The post Quadruple Witching 2026: Bitcoin’s Most Dangerous Trading Day of the Quarter Has Arrived appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

One of the most turbulent days in the financial calendar has arrived. Quadruple witching, a quarterly event where trillions of dollars in derivatives expire simultaneously, is happening today, and crypto markets are already feeling the pressure.

What Is Quadruple Witching?

Four times a year, on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December, four major types of derivatives expire on the same day: stock index futures, stock index options, single stock options, and single stock futures. Traders must close, roll over, or settle all positions at once, causing a sharp surge in trading activity and often violent price swings across financial markets.

This One Breaks Every Record

Today’s expiration is not just big. According to Goldman Sachs, it is the largest ever recorded.

More than $7.1 trillion in notional options exposure is set to expire today, including roughly $5 trillion tied to the S&P 500 index alone and $880 billion linked to single stocks. December options expirations are typically the biggest of the year, but Goldman says this one eclipses all prior records.

To put the scale into context, the options expiring today represent notional exposure equal to approximately 10.2% of the total market capitalisation of the Russell 3000. That is not a quarterly routine. That is a historic event.

What History Says About Bitcoin on Witching Days

Crypto does not operate in isolation from traditional finance anymore. Bitcoin increasingly moves alongside broader risk assets, meaning sharp equity swings have a habit of spilling directly into digital markets.

Historical data from 2025 paints a consistent picture. Bitcoin tended to show muted or flat performance on quadruple witching days themselves, followed by weakness in the days and weeks after. In September last year, a sharp post-witching decline took Bitcoin from $177,000 all the way down to $108,000. In June, it drifted to a local bottom just two days after the event.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is holding around $69,800, with Ethereum at $2,134, XRP at $1.43, and Solana at $88.93. The broader market Fear and Greed Index sits at just 30, firmly in fear territory.

A Second Crypto Expiry Is Coming Next Week

Even after today passes, the market is not in the clear. A separate $13.5 billion in crypto derivatives are set to expire on Deribit on March 27, just one week away. Positioning data shows traders are leaning toward volatility strategies rather than strong directional bets, signalling the market is bracing for continued turbulence rather than a clean recovery.

The post Top Analyst Reveals What’s Next For Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Prices appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Gareth Soloway, Chief Market Strategist at VerifiedInvesting.com, is doubling down on his bullish crypto calls,  and so far, the charts are proving him right.

About a month ago, when Bitcoin had just flushed to $60,000 and retail sentiment was bearish, Soloway turned bullish. Most people thought he was wrong. 

“When I see eight out of ten comments calling me a clown, I put more money into the trade,” he explained. For Soloway, extreme retail fear is not a warning, it is an invitation.

Bitcoin: The $74,000 Line That Changes Everything

Bitcoin is now trading above $74,000, marking eight consecutive days of gains. Soloway says the level to keep an eye on is a daily close above $74,000. If that holds, the next targets are $80,000 to $85,000.

The resistance at this level is not random. Soloway traced it back to a long-term trend line connecting multiple major price pivots, a classic technical setup where old support becomes new resistance. A clean break above it, he says, opens the door to the next significant leg higher.

Ethereum: A 45% Move Could Be on the Table

Ethereum has broken out of what Soloway describes as a textbook inside bar pattern, a structure where price compresses after a strong reversal before launching higher. ETH is now trading above $3,300 and confirming the breakout.

His price targets: $2,600 to $2,800 — which from the recent consolidation low would represent a 45% move. 

Solana and XRP Join the Party

Soloway is also long Solana, currently up around 15% on the trade, with targets of $115 to $118 after clearing the $100 resistance zone.

For the XRP community, Soloway revealed he picked up XRP over the weekend after spotting the same breakout pattern forming across the chart. He is already up 10% on the position and says the setup looks nearly identical to the other trades that have worked.

Despite the short-term bullishness, Soloway is clear-eyed about the macro backdrop. The larger trend, he says, still points downward. 

The post XRP Price Direction Irrelevant as Delta-Neutral Strategies Offer 8-15% Yields, Says Former Ripple Employee appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A former Ripple employee, William Sculley, an early Ripple insider, laid out a detailed case for why the next wave of institutional money entering crypto will not be chasing price. It will be chasing yield, and XRP sits right in the middle of that story.

“Price Doesn’t Matter”

The headline claim sounds controversial, but the logic behind it is straightforward. Sculley’s thread breaks down what are known as delta-neutral strategies, a class of trades used by the world’s biggest hedge funds, including Citadel, Millennium, and Point72, to generate steady returns regardless of which direction markets move.

Whether XRP rises 50% or falls 50%, these strategies are structured to remain balanced and still deliver. The target return? A consistent 8% to 15% annually, with none of the whipsaw risk that defines most crypto investing.

As Sculley put it plainly: “You’re not betting on price — you’re capturing spreads, fees, or premiums.”

The $2 Trillion Problem Nobody Talks About

The bigger picture Sculley paints is striking. Crypto’s total market capitalization sits at roughly $2 trillion, yet less than 5% of that capital is actively deployed in yield-generating strategies through DeFi. The overwhelming majority sits idle or earns basic returns through centralised platforms.

For context, institutional asset managers like BlackRock and PIMCO keep less than 5% of portfolios in cash. They deploy the rest. Crypto, by comparison, is almost entirely unproductive by institutional standards.

That gap, Sculley argues, is not a weakness — it is an opportunity.

