The post Franklin Templeton Partners With Ondo in Asset Tokenization Push appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Franklin Resources Inc. has partnered with the decentralized finance platform Ondo Finance to launch tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Also known as Franklin Templeton, the company is the world’s 16th largest asset manager with $1.7 trillion in assets under management (AUM).

Franklin Templeton partners with Ondo

Under Ondo Finance, Ondo Global Markets will provide the technology to access Franklin Templeton ETFs within crypto wallets. This will enable 24/7 trading, improved investor accessibility, shorter settlement periods, and higher liquidity ceilings.

The pilot debut will take place in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and Latin America, with launch in the US now pending regulatory approval.

We’re excited to announce that Ondo has partnered with Franklin Templeton (@FTDA_US), one of the world’s largest asset managers with $1.7T AUM.

Together, we’re bringing exposure to Franklin Templeton-managed investment products onchain through Ondo Global Markets. pic.twitter.com/vY2AqbiMm7

— Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) March 25, 2026

Founded in 1947, Franklin Resources has grown its AUM from about $1.58T in early 2025 to over $1.7 T in early 2026. 

Named the 2025 Asset Manager of the Year in the $500B+ category by Money Management Institute and Barron’s, the firm now closely rivals colossal investment firms such as Morgan Stanley.

On the other hand, Ondo Finance is a 2021-founded company backed by former Goldman Sachs executives.

As of early 2026, the platform was the largest provider of blockchain-based investment products with a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $2.5 billion.

Some of the firm’s most prolific partners include BlackRock (the world’s largest asset manager with $14.04T AUM), Binance, and Fidelity.

ONDO token, now the 51st in the world by market cap, gained 4.17% in the day to trade at $0.2593. Critiques note the token’s disconnect from the company’s performance, underscoring ongoing debates about RWA utility.

Source: CoinPedia

Bridging blockchain and TradFi

Institutions are increasingly adopting initiatives similar to Franklin Templeton’s to remain competitive in the growing crypto space.

The trend has now moved from experimental phases to full-on scaling following regulatory clarity under the GENIUS Act. Financial giants such as BlackRock, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs now lead the bandwagon, and many more plan on joining them.

Most recently, Securitize partnered with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to launch 24/7 RWA tokenized trading powered by stablecoin settlements.

The post Bitcoin Rebounds Above $70,000 as US Proposes 15-Point Truce to Iran appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The US, through the primary intermediary Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff), has sent Iran a 15-point plan aimed at bringing an end to the prevailing war. 

In the plan, the US proposes the lifting of all active sanctions on Iran, with a guarantee that the sanctions will not be re-imposed. 

The West has also floated the suggestion that Iran freeze its nuclear program and restrict its use for defensive purposes alone. Iran should also decommission its most critical nuclear facilities, namely: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.

Additionally, Iran may retain a certain amount of its enriched uranium under supervision, with plans to hand it over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at a specified time. Thereafter, the nation is to halt all further development of enriched uranium.

Other points include:

• Iran to receive US aid in developing electricity-generating nuclear plants.
• Gradual implementation of the above plans with international monitoring.
• A future address on Iran’s missile programme, including limitations on its capabilities.

Bitcoin tops $70K, oil drops below $100/barrel, gold gains 2%

Following the news, the price of WTI crude oil dropped by 5.31% to $87.45/barrel, while Brent crude shed 6.08% to trade at $98.03.

Source: Oil Price

Meanwhile,  gold prices rose by 2.53% in 24h to trade at $4,586.14.

Source: Trading View

Bitcoin (BTC), on the other hand, reclaimed the $70K mark to trade at $70,563.40 (+0.2% in 24h) at writing time.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Iran denies negotiating with the US

Markets have witnessed intense volatility in the past 48 hours since Trump had threatened to blow up Iranian power plants, then changed his mind on the grounds of peace talks with Iran.

Iran has now sent a letter to the International Maritime Organization, stating that “non-hostile” vessels could go through the Strait of Hormuz.

Nonetheless, the country continues to deny any negotiations with the US as it continues missile retaliation against it and its proxies. This brings back uncertainty to the market, meaning Bitcoin, the rest of the cryptocurrencies, and traditional markets could experience volatility for a while longer.

The post Delaware’s New Stablecoin Bill: A Strategic Push to Become the US Crypto Hub appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Lawmakers in Delaware have introduced the Delaware Payment Stablecoin Act, also known as Senate Bill 19, to foster cryptocurrency adoption in the state by providing clarity in stablecoin regulation.

