market conditions, investor demand, and internal decisions.
Overall, the expanded ATM programs and reallocated preferred shares give Strategy flexibility to raise capital while prioritizing floating‑rate preferred issuance over the 8.00% STRK series.
H100 Group AB (H100), the Stockholm-based publicly listed bitcoin treasury company, announced a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire Norwegian bitcoin-focused firms Moonshot AS and Never Say Die AS.
The move, if completed, would roughly triple H100’s holdings to around 3,500 BTC, positioning the company among Europe’s largest listed bitcoin treasury firms and enhancing its institutional profile, according to a press release seen by Bitcoin Magazine.
Currently holding 1,051 BTC, the company would add the target companies’ combined 2,450 BTC through the transaction.
The acquisition is structured as a bitcoin-for-bitcoin exchange, meaning ownership in the combined entity will be determined solely by the number of BTC contributed.
This preserves the existing shareholders’ exposure per share while significantly expanding the company’s balance sheet. The deal is set up as an all-share transaction with no cash consideration, consistent with H100’s strategy of bitcoin-based mergers and acquisitions.
The move comes on the heels of H100’s January announcement regarding its combination with Switzerland-based Future Holdings AG, also a bitcoin treasury company, highlighting the firm’s ongoing effort to consolidate institutional-scale bitcoin holdings in Europe.
H100’s backing
Both acquisitions have backing from Adam Back, the British cryptographer and co-founder of Blockstream, reinforcing the network of experienced bitcoin investors involved in the transactions.
Chairman Sander Andersen emphasized the industrial rationale for the deal, citing scale, credibility, and access to capital markets as increasingly important for publicly listed bitcoin firms.
“This transaction would significantly strengthen H100 in all these areas,” Andersen said, noting that the acquisition aligns with H100’s ongoing capital markets and M&A strategy while leaving its listing structure and core operations unchanged.
The target companies bring more than just bitcoin holdings. Moonshot AS and Never Say Die AS are led by seasoned professionals including CEO Eirik Grøttum, a former systematic trader and asset manager, and CIO Peter Warren, a hedge fund veteran with extensive experience across equities, derivatives, and FX markets.
Together with founder Geir Harald Hansen, the pioneer behind the Bitminter BTC mining pool, the Norwegian teams bring operational expertise and technology capabilities expected to complement H100’s treasury management and capital markets activities.
Following completion, the company will remain the listed parent company. Management and board positions are expected to include representatives from both H100 and the acquired firms, ensuring continuity of existing leadership while integrating new expertise.
Current executives, including Andersen and CEO Johannes Wiik, will continue in central roles. Definitive agreements are targeted by April 22, 2026, with completion expected shortly after H100’s annual general meeting on May 21, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
The company continues to operate its health technology business alongside its bitcoin treasury strategy, combining digital health tools and AI-powered solutions for providers of health and lifestyle services.
The firm said its core business model and listing structure will remain unchanged even as it pursues aggressive growth in bitcoin holdings.
Key senators and the White House have reached a tentative agreement on cryptocurrency legislation aimed at resolving a dispute between banks and digital asset firms over stablecoin yields, according to Politico reporting.
The move could clear the way for a landmark crypto regulatory bill stalled in the Senate Banking Committee since January.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) said Friday they have an “agreement in principle” on language intended to balance innovation with financial stability. The legislation seeks to prevent stablecoin rewards programs from triggering widespread deposit withdrawals from traditional banks, a concern raised by Wall Street groups.
“The agreement allows us to protect innovation while giving us the opportunity to prevent widespread deposit flight,” Alsobrooks said. Tillis described the deal as a positive step but noted the need to consult with industry stakeholders before finalizing details.
While specifics of the agreement remain unclear, early indications suggest it could bar yield payments on passive stablecoin balances. The tentative deal signals progress toward an April vote on the crypto market-structure bill, potentially unlocking the first major federal regulatory framework for digital assets.
Crypto legislation background
The fight over a U.S. crypto market‑structure bill stems from a broader effort to build on 2025’s landmark stablecoin legislation, the GENIUS Act, which established a federal framework for stablecoins — requiring full backing, transparency and reserve disclosures for digital dollars.
That law was widely seen in the crypto industry as a breakthrough for regulatory clarity while attempting to align digital assets with traditional financial standards.
After the GENIUS Act’s passage, the Senate turned its attention to more expansive digital asset oversight through what’s often referred to as the CLARITY Act or the crypto market‑structure bill.
This legislation aims to define how U.S. regulators would police and oversee trading platforms, tokens, custody services and other infrastructure — essentially the backbone of a regulated digital asset ecosystem.
However, negotiations bogged down over one central issue: whether regulated exchanges should be allowed to offer yield‑bearing rewards on stablecoin holdings.
Banks and major financial institutions argue that these rewards resemble unregulated deposit‑like products that could siphon funds away from FDIC‑insured accounts, potentially threatening lending and financial stability.
Crypto firms — including major issuers like Circle and Coinbase — counter that such incentives are crucial for competitive markets and for user adoption of digital money.
The current tentative deal being negotiated between senators and the White House seeks a middle ground — potentially allowing activity‑based rewards while restricting passive yield — in hopes of unlocking Senate committee action by April. Whether that compromise holds both bank and crypto support will be decisive for the future of U.S. digital asset regulation.
Phong Le, President and CEO of Strategy, the world’s first and largest Bitcoin treasury firm, said Morgan Stanley’s proposed bitcoin ETF could unlock as much as $160 billion in demand under a modest portfolio allocation scenario.
“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management oversees about $8 trillion in AUM and recommends 0–4% bitcoin allocation,” Le wrote on X. “A 2% allocation would represent $160 billion, about three times the size of IBIT. MSBT: Monster Bitcoin.”
In other words, Le is saying that even a modest 2% bitcoin allocation across Morgan Stanley’s $8 trillion wealth platform could drive about $160 billion into bitcoin, far exceeding the size of existing ETFs like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.
The comment landed as Morgan Stanley advanced plans for its own spot BTC ETF, revealing new details in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund would trade under the ticker MSBT, a symbol that Le cast as shorthand for the potential scale of institutional demand.
Morgan Stanley’s amended S-1 outlines a structure familiar to the growing class of spot BTC ETFs. The trust is set to list on NYSE Arca with a 10,000-share creation unit and an initial seed basket of 50,000 shares, expected to raise about $1 million. The bank also disclosed it purchased two shares earlier this month for audit purposes.
Key service providers mirror those used across the ETF ecosystem. BNY Mellon will act as cash custodian, administrator, and transfer agent, while Coinbase is set to serve as prime broker and custodian for the fund’s bitcoin.
The product would hold BTC directly, aligning with the structure that has defined the current wave of the U.S.-listed spot ETFs.
Capital managers are migrating to bitcoin
Le’s framing points to a larger question that sits beyond the mechanics of the filing: how much capital wealth managers may allocate if BTC becomes a standard portfolio component. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, with trillions in client assets, has signaled that bitcoin exposure can range from zero to four percent depending on client profile.
Even a midpoint allocation, as Le noted, would imply flows that exceed the size of existing flagship products such as iShares Bitcoin Trust.
So far, adoption has moved in stages. Since spot BTC ETFs launched in 2024, the category has attracted more than $50 billion in inflows, driven in large part by self-directed investors. Within advisory channels, uptake remains uneven, shaped by internal policies, risk models, and client demand.
Morgan Stanley has already taken steps in that direction, allowing brokerage clients to access spot BTC ETFs and widening availability over time. The MSBT filing suggests a shift from distribution toward ownership of the product itself, a move that could deepen the bank’s role in the market if approval is granted.
The SEC has not provided a timeline for a decision, and approval is not assured. Still, the application marks a notable development: a major U.S. bank seeking to issue its own spot bitcoin ETF in a market it once approached with caution.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Phong-Le-Calls-Morgan-Stanleys-BTC-ETF-a-Monster-Bitcoin-Bet-With-160-Billion-Potential-5qinQ9.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-20 18:03:502026-03-20 18:03:50Phong Le Calls Morgan Stanley’s BTC ETF a “Monster Bitcoin” Bet With $160 Billion Potential
Bitcoin price held near the $70,000 level today as geopolitical risks tied to the conflict involving Iran shifted and macro expectations weighed on broader risk markets, while derivatives data and on-chain metrics pointed to a market in consolidation rather than capitulation.
The bitcoin price hovered around $70,500 in early Friday trading, following a pullback from a recent high near $76,000.
The move came as energy markets surged and inflation concerns returned to the forefront, limiting upside across risk assets. Despite the pressure, Bitcoin price has shown relative stability compared with commodities and equities during the same period.
Research from VanEck frames the current environment as a post-stress reset. The firm’s mid-March ChainCheck report notes that Bitcoin price’s 30-day average price declined 19%, yet spot prices stabilized as realized volatility fell from 80 to near 50.
At the same time, futures funding rates dropped from 4.1% to 2.7%, signaling reduced leverage and lower speculative intensity.
Options markets reflect a defensive posture. VanEck data shows the put-to-call open interest ratio averaged 0.77, the highest level since mid-2021, placing current positioning in the 91st percentile of observations since 2019.
Demand for downside protection remains elevated, with put premiums reaching record levels relative to spot trading volume. Investors continue to allocate capital toward hedging, even as volatility declines.
Future positive returns for Bitcoin price?
This pattern has historical significance. According to VanEck, similar levels of options skew have preceded positive forward returns. Periods with comparable readings have produced average gains of more than 13% over the following 90 days and more than 100% over a one-year horizon.
The data suggests that extreme caution in derivatives markets has often coincided with late-stage drawdowns rather than the start of new declines.
Onchain activity presents a quieter picture. Transfer volume fell 31% over the past month, while daily fees dropped 27%. Active addresses declined modestly, indicating limited participation at the network level.
This trend led to the growing role of offchain venues, including exchange-traded products and derivatives platforms, which now account for a larger share of trading activity.
Long-term holders appear to be reducing distribution. Transfer volume declined across all age cohorts, signaling that older coins remain largely inactive. This shift points to reduced selling pressure from experienced market participants, a factor often associated with price stabilization phases.
Miner behavior adds another layer. Revenues declined 11% in the past month, reflecting tighter economics. Yet selling pressure from miners has not surged. Onchain flows to exchanges rose only 1%, while aggregate miner balances declined at a gradual pace. Over the past year, miners have sold most newly issued supply but have not accelerated liquidation of existing reserves.
Institutional flows, however, have softened.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded net outflows in recent sessions, reversing a prior streak of inflows. The shift aligns with broader risk aversion as investors respond to macro uncertainty and rising energy costs.
Yesterday, Morgan Stanley confirmed that its proposed spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund will trade under the ticker MSBT on NYSE Arca, according to an updated filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
At the time of writing, the bitcoin price is $70,371.
North Carolina lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday to create a state-controlled Bitcoin reserve.
Senate Bill 327, titled the North Carolina Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act, would allow the Office of the State Treasurer to allocate up to 10% of public funds into BTC as part of the state’s long-term financial strategy.
The bill, sponsored by Senators Johnson and Overcash, passed its first Senate reading and was referred to the Rules and Operations Committee. Its stated goals include establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, promoting BTC as a financial innovation, and positioning North Carolina as a leader in state-level crypto adoption.
Under the proposal, the Treasurer would manage the reserve using cold storage wallets with multi-signature authentication.
A new department within the Treasurer’s office would take custody of the assets, ensuring state control. The bill also calls for a Bitcoin Economic Advisory Board composed of industry experts to provide guidance and monthly audits to verify reserve balances, security, and performance.
Bitcoin acquisitions would be conducted through regulated U.S.-based exchanges, with bulk purchases timed to take advantage of market conditions. The bill also directs the Treasurer to explore BTC mining operations as a potential method to increase state holdings.
Use of the reserve would be restricted to severe financial crises, approved investment strategies, funding for critical infrastructure and economic development projects, and support for Bitcoin-related research, education, and business incentives.
Any liquidation of BTC would require approval from at least two-thirds of both chambers of the General Assembly. The bill allows the reserve to back bonds as an alternative financing tool for public projects.
The Treasurer would submit quarterly reports to the General Assembly detailing the reserve’s status, value, and performance.
Reports would also be publicly available on the Treasurer’s website, according to the bill’s text. The bill includes provisions to comply with federal and state laws regarding cryptocurrency holdings and taxation and encourages advocacy for federal regulations favorable to Bitcoin.
JUST IN: North Carolina introduces bill for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Several U.S. states are exploring or have implemented BTC reserves as part of state treasury strategies.
Texas, New Hampshire, and Arizona have enacted laws allowing portions of state funds to be allocated to Bitcoin, while Maryland, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan, South Dakota, Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri have introduced legislation proposing similar reserves.
Other states, including Oklahoma, Utah, and Pennsylvania, have considered bills that remain in committee, while proposals in Wyoming, Montana, and Florida have stalled or been rejected. These efforts reflect a growing trend to use BTC as a potential store-of-value hedge and diversify state financial assets.