Why XRP Is Central to This Shift

Sculley’s framework, which he calls Financial Grade DeFi, is about bringing institutional-calibre yield strategies fully on-chain, accessible to anyone holding crypto, with no minimums and no middlemen.

For XRP holders specifically, this reframes the entire investment case. Rather than waiting for a price catalyst, holders could soon access basis trades, covered calls, and structured products built directly around XRP, the same tools previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

If institutions can generate reliable, direction-independent returns using XRP as collateral, the argument for large-scale capital deployment into the asset strengthens significantly, bull market or not.

Sculley’s conclusion is measured but pointed. Institutional strategies are already moving on-chain. The infrastructure is being built now. The only open question is who benefits first — and whether everyday crypto holders position themselves before the next wave of capital arrives.

The post XRP Price Near Breakout? Hidden Signal Shows Whales and ETF Demand Rising appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

XRP is sitting at a make-or-break level, and the signals are turning hard to ignore. The weekly chart shows price once again testing a long-standing ascending trendline, a zone that has repeatedly acted as a strong buying opportunity in past cycles. At the same time, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface. ETF inflows are climbing, and whales are pulling large amounts of XRP off exchanges, tightening supply just as price compresses near support.

With both technical and on-chain signals aligning, XRP’s current setup is starting to look less like consolidation, and more like a breakout waiting to happen.

ETF Inflows Cross $1.4 Billion, Underscoring Institutional Demand

Institutional participation in XRP has strengthened notably in 2026, with cumulative inflows into spot-based investment products surpassing $1.4 billion. This represents a sharp increase in demand and pushes total tracked volumes beyond $3 billion. 

Such sustained inflows typically reinforce price stability during corrective phases while establishing a base for medium-term expansion. The persistence of capital allocation into XRP-linked products indicates growing confidence among larger market participants, even as short-term price action remains subdued.

Large-Scale Whale Withdrawals Point to Supply Constriction

On-chain data highlights a parallel trend of significant XRP outflows from centralized exchanges, led predominantly by Binance. A single-day withdrawal of 530 million XRP in early February marked one of the largest movements in recent months, followed by consistent daily outflows averaging close to 50 million XRP through March.

Notably, transactions exceeding one million XRP continue to dominate activity, indicating that large holders are actively repositioning. This shift reduces available exchange liquidity and introduces the potential for supply-side pressure, a condition often associated with upward price repricing.

XRP Price Analysis: Descending Structure Approaches Inflection

XRP remains within a broader descending channel, characterized by a sequence of lower highs since its previous peak. However, price action has begun to compress near the lower boundary of the structure, suggesting weakening bearish momentum.

Immediate support is established in the $1.40–$1.43 region, which has so far prevented further downside expansion. A secondary support level is positioned near $1.20. On the upside, initial resistance is observed at $1.50, followed by a more significant barrier between $1.90 and $2.00, where both trendline resistance and a historical supply zone converge.

A breakout above the descending resistance could invalidate the current structure and initiate a broader trend reversal.

Analyst Insight: Long-Term Trendline Reinforces Bullish Structure

Market analyst Ali Charts has pointed to XRP’s long-term ascending trendline on the weekly timeframe, highlighting it as a key structural support. According to the analysis: XRP has respected this trendline across multiple cycles. Recent price action shows another bounce from this support zone. The structure suggests a potential higher-low formation

This external validation strengthens the broader technical outlook, indicating that XRP is not only stabilizing but doing so within a historically significant support framework.

Outlook: Accumulation Phase Nearing Resolution

XRP appears to be transitioning through a late-stage accumulation phase, supported by rising institutional inflows and continued whale activity. While price action remains constrained within a descending structure, the compression of volatility suggests that a decisive move may be imminent.

A confirmed breakout above the $1.90 resistance zone would likely open the path toward the $2.50–$3.00 range. Conversely, failure to maintain current support levels could delay recovery.

At present, XRP remains positioned at a critical inflection point, with both fundamental and technical indicators signaling the potential for a high-momentum move once key levels are breached.

The post PHA Price Explodes After Bithumb Listing Sparks Massive Outflows and Whale Activity appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

PHA price just did what most altcoins dream of waking up from a nearly doomed stage, even get listed, and immediately rip higher. A fresh KRW trading pair listing on Bithumb lit the fuse, and the reaction wasn’t subtle. We’re talking a sharp intraday move, backed by aggressive on-chain activity and a sudden shift in trader positioning.

And yeah, this isn’t just hype, there’s actual data behind the chaos.

Listing Hype Meets Real Demand

So here’s the deal. The Bithumb listing triggered a classic liquidity event, but instead of just inflows chasing the pump, something more interesting happened tokens started leaving exchanges.

Roughly 45 million PHA flowed out, while inflows lagged behind at 21.62 million. That imbalance screams accumulation. Traders aren’t just flipping; they’re pulling supply off the market, tightening availability, and effectively creating upward pressure.

Well, this kind of behavior usually doesn’t happen unless participants expect higher prices ahead. It’s not retail panic buying; it’s calculated positioning.

Whales And Metrics Flash Bullish

But let’s be real, exchange flows alone don’t tell the full story. Whale activity stepped in hard. Transactions above $100K spiked noticeably, confirming that bigger players weren’t sitting this one out. They showed up and they showed up fast.

At the same time, the 30-day MVRV ratio surged, dragging average investor positions close to breakeven. That’s important. It means holders who were underwater are now seeing relief, which often reduces immediate sell pressure, at least temporarily.

