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An Israeli Iron Dome reservist, 26-year-old Raz Cohen, has been indicted for allegedly spying for Iran and leaking sensitive military information in exchange for about $1,000 in crypto.
Investigators say he shared details about the Iron Dome system, air base locations, and Israeli officials with Iranian intelligence agents over several months. He was reportedly aware of their identity and carried out multiple tasks under their direction.
Cohen has been charged with assisting the enemy during wartime and transmitting information that could harm national security. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty, although such sentences are rarely enforced.
Authorities also warned that hostile foreign agents are actively attempting to recruit Israelis, including through social media.

ParaFi raises $125 million for new venture fund
Digital asset manager ParaFi Capital has raised $125 million in March for a new venture fund, according to Bloomberg.
Founder Ben Forman said the firm is focusing on sectors such as stablecoins, tokenization, and institutional onchain finance. ParaFi’s portfolio already includes major industry players like Anchorage Digital, Bitwise Asset Management, and Polymarket.
The fundraising comes amid a challenging market environment, with Bitcoin still down more than 40% from its October all-time high. Meanwhile, some major funds such as Paradigm have broadened their focus into areas like AI and robotics.
Forman noted that the raise reflects how “sophisticated investors” are able to distinguish short-term price volatility from the long-term adoption of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
In addition to the $125 million fund, ParaFi has also raised a separate $325 million for its ongoing digital asset investment strategies since the beginning of 2025, bringing its total assets under management to around $2 billion.
Founded in 2018, ParaFi is backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Henry Kravis of KKR & Co.. In 2024, the firm also raised $120 million from investors including Theta Capital Management and Accolade Partners.

Hostplus weighs crypto access for pension members
Hostplus, one of the largest pension funds in Australia, is considering offering crypto exposure to its members through a self-directed investment option.
According to Bloomberg, digital asset products could be introduced as early as the next financial year, subject to regulatory approval. Chief Investment Officer Sam Sicilia said the plan remains under development, with key considerations including consumer protection and product structure.
The fund, which manages over A$150 billion in assets, is exploring the addition of crypto via its Choiceplus platform, allowing members to self-manage a portion of their retirement savings. This segment currently represents about 1% of total assets.
Demand appears to be growing among members. Sicilia noted that many have requested access to assets such as Bitcoin and other digital assets. Hostplus serves nearly 2 million members, with an average age in the mid-to-late 30s.
Beyond Bitcoin, the fund is also evaluating a broader range of digital assets, including tokenized investments such as music rights. Sicilia added that the crypto sector has matured significantly compared to when the fund first assessed it nearly a decade ago.
Across the broader market, Australia’s pension sector remains relatively cautious. In 2024, AMP Limited took a limited step by gaining indirect exposure through Bitcoin futures.
Meanwhile, the United States has moved more aggressively. Last August, Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing crypto allocations in 401(k) plans, and Indiana recently passed legislation permitting crypto investments in certain state retirement programs.

Strategy has expanded its capital-raising capacity by up to $44.1 billion through an enlarged at-the-market (ATM) equity program, signaling a continued and aggressive commitment to accumulating Bitcoin.
The new structure allows the company to raise $21 billion via Class A common stock, another $21 billion through variable-rate perpetual preferred shares (STRC), and $2.1 billion through fixed-rate preferred shares (STRK). As part of the restructuring, Strategy also adjusted its authorized share counts and terminated its previous STRK ATM program while strengthening distribution by adding new sales agents.
This expansion is part of Strategy’s broader “42/42 Plan,” an $84 billion capital strategy split evenly between equity and fixed-income instruments. Introduced as an evolution of its earlier framework, the plan aims to systematically convert shareholder capital into Bitcoin through 2027.
The announcement comes alongside continued large-scale Bitcoin purchases. The company recently acquired 1,031 BTC for approximately $77 million, bringing total holdings to 762,099 BTC. This follows an even larger purchase of over 22,000 BTC the week prior, highlighting a consistent pace of accumulation funded primarily through equity issuance.
Overall, Strategy is reinforcing its position as the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, using capital markets as a core mechanism to expand its crypto treasury over the long term.

