<h2>Tokenized ETF Structure Enables Wallet-Based Access Across Global Markets While U.S. Launch Awaits Regulatory Clarity</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Franklin Templeton partners with Ondo to tokenize five ETFs for 24/7 wallet trading access</li><li>Products span equities, gold, and high-yield bonds, targeting global markets outside the U.S.</li><li>Ethereum hosts over $13.6 billion in tokenized assets as RWA sector surpasses $15 billion</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Franklin Templeton is moving a portion of its $1.7 trillion asset management footprint onto blockchain rails through a partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ondo-ondo">Ondo</a> Finance, enabling tokenized versions of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-25/franklin-templeton-debuts-etfs-that-trade-in-crypto-wallets-24-7">five exchange-traded funds</a> to be traded around the clock through crypto wallets instead of traditional brokerage accounts. The rollout introduces exposure to Franklin Focused Growth ETF (FFOG), Franklin U.S. Large Cap Multifactor Index ETF (FLQL), Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (FGDL), Franklin High Yield Corporate ETF (FLHY), and Franklin Income Equity Focus ETF (INCE), covering growth equities, large-cap strategies, gold, high-yield credit, and income-focused equity segments.Ondo Finance will acquire the underlying ETF shares and issue tokenized representations through a structured vehicle that passes through economic exposure to investors, allowing holders to access returns tied to fund performance without direct ownership of the shares themselves. The design allows users to buy, sell, hold, and transfer positions through self-custody wallets while maintaining compatibility with traditional broker channels, with fund creation and redemption supported in both fiat currency and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a>.Franklin Templeton innovation head Sandy Kaul described the initiative as a targeted market experiment, stating, “These ETFs represent a good mix of different exposures. And it gives a good test case for us to see what is really striking the appetite to this a new audience.” The initial rollout is directed at investors across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, while U.S. distribution remains pending regulatory clarity tied to onchain delivery of registered investment products.Ondo’s existing footprint in tokenized finance includes approximately $2.7 billion in assets, positioning the firm as a scaling partner in real-world asset tokenization infrastructure.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> serves as the primary network for the issuance, where tokenized assets exceed $13.6 billion, with about $9.86 billion actively circulating across 36 issuers and tokenized U.S. Treasury products accounting for roughly $11.8 billion of that total.Broader tokenization activity has pushed the total real-world asset market beyond $15 billion, as financial institutions expand blockchain-based distribution for traditional products rather than replacing existing structures. Franklin Templeton’s approach integrates tokenized access as an additional layer on top of conventional ETF infrastructure, allowing investors to interact with regulated financial exposure through blockchain-native systems.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Franklin Templeton drives crypto price index via tokenized ETF rails

Franklin Templeton Deploys $1.7T Scale Into Ondo Tokenization, Rolls Out Five ETFs for 24/7 Onchain Trading

<h2>Sandbox rollout introduces issuance and payments modules with trading features planned later in 2026</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Solana debuts an API-based enterprise developer platform with issuance and payments live, trading module coming later</li><li>Mastercard, Western Union and Worldpay among early adopters using stablecoins, settlement and cross-border flows</li><li>Platform integrates over 20 partners across custody, compliance, infrastructure and payment rails</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SolanaFndn/status/2036431272877187166">unveiled</a> its enterprise-focused Solana Developer Platform on March 24, 2026, introducing an API-driven stack designed to let financial institutions build blockchain-based products without assembling infrastructure independently. The platform is positioned as a unified interface for launching financial applications across tokenized assets, payments and trading workflows, with availability currently limited to a sandbox environment running on devnet rather than full production deployment.<figure class="image"><img alt="tweet-2036431272877187166.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2036431272877187166_43b15574e6.webp"></figure>The product’s architecture is organized into three modules covering issuance, payments and trading, with the issuance and payments components already active at launch while the trading functionality is scheduled for release later in 2026. The issuance module enables tokenized deposits, GENIUS-compliant&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and tokenized real-world assets, while the payments module handles orchestration of fiat and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> flows including on-ramps, off-ramps and onchain transfers across business-to-business, consumer and peer-to-peer transactions.Mastercard is listed among the earliest adopters, focusing on stablecoin settlement across selected blockchain networks starting with Solana. Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president of blockchain and digital assets at Mastercard, said, “The next phase of digital asset innovation will be defined by practical use cases that integrate seamlessly with existing financial systems,” adding that the company is working to enable direct stablecoin settlement by combining blockchain capabilities with “the reliability, security and global reach of the Mastercard network.”Western Union is developing cross-border payment use cases on the platform, integrating blockchain infrastructure alongside its existing systems. Malcolm Clarke, the company’s vice president of digital assets, said the integration introduces “an API-driven, on-chain layer” that can orchestrate fiat and stablecoin flows end to end, adding that it supports efforts to innovate faster, expand new use cases and move more cross-border activity onchain “in a scalable, compliant way.”Worldpay is using the issuance and payments modules to enable merchants to access onchain settlement and tokenized asset capabilities. Ahmed Zifzaf, head of crypto partnerships at Worldpay, said the integration allows merchants to unlock new business models and incorporate digital assets into everyday commerce.The platform launch includes integration with more than 20 infrastructure providers spanning node services, custody, compliance and payment rails.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/node">Node</a> providers include Alchemy, Helius, QuickNode and Triton, offering managed infrastructure designed to abstract blockchain complexity and support low-code or no-code development environments for enterprises building financial applications.Custody and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> partners include Anchorage Digital, BitGo,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a>, Crossmint, Dfns, Dynamic, Fireblocks, Para, Paxos, Privy and Turnkey, giving institutions multiple options for asset storage, security and transaction management within the platform’s framework. Compliance integrations include Chainalysis, Elliptic, Range and TRM, providing tools for identity verification, transaction monitoring and regulatory requirements such as KYC, KYB and Travel Rule compliance.Payment and ramp providers integrated into the system include Bridge, BVNK, Lightspark, Modern Treasury and MoonPay, supporting movement between fiat and digital assets through on-ramp and off-ramp infrastructure embedded directly within the platform. These integrations allow institutions to connect traditional financial rails with blockchain-based settlement within a single operational environment.Catherine Gu, head of product for digital assets at Solana Foundation, described the system as “an easy gateway” for institutions, stating the platform is “entirely API-based,” enabling developers to interact with blockchain infrastructure without deep protocol-level expertise. She said the platform aggregates features such as token extensions for permissioning and privacy and connects them directly with enterprise-grade services across the Solana ecosystem.Solana said the platform is compatible with AI-assisted development tools, including OpenAI Codex and Anthropic Claude Code, allowing developers to build applications using automated coding workflows alongside the platform’s API layer.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Solana enterprise platform enables Mastercard stablecoin settlement across payment networks

Solana Launches Enterprise Developer Platform With Mastercard, Western Union and Worldpay

<h2>Federal Push for Clear Rules Collides With State Crackdowns and Expanding Market Scale</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>CFTC launches innovation task force and opens rulemaking process for prediction markets with April 30, 2026 comment deadline</li><li>States escalate enforcement with 11 jurisdictions involved, including Nevada halt and Arizona criminal charges</li><li>Senate bill targets sports contracts as market volumes hit $1 billion and firms pursue multibillion-dollar valuations</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Federal regulators moved to formalize oversight of prediction markets on March 24, 2026, when the Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading Commission&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9201-26">announced</a> a new Innovation Task Force covering crypto, artificial intelligence, and event-based contracts. Chairman Michael S. Selig said the initiative aims to create a “clear regulatory framework” while coordinating with agencies including the Securities and Exchange Commission. Michael J. Passalacqua was named to lead the effort as the agency signaled direct engagement with emerging financial technologies tied to derivatives infrastructure.Regulatory groundwork had already been laid on March 12 when the agency issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking focused on prediction markets, formally inviting public input on whether to amend existing rules or establish new ones under the Commodity Exchange Act. The consultation process includes a public comment deadline set for April 30, 2026, with officials stating the goal is to produce a “rational and coherent interpretation” of federal derivatives law while reinforcing the agency’s exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts.Selig framed the initiative as part of a broader domestic competitiveness push, stating, “By establishing a clear regulatory framework for innovators building on the new frontier of finance, we can foster responsible innovation at home and ensure American market participants are not left on the sidelines.” The statement accompanied confirmation that prediction markets are now being treated alongside crypto and AI within a unified regulatory priority set.State-level opposition has intensified in parallel, with legal actions now spanning&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/features/federal-regulation-looms-states-prediction-markets">11 states</a> targeting platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket. Nevada secured a temporary halt on March 20 that blocked Kalshi’s operations for 14 days following action by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which argued the platform was offering unlicensed gambling products within the state.Arizona authorities escalated enforcement further by filing criminal charges against firms associated with Kalshi, alleging the companies were “running an illegal gambling operation and taking bets on Arizona elections.” The complaint detailed that contracts available to residents included wagers on professional and college sports outcomes, proposition bets tied to individual player statistics, and political outcomes such as whether the SAVE Act would become law.Additional state legislation is advancing alongside enforcement actions, with Utah introducing HB243 to define proposition betting as “a gambling bet on an individual action, statistic, occurrence, or non-occurrence.” Pennsylvania lawmakers proposed a framework placing prediction markets under the state gaming regulator, including a 34% tax on gross revenue, a 2% local share assessment, mandatory age restrictions, self-exclusion programs, and compliance obligations tied to anti-money laundering and know-your-customer standards.Judicial rulings have begun shaping jurisdictional boundaries, with a federal judge in Tennessee blocking a state injunction and determining that certain contracts qualify as “swaps” under federal law, placing them within CFTC authority. Legal arguments cited in proceedings noted that classification under the Commodity Exchange Act could limit states’ ability to impose taxation or licensing requirements, with billions of dollars in potential tax revenue referenced in relation to the 40 states that permit online sports betting.Pennsylvania Representative Danilo Burgos stated that “regulatory arbitrage” leaves residents exposed while depriving the state of revenue, adding it represents “another opportunity to expand the tax base.” The remarks were made as part of legislative efforts to assert state-level control over prediction market operations and revenue streams.Federal lawmakers introduced new restrictions on March 23 through the bipartisan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.curtis.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Prediction-Markets-Are-Gambling-Act.pdf">Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act</a>, led by Senators John Curtis and Adam Schiff. The bill seeks to prohibit CFTC-registered entities from offering contracts resembling sports betting or casino-style outcomes, positioning itself as the first bipartisan Senate measure directly targeting prediction markets.Congressional materials cited market expansion metrics, stating sports-related contracts are now generating “tens of millions of dollars” in trading activity, with a single March Madness contract exceeding $100 million in volume and Super Bowl-related trading surpassing $1 billion in 2026. Senator Curtis said, “The Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act is about respecting states’ authority, protecting families, and keeping speculative financial products out of spaces where they don’t belong.”Separate legislative proposals introduced earlier in March include a measure by Senator Chris Murphy on March 18 to prohibit contracts tied to government actions, terrorism, and war, and a bill filed on March 11 by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Andy Kim to grant states direct regulatory authority while establishing insider trading prohibitions within prediction markets.Policy analysts at TD Cowen described the current legislative efforts as “messaging bills” with “no path” to passage under the current Congress, adding that even if enacted they would likely face a presidential veto that could not be overridden. The firm stated that “policy risk is high for prediction markets even if legislation this year will not advance,” and identified the 2028 election cycle as the “real threat” to the sector’s regulatory outlook.Market dynamics have extended into publicly traded companies, with Flutter reported to have lost more than half its value over the past 12 months, while DraftKings declined 13.5% following earnings released in February amid concerns over competitive pressures and structural shifts linked to prediction market growth.Institutional participation has accelerated as infrastructure expands, with BitGo enabling access through a partnership with Susquehanna and allowing market participants to use crypto or&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> as collateral without liquidating existing positions. The structure enables capital deployment without portfolio exit, contributing to deeper liquidity and increased participation from larger trading entities.Venture capital has moved into the sector through 5c(c) Capital, which is raising up to $35 million for a dedicated prediction markets fund backed by Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan alongside investors including Marc Andreessen, Micky Malka, and Kyle Samani. The fund plans to invest in about 20 companies over the next two years, focusing on infrastructure such as market makers and index design, with its first close expected within a month.Samani said “the next few years are critical to build out infra,” while internal materials described the sector as a “generational investment opportunity.” The expansion comes as Kalshi pursues a $1 billion raise at a $22 billion valuation and Polymarket targets approximately a $20 billion valuation, even as regulatory actions and legal challenges continue across multiple jurisdictions.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