Adam Back has been officially confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026, returning to the conference as one of the few people in the world whose contributions to Bitcoin predate Bitcoin itself. As Co-Founder and CEO of Blockstream and CEO of Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (BSTR), Back comes to Las Vegas operating at the intersection of Bitcoin infrastructure and capital markets like never before.
In 1997, Back invented Hashcash — a proof-of-work system originally built to combat email spam that became the direct technical foundation for Bitcoin’s mining process. Satoshi Nakamoto cited Back by name in the Bitcoin white paper, writing that the network would need “a proof-of-work system similar to Adam Back’s Hashcash.” Before the genesis block was ever mined, Satoshi emailed Back directly.
Blockstream, which Back co-founded in 2014, develops Bitcoin infrastructure across three areas: consumer self-custody tools including the open-source Jade hardware wallet, enterprise settlement and asset issuance on the Liquid Network, and institutional products through Blockstream Asset Management — with with Liquid Network closing 2025 with close to $5 billion in TVL. At Bitcoin 2025, Back framed the company’s direction: “We’re laser-focused on Bitcoin. At Blockstream, we are here to provide the infrastructure to enable that.”
On the capital markets side, Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company has entered into a definitive agreement to go public through a merger with Cantor Equity Partners I (CEPO), structured with 30,021 BTC on its balance sheet and up to $1.5 billion in PIPE financing — the largest ever announced alongside a Bitcoin treasury SPAC merger. As of March 2026, BSTR is awaiting completion of the de-SPAC process, with shareholder approval targeted as early as April, after which the combined company is expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker “BSTR.”
From inventing the proof-of-work system that makes Bitcoin possible, to building the infrastructure layer on top of it, to now bringing over 30,000 BTC to public markets — Back’s is unlike anyone else on the Bitcoin 2026 stage. His appearance at The Venetian this April will be one of the most technically credible perspectives at the conference on where Bitcoin’s protocol, infrastructure, and capital markets are all heading at once.
— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) March 9, 2026
Bitcoin 2026 Returns to Las Vegas Bigger Than Ever
Bitcoin 2026 will take place April 27–29 at The Venetian, Las Vegas, and is expected to be the biggest Bitcoin event of the year.
Focused on the future of money, Bitcoin 2026 will bring together Bitcoin builders, investors, miners, policymakers, technologists, and newcomers from around the world. The event will feature a wide range of pass types, including general admission passes designed specifically for those new to Bitcoin, alongside premium passes for professionals, enterprises, and institutions.
With multiple stages, immersive experiences, technical workshops, and headline keynotes, Bitcoin 2026 is designed to serve both first-time attendees and long-time Bitcoiners shaping the next era of global adoption.
Past Bitcoin Conferences in the U.S.
Bitcoin’s flagship conference has scaled dramatically over the past five years:
2021 – Miami: 11,000 attendees
2022 – Miami: 26,000 attendees
2023 – Miami: 15,000 attendees
2024 – Nashville: 22,000 attendees
2025 – Las Vegas: 35,000 attendees
Get Your Bitcoin 2026 Pass
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Stay at The official hotel of Bitcoin 2026, The Venetian, and get a guaranteed low rate plus 15% off your pass. Hotel Prices increase soon, be in the middle of where the fun is all happening, and where the networking never ends.
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Location: The Venetian, Las Vegas Dates: April 27–29, 2026
For more information and exclusive offers, visit the Bitcoin Conference on X here.
Why Attend Bitcoin 2026?
Bitcoin 2026 is the definitive gathering for anyone serious about the future of money. With 500+ speakers, multiple world-class stages, and programming spanning Bitcoin fundamentals, open-source development, enterprise adoption, mining, energy, AI, policy, and culture, the conference brings every corner of the Bitcoin ecosystem together under one roof.
From headline keynotes on the Nakamoto Stage to deep technical sessions for builders, institutional strategy discussions for enterprises, and beginner-friendly Bitcoin 101 education, Bitcoin 2026 is designed for everyone—from first-time attendees to the leaders shaping Bitcoin’s global adoption.
Whether you’re looking to learn, build, invest, network, or influence, Bitcoin 2026 is where Bitcoin’s next chapter is written.
Bitcoin 2026 Pass Types: Something for Everyone
Bitcoin 2026 offers a range of pass options designed to meet the needs of newcomers, professionals, enterprises, and high-net-worth Bitcoiners alike.
Most deals are done with a drink in your hand. Get exclusive access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties across Las Vegas — each with a 2-hour open bar — where the real conversations happen and the best connections are made.
Access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties
2-hour open bar at each event
Evening events across Las Vegas, April 27–29
Network with Bitcoiners, builders, and industry leaders after hours
More headline speaker announcements are coming soon.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/B26-Green-VIP-adam-back-ESwDw6.png6291200Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-19 20:07:002026-03-19 20:07:00Adam Back Confirmed As A Bitcoin 2026 Speaker
Today, the Federal Reserve Board released a trio of proposals to modernize the U.S. capital framework which, if adopted, could fundamentally alter the cost and accessibility of institutional Bitcoin services. While the 14-page Board memorandum focuses on the technicalities of the “Basel III Endgame” and “GSIB surcharges,” our analysis suggests the most significant development for corporate treasuries is hidden in the proposed recalibration of operational risk.
1. Shattering the “Toxic Asset” Capital Barrier
For years, the primary hurdle for corporations looking to hold Bitcoin through traditional banks has been the “advanced approaches” to capital requirements. These internal, model-based assessments often resulted in punitive capital hits for digital asset activities, effectively labeling them “toxic” on a bank’s balance sheet. Under previous interpretations of the Basel SCO60 standard, certain digital assets were hit with a 1,250% risk weight… This proposal seeks to move beyond those models by recommending the elimination of the advanced approaches entirely for Category I and II firms. In their place, the Fed proposes a single, “expanded risk-based approach” designed to be more consistent and risk-sensitive across all asset classes.
In practice, a 1,250% risk weight combined with an 8% minimum capital ratio creates a 100% capital requirement. This “dollar-for-dollar” mandate made bank intermediation uneconomic, functioning as a de facto prohibition rather than objective risk management. Today’s proposal recommends eliminating the advanced approaches entirely for Category I and II firms. In their place, the Fed is introducing a single, “expanded risk-based approach” designed to be more consistent and risk-sensitive.
2. The Massive “Custody Service” Win
Critically, the proposed framework for operational risk is designed to “appropriately reflect business activities,” specifically naming custody services as a key area for this recalibration. The Fed staff noted that certain elements of the previous framework resulted in “excessive requirements for traditional banking activities.”
If Bitcoin custody is treated under this broader service definition, it would allow Tier 1 banks to offer these services without the prohibitive capital overhead that has previously driven up fees for corporate clients. By ensuring that operational risk requirements for custody are better aligned with actual historical risk, the Fed is signaling a move away from using punitive weights as a normative judgment.
3. A 4.8% Liquidity Injection and G-SIB Indexing
Got it. Keeping your structure intact, here is the updated Section 3 with the technical refinements (G-SIB indexing and capital relief) and the original bullet formatting you preferred.
3. A 4.8% Liquidity Injection and G-SIB Indexing
Perhaps the most notable projection for institutional adoption is the estimated impact on bank balance sheets. According to the Board memo, the cumulative impact of these proposals—including revisions to stress testing—is projected by staff to decrease the aggregate common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital requirements for Category I and II firms by 4.8 percent.
This reduction provides the nation’s largest banks with the capital “breathing room” necessary to expand into new service lines. For a corporate treasurer, this means:
Increased Competition: More Tier 1 banks will have the capacity to offer digital asset services without hitting capital ceilings.
Lower Fees: Reduced capital burdens on banks typically translate to more competitive pricing for fee-based services like custody.
G-SIB Indexing: By indexing surcharges to economic growth, the Fed prevents “bracket creep,” ensuring banks aren’t penalized simply because the market value of the Bitcoin they hold grows over time.
Regulatory Predictability: Moving to a “single set of risk-based capital calculations” provides the standardized environment corporate boards require for long-term strategic allocations.
4. Streamlining Through a Single Standard
The proposal aims to “substantially simplify the framework” by subjecting firms to a single set of risk-based capital calculations. This is intended to reduce the “regulatory lottery” where different banks faced vastly different costs for the same custody service due to overlapping or conflicting rules. For a corporation, this could ensure that Bitcoin custody becomes a more transparent, standardized banking product that fits within existing Basel market-risk and operational-risk frameworks.
5. Reversing the “Non-Bank” Migration
The Fed staff explicitly noted that excessive capital requirements in previous years may have accelerated the migration of certain banking activities to unregulated “non-banks.” According to the memo, these proposed revisions are intended to “support on-balance sheet lending and services” by regulated banks, potentially reversing some of that migration.
By bringing activities like high-scale custody back into the regulated banking fold, the Fed appears to be providing the “safe and sound” institutional infrastructure that many corporations have sought. This shift suggests an acknowledgement that transparent and liquid assets—including Bitcoin—benefit from being housed within the oversight of the federal banking system.
Conclusion
The Fed’s proposal represents a significant step toward “increasing the efficiency of capital allocation” and “reducing burden” across the U.S. banking system. By modernizing the risk weights for custody and streamlining the overall capital framework, the Federal Reserve is proposing the removal of several structural barriers that have long separated Wall Street from the digital asset ecosystem. While the final impact will depend on the results of the 90-day public comment period, the path to institutional-grade, bank-provided Bitcoin services appears significantly clearer than it did yesterday.
Disclaimer: This content was prepared on behalf of Bitcoin For Corporations for informational purposes only. It reflects the author’s own analysis and opinion and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Nothing in this article constitutes an offer, invitation, or solicitation to purchase, sell, or subscribe for any security or financial product.
Strive, Inc., the corporate treasury firm founded by Vivek Ramaswamy, reported that it amassed 13,628 bitcoin as of March 17, 2026, placing the company among the top 10 corporate holders globally.
The accumulation came in the roughly six months following Strive’s September 2025 public listing, even as the company posted a GAAP net loss of $393.6 million for the period ending December 31, 2025.
The bulk of Strive’s bitcoin holdings came from multiple sources. Initial private investment proceeds and stock exchange activity contributed 5,886 bitcoin, while the acquisition of Semler Scientific, Inc. added approximately 5,048 bitcoin, the company said.
Semler Scientific had built its own digital asset reserve prior to the acquisition. An additional 2,694 bitcoin came from capital markets activity, including public offerings of Strive’s Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock (“SATA”), follow-on offerings, and at-the-market issuances.
Strive’s losses
Strive’s financial statements highlighted the tension between aggressive asset accumulation and market volatility. The firm’s GAAP net loss largely stemmed from non-cash items. Unrealized losses on bitcoin holdings accounted for $194.5 million, or nearly 50 percent of the total GAAP deficit.
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets tied to the Semler acquisition added $140.8 million, and transaction-related expenses contributed $12.4 million. Adjusted for these items, the company’s non-GAAP loss attributable to common shareholders narrowed to $208.2 million, or $4.73 per diluted share.
Management introduced a proprietary metric, “Bitcoin Yield,” to measure the performance of its digital asset portfolio. By that measure, Strive reported a 22.2 percent yield in Q4 2025 and 13.8 percent quarter-to-date through mid-March 2026, equating to bitcoin gains of 1,305 and 1,050 coins, respectively. In dollar terms, these gains translated to $114.3 million and $78.2 million over the same periods.
The company financed its bitcoin strategy largely through structured finance products. Strive raised $148.4 million in net proceeds from its initial SATA preferred stock offering in November 2025, priced at $80 per share.
A follow-on offering in January 2026 generated $109.2 million at $90 per share. Proceeds were used to retire a $20 million loan from Coinbase Credit Inc., assumed as part of the Semler acquisition, and to exchange preferred shares for $90 million of Semler’s convertible debt.
Strive’s acquisition of Semler Scientific also included an operating business now held under a wholly-owned subsidiary, Clinivanta, focused on preventative healthcare.
The company appointed Michelle Fox, formerly Chief Medical Officer of Teleflex, as CEO of Clinivanta in February 2026, signaling an intent to develop the business alongside its primary focus on bitcoin accumulation.
Chairman and CEO Matthew Cole framed the results as a validation of Strive’s structured finance approach. “The most important success in our first six months as a public company was cementing our foundation as a structured finance company laser-focused on digital credit,”
Cole said. He emphasized that the SATA instrument provides a liquid, scalable solution for investors seeking double-digit yield with minimal volatility, aligning with Strive’s strategy of balancing bitcoin accumulation with broader financial operations.
As of March 17, 2026, Strive held $83.7 million in cash and $50.4 million in fair value of STRC preferred stock.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pics-24-1-JXF8be.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-19 14:16:472026-03-19 14:16:47Strive (ASST) Accumulates 13,600 Bitcoin Despite $393 Million Loss in First Six Months as Public Company
BTQ Technologies has released the first working implementation of Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP 360), marking an early attempt to bring quantum-resistant transaction infrastructure into a live testing environment.
