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🦁 Strategy bought another $1.28 billion worth of bitcoin at a price above $70,000 Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) reported the purchase of another 17,994 bitcoins worth $1.28 billion between March 2 and March 8 at an average purchase price of $70,946. As of March 8, Strategy holds 738,731 bitcoins on its balance sheet (more than 3% of the total supply), which the company has spent about $56.04 billion acquiring since 2020. The company’s average purchase price is about $75,862 per BTC. At the time of the report, the price of bitcoin is below this level (around $68,000). The latest batch of bitcoins was financed through the issuance and sale of MSTR shares and partly through the sale of STRC preferred shares, for which the company increased the monthly dividend payout rate on March 1. Since the July peak, MSTR shares have fallen by almost 80%.

🔶 Binance labeled the memecoin dogwifhat and several other tokens as high-risk. The exchange Binance will add a so-called Monitoring Tag to a number of tokens, including the memecoin dogwifhat (WIF). This label means the asset is considered more risky and will be under increased monitoring by the exchange. Binance explained that tokens with the Monitoring Tag are regularly reviewed and may be delisted from the exchange if they no longer meet listing requirements. In addition to WIF, the tag will also be applied to the tokens COS, DEGO, FORTH, FUN, HOOK, LRC, MBOX, and OXT. At the same time, the exchange will remove the Monitoring Tag from the token FLOW and also remove the Seed Tag from ONDO and VIRTUAL. Binance uses this tag for new or experimental projects with higher risk. The WIF token in 2024 rose in price multiple times, reaching a multibillion-dollar market capitalization and getting listed on major crypto exchanges, including the U.S. platforms Coinbase and Robinhood. However, the memecoin has now dropped out of the top 100 on CoinMarketCap, and its price is about 95% below its peak. In the spring of 2024, the original photo of the dog mascot dogwifhat as an NFT was sold for $4.3 million.

👨‍💻 Vitalik Buterin urged not to trust AI with managing crypto wallets. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said that next-generation crypto wallets will likely be closely integrated with artificial intelligence systems. At the same time, according to him, large language models cannot be fully trusted to manage large transactions or significant amounts of funds. Buterin described a possible model for how such wallets could work: AI suggests an action plan to the user, a local lightweight network client simulates the transactions, after which the user sees the expected result and manually confirms the operation. In his opinion, this approach could significantly reduce risks. In particular, abandoning dApp interfaces could eliminate many common attack vectors related to fund theft and data leaks.

🧑‍⚖️ The SEC has dropped charges against Justin Sun and Tron. They will pay a $10 million fine. The U.S. SEC has fully dropped the charges previously brought against Tron ecosystem founder Justin Sun, Tron Foundation, and BitTorrent Foundation. In 2023, the SEC accused Sun and his affiliated companies of the unregistered sale of securities in the form of the TRX and BTT tokens. Sun was also accused of fraudulent manipulation of the TRX price through wash trading. In addition, he was accused of paying celebrities to promote the tokens without disclosing these payments. Under the court’s decision, Rainberry (formerly BitTorrent, acquired by Sun in 2019), which developed the BitTorrent crypto protocol under Sun’s leadership, has been ordered to pay the SEC a $10 million fine. Sun has invested significant funds in crypto initiatives supported by Donald Trump’s family, including purchasing at least $75 million worth of WLFI tokens from World Liberty Financial and $100 million of the TRUMP memecoin. Later, Sun was invited to a gala dinner hosted by Trump for holders of his memecoin and received a $100,000 “Crypto President Tourbillon” gold watch from him.

🥇 The Bitcoin correction did not “shake out” institutional investors — CoinShares The drop in Bitcoin has not led to a mass exit of institutional investors from the market, according to a report by asset management firm CoinShares. According to the company, large investment firms and hedge funds have only slightly reduced their positions, but overall the share of institutional capital in Bitcoin has continued to grow. CoinShares believes that most of the selling in the fourth quarter of 2025 was more likely related to profit-taking by long-term holders rather than an exit of institutional money. Historically, during bear markets cryptocurrencies move from short-term traders to long-term investors. CoinShares believes that the emergence of ETFs allows, for the first time, observation of whether the same process is happening among institutional investors. At the same time, CoinShares notes that the observation sample remains small. The company believes it is worth waiting for the next quarterly reports from companies and funds, which will reflect sharper market movements, including Bitcoin’s drop to $60,000, before drawing conclusions.

