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Ethereum Is Mispriced, Says Coinbase Research Chief Ahead of EthCC on Monday

Ethereum Rolls Out Post-Quantum Security Plan After Years of Research

The post Ethereum Is Mispriced, Says Coinbase Research Chief Ahead of EthCC on Monday appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

ETH is trading at $2,000 today, sitting 59% below its August 2025 all-time high. Most investors have written off altcoins in a brutal bear market.

David Duong, Global Head of Institutional Research at Coinbase, thinks that is exactly the wrong read, especially when it comes to Ethereum.

Speaking on the Milk Road Show this week, Duong laid out why Ethereum might be the most mispriced asset in crypto right now.

Ethereum’s Regulatory Pass

On March 17, the SEC and CFTC jointly classified 16 crypto assets as digital commodities, including ETH. For Ethereum specifically, this matters more than it does for most. Staking, a core part of Ethereum’s ecosystem, is now explicitly outside securities law.

“It gives ETH more of a clean regulatory pass,” Duong said, “and I think that has already been there but it’s just nice to see it in print.”

For institutions that were sitting out precisely because of legal uncertainty, that clarity is the green light they were waiting for.

BlackRock’s Staked ETH ETF: Why It’s Important

BlackRock launched its iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF earlier this month, pulling $254 million in its first week – the fastest-growing crypto ETF launch of 2026. The fund intends to stake between 70% and 95% of its ETH holdings under normal conditions.

Duong called it “a massive development that you don’t really see priced into ETH.”

The logic is straightforward: more institutional demand coming in, less circulating supply available. That is a structural shift, not a sentiment trade.

Also Read: 5 Altcoins With the Strongest 10x Setup in the Current Bear Market

Watch EthCC This Monday

This is the angle most people have missed entirely. EthCC[9] opens in Cannes on Monday March 30, and Duong flagged a specific talk on the agenda titled “Issuance: The Cost of Inaction.”

His read is that a significant announcement about Ethereum’s monetary policy and issuance rate is coming.

“I would expect a big announcement coming about what’s going to happen with the potential ETH supply in the future,” he said.

Institutions Are Still Bullish

Coinbase Institutional’s 2026 survey of around 350 respondents found that 73% plan to increase their digital asset allocations this year and 74% expect crypto prices to rise over the next 12 months – even though the survey was conducted during the January drawdown.

As Duong put it, “anyone who wanted to sell likely already sold.”

ETH at $2,000, with regulatory clarity, a structural supply squeeze, and a potential catalyst arriving Monday. The market may not have caught up yet.

Read More: Citigroup Cuts Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Targets: Clarity Act to Blame?

5 Altcoins With the Strongest 10x Setup in the Current Bear Market

Top Altcoins to Watch in March Amid Bitcoin Consolidation

The post 5 Altcoins With the Strongest 10x Setup in the Current Bear Market appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market has had a terrible week. Bitcoin is down over 6% on the week, Ethereum is below $2,000, and sentiment is back in the fear territory. That is exactly when Coin Codex says the smartest money starts paying attention.

In a recent video breakdown, the channel highlighted altcoins that do not even need a new cycle high to deliver massive returns. Some of them just need to reclaim levels the market has already priced in before.

Here are the five with the strongest setups right now.

Chainlink: The Infrastructure Everyone Keeps Forgetting

Chainlink may be the most institutionally connected project on this list. Swift, DTCC, Euroclear, and UBS are all active partners. In January 2026, Chainlink launched 245 US equity data streams, bringing stock market data on-chain.

If finance moves on-chain, the data layer matters enormously, and Chainlink keeps putting itself at the center of that future.

Hedera: The Quiet One With Fresh Catalysts

Hedera does not chase hype. It chases institutions. In March, Wyoming’s first state-issued stablecoin went live on Hedera. McLaren Racing also joined the Hedera Council this month.

HBAR only needs roughly a 6x move to revisit its all-time high, making it one of the cleaner large-cap recovery setups on this list.

Also Read: Is HYPE Cheap at $40? Expert Thinks the Market Is Pricing This Wrong

Kaspa: A Hard Fork Nobody Is Talking About

Kaspa surged 20% on March 18 on news of a hard fork scheduled for May 5, 2026. The upgrade introduces programmability to a chain that has been purely proof-of-work until now. For a fair-launched project still 5.7x below its ATH, that is a meaningful technical shift arriving on a specific date.

SUI: Three ETFs and Counting

SUI has three US-listed ETFs tied to it, Nansen support has recently been added, and Deepbook Margin is rolling out. It is still roughly 5.7x below its all-time high, which means it does not need miracle math to perform well in a better market.