Add to that a rise in active addresses, and you’ve got a textbook case of growing network participation. Not just price chasing but shows actual engagement.

PHA Price Technical Levels Ahead

Now zooming out a bit. This rally didn’t come from nowhere infact the PHA price bounced from a monthly low near $0.021, marking a staggering 110% recovery, and 30% intraday surge. That’s not noise that’s clearly momentum that PHA price has just witnessed.

But momentum needs structure. Right now, the key level sits around $0.053, which aligns with the 200-day EMA. That’s the first real test. If bulls manage to flip it, the next logical targets stack up at $0.075 and $0.091.

Miss that breakout though? Things get messy again. Simple as that. 

So, what’s next? If demand holds and exchange supply keeps shrinking, this move might have legs. But if the hype fades, as it often does, then PHA price could just as easily stall right where it is.

The post Ledger Taps Ex-Circle Exec as CFO Ahead of Potential $4B IPO appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ledger, the crypto hardware wallet maker, has appointed John Andrews, a former Circle executive, as its new CFO. Andrews, who oversaw capital markets and investor relations at Circle and played a role in its IPO, will help Ledger prepare for a possible public listing valued above $4 billion. The company is expanding its U.S. presence, though market volatility could push back the IPO timeline. Ledger aims to strengthen its financial strategy ahead of the big move.

The post KITE Price Surges 20% as AI Narrative Ignites Fresh Momentum appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The KITE price just caught a sharp bid and no, it’s not random. A sudden 20% jump from the $0.18 support level has traders scrambling for explanations, but the trigger is surprisingly straightforward: narrative meets timing, and the market eats it up.

AI Narrative Sparks KITE Price Surge

It all kicked off with a well-timed post tapping into the growing hype around AI’s next evolution is autonomous agents. The argument? Moving from chatbots to agents isn’t incremental… it’s exponential. Think 10,000x more compute demand and 100x more consumption. Sounds ambitious. Maybe even a bit too neat.

But here’s where it gets interesting. The real bottleneck isn’t compute but it’s payments. Machines can’t swipe credit cards. And when you’re talking about thousands of microtransactions per second, the traditional financial system starts looking like a relic. That’s the gap KITE claims to fill: a native economic layer for machine-to-machine transactions.

Markets love a good “infrastructure of the future” story. And this one landed right on cue.

Jensen Huang just shared a massive insight on @theallinpod predicting a 1000000x scale up in AI. His logic is brilliant. Moving from simple chatbots to autonomous agents takes 10000x more compute. And because people gladly pay for actual work rather than just text generation the… pic.twitter.com/bPfW8e5vN6

— KITE AI (@GoKiteAI) March 20, 2026

Technical Setup Shows Early Strength

Now let’s strip away the hype and look at the chart. The KITE price bounced cleanly from $0.18 and is now wrestling with the 50-day EMA.

Momentum indicators are… cautiously optimistic. MACD is showing bearish pressure fading, which is a polite way of saying sellers are getting tired. RSI is pushing toward the midline, flirting with a shift into stronger momentum territory if it breaks higher.

And then there’s CMF which is still not screaming bullish, but definitely ticking upward. Translation? Money is starting to flow back in, just not aggressively yet.

Demand Spike Driven by Activity Surge

Well, this wasn’t just a narrative pump but a bit on-chain activity backed it up. A noticeable rise in 24-hour active addresses added fuel to the move, suggesting actual participation, not just speculative noise.

That said, let’s not pretend this is a straight line up. The immediate test sits around sustaining above that EMA band. If buyers keep pressing, the next logical move is a revisit toward $0.26. But if momentum stalls? This could just as easily fade back into the same range it came from.

Short-Term Outlook Remains Conditional

So, what’s next? The KITE price is at a crossroads. The setup is improving, sure but it’s not bulletproof. This is still a market that loves to overreact to narratives and just as quickly forget them.

If demand keeps building and indicators confirm, the move higher makes sense. If not, this rally risks becoming just another short-lived spike in a crowded altcoin landscape.

For now, KITE price is holding attention. Whether it holds momentum… that’s a different story.

The post FBI, Thai Police Seize $580M in Crypto Scam Crackdown appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

In a major international law-enforcement operation, the FBI and Royal Thai Police raided scam compounds in Thailand, seizing more than 8,000 phones, 1,300 hard drives, and freezing $580 million in cryptocurrency linked to frauds targeting U.S. victims. These compounds, also located in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, forced trafficked workers to run “pig butchering” scams that lure people with fake relationships or investment advice before stealing their money. A joint task force has arrested 21 suspects, and FBI agents are now in Thailand tracing blockchain transactions to break up the entire network rather than just individual scammers.

The post New DarkSword iOS Hack Puts Crypto Wallets at Risk appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

DarkSword is a powerful iOS exploit chain used by multiple threat actors to fully compromise devices and steal sensitive data. Among its most serious risks is access to cryptocurrency wallets, where attackers can extract wallet data, private keys, and transaction details. Malware like GHOSTBLADE specifically targets financial information, including crypto assets, making victims vulnerable to theft. Once infected, attackers can silently exfiltrate wallet data and monitor activity.

The post U.S. Money Supply Hits $22.45T, Is Bitcoin Breakout Coming? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The U.S. M2 money supply has reached a new all-time high of $22.45 trillion, showing a steady rise in liquidity across the economy. Meanwhile, this is important for crypto markets, as rising liquidity has historically supported Bitcoin and other risk assets.