Delaware joins Florida in state stablecoin regulation

Placed under Delaware banking law, the bipartisan bill borrows heavily from the GENIUS Act in order to remain compliant with broader federal policies.

Among its key provisions, all stablecoin-issuing companies will be required to obtain operational licenses in the state. The legislation further mandates that all payment stablecoins be backed 1:1 by reserves, with monthly audits to verify compliance. Additionally, providers of these digital payment currencies must maintain Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols as part of broader anti-money laundering (AML) compliance measures.

Delaware now joins Florida in introducing a payment stablecoin act at the state level. While Florida’s bill still awaits signing by its Governor, Delaware’s bill faces a longer road ahead — it must first clear the Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee before seeking full Senate and House approval.

Nonetheless, the move highlights states’ growing interest in and adoption of cryptocurrencies. It also encourages crypto-focused companies to establish operations in the state, free from the instability that comes with regulatory uncertainty.

More specifically, the bill would reinforce the legitimacy of stablecoin payment providers, which would in turn encourage institutional investment. Delaware’s long-standing reputation as a corporate-friendly jurisdiction — already home to the majority of US-incorporated businesses — makes this a natural extension of its broader economic strategy.

The latest in federal regulation

At the federal level, the regulatory picture is more mixed. USDC issuer Circle and crypto exchange Coinbase are both experiencing negative price movement in their stocks following a Clarity Act draft that proposed zero interest on dormant stablecoins — a provision that could undermine yield-generating business models central to the stablecoin ecosystem.

This creates a notable tension: while states like Delaware and Florida are rolling out the welcome mat for stablecoin issuers, proposed federal legislation could simultaneously erode the financial incentives that make stablecoins attractive to institutional players. How the broader crypto community and banking institutions respond to this interplay between state and federal frameworks will be a key story to watch as Delaware’s bill progresses through the legislature.

The post CFTC Announces New Task Force Regulating Crypto, AI and Prediction Markets appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Under the leadership of Chairman Mike Selig, the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced the launch of an Innovation Task Force to regulate emerging financial technologies. 

The task force focuses specifically on three areas:

• Blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• Artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems
• Prediction markets and event contracts.

CFTC Innovation Task Force to regulate fintech

Led by senior advisor Michael J. Passalacqua, the task force will partner with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to promote innovation while maintaining integrity and fostering user protection. 

Under my leadership at the @CFTC, we’re committed to future-proofing regulation for the new frontier of finance. Today, I’m proud to announce the launch of our Innovation Task Force, which will build on our Innovation Advisory Committee work and establish clear rules of the road…

— Mike Selig (@ChairmanSelig) March 24, 2026

The announcement received mixed community reaction spanning optimism around technological regulation, frustration over delays in passing of the Clarity Act and skepticism over the purpose of a task force when it has no actionable policies from which to reference.

How may clarity task forces do we need? What we need is people that understands the technology. That would be very nice to be honest. Retail investors have gotten screwed over so much it ain’t even funny. At least be a task force that does something positive for the community.

— justaguy (@xr_pmooner) March 24, 2026

Crypto, AI and prediction markets regulation 

The latest development in the Clarity Act is a draft proposing a ban on passive stablecoin yields in place of “active rewards”.

Meanwhile, several states including Florida and, more recently, Delaware, have taken measures in stablecoin regulation including anti-money laundering measures, mandating operational licenses and proven reserves.

Elsewhere, Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized Mr Beast’s (Jimmy Donaldson) acquisition of teen banking app step, saying it would market unregulated and risky cryptocurrencies to minors.

Elizabeth Warren raises alarm over MrBeast’s teen banking app encouraging ‘risky investments’ https://t.co/B9svgJRXHk

— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) March 24, 2026

As for AI, the latest development is the White House’s March 20 National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence: Legislative Recommendations. Major elements of the policy include removal of “unduly burdensome” AI laws, regulation through pre-existing agencies, consumer, workforce and developer protection, prevention of government censorship and promotion of infrastructure development.

Among prediction markets, several bills exist proposing measures against insider trading, market manipulation and even one banning sports betting. 

The Casar/Murphy “BETS OFF Act” seeks to ban wagering in war, terrorism and assassinations. The latter recently sparked ethical controversy on Kalshi, with traders demanding payouts following the assasination of Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while Kalshi maintained betting on deaths is prohibited under the CFTC.