Announced Thursday, the upgrade is now running on the Bitcoin Quantum testnet v0.3.0, a separate blockchain designed to simulate how Bitcoin could function in a post-quantum world. The release moves BIP 360 beyond theory, offering developers, miners, and researchers a place to test quantum-resistant transactions in practice.
BIP 360 introduces a new transaction format known as Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR), which restructures how transaction data is committed on-chain.
The design removes the need to expose public keys during certain transaction paths, a feature that could become critical if quantum computers advance enough to break current cryptographic protections.
“BIP 360 represents the Bitcoin community’s most significant step toward quantum resistance and we’ve turned it from a proposal into running code,” said Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ Technologies, in the company’s press release.
The implementation also preserves key functionality tied to Bitcoin’s scaling roadmap. According to BTQ, P2MR maintains compatibility with scripting features that underpin systems like Lightning and emerging frameworks such as BitVM and Ark, while eliminating the key-path spend mechanism introduced with Taproot that could expose public keys to quantum attacks.
Beyond the core transaction structure, the testnet includes full wallet tooling, allowing users to create, fund, sign, and broadcast P2MR transactions.
BTQ said this end-to-end functionality makes the upgrade immediately testable, rather than remaining a purely academic proposal.
Bitcoin experimentation and quantum-resistance
The company’s broader goal is to accelerate experimentation around quantum-resistant infrastructure at a time when concern over future cryptographic risks is growing. The Bitcoin Quantum testnet currently includes more than 50 miners and has processed over 100,000 blocks, according to the release.
Still, the technical progress highlights a deeper challenge: adoption.
BTQ has effectively bypassed Bitcoin’s traditional governance process by launching its own testing network rather than waiting for consensus within the main ecosystem. That decision reflects longstanding friction around major protocol changes, which historically require broad agreement among developers, miners, and users.
Christopher Tam, BTQ’s head of innovation, framed the issue in human terms. “It’s a social problem,” he toldDecrypt, pointing to the difficulty of coordinating change across a decentralized network with entrenched stakeholders.
The approach also raises questions about whether a parallel chain can meaningfully influence Bitcoin’s future.
Bitcoin Quantum does not share Bitcoin’s ledger or balances, instead launching from a new genesis block with its own asset and ruleset. Users would need to opt in rather than automatically inherit the upgrade.
Even with a working implementation, BIP 360 addresses only part of the quantum threat. Tam noted that while the proposal can help secure future transactions, it does not retroactively protect older addresses that may already have exposed public keys.
The urgency, however, remains. Researchers widely expect that sufficiently advanced quantum computers could eventually break the elliptic-curve cryptography that secures Bitcoin, though the timeline is uncertain.
For now, BTQ’s testnet serves as an early proving ground. Whether its work translates into changes on Bitcoin itself may depend less on code—and more on consensus.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/BTQ-Deploys-First-Working-BIP-360-Implementation-on-Bitcoin-Quantum-Testnet-Mwpvyn.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-19 13:14:262026-03-19 13:14:26BTQ Deploys First Working BIP 360 Implementation on Bitcoin Quantum Testnet
A Canadian crypto entrepreneur survived a kidnapping attempt Monday night on one of Madrid’s busiest nightlife streets, after witnesses alerted police and helped foil the attack.
The incident occurred at approximately 11 p.m. near the intersection of Calle Claudio Coello and Calle Jorge Juan in the Salamanca district, a hub of high-end restaurants and bars.
The victim had just left Lobito de Mar, the restaurant owned by chef Dani García, when three men forcibly removed him from the street, pepper-sprayed him, and threw him into a Ford Transit van.
Several pedestrians and residents on nearby balconies immediately called authorities. Spanish National Police tracked the vehicle to Ronda de Toledo, about 15 minutes from the scene, and arrested two of the attackers. One suspect escaped and remains at large, according to reports.
Police identified the arrested suspects as Serbian men, ages 33 and 45, both with no prior criminal record.
Investigators say the attackers had planned the abduction to extract the victim’s cryptocurrency passwords and gain access to his digital assets. The suspects also attempted to steal the Canadian’s €100,000 luxury watch.
Authorities determined the kidnappers had followed the businessman from Barcelona to Madrid, where he had traveled to finalize a cryptocurrency deal.
The van used in the crime had an altered license plate, rented specifically for the abduction, and contained plastic zip ties and sedative pills, suggesting a premeditated scheme. GPS data recovered from the vehicle indicated the suspects intended to transport the victim to Petrer, a town in Alicante.
Inside the van, the victim was left alone while police focused on detaining the suspects. He freed himself from the zip ties and flagged down a taxi, which took him to La Princesa Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the initial assault. Police recovered firearms from the van during their investigation.
Be careful with your crypto
The kidnapping aligns with a recent rise in physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders across Europe. France, for example, has recorded 11 similar incidents so far in 2026, reflecting a trend of criminals seeking direct access to digital assets rather than traditional bank accounts.
Security experts refer to such attacks as “wrench attacks,” in which criminals attempt to obtain wallet seed phrases or private keys through coercion or violence.
Authorities warn that cryptocurrency entrepreneurs are increasingly at risk due to the digital and highly liquid nature of their assets.
Police continue to search for the third suspect and have appealed to the public for information.
The investigation remains open, with officers examining surveillance footage and digital evidence to determine whether the plot involved additional collaborators or extended surveillance beyond the two confirmed attackers.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Zip-Ties-Sleeping-Pills-and-Pepper-Spray-Canadian-Crypto-Millionaire-Targeted-in-Foiled-Madrid-Kidnapping-bFlZcz.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-18 16:37:162026-03-18 16:37:16Zip Ties, Sleeping Pills and Pepper Spray: Canadian Crypto Millionaire Targeted in Foiled Madrid Kidnapping
Crypto exchange Kraken has suspended its plans for an initial public offering, sources familiar with the matter told CoinDesk.
The company’s parent, Payward, had filed a confidential draft S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2025. The filing valued Kraken at $20 billion, following an $800 million funding round that included a $200 million investment from Citadel Securities.
Kraken had planned to go public this year but now faces a market environment marked by falling crypto prices and weaker trading volumes. The downturn has prompted many digital asset companies to reconsider timing and structure for public listings.
Last year saw a surge in crypto IPOs, with at least 11 companies, including Circle, Bullish, and Gemini, raising a combined $14.6 billion.
So far in 2026, only crypto custodian BitGo has listed publicly, and its shares have declined 45%, highlighting the risks for new entrants.
Kraken has not ruled out a future IPO but appears unlikely to pursue one until market conditions stabilize.
A company spokesperson reiterated the November announcement and declined further comment.
Kraken’s master account
Earlier this month, Kraken secured a master account with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, making it the first crypto-native firm to access the Fed’s core payment infrastructure.
The approval gives Kraken Financial direct entry into Fed payment systems, including Fedwire, a real-time network that handles trillions of dollars in daily transfers.
This allows the firm to settle dollar transactions without relying on intermediary banks, streamlining operations for large customers.
Kraken’s master account does not provide all traditional banking privileges: it will not earn interest on reserves or access the Fed’s lending facilities. Nonetheless, the move represents a breakthrough for crypto firms, which have historically faced repeated rejections in efforts to connect to the central bank’s payment rails.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming called the approval a “watershed milestone” for digital assets.
Other firms, including Ripple and Custodia Bank, have applied for master accounts, though approval has been uneven.
Kraken’s success is a sign the Fed may explore “skinny” master accounts, granting crypto institutions limited access to payment rails without full bank benefits, signaling cautious but growing acceptance of crypto in mainstream finance
Under such a framework, crypto firms could connect to settlement systems while remaining outside certain capital and reserve regimes applied to depository institutions.
Boltz Exchange launched USDT Swaps on March 18, 2026, introducing atomic, non-custodial swaps between sats on the Lightning Network and USDT on Arbitrum-based networks via USDT0.
The integration relies on USDT0, an omnichain version of Tether built on LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard. USDT0 concentrates liquidity into a single token primarily on Arbitrum, eliminating the need for Boltz to build separate liquidity pools and integrations across dozens of USDT chains like Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Rootstock, and others. This approach delivers seamless swaps to and from USDT to Bitcoiners that do not care to understand the complexities of blockchain bridge networks. While giving DEFI a direct path to lightning payments, without counterparty risk.
Users also gain practical access to the world’s leading stablecoin, while sidestepping custody risks from centralized exchanges or anonymous “trust me bro” swap services, as well as the privacy trade-offs of KYC-heavy platforms. Business applications include topping up crypto debit cards that natively support USDT by converting Lightning sats in seconds, receiving Lightning payments when clients or counterparties send USDT, or merchants accepting USDT inflows but settling revenue in Lightning sats on their preferred terms—all without relinquishing control of funds or trusting third parties at any point. Its all open source.
Atomic swaps ensure trustless, simultaneous execution of trades across different blockchains or layers, preventing one party from defaulting after receiving assets. In traditional swaps, especially cross-chain, users face timing risks where one side could claim funds without delivering the other. Atomic swaps resolve this through cryptographic commitments (like hash preimages) and conditional claims: both legs of the trade either complete together or fail entirely, reverting funds to their original owners. Boltz achieves this for Lightning and USDT by routing through tBTC, Threshold’s permissionless ERC20 Bitcoin wrapper on Arbitrum. The flow is Lightning to tBTC via an atomic Boltz swap, then to USDT0 via a DEX swap akin to those on Uniswap, stitched into one irreversible transaction by the Router contract on Arbitrum. Gas abstraction removes the need for ETH on Arbitrum, making the process seamless for Bitcoin-native users.
Boltz plans to expand USDT Swaps across all currently supported Bitcoin layers, including on-chain BTC, Liquid, Rootstock, and Arkade, broadening the utility for businesses and individuals holding Bitcoin in various forms. Future updates will also incorporate USDT0’s Legacy Mesh, which is expected to enable direct support for additional chains such as Tron and Solana. Tron currently holds the largest USDT supply at approximately $83.9 billion according to Tether’s March 17, 2026 transparency report, underscoring the demand for eventual integration on high-volume networks beyond the initial OFT-focused deployment.
Strategy (MSTR) is closing in on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), with the gap in Bitcoin holdings shrinking to a level that could be erased within the next couple of weeks.
Recent data shows IBIT holding roughly 781,000 BTC, while Strategy holds about 761,000 BTC. The difference, now around 40,000 BTC, has tightened as Strategy accelerates its accumulation pace, according to investor Mark Harvey.
The shift reflects diverging models. IBIT holdings rise and fall based on investor inflows and outflows into its spot ETF, while Strategy raises capital through equity and preferred share issuance to fund direct Bitcoin purchases.
This allows Strategy to acquire Bitcoin independent of ETF demand cycles.
Strategy has added significant volume in recent weeks, including two multibillion-dollar purchases in March that pushed its total higher. Last week, the company bought 2,337 bitcoin for about $1.57 billion.
The company continues to frame its performance around Bitcoin accumulation and “BTC Gain” as a proxy for net income under its Bitcoin-centric strategy.
Over the first two weeks of March 2026, Strategy acquired 40,332 BTC and posted a 3.0% yield, reinforcing its aggressive treasury approach, according to Michael Saylor.
Year to date, the firm has accumulated 88,568 BTC with a 3.4% yield, signaling sustained momentum behind its balance sheet transformation.
NEW: Michael Saylor’s Strategy could surpass BlackRock’s BTC holdings in the next couple weeks pic.twitter.com/7i70XB0pBN
Bitcoin has posted eight consecutive days of gains, a rare streak seen only 15 times since its creation, with past instances delivering a median 30-day return of about 19%, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data.
Bitcoin recently climbed from below $66,000 to $76,000 before easing back near $73,800, even as historical patterns show such rallies can precede sharp pullbacks like the 30% drop four years ago.
Bitcoin’s latest surge comes after the asset bottomed near $63,000 in February during heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran–Israel War.
Since then, prices have staged a steady recovery as macroeconomic conditions stabilized and investor confidence returned.
Bitcoin has outperformed other assets like gold and the S&P 500.
Markets received a boost over the weekend after signs of easing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
For now, traders are watching whether bitcoin price can maintain support above the $72,000 region.
A sustained hold above that level could open the door to a push toward $80,000, which previously acted as a key support zone before the early-2026 correction.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Strategy-MSTR-is-About-to-Have-More-Bitcoin-Than-BlackRocks-IBIT-4BnnD9.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-17 14:43:322026-03-17 14:43:32Strategy (MSTR) is About to Have More Bitcoin Than BlackRock’s IBIT
Vietnam is preparing to restrict access to overseas cryptocurrency platforms as regulators push forward with a plan to launch the country’s first licensed digital asset exchanges, according to a government document reviewed by Reuters.