U.S. M2 Money Supply at Record $22.45T

Looking at the recent data, the U.S. M2 money supply has reached $22.45 trillion, rising about 4.3% year-over-year.

As seen in the chart, M2 has been on a long-term upward trend, with sharp growth after 2020 and now reaching fresh highs again. This shows that more money is circulating in the economy than ever before.

Historically, rising money supply has been a “risk-on” signal, meaning investors are more willing to take risks.

A clear example is the pandemic period, when M2 jumped from $15 trillion to $21 trillion. During the same time, Bitcoin saw its biggest rally, reaching $69,000 in November 2021.

Later, in late 2025, Bitcoin again surged to a new all-time high of around $124,000, supported by continued liquidity growth.

Why Rising Liquidity Supports Bitcoin Price

When liquidity increases, investors often move money into assets that can offer higher returns. This includes stocks, real estate, and especially cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Bitcoin tends to benefit because it is seen as both:

• A risk asset during strong liquidity cycles
• A hedge when people worry about currency value

This is why past M2 growth phases have often matched with Bitcoin rallies.

• Also Read :
•   The Biggest Crypto Regulatory Win in a Decade Failed to Boost Bitcoin – Why?
•   ,

But This Cycle Looks Different

Despite M2 hitting a new high, Bitcoin has not followed the same pattern in early 2026. 

Instead, the market has seen a 6-month phase of decline or sideways movement, even as liquidity continues to rise. This shows a more “decoupled” relationship compared to previous cycles.

One key reason is the growing presence of institutional investors. Unlike earlier cycles driven mostly by retail, today’s market is more mature and reacts differently to macro conditions.

At the same time, large Bitcoin holders are increasing their positions. While smaller investors remain cautious, whales are buying during dips.

If M2 continues to rise, it could act as fuel for the next crypto move. More liquidity means more buying power entering the market.

FAQs

The post The Biggest Crypto Regulatory Win in a Decade Failed to Boost Bitcoin – Why? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is trading at $70,538 on Friday, down 2.68% on the week, as a hawkish Federal Reserve decision overwhelmed what analysts are calling the most significant regulatory development in United States crypto history.

The Crucial Ruling You Should Know

On March 17, the SEC and CFTC issued a joint 68-page interpretive release classifying 16 major crypto assets – including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP – as digital commodities under federal law. The ruling ends more than a decade of jurisdictional uncertainty that had kept institutional capital cautious on digital assets.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated: “After more than a decade of uncertainty, this interpretation will provide market participants with a clear understanding of how the Commission treats crypto assets under federal securities laws. This is what regulatory agencies are supposed to do: draw clear lines in clear terms.”

CFTC Chairman Michael Selig added: “For far too long, American builders, innovators, and entrepreneurs have awaited clear guidance. With today’s interpretation, the wait is over.”

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•   ,

When Macro Overrides Everything

The positive regulatory signal was short-lived. On March 19, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at 3.50-3.75% while upgrading its 2026 inflation forecasts, reinforcing expectations that rate cuts remain distant. Futures markets are now pricing in only one rate cut for all of 2026.

The crypto market responded sharply. Total market capitalisation dropped to $2.42 trillion, with more than $142 million in Bitcoin long positions liquidated within a single trading day.

Intergovernmental blockchain advisor Anndy Lian, who has closely tracked the convergence of macro forces on digital asset markets, noted that cryptocurrency prices are now showing a 92% correlation with gold – a sign that digital assets are increasingly functioning as inflation hedges rather than high-growth technology investments.

Lian observed that this new identity offers little protection when both assets are facing pressure from the same macroeconomic forces at the same time.

Middle East tensions compounded the picture. Disruptions threatening the Strait of Hormuz drove energy price volatility, contributing to the Fed’s more cautious inflation outlook. West Texas Intermediate crude pulled back 1.7% to $93.95 per barrel, offering some relief to Asian markets, while European equities faced steeper losses with the STOXX 600 falling 0.7%.

What Happens at $70,000

Bitcoin’s immediate outlook depends on its ability to defend the $69,000–$70,000 support zone. A breakdown at that level, combined with further strength in the US Dollar Index, could push total crypto market capitalisation toward $2.3 trillion.

The next Federal Open Market Committee meeting is scheduled for April 28–29, which represents the market’s next major macro catalyst.

The SEC-CFTC ruling establishes a foundation for broader institutional participation in crypto markets. Whether that structural positive can assert itself over near-term macro pressure remains the central question heading into the second quarter.

FAQs

The post Pi Network Price Bounces Back After Protocol 20 Upgrade: Is the Worst Over? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network (PI) price has bounced sharply today, rising over 8% to $0.1911, marking its strongest recovery attempt since the recent sell-off. After days of downside pressure, the latest move signals that buyers are stepping back in, absorbing supply as selling momentum fades. The rebound comes at a critical time, with PI attempting to stabilize after a correction driven largely by profit-taking.

This shift suggests the market may be transitioning from weakness to early recovery.

Protocol 20 Upgrade Strengthens Structural Narrative

A critical element supporting the current recovery is the rollout of Protocol 20, which reinforces Pi Network’s long-term development trajectory. The upgrade is designed to enhance:

The Pi Mainnet has successfully upgraded to Protocol 20, laying the foundation for supporting smart contracts. Node operators, please ensure your systems are up to date and stay tuned for instructions regarding the upcoming v21 upgrade.