State enforcement disrupts crypto prediction markets through fragmented legal battles

CFTC Launches Innovation Task Force as Prediction Markets Face State Bans, Senate Bill Push, and Billion-Dollar Growth

<h2>Company confirms signed engagement after years of attestations, cites regulatory alignment and prior Deloitte audit of smaller USAT product</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Tether has signed a Big Four firm for its first full USDT audit but has not disclosed which firm</li><li>The company reports about $192 billion in reserves, largely in U.S. Treasuries</li><li>USAT stablecoin previously completed a Deloitte audit, while USDT has never undergone a full audit</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">Tether</a> confirmed on March 24, 2026 that it has&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/tether/status/2036428207554007133">formally engaged</a> a Big Four accounting firm to conduct its first full independent financial statement audit of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a> reserves, marking a shift from its long-standing reliance on periodic attestations. The company said the engagement has already been signed but declined to identify the accounting firm when asked for comment. Tether described the move as part of its effort to enhance transparency, stating it is working toward completing its “first full independent financial statement audit.”The company disclosed that its reserves total about $192 billion globally, with the majority of those holdings allocated to U.S. Treasuries. USDT, first launched in 2014, has grown into the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> by market footprint without ever completing a full audit conducted by a Big Four firm. Tether has instead relied on reserve attestations, which provide periodic snapshots of holdings rather than a comprehensive examination of financial statements, liabilities, and internal controls over time.Tether positioned the audit as a step toward higher reporting standards, describing the initiative as “setting a new quality standard for the digital asset economy.” The company’s chief executive, Paolo Ardoino, had previously indicated plans to pursue a Big Four audit, noting the process would require additional time due to the company’s scale. The March 24 announcement marks the first confirmation that such an engagement has been formally executed with a top-tier accounting firm.The distinction between attestations and a full audit remains central to the development, as attestations do not involve a full verification of financial systems, risk exposure, and internal governance processes. Previous reviews were conducted by an Italian accounting firm that did not directly examine Tether’s full accounts and holdings. Earlier audit efforts had also failed to materialize, including a 2018 engagement that ended after the auditing firm severed ties with the company.Regulatory context has intensified scrutiny of stablecoin reserves, with the GENIUS Act signed last summer requiring foreign stablecoin issuers to undergo rigorous audits of their backing assets. Tether, which is based in El Salvador, falls within the scope of those requirements. The company’s latest move aligns with those rules as it works toward meeting compliance standards tied to reserve transparency and financial disclosures.The report also noted that Tether’s smaller U.S.-focused stablecoin, USAT, has already undergone a full audit, providing a contrast to the pending USDT process. USAT launched in January and completed an audit of its reserves by Deloitte roughly one month later. The product currently has a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> of about $27 million, significantly smaller than USDT, which stands at approximately $184 billion based on circulating supply metrics.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Tether audit vault secures massive USDT reserves with institutional oversight

Tether Engages Big Four Firm for First Full USDT Audit, Keeps Auditor Name Undisclosed 

<h2>Wall Street and Crypto Platforms Converge on Blockchain-Based Equity Trading Infrastructure and Synthetic Stock Exposure</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>NYSE and Securitize sign March 24 agreement for tokenized securities with 24/7 trading, stablecoin settlement, and onchain infrastructure</li><li>Tokenized stocks surpass $1 billion as holders reach 193,140 and monthly volume hits $2.5 billion within a $26 billion RWA market</li><li>Coinbase and OKX launch leveraged stock perpetuals while Morgan Stanley prepares tokenized equities trading in 2H 2026</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>NYSE and Securitize signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.theice.com/press/news-details/2026/New-York-Stock-Exchange-and-Securitize-Agree-to-Memorandum-of-Understanding-to-Support-Tokenized-Securities/default.aspx">memorandum</a> of understanding on March 24 to develop infrastructure for issuer-sponsored tokenized securities on NYSE’s Digital Trading Platform, naming Securitize as the first digital transfer agent authorized to mint blockchain-native securities for corporate and ETF issuers. The initiative includes building a compliant transfer-agent framework to support issuance, ownership tracking, and corporate actions for tokenized shares, while preserving investor protections aligned with traditional equity markets. NYSE Group President Lynn Martin said, “As we explore how tokenization can enhance capital markets, it is critical that new infrastructure is developed in a way that preserves the trust, transparency, and protections investors expect.”The platform design incorporates 24/7 trading, instant settlement,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a>-based funding, and onchain recordkeeping, while supporting both tokenized versions of existing securities and natively issued digital securities with embedded shareholder rights such as dividends and governance. Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo said the system is intended to operate “in a way that works within real market structure, with the protections, controls, and operational integrity required for public securities.” Development efforts include defining regulatory, operational, and technical standards for tokenization agents and digital transfer agents responsible for maintaining official ownership records.Tokenized equities activity has already reached measurable scale, with total value exceeding $1 billion on March 10 as the number of tokenized stockholders increased 16% to 193,140 over a 30-day period and monthly transfer volume rose 45% to $2.5 billion. The segment ranks sixth within a broader tokenized real-world asset market valued at approximately $26 billion, where tokenized treasury debt accounts for $11.8 billion and tokenized commodities exceed $5 billion.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> launched stock&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-crypto-perpetual-futures">perpetual</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contracts">futures</a> on March 20 for eligible non-U.S. users,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coinbase.com/en-nl/blog/coinbase-launches-stock-perpetual-futures">offering</a> exposure to the Magnificent 7—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla—alongside SPY and QQQ ETF contracts in supported jurisdictions. The products enable 24/7 trading with leverage of up to 10x on single-stock contracts and up to 20x on ETF-based contracts, using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a> for settlement and allowing cross-margining across spot and derivatives positions. Access is provided through Coinbase Advanced, APIs, and Coinbase International Exchange for institutional participants.<a href="https://coin360.com/review/okx">OKX</a> also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okx.com/en-eu/learn/equity-perpetuals">introduced</a> 23&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a>-denominated equity perpetual swaps on March 24, targeting users in Asia, the CIS region, Latin America, and other eligible markets, covering technology, crypto, and semiconductor firms alongside stocks like Magnificent 7, and ETFs such as SPY, EWJ, and EWY. The contracts offer leverage of up to 5x and operate within a Unified Trading Account structure that allows shared collateral across spot and derivatives positions, while assets enrolled in Auto Earn programs can continue generating yield while supporting open trades.Morgan Stanley said Wall Street’s expansion into crypto-linked infrastructure reflects long-term development rather than short-term momentum, with the bank&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/03/24/morgan-stanley-says-wall-street-s-crypto-push-isn-t-about-fomo-it-s-been-years-in-the-making">preparing</a> to support tokenized equities trading on its alternative trading system in the second half of 2026. Amy Oldenburg said the effort is not driven by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/fear-of-missing-out">FOMO</a> but “has been years in the making,” as institutions continue integrating blockchain-based systems across trading and asset management operations.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

NYSE tokenized securities reshape crypto price index market structure globally

NYSE–Securitize Deal Targets 24/7 Tokenized Securities 

<h2>Governance overhaul redirects 100% protocol fees to treasury, introduces buyback plan and compensation for veBAL holders</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Balancer proposes shutting down Labs after a $128 million exploit and restructuring operations under DAO control</li><li>Annual budget cut to $1.9 million, workforce halved, and emissions model fully removed</li><li>New tokenomics routes all fees to treasury, introduces buybacks and $500,000 compensation plan</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/balancer-bal">Balancer</a> is moving to shut down Balancer Labs and consolidate operations under a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dao-maker-dao">DAO</a>-led structure following a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/balancer-8m-reimbursement-plan-after-128m-defi-exploit">$128 million exploit</a> tied to its V2 system, according to <a href="https://forum.balancer.fi/t/bip-xxx-operational-restructuring-for-balancer/7000">governance proposals</a> dated March 23, 2026. The restructuring plan transitions responsibilities to Balancer OpCo acting as an agent of the DAO while maintaining protocol continuity. The move follows months of crisis response after the November 3, 2025 incident, which targeted composable pool logic and enabled attackers to manipulate balances and drain funds across multiple networks, including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/polygon-ecosystem-token-pol">Polygon</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a>.The exploit was described across reports as a design-level vulnerability involving rounding inconsistencies and invariant manipulation, allowing attackers to bypass safeguards within&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/smart-contracts">smart contract</a> interactions. Ethereum pools accounted for approximately $100 million of the losses, while an additional $28 million was drained from other deployments. Recovery efforts following the incident included whitehat interventions that retrieved about $8 million in user funds, alongside a separate $19.7 million handled through StakeWise-related pools under structured reimbursement terms.Balancer’s internal restructuring reduces headcount from roughly 25 to 12.5 full-time equivalents while cutting the annual operating budget to $1.9 million from $2.87 million. The prior economic model showed the DAO capturing about $290,000 per year while running a deficit of roughly $2.6 million and issuing around 3.78 million&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/balancer-bal">BAL</a> tokens annually. The revised framework is designed to reduce the deficit to about $700,000 and extend treasury runway from under four years to approximately nine years, with expected annual fee capture rising to $1.22 million under the updated structure.The governance proposal eliminates BAL emissions entirely, removes veBAL, and redirects 100% of protocol fees to the DAO treasury while reducing the protocol’s share of V3 swap fees from 50% to 25% to increase liquidity provider incentives. The Balancer Alliance program is also being discontinued, and governance authority is shifting toward a more centralized core team mandate for operational decisions while maintaining tokenholder control over major changes. A buyback-and-burn program capped at 35% of treasury value, estimated at about $3.6 million, is included as part of the transition.The plan introduces a $500,000&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> compensation campaign distributed over six months for veBAL holders affected by the removal of locking incentives. At an estimated price of $0.16 per BAL, the buyback mechanism could retire around 35% of circulating supply if fully executed. Market conditions following the exploit saw BAL decline more than 60% and remain down over 99% from its 2021 peak, with liquidity withdrawals accelerating as users exited positions during the crisis period, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index data reflecting broader crypto price and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> movements.Balancer co-founder and CEO Marcus Hardt said, “The technology works. Balancer v3 works. Boosted pools work. The infrastructure we built is strong,” while adding, “What stopped working was the economic model around it.” He also addressed tokenholder impact, stating, “If you locked in good faith, losing those economic rights is painful.” Co-founder Fernando Martinelli said he considered shutting down the protocol entirely but noted that it continued generating over $1 million in annualized fees over the last three months, citing ongoing activity as a basis for continuing operations under a revised structure.Martinelli also supported ending token emissions and acknowledged governance distortions tied to external incentives, stating the existing system had turned into a meta-governance structure influenced by bribery markets and external actors. He said the DAO had been capturing only 17.5% of generated value under the prior model and backed a fair-price buyback approach to allow holders to exit positions. The restructuring plan narrows the protocol’s product focus to core offerings including reCLAMM pools, liquidity bootstrapping pools, stablecoin and liquid staking token pools, and weighted pools across selected chains.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Balancer Labs shutdown reshapes crypto price index amid DeFi crisis

Balancer Shuts Down Labs After $128M Exploit, Slashes Budget and Ends BAL Emissions in DAO-Led Reset