📈 More than $1 billion flowed into Bitcoin ETFs in three days Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have attracted more than $1 billion in net inflows over the past three trading sessions. Before that, the funds had been recording outflows for several weeks. On March 2, just before Bitcoin’s rise, it was reported that since the drop after the October peak, total outflows from the funds had exceeded $9 billion over four months. During the March 4 trading session alone, net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs totaled about $462 million. The largest inflows went to BlackRock’s IBIT fund, about $306.6 million. Since their launch in 2024, spot ETFs have become one of the main channels for institutional capital inflows into the crypto market. When investors buy shares of the funds, asset managers such as BlackRock or Fidelity use the received money to purchase the corresponding amount of Bitcoin that backs those shares.

🔅 a16z plans to raise another $2 billion for investments in crypto projects The crypto division of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) plans to raise about $2 billion for its fifth fund focused on cryptocurrency projects, Fortune reports. The fundraising from investors is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Andreessen Horowitz has been investing in the crypto industry since at least 2013, when the company backed the exchange Coinbase. The firm launched its first dedicated crypto fund in 2018. In total, a16z has raised at least $7.6 billion for its cryptocurrency funds so far. The largest of them, with a size of $4.5 billion, was created in 2022. That same year became a record year for the crypto market in terms of venture capital raised. It was then that major investments were received by projects such as Matter Labs (zkSync), LayerZero, StarkNet, Aleo and others. The full portfolio of a16z crypto investments can be viewed on the company’s website.

🏦 Morgan Stanley files application to launch a Bitcoin ETF One of the world’s largest investment banks, Morgan Stanley, with more than $9 trillion in assets under management, has filed an application with the U.S. SEC to launch a spot exchange-traded fund called the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, which will invest directly in bitcoin. Custody of the cryptocurrency is planned to be provided by the exchange Coinbase and the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY). Morgan Stanley has been consistently expanding its presence in the crypto market. Back in 2024, it became the first Wall Street bank to allow its financial advisers to recommend bitcoin ETF shares from BlackRock and Fidelity to clients. In the fall of 2025, the bank announced the launch of cryptocurrency trading on its own E*Trade platform, and later opened access to crypto ETF trading for all clients without restrictions and across all account types, including retirement accounts.

📊 Ray Dalio warned against treating bitcoin on par with gold as an investment Billionaire and founder of the largest U.S. hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, Ray Dalio, warned investors against using bitcoin as a safe-haven asset amid global stress. He contrasted the cryptocurrency with gold against the backdrop of rising geopolitical risks and the U.S. debt crisis. “Gold is not just a precious metal for speculation. It is a historically established form of money and the second-largest reserve asset held by central banks worldwide. And it is the only one,” Dalio said. The investor listed several fundamental shortcomings of bitcoin from the perspective of institutional investors. ▪️ Lack of confidentiality and control. Dalio believes that “bitcoin has no privacy and any transaction can be tracked, which means it is indirectly controllable.” He added that central banks will not want to buy it because they cannot truly own it as a reserve asset. ▪️ Technological risks. The investor pointed to the potential vulnerability of the network to advances in quantum computing. According to him, this calls into question the long-term security of the system. ▪️ Correlation with risk assets. According to Dalio, contrary to the narrative of safe-haven status, bitcoin behaves differently from gold and shows a noticeable correlation with technology stocks. If investors face liquidity problems in one of the assets in this sector, this may also affect the price of bitcoin.

👨‍💻 Buterin urged not to focus solely on the financial side of Ethereum Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said that the network’s ecosystem should develop beyond being just financial infrastructure. According to him, Ethereum currently plays a limited role in addressing key problems of the digital world, such as freedom, privacy, and the security of digital life. Buterin noted that the world is facing growing government and corporate control, increased digital surveillance, wars, and the degradation of social platforms. Against this backdrop, he said, Ethereum is barely being used to improve people’s lives, even though such goals were originally seen as central to crypto technologies. “The Ethereum community should see itself as part of an ecosystem of so-called sanctuary technologies — free, open-source technologies that allow people to communicate, cooperate, manage risks and capital, and build communities while remaining resilient to external pressure,” he wrote on X. According to Buterin, Ethereum’s mission is to create a “ownerless digital space” where financial services, governance tools, and other forms of user interaction can exist. He also called for more active development of infrastructure, applications, wallets, interfaces, and security systems.