— Pi Network (@PiCoreTeam) March 19, 2026

• Network scalability and efficiency, improving transaction processing
• Ecosystem infrastructure, enabling broader functionality
• User and developer engagement, supporting future adoption

In early-stage ecosystems like Pi Network, upgrades serve as confidence anchors, signaling continued progress and reducing uncertainty. While they may not trigger immediate price surges, they often play a key role in stabilizing sentiment during corrective phases. In this context, Protocol 20 is acting as a fundamental cushion, supporting the current rebound.

• Also Read :
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•   ,

PI Price Analysis: From Sell-Off to Rebound – What the Chart Is Showing Now

The Pi Network (PI) price has recently gone through a sharp correction, where the chart shows a clear rejection from the $0.25–$0.27 supply zone, triggering a wave of profit-taking. This led to a controlled decline, with price sliding back toward the $0.17–$0.18 support area, where buyers began to re-enter.

Instead of breaking down further, PI formed a stable base, indicating that selling pressure was being absorbed. This phase reflects a shift from aggressive selling to demand-driven stabilization, often seen near short-term bottoms. The latest move adds to this narrative. Today’s 8% rebound to $0.1911 signals that buyers are stepping back in with intent, pushing price away from support and attempting to reclaim lost ground. However, the recovery is still in its early stages and remains below key resistance. Now, the chart is clearly approaching a critical decision zone.

Immediate resistance: $0.20–$0.21 (short-term breakout level)

Major resistance: $0.25–$0.27 (trend reversal zone)

Key support: $0.17–$0.18

If PI manages to break and hold above the $0.20 region, it could build momentum toward the upper range. A decisive breakout above $0.27 would confirm a trend reversal and continuation of upside. On the flip side, failure to sustain the rebound may keep price range-bound, with another test of support possible. At this stage, the chart reflects a classic transition phase, from sell-off to stabilization, and now potentially toward recovery, with the next move dependent on how price reacts at resistance.

Outlook: Recovery Building, But Breakout Confirmation Needed

The Pi Network (PI) price is showing early signs that the worst of the correction may be over, supported by easing sell pressure and strengthening fundamentals.

However, the recovery remains incomplete without confirmation. A decisive move above the upper resistance zone would validate bullish momentum and signal a transition into a new trend phase. Until then, PI is likely to remain in a consolidation-driven recovery, where structure continues to develop. For now, PI token is not trending, it is preparing.

FAQs

The post World Gold Council’s “Gold as a Service” Plan: What It Means for Tether Gold (XAUT) & PAXG appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Gold is trading at $4,691 today. The tokenized gold market has surpassed $5.5 billion. And the same organization that built the world’s largest gold ETF just proposed the most ambitious overhaul of digital gold infrastructure ever attempted.

The $163 Billion Question

The World Gold Council helped launch SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) in 2004. That fund now sits at $163 billion. Tether Gold (XAUT) and Pax Gold (PAXG) – the two dominant tokenized gold products in crypto – together hold close to $5 billion. The gap between those two numbers is the entire argument for why “Gold as a Service” exists.

On March 19, WGC published a white paper co-authored with Boston Consulting Group proposing shared backend infrastructure for the tokenized gold market – standardizing custody, compliance, audits, and redemption across all issuers. This could be the rails that everything else runs on.

What Changes And What Doesn’t

Right now, Tether and Paxos each built their own custody moats from scratch. Tether stores XAUT reserves in a Swiss vault. Paxos uses London vaults via Brink’s. Both operate in silos. The result: low fungibility, fragmented liquidity, and a trust barrier that keeps everyday investors out.

WGC’s Global Head of Market Structure Mike Oswin put it plainly – think Intel Inside. A visible standard that tells you exactly what you’re getting before you buy.

BCG’s Matthias Tauber framed the stakes directly: “The question is no longer whether gold will be digital; it’s how it can participate in modern financial systems without compromising physical integrity.”

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•   ,

Bybit Moved the Same Day

On the exact day the white paper dropped, Bybit launched a yield-bearing tokenized gold product letting users earn interest on Tether Gold. Gold sitting in a vault earns nothing. That’s always been its weakness against stablecoins. Bybit’s move, and WGC’s paper, are both answering the same question at the same time.

With oil surging and markets rattled by the Iran conflict, gold’s role as a safe haven is being tested in real time. The WGC’s bet is that the next chapter of that role gets written on-chain.

No implementation timeline has been disclosed. The proposal is still conceptual and depends on industry-wide adoption. But for XAUT and PAXG holders, the message is clear: the institution that made gold mainstream once before is coming for the tokenized gold market next.

Whether it gets there is the only thing left to watch.

FAQs

The post Hyperliquid (HYPE) Flips Cardano (ADA) in Market Cap as Arthur Hayes Sets $150 Price Target appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market just saw an unexpected change. Hyperliquid briefly moved to the top 10 ahead of Cardano in market capitalization, showing how quickly positions can change.

As per data, HYPE has been rising steadily, gaining around 21% this week and trading near the $40–$43 range. ADA also saw gains near $0.29, but the increase wasn’t enough to hold its position. Even with both assets moving up, HYPE managed to edge ahead.

Why HYPE Is Gaining Attention

HYPE’s rise is driven by strong platform activity. Hyperliquid runs a decentralized exchange that offers fast execution and deep liquidity, attracting high trading volume, reaching around $500 million in a day.