<h2>Broker-dealer clarity, ATS standards, and token classification emerge as central demands in Fidelity filing</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Fidelity calls on the SEC to establish clear broker-dealer rules for crypto trading and tokenized securities</li><li>Firm pushes for reliance on issuer classification instead of repeated legal analysis by each platform</li><li>Filing outlines structural differences across token models and regulatory gaps for DeFi and reporting</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Fidelity has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to advance its regulatory framework governing broker-dealers handling crypto assets, calling for clearer operational standards that would allow firms to trade and custody tokenized securities on alternative trading systems. The firm submitted its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/ctf-written-input-fidelity-investments-032026.pdf">recommendations</a> to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force in response to Commissioner Hester Peirce’s request for input issued in December, which sought feedback on how national securities exchanges and ATS platforms should approach tokenized assets within existing market structures.Fidelity’s filing emphasized the need for a defined regulatory pathway enabling broker-dealers to support tokenized securities issued by third parties, arguing that existing ambiguity creates operational friction for firms attempting to integrate blockchain-based instruments into regulated environments. The company pointed to its affiliate National Financial Services, which operates the CrossStream ATS for U.S. equities, as a real-world example of infrastructure already navigating these constraints while engaging with tokenization developments.Central to Fidelity’s proposal is a request for the SEC to implement standards allowing ATS operators to rely on an issuer’s determination of a token’s regulatory classification, rather than requiring each broker-dealer to independently conduct a full legal assessment for every listed instrument. The firm described this duplication as impractical for scaling tokenized markets, particularly as product complexity increases across asset classes and issuance structures.The filing references the SEC’s January 2026&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/us-crypto-capital-cftc-project-crypto-regulation">taxonomy</a> for tokenized securities, which outlines multiple categories including direct issuances, indirect entitlements, structured products linked to securities such as xStocks, and instruments potentially classified as securities-based swaps, including Robinhood’s tokenized stocks. The latter category is restricted to eligible contract participants and requires evaluation based on economic substance rather than labeling, according to the framework.Fidelity stated that tokenized assets vary significantly in structure and investor rights depending on how they are issued and maintained, noting that “Tokenization models vary significantly in structure and in the rights afforded to holders.” The firm added that “In some models, the crypto asset represents a holder’s indirect interest in the underlying security through a securities entitlement, while in others, the crypto asset may constitute a securities-based swap, which may be offered only to eligible contract participants.”The firm also called for regulatory adjustments to address differences between centralized and decentralized trading venues, urging the SEC to evaluate how “intermediated and disintermediated trading venues can evolve and coexist.” Fidelity noted that current reporting and disclosure requirements are designed for centralized entities and impose limitations on decentralized systems that lack a single controlling operator capable of generating traditional financial reports.Fidelity further recommended that broker-dealers be explicitly permitted to use distributed ledger technology in ATS operations and recordkeeping processes, extending its proposals beyond asset classification into infrastructure modernization. The firm’s position aligns with broader regulatory discussions under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, who has expressed support for continuous market operation models such as 24/7 trading, while U.S. banking regulators including the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC stated in a joint March communication that “The technologies used to issue and transact in a security do not generally impact its capital treatment.”This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Tokenized securities classification reshapes broker dealer crypto trading

Fidelity Urges SEC to Expand Broker-Dealer Crypto Rules as Tokenized Securities Framework Takes Shape

<h2>Protocol Pauses Operations as 9M Tokens Burned and Redemptions Begin Amid Collateral Integrity Claims</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Resolv exploit enabled about $80M unbacked USR mint, leading to $25M extraction</li><li>USR collapsed to $0.025 within 17 minutes, later trading near $0.19</li><li>Protocol paused, burned 9M tokens, confirmed ~$0.5M redemption losses</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Resolv’s USR&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> suffered a sharp&nbsp;breakdown on March 23 after a compromised private key enabled unauthorized minting of about $80 million in uncollateralized tokens, triggering a rapid market reaction that pushed the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> far below its intended peg. The attacker extracted approximately $25 million after swapping the minted assets across multiple pools into other&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ether</a>, according to reported transaction flows. The incident unfolded as circulating supply had stood near 102 million USR prior to the exploit, before an additional 71 million tokens entered the system without backing.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This notice is issued on behalf of Resolv Digital Assets Ltd. in relation to the Resolv protocol. Earlier today, a malicious actor gained unauthorized access to Resolv infrastructure through compromised private key, resulting in the minting of approximately $80M of…— Resolv Labs (@ResolvLabs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ResolvLabs/status/2035830314799599616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The exploit sequence began with a deposit of 100,000&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a> into the protocol’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/resolv-usr">USR</a> Counter contract, which returned an anomalous 50 million USR, followed by another mint of 30 million tokens in a subsequent transaction. The surge in supply immediately disrupted liquidity conditions across trading venues, causing USR to drop to $0.025 on Curve Finance within 17 minutes of the first irregular mint. Based on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a> crypto price index data, the token later rebounded briefly to around $0.75.Resolv confirmed that “a malicious actor gained unauthorized access to Resolv infrastructure through compromised private key,” while maintaining that its collateral pool “remains fully intact” and that “no underlying assets” were compromised. The protocol halted operations shortly after detecting the exploit and burned around 9 million USR associated with the attacker’s activity. Internal accounting indicated that approximately $0.5 million had been lost through redemption requests processed before the pause was implemented.The attacker&nbsp;converted the unbacked USR into the staked variant wstUSR before routing the funds through liquidity pools and consolidating proceeds into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a>. Wallet tracking showed holdings of 11,409 ETH valued at about $23.7 million at prevailing crypto price levels during the aftermath. The rapid conversion and exit intensified selling pressure, amplifying the dislocation between USR’s circulating supply and available collateral across markets tracked by the broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> landscape.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/resolv_hack_67ac7a4ad1.webp" alt="resolv hack.webp"><figcaption>Source: CoinDesk</figcaption></figure>Resolv stated it holds approximately $141 million in assets and has begun preparing redemption processes for pre-incident USR holders, starting with allowlisted participants. The protocol said it is working with partners, analytics firms, and law enforcement to track the movement of funds and contain the impact of the exploit. The issue was described as isolated to issuance mechanics rather than a direct breach of collateral reserves, with remediation focused on restoring redemption pathways.Security assessments linked the breach to a privileged SERVICE_ROLE account reportedly controlled by a single externally owned&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> rather than a multisignature setup. Investigations noted the absence of safeguards such as strict oracle validation, minting caps, and transaction-level checks, allowing abnormal issuance to proceed without automated interruption. The failure occurred despite documentation indicating 14 audit engagements across five firms and the presence of a $500,000 bug bounty program.Cyvers CEO Deddy Lavid said, “Audits alone are not enough. If you’re not monitoring minting and supply in real time, you’re blind when it matters most.” External platforms reacted by clarifying exposure levels, with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/lido-dao-token-ldo">Lido</a> stating funds in Lido Earn were secure,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/aave-aave">Aave</a>’s founder confirming no direct USR exposure, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/morpho-morpho">Morpho</a> indicating limited impact confined to specific vaults. The&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/resolv-resolv">RESOLV</a> governance token declined 8.5% over 24 hours as secondary effects spread across integrated&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> systems.On March 23, Resolv Labs issued a <a href="https://etherscan.io/tx/0xc3abc8ff3509919afd7d9f7f51e3b67c09a388e506aff9aa2f9082bd00598473">72-hour ultimatum</a> to the exploiter, which stated that the attacker has the option to return 90% of the stolen funds, around $22.5 million in ether, while keeping a 10% bounty. If the ultimatum is ignored, Resolv plans to collaborate with exchanges and law enforcement to restrict assets and pursue legal action.&nbsp;This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Hacker drains funds impacting crypto price index and liquidity pools

Resolv Stablecoin USR Crashes After $80M Unauthorized Mint, $25M Extracted in Exploit

<h2>Corporate Bitcoin Strategies Intensify as European Acquisition Plan and Hong Kong Board Proposal Scale Treasury Allocations</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>H100 plans BTC-for-BTC share deal to raise holdings from 1,051 BTC to 3,501 BTC</li><li>Boyaa proposes up to $70M crypto purchases, holding 4,092 BTC, 302 ETH, and 7,000,700 USDT</li><li>Both firms explicitly position buys during market weakness using internal capital</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>H100 Group signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.mfn.se/ce1c0a98-afb5-47e6-b436-0c8118d07365/h100-signs-loi-for-strategic-acquisition-to-increase-its-bitcoin-holdings-to-3-500-bitcoin.pdf">letter of intent</a> to acquire Norway-based Moonshot AS and Never Say Die AS in a transaction structured entirely around bitcoin contributions, aiming to increase its treasury from 1,051&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> to approximately 3,501 BTC upon completion. The deal is designed as a bitcoin-for-bitcoin share exchange, with ownership of the combined entity determined solely by the amount of bitcoin contributed by each party, resulting in an estimated split of about 30% for existing H100 shareholders and about 70% for the sellers.The company stated that definitive agreements are targeted before April 22, 2026, with closing expected shortly after the annual general meeting scheduled for May 21, 2026, subject to due diligence, corporate approvals, stock exchange compliance, and potential exemptions from mandatory offer obligations. H100 confirmed it will remain the listed parent company after completion, retaining its existing corporate structure and continuing its health technology operations alongside the expanded bitcoin treasury.Assets being acquired are controlled by Geir Harald Hansen, identified as the founder of the Bitminter mining pool launched in 2011. H100 disclosed that Bitminter has served more than 700,000 users and mined over 208,000 BTC, representing around 1% of the total bitcoin supply that will ever exist. The company said the transaction also brings operational capabilities, naming Moonshot chief executive Eirik Grøttum and chief investment officer Peter Warren as part of the incoming leadership with backgrounds spanning systematic trading, software development, hedge funds, derivatives, and multi-asset markets.H100 chairman Sander Andersen described the transaction’s rationale, stating, “scale, credibility and access to capital markets are increasingly important in the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> space,” while adding that the acquisition continues the company’s established strategy and builds on its Nordic and Swiss expansion platform.Boyaa Interactive International, a Hong Kong-listed&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/web3-companies-projects">Web3</a> gaming company, disclosed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boyaa.com.hk/attachment/2026032200022_c.pdf">board-approved proposal</a> to authorize up to $70 million in additional cryptocurrency purchases over a 12-month period following shareholder approval at its annual general meeting. The company specified that the capital would be sourced from idle cash reserves generated by its business operations rather than external financing.The company reported existing holdings of 4,092 BTC acquired at an average cost of $68,211, alongside 302&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> purchased at an average cost of $1,661 and approximately 7,000,700&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a>. Boyaa stated that bitcoin remains the primary target asset under the proposed authorization, while ethereum is retained for its role in supporting Web3 gaming infrastructure and blockchain-based operations.Board disclosures outlined that purchases would be executed on regulated and licensed platforms, including HashKey Exchange and OSL Exchange, with a constraint that any premium paid would not exceed 10% above prevailing market prices. The company also stated that all assets acquired must meet internal criteria for liquidity,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a>, market recognition, and long-term holding value, subject to its virtual asset management and risk control policies.Boyaa said the proposal builds on earlier acquisitions totaling $80.51 million in bitcoin accumulated between August and November 2025, and that the new authorization must be aggregated with prior transactions under Hong Kong listing rules, requiring shareholder approval as a major transaction.The company said it intends to deploy capital “during periods of weakness in the cryptocurrency market” while advancing its Web3 strategy through game upgrades, development of new titles, and broader ecosystem integration tied to blockchain-based operations.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Boyaa crypto holdings expansion captured through aggressive forward trading motion

H100 Targets 3,501 BTC Treasury via Share Deal as Boyaa Seeks $70M Crypto Expansion

