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Bitcoin And Crypto May Be Nearing A Bottom

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Goldman Sachs believes bitcoin and crypto prices may have hit their floor after months of declines, highlighting select stocks with upside potential.

In a note on Thursday, analyst James Yaro said crypto-related equities are down 46% since October 2025 but are showing “volatile but flattish performance” in recent weeks, making valuations increasingly attractive, thanks to CNBC reporting.

Top picks include Robinhood, Figure Technologies, and Coinbase, all rated “buy.” Figure, which runs a blockchain-based HELOC business, saw its price target raised to $42 from $39, implying 35% upside from current levels. 

Robinhood is expanding offerings to advanced traders and financial services, while Coinbase is focusing on crypto derivatives, subscriptions, and new products like equities trading and banking.

Goldman cautioned that trading volumes could dip further, potentially reducing 2026 revenue by 2% and profits by 4%, but expects volumes to rebound within a median three-month trough period.

Bitcoin has bottomed

Other analysts also appear bullish on BTC. 

Bitcoin appears to be stabilizing after recent volatility, with signs suggesting the market may have reached a potential bottom. Following a sharp selloff that pushed BTC from around $75,000 to $67,000, the cryptocurrency has rebounded, supported by easing selling pressure from ETFs, long-term holders, and constructive geopolitical developments, including U.S.–Iran talks. 

Over the past month, bitcoin has traded sideways between $60,000 and $75,000, a pattern often linked to market bottoms. K33 Research highlights that reduced distribution from ETFs and rising supply held for more than six months reflect structural market stability. 

Head of Research Vetle Lunde noted that with bitcoin below $100,000, fewer investors are inclined to exit positions, anchoring prices.

ETF flows have turned mildly positive since late February, signaling an end to the heavy post-October distribution phase. 

Despite macro uncertainty—including rising oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and a hawkish Federal Reserve—bitcoin’s range-bound price action, low open interest in perpetual swaps, and negative funding rates suggest a constructive environment for medium- and long-term investors. 

Wall Street broker Bernstein echoes this outlook, asserting that bitcoin has likely bottomed and maintaining a $150,000 year-end target. Bernstein cited strong ETF flows, growing corporate treasury demand, and resilience in Strategy (MSTR)—which now holds $53.5 billion worth of bitcoin—as evidence of institutional confidence. 

Analysts view the recent correction as a temporary sentiment reset rather than a breakdown in fundamentals, with continued interest in Strategy’s preferred shares offering additional long-term capital support.

Overall, both research firms see bitcoin transitioning from a distribution phase toward stabilization, setting the stage for potential upside later this year.

Firelight Hits 50 Million XRP Milestone as DeFi Protection Demand Surges – Crypto News Bitcoin News

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Rapid Adoption and Capacity Expansion

Firelight, the onchain protection layer for DeFi, has surpassed 50 million XRP staked on its protocol. The achievement follows several large-scale deposits exceeding 1 million XRP each and a newly expanded deposit cap of 65 million FXRP.

According to a media statement, demand for Firelight’s vaults was so strong that its initial 25 million FXRP ceiling was filled within six hours. The new cap is reportedly already more than halfway subscribed. Built on the Flare Network, Firelight is one of the first platforms to combine XRP staking with DeFi cover, marking a milestone in the evolution of risk infrastructure for digital assets.

The platform’s new milestone comes one week after a stablecoin protocol lost $23 million in an exploit after attackers gained access to a privileged private key. It was one of 15 incidents in the first quarter of 2026 that drained more than $137 million from DeFi. These breaches, Firelight argues, underscore the need for robust risk infrastructure to match the sector’s growth.

Incubated by Sentora — formed through the merger of Intotheblock and Trident Digital — Firelight introduces a capital-efficient cover layer that uses staked XRP as collateral. This enables protocols to purchase protection against smart contract exploits, oracle failures, bridge vulnerabilities and economic risks. Stakers earn rewards tied directly to demand for coverage, creating a sustainable underwriting engine.

“Firelight is not another audit firm or monitoring dashboard,” said Jesús Rodríguez, co-founder and chief product officer of Sentora. “It’s an economic layer that prices risk, absorbs losses and continuously signals what’s actually safe.”

Institutional Integration and Security

Firelight leverages Flare’s FAssets system to bring XRP into DeFi. Users deposit XRP, mint FXRP and stake it to receive stXRP — a liquid staking token that accrues rewards while remaining usable across the Flare ecosystem. Under phase 1, which is now live, Firelight offers audited vaults and liquid staking with no slashing risk. In phase 2, expected in the second quarter of 2026, Firelight will activate its full cover mechanism, allowing protocols across chains to purchase protection backed by the staked pool.