Source: Event Horizon

The post Crypto Stocks Decline Over 10% on Looming Stablecoin Yield Ban appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The latest draft of the Clarity Act, a bill seeking to provide better regulatory oversight in the crypto industry, has proposed a ban on stablecoin yields, while permitting active rewards on the same.

Should this bipartisan bill get Senate approval, it would effectively ban passive interest on stablecoin deposits, but allow active rewards for using said digital currencies, even though the actual details on this remain unclear.

Possible stablecoin yield ban sends crypto stocks tumbling

The news sent shockwaves through the crypto industry, with USDC issuer Circle Internet Group Inc. and Coinbase Global Inc. feeling the most heat.

Circle stock (NYSE: CRCL) fell 21.25% in the day to trade at $99.73, with its market cap plunging from over $31 billion to $24.61 billion.

Source: MarketWatch

Meanwhile, Coinbase shares (NASDAQ: COIN) shed 11.08% in the day to trade at $178.39, with its market cap falling from $53.3 billion to $47.7 billion post news.

Source: MarketWatch

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has previously noted that such legislation would hurt user profits on deposits, even though it would increase the company’s short-term profitability since it would have fewer rewards to pay out.

Banks, blockchain, and digital currencies

Notably, the Clarity Act has remained stalled in the Senate as banks lobby for the ban on stablecoin-based interests, reasoning that they create unfavorable competition against bank deposits.

This drew criticism from US President Donald Trump and his crypto-activist son Eric Trump, with the two arguing that banks are delaying clarity development in the crypto industry.

Just recently, former SEC Chair Gary Gensler sided with banks, saying stablecoins “undermine the banking system” and could “destabilize” the economy.

BREAKING: Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler sides with big banks against Bitcoin & crypto LIVE on CNBC

“Stablecoins can undermine the banking system… destabilize the economy”

They’re scared. We’re winning. #Bitcoin #Crypto #Stablecoins #DeFiRevolution #FinancialFreedom pic.twitter.com/k8xhPZurQz

— Astik Mondal (@Astik_Mondal_) March 24, 2026

That said, banks have had to bow down to pressure to keep up with blockchain-based investment products. This has led many of them to adopt real-world asset tokenization to foster 24/7 trading with fewer intermediaries, shorter settlement periods, and fractional asset ownership for retail investors. 

JPMorgan Chase, BNY Mellon, and Goldman Sachs are just a few among those bridging traditional finance with blockchain. Bank of Montreal (BMO) and CME Group recently announced plans to launch tokenized cash services late in 2026, pending regulatory approval.

The post Cardano (ADA) Price Prediction: Reversal Signs Emerge as RSI Hits Oversold appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Cardano (ADA), the 12th cryptocurrency by market cap, was trading at $0.26 at writing time, having gained 2.84% in the past day following the wider market rally. 

That said, the coin is priced at 71% below its September 2025 price of $0.90, and 91.5% below its September 2021 all-time high of $3.10.

Source: CoinMarketCap

ADA’s 365-day Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio is down 43%, while its open interest is $374.21 million (-3.49% in the last 24h).

Cardano price analysis

Despite these negative price movements, analysis shows Cardano is primed for a reversal into a bullish trend, with a possible new all-time high before the year’s end.

Historically, a dip in MVRV, such as the 30% dip of December 2023, brought with it a 58% rally, according to blockchain analysis firm Santiment.

ADA’s relative strength index (RSI) is also at the oversold level, which signals an impending price upswing. This is further supported by the short-to-long ratio, which has been high since June 2023. Overcrowding of sellers often triggers massive liquidations, a short squeeze, and consequent bear trend reversal.

Average wallets that have been active on the Cardano network over the past year are netting a return of -43% on their investments. Memes aside about the altcoin's major -71% price decline since September, this extreme negative MVRV value is generally an indicator of $ADA being… pic.twitter.com/LzQRKhobQe

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) March 24, 2026

Events to watch for

Notably, major institutions have increased their exposure to Cardano, including Grayscale Investments, 21Shares, and ETC Group. Currently, institutional flows are focused on ETPs and multi-asset funds, while SEC approval for a Cardano ETF remains pending.

Other than geopolitical and economic happenings, the price of ADA is likely to be influenced by the Midnight launch scheduled for the end of this month. This would increase decentralization and privacy on the Cardano blockchain, thereby increasing its institutional appeal.