It’s also expanding with new products, like bringing the S&P 500 on-chain.

BitMEX Founder, Arthur Hayes, adds that Hyperliquid stands out because it generates real revenue, with about 97% used to buy back HYPE, directly linking the token to platform earnings. He believes this model can help it keep taking share from centralized exchanges while growing further. Looking at the current market, Hayes is projecting a $150 price target for Hype by August 2026, nearly 5x from earlier levels around $30.

Cardano Under Pressure, But Not Out

Cardano, on the other hand, has seen slower growth in recent months. Its price action has been uneven, and its DeFi ecosystem has not expanded as quickly as some newer platforms.

Still, there are signs of a possible recovery. Crypto analyst Ali Martinez recently highlighted a bullish signal on ADA:

“Cardano $ADA has printed a buy signal.”

He noted that the recent downtrend may be ending. For this setup to remain valid, ADA needs to hold the $0.23 support level. If it does, the next targets could be $0.32 and $0.37. A drop below this level would weaken the outlook.

What This Flip Suggests

This shift between HYPE and ADA reflects a broader change in the market. Projects with strong user activity and trading demand are getting more attention, while slower-growing ecosystems are facing pressure.

HYPE is currently benefiting from increased usage on its platform, while ADA needs stronger participation to regain ground.

FAQs

The post Crypto.com cuts 12% jobs, bets big on AI appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Crypto.Com has laid off about 12% of its workforce, cutting roughly 180 jobs from its 1,500 employees, as it shifts focus to AI tools. CEO Kris Marszalek said companies that quickly adopt AI and combine it with top talent will grow faster, while others may struggle to survive. The move comes as crypto firms look to cut costs and improve efficiency during a slow market with lower trading activity and tighter regulations.

The post Gemini Cuts 30% of Workforce appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Crypto exchange Gemini has cut about 30% of its workforce since January, reducing staff to around 445 employees. The company is also bringing in AI tools to improve efficiency and lower costs. Gemini reported a net loss of nearly $585 million in 2025, with about $60 million in revenue in the final quarter. The cuts come after earlier layoffs, exits from the UK, EU, and Australia, and leadership changes as the firm tries to stabilise its business.

The post Quant (QNT) Price Rally Accelerates: Is $100 the Next Stop? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Quant (QNT) price is extending its upward move, currently trading around $78 after a sharp 19% weekly surge. The rally reflects a steady shift in momentum, with buyers consistently stepping in on dips and pushing price toward a key resistance zone.

Unlike short-lived spikes, this move has developed through controlled price expansion, indicating that the market is building a stronger foundation rather than overheating. With QNT now approaching the $80 level, attention is turning toward a potential breakout.

Robinhood Listing Adds Fresh Momentum to QNT Rally

A key catalyst behind the recent upside is QNT’s listing on Robinhood, which has significantly expanded access to retail investors. The platform confirmed that QNT is now available for trading on Robinhood Crypto, including major markets like New York. This is a meaningful development, as Robinhood often acts as an entry point for new market participants.

Early wallet activity suggests initial inflows and accumulation, even if volumes remain modest for now. Historically, such listings tend to trigger:

• Increased visibility and accessibility
• Fresh retail-driven liquidity
• Short-term momentum acceleration

The timing is particularly notable, as the listing coincides with an already strengthening technical setup, amplifying the impact of the rally.

Quant Price Analysis: Will QNT Reach $100?

QNT price structure is showing a clear trend reversal. After months of trading under a descending trendline, price has now pushed higher and is attempting to break above this resistance. This marks the first meaningful shift away from the previous downtrend.

QNT/USDT price chart also highlights a strong demand zone near $55–$65, where repeated downside attempts were absorbed. This base has acted as a foundation for the current rally, reinforcing the idea of accumulation before expansion. Momentum is gradually strengthening, with indicators trending higher while still leaving room for further upside.

Key Levels to Watch

Immediate resistance: $88-90

Next target zone: $90–$100

Support: $68-$72

Demand zone: $60–$65

A confirmed breakout above $80 would validate the bullish structure and open the path toward the $90 region, which aligns with the next major supply zone. If rejected, price may retest the $70 level, but the broader structure would remain intact as long as higher lows continue to form.

On-Chain Data Points to Accumulation Phase

Supporting the rally, on-chain signals indicate that QNT is currently in an accumulation phase rather than distribution. Exchange balances have shown signs of decline, suggesting that tokens are being moved off exchanges and into long-term holding. At the same time, trading volume has increased alongside price, pointing to real demand rather than thin market conditions.

Derivatives activity is also picking up, reflecting growing participation and positioning among traders. This combination of tightening supply and rising demand typically creates favorable conditions for continued upside, especially when aligned with strong technical structure.

Final Outlook: Momentum, Structure, and Narrative Begin to Align

The current setup is being driven by a convergence of key factors. The Robinhood listing has improved accessibility, on-chain data points to accumulation, and the technical structure is shifting from downtrend to potential reversal. This alignment across fundamentals, sentiment, and price action increases the probability of a sustained move.

Historically, such conditions often precede strong directional expansions, as multiple layers of the market begin positioning in the same direction. With strong weekly gains, improving demand, and a breakout attempt underway, QNT is positioning itself as one of the more structurally bullish altcoins in the current market phase.

The post Kevin O’Leary Names His Top Investment Themes for 2026 After Federal Reserve Rate Decision appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Markets are flying blind right now. With the Federal Reserve pausing rates and the Iran conflict shaking global stability, investors are navigating one big question: what comes next?