Large-scale deposits suggest institutional players are moving from observation to allocation. In a recent community discussion, Firelight’s Connor Sullivan cited Kraken and Coinbase as early adopters of DeFi integration, noting that many institutions are waiting for credible protection layers before committing capital at scale.

Sentora, which raised $25 million in Series A funding with support from Ripple, Flare and New Form Capital, specializes in institutional DeFi strategies. Its Smart Yields platform powers Kraken’s DeFi Earn product and serves institutional clients seeking compliant yield exposure. Firelight represents the culmination of four years of risk engineering, now deployed as a dedicated onchain underwriting engine. The protocol has completed audits by Openzeppelin and Coinspect and runs an active bug bounty program through Immunefi.

FAQ ❓

  • What is Firelight? Firelight is the first XRP staking and DeFi cover platform built on the Flare Network.
  • How much XRP is staked? Firelight has surpassed 50 million XRP staked, with whale deposits over 1 million XRP each.
  • Why does this matter for DeFi? The milestone highlights growing demand for risk protection after $137 million in DeFi exploits in Q1 2026.
  • What comes next for Firelight? Phase 2 launches in Q2 2026, enabling full cross‑chain DeFi cover backed by staked FXRP.

Bitget Wallet Brings Stablecoin Payouts to Bangladesh’s bKash and Nagad

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Bitget Wallet has officially expanded its Bank Transfer feature into Bangladesh, partnering with strategic licensees to bridge the gap between digital assets and local payment infrastructure. The new integration enables users to convert supported stablecoins, such as USDT and USDC, directly into Bangladeshi Taka (BDT). These funds can then be seamlessly transferred into leading local mobile financial services, specifically bKash and Nagad.

Bypassing P2P risk in a mobile-first economy

Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet

The launch taps into a heavily mobile-first financial ecosystem. As of early 2026, Bangladesh’s mobile financial services sector boasted more than 238 million accounts—a remarkable figure for a nation of approximately 174 million people. Daily transaction values across these mobile networks currently exceed $260million.

Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, highlighted the importance of integrating with this existing architecture. “Mobile-first financial services have become the backbone of everyday payments in markets like Bangladesh,” Kan stated. He noted that by connecting stablecoins directly to platforms like bKash and Nagad, the firm is making it significantly easier for users to move between on-chain assets and local payment systems.

Crucially, this integrated payout channel provides a more direct conversion path for common use cases, such as sending money to family or cashing out stablecoin earnings for everyday expenses. In many emerging markets, users are typically forced to rely on informal peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces to convert their crypto into local currency, a process that can involve significant counterparty risk, manual matching delays, and inconsistent pricing. Bitget Wallet’s solution entirely removes these third-party intermediaries.

Scaling a global ‘PayFi’ network

The expansion into South Asia aligns with broader macroeconomic trends regarding digital asset adoption. Bangladesh currently ranks 14th in the Global Crypto Adoption Index, a position driven heavily by retail payments and value-preservation use cases. Globally, stablecoins now account for around 30 per cent of all on-chain transaction volume, underscoring their rapidly growing utility in practical applications like cross-border payments and remittances.

For Bitget Wallet, which currently serves more than 90 million users worldwide, the Bangladesh rollout follows similar Bank Transfer integrations recently launched in Nigeria and Mexico. The move forms a core part of the self-custodial wallet’s broader effort to build a comprehensive global “PayFi” network that seamlessly connects on-chain assets with established local financial systems.

St. Cloud Financial Credit Union Surpasses 10 Bitcoin In Member Custody Pilot

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St. Cloud Financial Credit Union (SCFCU) has surpassed 10 bitcoin held on behalf of its members through its newly launched CU-Digital Asset Vault™, signaling early demand for community-based bitcoin custody solutions.

The credit union told Bitcoin Magazine that it is now safeguarding more than 12.6 BTC, along with smaller amounts of ether and USDC, just weeks after rolling out the service to its base of more than 28,000 members.

Unlike institutional custody platforms, the holdings reflect adoption at the individual level, with everyday users opting to store digital assets within a familiar financial institution rather than relying solely on exchanges or full self-custody.

“What we’re seeing is members looking for a way to participate without leaving the institution they already trust,” said CEO Jed Meyer. “This milestone tells us that when you bring this capability into a familiar, trusted environment, people respond.”

