Day: March 18, 2026

Algorand Foundation cuts 25% of staff as macro pressure and crypto slump weigh on operations

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The Algorand Foundation said Wednesday it is reducing its workforce by 25% in response to what it described as an uncertain global macro environment and a broader downturn in crypto markets, marking one of the latest cost-cutting moves across the digital asset sector. Today, the Algorand Foundation made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce by 25%. This decision was not taken lightly and is in response to the uncertain global macro environment as well as the broader downturn in crypto markets. These employees have been best-in-class… — Algorand Foundation…

Bitcoin Trips After FOMC But Bulls May Keep Buying

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Key takeaways: Spot market demand through US-listed ETFs and Strategy buying BTC supports Bitcoin’s bullish momentum. Low leverage among Bitcoin bulls reduces the risk of cascading liquidations even if prices drop another 5%. Rising inflation concerns negatively impact fixed-income returns, paving the way for an eventual rotation from gold into Bitcoin. Bitcoin (BTC) faced a 7% correction after flirting with the $76,000 level on Tuesday. The downturn followed a decline in the US stock market after oil prices surged due to Israel attacking Iran’s largest gas processing facility and the…

FOMC Leaves Interest Rates Steady at March Meeting

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The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced on Wednesday that it would hold the Federal Funds rate steady at 3.5-3.75%, as it monitors macroeconomic impacts from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Economic activity has expanded at a “solid pace,” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said, adding that consumer spending remains “resilient,” while business investment continued to grow.  However, the housing sector remains weak, and the labor market shows signs of softening, Powell said, while inflation remains “somewhat elevated” above the Fed’s 2% target. Jerome Powell addresses reporters…

Kalshi CEO Fires Back against Arizona Criminal Charges as ‘Total Overstep‘

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The prediction markets co-founder said that the company would “abide by court decisions“ but signaled that the charges were based partly on political bias and media attention. Tarek Mansour, co-founder and CEO of prediction markets platform Kalshi, has pushed back against criminal charges filed by Arizona authorities this week, claiming that they were a “total overstep” and “not about gambling.” On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced charges against the companies behind Kalshi, alleging that the company operated an “illegal gambling business in Arizona without a license” and offered…

Ledger vs Trezor vs SafePal vs NGRAVE

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We tested four popular hardware wallets — Ledger Nano X, Trezor Safe 5, SafePal S1 Pro, and NGRAVE Zero — across security, usability, price, and real user feedback from crypto twitter. Here’s how they stack up. Our top picks at a glance How we evaluated We tested each wallet on security certifications, coin support, connectivity (USB, Bluetooth, QR), companion app quality, build materials, price, and backup options. We also pulled real user feedback from crypto twitter to check whether the specs hold up in practice. Ledger Nano X review The…

SEC approves tokenized securities to trade alongside traditional stocks

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a Nasdaq rule change that enables the trading of securities in tokenized form, marking a major step in integrating blockchain-based assets into traditional market infrastructure. The approval allows eligible securities, including stocks from the Russell 1000 and ETFs tracking major indices such as the S&P 500, to be represented and traded as tokenized assets on Nasdaq. These tokenized versions will trade on the same order book as traditional shares, with identical execution priority, pricing, and market data treatment. Under the framework, tokenized…

SEC Chair Explains Why NFTs Aren’t Securities

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After the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlined four broad categories of digital assets that fall outside securities laws, Chair Paul Atkins offered further clarity on why nonfungible tokens (NFTs) generally do not meet that definition. In a Wednesday interview with CNBC, Atkins reiterated that the agency’s recent interpretive release identified four types of digital assets that are typically not considered securities: digital commodities, digital tools, digital collectibles such as NFTs, and stablecoins. During the interview, host Andrew Ross Sorkin pressed Atkins on digital collectibles, noting they could more…

Visa unveils CLI tool to enable AI agents to execute card payments

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Visa has introduced a command-line interface tool that allows artificial intelligence agents to execute card payments without human intervention, marking its first public product from Visa Crypto Labs. Excited to share Visa CLI, the first experimental product from Visa Crypto Labs. Check it out and request access here https://t.co/uxKKm2tB7y pic.twitter.com/7dh4Qckbtz — Cuy Sheffield (@cuysheffield) March 18, 2026 The tool, known as Visa CLI, signals a deeper push by the payments giant into infrastructure for automated, machine-driven commerce. The beta release was announced by Cuy Sheffield, who leads Visa’s crypto division.…

FTX Recovery Trust Announces Fourth Round of Creditor Repayments

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The FTX Recovery Trust, which oversees the distribution of funds to creditors and former customers of the failed crypto exchange, announced on Wednesday that it will distribute $2.2 billion to creditors on March 31, 2026. Eligible creditors will receive their funds through their chosen distribution provider within one to three business days, according to an announcement from the Trust.  The fourth distribution includes a 18% payout for Dotcom Customer claims, a 5% distribution for US Customer Entitlement Claims and a 15% distribution for both General Unsecured Claims and Digital Asset…

Crypto Fear & Greed Index Rises as $2B in Liquidity Enters Markets

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The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remained at 26 on Wednesday, after rising to 28, a day earlier, ending the indicators’ 48-day stretch in the “extreme fear” zone. The Crypto Fear & Greed index tracks market sentiment using volatility, momentum, volume, and social data. Any reading below 25 signals extreme fear, while higher values reflect an improving risk appetite. Crypto Fear & Greed Index. Source: alternative.me The index reading points to an improvement in market sentiment this week, marking its first exit from extreme fear in over six weeks. The…