🇺🇸 Trump said banks are trying to slow down the GENIUS Act crypto law Donald Trump said that U.S. banks are attempting to slow the implementation of the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act and are obstructing the advancement of crypto regulation in the United States. He called this “unacceptable” and urged lawmakers to complete the legislative process as soon as possible. According to Trump, the GENIUS Act became the first major step toward making the United States the “global capital of the crypto industry.” The next stage, he said, should be the adoption of the stalled Clarity Act, which is expected to provide additional regulatory clarity for the sector. Trump also warned that without these laws, the crypto industry could move to other countries, including China. He said banks should not try to weaken the GENIUS Act or block progress on the Clarity Act and should seek compromise with the crypto industry “in the interest of the American people.” Trump signed the GENIUS Act in the fall of 2025, after which the U.S. Treasury began developing rules for its implementation. He had planned to sign the Clarity Act by the summer of last year, but its passage stalled, partly due to disagreements between the banking lobby and representatives of the crypto industry. On Polymarket, the probability of the Clarity Act being adopted in 2026 is estimated at 74%.

🇺🇸 Eric Trump accuses major U.S. banks of trying to restrict stablecoins The son of the U.S. president, Eric Trump, said that the largest American banks are trying to limit the development of cryptocurrency services and stablecoins, which can offer higher yields compared to traditional bank deposits. “Banks are desperately trying to limit cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, where platforms can offer 4–5% yields. In reality, this is about protecting their monopoly on low interest rates and preventing deposit outflows,” he wrote on X. According to him, banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo pay around 0.01–0.05% annually on standard savings accounts, despite the Federal Reserve paying banks about 4% on reserves. The difference between these rates, he claims, allows banks to generate record profits while passing almost none of it on to depositors. Trump also said that banking lobbyists are trying to push for restrictions on stablecoin products within the framework of the proposed crypto market regulation, including the Clarity Act bill. The day before, Donald Trump stated that the banking lobby is trying to slow down the implementation of the GENIUS Act stablecoin law and block the advancement of the Clarity Act. According to Politico, shortly before his post he held a private meeting with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. According to two sources cited by the outlet, the meeting specifically discussed the conflict between the crypto industry and the banking sector.

🪼 Polymarket removed a betting market on a nuclear explosion after criticism Polymarket archived a prediction market on whether a nuclear weapon detonation would occur in 2026. The decision was made after criticism on social media. The market included several possible time frames for the outcome — by March 31, by June 30, and by 2027. Before being removed, it had accumulated at least $650,000 in trading volume. Polymarket also deleted a post on X stating that market participants were estimating the probability of a nuclear explosion in 2026 at around 22%. Previously, the platform Kalshi was also involved in a scandal over a market related to the possible removal of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. That prediction drew criticism after his death. In the United States, a group of Democratic senators has urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to ban bets in prediction markets related to the deaths of specific individuals.

🪭 FATF published a report on the risks of stablecoins and non-custodial wallets The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a report on stablecoins and non-custodial wallets, focusing on direct peer-to-peer transfers without the involvement of regulated intermediaries. The document notes that stablecoins have become one of the most frequently used virtual assets in illicit schemes. According to the report, they accounted for up to 84% of illicit crypto transactions in 2025. It also emphasizes that transfers via non-custodial wallets create vulnerabilities, as they occur outside mandatory AML control systems. The report describes typical schemes involving the illicit use of stablecoins, including terrorism financing, weapons proliferation, and sanctions evasion. It presents a detailed list of specific red flags associated with such activities. FATF urges countries to ensure that stablecoin issuers, intermediaries, and other ecosystem participants are subject to clear anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing requirements. Proposed measures include the implementation of technical monitoring mechanisms, the ability to freeze and block tokens, identification at the point of conversion into fiat currency, enhanced scrutiny of cross-chain operations and direct peer-to-peer transfers, and the development of international information-sharing mechanisms. FATF notes that so far only a limited number of jurisdictions have developed regulatory frameworks for stablecoins that take their specific features into account.

📟 The largest US miner has allowed the sale of bitcoins from its reserve The largest publicly traded miner in the US, MARA Holdings, said in its annual report that in 2026 it updated its digital asset management policy and now allows the sale of bitcoins from its reserve “depending on market conditions and priorities.” Previously, the company was only allowed to sell coins obtained through mining. In early November 2025, transfers of bitcoins worth at least $230 million were recorded from the company’s known wallets to exchanges. In February, another $87 million followed. As of December 31, 2025, MARA held 53,822 BTC worth about $4.7 billion, acquired both through mining and purchases on the market. The company is the second-largest corporate holder of bitcoin after Michael Saylor’s Strategy. By the end of 2025, the company recorded a $422 million decline in the value of its bitcoin reserve due to the drop in price. In 2025, MARA mined 8,799 BTC, 7% less than a year earlier. The company attributed the decline to the April 2024 halving and the increase in network difficulty.

