CryptoCryptocurrency

Bitcoin traded at $66,372 on 2 March 2026, giving the asset a market capitalisation of $1.32 trillion and a 24-hour turnover of roughly $45.14 billion.

XRP holders have shifted to a more defensive stance as geopolitical tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran intensified, with more than $650 million in tokens moving onto exchanges.

Arthur Hayes said the US Federal Reserve may be forced to cut rates or expand the money supply if President Donald Trump prolongs military engagement with Iran.

Bitcoin plunged 46% from its all-time high above $126,000 to briefly below $61,000 during February, wiping out more than $1 trillion in market value in one of its sharpest corrections since the collapse of FTX.

Crypto losses from hacks and scams fell to $26.5 million in February, marking the lowest monthly figure since March 2025, according to blockchain security firm PeckShield.

Magic Eden is shutting down its Ethereum Virtual Machine and Bitcoin-based NFT marketplaces to concentrate resources on its online casino and sportsbook platform, Dicey.

Vitalik Buterin said artificial intelligence could significantly accelerate Ethereum’s development timeline after an experiment reportedly prototyped the blockchain’s 2030 roadmap within weeks.

Barclays is reportedly exploring the development of a blockchain-based platform to support payments, tokenised deposits and potentially stablecoins as major banks modernise settlement infrastructure.

Startale Group and SBI Holdings have unveiled plans to launch JPYSC, described as Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, with a targeted rollout in the second quarter of 2026.

On-chain analyst Willy Woo warned that weakening liquidity across spot and futures markets could limit Bitcoin’s upside despite signs that recent selling pressure may be easing.

Strategy has increased the dividend on its STRC perpetual preferred stock to 11.50% for March 2026, up 25 basis points from 11.25%, as the Bitcoin treasury firm navigates market volatility.

Cynthia Lummis publicly rebuked former FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried after he praised the proposed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, warning that the legislation would impose harsher penalties on him and rejecting any association with his past lobbying efforts.