The XRP price slid 5% on Wednesday as a wider market pullback dragged most major tokens lower, knocking the altcoin back to roughly $1.43. Experts point to the same recurring forces behind the swing: persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a shortage of fresh, bullish catalysts. Despite the near-term weakness, market observers remain upbeat about XRP’s longer-term prospects, centering their optimism on an anticipated policy development in Washington. Potential Surge In Adoption And ETF Inflows Industry analysts widely believe that passage of the CLARITY Act — the proposed crypto market-structure bill in the US Congress — would materially improve XRP’s institutional outlook by formally classifying the token as a digital commodity. That legal status would place XRP on a regulatory footing similar to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) and, according to proponents, remove a major barrier to large-scale adoption by banks, asset managers, and payment providers. Related Reading: Citigroup Lowers 12-Month Bitcoin Price Forecast To $112,000, ETH To $3,175—Here’s The Reason In a new analysis, Sam Daodu of 24/7 Wall St. argued that the CLARITY Act is the single most important catalyst that could propel the XRP price past key resistance levels. He noted that commodity designation would allow US banks to use XRP for cross-border settlement via Ripple’s payment rails without the looming uncertainty that a regulatory reclassification might later introduce. That legal clarity, Daodu said, would unlock institutional confidence and encourage sizeable inflows into XRP investment products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs). XRP Price Targets Lifted Daodu also cited forecasts from Standard Chartered’s Geoffrey Kendrick, who previously set an $8 target for XRP in 2026, premised on the passage of the CLARITY Act. Kendrick’s model anticipates $4 billion to $8 billion in cumulative ETF inflows by year-end if the bill passes. Consensus among many analysts places the XRP price between $5 and $10 should the legislation clear Congress, with an $8 price implying a market capitalization near $490 billion — a level Daodu argues is plausible if banks adopt XRP for actual payment use rather than the token remaining a retail trading vehicle. Daodu went further in outlining further upside scenarios: if the CLARITY Act were approved and Ripple’s application for a master account at the Federal Reserve were also successful by late 2026, some models project XRP could trade in a $15–$30 range under full bank adoption. Related Reading: This Week Could Be The Most Volatile For Bitcoin In 2026, Top Expert Warns The CLARITY Act passed the House in July 2025 by a 294–134 vote and moved through the Senate Agriculture Committee on January 29. However, the Senate Banking Committee has yet to schedule a new markup since January, and negotiators have not published a reconciled draft that satisfies both crypto and banking stakeholders. However, on Wednesday, pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis indicated renewed momentum when she said that the Banking Committee plans to mark up the bill in April, following the Easter recess. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The rollout of encrypted AI models by Venice could set a new standard for privacy in AI, potentially influencing industry-wide practices.
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Algorand Foundation cuts 25% of staff as macro pressure weighs on operations, with ALGO down 19% year to date near $0.09.
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Advocacy groups say the OpenAI-backed measure would limit legal accountability and lock in narrow protections for children.
Bitcoin dropped below $71,000, but the market remains tilted toward bulls as spot ETF inflows and BTC buying from Strategy boost investor sentiment.
A key price level is giving Bitcoin trouble — and on-chain data may explain why. Related Reading: XRP Moves Into ‘Scarce Zone’ As Exchange Supply Dries Up Realized Price Puts A Ceiling On The Rally The $75,000 mark is not just a round number for Bitcoin traders. It sits at the lower band of what analysts call the “traders’ on-chain Realized Price” — a metric that tracks the average price at which active market participants last moved their coins. According to CryptoQuant head of research Julio Moreno, that band has historically acted as a ceiling during bear markets, and it appears to be doing the same thing now. Bitcoin tested the $75,000 level three times on Coinbase in a single 24-hour stretch and was turned back each time. The rally itself has been real. Bitcoin climbed roughly 12% in March, touching a six-week high of around $76,000 on March 17. But momentum has stalled right where analysts warned it might. Large Deposits Flood Into Exchanges What makes the stall more significant is what’s happening behind the scenes. On March 16, hourly Bitcoin inflows to centralized exchanges surged to 6,100 BTC — the highest single-hour reading since February 20. Data shows that large deposits made up over 60% of that total, the biggest share since mid-October 2025. When traders move Bitcoin onto exchanges, it usually means one thing: they’re getting ready to sell. Moreno said that historically, spikes in large exchange deposits have been tied to rising selling pressure. The timing — right as Bitcoin ran into resistance — is hard to ignore. The question now is whether that selling pressure will be enough to push prices back down, or whether buyers will absorb it and push through the $75,000 wall. Fed Decision Adds To Market Uncertainty Broader financial conditions are adding another layer of complexity. The Federal Reserve is set to announce its rate decision Wednesday, and based on CME futures, traders are pricing in a 98.9% chance that rates stay where they are — with just a 1.1% chance of a hike. But holding rates steady may not be the most market-moving part of the announcement. Reports indicate the Federal Reserve could signal that no rate cuts are coming at all in 2026, citing ongoing inflation concerns and the fallout from the US-Iran war. That kind of guidance tends to weigh on risk assets. Related Reading: Another Bitcoin Buy Coming? Saylor Sparks Speculation With ‘Orange Dots’ Post The Harder Wall Still Lies Ahead Even if Bitcoin manages to clear $75,000 with enough conviction to hold, there is another obstacle waiting higher up. The full Realized Price — which reflects the average break-even level for active traders — currently sits near $84,700. That figure acted as resistance in both October and January. Clearing $75,000 would be a start. Getting to $84,700 would be a different challenge entirely. Featured image from West Coast Trial Lawyers, chart from TradingView