<h2>Corporate crypto treasuries diverge as Bitcoin funding ramps and Ethereum accumulation accelerates with staking yield focus</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Strategy bought 1,031 BTC for $76.6M, total holdings reach 762,099 BTC with $44B funding plan</li><li>BitMine added 65,341 ETH, bringing holdings to 4,660,903 ETH worth ~$10B</li><li>ETH seen outperforming during conflict, with 18% rise and 2,450bp equity outperformance</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Strategy disclosed on March 23 that it acquired 1,031&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> for approximately $77 million at an average price of $74,326, bringing its total holdings to 762,099 BTC accumulated for roughly $57.69 billion at an average cost of $75,694. The purchase marked the company’s smallest addition in about a month, ending a streak of larger weekly buys as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> traded in the $70,000 range based on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> data tied to the broader crypto price index and global coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> metrics.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-03-23 195622.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_03_23_195622_d42585aba4.png"></figure>Strategy paired the reduced pace of Bitcoin accumulation with a major capital expansion plan,&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltf8d808d9b8cebd37/blt3e13203047aa2fa4/69c133955af5231818960716/form-8-k_03-23-2026_filing-2.pdf">announcing</a> a $44 billion funding structure composed of $21 billion in common stock through MSTR, $21 billion in preferred equity through STRC, and $2.1 billion in convertible preferred shares through&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/starknet-token-strk">STRK</a>. The company said STRC had generated more than $1.5 billion after increasing its monthly dividend to 11.5%, but the preferred shares traded below their $100 par value for seven consecutive sessions, prompting a shift toward alternative issuance channels.The company expanded its capital distribution network by adding Moelis, Alliance, and StoneX as sales agents while activating new at-the-market programs allowing up to $21 billion each in additional issuance capacity for MSTR and STRC. Strategy’s Bitcoin position was valued at roughly $54 billion at the time of disclosure, with an unrealized loss of about $3.3 billion relative to its acquisition cost, while first-quarter accumulation reached approximately 90,649 BTC.BitMine Immersion Technologies reported on March 23 that it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitmine-immersion-technologies-bmnr-announces-eth-holdings-reach-4-661-million-tokens-and-total-crypto-and-total-cash-holdings-of-11-0-billion-302721764.html">acquired</a> 65,341&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> over the previous week, bringing total holdings to 4,660,903 ETH valued at approximately $10 billion at current crypto price levels, with the latest purchase estimated at about $140 million. The company’s total crypto, equity, and cash holdings stood at $11 billion, including 196 BTC valued at $13.9 million, a $200 million stake in Beast Industries, a $95 million position in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/worldcoin-wld">WLD</a> treasury firm Eightco, and $1.1 billion in cash.BitMine said its&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> holdings represent approximately 3.86% of the circulating supply of about 120.7 million ETH, while maintaining its position as the largest Ethereum treasury holder. The company has increased its buying pace over three consecutive weeks, with the latest purchase exceeding a prior weekly average of 45,000 to 50,000 ETH, and continues targeting 5% of total supply, equivalent to around 6.04 million ETH.Tom Lee said, “As many have noticed, crypto and particularly ETH have outperformed the broader market since the Iran war commenced, with ETH rising 18% and outperforming equities by 2,450bp. Crypto is demonstrating itself to be a good 'war time' store of value,” while also stating, “Bitmine has maintained the increased pace of ETH buys in each of the past three weeks, as our base case is ETH is in the final stages of the 'mini-crypto winter.'”BitMine reported 3,142,643 ETH currently staked, with staking operations structured through partners including MAVAN, and said that at full deployment, annual staking rewards are expected to reach $272 million based on a 2.83% seven-day yield metric. The company stated it holds more staked Ethereum than any other entity, with treasury operations structured to generate yield alongside accumulation.Data showed BitMine remains ahead of other Ethereum treasury entities including SharpLink with 863,021 ETH and The&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ether</a> Machine with 496,712 ETH, while also ranking as the second-largest public crypto treasury company behind Strategy, whose Bitcoin holdings represent more than 3.5% of the total 21 million BTC supply. Institutional backing for BitMine includes Ark Invest, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/kraken">Kraken</a>, Digital Currency Group, and Galaxy Digital.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-03-24 020645.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_03_24_020645_d0158bb72b.png"></figure>This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Strategy builds massive Bitcoin treasury tracked by crypto price index

Strategy Holds 762,099 BTC After $76.6M Buy as BitMine Expands to 4,660,903 ETH and Targets 5% Supply

Coin360 weekly crypto news, cryptocurrency updates, market movement

Coin360 weekly crypto news

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | March 15-21, 2026

<h2>Investors Allege Misleading Disclosures as Exchange Shifts to AI-Driven Model and Retreats From Global Markets</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Gemini is being sued in federal court over alleged misleading statements tied to its September 2025 IPO and subsequent strategy reversal.</li><li>Shares dropped from a peak of $45 to about $6 after a February 5, 2026 disclosure of layoffs, global exits, and a pivot to prediction markets.</li><li>The company has cut roughly 30% of staff since January while targeting one employee per 100,000 users through AI-driven operations.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/table">Gemini</a> is facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.660017/gov.uscourts.nysd.660017.1.0.pdf">class-action lawsuit</a> in Manhattan federal court, where shareholder Marc Methvin accuses the crypto exchange and its executives, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, of misleading investors before and after its September 2025 initial public offering. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that offering documents promoted global expansion and sustained user growth while failing to disclose an internal shift already underway. The filing seeks a jury trial on four counts tied to alleged securities violations connected to the IPO disclosures and subsequent corporate actions.Central to the lawsuit is an allegation that Gemini presented one strategy publicly while preparing another internally, with plaintiffs arguing that the company pivoted sharply toward prediction markets and cost reductions shortly after going public. Court filings include the statement that the offering materials “contained untrue statements of material fact” and omitted key disclosures required to ensure those statements were not misleading. Investors claim the divergence between messaging and execution became evident only after a series of disclosures that followed the IPO.February 5, 2026 marked the inflection point cited across filings, when Gemini unveiled its “Gemini 2.0” strategy through a Regulation FD Form 8-K. The company disclosed that its prediction market would be “more front and center in our experience,” alongside a workforce reduction of 25% and planned exits from the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia. Those changes represented a decisive break from the global expansion narrative presented during the IPO process, according to the complaint.Market reaction unfolded rapidly following the disclosure, with Gemini’s stock falling $0.64 per share, or 8.72%, to close at $6.70 on the day of the announcement. Shares had previously been priced at $28 during the IPO and later reached $45 before declining to about $6 during March 2026 trading. The drop left the stock down roughly 84% from its post-IPO peak.<img alt="Screenshot 2026-03-21 042928.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_03_21_042928_5ee56dd043.png">Workforce reductions extended beyond the initial announcement, with total staffing cuts reaching&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-19/winklevosses-says-jobs-cuts-at-gemini-exchange-reach-30?taid=69bc7d4bfec6580001a7f690">about 30%</a> since the start of the year, eliminating roughly 300 roles from a workforce that previously exceeded 1,000 employees. The company framed the layoffs as part of a broader restructuring effort focused on automation rather than market weakness, even as crypto price conditions remained relatively stable.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> traded between $65,000 and $74,000 during the period, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a> data tied to the wider crypto price index.Internal restructuring has centered on deploying artificial intelligence across engineering, compliance, and customer support functions, with Gemini targeting a staffing ratio of one employee per 100,000 users. Hiring priorities have shifted toward specialized roles such as AI prompt engineers and large language model auditors, replacing more traditional operational positions. The shift has been described in company communications as a move toward efficiency and scalability through automation.Financial disclosures present a mixed picture, with Gemini reporting fourth-quarter revenue of $60.3 million, exceeding an analyst estimate of $51.7 million. At the same time, the company recorded a full-year loss of $583 million, according to figures cited in the lawsuit coverage. The contrast between revenue growth and overall losses forms part of the context cited by analysts reviewing the company’s post-IPO trajectory.Analyst responses included multiple target&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cryptopolitan.com/gemini-class-action-lawsuit-2025-ipo/" rel="nofollow">price revisions</a> following the February disclosures, with Evercore ISI cutting its target from $15 to $10, Truist lowering its estimate from $13 to $7 while citing the “drastic reduction in headcount,” Needham reducing its target from $23 to $10, and Rosenblatt adjusting from $26 to $11.50 while stating the company was “in full restructuring mode.” No public response from Gemini or the Winklevoss twins to the lawsuit had been reported.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Gemini stock crash visualized in crypto price index collapse

Gemini Faces Class-Action Lawsuit After IPO Strategy Pivot, Stock Plunges and Workforce Cut

<h2>Institutions Shift From Experimentation to Deployment as Stablecoin Market Surpasses $300 Billion</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>74% of finance leaders say stablecoins improve cash-flow efficiency, while 72% view crypto as essential to competitiveness</li><li>Stablecoin market cap surpassed $300 billion in March 2026, reinforcing institutional adoption momentum</li><li>Security, custody, and regulatory clarity dominate decision-making, with 97% prioritizing certifications like ISO and SOC II</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Finance leaders across banking, asset management, fintech, and corporate sectors are accelerating digital asset adoption, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://ripple.com/insights/first-look-at-ripples-2026-digital-asset-survey/">global survey</a> of more than 1,000 respondents finding that 72% believe companies must offer crypto-related services to remain competitive. The dataset captures a transition away from pilot programs toward operational deployment, as institutions integrate digital assets into treasury, payments, and infrastructure strategies tied to real-world financial workflows.Stablecoins emerged as a primary focus, with 74% of respondents stating these instruments can improve cash-flow efficiency and unlock working capital trapped in traditional settlement systems. Respondents described&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> as tools for faster settlement and liquidity management, extending their use beyond payments into treasury optimization and cross-border financial operations where timing and capital efficiency remain critical constraints.Market conditions appear aligned with that shift, as the global&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> exceeded $300 billion in early March 2026. The figure places stablecoins among the fastest-scaling components of the digital asset ecosystem, with usage spanning trading, payments, settlement rails, and treasury functions across both centralized and decentralized financial environments.Adoption patterns differ across sectors, with fintech firms leading implementation efforts. Data shows 31% of fintech companies already collect payments in stablecoins, while 29% accept them directly, reflecting active deployment in customer-facing systems. Corporates are taking a more partnership-driven approach, with 74% preferring to work with external providers rather than building in-house infrastructure, citing complexity and integration challenges tied to digital asset systems.Tokenization is gaining traction as institutions move deeper into infrastructure design. Banks identified token lifecycle management as a priority, cited by 82% of respondents, while asset managers focused on primary distribution, selected by 80% as a key operational area. These priorities point to internal planning around issuance, servicing, and distribution mechanisms for tokenized assets across financial markets.Custody and storage remain central to institutional decision-making, with 89% of respondents identifying digital asset custody as a top priority when selecting partners. Security requirements are equally prominent, as 97% said certifications such as ISO and SOC II are important or very important when evaluating infrastructure providers capable of supporting institutional-grade operations.Partner selection criteria extend beyond security into operational support and financial reliability. Survey results show 88% value responsive post-integration technical support, 80% prioritize industry-specific experience, and 79% consider financial strength when choosing providers. Institutions are increasingly evaluating long-term partnerships rather than standalone solutions for digital asset integration.Infrastructure preferences are consolidating toward integrated platforms, with slightly more than half of fintechs and financial institutions favoring a single provider capable of delivering custody, orchestration, and compliance services. Among corporates, that preference rises to 71%, reflecting demand for simplified architecture that reduces operational fragmentation across systems handling&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index data, crypto price feeds, and broader coin market cap exposure.<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/xrp-xrp">Ripple</a> stated that finance leaders are seeking “a tech stack that can meet all of their digital asset needs and a trusted provider to partner with now and in the future as strategies evolve.” The company added that partner preferences reflect core institutional concerns, including regulatory clarity at 40%, security and safekeeping at 37%, compliance requirements at 30%, and price volatility at 29%.Regulatory developments are shaping adoption timelines across jurisdictions. Policy frameworks referenced in the survey include the GENIUS Act in the United States, MiCA in Europe, Hong Kong’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">Stablecoin</a> Bill, and updated regulatory regimes in the United Arab Emirates. Additional references include actions by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recognizing stablecoins as a payment instrument, alongside alignment efforts tied to federal legislation.Institutional engagement with digital assets is increasingly tied to infrastructure readiness rather than market speculation, with respondents focusing on treasury efficiency, custody resilience, and compliance alignment as they integrate blockchain-based systems into financial operations connected to crypto price tracking and broader market infrastructure tied to coin market cap data.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Stablecoins streamline global crypto price and liquidity flows