Circle urges EU to speed up digital asset rules
Circle is calling on European policymakers to accelerate updates to the region’s digital asset framework, warning that delays could slow institutional adoption of tokenized markets.
In feedback submitted on March 20 regarding the Market Integration Package proposed by the European Commission, Circle described the initiative as a meaningful step toward modernizing capital markets, but said gaps remain around scalability, supervision, and settlement.
The company supported proposed reforms to the Distributed Ledger Technology Pilot Regime, including expanding eligible assets and increasing transaction thresholds. However, it noted that existing limits still constrain liquidity and institutional participation. Circle proposed introducing “adaptive” thresholds tied to market conditions and called for a clearer transition path from the pilot phase to a permanent regulatory framework.
Circle also urged regulators to fast-track reforms outside the broader legislative timeline, warning that delays could push activity toward the United States, where onchain market infrastructure is evolving more rapidly.
Expanding stablecoins in settlement
Another key focus was expanding the role of MiCA-compliant stablecoins in securities settlement. Circle welcomed proposals under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation to recognize e-money tokens for cash settlement, but warned that limiting access to only “significant” tokens could exclude euro-denominated stablecoins and hinder adoption.
The firm also called for allowing crypto service providers—not just banks and central securities depositories—to offer settlement accounts, arguing that the current structure creates unnecessary friction and complexity.

Aave DAO has approved an initial proposal (ARFC) to begin discussions on deploying Aave V4 on Ethereum, with full community support and a launch expected this year.
Aave V4 introduces a major redesign of the protocol using a modular “Hub and Spoke” architecture. This model centralizes liquidity into a unified pool while allowing separate lending markets to operate with customized risk parameters, improving capital efficiency and flexibility.
The upgrade also enhances risk isolation, integrates the GHO stablecoin more deeply, and introduces a revamped liquidation system. Together, these changes aim to expand the range of lending use cases and position Aave as a core infrastructure layer for global onchain finance.
Before deployment, Aave Labs will submit a formal onchain proposal (AIP) after community feedback and finalize risk parameters with security advisors. The protocol has already undergone extensive security testing over nearly a year.
The move comes alongside internal changes, including the planned exit of key contributors and a broader push by founder Stani Kulechov to restructure governance and streamline decision-making while prioritizing the rollout of Aave V4.

Elizabeth Warren warns MrBeast to tread carefully on crypto plans for Step
Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged Beast Industries to proceed cautiously as it considers integrating crypto into Step, a mobile banking app aimed at teens.
In a letter to CEO Jeff Housenbold and MrBeast, Warren raised concerns about the company’s ability to manage a fintech platform targeting young users. She pointed to Step’s past involvement in crypto, alleging it promoted risky investments and even encouraged minors to persuade their parents to अनुमति crypto purchases.
Step previously allowed teens to buy digital assets like Bitcoin with parental consent and expanded access to over 50 assets, including NFTs. Although the app stepped away from crypto in 2024, Warren noted that Beast Industries has recently signaled renewed interest in crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Beast Industries said it welcomes engagement with the senator and is reviewing Step’s products and marketing approach to ensure compliance and responsible development. The firm emphasized that its goal is to improve the financial future of the next generation.
Earlier, Beast Industries secured a $200 million investment from Ethereum treasury firm BitMine, highlighting its broader ambitions in digital finance.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink believes tokenization could transform investing by making it as simple as sending a payment on a smartphone. In his latest annual letter, he emphasized not just the technology behind blockchain, but its ability to expand access and scale investment opportunities globally. Tokenization converts traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate into blockchain-based tokens, allowing for faster trading, improved liquidity, and fractional ownership.
Fink’s remarks come as both financial institutions and regulators in the United States accelerate efforts to explore tokenized markets. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has signaled openness to innovation by allowing Nasdaq to pilot tokenized share trading, while Nasdaq and digital asset firm Talos are collaborating to make tokenized collateral usable for institutional investors. These developments reflect a broader push to integrate on-chain and traditional financial systems.
BlackRock continues to position itself as a leader in digital assets, particularly with its dominance in the spot Bitcoin ETF market. However, it is not alone—major Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs are increasingly acknowledging the growing importance of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and artificial intelligence. Together, these trends suggest that tokenization could play a central role in the future evolution of global financial markets.