At the same time, Bitcoin is holding near $70,587, showing slight short-term weakness as it dips marginally over the past hour and day. The broader market remains tense, especially as geopolitical stress continues to disrupt energy markets and global sentiment. 

In a recent Fox Business interview, investor Kevin O’Leary explained how this wave of uncertainty is not just impacting traditional markets but is also spilling into crypto, influencing capital flows and investor behavior.

War Impact Spills Into Crypto

O’Leary made it clear that when global conflicts push oil prices and supply chains into uncertainty, capital across all markets, including crypto, reacts. Volatility in energy markets often leads to cautious positioning, which slows enthusiasm in risk assets like Bitcoin and altcoins.

With shipping routes and oil supply under pressure, liquidity tightens across markets. This environment makes it harder for crypto to sustain strong rallies as capital rotates toward more stable sectors. 

“We Don’t Know What Will Happen”

O’Leary echoed the uncertainty dominating markets right now, saying, “We don’t know… not a lot we can do other than watch and see.”

Instead of reacting to short-term swings, he believes investors should think ahead. 

“You think about what the world looks like after the conflict is over, and you make bets.”

This applies directly to crypto. While near-term sentiment may remain shaky, long-term adoption is still intact. However, crypto continues to move alongside macro conditions rather than independently.

Good time to Buy the Dip!

O’Leary pointed out that these geopolitical tensions tend to push capital toward stronger and more established players. This trend is visible across both traditional finance and crypto.

For digital assets, this means leading cryptocurrencies are likely to remain the focus, while smaller tokens face more pressure during uncertain phases. Market conditions like these often reduce risk appetite, impacting overall momentum in the crypto space.

• Also Read :
•   Gemini Layoffs 2026: Crypto Exchange Cuts 30% Workforce After $582M Loss
•   ,

O’Leary’s Top Investment Themes for 2026

In the present scenario, he is heavily investing in energy and infrastructure, calling power the most critical opportunity right now. His bets are concentrated in regions like Utah (U.S.) and Alberta (Canada), where access to cheap energy, natural gas, water, and supportive government policies make large-scale projects like data centers and manufacturing viable.

At the same time, he is bullish on commodities and supply chains, particularly through Canada, which he sees as a long-term winner in oil, potash (fertilizer), and aluminum. He has also taken positions in the Canadian dollar, expecting it to benefit as global supply chains become more secure post-conflict.

Beyond traditional markets, O’Leary is actively investing in alternative assets, especially rare collectibles and sports cards, viewing them as the next evolution of asset classes similar to fine art. He is also investing in companies that enable fractional ownership and trading of these collectibles, betting on growing global demand and liquidity in this space.

FAQs

The post Why is Bitcoin Price Dropping Today: $72,500 Rejection and Support Levels to Watch appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is under pressure on the shorter timeframe, trading below a critical resistance zone after failing to hold recent gains. The bulls have not shown up yet and the structure points toward at least one more low before any meaningful recovery can be confirmed.

Where Bitcoin Stands Right Now

Bitcoin got rejected at the resistance zone between $70,700 and $72,500 after attempting a move higher. That zone is the single most important level on the chart right now. Without a clean and sustained break above it, the market remains in a downward consolidation pattern with bears firmly in control.

The current move lower is a three-stage structure rather than a clean downtrend, meaning a reversal is possible but needs confirmation first. That confirmation only comes from a decisive break above $70,700 to $72,500, ideally sustained across multiple candles rather than a brief spike that quickly reverses.

Until that happens the path of least resistance remains lower.

Support Levels to Watch

If Bitcoin continues lower from here the levels that matter are:

• $69,450 is the first meaningful support zone and the immediate area where buyers could attempt to step in
• $67,760 becomes relevant if $69,450 fails to hold and selling pressure accelerates
• $66,765 represents deeper support and the area where the broader structure would face a more serious test

None of these levels guarantee a bounce. They are areas where buyers have previously shown interest and where the market could attempt to stabilise.

The Two Scenarios Playing Out

If bears stay in control: Bitcoin drifts lower through $69,450 toward $67,760 without any meaningful buying response at current levels. The consolidation extends further and the recovery timeline gets pushed out.

If bulls return: Bitcoin builds a base around current levels and produces a strong move above $70,700. A sustained hold above $72,500 would be the clearest signal that the balance of power has shifted back toward buyers and a more meaningful recovery is underway.

The post BTQ Technologies Deploys First Working Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Implementation as Core Development Stalls appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Quantum computers cannot break Bitcoin yet. The emphasis is on yet. A Canadian technology company just became the first to deploy a working implementation of the solution Bitcoin developers have been debating for months, and it did so while the broader Bitcoin ecosystem has made virtually no progress toward the same goal.

BTQ Technologies activated Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 on its Bitcoin Quantum testnet this week, moving what had been a theoretical proposal into functioning, testable infrastructure available to developers, miners, and researchers right now.

Why Bitcoin Has a Quantum Problem

The issue sits inside Taproot, the upgrade Bitcoin activated in 2021 that underpins Lightning Network, BitVM, and other next-generation applications. Taproot’s design includes a mechanism that can expose public keys on-chain. When quantum computers become powerful enough to run Shor’s algorithm at scale, those exposed public keys become vulnerable to attack.

