STRC, the perpetual preferred stock from Strategy, has held its 11.5% dividend for April, marking the first time since its July 2025 launch that the dividend has not increased. The move comes after seven consecutive dividend raises, supported by a 30-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) stabilizing near $100.
STRC debuted with a 9% dividend and has positioned itself as a short-duration, high-yield savings alternative, offering monthly cash distributions. The dividend rate is adjusted monthly to support trading near par and minimize price volatility. In April, STRC maintained stability, trading close to $100 and allowing the company to manage its Bitcoin holdings effectively, including an estimated purchase of over 1,000 BTC.
SATA Reaches $100 Par Value
Strive’s SATA preferred stock reached $100 par for the first time, enabling ATM issuance to fund additional bitcoin acquisitions. SATA currently offers a 12.7% dividend, highlighting the company’s continued strategy of leveraging perpetual preferred products to expand digital asset holdings.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
Weeks after Block cut approximately 4,000 employees, co-founder Jack Dorsey shared a vision for an AI integrated workplace. In a blog post with Block’s lead independent director, Roelof Botha, they outlined a future where artificial intelligence could take on middle management responsibilities.
our lead independent director @roelofbotha and i wrote about the history of organizational structures, and our intent to rebuild block as a mini-AGI. https://t.co/emGicpn9xr
Dorsey and Botha explained that AI can track projects, identify issues, assign work, and share critical information faster than humans, allowing companies to operate as “an intelligence” rather than a traditional hierarchy. They emphasized that most companies using AI today simply give employees copilots to improve existing structures, while Block aims to replace what the hierarchy does entirely.
Human Roles in AI Workflows
Despite AI integration, human involvement remains critical. Employees would assume three roles: individual contributors, directly responsible individuals who solve specific problems, and player-coaches who mentor others while continuing technical work.
Efficiency Over Hierarchy
Dorsey and Botha highlighted that traditional hierarchies slow information flow. In a remote-first environment, AI can maintain a real-time overview of products, resources, and bottlenecks, enabling faster decision-making than human managers alone. They concluded that this AI-driven model could reshape how companies operate in the coming years.
.@blocks is building what we think is the first real alternative to hierarchical coordination. For 2,000 years, humans have organized themselves in roughly the same way.
AI changes what’s possible: Not a flatter org chart, but a fundamentally different information architecture,… https://t.co/zRRZxxdPq1
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $1.32 billion in inflows in March 2026, marking the category’s first monthly gain of the year and the first since October 2025, according to SoSoValue. Despite this rebound, the sector ended Q1 with roughly $500 million in net outflows, as January and February redemptions totaled $1.61 billion and $207 million, respectively.
Monthly spot Bitcoin ETF flows since Aug 2025
Market Sentiment and Trading Volumes
Bitcoin (BTC) declined more than 22% in Q1, following a 23% drop in Q4 2025. Investor caution persisted, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index largely below 20, signaling “Extreme Fear.” March inflows came amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, reflecting some resilience in crypto investment products. Monthly trading volumes in Bitcoin ETFs fell to $79 billion, compared with $93 billion in February and $87 billion in January.
Other Spot Crypto ETFs
Spot Ether (ETH) ETFs posted $46 million in net outflows for March, resulting in quarterly losses of $769 million. XRP ETFs saw $31 million in March outflows but ended the quarter with net positive flows of $43 million. Solana (SOL) ETFs maintained momentum, recording $213 million in cumulative inflows with no outflows since their October 2025 launch.
Monthly spot Ether ETF flows since Aug 2025.
Cumulative inflows across all spot crypto ETFs reached $56 billion, with total assets under management of approximately $87.5 billion at the end of Q1 2026.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
US President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering withdrawing the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) after allies declined to support his military demands during the Iran conflict. He described NATO as a “paper tiger” and said leaving the alliance was now “beyond reconsideration,” signaling growing frustration with European partners.
Strait of Hormuz Crisis and Alliance Tensions
The dispute followed NATO partners’ refusal to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil normally travels. Iran has effectively closed the route for weeks, pushing oil and gas prices higher and raising fears of a global recession. Trump argued the United States had supported allies in previous conflicts, including involvement connected to Ukraine, but claimed allies failed to respond when asked.
Criticism of UK and Calls to Re-examine NATO Role
Trump criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, questioning Britain’s naval strength and defense priorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described NATO as a “one-way street” and said the United States would need to re-examine its membership once the Iran conflict ends.