Another event is the pre-release of Cardano Node 10.7.0, a precursor to the van Rossem hard fork that is meant to increase the blockchain’s smart contract and cryptographic abilities.

If ADA holds above $0.253, it could test resistance between $0.285 and $0.30. If not, the coin could drop towards $0.244.

The post Nasdaq & Talos Unlock $35B in Collateral Through Crypto Tokenization appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Nasdaq’s trading platform Calypso is teaming up with cryptocurrency infrastructure provider Talos to launch a tokenized collateral solution and bridge the gap between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies.

The move will free up more than $35 billion in idle liquidity and enable institutions to streamline off-chain and on-chain trading for faster and cheaper settlements.

Nasdaq and crypto unite

This development comes after the March 18 approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for eligible securities to be traded as regulated blockchain-based tokens.

The pilot program focuses on large market-cap stocks such as those within the Russell 1000 index, and major ETFs tracking the Nasdaq-100 and the S&P 500.

The Nasdaq-Talos collaboration will now bridge conventional and digital asset infrastructure, fostering institutional adoption all while boosting liquidity.

Most community members express optimism about the news, noting that the TradFi and crypto convergence could unify trade-associated workflows.

Nonetheless, whether such exploits prove beneficial and profitable in the long-term is dependent on future regulatory policies.

One of the biggest regulatory hurdles has been the passage of the CLARITY Act, which remains stalled in the Senate due to bankers’ disputes over stablecoin yield. 

The most recent development is the proposal by Trump and several senators to permit activity-based rewards on stablecoins while banning passive yields on the same.

Analysts warn that signing the bill into law could be further delayed if it does not pass the Senate by the end of April. Here, they cite the upcoming November midterm elections, which could take focus away from the bill.

Institutions’ adoption of blockchain technology

This month, Nasdaq partnered with crypto exchange Kraken to tokenize its stocks pending SEC approval. 

Additionally, both Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are shifting to 24/7 trading through the development of blockchain-based tokenized securities.

Meanwhile, payments provider Stripe plans to enable global stablecoin payments following the launch of its Tempo blockchain by the end of the month.

The post Strategy Files for $44.1 Billion Equity Offering to Expand Bitcoin Holdings appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Leading publicly traded Bitcoin Treasury, Strategy Inc., has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for more stock offerings, namely:

• $21 billion in Class A common stock (MSTR)
• $21 billion in “Stretch” preferred stock (STRC)
• $2.1 billion in “Strike” preferred stock (STRK)

Altogether, these equity offerings total $44.1 billion, which the company intends to use to purchase more Bitcoin (BTC).

Following the news, MSTR closed at $138.20, having gained 1.87% during trading hours.

Source: MarketWatch

Strategy announces $44.1B stock sale to fuel Bitcoin binge

The move is part of the company’s broader 42/42 plan, in which it intends to purchase $84 billion worth of Bitcoin by the end of 2027. In this plan, Strategy raises money for BTC purchase through stock offerings and the issuance of debt instruments such as corporate bonds.

Source: CryptoQuant

Historically, a similar stock sale in October 2024 was followed by a price surge in Bitcoin, as depicted by crypto analyst Maartun.

Source: X

A year later, Bitcoin saw a crash from $122K and has since been consolidating between $60-$75K. Strategy has, however, been unfazed by market volatility, with its Executive Chairman, Michael Saylor, saying the firm will keep buying Bitcoin “forever.”

Following a recent additional purchase, the company now holds 762,099 BTC in its treasury, which is 3.6% of the total 21 million BTC supply.

BTC price prediction

At press time, BTC was trading at $70,942, up 4.04% in the last 24h, driven by a five-day de-escalation in Middle East geopolitical tensions.

If the digital asset maintains its price above $70K, then a test of $72K-$74K is likely. Losing this support would mean a retest of $68K.

Historically, Bitcoin is poised for the final leg down before kicking off a bullish trend. Crypto analyst Ali points out that October 6-16 would be a ripe entry period, with prices likely sub-$45K.

This has been the secret to every major Bitcoin $BTC bull run since 2011.

If history repeats itself, Bitcoin is approaching the "final discount" window before the next bull market. If the fractal holds, we are looking at a golden entry window between October 6 and October 16,… pic.twitter.com/EzEk8QgjbU

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 23, 2026

The key events to watch out for include the US-Iran conflict, inflation, interest rate announcements, and unemployment claims.