Ripple Survey Finds 74% of Finance Leaders Eye Stablecoins for Cash Flow as 72% Say Crypto Is Now Essential

<h2>Amended S-1 Filing Defines Structure, Pricing Benchmark, Authorized Participants, and Operational Mechanics for Proposed ETF</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Morgan Stanley filed a second amended S-1 outlining its spot Bitcoin ETF under ticker MSBT with defined custody, trading partners, and listing plans</li><li>The trust will launch with a $1 million seed investment tied to 50,000 shares and operate using 10,000-share creation baskets</li><li>Coinbase, BNY Mellon, Virtu, Jane Street, and Macquarie are named across custody, execution, and market-making roles</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Morgan Stanley&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2103612/000110465926029738/tm2534140-7_s1a.htm">filed</a> Amendment No. 2 to its Form S-1, advancing its proposed spot&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> exchange-traded fund with a fully defined structure that identifies NYSE Arca as the intended listing venue and confirms the ticker symbol MSBT. The filing describes the product as a passive investment vehicle designed to track Bitcoin performance without using leverage, derivatives, or active trading strategies, positioning the trust as a direct exposure instrument tied to underlying&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements.The trust’s valuation framework is anchored to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark 4PM NY Settlement Rate, which is used to calculate net asset value based on aggregated executed trade flow across major spot markets.&nbsp;Custody and operational responsibilities are split between traditional finance and crypto-native infrastructure, with The Bank of New York Mellon and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> Custody Trust Company named as Bitcoin custodians, while BNY Mellon also handles cash administration functions. Coinbase, Inc. is identified as the prime broker and Coinbase Credit, Inc. as the lender, with both acting as Bitcoin counterparties supporting execution and liquidity operations tied to share creation and redemption flows.Creation and redemption mechanics are defined through standardized basket structures of 10,000 shares per unit, allowing authorized participants to transact using either cash or in-kind Bitcoin. When cash is used, the delegated sponsor instructs a Bitcoin counterparty to acquire the corresponding assets, while in-kind transactions allow direct Bitcoin transfers into the trust. Redemptions follow a reverse process in which Bitcoin may be sold through counterparties, with trading costs and execution slippage allocated to the authorized participant.Authorized participants listed in the filing include Virtu Americas LLC, Jane Street Capital, LLC, and Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc., establishing the primary market infrastructure responsible for maintaining alignment between ETF share pricing and underlying Bitcoin value through arbitrage activity. The trust also outlines that shares will trade publicly under the confirmed MSBT ticker once regulatory approval is granted.Seeding arrangements are specified with precise figures, stating that initial seed creation baskets will comprise 50,000 shares with total anticipated proceeds of $1 million, which will be used to acquire Bitcoin prior to listing. A preliminary audit seed transaction already occurred on March 9, 2026, when two shares were purchased at $50 per share for $100 in proceeds, with those shares scheduled to be redeemed before the registration becomes effective.Fee disclosures remain partially incomplete, with the delegated sponsor fee left unspecified as a placeholder percentage, though the filing states that the trust will operate under a unitary fee model covering expenses such as custody, administration, marketing, listing, audit, and regulatory costs. Extraordinary expenses, including litigation-related costs, may be charged separately as additional trust expenses, and no predetermined cap on sponsor-paid expenses is disclosed.Governance of the trust is structured across multiple entities, with Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. acting as delegated sponsor, CSC Delaware Trust Company serving as Delaware trustee, and AGS Trustees Limited designated as Cayman trustee with primary oversight responsibilities. The trust has no operating history and no fixed termination date, according to the prospectus.Coverage describing the filing states, “Morgan Stanley filed a second amended S-1 for its proposed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), detailing seed capital, trading partners and listing plans as the Wall Street bank moves closer to launching the product under the ticker MSBT,” while also noting that the firm is transitioning from distributing third-party ETFs to issuing its own product.The same reporting adds that Morgan Stanley had previously recommended a 2% to 4% crypto allocation for eligible clients and operates a network of about 15,000 financial advisors, providing internal distribution capacity for the product. Broader industry context notes that spot Bitcoin ETFs have already attracted more than $56 billion in assets, as large financial institutions continue expanding access to crypto-linked investment vehicles.Additional reports describe the filing as part of a broader Wall Street trend, with Bank of America allowing advisers to recommend exposure to four Bitcoin ETFs starting Jan. 5, 2026, and Vanguard enabling crypto ETF trading one day earlier. The proposed MSBT product is also described as potentially the first directly issued spot Bitcoin ETF by a major U.S. bank, entering a competitive market shaped by existing crypto price and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> dynamics.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

ETF basket creation reflects coin market cap structure and liquidity

Morgan Stanley Advances MSBT Spot Bitcoin ETF With $1M Seed Plan

<h2>New “Gold as a Service” Model Targets Fragmentation While Exchanges Push Yield-Bearing Gold Products</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>World Gold Council introduced a tokenized gold framework on March 19, 2026, aiming to standardize a fragmented market</li><li>Tokenized gold sector stands at roughly $6 billion, with XAUT and PAXG controlling about 97% share</li><li>Bybit launched a yield product for tokenized gold and a $1 million campaign amid rising demand for defensive assets</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>World Gold Council, working with Boston Consulting Group,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319415787/en/World-Gold-Council-to-Develop-Shared-Infrastructure-for-Digital-Gold">released</a> a framework on March 19, 2026, outlining a standardized infrastructure for tokenized gold markets under a model described as “Gold as a Service.” The proposal lays out a shared system connecting custody, token issuance, compliance, reconciliation, and redemption processes, seeking to replace siloed structures where each issuer maintains separate operational stacks. The organization, backed by 29 member mining companies, described its role as a neutral convener bringing together traditional gold stakeholders and crypto-native firms.Fragmentation remains a defining feature of the tokenized gold market, where existing products operate with independent custody arrangements, audit procedures, and redemption mechanisms. The framework identifies these inefficiencies as limiting interoperability, reducing fungibility across tokens, and complicating entry for new issuers. “The question is no longer whether gold will be digital; it’s how it can participate in modern financial systems without compromising physical integrity,” the report stated, while noting the proposal remains conceptual with no fixed timeline and dependent on regulatory coordination across jurisdictions.Tokenized gold products, typically backed one-to-one by physical bullion, offer investors digital exposure to gold without requiring storage, though they do not inherently generate yield. Market estimates place the sector at approximately $6 billion in early 2026, following several years of gradual growth. That scale remains small compared with traditional gold vehicles, including the SPDR Gold Shares ETF launched in 2004, which has reached a market size of about $163 billion.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-03-20 193202.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_03_20_193202_63545b80f2.png"></figure>Two assets dominate the sector, with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-gold-xaut">Tether Gold</a> accounting for roughly $2.6 billion and Paxos Gold representing about $2.2 billion. Together, they control approximately 97% of the tokenized gold market. Their underlying reserves are stored in different locations, with Tether Gold held in a Swiss vault described as a former nuclear bunker, while Paxos Gold is backed by bullion stored in London vaults managed by Brink’s. These arrangements reflect the broader lack of shared infrastructure across issuers.Efforts to introduce standardized infrastructure could reduce barriers for new entrants by removing the need to build full-stack custody and issuance systems independently. Existing issuers face the prospect of competing within a more open ecosystem where baseline standards for audits, transparency, and redemption are aligned across participants. The current market structure has been shaped by early movers building proprietary systems over a development period of roughly five years.<a href="https://coin360.com/review/bybit">Bybit</a> announced a product called&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-gold-xaut">XAUT</a> Earn on March 19, 2026, offering users the ability to generate yield on tokenized gold holdings through flexible staking and fixed-term savings options that provide an annual percentage rate. The product addresses gold’s traditional characteristic as a non-yielding asset, combining price exposure with income generation mechanisms. The launch comes as investors seek defensive assets with yield during periods of volatility in digital asset markets.Earlier in March 2026, Bybit and Tether introduced a joint campaign titled “Golden Season,” offering more than $1 million in gold-backed rewards through trading incentives, referral programs, and yield pools linked to tokenized gold. The initiative was rolled out during a downturn in crypto markets, with sentiment indicators such as the Fear &amp; Greed Index registering extreme fear levels. “The real test of a platform is not how it performs in bull markets, but how it supports users when markets turn,” the company said.Bybit has expanded integration of tokenized gold across its platform, including additional trading pairs and savings products, while reporting control of about 15.75% of global trading volume for Tether Gold on centralized exchanges. The company also indicated plans to introduce up to $10 million in additional yield-focused products tied to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and other real-world assets.Broader market conditions have supported renewed interest in gold exposure, with prices rising 64% in 2025 amid inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions, and continued central bank accumulation. Tokenized gold has been positioned within digital asset markets as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance, while new structures aim to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> the longstanding limitation of gold as an idle asset.Alternative approaches to generating yield on gold have emerged, including models that lend bullion to jewelers with returns around 2.3% annually, as well as strategies using hedged trading positions to produce approximately 4% returns. These developments coincide with the expansion of real-world asset products within digital markets, where tokenized commodities are increasingly integrated into trading and savings platforms alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index tracking tools, crypto price feeds, and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> data systems.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot builds tokenized gold network with crypto price tracking

World Gold Council Unveils Tokenized Gold Framework as Market Nears $6B with XAUT and PAXG Dominance

<h2>Confidential Filing Remains Active as Exchange Pauses Public Listing Timeline Amid Market Downturn</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Kraken pauses IPO despite confidential filing in November 2025 and initial Q1 2026 target</li><li>Crypto market downturn sees Bitcoin near $71,000, down 44% from peak, with Fear &amp; Greed Index at 26</li><li>Exchange shifts focus toward tokenized stocks and multi-asset expansion while maintaining $20 billion valuation</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/kraken">Kraken</a> has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/03/17/crypto-exchange-kraken-freezes-multibillion-dollar-ipo-plan-due-to-difficult-market-conditions">paused</a> its plans to go public, stepping back from a listing process that had been expected to culminate in early 2026, according to people familiar with the matter, with the decision disclosed on March 18, 2026. The company had confidentially filed for an initial public offering in November 2025 and had been targeting a Q1 2026 debut. A spokesperson for the exchange said, “As we announced in November, we filed confidentially with the SEC, and that is all we can really share.”The pause comes as crypto markets weakened significantly after late 2025 highs, with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> trading near $71,000 based on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index data and declining 44% from its peak levels. Broader sentiment has deteriorated alongside price action, with the Crypto Fear &amp; Greed Index registering 26. Lower crypto price volatility and reduced trading activity have weighed on exchange revenues across the sector.Kraken&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/kraken-20b-valuation-800m-raise-citadel-securities-funding">raised $800 million</a> in November 2025 at a $20 billion valuation, including a $200 million investment from Citadel Securities, positioning the firm among the most highly valued private crypto exchanges. Public market conditions have since shifted, with investors showing less appetite for crypto listings at comparable valuations and focusing more on profitability and stable revenue streams.BitGo, the only crypto company to go public in 2026 so far, has seen its stock decline 44% since its listing, according to market data. Several crypto firms that went public during 2025, including Circle,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/bullish">Bullish</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/table">Gemini</a>, are also trading below their post-listing highs. The global crypto IPO market had previously expanded to 11 listings raising $14.6 billion in 2025, compared with $310 million in 2024.Kraken’s IPO pause coincides with internal developments, including the reported departure of Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Lemmerman earlier in 2026. The company has not publicly detailed the reasons for the leadership change during its IPO preparation phase.While delaying its public debut, Kraken has expanded its product offerings beyond digital assets, launching commission-free equities trading as part of a broader multi-asset strategy. The company has also been involved in the distribution of tokenized stocks, allowing users to access blockchain-based equity markets through its platform infrastructure.Tokenized equities have gained traction across financial markets as institutions explore blockchain-based settlement and continuous trading models. Kraken’s participation in this segment places it alongside other firms seeking to integrate traditional financial instruments with crypto-native systems.Other companies focused on tokenization continue to pursue public listings despite broader market headwinds. Securitize has been targeting a public offering as early as Q2 2026 and has raised $225 million through private investment in public equity financing. Its chief executive said, “interest in tokenization continues to be strong despite market conditions.”This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Kraken IPO halted amid crypto price pressure and weak demand