Funding Pressure, Article 5 Debate and Future Plans
Trump is also considering a NATO restructuring that could punish members failing to meet funding commitments and introduce a “pay-to-play” model affecting decision-making. Reports suggest he may withdraw US troops from Germany, while debate has intensified over Article 5, NATO’s mutual defense clause invoked only once after the 9/11 attacks, when more than 1,100 non-US troops, including 457 British soldiers, died in Afghanistan.
Trump is expected to deliver a national address outlining the war’s progress, stating the conflict could end within two to three weeks with the aim of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
Australia has enacted its first comprehensive digital-asset law, mandating crypto exchanges and custody providers to obtain Australian Financial Services Licenses (AFSL). The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 passed both houses on April 1, 2026, bringing digital asset operators under the same core rules as brokers and fund managers.
New Regulated Categories for Digital Assets
The legislation introduces two regulated categories: digital asset platforms, which hold crypto for users, and tokenized custody platforms, which manage real-world assets and issue corresponding digital tokens. Operators of both categories must comply with AFSL requirements, including safeguarding client assets, standardized disclosures, dispute resolution, and avoiding misleading conduct.
Focus on Risk Reduction and Market Growth
The law targets intermediaries controlling customer funds to mitigate risks such as asset commingling, insolvency, and misuse, which have caused losses in previous crypto failures. According to research from the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Center, Australia could generate up to A$24 billion annually from tokenized markets, payments, and digital assets, roughly 1% of GDP, compared to the previous projection of A$1 billion by 2030.
Kraken described the law as a “top-down signal” of Australia’s commitment to digital assets, while Kate Cooper, CEO of OKX Australia, called it a pivotal moment for institutional participation and long-term capital allocation.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
XRP is trading around $1.34 after a modest gain, even as 7.03 billion tokens left exchanges in February, signaling a significant tightening of available supply. The Binance scarcity indicator climbed to 0.59, its highest level since 2024, highlighting the reduced sell-side liquidity.
XRP daily price chart
Despite this outflow, XRP has struggled to break above the $1.34-$1.35 resistance zone, with repeated attempts failing to produce a decisive rally. Trading volume is currently about 29% above the weekly average, suggesting active positioning among buyers and sellers, yet price action remains muted.
Technical Setup and Key Levels
Analysts note that the mismatch between shrinking supply and limited price movement often resolves in a sharper directional move. Buyers have defended dips near $1.31-$1.32, establishing higher lows and maintaining structural support. Immediate resistance lies at $1.34-$1.35, with a successful break potentially opening the path toward $1.42 as the next upside target.
The current setup indicates that while supply is tightening and accumulation may be occurring, sellers are still capping rallies, keeping the market in a compression phase. Observers are watching for a decisive breakout to confirm a sustained trend change.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
Google’s recent research indicates that Bitcoin’s elliptic-curve cryptography could theoretically be broken with fewer than 500,000 quantum qubits, far lower than previous estimates. While such machines do not yet exist, the announcement has prompted traders to reconsider long-term technological risks in the crypto market.
Market Reaction and Token Performance
Several quantum resistant or quantum-aware cryptocurrencies have seen notable gains over the past 24 hours. Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) surged 50%, Cellframe (CEL) rose 40%, and tokens like Abelian (ABEL) increased 25%, while Qubic (QUBIC) and QANplatform (QANX) gained around 10% each. Even privacy-focused Zcash (ZEC) added nearly 7%, reflecting market interest in post-quantum security features, though it is not fully quantum-resistant yet.
The market capitalization of this category, which includes 20 coins, rose 8% to $4.66 billion, indicating growing attention to “future-proof” digital assets. Analysts note that traders are pricing in potential risks well ahead of actual quantum threats.
Long-Term Implications for Bitcoin and Blockchain
While Bitcoin and Ether have seen only modest moves, Google’s study highlights a theoretical risk: a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could attack Bitcoin in under nine minutes, potentially endangering billions in assets across the ecosystem, including DeFi and tokenized holdings.
Experts, including Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, have suggested that quantum concerns influenced Bitcoin’s performance in late 2025, contributing to its slide from $126,000 to $80,000, while quantum-aware tokens like ZEC rallied sharply during the same period.
The development underscores growing investor appetite for cryptocurrencies that emphasize post-quantum cryptographic resilience and research into long-term security solutions.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
Global markets moved sharply higher after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects the Iran war to end within two to three weeks and promised an “important update” in a national address scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern. The announcement triggered strong gains across equities and commodities, with Asian stocks rising 4% and S&P 500 futures jumping notably.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index recorded its strongest session since the conflict began, while Asian technology shares climbed 6.5%, led by major chipmakers posting gains above 9%. Oil markets also reacted, with Brent crude rebounding above $105 after reports that the United Arab Emirates may assist the U.S. and allies in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, potentially becoming the first Gulf state to enter the conflict directly.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that Iran has the willingness to end the war but expects guarantees against future aggression.
