Month: March 2026

OP_NET Launches “SlowFi” DeFi Stack Directly on Bitcoin L1

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OP_NET said it is launching a “SlowFi” decentralized finance (DeFi) stack on Bitcoin that uses standard Bitcoin transactions and native BTC fees rather than bridges, wrapped assets or a separate gas token. According to a Thursday release shared with Cointelegraph, the project is part of a broader push to bring trading and yield-style activity directly onto Bitcoin’s base layer instead of routing it through sidechains, bridges or adjacent networks. OP_NET is betting some users will accept slower and more expensive transactions in exchange for staying fully on Bitcoin. According to…

Apex and Polygon Launch ERC-3643 Chain for Tokenized Assets

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Apex Group’s Tokeny and Polygon Labs are launching T-REX Ledger, a compliance-focused blockchain designed to help regulated tokenized assets move across networks without repeating investor checks and transfer restrictions. In a Thursday release shared with Cointelegraph, the project said it targets a key friction point in tokenized markets. ERC-3643 is an Ethereum-based token standard for permissioned tokens representing real-world assets that can support compliant issuance of RWAs, but identity checks, eligibility rules and transfer restrictions often remain fragmented when the same asset is distributed across multiple blockchains. T-REX Ledger is…

Crypto.com to Cut 12% of Workforce due to Enterprise AI Integration

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Singapore-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com is set to cut up to 12% of its workforce due to company-wide artificial intelligence (AI) integrations, joining a growing list of companies announcing AI-linked mass layoffs, according to the exchange’s founder and CEO, Kris Marszalek. Crypto.com recently expanded its AI offering and launched the AI agent platform ai.com on Feb. 9, which it positioned as a core business. The company also said it was the first crypto platform to receive the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for AI system management in February. “We are joining the list…

Ethereum Faces $2.5B Long Liquidation Risk If ETH Dips Below $2,100

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Ether (ETH) traded lower on Thursday after a fresh knee-jerk reaction to yesterday’s US interest rate decision and a higher inflation outlook. Key takeaways: ETH dropped 7% to $2,100 on Thursday, liquidating $144 million in longs. A break below $2,000 could trigger over $2.5 billion in additional long liquidations across exchanges. The 50-day moving average around $2,100 is a key level to watch. Ether risks $2.5 billion long liquidations Data from TradingView showed 7% daily ETH price losses, with ETH/USD dropping as low as $2,140 on Thursday. ETH/USD 1-hour chart.…

Bitcoin ETFs See $164M Outflows As BTC Dips Below $71K

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US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ended their inflow streak amid a BTC price dip after recording $1.2 billion of inflows over seven consecutive days. Spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs saw $163.5 million in outflows on Wednesday, according to Farside data. The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) led the outflows at about $104 million, followed by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) with $34 million. Daily spot Bitcoin ETF flows since March 6, 2026. Source: Farside.co.uk Before Wednesday’s $163.5 million outflows, the ETFs were roughly $100 million shy of positive…

XRP treasury Evernorth files with SEC to advance Nasdaq listing plan

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Evernorth Holdings, backed by Ripple executives, is advancing its plan to become the largest public XRP treasury on Nasdaq. The company on Wednesday filed a registration statement with the SEC in connection with its proposed merger with Nasdaq-listed SPAC Armada Acquisition Corp. II., a blank-check company sponsored by Arrington XRP Capital. Evernorth aims to create a publicly traded company to provide investors with regulated exposure to XRP through active treasury management strategies, including lending, decentralized finance participation, and liquidity provisioning. The company has raised over $1 billion in gross proceeds…

Bitcoin OGs, Ancient Whales Sell Millions in BTC as Iran War Escalates

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Ancient Bitcoin holders moved tens of millions of dollars to exchanges as Bitcoin fell and energy prices jumped after attacks on Gulf oil and gas infrastructure deepened the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Ancient whale “bc1ql” sent 1,000 Bitcoin (BTC), worth around $71 million at current prices, to Binance on Wednesday, according to blockchain data platform Arkham. The whale initially bought 5,000 BTC 13 years ago and still holds about 1,500 BTC worth about $106 million, according to blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens. The same day, one…

South Korea Opposition Party Proposes Scrapping Crypto Tax

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South Korea’s main opposition party has proposed scrapping a planned crypto tax ahead of its 2027 rollout, citing fairness, double taxation and enforcement concerns. According to a Thursday report by local media outlet eDaily, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) introduced a bill to amend the country’s Income Tax Act and remove provisions on digital asset income, aiming to abolish a planned tax on crypto asset gains ahead of its 2027 implementation. Under the upcoming rules, crypto gains exceeding 2.5 million Korean won will be subject to a 20% income…

Crypto.com slashes 12% of workforce as it pivots to enterprise AI

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Crypto.com, the Singapore-based digital asset exchange, is cutting roughly 12% of its workforce as part of a company-wide transition to artificial intelligence. CEO Kris Marszalek said in a statement on X on Thursday that the cuts were necessary for survival in an increasingly automated industry. Marszalek warned that firms that are slow to adopt AI tools will be outpaced by competitors. “Companies that move immediately and pair the best AI tools with top performers will achieve a level of scale and precision that was previously impossible. This is where we…

Why Ethereum Developers Want ‘One-Click Staking’ for Institutions

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Key takeaways Ether staking has grown significantly, with nearly 1 million validators and around 30% of ETH staked. However, operational complexity continues to prevent many institutions from participating directly, despite the potential yield opportunity. Developers are working toward “one-click staking,” a simplified deployment model that allows institutions to run validators through automated, standardized systems without requiring deep technical expertise. A key enabler of this shift is DVT-lite, which allows multiple nodes to jointly manage a validator, improving fault tolerance while reducing setup complexity and minimizing risks such as slashing penalties.…