The Ministry of Finance is drafting rules that would prohibit Vietnamese citizens from trading on foreign exchanges such as Binance, OKX, and Bybit. The move aligns with a five-year pilot program designed to bring crypto trading under domestic supervision while limiting capital outflows.
The policy shift comes as Vietnam ranks among the most active cryptocurrency markets globally. Data from Chainalysis shows Vietnamese users transacted more than $200 billion in digital assets in the 12 months through June 2025, placing the country fourth on its global adoption index. Crypto usage in Vietnam spans remittances, savings, and gaming, reflecting integration into daily financial activity.
Under the proposed framework, only locally licensed platforms would be permitted to operate, requiring users to migrate away from international exchanges.
Authorities say the approach aims to strengthen oversight, reduce fraud risks, and retain transaction-related revenue within the domestic economy.
A Vietnamese crypto licensing arms race begins
At least five firms have passed an initial qualification round for exchange licenses, including affiliates of Techcombank, VPBank, and LPBank, along with VIX Securities and Sun Group.
The licensing regime sets a high bar for entry. Applicants must meet a minimum charter capital requirement of 10 trillion Vietnamese dong, or roughly $400 million, and comply with strict standards covering governance, cybersecurity, and anti-money laundering controls. Foreign ownership is capped at 49%, signaling a preference for domestic control over key market infrastructure.
The effort builds on a legal shift that began in 2025, when Vietnam’s National Assembly recognized crypto assets as property under the Law on Digital Technology Industry. While cryptocurrencies remain non-legal tender, the change established a foundation for regulated market development.
Officials and industry representatives say restricting offshore trading could redirect liquidity toward domestic platforms, though it may limit access to global markets.
Authorities are also considering a tax framework that could include a levy on crypto transactions conducted through licensed exchanges. Details remain under review as regulators finalize the structure of the pilot program.
The first licensed exchanges could launch as early as March 2026. The outcome of the pilot is expected to shape Vietnam’s long-term approach to digital asset regulation and position the country within the broader Southeast Asian crypto market.
Capital B, also known as The Blockchain Group, announced a €3 million capital raise on Tuesday alongside amendments to existing convertible bonds, as the company moves to accelerate its Bitcoin treasury strategy.
The Paris-listed firm said the financing includes €2 million raised through share subscription warrants subscribed by TOBAM and €1 million from UTXO Management. The transaction is structured through the issuance of 27.39 million warrants, each priced at €0.11 and exercisable into ordinary shares.
According to the company, proceeds from the raise could support the acquisition of approximately 36 additional bitcoin, potentially bringing total holdings to 2,880 BTC. The move aligns with Capital B’s stated objective of increasing bitcoin exposure on a per-share basis over time.
Alongside the capital raise, the company also announced adjustments to the conversion prices of three tranches of convertible bonds subscribed by TOBAM.
The conversion price for the A-03 tranche was reduced from €6.24 to €3.12 per share, while A-04 was adjusted from €5.174 to €2.59, and A-05 from €3.656 to €1.83.
The revised terms also introduce additional incentives for bondholders. Upon conversion, each bond will now grant a share subscription warrant with a two-year maturity. In addition, conversion conditions tied to share price thresholds have been removed for the A-03 and A-04 tranches, allowing holders to convert at any time.
Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company
Capital B said the changes are intended to enhance flexibility for investors and support the execution of its treasury strategy. Capital B has positioned itself as Europe’s first “Bitcoin Treasury Company,” a model focused on accumulating bitcoin as a core balance sheet asset while growing bitcoin per fully diluted share.
The exercise price of the newly issued warrants will be set at the higher of €1.01 or a metric tied to the company’s bitcoin holdings, referred to as “mNAV 1.1.” This metric reflects a 10% premium to the per-share value of the company’s bitcoin reserves, calculated on a fully diluted basis.
The transaction was carried out under an existing shareholder authorization granted at the company’s June 2025 general meeting, allowing for capital increases without preferential subscription rights for existing shareholders in favor of specific investors.
Capital B operates across multiple business lines, including data intelligence, artificial intelligence, and decentralized technology consulting, but has started to work on bitcoin accumulation as a central component of its corporate strategy.
The announcement reflects a broader trend of companies adopting bitcoin-focused treasury strategies, using capital markets instruments to increase exposure to bitcoin.
Yesterday, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, disclosed the purchase of 22,337 additional bitcoin for approximately $1.57 billion.
The acquisition increased the company’s total holdings to 761,068 BTC, with a combined market value of roughly $50 billion.
Disclaimer: Bitcoin Magazine is owned by Nakamoto Inc. (NASDAQ: NAKA). Nakamoto Inc. also owns UTXO Management.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Capital-B-Raises-E3-Million-to-Expand-Bitcoin-Treasury-Holdings-pAgdLg.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-17 14:04:192026-03-17 14:04:19Capital B Raises €3 Million to Expand Bitcoin Treasury Holdings
Bitcoin investors have shown surprising resilience despite recent market turbulence, fueled by institutional investors and aggressive corporate treasury buyers.
Analysts say this trend highlights a structural shift in ownership that could support long-term growth. Institutional demand is clearly back, with “four consecutive sessions of ETF inflows and aggressive spot demand…suggesting one thing: institutional buyers have returned and they’re ready to increase their holdings around current prices, which recovered to above $70k as a result,” Bitfinex said in a note to Bitcoin Magazine.
Bitfinex wrote that “a sustained break above resistance could trigger momentum expansion, as positioning and the balance of flows suggest that the market is preparing for its next directional move after weeks of range trading.”
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan also noted Bitcoin ETFs have held up despite a roughly 50% price drop since October 2025, underlining institutional commitment.
“The best evidence we have is in the ETF market,” Hougan said, according to Coindesk reporting.
“Bitcoin ETFs accumulated roughly $60 billion in net flows from their launch in January 2024 through October 2025. Since October 2025, prices are down 50%, but we’ve seen less than $10 billion in outflows from ETFs,” he said.
Hougan described institutional investors as exhibiting “diamond hands,” maintaining positions despite severe market drawdowns. He attributes this persistence to the non-consensus status of BTC.
Hougan said that institutional investors who buy into BTC today are still sticking their neck out and standing out from their peers. That career risk, he explained, fosters unusually high conviction, meaning investors allocating capital to bitcoin today tend to be 80–90% convinced of its long-term value rather than mildly optimistic.
This conviction underpins Hougan’s reaffirmed long-term bitcoin forecast of $1 million per coin.
“The wildest thing about my $1 million prediction is that it’s not wild at all,” he said. “All you need for bitcoin to get to $1 million is for the global store of value market to continue to grow as it has for the past 20 years and for bitcoin to become a minor but material part of that market.”
Last week, Hougan argued that skepticism over Bitcoin reaching $1 million stems from a misunderstanding of its valuation, as many analysts use “static math” that ignores the rapidly growing global store-of-value market.
Framing BTC as an emerging competitor to gold, he estimates that with a $38 trillion market and BTC’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, the $1 million price target is plausible.
Bitcoin isn’t very speculative anymore
Supporting this thesis, Bernstein analysts also noted that bitcoin’s ownership base has matured, reducing reliance on retail speculation.
In a March 16 research note seen by Bitcoin Magazine, they highlighted the growing influence of spot BTC ETFs and corporate treasury buyers such as Strategy.
The firm described Strategy as a “bitcoin central bank of last resort,” citing its aggressive accumulation model, which has added more than 66,000 BTC so far in 2026 at an average cost near $85,000. Strategy’s total holdings now exceed 761,000 BTC, valued around $56 billion.
Bernstein emphasized that institutional inflows are reshaping BTC’s ownership structure. Spot ETFs absorbed about $2.1 billion in inflows over three weeks, nearly offsetting year-to-date outflows of $460 million.
Institutional vehicles now control roughly 6.1% of BTC’s total supply, while coins inactive for over a year represent approximately 60% of circulating supply, signaling a growing base of long-term holders.
On top of this, on-chain indicators point to a late-stage bear cycle, as Lacie Zhang of Bitget Wallet explained to Bitcoin Magazine: “The convergence of on-chain indicators such as realized price and MVRV suggests Bitcoin may be entering the late stage of a typical bear cycle, a phase historically associated with long-term accumulation rather than continued capitulation.”
Despite short-term macro headwinds, the current conditions signal a strategic accumulation phase, with BTC likely fluctuating between $68,000 and $84,000 as longer-term investors position for the next cycle.
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South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has fined cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb 36.8 billion won ($24.6 million) and ordered a six-month partial suspension of new-user services after uncovering millions of anti-money laundering (AML) violations, according to local reporting.
The FIU’s investigation found roughly 6.65 million breaches of the country’s AML and customer verification rules. About 3.55 million involved failures to verify customer identities, while 3.04 million cases concerned transactions that should have been blocked but were allowed.
Authorities also identified 45,772 transactions with 18 unregistered overseas exchanges.
The sanctions, part of ongoing regulatory oversight of South Korea’s top crypto platforms, include a reprimand for Bithumb’s CEO and a six-month suspension for the exchange’s reporting officer.
Existing customers can continue trading, while the restrictions primarily affect new user account activity, including deposits and withdrawals.
Bithumb, founded in 2014, is one of South Korea’s largest exchanges by trading volume. The fine is the country’s largest imposed on a virtual asset exchange, slightly surpassing a 35.2 billion won penalty handed to Upbit in 2025.
The violations were uncovered during on-site inspections of South Korea’s five largest crypto exchanges between 2024 and 2025.
Regulators have emphasized that strict compliance with customer verification and AML obligations is critical to maintaining market trust.
The exchange had planned to distribute small cash rewards through a “Random Box” event at around 6 p.m. local time. Winners were supposed to receive between 20,000 and 50,000 Korean won.
Instead, staff reportedly entered the payment unit as Bitcoin rather than won.
As a result, some users received at least 2,000 BTC each, worth roughly 196 billion won per person based on prices near 98 million won per Bitcoin at the time, according to social media screenshots and accounts.
The operational error briefly caused Bitcoin prices on the platform to drop over 10% below broader market levels. Bithumb stated the incident did not result in any customer losses.
The FIU will finalize the fine after giving Bithumb at least 10 days to submit its opinion.
Authorities said the enforcement action signals continued tightening of crypto market oversight in South Korea.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading near $74,000.
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The price of Bitcoin pushed above $74,000 early Monday, as easing geopolitical tensions and improving risk sentiment helped lift the broader crypto market.
The move capped one of bitcoin’s strongest weekly performances since the outbreak of the Iran–Israel War in late February.
The rally coincided with signs of de-escalation in the Middle East. Two commercial tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday for the first time since the conflict began, after Iran indicated its shipping restrictions would apply only to vessels linked to its adversaries.
At the same time, Donald Trump said the United States was in talks with Tehran, helping calm energy markets. Oil prices retreated from recent highs, the U.S. dollar weakened and equity futures turned positive, signaling a broader shift toward risk assets.
The move higher also triggered a wave of short liquidations in crypto derivatives markets. Roughly $344 million in positions were wiped out over the past 24 hours, with bearish traders accounting for more than 80% of the total, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data.
Market participants are now watching whether the bitcoin price can hold momentum above the $74,000 region.
A sustained break could open the door to a move toward $80,000, a level that previously served as support late last year before prices slid during the early-2026 correction.
For now, traders are also bracing for macro signals from the upcoming policy meeting at the Federal Reserve, which begins Tuesday and could influence risk appetite across global markets.
Later on Wednesday, the market will hear the Fed’s interest-rate decision and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference, with rates expected to remain steady.
Despite being down from its October peak, Bitcoin price has outperformed some traditional assets during the conflict, though volatility could increase depending on short-term selling and Fed signals.
Earlier today, Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, bought 22,337 more bitcoin for $1.57 billion, raising its total holdings to 761,068 BTC. The average acquisition bitcoin price cost is $75,696 per coin, giving the holdings a current market value of about $50 billion.
Tokyo-listed investment firm Metaplanet said they also secured approximately $255 million from global institutional investors as it accelerates a corporate strategy centered on accumulating Bitcoin. The company has additional warrants that could lift total funding to roughly $531 million for bitcoin purchases.
At the time of writing, the bitcoin price is near $73,800.
Bitcoin miners are caught in the tightest squeeze of the network’s history, and a new Wintermute report argues that simply waiting for the next bull run is no longer a strategy.
Instead, the firm says miners will have to reinvent themselves as infrastructure and treasury managers if they want to make it to the next halving.
Wintermute analyst Jasper De Maere says the current mining cycle is structurally different from prior ones in 2018 and 2022. Bitcoin’s design cuts block rewards in half every four years, but this time the price has not doubled over the same window, which means miner revenue is shrinking in real terms.
On a rolling four‑year basis, Bitcoin has only returned about 1.15x in this epoch, far below the 10x–20x multiples seen in earlier cycles.
In past cycles, huge price gains covered up a lot of problems. Miners could count on bull markets to bail out weak margins after each halving.