The post Why Is Bitcoin Outperforming Traditional Assets During the Middle East Conflict? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin (BTC) has excelled over gold and the S&P 500 (SPX) in terms of returns in the past month that the US-Iran war has lasted.

Notably, the conflict has caused widespread investor tension and uncertainty, with volatility witnessed in crypto, stock markets and gold prices.

This trend may be prolonged seeing as Iran has stated its adamance in being on the offensive after allegedly non-existent pacification negotiations with the US. 

Bitcoin historically outmatches gold and the S&P 500

According to Bitcoin-focused fintech company River Financial, the 60-day returns on BTC investments are 12%, while those of gold and SPX are -16% and -4%, respectively.

The apparent difference in these metrics has also occurred during other past events, including the COVID-19 outbreak, the Russia-Ukraine war, the 2023 US regional banking crisis, and the 2020 US-Iran crisis among others.

Bitcoin continues to hold strong. pic.twitter.com/tzQ3o7sqAe

— River (@River) March 23, 2026

At present, BTC trades at $71,023, up 3.93% in the past day. Gold trades at $4,413, down 3.55% over the same period and in its worst week in four decades.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Source: TradingView

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 was trading at 6,585.28 points, up 1.21% in the past 24h.

Source: MarketWatch

These metrics flips when it comes to market cap, with the S&P 500 leading at $59.5 trillion, followed by gold at $30.62 trillion, and crypto at 2.43 trillion where $1.41 trillion is attributed to BTC.

Why BTC outshines traditional assets

Bitcoin has become the investment of choice for many due to its unprecedented and higher long-term ROI (return of investment).  In the past decade, the ROI for Bitcoin, the S&P 500 and gold was +15,355%, +289.7% and +125.8% respectively.

Its decoupling from traditional equities has also increased its appeal among institutions, with spot ETF adoption on the rise and Morgan Stanley recently joining the bandwagon.

Cryptocurrencies also boast 24/7 trading, censorship-resistance, portability and, for BTC, an inflationary edge due to scarcity – features that have rallied its adoption among the war ravaged nations of Ukraine, Russia and Iran.

That said, all financial instruments are subject to price changes due to the prevailing geopolitical tensions, and upcoming news regarding inflation, interest cuts and jobs reports.

For now, all three show “sell” or “extreme fear” sentiments, with liquidations spanning millions to trillions.

The post Bitcoin in Limbo as Iran Denies War De-Escalation Talks With the US appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Esmail Baqaei, the spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, has denied that the country has held any talks with the US regarding a ceasefire. 

He added that Iran remains adamant on its conditions to end the war, including an Iran-led Strait of Hormuz governance,  US disarmament and closure of US military bases, damage compensation, a 100% guarantee of no future wars, and the end of hostility from US-aligned media.

Bitcoin consolidation following geopolitical uncertainty

Iranian officials have also confirmed that they have not responded to messages about negotiating with the US for a détente. These messages are said to have come from “friendly” countries such as Turkey, Oman and Egypt.

Differently, US President Donald Trump had signalled a defusion of the US-Iran crisis, citing “productive” talks with Iran. He also said the country would have joint control of the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to collaborating with “whoever the next Ayatollah is.”

News of the pause in hostilities saw the price of oil drop from just above $100/barrel to $89.43/barrel at writing time.

Source: TradingView

Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded today from about $68,400 to $70,700 (+3.36%), while Ethereum (ETH) rose 2.64% to trade at $2,136 at press time.

Source: CoinMarketCap

What Next?

The latest development could lengthen the recent consolidation of the crypto market further, with volatility either way depending on upcoming developments.

Meanwhile, charts show a bottoming of Bitcoin at around 777 days post-halving. We are now 703 days post-halving, indicating a possible impending bear trend in roughly 2 months.

Cycle Timing Insight

Bitcoin is now 703 days post-halving.

In prior cycles, bottoming began around day 777 — roughly 2 months from here. pic.twitter.com/ArYKmZKfsN

— Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) March 23, 2026

Upcoming events that could affect crypto this week include inflation insights, US unemployment claims and the Fed commentary on how energy costs will influence interest rates.

Even then, the permabull Bitcoin Treasury Strategy continues accumulating Bitcoin, with plans to purchase another half a million BTC following stock sales. The Bitcoin Exchange Whale Ratio is at 0.7, indicating whale accumulation but also a historical impending bottom.

Source: CryptoQuant