Bitcoin and Crypto Markets Show Moderate Gains
Bitcoin traded near $68,150, rising about 0.3% over 24 hours, while other cryptocurrencies posted modest increases. Ether gained 1.6% to $2,100, XRP rose 0.5% to $1.34.
$BTC daily price chart
Despite the rally in traditional markets, Bitcoin has remained relatively stable, trading within a $65,000 to $73,000 range throughout the conflict. This reduced volatility compared with equities highlights a divergence between digital assets and traditional financial markets.
New Bitcoin ETF and Market Catalysts Point to Stronger Second Quarter
Beyond geopolitical optimism, new financial developments could provide additional momentum. Morgan Stanley recently received approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) charging 14 basis points, significantly below the category average. The product opens potential exposure to the firm’s 16,000 financial advisors, who collectively manage about $6.2 trillion in client assets.
Gold also continued to move higher, approaching $4,700, although the metal recorded a nearly 12% decline in March, its steepest monthly drop since October 2008, highlighting shifting investor sentiment during the ongoing conflict.
XAUUSD daily price chart
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr called for robust oversight of stablecoins, recalling a “long and painful history of private money created with insufficient safeguards.” His remarks came during comments addressing the Guiding and Establishing Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), legislation passed last year to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
Barr acknowledged that the GENIUS Act could help accelerate stablecoin development but emphasized that strong implementation and supervision remain critical. He warned that stablecoins could contribute to financial instability if issuers and their reserve assets are not closely monitored. Barr noted that stablecoins must be capable of being reliably redeemed at par value, even during periods of market stress that may impact government debt markets or individual issuers.
He also pointed out that stablecoin issuers may face financial incentives to maximize returns, potentially encouraging them to take on greater risk when managing reserve assets. According to Barr, the quality and liquidity of reserve holdings are essential to ensuring the long-term stability of USD-pegged tokens.
Stablecoin Issues Continue to Delay Progress on CLARITY Act
Barr’s comments come as disagreements over stablecoin regulation continue to delay new drafts of the CLARITY Act, another digital asset bill moving through Congress. He previously stated in October that while the GENIUS Act could reduce the risk of sudden runs, federal banking agencies and state regulators must work together to close regulatory gaps and strengthen protections for users and the broader financial system.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index continues to reflect deep market pessimism, registering a reading of 11, firmly within the “extreme fear” zone. This condition has persisted for 12 consecutive days, with sentiment remaining largely negative since Jan. 28, aside from a short recovery between March 17 and March 18.
The index, which tracks volatility, trading volume, social sentiment, and market momentum, is widely used as a contrarian indicator. Historically, extended periods of extreme fear have been viewed as potential dip-buying opportunities. However, prolonged bearish market conditions since January have led some traders to question whether the traditional signal remains reliable.
Crypto commentator Rand Group highlighted a disconnect between investor sentiment and price action. Ongoing concerns tied to U.S. interest rates and Israel–Iran war developments have kept sentiment weak, yet Bitcoin selling pressure has not significantly increased, suggesting underlying resilience.
Bitcoin realized cap: UTXO age bands
Onchain Metrics Point to Reduced Speculation and Possible Market Bottom
Onchain data suggests calmer trading activity beneath the surface. Crypto analyst MAC_D reported that the proportion of short-term Bitcoin holders, particularly those holding between one week and one month, has dropped to 3.98%. In previous market cycles, levels below 4% have often coincided with periods when markets were approaching a bottom.
Lower short-term participation indicates fewer rapid trades and reduced speculative demand. At the same time, long-term holders now control a larger portion of the circulating supply, signaling continued accumulation even during periods of negative sentiment.
Bitcoin Weakness Against Equities Adds Market Uncertainty
Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. observed that Bitcoin’s short-term correlation with the S&P 500 has weakened, with the 13-week correlation slipping below zero. The BTC-to-S&P ratio has also trended lower throughout 2026, reflecting Bitcoin’s continued underperformance relative to equities.
BTC/S&P 500 ratio
Although Bitcoin briefly rallied to $76,000 on March 17, the move failed to establish sustained upward momentum. Weak participation from smaller investors suggests that Bitcoin is currently being treated as a higher-risk asset compared with traditional stocks.
Despite this relative weakness, the combination of stable support above $60,000, limited selling pressure, and increased whale dominance suggests that Bitcoin may be entering a quiet accumulation phase, even as overall sentiment remains deeply negative.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.