Today, with institutions, ETFs, and corporate treasuries in the mix, Bitcoin trades more like a mainstream macro asset, and those explosive 20x runs are less likely.
For miners that built their business on the assumption of permanent hypergrowth, Wintermute frames this as a regime change, not a bad quarter.
Margins are getting crushed
Under the hood, Bitcoin mining has a very simple cost structure: energy and compute. That simplicity means there are not many ways to protect profits when revenue falls. Wintermute’s analysis shows gross margins in this epoch peaked around 30%, a level that marked the bottom during prior bear markets, not the top.
Earlier epochs saw long stretches where miners enjoyed 70–80% margins; now, the “good times” look more like prior stress points.
Transaction fees are not saving the day either. Fee spikes tied to hype cycles and mempool congestion show up on charts, but they fade fast and rarely contribute more than a few percent of total miner revenue over time.
Wintermute notes that even when you include fees, the margin lines for each cycle barely move apart, especially in the current epoch. In other words, the protocol’s built‑in “second revenue stream” is not acting as a reliable backstop.
The AI pivot is an opportunity for a few
One path out of the squeeze is getting plenty of attention: pivoting into high‑performance computing (HPC) and AI workloads. Big tech firms and AI startups are racing to lock in power and data center capacity, and they do not want to wait five to ten years for new grid connections and construction.
Miners, who already control cheap power and built‑out sites, are a natural shortcut.
Wintermute points out that sites once valued at roughly 1–7 dollars per watt as pure mining operations have changed hands at close to 18 dollars per watt after being repositioned for AI compute, helped by deals like HUT’s work with Google and Anthropic.
Public‑market investors have rewarded miners that announce credible AI plans with higher valuations and cheaper capital through equity and convertible debt.
The catch is that not every miner has the location quality, balance sheet, or operational capacity to turn into a data‑center business.
Putting “idle” Bitcoin to work
That is where Wintermute sees a second, underused lever: active balance sheet management. Miners together hold close to 1% of all Bitcoin, a legacy of the “HODL” playbook that dominated earlier cycles.
At the same time, many listed miners have been selling down parts of their treasuries to cover tighter margins and debt, with some even wiping out holdings altogether.
Instead of letting reserves sit idle until they are dumped in a liquidity crunch, Wintermute argues miners should treat BTC like a working asset. On the “active” side, that means using derivatives strategies such as covered calls and cash‑secured puts to earn yield on holdings, at the cost of taking some market risk.
On the “passive” side, miners can deploy coins into on‑chain lending markets, including a new wrapped‑BTC market on Wildcat that Wintermute has highlighted, to generate interest income.
Wintermute’s bottom line is that Bitcoin’s design is working, but the easy era for miners is over. Difficulty can still adjust, yet it cannot overcome slower price growth, a fee market that has not scaled, and rising energy costs that eat into every block reward.
The AI pivot will likely reshape the upper tier of the industry, turning some miners into full‑blown infrastructure companies.
Eskom, a South African electricity public utility, is exploring plans to sell excess daytime electricity to Bitcoin mining companies as rooftop solar installations reduce grid demand during daylight hours.
Speaking at the Biznews Conference 2026 in Hermanus, Eskom chairman Mteto Nyati said the utility is evaluating ways to monetize surplus power generated during the middle of the day, according to local reporting.
South Africa’s rapid adoption of rooftop solar systems has begun to reshape the country’s electricity demand profile. Many households and businesses now generate their own power during daylight hours, leaving Eskom with unused capacity once solar panels begin producing electricity.
Nyati said the pattern is increasingly predictable.
Demand spikes in the early morning as households prepare for work and businesses open. As solar generation ramps up later in the day, grid demand falls, leaving Eskom with surplus electricity.
Eskom is looking at creative ways and means of using that capacity. One option under review is offering discounted electricity to Bitcoin mining companies operating in South Africa. The sector runs large data centers that perform energy-intensive computations to secure the Bitcoin network.
Nyati said industries such as Bitcoin mining are contributing to rising global electricity demand. He said that the technology did not exist two decades ago but now represents a growing source of power consumption.
Selling excess electricity to miners could allow Eskom to generate revenue from power that might otherwise go unused during solar-heavy hours.
South African Bitcoin mining opportunities
The idea also builds on earlier comments from Eskom chief executive Dan Marokane, who said the state-owned utility is examining opportunities tied to Bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and large-scale data centers.
Those sectors require large, continuous electricity supplies and could provide new demand for Eskom’s generation fleet.
Nyati framed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to adapt to structural changes in South Africa’s electricity market.
The country’s power sector is opening to private investment, allowing independent companies to build generation capacity and compete in electricity distribution. At the same time, rising rooftop solar adoption is shifting demand away from the national grid.
Nyati said Eskom must adapt to remain viable in a more competitive environment.
Alongside new revenue strategies, Eskom is pursuing cost reductions. Nyati said the utility plans to eliminate about R112 billion in expenses over the next five years.
Reducing those costs could help lower electricity prices for households and energy-intensive industries such as mining and smelting.
Despite the changes in the energy landscape, Nyati said South Africa still needs a strong national utility.
He argued that Eskom’s coal and nuclear power stations provide the base-load electricity required to support industrial growth and economic development.
The proposal to supply discounted electricity to Bitcoin miners reflects how utilities are beginning to treat flexible energy consumers as tools for balancing supply and demand in an evolving power system.
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The Bitcoin price has outperformed gold, silver, and major U.S. equity indexes since the outbreak of the Iran–Israel conflict escalation 2026, climbing above $73,000 even as oil surged and expectations for near-term interest rate cuts faded.
Market data shows Bitcoin price rising about 8% since the first strikes against Iran, reaching a one-month high above $73,000. The move placed the digital asset ahead of several traditional safe-haven and risk assets during a period of geopolitical stress.
Gold declined during the same stretch, falling roughly 3% from levels seen before the conflict began. Silver dropped more than 10%, sliding from above $90 to around $82. U.S. equities also weakened, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite each down between 1% and 2%.
The divergence came as global markets responded to a surge in energy prices. Crude oil climbed close to 20%, breaking above $100 per barrel for the first time in nearly four years as tensions threatened supply routes across the Middle East.
These conditions often pressure crypto markets because higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions raise inflation concerns and reduce risk appetite across global portfolios.
The bitcoin price followed that pattern at first.
In the hours after the conflict began, the asset dropped sharply as traders cut exposure across crypto derivatives markets. Roughly $300 million in leveraged positions were liquidated during the initial weekend selloff. Bitcoin briefly fell toward the mid-$63,000 range as uncertainty spread through global markets.
The selloff matched Bitcoin’s historical behavior during geopolitical shocks, where it often trades in line with other high-beta assets during the first wave of risk reduction.
The market response changed during the following week.
Bitcoin price recovery
Instead of remaining near those lows while energy prices climbed, Bitcoin price recovered steadily and broke back above the $70,000 level. The rebound left it outperforming metals and equities during the same window despite the challenging macro backdrop.
Derivatives data via Bitcoin Magazine Pro shows that part of the recovery followed a reset in market leverage. After the liquidation event cleared large speculative positions, traders began rebuilding exposure.
Open interest across major exchanges climbed back to roughly 88,000 BTC. The increase signals renewed participation without reaching extreme leverage levels that often precede sharp corrections.
Institutional demand also contributed to the rebound.
U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded strong inflows during the week. Data from ETF trackers shows the funds attracted about $586 million, marking one of the largest inflow weeks of the year.
The flows represent a steady source of demand entering the market even as geopolitical tensions intensified and inflation concerns returned.
Robert Mitchnick, head of digital assets at BlackRock, said the behavior of ETF investors has remained stable during periods of volatility.
Speaking on CNBC, Mitchnick said ETF flows show a long-term accumulation pattern even during large price declines in Bitcoin price.
He said the investor base across financial advisors, institutions, and direct retail buyers has taken a steady approach to the asset, with many participants using price weakness to add exposure.
He also pointed to the performance of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), which continued attracting inflows despite a sharp drop in Bitcoin’s price from its previous peak.
Mitchnick said IBIT ranked among the largest ETF inflows globally during 2025 even while the underlying asset declined, highlighting sustained demand from long-term investors.
NEW: $14 trillion BlackRock says Bitcoin ETF investors are “long term buy and hold fundamental type investors” and flows are positive
The growth of spot ETFs has expanded Bitcoin’s investor base and deepened market liquidity compared with earlier geopolitical episodes. Institutional capital can now enter the market through regulated products that trade alongside equities.
For now, Bitcoin’s performance during the conflict has reinforced its status as a liquid macro asset that reacts to both global market forces and crypto-native demand.
While oil, inflation expectations, and central bank policy continue to shape the backdrop, the digital asset has managed to recover faster than many traditional benchmarks during one of the most volatile geopolitical episodes of the year.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is trading at $72,941.
Strategy appears to have purchased more than 4,000 bitcoin on Thursday, according to estimates derived from real-time trading data and community tracking dashboards monitoring the firm’s preferred equity sales.
Data from STRC.live and market trackers suggests the purchases were funded through heavy issuance of the company’s Variable Rate Series A Preferred Stock (STRC), a perpetual preferred instrument that Strategy has increasingly used to raise capital for bitcoin accumulation.
By end of day in New York, trading activity implied the firm had already raised enough capital to acquire more than 4,000 BTC, marking the largest single-day bitcoin purchase funded through STRC since the instrument launched.
The surge follows unusually strong activity earlier in the week. On March 10, STRC recorded a record $409 million in daily trading volume while maintaining roughly 3% 30-day volatility and a one-month volume-weighted average price near $99.78.
On-chain indicators and community monitoring suggested that day’s activity funded the purchase of more than 2,000 BTC, already one of the largest one-day accumulations tied to the instrument.
Thursday’s pace easily surpassed that figure.
Strategy, already the largest public corporate holder of bitcoin, has increasingly leaned on its preferred equity program to finance additional acquisitions.
Earlier this year the company amended its at-the-market (ATM) program, allowing multiple agents to sell STRC shares simultaneously. The change increased liquidity in the instrument and made it easier for Strategy to raise large amounts of capital quickly, with proceeds directed toward bitcoin purchases.
Real-time dashboards tracking STRC trading attempt to estimate how many shares Strategy itself is issuing versus secondary market trades.
Because the company previously indicated it may sell shares when the price trades above its $100 stated amount, analysts can approximate capital raised when trading occurs above that threshold.
A recent SEC filing disclosed that the company purchased 17,994 BTC between March 2 and March 8 for approximately $1.28 billion. That acquisition lifted the firm’s total holdings to about 738,731 BTC, representing roughly 3.5% of bitcoin’s circulating supply.
The filing showed the purchase was funded through a combination of $377.1 million in STRC sales and $899.5 million raised through common stock issuance.
Based on those figures, STRC accounted for about 29.5% of the funding for that five-day accumulation period, equivalent to roughly 5,300 BTC acquired through preferred share sales.
If Thursday’s estimates prove accurate, the day’s purchases alone could exceed the average daily bitcoin acquisition pace seen during that earlier buying window.
The data remains unofficial. Strategy typically confirms purchases later through SEC filings or public disclosures.
BREAKING: Michael Saylor’s Strategy is now estimated to have accumulated 4,038 BTC today via STRC
STRC acts as a bridge between traditional income investors and Strategy’s Bitcoin-focused balance sheet. Income investors typically seek steady payouts, while Strategy’s large Bitcoin holdings bring long-term upside along with short-term price swings. The preferred stock helps connect these two profiles.
The security is structured to keep demand near its $100 par value while paying a monthly dividend that yields about 11.5% annually. In effect, it converts the economics of a Bitcoin treasury into a format that appeals to fixed-income investors who prioritize regular income.
Strong liquidity and relatively low volatility suggest that the investor base is shifting toward income-focused capital. That shift can help stabilize trading activity compared with instruments driven mainly by speculation.
These early results point to product-market fit. Rather than relying on marketing or hype, the structure appears to meet a clear demand among investors seeking yield tied to Bitcoin exposure.
For corporate leaders considering Bitcoin treasury strategies, STRC offers a way to integrate Bitcoin into broader capital structures. It allows companies to draw funding from multiple investor groups while building a shared strategic reserve around the asset.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades near $70,000, while shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR) are down about 0.75% on the day.
Corporate ownership of bitcoin has reached a new high in early 2026 as exchange-traded funds, multinational corporations, and private firms expand their exposure to the asset, according to the latest corporate adoption report from BitcoinTreasuries.net.
The data shows that institutional demand now forms a central pillar of the bitcoin market. Public companies, private firms, ETFs, and government-linked entities collectively hold a growing share of the circulating supply, with a small number of large buyers responsible for most accumulation.
The findings illustrate a shift in bitcoin’s ownership structure. Early adoption was driven by retail investors and technology enthusiasts. Today, large financial vehicles and corporate balance sheets shape the flow of capital into the asset.
A major force behind that transition has been the rise of spot BTC ETFs. These funds have accumulated substantial reserves since their introduction in major markets, offering investors exposure through regulated exchange-listed products rather than direct custody of the underlying asset.
