Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

Iran’s crypto market, worth about $7.8 billion, is seeing a sharp rise in activity as tensions and airstrikes increase in the region. Data from blockchain analysis firms Chainalysis and Elliptic show that money leaving Iranian crypto exchanges jumped as much as 873% above normal levels after the attacks. Experts say people and organizations may be moving their funds to keep them safe or to avoid financial restrictions. With high inflation, a weakening currency, and ongoing geopolitical tensions, many Iranians are turning to cryptocurrency as a financial lifeline. At the same time, the government is also using crypto to help manage economic pressure caused by international sanctions.

Morgan Stanley has updated its SEC filing for a Bitcoin Trust ETF, naming BNY Mellon as administrator and cash custodian and Coinbase Custody to safeguard the bitcoin holdings. The trust will hold physical bitcoin and track its value via the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark, ensuring regulated and transparent pricing. If approved, shares would trade on NYSE Arca, allowing creation and redemption in cash or bitcoin. The move signals Wall Street’s increasing embrace of crypto spot products amid rising institutional demand.

Kraken’s banking arm, Kraken Financial, has become the first crypto company in the U.S. to secure access to the Federal Reserve’s core payment systems via a Fed master account, allowing direct use of Fedwire for dollar settlements without intermediary banks. This milestone marks a major step toward integrating digital assets with traditional finance and comes amid a more crypto‑friendly regulatory climate. While the account doesn’t include all bank privileges, it promises faster, more reliable transactions and boosts Kraken’s institutional credibility.

Tether Investments has made a strategic $1.5 billion investment in New York–based Eight Sleep to accelerate AI-driven health technology and personalized sleep optimization. Eight Sleep combines advanced AI with embedded sensors to monitor and enhance sleep quality. Through this partnership, Tether’s QVAC architecture will power adaptive, edge‑intelligence features in Eight Sleep products, transforming continuous health data into actionable insights. Tether views this technology as essential for improving longevity, performance, and overall wellness.

Bitcoin is showing strength even as global markets face rising tension. Conflicts involving Iran, complicated oil and gas trade routes, and a 70% surge in European gas prices have increased uncertainty. Meanwhile, South Korean stocks fell another 12% today. Despite this, Bitcoin has moved back above $71,000, supported by five straight days of inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs. Buying activity is also rising, with Binance’s buy-to-sell ratio reaching 1.18, the highest this year. Strong buying pushed volumes above $1 billion per hour, helping BTC break higher. If inflows and buying pressure continue, Bitcoin could see further short-term gains.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong highlighted the crypto market’s growing strength, citing faster settlements, institutional adoption, clearer regulations, ETF growth, and countries exploring Bitcoin reserves. His optimism came as Bitcoin surged over 6% in 24 hours, climbing past $71,000 after weekend fears from U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw over $1 billion in weekly inflows, while reactions on X ranged from bullish cheers to memes about empty wallets during volatile swings, reflecting renewed confidence in crypto infrastructure and market resilience.

Bitcoin has climbed back above $71,000, and one trader quickly took advantage of the move. Wallet 0x004E opened a 30x long position on 600 BTC worth about $42.7 million at an entry price of $70,235.8 in the last 20 minutes. As the price rose, the position reached about $570,000 in unrealized profit. If Bitcoin drops to $66,942.69, the position could be liquidated.

The crypto market roared back to life as Bitcoin surged past $71,000 and Ethereum crossed $2,050, sparking a rapid market rally. Bitcoin jumped 5%, adding nearly $70 billion to its market cap, while Ethereum climbed 5.6%, gaining $14 billion. In just five hours, the total crypto market expanded by about $100 billion. The sharp move triggered a wave of liquidations, wiping out nearly $110 million in short positions as bullish momentum swept across the market.

Crypto exchange OKX will introduce USDT‑settled perpetual futures for selected U.S. equities on March 4, 2026, available through its web platform, mobile app, and API in supported jurisdictions. These 24/7 contracts carry leverage from 0.01x to 5x, letting traders speculate on price moves without owning shares. Initial listings include major tech names like NVDA, MU, SNDK, GOOGL, MSFT, AAPL, and META, plus index trackers QQQ and SPY. The launch expands equity derivative options and bridges traditional markets with crypto trading.

President Donald Trump held a private meeting Tuesday with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong just hours before publicly criticizing big banks for blocking progress on U.S. crypto market structure legislation. Trump accused banks of undermining the GENIUS Act and stalling the broader CLARITY Act by pushing to ban stablecoin yield programs, a point of contention between banks and crypto firms. He urged lawmakers to pass the bill “ASAP” to bring regulatory clarity and protect American crypto innovation.