Aptos: The Numbers Speak

Aptos has surpassed 4.7 billion lifetime transactions with zero downtime since 2023. Stablecoin supply on the network reached $1.8 billion by the end of 2025, up dramatically year over year.

As Coin Codex put it, “that is not a dead ecosystem. That is a chain still trying to earn its next rerating.” APT is still roughly 19x below its all-time high.

The video also covers Cardano, Polygon, and Worldcoin as part of its full eight-coin breakdown – each with its own case for the next cycle.

This Might Interest You: Clarity Act 2026 Sparks Crypto Divide Over Stablecoin Yield Ban

The market is heavy right now. But as the video argues, the real money is usually made when almost nobody wants to touch quality altcoins. Whether that moment is now is the question every holder is sitting with.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the current crypto market sentiment right now?

Crypto sentiment is in fear territory, driven by price drops, macro risks, and volatility, often signaling cautious investors and reduced short-term demand.

Can fear in the crypto market create buying opportunities?

Yes, extreme fear has historically marked periods when smart money accumulates, as panic selling can push strong assets below fair value.

How does market sentiment impact altcoin price recovery?

Negative sentiment slows momentum short term, but improving confidence and liquidity often trigger strong rebounds in fundamentally solid altcoins.

Is HYPE Cheap at $40? Expert Thinks the Market Is Pricing This Wrong

Hyperliquid (HYPE) flips Cardano

The post Is HYPE Cheap at $40? Expert Thinks the Market Is Pricing This Wrong appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

HYPE is trading at $39.29 today, ranked #10 globally with a market cap of $10.06 billion, up nearly 35% over the past month alone. To most people looking at that number, it looks expensive. David Schamis, CEO of Hyperliquid Strategies, thinks those people are reading it wrong.

“If you valued this the way people value Ethereum or the way people value Solana, the number is – we’re nowhere near the number that it should be at, whatever it is, $40 a token right now,” he said in a recent interview with The Rollup.

His argument is not based on sentiment.

Hyperliquid’s Numbers Make the Case

Hyperliquid produced $14 million in protocol fees last week alone, a 56% increase week on week, with March already tracking toward $53 million for the month. That puts it on pace for over $600 million in annualised fees. The platform holds over 70% of the perpetual DEX market by open interest and processed $208 billion in trading volume over the past 30 days.

These are the numbers of a protocol that has become one of the most actively used financial platforms in crypto.

Also Read: Top 2 Altcoins Institutions Are Buying Before the Clarity Act

The Case for a Bigger TAM

The bull case Schamis lays out is built around three markets he believes are each being underpriced independently.

The first is perpetual futures, where Hyperliquid is actively taking share from centralised exchanges.

Schamis noted that Binance’s CZ has been visibly rattled by the competition, describing the pressure as felt by “serious people in crypto.” Hyperliquid’s volume is no longer just crypto either – only 7 of its top 30 markets by open interest are crypto pairs.

The rest are commodities and equities. When Iran-related tensions spiked earlier this month, traders moved to Hyperliquid because it never closes, with the platform’s crude oil perpetual hitting $1.7 billion in peak daily volume.

The second is real-world assets.

“Any asset that could be priced with an oracle price could be brought on Hyperliquid on-chain,” Schamis said. “That TAM is unbelievable.”

Hyperliquid’s volume surged 100x in six months, driven largely by growing RWA trader interest.

HIP-4 and the Market Nobody Is Talking About Yet

The third opportunity is HIP-4, currently live on testnet, which introduces prediction markets and options-style instruments with no leverage and no liquidations.

Schamis, with over 25 years in insurance, sees structured products and insurance as a multi-trillion dollar TAM that crypto has barely touched. Three ETF filings from Grayscale, Bitwise, and 21Shares are also pending.

This Might Interest You: Is Hyperliquid Becoming the Onchain CME? S&P 500 Perp, Record Traders, Grayscale ETF & More

The Bear Case

Regulatory uncertainty could slow growth, and in financial services, competition always shows up. Schamis acknowledged it himself: there is no such thing as true franchise value when people simply move to the best price and the deepest liquidity.

Whether $40 is cheap or not depends entirely on which version of Hyperliquid the market is currently pricing in.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the Hyperliquid (HYPE) price prediction for 2026?

HYPE price in 2026 is projected to range between $25 and $90, with an average near $60 if adoption and trading volumes keep rising.

What could HYPE be worth by 2030?

Long-term projections suggest HYPE might reach an average of $125 by 2030, with possible highs near $185 if platform usage keeps expanding.