Institutional allocators often prefer ETFs because they fit within traditional portfolio frameworks and comply with regulatory requirements. The result has been a steady inflow of capital into ETF products, tightening supply on exchanges and anchoring bitcoin within mainstream financial markets.
Alongside ETFs, a small group of public companies continues to dominate direct corporate ownership. The largest holders maintain treasuries measured in tens of thousands of bitcoin and treat the asset as a primary reserve rather than a speculative investment.
Strategy is dominating bitcoin treasury activity
The most prominent example remains Strategy, the software firm led by Michael Saylor. Strategy continued to expand its holdings during February, purchasing 5,075 BTC through a series of weekly acquisitions. That activity represented roughly 65% of all bitcoin added by corporate treasuries during the month.
Despite that buying, February delivered an unusual milestone for the sector. Corporate treasuries collectively added about 7,800 BTC but disposed of approximately 8,600 BTC, producing a net decline of roughly 800 BTC for the first time since standardized data tracking began, according to the report.
The setback appears limited when placed within a broader time frame. Corporate treasuries have added roughly 62,000 BTC so far in the first quarter of 2026, with most purchases occurring in January and early March. Strategy again accounted for a large share of those acquisitions, reinforcing its position as the dominant corporate holder.
Beyond direct purchases, the structure of corporate bitcoin finance is evolving. Companies linked to the sector now rely on preferred shares, convertible securities, and other forms of “digital credit” to fund acquisitions while offering investors high yields.
Among those products, several preferred share classes issued by Strategy and other firms offer yields well above traditional benchmarks. One floating-rate instrument linked to Strategy carries a credit spread of roughly 7.60 percentage points above three-month U.S. Treasury bills, according to research cited in the report.
In total, five digital credit instruments tied to bitcoin treasury strategies were projected to distribute about $435 million in dividends by the end of February.
Advocates argue that such financing tools allow companies to convert bitcoin’s long-term appreciation potential into steady income streams for investors. During a keynote presentation at the Bitcoin For Corporations 2026 conference, Saylor described the approach as an attempt to extract stable credit returns from bitcoin’s historically volatile price movements.
At the same time, smaller public companies have begun experimenting with BTC allocations, though their holdings remain modest compared with the largest corporate treasuries. Many firms treat BTC as a diversification asset or a signal of alignment with digital-asset markets rather than as a primary treasury reserve.
Private companies and family-controlled entities represent another important but opaque segment of the market. Public disclosure remains limited, yet available evidence suggests that several large private holders accumulated bitcoin over many years and maintain long-term positions outside the scrutiny faced by public companies.
Regional patterns also shape corporate adoption. Firms based in North America and parts of Europe show higher levels of exposure, reflecting more developed capital markets and regulatory frameworks for digital assets. In jurisdictions with unclear tax treatment or strict financial rules, companies often hesitate to hold bitcoin directly, according to the report.
Treasuries bought bitcoin 2.8× issuance
Another notable dynamic involves the relationship between corporate treasuries and the bitcoin supply itself. Since the April 2024 halving, companies tracked by BitcoinTreasuries.net have acquired BTC at a pace that frequently exceeds new mining output.
Across a survey of 94 weeks since the halving event, treasury companies accumulated bitcoin at about 2.8 times the rate at which new coins entered circulation through mining. Over a shorter window, Strategy alone acquired roughly 1.8 times the BTC produced by miners.
Those figures highlight how institutional demand can influence supply conditions in the market. When long-term holders absorb newly mined coins, the amount available for trading declines, which can amplify price movements during periods of rising demand.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pics-23-Gtp28Y.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-12 17:06:502026-03-12 17:06:50Corporate Bitcoin Holdings Hit Record High as Institutions Accumulate 2.8x Mining Supply: Report
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The announcement follows the 2nd Max & Stacy Invitational, which BSN organized in January at El Encanto Country Club in La Libertad, El Salvador, in partnership with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert and sponsored by Ikigii (Towerbank).
The El Salvador event included a poker tournament sponsored by Casino Colonial and a poolside 19th Hole Challenge. Attendees included Mike Peterson, Dr. Jack Kruse, Texas Slim, Archie from The Bitcoin Archives, and Bitcoin educator Jimmy Song.
“Nothing is impossible for Chris and Frieda. It is almost magical how they nail it every single time,” said Max Keiser.
Keiser also said: “I love this event. It’s like an amusement park for Bitcoiners. Everybody is focused on having maximalist fun. Chris and Frieda are the wizards behind the scenes making it all come together.”
Patrick Lowry, CEO of Samara Asset Group, said: “BSN once again proves to be the best at bringing Bitcoiners from around the world together. My wife and I enjoyed golf, poker, and meeting Bitcoiners from around the world—we’ve already begun planning next year’s trip.”
The Las Vegas event will use a 2-person scramble format. It will include Bitcoin-themed hole activations, exclusive prizes, and the Bitcoin Kickoff Party at the clubhouse. Organizers expect more than 300 attendees, including founders, builders, investors, and creators. Bali Hai Golf Club is located minutes from the main conference venue.
Following the Las Vegas event, BSN plans to host an event in Canada and launch the World Bitcoin Poker Tour.
Tickets and sponsorships for the Las Vegas event are available at bitcoingolfchampionship.com. Details for the Canada event are at https://thebtcopen.com/.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Gemini_Generated_Image_33i94y33i94y33i9-AAD3Jg.webp6301200Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-12 14:29:002026-03-12 14:29:003rd Bitcoin Golf Championship Lands at Bali Hai Golf Club Before Bitcoin 2026 Vegas Conference
New research from Binance suggests the upcoming 2026 United States midterm elections could set the stage for a recovery in both Bitcoin and equities, even as markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices.
In a report released this week, Binance Research found that risk assets have shown a consistent rebound after U.S. midterm election cycles. Historical data shows the S&P 500 has produced an average return of 19% in the 12 months following midterm elections, with no negative annual return recorded since 1939.
Bitcoin has shown an even stronger pattern in the limited number of cycles since its emergence as a liquid asset. In the three post-midterm years on record, the cryptocurrency delivered an average gain of 54%, according to the report.
“Once election outcomes are determined and uncertainty is resolved, markets have historically staged powerful rallies,” the report stated.
NEW: Binance report shows that following US midterm elections, “Bitcoin has rallied an average of 54% in all three post-midterm years on record.”
The research arrives about eight months before voters head to the polls on Nov. 3 to determine the composition of the 120th Congress. Historically, midterm election years have produced some of the most volatile periods in the four-year presidential cycle as investors adjust expectations around fiscal policy, regulation, and government spending.
Binance Research noted that midterm years have often brought meaningful drawdowns before the subsequent recovery. The S&P 500 has experienced an average peak-to-trough decline of about 16% during midterm election years, making it the weakest period in the presidential cycle.
Bitcoin has shown similar behavior in past cycles, though with greater volatility. The cryptocurrency posted sharp declines during the previous three midterm years on record, including a 56% drawdown in 2014, a 73% decline in 2018, and a 64% drop in 2022.
Despite those losses, each cycle was followed by a strong recovery once the election period passed, Binance wrote.
Bitcoin, oil, Iran, and macro events
Market participants say the historical pattern reflects the removal of political uncertainty once the balance of power in Washington becomes clear.
Fiscal policy expectations, regulatory agendas, and legislative priorities tend to stabilize after election outcomes are known, giving investors a clearer framework for positioning capital.
The report also touched on the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran as a central source of macro risk.
Disruptions tied to the conflict have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important shipping corridors for global energy markets.
The energy shock has added pressure to risk assets across global markets, including Bitcoin. Binance analysts say sustained supply disruptions could keep oil prices elevated and weigh on investor sentiment.
Bitcoin has traded near the $70,000 level in recent sessions, with market structure showing repeated liquidity sweeps above and below key price ranges. Derivatives analysts say that pattern suggests traders are waiting for clearer signals from macro events before taking directional positions.
Despite near-term uncertainty, Binance Research argues that the historical record around U.S. midterm cycles offers a longer-term perspective for investors.
If the pattern holds, the months following the 2026 midterm elections could provide one of the strongest windows for risk assets in the political cycle, potentially setting up a new rally for both equities and Bitcoin once political uncertainty fades.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pics-22-H7m9B0.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-12 14:19:182026-03-12 14:19:18Binance: U.S. Midterms Historically Followed by Strong Bitcoin Gains
Synchronizing a new node to the network tip involves several distinct stages:
Peer discovery and chain selection where the node connects to random peers and determines the most-work chain.
Header download when block headers are fetched and connected to form the full header chain.
Block download when the node requests blocks belonging to that chain from multiple peers simultaneously.
Block and transaction validation where each block’s transactions are verified before the next one is processed.
While block validation itself is inherently sequential, each block depends on the state produced by the previous one, much of the surrounding work runs in parallel. Header synchronization, block downloads and script verification can all occur concurrently on different threads. An ideal IBD saturates all subsystems maximally: network threads fetching data, validation threads verifying signatures, and database threads writing the resulting state.
Without continuous performance improvement, cheap nodes might not be able to join the network in the future.
Intro
Bitcoin’s “don’t trust, verify” culture requires that the ledger can be rebuilt by anyone from scratch. After processing all historical transactions every user should arrive at the exact same local state of everyone’s funds as the rest of the network.
This reproducibility is at the heart of Bitcoin’s trust-minimized design, but it comes at a significant cost: after almost 17 years, this ever-growing database forces newcomers to do more work than ever before they can join the Bitcoin network.
When bootstrapping a new node it has to download, verify, and persist every block from genesis to the current chain tip – a resource-intensive synchronization process called Initial Block Download (IBD).
While consumer hardware continues to improve, keeping IBD requirements low remains critical for maintaining decentralization by keeping validation accessible to everyone – from lower-powered devices like Raspberry Pis to high-powered servers.
Benchmarking process
Performance optimization begins with understanding how software components, data patterns, hardware, and network conditions interact to create bottlenecks in performance. This requires extensive experimentation, most of which gets discarded. Beyond the usual balancing act between speed, memory usage, and maintainability, Bitcoin Core developers must choose the lowest-risk/highest-return changes. Valid-but-minor optimizations are often rejected as too risky relative to their benefit.
We have a significant suite of micro-benchmarks to ensure existing functionality doesn’t degrade in performance. These are useful for catching regressions, i.e. performance backslides in individual pieces of code, but aren’t necessarily representative of overall IBD performance.
Contributors proposing optimizations provide reproducers and measurements across different environments: operating systems, compilers, storage types (SSD vs HDD), network speeds, dbcache sizes, node configurations (pruned vs archival), and index combinations. We write single-use benchmarks and use compiler explorers for validating which setup would perform better in that specific scenario (e.g. intra-block duplicate transaction checking with Hash Set vs Sorted Set vs Sorted vector).
We’re also regularly benchmarking the IBD process. This can be done by reindexing the chainstate and optionally the block index from local block files, or doing a full IBD either from local peers (to avoid slow peers affecting timings) or from the wider p2p network itself.
IBD benchmarks often show smaller improvements than micro-benchmarks since network bandwidth or other I/O is often the bottleneck; downloading the blockchain alone takes ~16 hours with average global internet speeds.
For maximum reproducibility -reindex-chainstate is often favored, creating memory and CPU profiles before and after the optimization and validating how the change affects other functionality.
Historical and ongoing improvements
Early Bitcoin Core versions were designed for a much smaller blockchain. The original Satoshi prototype laid the foundations, but without constant innovation from Bitcoin Core developers it would not have been able to handle the network’s unprecedented growth.
Originally the block index stored every historic transaction and whether they were spent, but in 2012, “Ultraprune” (PR #1677) created a dedicated database for tracking unspent transaction outputs, forming the UTXO set, which pre-caches the latest state of all spendable coins, providing a unified view for validation. Combined with a database migration from Berkeley DB to LevelDB validation speeds were significantly improved.
However, this database migration caused the BIP50[1] chain fork when a block with many transaction inputs was accepted by upgraded nodes but rejected by older versions as being too complicated. This highlights how Bitcoin Core development differs from typical software engineering: even pure performance optimizations have the potential to result in unintended chain splits.
The following year (PR #2060) enabled multithreaded signature validation. Around the same time, the specialized cryptographic library libsecp256k1 was created, and was integrated into Bitcoin Core in 2014. Over the following decade, through continuous optimizations, it became more than 8x faster than the same functionality in the general-purpose OpenSSL library.
Headers-first sync (PR #4468, 2014) restructured the IBD process to first download the block header chain with the most accumulated work, then fetch blocks from multiple peers simultaneously. Besides accelerating IBD it also eliminated wasted bandwidth on blocks that would be orphaned as they were not in the main chain.