Hybrid self-custody bitcoin model

The CU-Digital Asset Vault uses a hybrid self-custody model, allowing members to retain control of their bitcoin while leveraging infrastructure integrated into the credit union’s core systems.

The service remains limited to members for now, though SCFCU plans to expand access to businesses and additional markets in the coming months. 

Longer term, the credit union is exploring bitcoin-enabled payments and lending products as it looks to integrate digital assets more deeply into everyday banking.

Earlier this month, SCFCU launched the vault, a core-integrated platform that allows members to hold and manage digital assets like Bitcoin without relying on third-party providers.

According to CEO Jed Meyer, the platform reflects a long-term strategy to preserve the credit union’s role at the center of its members’ financial lives. He emphasized that maintaining control over digital asset services is critical as these assets become increasingly embedded in financial infrastructure.

The Vault also supports board-level oversight and aligns with regulatory requirements, reinforcing SCFCU’s cooperative principles. 

By integrating digital assets into its core operations, the credit union can monitor transactions, manage risk, and adapt to evolving compliance standards.

Looking ahead, SCFCU designed the platform to expand beyond basic custody. Future capabilities may include transaction services, network connectivity, and credit-related use cases, all within the same system. 

The goal is to allow members to access a broader range of digital-asset services without needing to migrate to new platforms.

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SpaceX IPO may allocate 30% to retail investors as Musk restructures X with job cuts

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Elon Musk is considering allocating as much as 30% of SpaceX’s initial public offering to retail investors, according to a Reuters report, a sharp break from the typical 5% to 10% allocation seen in most listings.

The move reflects Musk’s strategy to lean on loyal backers and individual investors to stabilize trading after the debut of what could be one of the largest IPOs in history.

The proposed structure also gives Musk tighter control over how shares are distributed. Instead of allowing banks to broadly compete, SpaceX is assigning firms specific roles across regions and investor segments. Bank of America is expected to focus on US high-net-worth clients, while Morgan Stanley will handle smaller retail orders through its E*TRADE platform. Other banks including UBS and Citi are tasked with international distribution.

The company is betting that its strong retail following, built through Musk’s track record with Tesla and Starlink, will translate into long-term shareholders rather than short-term traders. Demand is expected to be broad, ranging from family offices to smaller investors who have tracked SpaceX in private markets for years.

According to a Bloomberg report, SpaceX is preparing to hold investor briefings in April as part of early IPO discussions, with plans to file confidentially as soon as this month. The offering could raise up to $75 billion, potentially valuing the company near $1.75 trillion and making it one of the largest public listings ever.

At the same time, restructuring is underway across Musk’s broader ecosystem ahead of the listing. A Wall Street Journal report said X has cut staff and removed senior leadership roles following its integration with xAI. The changes are aimed at reducing costs and improving revenue generation as the combined entity aligns operations ahead of the IPO.

SpaceX has not finalized the timing or size of the offering, and the structure remains subject to change. However, the planned retail-heavy allocation and tightly controlled bank mandates signal an unconventional approach that could reshape how major tech IPOs are executed.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

MARA Sells 15,000 BTC for $1.1 Billion to Retire Convertible Debt

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Largest U.S. Bitcoin miner offloads roughly a quarter of its treasury to buy back $1 billion in zero-coupon notes at a 9% discount, dropping to third among corporate BTC holders.

MARA Holdings, the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miner in the U.S., sold 15,133 BTC for approximately $1.1 billion between March 4 and March 25, deploying the proceeds to retire roughly $1 billion in convertible debt, the company said Thursday.

The transactions represent one of the single largest BTC liquidations by a public miner and mark a decisive break from the accumulation-first playbook MARA pursued through much of 2024 and 2025, when it raised billions through zero-coupon convertible note offerings specifically to buy more Bitcoin.

Debt Slashed by 30%

MARA entered into privately negotiated agreements with noteholders to repurchase approximately $367.5 million of its 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2030 and $633.4 million of its 2031 notes, according to a press release. It paid roughly $322.9 million and $589.9 million, respectively — an average discount of about 9% to par — capturing approximately $88 million in cash savings.

The buyback cuts MARA’s total convertible note obligations from roughly $3.3 billion to $2.3 billion, according to the company’s disclosure.

The sale follows a policy change MARA disclosed in its 10-K filing with the SEC earlier this month, formally authorizing the sale of BTC held on its balance sheet — not just newly mined coins. In the second half of 2025, the company had already begun selling a portion of production to cover rising operating costs amid post-halving margin compression.