Is Hyperliquid (HYPE) a good long-term investment?

HYPE may appeal to long-term investors due to strong platform growth, but like all crypto, it carries risk and requires careful research.

Clarity Act 2026 Sparks Crypto Divide Over Stablecoin Yield Ban

Clarity Act News Today Senate Has 6 Weeks to Pass Crypto Law or Delay Until 2027

The post Clarity Act 2026 Sparks Crypto Divide Over Stablecoin Yield Ban appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Clarity Act’s stablecoin yield ban has drawn loud opposition from some of the biggest names in crypto. But not everyone is unhappy with it, and the divide says more about business models than it does about the bill itself.

Coinbase once again told Senate offices it cannot support the latest draft of the Clarity Act, citing significant concerns over the stablecoin yield language. It is the second time the company has rejected the bill.

Crypto Banter founder Ran Neuner publicly backed that stance, arguing that the restrictions protect a banking system that had years to innovate but chose not to. Their position is straightforward: the banks pushed for a yield ban, the banks got one, and crypto lost.

Frax Finance founder Sam Kazemian sees it differently.

This Is Politics. Crypto Isn’t Used to That.

Speaking on The Rollup’s Stabled Up podcast this week, Kazemian described the yield compromise as one step in a much longer political process, not a final verdict. His view is that the crypto industry is reacting to it as if the conversation is over, when it is really just getting started.

“The crypto industry is not used to the fact that this stuff is part of politics, an ongoing process, not a one-and-done thing,” he said.

His recommendation is to accept the current wording, pass the broader bill, and come back to the yield debate in the next legislative cycle. The bigger win, in his view, is getting crypto market structure written into law.

Regulatory guidance from the SEC or CFTC can be reversed by the next administration with very little friction. A passed law is much harder to undo.

Why Tether and DeFi Teams May Not Be Worried

Kazemian’s more specific argument is that the yield ban does not hurt everyone equally, and some players are quietly in a stronger position because of it.

Tether has never paid passive yield to holders. Its model does not rely on passing Treasury returns to users, so the ban changes nothing for it. What it does change is the ability of rivals to close the gap by offering yield through platform agreements. In that sense, the current wording makes Tether’s competitive position stronger, not weaker.

For DeFi-native teams, the activity-based yield carveout that survived the compromise is already the model they have been building around, which means the ban changes very little about how they operate.

Why Armstrong’s Position Makes Sense Too

The disagreement between Kazemian and Armstrong is not really about principle. It is about exposure.

Stablecoin revenue made up roughly 19% of Coinbase’s total revenue in Q3 2025.

The Clarity Act’s ban on anything economically equivalent to deposit interest targets that structure directly. When Armstrong said earlier this year that Coinbase would rather have no bill than a bad one, there was a specific revenue line behind that statement.

That is why the same bill reads as a problem for one camp and an opportunity for the other.

The Deadline Both Sides Are Ignoring

Kazemian acknowledged that Armstrong is the loudest voice on the crypto side of this debate, but made a point that has not received enough attention. Armstrong does not control the outcome. Senators do, and they are balancing pressure from both the banking lobby and the crypto industry simultaneously.

The more pressing issue is the Senate calendar.

If the Clarity Act does not pass before Congress heads into recess ahead of the midterm cycle, the bill is unlikely to move until 2027. Polymarket currently prices the odds of it being signed into law this year at 49%. The Senate Banking Committee markup is targeted for the second half of April, after Easter recess ends on April 13.

Kazemian’s case is simple: take the deal now and fight the yield language again in the next cycle. Armstrong’s case is equally simple: the current text is not acceptable. Both positions are rational given what each company has at stake.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the Clarity Act?

The Clarity Act is a U.S. crypto bill that sets rules for digital assets, stablecoins, and oversight, aiming to give the industry legal clarity.

When will the Clarity Act be voted on?

The Senate Banking Committee is expected to review it in April, with a potential vote depending on negotiations and legislative timing.

When will the Clarity Act pass?

If approved before the midterm recess, it could pass this year. Delays may push final approval to a later congressional session.

Why Is Bitcoin Crashing Today? $14B Options Expiry, Iran War Escalations, & More

Core Scientific Sells 1,900 BTC

The post Why Is Bitcoin Crashing Today? $14B Options Expiry, Iran War Escalations, & More appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is trading at $66,553, down 3.94% on the day, with the Coinpedia technical analysis gauge reading Strong Sell and the fear and greed index sitting at 23.

For anyone confused about what is driving today’s move specifically, two significant events converged at once.