US banks “reduced” their credit risk after 2008 by shifting more of it to nonbank lenders. Since 2008, banks have shifted a growing share of their lending to nonbanks like private credit funds, making it their fastest-growing loan category. That shift doesn’t signal another 2008-style crisis today, but it does show where trouble could surface […]
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Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has crossed the 760,000 Bitcoin threshold with its latest purchase, bringing its total holdings to 761,068 BTC as of March 16, 2026. The market intelligence company continues to purchase BTC, despite broader market downtrends and ongoing volatility. Against this backdrop, AI analysis is now shedding light on how long it could take for Strategy to reach the 1 million BTC milestone, with different models projecting varying timelines. Grok AI Predicts When Strategy Hits 1 Million BTC Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings have surpassed 761,000 BTC after its record weekly purchase of 22,3337 BTC for approximately $1.57 billion. The company’s aggressive accumulation strategy, led by CEO Michael Saylor, is accelerated by its ambition to grow its Bitcoin treasury as substantially as possible, with some analysts projecting it could reach a million BTC cap by the end of 2026. Related Reading: Here’s How Much Saylor’s Strategy Makes Every Time Bitcoin Goes Up By $1,000 However, according to projections from Grok, the AI platform created by xAI and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Strategy could realistically reach the one million BTC milestone as early as September 2026. Grok’s forecast is based on the company’s recent purchase velocity, which has increased significantly over the past few years. In the three weeks leading up to mid-March, Strategy acquired between 3,015 and 22,337 BTC per week, averaging roughly 14,450 BTC. If the company can maintain this pace, Grok predicts that it could mathematically reach the one million BTC mark by early July this year. However, maintaining such aggressive weekly acquisitions would require continuous capital raises exceeding $1 billion per week, which Grok notes is unlikely. The AI platform noted that the company currently needs an additional 238,932 BTC from its holdings to reach its official target. A more sustainable pace, accounting for historical averages of roughly 2,500 BTC per week with the STRC preferred stock funding program, points to a more realistic timeline around September 2026. This projection takes into account market liquidity, sustainable fundraising, dilution concerns, market volatility, and other key factors. ChatGPT Forecasts Strategy’s 1 Million Bitcoin Timeline ChatGPT AI projects a slightly more conservative scenario based on historical buying trends, capital capacity, and market conditions. According to the AI platform, Strategy would need approximately 5,550 BTC each week to hit 1 million BTC by December 2026, about 50-100% above its recent weekly averages. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Still Bearish And Price Is Headed Below $50,000; Analyst While this goal is ambitious, the AI suggests it could realistically be achieved by 2027. Its analysis indicates that if Strategy ramps up purchases through equity issuance and STRC funding, the 1 million BTC target could be recalibrated to late December 2026. However, factors such as market liquidity, price volatility, and uneven weekly acquisitions make it more plausible that the goal could slip into early January 2027. The AI platform noted that delays beyond this window are unlikely, given the company’s historically strong commitment to BTC accumulation and its funding resources. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
The non-profit Algorand Foundation is the latest to cut staff amid rising macro uncertainty, crypto market stagnation, and the rise of AI.
The move represents a significant and practical step toward potentially bringing market infrastructure onchain.
The effect on energy prices from the Iran war will impact the economy, but the size and scope of the macroeconomic shock are still unknown.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved on Wednesday a significant rule change allowing one of the world’s largest stock exchanges, Nasdaq, to support trading in tokenized securities, a move that could accelerate the integration of blockchain technology into the mainstream financial markets. Nasdaq Rule Amendments Approved Nasdaq’s modified regulations were approved by the SEC following a seven-month assessment that began in September 2025 and included adjustments to ensure compliance with federal securities laws and investor protection requirements. For context, tokenized securities are blockchain‑based representations of traditional financial instruments—stocks, bonds, or funds—where ownership rights are recorded as digital tokens on a distributed ledger. Related Reading: Citigroup Lowers 12-Month Bitcoin Price Forecast To $112,000, ETH To $3,175—Here’s The Reason Proponents say tokenization can enable around‑the‑clock trading, speed up settlement, and permit fractional ownership, modernizing elements of market infrastructure that have long relied on legacy systems. According to the SEC’s filing, Nasdaq’s approved pilot program will operate in coordination with the Depository Trust Company (DTC), providing a regulated pathway for market participants to trade these digital representations of securities. Cross‑Border Rails For Tokenized Securities The SEC’s approval clears the way for several industry initiatives already under development. Earlier this month, Payward — the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken — announced a partnership with Nasdaq to build an equities transformation gateway. That project pairs Nasdaq’s regulated market infrastructure with Kraken’s xStocks framework, with the stated goal of allowing tokenized equities to move seamlessly between permissioned institutional environments and permissionless decentralized finance (DeFi) networks. Related Reading: This Week Could Be The Most Volatile For Bitcoin In 2026, Top Expert Warns According to Nasdaq, the collaboration will underpin a new Nasdaq equity token design intended to preserve issuer control, maintain compliance with existing regulatory frameworks, and protect the traditional rights attached to company shares. The stock exchange also disclosed earlier in the month a partnership with Boerse Stuttgart Group’s tokenized settlement platform, Seturion, to link its European trading venues to settlement infrastructure tailored for tokenized securities. Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView.com
The prediction markets co-founder said that the company would “abide by court decisions“ but signaled that the charges were based partly on political bias and media attention.