Balancer co-founder to shut down Balancer Labs, shift to DAO model
Fernando Martinelli, co-founder of Balancer, announced that Balancer Labs will be shut down due to legal risks tied to the November 2025 exploit and the lack of sustainable revenue under its current structure.
The protocol will transition fully to a DAO, foundation, and service-provider model, eliminating the need for a centralized corporate entity. Core team members are expected to move into a new operational structure pending a governance vote.
Martinelli also backed major tokenomics changes, including ending BAL emissions, phasing out veBAL, and directing 100% of protocol fees to the DAO treasury to improve long-term sustainability.
Despite considering a full shutdown, he noted that Balancer continues to generate real revenue—over $1 million in annualized fees in the past three months—arguing that the issue lies in the economic model rather than the product itself.
Additional proposals include a BAL buyback to provide exit liquidity for holders and a tighter product focus on key offerings such as reCLAMM, LBPs, and core liquidity pools.
Following the wind-down of Balancer Labs, Martinelli will no longer hold a formal role but may remain involved as an advisor. He emphasized that the next 12 months will be critical in determining whether the protocol can successfully turn around.
$BAL

Backpack launches airdrop checker ahead of TGE
Backpack has rolled out its Airdrop Checker ahead of today’s token generation event (TGE), allowing users to verify their eligibility.
Points will be converted into tokens at an approximate 1:0.5 ratio. Upon claiming, tokens are automatically staked, though users can unstake instantly within the first 7 days.
The project has allocated 25% of total supply to the airdrop, valued at շուրջ $70 million based on a pre-market price of $0.27 (implying a $270 million FDV). This puts the estimated value at around $0.14 per point.
Backpack is a centralized crypto exchange built by former leaders of FTX and Alameda Research, and previously raised $37 million from major investors including Jump Crypto, Multicoin Capital, Placeholder VC, and Wintermute.
No exact TGE timing has been announced yet. Users are advised to monitor official channels for updates.

Doubts over Sam Bankman-Fried letter as family pushes clemency
Federal prosecutors say a March court filing submitted in the name of Sam Bankman-Fried may not have been sent from prison, but instead shipped via FedEx from the San Francisco Bay Area, raising questions about its authenticity.
The March 16 letter requested a one-month extension to respond to the government’s brief. However, inconsistencies—including FedEx tracking pointing to Palo Alto or Menlo Park, an incorrectly labeled facility, and a typed “/s/” signature instead of a handwritten one—gave prosecutors “reason to doubt” it was actually sent by Bankman-Fried.
The legal dispute comes as his parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, ramp up a public campaign for clemency. In a March 21 interview, they argued the prosecution was politically motivated and the 25-year sentence excessive, while denying core fraud allegations and framing FTX’s collapse as a liquidity crisis.
Bankman-Fried is currently representing himself after firing his legal team, with recent filings also highlighting tensions over his family’s involvement in his defense.
The fallout from FTX’s collapse in November 2022 continues to shape digital asset policy debates. Meanwhile, hopes for a potential pardon have been fueled by Donald Trump’s past clemency for Changpeng Zhao, signaling a more crypto-friendly stance in Washington.

Bitcoin: whale sell pressure eases, weak hands dominate
Data from CryptoQuant shows that Bitcoin’s flow structure on Binance is turning more constructive. Whale inflows over the past 30 days have dropped sharply to $3.6B, below the April 2, 2025 low of $3.83B, compared to a peak of $8.95B on February 20. This is a notable shift, as whale inflows often indicate coins moving closer to potential sale. A sharp decline suggests one of Bitcoin’s key sources of sell-side pressure is easing.
Notably, recent inflows mainly come from short-term holders (1 week–1 month), with 305 BTC deposited on Binance on March 13. Short-term investors tend to act more emotionally, often selling near local bottoms and becoming aggressive near tops. The fact that recent inflows come from this group while whale inflows remain suppressed indicates that current sell pressure is largely from weak hands rather than broad smart-money distribution.
This signals that whale selling is cooling, suggesting the market may be closer to a fear-driven bottom rather than forming a new top. While it doesn’t guarantee an immediate rally, when weak hands are selling and whales step back, the setup often supports a more constructive outlook for Bitcoin.
$BTC

Early ETH whale deposits 15,000 ETH to Coinbase, sparking sell-off speculation
According to on-chain monitoring by ai_9684xtpa, wallet address 0xa2F…bF85A has deposited approximately 15,000 ETH to Coinbase, worth around $30.97 million.
The address is identified as an early Ethereum holder who accumulated ETH back in 2016 at prices as low as $11.61. If the full amount is sold, the estimated profit would reach about $30.79 million — representing an extraordinary return of roughly 17,680% over nearly a decade.
The sudden transfer to an exchange has raised speculation that the whale may be preparing for a significant sell-off.
$ETH

Trader scores 20x gain on $SIREN using options-like contract
According to data from Lookonchain, a trader achieved a 20x return on $SIREN using an options-like on-chain contract on January 15, 2026.
The trader initially paid 21,508 USDC as a premium to secure the right to buy 1.27 million
tokens, then exercised the position by adding 80,031 USDC after a sharp price surge. Over recent hours, the tokens were sold in batches at an average price of $1.637, generating total proceeds of around 2.09 million USDC.
The move coincided with a 161% 24-hour rally that pushed SIREN 2.43 on Binance Smart Chain, validating the trader’s high-conviction bet.
The case highlights the power of on-chain derivatives in delivering asymmetric returns, where a relatively small upfront premium enabled exposure far exceeding the roughly $101,000 total cost basis. Meanwhile, $SIREN’s market cap surged rapidly from under $10 million to over $240 million.

