Bitcoin reacted in kind to calm US macro data, while oil stayed volatile amid uncertainty over the duration of the Middle East conflict. Bitcoin (BTC) circled $70,000 into Thursday’s Wall Street open after US jobs data matched expectations. Key points: Bitcoin shrugs off more US macro data as jobless claims copy flat CPI numbers. Read more
A new FATF report says crypto exchanges operating offshore can create gaps in AML enforcement, making it harder for regulators to track illicit activity. A new report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) warns that crypto service providers operating offshore pose risks of money laundering, sanctions evasion and other illicit financial activity. In the report, titled “Understanding and Mitigating the Risks of Offshore Virtual Asset Service Providers (oVASPs),” the FATF said some offshore firms exploit gaps and differences in regulatory and supervisory coverage, making it harder for authorities to monitor activity and enforce Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing rules. “As a result, effective international co-operation may not be possible, including with the relevant oVASP supervisor, thereby limiting the effectiveness of domestic risk-mitigation measures,” the report said. Read more
BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF will trade on the Nasdaq, offering spot exposure and staking income with a reduced 0.12% fee on the first $2.5 billion. BlackRock is expanding its crypto investment lineup with a new Nasdaq-listed product tied to Ethereum staking. BlackRock on Thursday introduced its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, or ETHB, describing it as an exchange-traded product (ETP) that combines spot Ether (ETH) exposure with “monthly income potential” by staking a portion of its ETH holdings. The product expands BlackRock’s digital asset offerings, which include the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) and the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). Both ETPs are the largest in their class, with more than $55 billion and $6.5 billion in assets under management, respectively. Read more
Binance Research says US midterms could set up a rebound for Bitcoin and stocks, though oil shocks and Middle East tensions may weigh near term. Update March 12, 1:21 pm UTC: This article has been updated to include comments from Gracy Chen, CEO of crypto exchange Bitget. The US midterm elections may be the next catalyst to kickstart the crypto and stock market recovery, according to historical data shared by Binance Research. According to a Wednesday report from Binance Research, US midterm election cycles have historically been followed by strong rebounds in stocks and Bitcoin (BTC), potentially setting up a recovery window for risk assets after the 2026 vote. Read more
Chains are launching perp DEXs to capture trading activity, but history suggests liquidity will consolidate around only a handful of platforms. In crypto’s latest infrastructure race, blockchains are competing to host perpetual futures exchanges. Many are now launching or incubating decentralized derivatives markets themselves, even as centralized platforms continue to dominate. Derivatives make up most of today’s crypto trading activity, often accounting for the majority of total volume. On Tuesday, Bitcoin (BTC) spot trading volume across centralized exchanges reached about 55,230 BTC while derivatives volume totaled more than 506,600 BTC, according to CryptoQuant. Perpetual decentralized exchanges, or perp DEXs, now act as core infrastructure as they give traders, market makers and institutional participants access to leveraged products, according to Nina Rong, executive director of growth at BNB Chain. Read more
Ray Dalio argues Bitcoin cannot replace gold as a store of value, citing central bank demand, market maturity and Bitcoin’s risk-asset behavior. Ray Dalio argues that Bitcoin cannot replace gold as the world’s primary store of value because gold has thousands of years of history as money and remains deeply embedded in the global financial system. Gold’s role in central bank reserves gives it institutional legitimacy that Bitcoin currently lacks, making governments more likely to rely on gold during periods of economic uncertainty. Dalio believes Bitcoin behaves more like a risk asset, often moving alongside technology stocks and other speculative investments rather than acting as a traditional safe-haven during market turmoil. Read more
Stablecoins move trillions each year but mostly sit unused, leaving a widespread inefficiency across crypto markets. Opinion by: Artemiy Parshakov, vice-president of Institutions at P2P.org Stablecoins sit at the center of the digital asset economy, functioning as the de facto cash layer for onchain markets. With over $300 billion now held in stablecoins, they often exceed the transaction volumes of many traditional payment networks. Yet most of this capital is static. Read more