“Our decision to sell a portion of our Bitcoin holdings reflects a strategic capital allocation move designed to strengthen our balance sheet and position the company for long-term growth,” Chairman and CEO Fred Thiel said in the announcement.

The shift is stark. Just a few months ago, MARA was among the most aggressive corporate BTC accumulators, alongside Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), using convertible debt issuances to expand its holdings to over 50,000 BTC.

Following the sale, its stash sits at 38,689 BTC, worth approximately $2.7 billion at current prices, according to BitcoinTreasuries data. The drawdown pushes MARA to third among corporate Bitcoin holders, behind Twenty One Capital, which holds 43,514 BTC. Strategy remains far ahead with more than 762,000 BTC and is still buying.

AI Pivot

Thiel framed the deleveraging as a prerequisite for MARA’s broader strategic pivot into digital energy and AI/high-performance computing infrastructure. In February, the company announced a joint venture with Starwood Capital targeting 2.5 GW of AI and HPC data center capacity, and last year agreed to acquire a 64% stake in Exaion, a high-performance computing subsidiary of French energy giant EDF.

The company said it plans to continue selling Bitcoin “from time to time” as part of its 2026 capital and liquidity strategy.

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

Ether Rallies Fail To Break The $2.4K Level: Here’s Why

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Key takeaways:

  • Ether struggles to hold $2,400 due to low DEX volumes and declining demand for decentralized applications.

  • Institutional investor-led outflows and weak futures premiums suggest that ETH lacks the bullish demand for a sustainable rally.

Ether (ETH) experienced a 6% correction between Wednesday and Thursday, retesting the $2,050 level, and reflecting a risk-off environment fueled by uncertainty surrounding the US and Israel-Iran war. Ether has lagged behind the total crypto market cap, leading investors to wonder what might trigger a sustained rally above $2,400.

ETH/USD (orange) vs. Total crypto capitalization (blue). Source: TradingView

The price of Ether has dropped 31% since the start of 2026, driven by a dip in decentralized application activity and a cautious mood across the cryptocurrency space. Much of this selling pressure comes from a lack of regulatory progress in the United States, especially since the Trump administration had fueled hope for a more crypto-friendly era.

ETH under pressure due to ETF outflows and onchain activity

The US Senate is now looking into a ban on yield for stablecoins kept on exchanges. While Coinbase is pushing back hard, the move has added another layer of worry for traders. Banking groups argue that the GENIUS Act already prevents stablecoin issuers from paying yields to holders directly, claiming that using exchanges as intermediaries is simply a loophole.

A recent report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) also urged nations to tighten oversight as stablecoins become more common in payments and cross-border transfers using self-custody wallets. The global anti-money laundering watchdog stated that peer-to-peer transactions make it more difficult for authorities to detect suspicious financial activity.

Besides regulatory setbacks, several indicators suggest limited short-term upside for Ether.

US-listed spot Ether ETFs daily net flows, USD. Source: SoSoValue

The US-listed spot Ether ETFs recorded $298 million in net outflows since March 18, marking six consecutive trading days of redemptions. While these flows are not a perfect proxy for institutional demand, especially following the launch of ETFs with embedded staking functionalities, investor risk perception remained unchanged by the 2.8% native staking yield.

Weekly DEX volumes on Ethereum, USD. Source: DefiLlama

The falling activity on Ethereum decentralized exchanges is a major concern as demand for the token weakens. The current weekly average of $9.4 billion stands around 50% lower compared to levels seen in the final three months of 2025. Unless there is a turnaround in this metric, Ether will likely struggle to maintain levels above $2,400.

ETH 2-month futures annualized premium. Source: Laevitas.ch

Ether monthly futures traded at a 2% premium relative to regular spot markets on Thursday, indicating a lack of demand for bullish leverage. Under neutral conditions, this metric should stand between 4% and 8% to compensate for the longer settlement period. ETH bears will likely remain confident until this metric returns to a neutral range.

Related: SEC is no longer a ‘cop on the beat‘ on crypto, says US lawmaker

There is little doubt that socio-economic events, such as the US and Israel-Iran war, have been the main drivers behind the weakness in the stock market over the past two months. This risk-off mood contributed to Ether’s failure to reclaim $2,400. Still, an improvement in Ethereum decentralized exchange activity and higher conviction from institutional investors is needed for sustainable bullish momentum.

The accumulation of Ether by multi-billion dollar companies such as BitMine, SharpLink, and The Ether Machine could act as a catalyst for ETH to outperform the broader cryptocurrency market when the tide shifts favorably. For now, however, the price of Ether remains under pressure.