Month: March 2026

Jane Khodarkovsky: $1.7 billion in crypto linked to Iran raises compliance concerns, the role of intermediaries in sanctions evasion, and the challenges of prosecuting violations

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Key takeaways $1.7 billion in crypto transactions linked to Iran flowed through Binance, highlighting potential sanctions violations. Geographic sanctions apply to countries, not necessarily to all individuals or entities within those countries. Sanctions evasion in crypto involves sophisticated actors, not just individuals using basic tools. Sanctions against Iran have created a need for intermediaries to facilitate financial transactions. Binance should have been more vigilant in monitoring accounts for suspicious activity related to sanctions evasion. OFAC’s actions can severely limit a company’s access to the US financial system, but its slow…

Stanford Steve: Greg Gard deserves to stay at Wisconsin, Hubert Davis’s mismanagement calls for dismissal, and betting on Houston is a must

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Key takeaways Greg Gard should not be fired despite not reaching the Sweet 16 recently. Gard has modernized Wisconsin’s basketball offense, moving away from traditional styles. Hubert Davis’s coaching led to a poor performance, warranting consideration for dismissal. BYU’s disappointing season highlights a mismatch between investment and results. Avoid betting on Saint Mary’s and Georgia in tournaments due to poor historical performance. Houston is a reliable bet in the first round, consistently outperforming weaker opponents. Cameron Boozer needs strong tournament performances to be considered a great player. Boozer lacks explosiveness,…

Adeniyi Abiodun: Bitcoin will become a key collateral instrument in DeFi by 2026, challenges of Bitcoin ETFs, and innovations in native Bitcoin lending

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Key takeaways Bitcoin is expected to become a significant collateral instrument in DeFi by 2026. The introduction of Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 did not generate yield due to custodial lock-in. Bitcoin serves as a strong store of value but is less effective for payment systems. Hashi protocol enables native Bitcoin lending without the need for wrappers or triggering tax events. Direct borrowing using Bitcoin can be achieved without creating derivative assets. A trust-minimized approach to decentralized lending avoids tax implications. The Sway network enhances security with multisig accounts requiring majority…

SEC Sends Proposed Crypto Interpretation to White House for Review

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The financial regulator’s plan to reinterpret how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets is ”pending review” by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has forwarded its proposal to have most crypto assets not treated as securities under federal law to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. According to information available through the US General Services Administration, on Friday the SEC sent two proposed rules to the White House for review, including its interpretative notice from last week regarding…

Bitcoin Spot Volumes Drop To 2023 Lows as Rallies Lack Spot Conviction

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Bitcoin (BTC) spot volumes on Binance have dropped to their lowest level since September 2023, indicating that the current intraday price rise may not be backed by strong demand. The rally above $71,700 on Monday appears to be driven mainly by news headlines and liquidations in the Bitcoin futures markets. Binance volumes and exchange flows signal the demand gap for BTC Crypto analyst Darkfost said that March is on track to record the lowest Binance spot volume since Q3 2023, at roughly $52 billion, compared to the $88 billion recorded…

Polymarket Updates Rules as Scrutiny Grows Over Prediction Markets

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Prediction platform Polymarket has updated its market integrity rules to align more closely with regulatory standards and expand its presence as a regulated trading platform amid growing scrutiny of manipulation and insider trading risks. In a Monday announcement, the company outlined updated rules governing both its global decentralized finance platform and its US exchange, which operates under compliance oversight by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The changes come amid growing scrutiny from regulators and politicians over risks tied to insider trading, market manipulation, and the proliferation of controversial event-based…

MoonPay Unveils Open-source Wallet Framework for AI Agents

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MoonPay has released an open-source wallet standard designed to let AI agents hold funds and execute transactions across blockchains, addressing a key gap in how autonomous software interacts with crypto systems. According to Monday’s announcement, the standard introduces a shared way for AI agents to access and use wallets across tools and blockchains, replacing fragmented setups where each system manages its own keys and balances. It allows agents to operate from a single pool of funds rather than across multiple disconnected accounts. “AI agents can employ standard building blocks, such…

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink pushes tokenization as next phase of markets

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BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is placing tokenization at the center of the next evolution in financial markets, arguing that digital infrastructure could fundamentally reshape how people access and participate in investing. In his annual letter, Fink said tokenization has the potential to modernize the financial system by making assets easier to issue, trade, and hold, particularly through digital wallets. Fink pointed to the growing global adoption of digital wallets as a key foundation for this shift. With billions of people already using mobile wallets, he said the next step is…

Deloitte Taps QCAD Stablecoin As Canada Advances New Crypto Rules

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Deloitte Canada and Stablecorp are collaborating to develop stablecoin infrastructure for Canadian financial institutions, as federal regulators move closer to establishing rules for fiat-backed digital assets. In a Monday announcement, the professional services firm said it plans to integrate Stablecorp’s Canadian dollar-pegged stablecoin, QCAD, into payment and settlement workflows for institutional clients. Stablecorp is a Toronto-based fintech company and the issuer of QCAD, a fiat-backed stablecoin designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the Canadian dollar. Soumak Chatterjee, a partner in Deloitte Canada’s financial services division, said the initiative is…

Bitcoin Traders Warn BTC Price Bear Market Is Set to Resume Toward $46K

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Bitcoin’s (BTC) failure to close the week above the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) on Sunday put it at risk of another downward leg over the coming weeks or months. Key takeaways: Bitcoin price signals “structural weakness” with failure to close week above a key trend line. Analysts say the next breakdown clears path for another sell-off toward $46,000. The $47,000 level features as a deep structural support for Bitcoin.  Bitcoin price weakness sparks sub-$50,000 targets Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD trading at $71,190, or 6% higher than its intraday…