The Largest Options Expiry of 2026

At 08:00 UTC this morning, $14.16 billion in Bitcoin options expired on Deribit, representing nearly 40% of all open interest on the platform. The max pain level – the price at which the most contracts expire worthless – sat at around $75,000, roughly $9,000 above where Bitcoin is currently trading. When that gap exists, positions unwind mechanically and liquidations follow.

Over $115 million in BTC long positions were wiped in a single hour, with $70 billion erased from the total crypto market in four hours.

The technical picture compounds the pressure.

Crypto Patel noted that Bitcoin is forming the same bear flag pattern that preceded its drop from $89,000 to $60,000 in eight days earlier this year. “A daily close below $66,000 could trigger a massive breakdown targeting $46,000,” he said.

Ran Neuner agreed: “The bear flag just broke down. It’s not good. Could go as low as $50k if we don’t bounce soon.”

Also Read: Bitcoin Below $67,000: Is a Drop to $46K Next or Is This the Dip to Buy?

Iran Threatens a Second Global Shipping Chokepoint

The geopolitical backdrop intensified today as Iran threatened to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea gateway through which 12% of global seaborne oil passes, in addition to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the war escalated.

An Iranian military source said that “the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is considered one of the world’s strategic straits, and Iran has both the will and the ability to create a completely credible threat against it.”

The US Department of Transportation issued a formal advisory on the threat today. If both straits are disrupted simultaneously, the energy route from the Gulf to Europe would be severed end to end.

Gold Up, Bitcoin Down: What the Divergence Shows

Gold is trading at $4,438 today, up 1.36%, while Bitcoin is down nearly 4%. That divergence reflects a pattern that has played out repeatedly since the war began.

When the conflict escalated on February 28, Bitcoin initially fell to $63,106, then recovered to $73,156 within five days as investors rotated out of gold, which had hit record highs above $5,400, and back into crypto. Today that rotation has reversed, with fresh escalation pushing capital back toward traditional safe-haven assets.

Read About This: ‘Biblical’ Rotation: Bitcoin Is Outperforming Gold Amid the US-Iran War

Bloomberg Intelligence senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas described the rotation that drove Bitcoin’s recovery earlier this month: “Traders were like, look, gold had a nice run. Bitcoin’s been beaten up. Let’s rotate into Bitcoin.”

Today, the trade is running in reverse.

What the Data Suggests From Here

Bitcoin ETF outflows hit $171 million on March 26. Ethereum ETFs have now seen seven consecutive days of outflows at $92.54 million, according to Wu Blockchain.

Michaël van de Poppe noted Bitcoin’s weakness heading into month end and said he remains interested in buying in the lower $60K region. The last time Bitcoin dropped sharply on Iran war news, February 28, it recovered 16% within five days. Whether that pattern repeats depends on how the geopolitical situation develops over the weekend.

$66,000 remains the key level. A daily close below it puts the $46,000 bear case in play. A hold keeps the lower $60K range, where at least one major analyst is positioned to buy, as the next significant test.

Bitcoin Below $67,000: Is a Drop to $46K Next or Is This the Dip to Buy?

Why is Bitcoin Price Going Down Today

The post Bitcoin Below $67,000: Is a Drop to $46K Next or Is This the Dip to Buy? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is trading at $66,636 at the time of writing, down 3.82% on the day, with the Coinpedia technical analysis gauge firmly in Strong Sell territory. The move lower hasn’t caught everyone off guard, but the speed of it has.

Over $115 million in BTC long positions were liquidated in a single hour as the price broke below $67,000. The fear and greed index has dropped to 23, down from 32 last week, sitting in Fear territory.

The Pattern Analysts Are Watching

Crypto analyst Crypto Patel flagged the setup directly: “First Bearish Flag broke down and Bitcoin crashed from $89,000 to $60,000 in just 8 days. Now $BTC is forming the exact same pattern again.”

First Bearish Flag broke down and Bitcoin crashed from $89,000 to $60,000 in just 8 days.

Now $BTC is forming the exact same pattern again.

A daily close below $66,000 could trigger a massive breakdown targeting $46,000.

Are you prepared?

TA Only. Not Financial Advice. ALWAYS… pic.twitter.com/SoSFuyCxZK

— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) March 27, 2026

His warning is specific. A daily close below $66,000 could trigger a breakdown targeting $46,000.

Ran Neuner echoed the concern: “The bear flag just broke down. It’s not good. Could go as low as $50k if we don’t bounce soon.”

Month-end timing adds to the pressure. Michaël van de Poppe noted Bitcoin’s current weakness heading into month end and flagged the risk of a deeper correction, with a potential sweep of the lows.