In 2016 PR #9049 removed what appeared to be a redundant duplicate-input check, introducing a consensus bug that could have allowed supply inflation. Fortunately, it was discovered and patched before exploitation. This incident drove major testing resource investments. Today, with differential fuzzing, broad coverage, and stricter review discipline, Bitcoin Core surfaces and resolves issues far more quickly, with no comparable consensus hazards reported since.[2].
In 2017 -assumevalid (PR #9484) separated general block validity checks from the expensive signature verification, making the latter optional for most of IBD, cutting its time roughly in half. Block structure, proof-of-work, and spending rules remain fully verified: -assumevalid skips signature checks entirely for all blocks up to a certain block height.
In 2022 PR #25325 replaced Bitcoin Core’s ordinary memory allocator with a custom pool-based allocator optimized for the coins cache. By designing specifically for Bitcoin’s allocation patterns, it reduced memory waste and improved cache efficiency, delivering ~21% faster IBD while fitting more coins in the same memory footprint.
While code itself doesn’t rot, the system it operates within constantly evolves. Every 10 minutes Bitcoin’s state changes – usage patterns shift, bottlenecks migrate. Maintenance and optimization aren’t optional; without constant adaptation, Bitcoin would accumulate vulnerabilities faster than a static codebase could defend against, and IBD performance would steadily regress despite advances in hardware.
The increasing size of the UTXO set and growth in average block weight exemplify this evolution. Tasks that were once CPU-bound (like signature verification) are now often Input/Output (IO)-bound due to heavier chainstate access (having to check the UTXO set on disk). This shift has driven new priorities: improving memory caching, reducing LevelDB flush frequency, and parallelizing disk reads to keep modern multi-core CPUs busy.
A look at IBD times for different Bitcoin Core releases.
Recent optimizations
The software designs are based on predicted usage patterns, which inevitably diverge from reality as the network evolves. Bitcoin’s deterministic workload allows us to measure actual behavior and course correct later, ensuring performance keeps pace with the network’s growth.
We’re constantly adjusting defaults to better fit real-world usage patterns. A few examples:
PR #30039 increased LevelDB’s max file size – a single parameter change that delivered ~30% IBD speedup by better matching how the chainstate database (UTXO set) is actually accessed.
PR #31645 doubled the flush batch size, reducing fragmented disk writes during IBD’s most write-intensive phase and speeding up progress saves when IBD is interrupted.
PR #32279 adjusted the internal prevector storage size (used mainly for in-memory script storage). The old pre-segwit threshold prioritized older script templates at the expense of newer ones. By adjusting the capacity to cover modern script sizes, heap allocations are avoided, memory fragmentation is reduced, and script execution benefits from better cache locality.
All small, surgical changes with measurable validation impacts.
Beyond parameter tuning, some changes required rethinking existing designs:
PR #28280 improved how pruned nodes (which discard old blocks to save disk space) handle frequent memory cache flushes. The original design either dumped the entire cache or scanned it to find modified entries. Selectively tracking modified entries enabled over 30% speedup for pruned nodes with maximum dbcache and ~9% improvement with default settings.
PR #31551 introduced read/write batching for block files, reducing the overhead of many small filesystem operations. The 4x-8x speedup in block file access improved not just IBD but other RPCs as well.
PR #31144 optimized the existing optional block file obfuscation (used to make sure data isn’t stored in cleartext on disk) by processing 64-bit chunks instead of byte-by-byte operations, delivering another IBD speedup. With obfuscation being essentially free users no longer need to choose between safe storage and performance.
Other minor caching optimizations (such as PR #32487) enabled adding additional safety checks that were deemed too expensive before (PR #32638).
Similarly, we can now flush the cache more frequently to disk (PR #30611), ensuring nodes never lose more than one hour of validation work in case of crashes. The modest overhead was acceptable because earlier optimizations had already made IBD significantly faster.
PR #32043 currently serves as a tracker for IBD-related performance improvements. It groups a dozen ongoing efforts, from disk and cache tuning to concurrency enhancements, and provides a framework for measuring how each change affects real-world performance. This approach encourages contributors to present not only code but also reproducible benchmarks, profiling data, and cross-hardware comparisons.
Future optimization suggestions
PR #31132 parallelizes transaction input fetching during block validation. Currently, each input is fetched from the UTXO set sequentially – cache misses require disk round trips, creating an IO bottleneck. The PR introduces parallel fetching across multiple worker threads, achieving up to ~30% faster -reindex-chainstate (~10 hours on a Raspberry Pi 5 with 450MB dbcache). As a side effect, this narrows the performance gap between small and large -dbcache values, potentially allowing nodes with modest memory to sync nearly as fast as high-memory configurations.
Besides IBD, PR #26966 parallelizes block filter and transaction index construction using configurable worker threads.
Keeping the persisted UTXO set compact is critical for node accessibility. PR #33817 experiments with reducing it slightly by removing an optional LevelDB feature that might not be needed for Bitcoin’s specific use case.
SwiftSync[3] is an experimental approach leveraging our hindsight about historical blocks. Knowing the actual outcome, we can categorize every encountered coin by its final state at the target height: those still unspent (which we store) and those spent by that height (which we can ignore, merely verifying they appear in matching create/spend pairs anywhere). Pre-generated hints encode this classification, allowing nodes to skip UTXO operations for short-lived coins entirely.
Bitcoin Is Open To Anyone
Beyond synthetic benchmarks, a recent experiment[4] ran the SwiftSync prototype on an underclocked Raspberry Pi 5 powered by a battery pack over WiFi, completing -reindex-chainstate of 888,888 blocks in 3h 14m. Measurements with equivalent configurations show a 250% full validation speedup[5] across recent Bitcoin Core versions.
Years of accumulated work translate to genuine impact: fully validating nearly a million blocks can now be done in less than a day on cheap hardware, maintaining accessibility despite continuous blockchain growth.
This piece is the Letter from the Editor featured in the latest Print edition of Bitcoin Magazine, The Core Issue. We’re sharing it here as an early look at the ideas explored throughout the full issue.
Mastercard has unveiled a new global initiative aimed at bringing crypto into the mainstream of financial services.
The Crypto Partner Program, announced Wednesday, gathers more than 85 companies across the blockchain, fintech, and traditional banking sectors, including Binance, Circle, Gemini, PayPal, Paxos, Ripple, BitGo, and Crypto.com.
The program is designed to explore practical applications for on-chain technology within existing payment infrastructure, focusing on areas such as cross-border transfers, business-to-business payments, and global payouts.
Executives at Mastercard, including Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president of Digital Asset Blockchain Products & Partnerships, and Sherri Haymond, executive vice president of Digital Commercialization, described the launch as a response to the evolving role of digital assets in financial markets.
They said that digital assets are entering a new phase, noting that blockchain and crypto are increasingly used to solve real-world problems rather than operate purely as parallel systems.
For instance, blockchain tools can enable instant settlement, programmable payments, and round-the-clock cross-border transfers—capabilities that complement existing payment rails rather than replace them.
Mastercard’s collaboration across crypto
The Crypto Partner Program is structured to promote collaboration across the ecosystem. Participants will work directly with Mastercard teams on product development and strategic direction, helping to shape services that integrate the speed and flexibility of on-chain payments with the global infrastructure of card networks.
The program also provides forums for partners to exchange ideas, share expertise, and coordinate on industry standards.
According to Mastercard, the goal is practical execution: translating technical innovation into solutions that are scalable, compliant, and capable of operating across multiple markets.
Mastercard has supported crypto-linked payment cards, backed blockchain startups through its Start Path accelerator, and developed services to help banks manage compliance and risk around digital assets.
By creating a structured partnership framework, the company hopes to accelerate adoption of digital assets while maintaining the trust, oversight, and global connectivity that define its core business.
The move comes amid broader efforts by traditional payment networks to integrate digital assets. Visa, for example, has tested settlements using stablecoins and collaborated with blockchain firms to explore tokenized dollar payments.
Banks are similarly experimenting with blockchain-based deposits and payment systems. Mastercard’s approach emphasizes the integration of innovation into the systems consumers and businesses already rely on.
Its network touches banks, merchants, and consumers in over 200 countries, providing a scale and reliability that on-chain solutions alone cannot match.
Mastercard describes the program as “built for innovators, designed for deployment.” By fostering collaboration among crypto-native companies, payment providers, and financial institutions, the initiative aims to align innovation across the industry while supporting responsible growth.
For Dhamodharan and Haymond, the objective is clear: “By bridging on-chain innovation with the framework that powers everyday payments, we’re helping ensure that what’s next works with what already does.”
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mastercard-Launches-Global-Crypto-Partner-Program-to-Bridge-Digital-Assets-and-Traditional-Payments-TeIrrj.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-11 14:57:422026-03-11 14:57:42Mastercard Launches Global Crypto Partner Program to Bridge Digital Assets and Traditional Payments
Strive, Inc. said Wednesday it raised the dividend rate on its preferred equity product while adding more bitcoin and a new credit instrument to its balance sheet, moves the firm said are designed to stabilize its digital credit strategy.
The Dallas-based company increased the dividend rate on its SATA preferred stock by 25 basis points to 12.75% and declared a dividend of $1.0625 per share payable April 15 to shareholders of record on April 1.
At the same time, Strive narrowed its targeted trading range for SATA to $99–$101 from the previous $95–$105 and updated guidance to avoid issuing new shares below $100 through at-the-market or follow-on offerings.
The firm also disclosed additional balance sheet activity, including the purchase of 179 bitcoin since its last filing. That brings Strive’s holdings to roughly 13,311 BTC.
Separately, Strive allocated $50 million to acquire 500,000 shares of Strategy Inc.’s Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock, trading under the ticker STRC on Nasdaq Composite.
Executives framed the moves as part of a broader effort to strengthen the credit profile of SATA, which the company describes as a “digital credit” product tied to bitcoin-focused capital strategies.
CEO Matthew Cole said the adjustments are intended to maintain a stable trading range for the preferred shares while supporting long-term returns for common shareholders relative to bitcoin performance.
Chief Risk Officer Jeff Walton said the addition of STRC reflects the company’s view that the instrument offers higher yield and liquidity than traditional fixed income, allowing Strive to manage short- and medium-duration capital more efficiently.
As of March 9, Strive held $143.4 million in cash and cash equivalents before the STRC purchase, alongside its bitcoin holdings.
The company said its combined bitcoin, STRC, and cash reserves currently cover more than 19 years of SATA interest payments.
Strive and Strategy get upgraded ratings
This comes as Strategy Inc. disclosed that it spent $1.28 billion to acquire 17,994 bitcoin last week, raising its total holdings to 738,731 BTC worth about $50 billion at current prices.
Against that backdrop, investment bank B. Riley Financial initiated coverage of Strategy and Strive, Inc. with Buy ratings and price targets of $175 and $12, respectively, arguing that the recent decline in bitcoin and related equities has compressed valuations and created a potential entry point for investors.
Analysts pointed to Strategy’s scale and market dominance as the largest corporate bitcoin holder, as well as its ability to raise capital across cycles through a layered structure that includes common equity, convertible notes, and multiple series of perpetual preferred stock.
Meanwhile, Strive was highlighted for its “dual-engine” model combining a roughly 13,132 BTC treasury with an asset management business overseeing about $2.5 billion, alongside a recent all-stock acquisition of Semler Scientific.
Netflix blocked Bitcoin-related sponsors from appearing on a pro boxer’s fight trunks and gear during a major event it streamed live, forcing last-minute changes days before the bout, according to Sazmining CEO Kent Halliburton.
Halliburton, whose company provides Bitcoin mining-as-a-service using renewable hydroelectric energy, detailed the incident in a statement shared with Bitcoin Magazine. The sponsorship involved welterweight fighter Justin Cardona‘s appearance on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua fight card, held December 19, 2025, at Miami’s Kaseya Center. Netflix served as the exclusive broadcaster, estimating viewership between 20 million and 100 million.
Sazmining, Bitcoin lending platform LEDN, and a standalone Bitcoin logo secured placement on Cardona’s trunks in mid-October 2025. Sponsors were submitted by late October, meeting the October 31 deadline for approval and embroidery. Logos were produced, invoices paid, and Cardona promoted the partnership publicly on social media. No objections arose for nearly two months.
On December 12, 2025—one week before fight night—promoter Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), co-promoting with Netflix, informed Cardona’s team of a “secondary review” by Netflix. The decision banned all Bitcoin-related content from fight-night trunks, press conferences, weigh-ins, and other fight-week activities. Cardona could have faced potential fines for non-compliance. The rejection cited “Prohibited per our policy,” with no additional explanation.
Netflix’s sponsor guidelines, reviewed by Halliburton, prohibit categories such as weapons, drugs, tobacco, political ads, sexually explicit content, and “speculative financial products.” Examples under the latter include get-rich-quick schemes, pyramid schemes, credit repair services, and payday loans. Bitcoin receives no explicit mention. Financial services appear in a “restricted” category requiring case-by-case approval, alongside alcohol, insurance, and gambling.