Kiyosaki warns of crisis, urges financial preparedness
Robert Kiyosaki shared a personal anecdote highlighting widespread denial of economic risks, as U.S. national debt approaches $39 trillion in early 2026 and inflation remains persistent. He urged individuals to take proactive financial steps instead of remaining complacent.
Reflecting on his experience of being homeless at age 28, Kiyosaki stressed that youth, time, and health are critical assets for building resilience against potential market downturns—an idea central to his philosophy in Rich Dad Poor Dad.
His message comes as global markets face pressure in 2026, with stock declines linked to escalating Middle East tensions and tariff-driven inflation. The post has sparked discussions around alternative assets such as silver, as well as the importance of mental and spiritual readiness for economic uncertainty.

Polymarket: Bitcoin seen hitting $60K before $80K with 61% odds
Data from Polymarket shows traders are leaning toward a downside scenario for Bitcoin in the near term. The probability of BTC reaching $60,000 before $80,000 has climbed to 61%, up 5% from earlier levels.
This shift reflects cautious market sentiment, as macro uncertainty and selling pressure continue to weigh on price action. The probability chart indicates a clear rebound in confidence toward the downside outcome after weakening earlier in March.
However, the relatively narrow gap suggests the market is still open to a bullish breakout toward $80,000 if stronger catalysts emerge.

Gold and silver experienced one of their sharpest weekly declines in years as macro conditions shifted against them. Instead of benefiting from geopolitical tensions, rising oil prices—driven by the U.S.-Iran conflict—fueled inflation concerns, which in turn strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Higher rates and a stronger U.S. dollar reduced the appeal of non-yielding assets like gold and silver, increasing their opportunity cost. At the same time, crowded positioning unwound तेजी, with profit-taking, margin calls, and institutional rebalancing accelerating the sell-off.
Despite the sharp pullback, underlying fundamentals remain supportive. Central bank demand, fiscal pressures, and long-term industrial use—especially for silver—continue to provide a foundation. The recent drop is seen more as a market reset than a structural shift, with future direction կախ dependent on inflation trends and broader macro conditions.

Stagflation—defined by high inflation, weak growth, and a softening labor market—could become a defining theme of 2026. It describes an environment where living costs rise but economic momentum fades, leaving both households and businesses under pressure.
While official inflation has cooled since its peak, real-world affordability remains strained due to a permanently higher price level since 2020. This gap between data and lived experience is making stagflation increasingly in everyday life.
In such an environment, Bitcoin may initially behave like a risk asset and trade with market volatility. However, over time, it could outperform as investors seek protection from monetary debasement, falling real yields, and limited policy flexibility. Its fixed supply and non-sovereign nature make it appealing during prolonged inflationary periods.
The U.S. is not yet in confirmed stagflation but is moving closer. Inflation remains above target, growth has slowed, and labor market data has weakened—especially after downward revisions. Meanwhile, new cost pressures from energy and tariffs could reignite inflation before it fully subsides.
For stagflation to be confirmed, three conditions must align: persistent inflation, deteriorating growth, and constrained policy response. The U.S. has met the first, is progressing through the second, and is nearing the third.
In the long term, Bitcoin’s value lies less in tracking short-term inflation and more in protecting against sustained currency debasement and negative real returns. However, its performance is not guaranteed—it remains sensitive to liquidity conditions and broader risk sentiment.

Data from Hyperliquid (HIP-3) shows total trading volume reached approximately $14.39 billion over the past 7 days, with open interest at around $1.73 billion.
In the commodities segment, crude oil contracts are leading the market. Crude Oil Futures CL (CL) is trading at about $97.87, up 2.13% over the past 24 hours, with open interest of roughly $265 million and trading volume of $201 million.
Meanwhile, Brent Crude Futures (BRENT) is priced at approximately $106.40, also up 2.13%, with open interest of around $362 million and 24-hour volume reaching $194 million.
This trend indicates strong capital inflows into commodity products on Hyperliquid, particularly as energy prices continue to rise.