🤖 Another major miner will sell almost all of its bitcoin to finance a shift toward AI US miner Core Scientific said in its annual report that in the first quarter of 2026 it expects to sell most of its bitcoin reserves to boost liquidity and fund expansion of its artificial intelligence business. As of December 31, 2025, the company held 2,537 BTC on its balance sheet with a carrying value of $222 million. In 2025, the company barely sold any of the bitcoins it mined. Now the strategy is changing. The company said it plans to monetize nearly all of its bitcoin holdings in 2026, depending on market conditions, in order to finance capital expenditures and the development of AI-related businesses. Earlier, the largest miner by hashrate, Bitdeer, fully liquidated its bitcoin reserve. Before that, Cango sold 4,451 BTC for about $305 million to reduce debt and redirect funds toward AI projects. In 2025, Riot sold 5,363 BTC worth roughly $535.5 million, citing the need to fund operating expenses and business expansion.

🇮🇷 Iranian crypto exchanges operating normally — TRM Labs Operations on Iranian crypto exchanges after the US and Israeli strikes remain within normal activity levels, according to an analysis by TRM Labs. The company examined on-chain data and fund movements across wallets of Iran’s largest exchange, Nobitex, as well as other platforms and exchangers. According to analysts, overall transaction volumes declined in the first days after the conflict began, but transfers remain within the range of typical activity. TRM urged against drawing premature conclusions about a mass capital outflow. Iran remains one of the largest crypto markets. Since the beginning of 2025, the volume of transactions associated with local crypto services has exceeded $11 billion. By order of the Central Bank of Iran, several exchanges temporarily suspended trading in the USDT–rial pair. After trading resumed, there was a temporary drop in liquidity and short-lived price distortions, but overall the platforms continue to operate. Some exchanges limited themselves to issuing warnings about risks and potential connectivity disruptions. Bitpin advised users to “avoid emotional trading,” Nobitex warned about delays in withdrawals. Wallex, Aban Tether, and Ramzinex temporarily suspended deposit and withdrawal operations, while Tabdeal moved crypto withdrawals to a twice-daily processing schedule. Experts conclude that the current situation indicates “stress, but not a systemic failure” in the operation of the local market.

🇮🇷 Crypto outflows from Iran surged by 700% after US and Israeli airstrikes Outflows from Iran’s largest crypto exchange, Nobitex, jumped by 700% within minutes of the first US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, according to analytics firm Elliptic. The company said outbound transactions spiked sharply immediately after the strikes began. Funds were primarily sent to overseas crypto exchanges that have previously received significant inflows of crypto assets from Iran. Nobitex allows trading in Iranian rials. According to Elliptic, the exchange processed $7.2 billion in transactions in 2025 and has more than 11 million users. Analysts have also recorded similar spikes in outflows earlier this year following US announcements of new sanctions and during January protests, which were followed by internet shutdowns.

🪲 BitMine controlled by Tom Lee increased its reserve to 4.47 million ETH, accumulating 3.7% of the total supply BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) reported that its reserves have reached 4,473,587 ETH, representing 3.71% of the total Ethereum supply. The company estimates the total value of crypto assets and cash under management at $9.9 billion. Over the past week, BitMine purchased 50,928 ETH, according to company chairman Tom Lee. He said the company “took advantage of the price decline to increase its position,” adding that the current ETH price “does not reflect its fundamental value and role in financial infrastructure.” The company is sitting on an unrealized loss of nearly $7 billion. Last month, Lee called this loss “not a bug, but a feature,” comparing the situation to index ETFs, which also go into the red during market downturns, and emphasizing that this is a normal part of the cycle. As of March 1, BitMine’s balance sheet also included 195 BTC, $868 million in cash, a $200 million investment in YouTuber MrBeast’s Beast Industries, and $14 million invested in Eightco Holdings. Of the total Ethereum holdings, 3,040,483 ETH are staked. The company estimates the value of these coins at around $6 billion based on an ETH price of $1,976. BitMine began purchasing coins in the summer of 2025. The company remains the largest public holder of Ethereum and ranks second globally among corporate crypto holders after Strategy led by Michael Saylor.

🦁 Strategy bought another $200 million worth of bitcoin Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) reported the purchase of an additional 3,015 bitcoins for $204.1 million during the period from February 23 to March 1, at an average purchase price of $67,700. As of March 1, Strategy holds 720,737 bitcoins on its balance sheet (more than 3% of the total supply), on which the company has spent about $54.77 billion since 2020. The company’s average purchase price is around $75,985 per 1 BTC. At the time of the report, the bitcoin price was below this level (around $66,000). The latest batch of bitcoins was financed almost entirely through the issuance and sale of MSTR shares and partly through the sale of preferred STRC shares, for which the company increased the monthly dividend rate on March 1. Since the July peak, MSTR shares have fallen by nearly 80%.