Day: March 4, 2026

FATF Highlights Risks in Stablecoin P2P Transfers via Self-Custody Wallets

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Peer-to-peer transfers made through self-custody crypto wallets are a key weak point in the stablecoin ecosystem because they can take place without a regulated intermediary, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said in a new report urging countries to tighten oversight as stablecoins spread into payments and cross-border transfers. In its report on stablecoins, unhosted wallets and P2P transactions, the global anti-money laundering watchdog said transactions conducted directly between users through unhosted wallets can occur without regulated intermediaries such as exchanges or custodians. The FATF said this structure can create…

Iran’s Largest Crypto Exchange Shows no Capital Flight after Strikes: TRM

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Nobitex, Iran’s biggest crypto exchange, showed no signs of a sustained, user-driven run after US-Israeli strikes on Iran, even as blockchain data indicated a brief spike in activity and higher outflows from Iranian exchanges more broadly, according to separate analyses from TRM Labs and Chainalysis. The TRM report, which examined onchain activity around Nobitex after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, found that the platform recorded a noticeable increase in activity in the immediate aftermath, including transfers exceeding $35 million from hot wallets to cold storage. However, TRM…

Kraken wins landmark approval to operate on Fed’s core payment systems

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Kraken is the first crypto firm in the US to gain a master account at the Fed for professional and corporate clients. Kraken has secured access to the Federal Reserve’s core payment systems through a master account for its banking arm, Kraken Financial, allowing it to move money on the same infrastructure used by traditional banks and credit unions, the company told The Wall Street Journal. While the firm will not receive the full suite of Fed services, the approval is a major milestone for the crypto sector after many…

Situational Awareness 13F Shows $5.5B Bet on Bitcoin Miners and AI Power

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Leopold Aschenbrenner has built a US stock portfolio heavily concentrated in companies that supply the power and infrastructure behind the artificial intelligence boom. The former OpenAI researcher, who left the lab’s superalignment team to launch San Francisco-based hedge fund Situational Awareness LP, has grown it from $383 million in assets in early 2025 to a reported $5.52 billion in US equity positions in its latest 13F filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund’s 13F filing for Q4 2025 shows a highly concentrated portfolio built around betting that…

Bitcoin Bounces Back to Pass $71,000 Despite Tense Macro Mood

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BTC price upside returned during Wednesday’s Asia trading session as Bitcoin attacked a long-term trend line and psychological levels. Bitcoin (BTC) passed $71,000 on Wednesday as geopolitical tensions fueled ongoing volatility. Key points: Bitcoin price action teases a fresh breakout after failing to hold $70,000 since January. Analysis sees the end of a large “accumulation phase” now in play. Geopolitical nerves stay focused on oil and the Strait of Hormuz embargo. Bitcoin suddenly jumps 5% after tense February Data from TradingView confirmed 5% BTC price gains on the day, taking…

Ark Invest Adds $4M in Coinbase, $12M in Robinhood Amid Market Volatility

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Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest increased its exposure to crypto-related equities, adding shares of Coinbase and Robinhood Markets across several of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as broader markets pulled back. The company purchased a combined 22,452 shares of Coinbase across the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF), according to trade notifications for Tuesday. Based on Coinbase’s closing price of $182.36 during the day, the purchase was valued at about $4.1 million. Ark also accumulated 158,587 shares of Robinhood through the same…

X Targets Undisclosed AI Conflict Videos With Revenue Ban

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Social media platform X will suspend creators from its revenue-sharing program for 90 days if they post artificial intelligence-generated videos depicting armed conflict without clearly disclosing that the content was created with AI. On Wednesday, X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, said the rule aims to maintain “authenticity of content on Timeline” during wartime events, when misleading media can spread quickly. “During times of war, it is critical that people have access to authentic information on the ground,” Bier wrote. “With today’s AI technologies, it is trivial to create content…

Bitcoin ETFs See $225M Inflows Led by BlackRock’s IBIT

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US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw mixed trading flows Tuesday, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) offsetting redemptions. Spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) logged $225.2 million in net inflows, according to data from SoSoValue. The gains were driven largely by IBIT’s $322.4 million in inflows, which offset $89.3 million in outflows from Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and $28.2 million from Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (GBTC), according to Farside data. Flows in US spot Bitcoin ETFs by issuer (in millions of US dollars). Source: Farside.co.uk The latest inflows…

Indiana Will Start Allowing Crypto in Retirement Plans and Savings

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Indiana will start allowing certain retirement and savings plans to include crypto investments and has enacted stronger legal protections for the crypto industry under a newly signed bill.  Governor Mike Braun signed House Bill 1042 into law on Tuesday, after it passed the legislature last Thursday. The legislation requires Indiana’s state public retirement and savings plans to offer self-brokerage accounts with at least one crypto investment option by July 2027. According to the bill’s description, this requirement applies to the legislators’ defined contribution plan, the Hoosier START plan, certain public…