His positioning: “I remain to be interested to be buying in the lower $60K regions.”

Also Read: Top 2 Altcoins Institutions Are Buying Before the Clarity Act

ETF Outflows Are Not Helping

The on-chain picture reflects the same uncertainty. On March 26, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $171 million in net outflows. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw $92.54 million exit, extending their outflow streak to seven consecutive days, according to Wu Blockchain.

Institutional money is not stepping in to cushion the slide.

Adding to the pressure, Bhutan has moved over $100 million in Bitcoin in 2026 alone.

This Might Interest You: Is the Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Trend Dead? Saylor’s Strategy Is the Only One Buying

Dip Buyers Are Still Active, But Should They Be?

Interactive Brokers strategist Steve Sosnick noted that market internals still show persistent buying on dips, but framed it as a warning rather than reassurance.

“We’ve gotten so convinced that every dip is a buying opportunity,” he said, pointing to reflexive FOMO behaviour rather than fundamental conviction. With oil not yet hitting the $150-$200 barrel scenarios risk managers have long modelled for a Strait of Hormuz closure, Sosnick’s read is that markets may be underestimating what’s still possible.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What is the Bitcoin price prediction for 2026?

Bitcoin is expected to range between $100K and $180K in 2026, with bullish momentum building as consolidation near $70K shifts into expansion.

How much will 1 Bitcoin be worth in 2030?

Bitcoin could range between $380K and $900K by 2030, with an average target near $750K as adoption, scarcity, and institutional demand grow.

What will 1 BTC be worth in 2040?

By 2040, Bitcoin could range between $5,799,454 and $13,532,059, with an average estimate near $9,665,757 as adoption and scarcity increase.

Is it safe to invest in Bitcoin today for long-term?

Bitcoin can be a strong long-term asset, but it remains volatile. Investing gradually and holding long-term may reduce risk and improve potential returns.

Top 2 Altcoins Institutions Are Buying Before the Clarity Act

Top Altcoins to Watch

The post Top 2 Altcoins Institutions Are Buying Before the Clarity Act appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

While most altcoins have struggled through the current market selloff, two assets have moved in a different direction.

Crypto analyst Tim Warren highlighted Bittensor TAO and Hyperliquid HYPE this week as altcoins where institutional money is actively building positions, and the on-chain and filing data supports that view.

Bittensor TAO: Institutional Backing Meets AI Momentum

TAO is up over 86% in the past month, currently trading at $329, ranked #27 globally with a market cap of $3.55 billion. The rally was driven in part by a March 20 appearance by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on the All-In Podcast, where he endorsed Bittensor’s decentralized AI model and called the approach a legitimate technical achievement.

The institutional infrastructure was already in place before Huang’s comments. Grayscale filed an S-1 for a spot TAO ETF in December 2025. Staked value across Bittensor’s AI subnets has grown from $74,000 a year ago to over $620 million. The network generated $43 million in AI customer revenue in Q1 2026.

DCG, Grayscale, Bitwise and Stillcore Capital are among confirmed investors. Early Uber investor Jason Calacanis has publicly described TAO as a potential 200x opportunity.

Also Read: Altcoin Season 2026: Top Altcoin Setups and Exact Bitcoin Dominance Signal to Watch

Hyperliquid HYPE: Three ETF Filings on a Young DEX

Hyperliquid is currently trading at $38.79, up over 44% in the past month, and sits at #10 globally with a market cap of $9.94 billion.

That ranking alone tells the story – a relatively young decentralized exchange in the top ten cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Hyperliquid generated $14 million in protocol fees last week, a 56% increase week on week, and recorded a platform-high 229,818 active traders.

Grayscale filed for a spot HYPE ETF on Nasdaq under ticker GHYP on March 20, joining earlier filings from Bitwise and 21Shares. The platform now offers S&P 500 perpetuals with over $100 million in open interest, drawing in traditional finance participants seeking around-the-clock equity market exposure.

CLARITY Act: The Catalyst, Both Assets Are Waiting On

Both TAO and HYPE stand to benefit from the CLARITY Act, targeting a Senate Banking Committee markup in April. If passed, the bill would allow US banks to hold digital assets on their balance sheets, opening institutional capital flows that analysts say are currently on the sidelines.

Read More: Clarity Act Update: Why Are Banks Fighting Against Stablecoin Yield?

Tim Warren’s analysis, supported by data and latest moves, points to institutional conviction building in both assets ahead of that potential catalyst.

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

FAQs

What role does the CLARITY Act play for crypto markets?