Kraken Freezes IPO Plans After $20B Valuation Clash With Weak Crypto Markets

<h2>Token Allocation Proposal Transitions Opera Into Long-Term Celo Stakeholder With Governance Cap and Three-Year Framework</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Opera proposed to receive 160 million CELO tokens (~$12 million) in a governance-approved deal shifting it into a long-term ecosystem stakeholder</li><li>MiniPay has reached 14 million users, processed 420 million transactions, and operates in 66+ countries</li><li>Governance safeguards cap Opera’s voting power at 10%, while Celo reports 700,000 daily and 4.2 million weekly active users</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Opera and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/celo-celo">Celo</a> Core Co. disclosed on March 19, 2026 a&nbsp;<a href="https://forum.celo.org/t/celos-next-chapter-opera-proposal-to-transition-from-distribution-partner-to-network-stakeholder/13124?utm_source=chatgpt.com">proposal</a> to allocate 160 million CELO tokens to Opera as part of a revised commercial framework replacing prior quarterly funding arrangements. The allocation, valued at approximately $12 million at the time of disclosure, is structured as a one-time grant tied to distribution services and is pending approval through Celo’s decentralized governance process. The proposal outlines that tokens would be transferred from Celo’s unreleased treasury into an Opera-controlled&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> under a three-year partnership structure tied to ecosystem expansion.Terms of the proposal specify that Opera would hold the tokens long term, aligning its incentives with the performance of the Celo network rather than receiving recurring payments. Governance provisions included in the framework place a cap of 10% on Opera’s voting power of total staked CELO, with exceptions limited to emergency scenarios. The arrangement replaces a prior model requiring periodic governance approvals and introduces a single allocation designed to streamline operational execution between the two parties.Opera’s integration with Celo centers on MiniPay, a self-custodial&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> wallet embedded within its browser ecosystem. The wallet has recorded more than 14 million account registrations across over 66 countries and processed more than 420 million transactions since its launch. Data shared by Celo shows over 700,000 daily active users and more than 4.2 million weekly active users interacting with USDT on the network, while more than 50 million Opera users have accumulated rewards redeemable in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> within MiniPay.Statements released alongside the proposal describe the shift as a transition from a distribution partnership to deeper ecosystem participation, with one release stating the agreement is intended to “grow Opera from distribution partner into key network stakeholder.” Additional language in the proposal notes that the structure aims to “better align commercial terms” and reflects the “scale and maturity” of the collaboration, while also stating Opera has a “genuine belief in and commitment to the long-term value of the Celo ecosystem.”Opera’s broader distribution footprint includes access to hundreds of millions of users globally, with a strong presence among mobile-first users in emerging markets. The partnership outlines expansion efforts across regions including Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where mobile-based financial services and stablecoin usage have seen increasing adoption. Product development tied to the collaboration includes MiniPay’s Mini Apps ecosystem supporting use cases such as bill payments, gold purchases, and prediction markets within a mobile-first interface.Technical features supporting the integration include fee abstraction allowing users to pay transaction fees in stablecoins rather than native tokens and phone number–linked wallet functionality designed to simplify onboarding. Additional roadmap items referenced in the proposal include crypto-linked payment cards, merchant integrations, and fiat onramps designed to expand transaction capabilities within the ecosystem.Historical context in the announcement traces the partnership between Opera and Celo back to June 2021, with MiniPay launching in September 2023 as a key milestone in user acquisition and transaction growth. A prior extension of the collaboration in December 2025 set a target of enabling financial access for one billion users by 2030, forming the basis for the current proposal submitted for governance consideration.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Opera infrastructure strengthens crypto price index and network reach

Opera Secures 160 Million CELO Tokens in Proposed Deal to Expand MiniPay, Targeting 14M Users and 420M Transactions Across 66 Countries

<h2>Workforce Reductions, Leadership Changes, and AI Integration Efforts Unfold Within Days Across Crypto Sector</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Crypto.com cut 12% (~180 of ~1,500 staff) on March 19, 2026 as part of an AI-driven restructuring, while purchasing the AI.com domain for ~$70 million.</li><li>Messari saw its CEO step down on March 16–17, 2026 alongside layoffs, as it pivots to an AI-first model with agent-based data access via x402 protocol.</li><li>Algorand Foundation reduced staff by 25%, while Block cut ~4,000 employees (~40%) in February 2026 before rehiring some workers due to operational gaps.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Crypto firms carried out a series of workforce reductions between March 16–19, 2026, as companies adjusted staffing levels while pursuing artificial intelligence integration and cost restructuring strategies.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/crypto_com">Crypto.com</a> reduced its global workforce by 12%, affecting approximately 180 employees out of around 1,500 staff, according to company statements released on March 19, 2026. Chief Executive Officer Kris Marszalek said employees impacted were in “roles that do not adapt in our new world,” adding, “Companies that do not make this pivot immediately will fail,” and “Companies that move slowly will be left behind.”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.71%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2034539285232398798_34253dd9a9.webp" alt="tweet-2034539285232398798.webp"></figure>Company actions included restructuring growth and customer relationship teams while reallocating resources toward operational priorities tied to automation initiatives. Some affected employees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-based-crypto-com-lays-off-12-of-staff-third-cut-in-four-years">reported</a> discovering job cuts after losing access to internal systems such as Slack. Crypto.com’s workforce reduction follows earlier layoffs in 2022 and a separate ~20% cut in 2023, while the company also completed a domain purchase valued at approximately $70 million for AI.com.Messari confirmed leadership changes and workforce reductions between March 16–17, 2026, as Chief Executive Officer Eric Turner stepped down and moved into an advisory role. Turner described the layoffs as a “difficult day… saying goodbye to many people who helped build Messari.” The company appointed Diran Li, previously Chief Technology Officer with more than seven years at the firm, as the new chief executive following a period of leadership turnover that began after founder Ryan Selkis exited in 2024.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.63%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2033641098795729141_a29660d1a9.webp" alt="tweet-2033641098795729141.webp"></figure>Messari&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MessariCrypto/status/2033629514379760113">outlined</a> a shift toward becoming “an AI-first company serving institutions through research and AI products,” alongside plans to expand its data infrastructure for machine-based consumption. The firm is enabling autonomous agents to access and purchase datasets directly using crypto wallets through the x402 protocol. Workforce reductions follow earlier cuts in February 2023 and a separate ~15% reduction in January 2025, according to company disclosures and reporting tied to prior restructuring efforts.<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/algorand-algo">Algorand</a> Foundation reduced its workforce by approximately 25% on March 19, 2026,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/AlgoFoundation/status/2034298850878652616">citing</a> “uncertain global macroeconomic conditions” and a “broader downturn in crypto markets” in internal communications. The organization described affected staff as “best-in-class contributors” and called the decision “incredibly tough.” The foundation said it would concentrate resources on protocol development and ecosystem priorities following the restructuring.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.53%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2034298850878652616_51237bfc3b.webp" alt="tweet-2034298850878652616.webp"></figure>Organizational data indicates the foundation had fewer than 200 employees prior to the layoffs. Treasury holdings were reported at approximately $38 million in fiat reserves and about 1.1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/algorand-algo">ALGO</a> tokens, while the ALGO token traded down ~3.6% to around $0.08 following the announcement.Block carried out a separate workforce reduction in February 2026, cutting approximately 4,000 employees, or about 40% of its staff, as part of a shift toward artificial intelligence integration. Company leadership described the move as an effort to operate with smaller teams supported by automated systems. Subsequent internal reports indicated the company&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/block-rehires-some-staff-initially-fired">rehired</a> some previously terminated employees within weeks, citing “technical oversight” and the need to maintain staffing for critical infrastructure and customer-facing operations.Additional workforce changes across the sector included a reduction of about 20 employees at&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/optimism-op">OP</a> Labs and reported plans by&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/table">Gemini</a> to cut approximately 200 employees, or around 25% of its workforce, according to multiple industry reports published during the same period. These developments occurred within a narrow time frame alongside the layoffs at Crypto.com, Messari, and Algorand Foundation.Data cited by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas shows artificial intelligence was linked to more than 48,000 job cuts during the first 11 months of 2025, while survey findings indicate 41% of companies expect workforce reductions tied to AI within five years. Separate estimates&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-companies-replacing-human-employees-with-ai-layoffs-workforce-reductions?utm_source=chatgpt.com">suggest</a> AI could affect approximately 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, based on research referenced in reporting tied to workforce trends.Not every AI enthusiast supports such aggressive scaling. In a conversation with Jim Cramer, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang <a href="https://x.com/Ric_RTP/status/2034623376082284958">criticized</a> companies using AI to justify layoffs, attributing the issue to a lack of imagination. He noted AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have significant revenue growth, while Nvidia added $500 billion in five months and continues hiring. Huang's remarks indicate that the real issue isn't AI itself, but rather that companies have been devoid of fresh ideas for years and are now resorting to AI as an easy excuse for their shortcomings.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Crypto layoffs surge as Crypto.com shifts workforce toward AI system

Crypto Firms Cut Staff as AI Push and Cost Pressures Drive Layoffs Across Crypto.com, Messari, Algorand, and Block in March

<h2>DeFi Integration, Market Imbalance, and Legal Scrutiny Converge as Prediction Platform Expands</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Polymarket acquired Brahma to address liquidity imbalance, integrating a DeFi platform that processed over $1 billion in transactions.</li><li>The platform’s valuation stands around $20 billion, while market share dropped from over 61% to about 32% amid rising competition.</li><li>A new MLB partnership and regulatory scrutiny, including insider trading concerns and CFTC coordination, place the platform under increased oversight.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Polymarket has&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/2026/03/18/exclusive-polymarket-acquires-the-startup-brahma/">acquired</a> decentralized finance startup Brahma as part of a broader effort to resolve structural inefficiencies in its prediction market platform, particularly uneven liquidity distribution across contracts, according to reports released March 19, 2026. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, brings a company founded in 2021 with more than $1 billion in processed transaction volume fully into Polymarket’s ecosystem, with Brahma ceasing external operations and shutting down its existing products within approximately 30 days.Chief executive Shayne Coplan described the technical scope of the integration, stating, “Building reliable infrastructure across blockchain networks and traditional financial rails is hard—there are no shortcuts.” Brahma’s previous offerings included strategy vaults, smart accounts, and a crypto-linked payment card known as Swype.fun, all of which are set to be phased out as the team transitions to improving&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> creation, deposits, token conversion, and redemption systems inside Polymarket’s platform.The acquisition targets a persistent imbalance where high-profile markets attract significant capital while smaller contracts struggle to sustain activity, leading to slippage and unreliable pricing. Internal platform data shows a divergence between steadily rising open interest and inconsistent trading volumes, with some niche markets lacking sufficient participation to maintain efficient price discovery.Polymarket’s valuation has reached approximately $20 billion, following rapid growth tied to heightened activity during the 2024 U.S. election cycle. That surge in user engagement later subsided, with the company’s market share declining from over 61% to about 32% as activity normalized. Rival platform Kalshi gained ground during the same period, capturing about 66% of the market and processing nearly $1 billion in weekly trading volume.Expansion efforts have extended beyond the Brahma deal, including acquisitions of developer tooling startup Dome and an executive recruitment firm known as Lunch, alongside partnerships with artificial intelligence and data companies to strengthen sports integrity systems. Polymarket is also reportedly exploring the launch of a native token, referred to as POLY, with a potential release targeted for 2026.A separate development&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Polymarket/status/2034623765850533888">announced</a> March 19, 2026 established an official partnership between Polymarket and Major League Baseball, granting the platform rights to use league branding and integrate official data provided through Sportradar. The agreement allows prediction markets to be incorporated into fan engagement products while enabling access to league-controlled datasets.Major League Baseball concurrently entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading Commission to facilitate the sharing of confidential information and coordinate efforts to monitor market integrity. Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Protecting the integrity of the game… is our top priority… while providing fan engagement opportunities.”Prediction markets continue to face regulatory ambiguity as authorities debate whether such platforms fall under financial derivatives oversight or state-level gambling laws. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has increased scrutiny of event-based contracts, particularly those tied to sports outcomes, while industry groups such as the American Gaming Association have argued that these platforms may bypass existing gambling regulations.Legal tensions have escalated across multiple jurisdictions, with some states pursuing enforcement actions against competing platforms, including criminal charges filed in Arizona. Authorities have raised concerns about manipulation risks and the potential for misuse of non-public information in thinly traded or niche markets.Polymarket has also faced scrutiny over controversial contracts tied to geopolitical events, including betting activity related to Iran, alongside allegations of insider trading and attempts to influence outcomes through external pressure. One reported incident involved users attempting to pressure a journalist to alter coverage tied to a market outcome, after which the platform banned the individuals involved and condemned the conduct.The platform operates on blockchain infrastructure using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a>-denominated trades, allowing users to buy and sell shares representing probabilities of real-world outcomes. Partnerships across sports leagues including MLB, NHL, MLS, and UFC have expanded its reach, while ongoing debates around legality and classification continue across different jurisdictions.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot redistributes assets across Polymarket prediction market imbalance