BIP 360 addresses this by introducing a new output type called Pay-to-Merkle-Root, which preserves all of Taproot’s scripting capabilities while removing the specific mechanism that creates the quantum vulnerability. It is a targeted fix rather than a rebuild.

What BTQ Actually Built

The company has implemented BIP 360 on a live testnet with more than 50 miners, over 100,000 blocks mined, and full end-to-end wallet tooling that allows users to create, fund, sign, and spend quantum-resistant transactions today.

It also includes five post-quantum signature algorithms operating inside the script tree, complete address creation, transaction construction, and confirmation capabilities.

The Timeline Problem

Bitcoin’s governance culture is deliberately conservative. SegWit took 8.5 years from concept to adoption. Taproot took 7.5 years. BIP 360 has entered the official proposal repository but Bitcoin Core has made no implementation progress.

Meanwhile US federal agencies face an April 2026 deadline to submit post-quantum transition plans. The European Union has set a 2030 quantum-resistance target for critical infrastructure. Canada’s new procurement requirements take effect next month.

BTQ’s CEO Olivier Roussy Newton framed the urgency simply: “The industry can’t afford to treat quantum resistance as a theoretical exercise.”

The quantum threat to Bitcoin is not immediate. But the time required to implement a fix, measured historically in years, suggests that waiting until the threat becomes urgent may already be waiting too long.

The post Ripple’s 2026 Digital Asset Survey: 72% of Finance Leaders Say Ignoring Digital Assets Means Falling Behind appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A survey of more than 1,000 global finance executives has found that digital assets are no longer a speculative interest for the financial industry but an operational imperative, with nearly three quarters of respondents saying institutions that fail to offer digital asset solutions risk losing their competitive position entirely.

The survey, conducted by Ripple at the start of 2026, covered banks, asset managers, fintechs, and corporate finance departments across multiple geographies. The results paint a picture of an industry that has moved past the question of whether to adopt digital assets and is now focused on how to do so safely and at scale.

Stablecoins Lead the Demand

Among all digital asset applications, stablecoins generated the strongest consensus. Seventy-four percent of respondents said stablecoins can improve cash-flow efficiency and unlock working capital that would otherwise sit trapped in slow-moving settlement systems.

The significance of that figure lies in its context. Treasury management is one of the most conservative functions in any financial institution. Stablecoins gaining traction there signals a shift from speculative interest to practical utility, a distinction that matters considerably to regulators and institutional risk committees.

Fintechs Are Setting the Pace

Across every adoption metric in the survey, fintechs outpace both traditional financial institutions and corporates. Thirty-one percent of fintech respondents are already using stablecoins to collect payments on behalf of customers. Twenty-nine percent accept stablecoin payments directly. Nearly half are building proprietary digital asset solutions in-house.

Corporates, by contrast, are taking a more cautious approach. Seventy-four percent plan to work with external partners rather than build internally, and 71% prefer a single provider capable of handling their full digital asset infrastructure stack.

Custody Is the Critical Requirement

For institutions evaluating tokenisation of financial assets, custody ranked as the single most important partner capability, cited by 89% of respondents. Banks placed additional weight on token lifecycle management at 82% and pre-issuance structuring advisory at 85%, suggesting many institutions want experienced guidance throughout implementation rather than technology deployment alone.

Security certifications including ISO and SOC II compliance were considered important or very important by 97% of respondents across all segments, the highest-ranked consideration in the entire survey.

The post Pi Network News: Expert Says Price Crashes Are Missing the Bigger Picture of What Pi Is Building appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network has confirmed that its Mainnet is now upgraded to Protocol 20, preparing the network for future smart contract support. Node operators have been asked to update their systems, with another upgrade, Protocol 21, expected soon. 

The upgrade sets the base for smart contracts, which are needed for building decentralized apps and DeFi platforms. This shows Pi Network is slowly working toward adding more real use cases. 

However, these features are not live yet, and more updates are needed before users can fully access them.  

Analyst digs Beyond Price Moves

The main takeaway comes from Crypto analyst Dr. Altcoin, who believes the market is going through a major transition phase. 

According to him, crypto is no longer in an experimental stage. It is now starting to become part of real financial systems. He pointed to Kraken gaining access to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure as a clear example of this shift.

This shows that crypto companies are no longer operating separately. Instead, they are beginning to connect directly with traditional finance.

Why Price Drops Don’t Tell the Full Story

Having said that, Pi price is currently trading at $0.1777, with a 24-hour trading volume of $35.32 million. The price has seen a slight dip of 0.27% in the past hour but is still up 2.03% over the last day. This shows ongoing community support for Pi. 

However, looking at the price scenario, the analyst addressed the common fear around price drops. He explained that if you understand what is being built, short-term declines should not create panic.

Instead, he sees this phase as part of a broader development cycle where infrastructure is being built in the background. Prices may not always reflect this progress immediately.

His view is simple: the market is still early, and those who understand this phase are in a better position.

Blockchain Is Expanding Beyond Crypto

Another important point he raised is how blockchain is starting to connect with other technologies. AI and robotics are slowly becoming part of this space, while stablecoins are turning into practical tools for payments.

This shows that crypto is moving closer to real-world usage rather than just trading activity.

Focus on Projects With Real Utility

He further stressed that long-term value will come from projects that are creating real use cases, growing their user base, and working on global adoption.

This shifts the focus away from hype and toward projects that are actually building useful systems. In this context, Pi Network’s upgrade shows that development is continuing. The move toward smart contracts fits into the bigger change where projects are working toward real utility.

FAQs