Other sponsors in restricted categories cleared the process without issue. An insurance firm backing Cardona gained approval. Polymarket and Draft Kings, two well-known betting sites, enabling real-money wagers on elections, sports, and cultural events, featured prominently on the broadcast—including stream branding and a main-event fighter displaying related merchandise on camera. Both of these platforms involve speculative financial elements and gambling, yet encountered no restrictions.
The ban compelled Cardona to replace custom-embroidered trunks at his own expense, disrupting preparations for what he called the biggest fight of his career. “In the ring, I fight for every round because time is scarce and every punch counts. Bitcoin is the same way—there’s a fixed supply, no one can inflate it away. I took a lot of pride in having Bitcoin companies on my trunks,” Cardona stated.
Halliburton highlighted the inconsistency, emphasizing Bitcoin’s institutional growth by 2026. Spot ETFs from BlackRock and Fidelity have drawn billions in inflows, publicly traded companies hold Bitcoin on balance sheets, and nations discuss adding it to reserves. The U.S. government has debated a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. “It’s unbelievable that Bitcoin and Bitcoin companies continue to be censored,” Halliburton said, calling the reversal “incoherent” given Netflix’s guidelines and approvals for similar sponsors.
He urged Netflix to clarify its stance: If Bitcoin faces a blanket ban, it should appear explicitly in guidelines to avoid misleading athletes and businesses. Platforms set their own rules, Halliburton acknowledged, but demanded consistent, upfront application—especially after initial silence implied approval.
The incident illustrates ongoing hurdles for Bitcoin firms pursuing mainstream visibility through sports and media partnerships, despite the asset’s maturation into a $2 trillion class with regulated financial products.
For Bitcoin businesses like Sazmining, the episode reinforces the need for promoters aligned with Bitcoin’s principles. Cardona’s next fights prioritize such environments, potentially amplifying Bitcoin’s exposure in combat sports.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Gemini_Generated_Image_9atjhq9atjhq9atj-WCtae4.webp6301200Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-10 17:20:482026-03-10 17:20:48Netflix Censored Bitcoin Sponsors on Boxer Trunks During Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Broadcast
Investment bank B. Riley has entered the corporate bitcoin treasury sector with formal coverage of two Nasdaq-listed companies, Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Strive, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASST), assigning Buy ratings and price targets of $175 and $12, respectively.
Analyst Fedor Shabalin led the Strive initiation, according to Investing.com The move comes as both stocks trade well below their previous highs, with bitcoin near $70,000.
B. Riley framed the current valuation compression in both companies as an opportunity rather than a structural concern. Strategy shares currently trade at 1.2 times net asset value (NAV), down from a 3.4x peak in 2024.
Strive trades around 0.9 times modified NAV, reflecting early-stage volatility and a discount to the company’s combined bitcoin and asset management value.
Strategy’s market dominance and Strive’s dual engine structure
For Strategy, B. Riley highlights scale and market dominance. The company holds 738,731 BTC, the largest corporate treasury in the world, and has built a digital credit platform spanning six securities, including five series of perpetual preferred stock alongside common equity and convertible notes.
This capital structure allows Strategy to access funding across market cycles.
The company also added 41,002 bitcoin in January 2026 alone and raised $25.3 billion in FY2025 through equity issuance, making it the largest U.S. public issuer for the second consecutive year. Its software subscription business saw Q4 2025 revenue grow 62.1% year over year.
Despite operational progress, MSTR shares have fallen 51.6% over the past year.
Strive operates a dual-engine model, combining a bitcoin treasury of roughly 13,132 BTC with an asset management business overseeing $2.5 billion in assets. The company went public via a reverse merger in September 2025 and completed an all-stock acquisition of Semler Scientific in January 2026, adding a medical device business.
B. Riley highlighted Strive’s strong capital structure and minimal near-term convertible debt, offering predictable cash flows for income-focused investors. ASST shares are down 42.3% year to date and 28.6% over the past month, according to the analysts.
B. Riley’s initiation comes amid a broader pullback in bitcoin and related equities. Bitcoin fell more than 45% from about $126,000 in October 2025 to roughly $69,000 in early March 2026, compressing NAV multiples and slowing equity-driven BTC accumulation.
Each $1,000 move in bitcoin translates to roughly $739 million in treasury value for Strategy and $13.1 million for Strive, underlining the price sensitivity of both firms.
Yesterday, Strategy said they spent a whopping $1.28 billion to buy 17,994 more bitcoin last week, raising its total holdings to 738,731 BTC worth about $50 billion at current prices.
Bhutan’s state-owned investment arm has steadily sold portions of the country’s Bitcoin reserves, moving about $42.5 million in BTC and USDT so far in 2026 through a small set of recurring counterparties.
Data from blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence shows that the Royal Government of Bhutan transferred 175 BTC, valued at $11.85 million, on Monday to an address that had previously received 184 BTC in February.
The February activity included multiple transfers totaling roughly $30.7 million, including two sends to QCP Capital, a trading firm, and a $1.5 million USDT transfer to a Binance hot wallet.
The pattern suggests a planned treasury drawdown and liquidity management strategy rather than panic selling. Bhutan mined much of its Bitcoin using surplus hydropower, giving the government a near-zero cost basis. Every sale, therefore, represents a profit for the state.
Bhutan’s Bitcoin stack peaked around 13,000 BTC in late 2024, after several years of accumulation through state-backed mining operations.
tSince then, the holdings have fallen to approximately 5,400 BTC, a 58% reduction.
Dollar value has also dropped due to the decline in Bitcoin prices from roughly $126,000 at the peak to around $69,000 today. Holdings once worth over $1.5 billion are now valued near $374 million.
Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), Bhutan’s sovereign wealth fund, manages the country’s cryptocurrency assets.
Bhutan is one of the world’s largest bitcoin holders
The fund oversees state-owned enterprises and acts as the principal financial arm of the government. In December, Bhutan pledged up to 10,000 BTC to fund Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special economic zone designed to hold digital assets for its financial reserves.
The transfers have consistently gone to the same counterparties in similar sizes, with no clear correlation to price movements. This pattern points to structured liquidity management rather than reactive selling.
Bhutan ranks as the seventh-largest government Bitcoin holder, behind the first place United States, which holds 328,372 BTC valued at nearly $22 billion.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has previously noted that Bitcoin proceeds support public services, including healthcare, environmental initiatives, and salaries for public employees.
Surplus hydropower generated during summer months has enabled the kingdom to continue state-backed mining operations efficiently.
Since the 2024 Bitcoin halving, mining rewards declined to 3.125 BTC, reducing overall profitability and prompting some energy resources to be redirected to high-performance computing.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bhutan-Keeps-Selling-Its-Bitcoin-Reserves-Sold-by-Over-Half-602jv2.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-10 15:40:542026-03-10 15:40:54Bhutan Keeps Selling Its Bitcoin, Reserves Sold by Over Half
Bitcoin price traded near $69,000 on Monday, stabilizing after last week’s brief rally and then sell-off into the weekend. The cryptocurrency has remained resilient even as traditional equities and oil markets experience sharp swings.
Bitcoin price remains confined to the $62,500–$72,000 range following February’s sharp decline, with repeated attempts to break above $72,000 failing, according to Bitfinex analysts.
A high of $74,047 on March 4 marked a brief breakout for the bitcoin price, but momentum could not be sustained, and the move was quickly reversed. The March 6 spike in negative realized profits of around $900 million shows that many investors exited positions at a loss during the failed rally.
Passive sell orders and late-entry leveraged longs absorbed buying pressure, keeping the price trapped within its established range.
Since the February low, dip buyers have supported a 20.5% recovery, helping stabilize the market.
Realized losses have now sharply compressed, suggesting that forced selling has largely subsided, but upside remains capped until $72,000 is decisively cleared, according to Bitfinex.
Bitcoin price weathers macro turbulence
The surge in volatility comes alongside dramatic movements in energy markets, where West Texas Intermediate crude briefly rose above $110 per barrel before easing back.
Supply concerns driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have weighed on global equities and safe-haven assets such as gold, while pushing demand toward the U.S. dollar.
Bitcoin’s own volatility measures suggest the crypto market may have already experienced its most stressful phase. The Bitcoin Volmex Implied Volatility Index (BVIV) spiked earlier this year when bitcoin price briefly fell to $60,000, indicating heightened market stress.
Since then, volatility has eased, suggesting that crypto markets front-ran some of the turbulence now affecting traditional assets.
Despite macro uncertainty, bitcoin’s price has held above $66,000, recovering from minor pullbacks that followed attempts to break through resistance near $74,000. The market has seen a consolidation phase, with buyers defending levels around $66,000 to $69,000, according to Bitcoin Magazine Pro data.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping routes have contributed to sharp spikes in oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz closure and recent strikes on regional depots tightened supply, adding upward pressure on crude and fueling concerns about global inflation. Rising energy costs ripple through industries worldwide, potentially increasing borrowing costs and putting pressure on risk-sensitive assets, including bitcoin.
On top of this, underlying financial pressures that could influence Bitcoin’s appeal.
“While chaotic global events are getting most of the attention and are often credited for bitcoin’s price moves, there may be deeper stresses forming beneath the surface,” Timot Lamarre, director of market research at Unchained Pressure, wrote to Bitcoin Magazine. “In the private credit market, including unusually high withdrawal requests from large funds, suggests liquidity in parts of the financial system may be tightening. Markets tend to anticipate the policy response to financial stress before it happens, and if investors begin expecting another round of monetary expansion, the incentive to hold bitcoin only grows stronger.”
Global equities have reflected these pressures. Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s KOSPI both dropped more than 7% after market openings, while China and Hong Kong’s indices recorded smaller declines.
The strength of the U.S. dollar, coupled with elevated yields, has reinforced its role as a primary defensive asset in the current environment, leaving bitcoin price and other risk assets to navigate a more complex landscape.
Within this context, bitcoin price has maintained relative stability. Its market capitalization has remained above $1.3 trillion, and trading activity shows continued interest across spot and derivatives markets.
Bitcoin’s mined supply also surpassed 20 million BTC today — over 95 % of the 21 million cap — leaving just about 1 million coins left to be mined over the next century.
Bitcoin has just crossed a major milestone: more than 20 million of its 21 million coins have now been mined. That means over 95% of the cryptocurrency’s total supply is out in the world, leaving less than one million coins yet to be created.
But don’t expect them to appear anytime soon — the last fractions of Bitcoin, called satoshis, are projected to be mined around the year 2140.
Bitcoin’s supply is built into its code, making it very different from traditional money like dollars or euros. When Satoshi Nakamoto launched the network in 2009, the system was designed to release coins gradually.
Miners earn new bitcoins as rewards for validating transactions and adding them to the blockchain. These rewards started at 50 BTC per block and are cut in half roughly every four years in an event called a “halving.”
The latest halving in 2024 reduced the reward to 3.125 BTC per block, slowing the pace of new BTC entering circulation.
This means the early years saw a faster creation of coins, while the final million will trickle out extremely slowly. Right now, miners produce about 450 BTC per day, half of what they did before the 2024 halving.
BREAKING: Over 20 million of Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap has officially been mined.
As the rewards continue to shrink, miners will increasingly rely on transaction fees rather than new coins to sustain their operations.
Another factor affecting BTC’s supply is that some coins are effectively lost. Some early coins were sent to addresses with no private keys, and estimates suggest between 2 and 3.5 million BTC may never be recovered.
In addition to lost keys, some BTC are unspendable by design — for example, the 50 BTC from Bitcoin’s very first block cannot be spent — taking them permanently out of circulation.
That reduces the number of coins actually available to trade, increasing scarcity and reinforcing BTC’s “hard money” characteristics.
Bitcoin price fluctuations
Despite the slowing issuance, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies still move with global markets, investor sentiment, and economic news. Prices can swing daily, showing that even though the supply is predictable, demand and market conditions still drive short-term value.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading in between $69,000 and $70,000.
Over the long term, however, Bitcoin’s fixed supply and transparent issuance schedule are expected to give it a unique edge compared to traditional currencies.
Analysts say that predictability and scarcity are features that people tend to value in money, especially in a world of unpredictable central bank policies and inflation risks.
Looking ahead, the final BTC isn’t just a theoretical number. By 2140, miners will rely entirely on transaction fees to secure the network, which could make sending Bitcoin more expensive but also ensures the system remains operational without new coins.
In short, BTC is moving from a fast-growing experiment to a rare, hard-to-get digital asset. While daily prices will keep bouncing with the world’s economy, its ultimate scarcity is now hard-coded into its DNA, making it a long-term experiment in digital money that no one can change.
https://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/U.S.-Treasury-Recognizes-Legitimate-Uses-for-Crypto-Mixers-Proposes-Hold-Law-for-Suspicious-Assets-XESPkd.jpg10801920Bitcoin Developerhttps://bitcoindevelopers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/loho_hor_1-300x108.pngBitcoin Developer2026-03-09 15:32:562026-03-09 15:32:56Bitcoin Hits 20 Million Mined: Less Than 1 Million Coins Left
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