Polymarket Acquires Brahma to Fix Liquidity Gaps as Valuation Hits $20 Billion and MLB Deal Deepens Regulatory Spotlight

<h2>Tokenized Stocks to Trade Alongside Traditional Shares With Identical Rights, Pricing, and Settlement Rules</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>SEC approved Nasdaq’s rule change, enabling tokenized securities trading under a pilot program.</li><li>Tokenized equities and ETFs will trade on the same order book with identical rights, pricing, and identifiers.</li><li>Settlement remains at T+1, with optional tokenized processing handled through DTC infrastructure.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2026&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/sro/nasdaq/2026/34-105047.pdf">approved</a> a Nasdaq rule change permitting the trading and settlement of tokenized securities, allowing blockchain-based representations of equities to operate within existing market infrastructure. The framework enables digital tokens representing traditional financial instruments to be traded without altering the legal status of the underlying assets, keeping them fully recognized as conventional securities under U.S. law. The approval establishes a structure where tokenized and non-tokenized securities coexist within the same regulated environment.Nasdaq’s system will allow tokenized versions of equities and exchange-traded funds, initially focusing on securities included in the Russell 1000 index and major index-linked ETFs such as those tracking the S&amp;P 500. These instruments will be fully interchangeable with their traditional counterparts and will not form a separate trading class. Both formats will be executed within the same central order book, ensuring that liquidity is not fragmented between digital and traditional representations of the same asset.Tokenized securities will follow identical trading mechanics, including execution priority, pricing, and access to market data. The structure ensures that no preferential treatment is given to either format, maintaining consistency across all participants. The SEC stated that the framework meets requirements for “fair and orderly markets” and investor protection, addressing concerns about discrepancies that could arise from introducing blockchain-based instruments into regulated exchanges.Each tokenized security must remain fully fungible with its traditional equivalent, carrying the same ticker symbol and CUSIP identifier while representing the same underlying share. Investors holding tokenized versions retain full shareholder rights, including voting privileges, dividend eligibility, and claims on residual assets in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a>. This requirement ensures that tokenized equities function as direct digital representations of ownership rather than derivative or synthetic products.The rollout will take place through a pilot program involving the Depository Trust Company, which will oversee clearing, settlement, and post-trade processing. Market participants can opt into tokenized settlement by flagging trades at the point of execution, introducing flexibility without mandating system-wide adoption. Transactions that do not meet tokenization criteria will default to traditional settlement processes, maintaining operational continuity across the exchange.Nasdaq’s core trading infrastructure, including order types, routing logic, and trading sessions, will remain unchanged under the new framework. Regulatory surveillance systems will monitor tokenized and traditional securities using the same datasets and compliance tools, ensuring consistent oversight across both formats. Settlement timing will continue to follow the current standard of T+1, meaning trades finalize one business day after execution.The approval integrates blockchain functionality into existing capital markets without introducing new trading venues or regulatory categories, embedding tokenization directly into established systems. The approach allows digital asset infrastructure to operate within traditional financial rails while preserving the legal and operational structure already in place for listed securities.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot handles tokenized securities inside Nasdaq trading floor system

SEC Approves Nasdaq Tokenized Securities Trading Pilot, Allowing Blockchain-Based Equities Under Existing Market Structure

<h2>Institutional Index Provider Extends S&amp;P 500 Into On-Chain Perpetual Markets With Continuous Trading Model</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices licensed the S&amp;P 500 for a perpetual futures product launched on Hyperliquid</li><li>The contract enables 24/7 trading with leverage up to ~50x and quickly attracted over $10 million in positions</li><li>The launch marks the first officially sanctioned S&amp;P 500 perpetual contract on a decentralized exchange</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices on March 18, 2026&nbsp;<a href="https://press.spglobal.com/2026-03-18-S-P-Dow-Jones-Indices-Licenses-S-P-500-R-to-Trade-XYZ-for-Perpetual-Contracts-on-Hyperliquid">licensed</a> the S&amp;P 500 index for use in a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-crypto-perpetual-futures">perpetual</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contracts">futures</a> contract, enabling the first officially sanctioned product of its kind to trade on the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/Decentralized-Crypto-Exchange-dex">decentralized exchange</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/hyperliquid">Hyperliquid</a>. The agreement grants Trade[XYZ] rights to use official index data for a derivatives instrument that operates continuously without expiration, introducing a structure that differs from traditional futures tied to fixed settlement dates.Trade[XYZ] developed the product as a perpetual futures contract, allowing traders to hold positions indefinitely while funding rates maintain alignment with the underlying index. The instrument supports both long and short exposure, offering traders a mechanism to speculate on price movements of the benchmark in either direction through a crypto-native infrastructure.Hyperliquid provides the trading venue through an on-chain order book model that runs continuously, removing the time constraints associated with U.S. equity markets. The platform’s design enables uninterrupted access to index exposure, allowing activity across global time zones without reliance on traditional exchange hours.Early trading activity showed more than $10 million in combined long and short positions within hours of launch, reflecting immediate participation following the product’s debut. The contract also allows leverage of up to ~50x, increasing both potential returns and the risk of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a> for traders engaging with the instrument.S&amp;P Global has expanded into digital asset markets since 2022, including the development of crypto-related indices and blockchain-based data initiatives. The licensed perpetual contract extends that effort by bringing an established equity benchmark into decentralized derivatives trading through officially sanctioned data usage.Hyperliquid, launched in 2023, offers more than 300 trading pairs and processes billions in daily trading volume through its decentralized infrastructure. The exchange has reported monthly volumes reaching hundreds of billions of dollars while expanding its product suite beyond cryptocurrencies.A protocol upgrade known as HIP-3 enabled permissionless creation of perpetual markets on Hyperliquid, allowing developers to introduce instruments tied to real-world assets such as equities, commodities, and indices. Listings have included exposure to companies like Tesla and Nvidia as well as assets such as gold and silver.Trade[XYZ] is expected to generate revenue through a share of transaction fees tied to activity on the perpetual contract. Comparable S&amp;P 500 futures markets in traditional finance handle daily notional volumes reaching hundreds of billions of dollars, with estimates suggesting that capturing even 0.1% of that activity could produce hundreds of thousands of dollars in daily fees.Access to the platform remains restricted for U.S. residents, reflecting ongoing jurisdictional limitations around crypto derivatives trading. The product operates within a decentralized framework while relying on licensed index data, placing it outside traditional exchange structures.Market participants have noted structural risks associated with perpetual trading, including thin liquidity during off-hours and increased volatility tied to continuous price discovery. High leverage combined with nonstop trading conditions has also been described as “highly speculative,” particularly in environments without centralized safeguards.The introduction of a licensed S&amp;P 500 perpetual contract coincides with broader efforts across financial markets to expand trading availability beyond standard sessions. Several platforms are developing tokenized versions of equities and indices, offering leveraged exposure and continuous trading access.Crypto-native traders have increasingly sought instruments that mirror traditional benchmarks while integrating with digital asset ecosystems, where metrics such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index tracking, crypto price movements, and overall coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> trends often intersect with macroeconomic indicators tied to equities.One industry narrative described the shift succinctly: “The S&amp;P 500 may effectively never close again,” as trading infrastructure transitions toward systems capable of operating without interruption.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot runs nonstop crypto price tracking across global markets

S&P 500 Licensing Deal Brings First Official Perpetual Index Contract to Hyperliquid, Enabling 24/7 Synthetic Equity Exposure

<h2>Repayments Calculated at Crash-Era Valuations as Billions Return to Market Circulation</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>FTX has launched a $2.2 billion repayment to creditors as part of its distribution phase.</li><li>Claims are being paid based on November 2022 asset prices, not current crypto price levels.</li><li>The process returns billions in liquidity after more than two years of bankruptcy proceedings.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ftx-token-ftt">FTX</a> has initiated a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ftx-recovery-trust-to-distribute-approximately-2-2-billion-to-creditors-in-fourth-distribution-on-march-31--2026--302717707.html?tc=eml_cleartimehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ftx-recovery-trust-to-distribute-approximately-2-2-billion-to-creditors-in-fourth-distribution-on-march-31--2026--302717707.html?tc=eml_cleartime">$2.2 billion distribution</a> to creditors as part of its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, marking one of the large-scale repayment rounds following the exchange’s collapse in November 2022. The payout forms part of a broader recovery effort that has involved liquidating assets, reclaiming funds, and redistributing capital to affected users and institutions over more than two years of legal administration. The estate has steadily converted a mix of crypto holdings, venture investments, and cash positions into distributable funds while operating under court supervision.Multiple creditor classes are expected to achieve complete or nearly complete recovery after the forthcoming distribution, as stated in the announcement. U.S. customer claims (Class 5B) will achieve a full 100% recovery, while general unsecured claims and digital asset loan claims will also reach a total cumulative recovery of 100%. Dotcom customer claims will recover 96%, and convenience claims will exceed full recovery, reaching a cumulative total of 120%.Creditors receiving funds under the current distribution are being repaid based on the value of their holdings at the time of the exchange’s failure, when digital asset markets were significantly lower than present levels.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> was trading at depressed levels during that period compared with more recent&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements tracked through the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coin360-dex">COIN360</a> crypto price index, creating a gap between repayment values and current market conditions. This structure means that while many claims are being satisfied in full dollar terms, creditors are not participating in subsequent gains tied to increases in crypto price or shifts in overall coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>.The repayment process has unfolded through multiple phases, with earlier distributions preceding the latest payout as administrators worked to recover and monetize assets tied to the failed platform. Court filings and restructuring updates have detailed how recovered funds were sourced from asset sales, litigation recoveries, and reorganized holdings. The estate has indicated that most creditors are expected to recover a substantial portion of their claims, with some cases approaching full restitution in nominal terms based on valuations set during the bankruptcy reference period.Market participants have been monitoring how returned funds could influence trading activity as capital re-enters circulation. Portions of the distributed assets are expected to flow back into digital markets, where traders track movements through indicators such as crypto price index benchmarks and aggregate coin market cap data. At the same time, some recipients may convert distributions into fiat currency, reflecting varied responses among creditors who experienced losses during the exchange’s failure.The bankruptcy proceedings have been closely followed across the industry as one of the largest financial unwinds in the history of digital assets. Administrators have managed the process through asset tracing,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a> strategies, and structured payouts overseen by U.S. courts. The scale of recovered funds and the pace of distributions have drawn attention from institutional participants and policymakers tracking how insolvency cases involving digital assets are resolved under existing legal frameworks.FTX’s collapse triggered widespread disruptions across crypto markets, affecting trading platforms, liquidity providers, and investor confidence. The ongoing repayment process represents a continuation of efforts to resolve outstanding claims tied to the exchange’s operations. Legal teams overseeing the estate have continued to coordinate distributions while managing remaining assets and claims, with the latest payout representing a significant step in concluding the case.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Structured payouts reshape crypto price index and investor outcomes