The organization behind layer-1 blockchain Algorand laid off 25% of its staff due to macroeconomic uncertainty and lower crypto prices.
This marks the fourth distribution for the bankrupt FTX exchange, which has already repaid over $6 billion to former users and investors.
In-depth comparison of Ledger, Trezor, SafePal & NGRAVE hardware wallets. Security chips, open-source status & community trust.
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The SEC’s approval lets Nasdaq test blockchain-based versions of stocks that trade and settle like traditional shares.
The White House registered aliens.gov, a month after Trump ordered the release of all government UAP and UFO files following a viral Obama moment.
The crypto sector's leading political action committee devoted more than 5% of its war chest trying to defeat a Senate candidate who just won her primary.
Bitcoin is starting to show intriguing signals on the monthly time frame, with long-term data hinting at a potential shift in market structure. While short-term price action often captures attention, it is the higher-time-frame trends that typically define the broader market direction, and those signals are now starting to align in a way that looks increasingly significant. What The Monthly Candles Reveal About Market Direction The latest price action of Bitcoin suggests that the monthly low may already be in, with time-based statistics pointing to a strong probability of higher prices ahead. Market analyst Lennaert Snyder highlighted on X that, based on the past 10 years of BTC data, approximately 97.7% of monthly highs and lows are formed within the first 15 days of the month, suggesting the recent low is likely to hold for the rest of the month. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Showing A Major Deviation From 2022, Analyst Says This Is A Different Foundation Snyder noted that around 80.7% of months go on to print a new P2 (Point 2) after the 17th day, based on the timing. These time-based statistics suggest that there is a higher chance that the BTC price will experience upward momentum this month. How Market Structure Holds While Timing Models Shift Bitcoin is showing a subtle shift in behavior as price has broken away from the established 14th pattern for the first time in the past 7 months, causing the market algorithms to shift over time. A crypto trader known as Killa on X claimed that it was possible to capitalize on all 5 occurrences of this setup during that period. Related Reading: Bitcoin Shows Early Trend Reversal Signs After Major Support Hold However, the current deviation represents only a single pivot from a time-based price structure, which on its own is not enough to invalidate the larger thesis. This simply alters how the price reacts around that specific pivot rather than changing the overall trend structure of the market. Killa emphasized that in this case, pivot helps identify periods where directional volatility is likely to increase, and this consistent pattern over the past 7 months has produced 5 high-quality opportunities. It is important to distinguish between time-based pivots and price structure. While pivots can fail or lose reliability over time, the underlying structural price behavior will ultimately remain a driver of the market direction. Looking ahead, attention is shifting to macro catalysts as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting is approaching, and much of the narrative has already been priced in. Institutional players are already positioning ahead of the event. Currently, the price has pushed higher into it, and the recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data did not produce a local up, leaving open the possibility that the upcoming FOMC decision could act as the next inflection point. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
The sell-off extended beyond crypto as investors reassessed the macro outlook following the Fed’s latest guidance.
SEC approves Nasdaq rule enabling tokenized securities trading alongside traditional shares within existing market structure.
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Paul Atkins says nonfungible tokens are typically collectibles, not investment contracts, as the agency outlines new categories of digital assets outside securities laws.
Fed chair Jerome Powell said rising energy prices are feeding into the inflation outlook, but "nobody knows" yet how lasting the impact will be.
Visa launches CLI tool enabling AI agents to execute card payments, expanding its push into automated and agent-driven commerce.
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Hyperliquid’s HYPE token moved into the top 10 crypto assets by market capitalization, beating Cardano's ADA amid a 1,700-fold rise in trading volume tied to oil volatility during the US-Iran conflict. Notably, Bitcoin benefited significantly from the broader bid for crypto during the conflict, but HYPE gained a second channel as traders used Hyperliquid's platform […]
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"Building reliable infrastructure across blockchain networks and traditional financial rails is hard — there are no shortcuts,” said Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan.
The fourth round of reimbursements to creditors and former clients of the failed crypto exchange since February 2025 brings the total paid to about $10 billion.
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index just ended a 48-day stretch in the “extreme fear” zone, signalling improving sentiment among investors. Will fresh capital inflows reignite the bull market?
Roche's massive AI investment could redefine drug discovery timelines, challenging industry norms and intensifying competition with Eli Lilly.
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