The CLARITY Act may allow banks to hold crypto assets, potentially unlocking large institutional capital and accelerating adoption of assets like TAO and HYPE.

How could the CLARITY Act impact TAO and HYPE?

The CLARITY Act may allow banks to hold crypto, unlocking institutional capital. TAO and HYPE could benefit early due to existing investor interest.

Are TAO and HYPE good investments with the CLARITY Act coming?

They show strong momentum, and the CLARITY Act could boost institutional inflows. Still, crypto is volatile, so careful research and risk management are key.

Binance Australia Fined $6.9 Million as Exchange Admits Retail Investor Failures

Binance Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal

The post Binance Australia Fined $6.9 Million as Exchange Admits Retail Investor Failures appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Australia’s Federal Court has ordered Binance Australia Derivatives to pay A$10 million after the exchange admitted to exposing more than 85% of its Australian customer base to high-risk crypto derivatives they were never qualified to access.

The affected investors, 524 retail clients, were misclassified as wholesale clients between July 2022 and April 2023, granting them access to complex derivative products without the consumer protections Australian law requires.

The misclassification led to A$8.66 million in trading losses and A$3.89 million in fees.

The Compliance Failures Behind the Fine

One detail stands out. Binance admitted that users seeking sophisticated investor status could retake a multiple-choice qualification test an unlimited number of times until they achieved a passing score. Senior compliance staff also failed to adequately review client applications or supporting documents.

ASIC Chair Joe Longo did not hold back.

“This wasn’t just a technical breach – it directly resulted in over $12 million in client losses,” he said. “Binance failed to set up basic compliance checks and incorrectly approved hundreds of applications for complex, wholesale investor products.”

Binance’s response was measured. “The issue was self-identified, reported to ASIC, and fully remediated in 2023,” a spokesperson said, adding that Oztures had voluntarily surrendered its Australian financial services licenses that same year.

The fine comes on top of approximately A$13.1 million already paid in compensation to affected clients in 2023. Justice Moshinsky also ordered Binance to cover ASIC’s legal costs.

Also Read: Who Dumped $5B in Bitcoin as Israel Strikes Iran? Binance and Wintermute Wallets Flagged Again

Why Regulators Keep Coming for Binance

The Australia ruling is the latest in a string of regulatory confrontations for the world’s largest crypto exchange. In 2023, Binance pleaded guilty to violating US anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, paying a record $4.3 billion penalty. Founder Changpeng Zhao served a short prison sentence before being pardoned by President Trump in October 2025.

This year alone, the US Senate opened a formal probe into allegations that $1.7 billion in crypto flowed to Iran-linked entities through the platform. The DOJ launched its own investigation. Binance denied direct transactions with Iranian entities and sued the Wall Street Journal for defamation over its reporting.

Each time, the exchange points to its compliance improvements. Each time, a new jurisdiction adds its name to the list.

Clarity Act Update: Why Are Banks Fighting Against Stablecoin Yield?

Circle Falls 20% After CLARITY Act Yield Ban Draft

The post Clarity Act Update: Why Are Banks Fighting Against Stablecoin Yield? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A year ago, US banks thought they had won.

The GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, banned stablecoin issuers from paying yield on their tokens. Banks had lobbied hard for that provision. With it in place, they believed the competitive threat from digital dollars was addressed.

The law said nothing about exchanges.

How the Gap Became a Crisis

As CoinGecko outlined today, within months of GENIUS passing, Coinbase was offering roughly 4% on USDC and Kraken around 5%. Chase was paying 0.01%. The Blockchain Association, representing 125 companies including Coinbase, Kraken and a16z, later wrote to the Senate arguing Congress had “intentionally preserved” the ability of platforms to offer rewards.

Banks called it a loophole. The crypto industry called it a negotiated outcome.

The Federal Reserve missed it entirely. Fed Governor Stephen Miran gave a speech in November, months after GENIUS passed, stating he saw “little prospect of funds broadly leaving the domestic banking system” because stablecoins don’t offer yield. The yield programs were already live.

Bank of America’s CEO eventually put a number on what was at stake: $6 trillion in deposits could leave US banks for stablecoins. The Fed’s own modeling found that in a high adoption scenario, reduced lending capacity could reach $1.26 trillion.

Over 3,200 bankers signed letters to Congress. The American Bankers Association made closing the gap their top legislative priority.

The Compromise That Came Undone

Congress responded with the CLARITY Act, extending the yield prohibition to all digital asset service providers. In January, Coinbase withdrew support and the Senate vote was postponed. The White House stepped in, brokering talks with a March 1 deadline. That passed with no deal.