FTX Begins $2.2 Billion Creditor Payout as Bankruptcy Process Continues After November 2022 Collapse

<h2>Regulators Outline Five-Category Token Framework, Classify Major Assets as Commodities While Lawmakers Remain Deadlocked</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>SEC and CFTC issued a 68-page joint interpretation on March 17, 2026, stating most crypto assets are not securities and introducing a five-part taxonomy</li><li>Major tokens including BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, AVAX, DOT, LINK, DOGE, SHIB classified as digital commodities</li><li>Market commentators raised questions as the guidance looks heavily overlapped with CLARITY Act provisions, which passed the House 294–134 in July 2025 but remains stalled in the Senate</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading Commission jointly released a 68-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/rules/interp/2026/33-11412.pdf">interpretive guidance</a> on March 17, 2026, establishing that most crypto assets fall outside securities classification and introducing a formal taxonomy dividing digital assets into five categories: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a>, and digital securities. Only digital securities remain under SEC jurisdiction, while other categories shift primarily toward CFTC oversight. The interpretation explicitly names&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ether</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/xrp-xrp">XRP</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/cardano-ada">Cardano</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/polkadot-dot">Polkadot</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/chainlink-link">Chainlink</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">Dogecoin</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/shiba-inu-shib">Shiba Inu</a> as digital commodities.Specifically, digital commodities, which gain value from decentralized systems and open market dynamics, are categorized as non-securities. Examples include Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP. Similarly, digital collectibles like NFTs that represent ownership rights to art, music, or trading cards also fall into this category. Additionally, digital tools serving as memberships, tickets, or identity credentials—such as ENS domains—are included in the non-security classification. Payment stablecoins that adhere to the GENIUS Act complete this group of non-securities.The framework introduces what regulators describe as an “attach-and-detach” doctrine, under which a token may initially qualify as a security during fundraising phases but later transition out of that classification once its underlying network becomes functional and independent. The interpretation outlines a lifecycle model distinguishing between early-stage investment contracts and mature tokens operating within decentralized systems, formalizing a concept that has previously been debated in court but not codified through regulatory interpretation.Additional provisions extend beyond classification to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> network activities including staking,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/airdrop">airdrops</a>, and mining, placing them within defined regulatory boundaries. These inclusions establish clearer treatment for participation-based activities that had previously been subject to enforcement ambiguity, particularly in cases involving validator rewards and token distribution mechanisms tied to protocol operation.The guidance arrives as lawmakers continue to debate the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act of 2025, which passed the House of Representatives with a 294–134 bipartisan vote in July 2025 but has yet to advance through the Senate. Legislative delays have been attributed to disagreements between traditional financial institutions and crypto firms, particularly concerning&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> yield structures, as well as procedural fragmentation between Senate committees, including a separate draft introduced by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Jan. 29.Regulatory officials framed the joint interpretation as a response to prolonged uncertainty. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins said, “After more than a decade of uncertainty… this interpretation will provide market participants with a clear understanding… This is what regulatory agencies are supposed to do: draw clear lines in clear terms.” CFTC Chairman Michael Selig&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9198-26">stated</a>, “For far too long, American builders… have awaited clear guidance… With today’s interpretation, the wait is over.”Policy analysts note that the interpretation delivers substantial overlap with provisions proposed in the CLARITY Act, including a formal token classification system, a delineation of SEC and CFTC jurisdiction, and recognition of non-security activities such as staking and mining. The guidance does not establish statutory authority or enforcement frameworks, leaving areas such as exchange registration, broker compliance, and anti-money laundering requirements unaddressed within the interpretive document.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_57c8e50689.webp" alt="image.webp"></figure><figure class="image"><img alt="image (1).webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/image_1_d7d24db4fc.webp"></figure>Legal observers have emphasized that the interpretation does not replace legislative action, as it remains subject to revision and does not carry the same enforceability as congressional statutes. The CLARITY Act includes provisions for formal registration regimes covering digital commodity exchanges and intermediaries, as well as compliance obligations for entities interacting with decentralized finance protocols.Still, debate continues among policy experts over whether the joint guidance reduces the urgency for congressional action or reinforces the need for statutory clarity. The interpretive framework establishes definitions and jurisdictional boundaries within existing regulatory authority, while pending legislation would formalize those structures into law.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

SEC CFTC crypto regulation splits tokens into commodities and securities

SEC, CFTC Declare Most Crypto Assets Non-Securities in 68-Page Joint Guidance as CLARITY Act Debate Intensifies

<h2>Payments Giant Moves to Integrate Blockchain Rails Across Global Network</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Mastercard agreed on March 17, 2026 to acquire BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments</li><li>BVNK provides stablecoin infrastructure across 130+ countries, bridging fiat and blockchain systems</li><li>Deal expected to close by the end of 2026, marking the largest stablecoin-focused acquisition to date</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Mastercard said March 17, 2026 it had reached a definitive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260317174940/en/Mastercard-to-Acquire-BVNK-to-Connect-On-Chain-Payments-and-Fiat-Rails">agreement</a> to acquire&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a> infrastructure provider BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, in what is described as the largest deal of its kind involving a crypto-native payments company. The transaction includes $300 million in contingent payments tied to future performance milestones, with completion expected by the end of 2026 pending regulatory approvals and closing conditions.The acquisition centers on integrating BVNK’s technology into Mastercard’s global payments network, allowing businesses to move value between traditional fiat systems and blockchain-based rails. Mastercard stated the move will enable new capabilities across cross-border remittances, business-to-business payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and treasury operations, as the company expands beyond its traditional card-based infrastructure.Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said the company opted for acquisition over internal development to accelerate deployment, stating it would “get to market much faster” rather than spending years building comparable infrastructure and securing regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions.BVNK, founded in 2021, provides enterprise-grade tools for sending, receiving, storing, and converting&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> alongside fiat currencies. The platform operates across more than 130 countries and supports multiple blockchain networks, allowing businesses to manage digital asset flows and treasury functions within a unified system.The company had previously raised funding from investors including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> Ventures, Tiger Global, Haun Ventures, Visa Ventures, DRW Venture Capital, Avenir, and Scribble Ventures. BVNK was valued at about $750 million during its 2024 Series B funding round, placing Mastercard’s agreed purchase price at a significant premium relative to its last private valuation.Negotiations around BVNK had earlier involved other potential buyers, including discussions with Coinbase at a valuation of about $2 billion that ultimately did not result in a transaction. Mastercard had also explored acquiring other crypto infrastructure firms such as Zerohash within a range of $1.5 billion to $2 billion before finalizing the BVNK agreement.The deal exceeds previous benchmarks for stablecoin infrastructure acquisitions, including Stripe’s $1.1 billion purchase of Bridge in 2025, and comes as payment firms increasingly move to integrate blockchain-based settlement layers into existing financial systems.Mastercard said stablecoin payment use cases reached at least $350 billion in volume in 2025, citing faster settlement speeds, lower transaction costs, and continuous availability compared to traditional banking rails. The company also pointed to increasing regulatory clarity as a factor supporting broader adoption of digital currency infrastructure.“We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services,” the company said, describing a shift toward integrating stablecoins into mainstream financial operations.The acquisition will allow Mastercard to connect on-chain payments directly with its existing global network, which spans billions of users and hundreds of millions of merchant acceptance points. The company processes approximately $9.5 trillion in annual payment volume, providing a large base for integrating new digital asset capabilities.Shares of Mastercard rose about 0.5% during regular trading following the announcement and were up as much as 2.5% in pre-market activity. The stock remains down roughly 10–11% year-to-date, according to market data.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Stablecoin infrastructure secured as Mastercard deploys BVNK integration across payment systems

Mastercard to Acquire BVNK for Up to $1.8 Billion in Landmark Stablecoin Infrastructure Deal

<h2>Global rollout targets remittances and underserved markets</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>PayPal expanded PYUSD from 2 to 70 countries on March 17, 2026, adding 68 new markets across emerging regions</li><li>Stablecoin reached a $4.1 billion market cap with ~4.093 billion tokens and offers ~4% yield to users</li><li>Daily volume ranges between $90.9 million and $115 million, reflecting low trading turnover relative to supply</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>PayPal expanded its U.S. dollar-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/paypal-usd-pyusd">PYUSD</a> to&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2026-03-17-PAYPAL-BRINGS-PAYPAL-USD-TO-USERS-ACROSS-70-MARKETS">70 countries</a> on March 17, 2026, marking a significant scale-up from its prior availability in only 2 markets, the United States and the United Kingdom. The rollout adds 68 new jurisdictions across Africa, Latin America, South America, Asia-Pacific, and parts of Europe, with specific countries including Uganda, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Singapore, and Malawi. The expansion allows users to hold PYUSD balances, send and receive funds globally, withdraw into local currencies, and transfer assets to external crypto wallets through PayPal’s infrastructure.The update introduces a shift in how PayPal operates in several regions where users previously could not maintain&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a> balances and were required to immediately convert incoming funds into fiat currency or withdraw to local banks. The rollout establishes a balance-based system enabling users to store value directly within PayPal accounts, extending functionality beyond its prior role as a transaction intermediary. The stablecoin operates across multiple blockchains including&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/stellar-lumens-xlm">Stellar</a>, with plans to expand further using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/layerzero-zro">LayerZero</a> interoperability to networks such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tron-trx">Tron</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/sei-sei">Sei</a>.PYUSD’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> reached approximately $4.1 billion as of March 2026, supported by a circulating supply of around 4.093 billion tokens. The asset has grown more than 5× year-over-year since its launch in 2023, placing it among the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> globally while still trailing dominant players in total coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> rankings. About $2.97 billion of the supply, equivalent to roughly 72.6%, is issued on Ethereum. The token maintains a 1:1 peg backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term Treasuries, and cash equivalents held through Paxos.Trading activity for PYUSD remains limited compared with its total supply, with daily volumes reported around $115 million. The volume-to-market-cap ratio stands at approximately 0.028%, indicating relatively low turnover. This contrasts with more actively traded stablecoins often used for speculative purposes tied to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements tracked through a broader crypto price index. The data suggests PYUSD’s usage is concentrated in payments, transfers, and settlement flows rather than high-frequency trading tied to crypto price volatility.PayPal is introducing a rewards mechanism offering approximately 4% annual yield on PYUSD balances, initially launched in the United States and now being extended internationally. The yield feature positions the stablecoin as a digital dollar savings tool for users in regions with limited access to U.S. dollar-denominated financial products or lower domestic interest rates. The company has also tested PYUSD for internal treasury transfers and enterprise use cases, while existing payment infrastructure supports merchant payouts for platforms such as YouTube.The expansion aligns with PayPal’s focus on cross-border payments, particularly in regions where remittance costs remain high. Global remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries reached $685 billion in 2024, creating demand for alternatives that reduce fees and settlement times. PayPal’s head of crypto, May Zabaneh, said the rollout targets “places where they need it most” and focuses on “cross-border transfers and volume, where the pain is felt so high.”PayPal’s broader ecosystem includes more than 430 million users and approximately 36 million merchants, providing distribution for PYUSD across existing payment channels including PayPal and Venmo. The company has partnered with Fiserv to enable interoperability between stablecoins and connect with a wider network of financial institutions. Regulatory developments such as the GENIUS Act in 2025 have provided a federal framework for stablecoins in the United States, supporting expanded corporate adoption.The stablecoin’s infrastructure continues to evolve with the introduction of an updated PYUSD v2 contract designed to enhance security and efficiency, alongside lower-cost transaction pathways through networks such as Solana. While the asset is integrated into crypto ecosystems, its usage differs from tokens commonly tracked in speculative crypto price index movements, as its activity is tied to payment flows rather than direct exposure to crypto price fluctuations.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Multi-chain routing expands PYUSD impacting coin market cap distribution