On March 20, Senators Tillis and Alsobrooks announced a compromise – passive yield banned, activity-based rewards permitted. The market priced in a banking industry win immediately.

Also Read: Tokenization Hearing Confirmed, CLARITY Act Stablecoin Deal Done “In Principle”: Big Week for Crypto

This week, Coinbase rejected the draft again, telling Senate offices it cannot support language that bans yield “directly or indirectly” and anything “economically equivalent to bank interest.”

The Government Is Pulling in Two Directions

The difficulty, as CoinGecko notes, is that the US government is not aligned on the outcome. While banks push for restrictions, Treasury Secretary Bessent expects stablecoins to generate $2 trillion in demand for US government bonds. Tether alone already holds over $130 billion in Treasuries – more than Germany.

Banks need the loophole closed. Treasury needs stablecoins to grow. Senator Lummis has said negotiators are targeting committee action by end of April.

It’s now a wait-and-watch game.

Why Is Bitcoin Holding Up? Iran War, Oil Shock, Recession Risk, Weakened Dollar

3 Crypto To Watch Amid The US-Israel Iran War

The post Why Is Bitcoin Holding Up? Iran War, Oil Shock, Recession Risk, Weakened Dollar appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin has gained roughly 8% since the US-Iran war began. Gold is down. The S&P 500 is down. Asian equities had their worst stretch since 2020. For an asset that critics still call speculative, that’s a result worth paying attention to.

Bitcoin investor and BnkToTheFuture founder Simon Dixon thinks he knows why and his explanation goes deeper than crypto.

The Dollar Needs the World

When Trump posted on Truth Social that “the USA needs nothing from NATO,” Dixon responded with a point-by-point breakdown of what the US actually depends on.

Europe prints money, buys American weapons and recycles Eurodollars back to Washington. The Middle East keeps oil priced in dollars. Japan runs near-zero interest rates that finance hedge funds. China manufactures the goods that keep global trade flowing. The Global South supplies the minerals the whole system runs on.

Dixon’s conclusion: “If that ends, then US shrinks to a regional power and the financial industrial complex tightens its control and grip on both US and EU.”

He added that European banks are deeply connected to US banks, meaning any financial stress from a prolonged energy shock will be global.

The War Is Already Testing That System

Iran this week rejected Trump’s 15-point ceasefire proposal as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable,” countering with demands for Strait of Hormuz sovereignty and war reparations – both non-starters for Washington. The war is now in its 26th day.

Brent crude is trading around $107, up nearly 48% in a month. JPMorgan has cut its S&P 500 year-end forecast. Goldman Sachs raised its recession odds to 30%, warning that oil-driven inflation could keep the Fed from cutting rates. Former Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein said this week that the damage from the war “is going to last” even if there were “a resolution tomorrow”.

This is precisely the environment Dixon was describing – the dollar system under strain, alliances fraying, energy prices doing the damage that no rate policy can easily fix.

Why Bitcoin Keeps Recovering

Bitcoin dropped 8.5% on February 28 when Operation Epic Fury launched on a Saturday – the only major market open to absorb the shock. Since then, it has made a higher low on every escalation, recovering faster each time.

The dollar system Dixon describes was built on trust, recycled debt and geopolitical arrangements that are now openly contested. Bitcoin doesn’t need any of that to function. Right now, that distinction is showing up in the price.

FAQs

How does the US-Iran war impact gold and stocks?

Gold and equities fell while oil prices surged, reflecting market stress. Traditional assets face volatility, unlike Bitcoin’s independent recovery.

Can Bitcoin act as a safe haven during conflicts?

Yes. Bitcoin’s borderless design and limited supply attract investors seeking an alternative to traditional markets during wars and crises.

How have markets reacted to rising oil prices and war risks?

Oil surged 48% in a month, S&P 500 forecasts dropped, and inflation risks rose. Bitcoin, however, rebounded faster with each escalation.

Is the Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Trend Dead? Saylor’s Strategy Is the Only One Buying

Strategy Buys 1,142 BTC, Now Holds Over 714K Coins

The post Is the Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Trend Dead? Saylor’s Strategy Is the Only One Buying appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The corporate Bitcoin treasury movement had a great story. Dozens of public companies piling into Bitcoin, a structural shift in how institutions manage capital, a new floor under the price. CryptoQuant just put some hard numbers on where that story stands today.

In the last 30 days, Strategy bought 45,000 BTC. Every other treasury company in existence bought roughly 1,000 combined.

That’s a 99% collapse in participation from everyone except Michael Saylor.

One Company, 76% of Everything

Strategy now holds approximately 76% of all Bitcoin owned by corporate treasury companies, according to CryptoQuant. Their share of total 30-day purchases has reached an extraordinary level, while other companies’ share has fallen to just 2%, down from 95% at the peak of the corporate buying wave.

CryptoQuant’s read on this is direct: “There is no broad corporate demand right now.”

What made this data point significant is the timing. Corporate buying participation peaked at 69,000 BTC in August 2025. Bitcoin was climbing and the narrative was building. Then prices dropped, and the conviction evaporated.

Some Companies Are Selling Too

Bitdeer Technologies liquidated its entire Bitcoin position, going from 2,029 BTC to zero. Genius Group sold roughly 58% of its Bitcoin holdings to pay down a Bitcoin-backed loan. Cango sold nearly 60% of its stack.

These weren’t small retail players. These were companies that publicly announced Bitcoin treasury strategies and bought near the top.

Strategy did the opposite. As prices fell, Saylor’s firm accelerated, making this its fastest accumulation pace since April 2025.

What This Means for Bitcoin

Corporate buying was one of the loudest structural arguments for Bitcoin’s 2025 run to over $126,000. Companies buying and holding permanently removes supply from the market, creating a floor under the price.

That floor now rests almost entirely on two companies. Strategy is the dominant force. Metaplanet, the Tokyo-listed firm that has become the fourth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder with 35,102 BTC, is the only other name still actively building.

Also Read: Won’t Deny It: Metaplanet CEO Admits Buying Bitcoin at the Peak, Defends Strategy

Just this month, Metaplanet raised $234 million through a new warrant structure specifically to buy more Bitcoin, with a stated target of 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026.

Two companies with conviction. Most others have either gone quiet or are actively selling into the drawdown.

SEC Chair Atkins Confirms Tokenization Exemption Is Just ‘Weeks’ Away, But Why the Delay?

SEC Set to Clear Path for Crypto Token Innovation

The post SEC Chair Atkins Confirms Tokenization Exemption Is Just ‘Weeks’ Away, But Why the Delay? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Gary Gensler spent years making sure this didn’t happen. Paul Atkins just said it’s weeks away.

Speaking to Crypto America, SEC Chair Atkins confirmed that the long-awaited tokenization innovation exemption is nearly ready. A regulatory sandbox that would let firms experiment with on-chain securities without full SEC registration.

His timeline: “soon, soon, soon. I think here in the next few weeks.”

What’s holding it up? The exemption is currently sitting with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the federal body inside the Office of Management and Budget that reviews agency actions before they go public. Once that clearance comes through, the SEC will seek public comment before shaping the final rules.

Not a Free Pass, But Still a Big Deal

Commissioner Hester Peirce, who is overseeing the exemption’s design, has been clear that firms shouldn’t expect a wholesale rewrite of securities law.

The sandbox would enable limited trading of certain tokenized securities on blockchain – controlled experimentation, not a green light for everything.

That framing matters, because some in Congress aren’t convinced.

Congress Has Questions

The same day Atkins made his comments, the House Financial Services Committee held a dedicated hearing titled “Tokenization and the Future of Securities: Modernizing Our Capital Markets.” The room agreed on one thing: tokenized securities are coming. Everything else was contested.

Rep. Brad Sherman raised concerns about a “two-tiered market where tokenized securities on blockchain platforms are exempted from core securities regulations.” Rep. Maxine Waters drew a straight line to 2008, questioning whether the technology benefits investors or just intermediaries.

Rep. Warren Davidson placed blame on the previous regime directly: “Gary Gensler wanted to prevent any kind of real progress on the Commission.”

Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger, who played a key role in CLARITY Act negotiations, told the committee that tokenization can strengthen U.S. capital markets, but only if the regulatory framework is built around how blockchain actually works, not how legacy systems do.

The Market Isn’t Waiting

NYSE has already partnered with Securitize on a tokenized securities platform. The SEC approved Nasdaq’s tokenized securities pilot just last week – the first token-settled trades are expected by end of Q3 2026. The infrastructure is moving faster than the rules meant to govern it.

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FAQs

What is the SEC’s tokenization innovation exemption?

The SEC’s sandbox lets firms test blockchain-based securities trading with limited rules, enabling innovation while still protecting investors.

When will the SEC tokenization sandbox go live?

According to Paul Atkins, it could launch within weeks, pending final review and a public comment phase.

How are markets responding to tokenized securities?

Major players like NYSE and Nasdaq are already building platforms, showing strong demand even before clear regulations are finalized.

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