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SoFi, the first U.S. nationally chartered and FDIC-insured bank to issue a stablecoin on a public blockchain, has partnered with Mastercard to use SoFiUSD for global payment settlements. Launched in December 2025 and fully backed by cash reserves, SoFiUSD enables instant 24/7 transactions for businesses, cross-border remittances, and B2B payments. SoFi CEO Anthony Noto called it a key step toward faster, cheaper, and safer money movement, while Mastercard highlighted how it combines regulated digital currency with its trusted scale amid $30 billion in daily stablecoin volume.

At the FIN/SUM2026 conference, Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda revealed a new blockchain sandbox project to experiment with settling central bank money, including interbank transfers and securities, using distributed ledger technology. The initiative aims to enable 24/7 instant settlement, improve efficiency, and explore tokenization, while managing risks such as smart contract vulnerabilities. It connects to international efforts such as Project Agorá, where central banks test tokenized deposits for cross‑border payments. The move positions Japan to balance innovation with financial stability as digital finance evolves.

MANTRA Chain has successfully completed its transition from $OM to $MANTRA with the rollout of its v7.0.0 upgrade on March 3 UTC. The community-approved move automatically quadrupled token balances in a non-dilutive 1 to 4 split and updated token decimals from 6 to 18 for smoother use. The upgrade brings the ecosystem together under the MANTRA name, reinforces its focus on tokenizing real-world assets like art and real estate, and paves the way for exchanges to restore liquidity and support.

Open interest in Hyperliquid’s CL USDC oil perpetual contract climbed above $50M in late February 2026 as escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran drove traders toward commodity exposure. Oil on the platform rose 5% to 70.60 dollars per barrel, while gold gained 1.3% to $5323 and silver advanced 2% to $94.90. Following the HIP 3 upgrade, Hyperliquid expanded permissionless markets, pushing total trading volume beyond 4 trillion dollars and daily fees above 2 million dollars.

South Korea’s government has launched a high-level review of how seized digital assets are managed after two major mishaps exposed serious weaknesses. In 2022, police in Seoul’s Gangnam District lost track of 22 bitcoins, and crypto exchange Bithumb accidentally credited a user with $40 billion in bitcoin due to a technical error. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Goo Yun-cheol said tighter controls and improved security are needed, though officials have not yet outlined specific steps to prevent future losses.

Gold price surged $128 in a single day, opening with a strong bullish gap as geopolitical tensions fueled safe-haven demand. Analysts note the metal respected a key bullish order block and delivered strong upside momentum, keeping the near-term structure positive. Robert Kiyosaki suggests the move could spill over into assets like silver and Bitcoin. However, traders warn that sharp rallies often bring volatility, making macro signals and follow-through price action crucial to watch.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has sparked debate after praising Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach in a recent tweet. SBF claimed Trump’s actions in Iran and Venezuela achieved results that long ground wars in Iraq and Afghanistan failed to deliver. He described the strategy as “surgical,” arguing it came at a far lower cost and with fewer casualties. The post quickly drew mixed reactions online, with critics and supporters debating the comparison and its accuracy.

Cryptocurrency markets are falling sharply as geopolitical and financial pressures collide. Bitcoin fell sharply to $63,000 after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered panic across global markets. Nearly $75 billion was wiped from crypto’s total value, with over 154,000 traders liquidated and $522 million in forced closures, mostly long positions. BTC futures volume surged to $76 billion, showing heavy leveraged selling rather than organic exits. The total crypto market cap dropped 5.5% to $2.21 trillion as rising war tensions fueled uncertainty and risk-off sentiment.

President Trump announced and ordered a large-scale U.S. military assault against Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran as Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iranian regime targets. Trump described the action as necessary to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat and weaken its military, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the mission “Lion’s Roar.” Smoke was seen over government buildings and suspected nuclear-related sites near Parchin, and Iranian officials vowed swift retaliation as missile alerts sounded across Israel. Some opposition figures welcomed the offensive, while global leaders watched closely for escalation.

Bitcoin dropped to around $63,000 after reports of an Israeli strike on Iran escalated geopolitical tensions and rattled global markets. The sudden risk-off reaction triggered over $100 million in leveraged long liquidations within minutes, amplifying the downside move. Crypto markets saw a sharp spike in volatility as traders reduced exposure, with derivatives funding rates flipping and open interest declining. The move highlights Bitcoin’s sensitivity to geopolitical risk, with volatility rising sharply during unexpected global events.

ZKsync has announced that ZKsync Lite will be retired on May 4, 2026, with block production stopping and the network’s final state permanently frozen to ensure balances cannot change. Launched as a payment-focused ZK-rollup, ZKsync Lite helped demonstrate the potential of zero-knowledge technology, but the project is now concentrating on newer chains and the broader zkSync ecosystem. Users can still claim their funds, and other ZKsync systems will continue operating without disruption.

South Korea’s National Tax Service accidentally exposed the recovery seed phrase of a seized crypto wallet in a public press release photo, leading attackers to drain about $4.8 million worth of PRTG tokens shortly afterward. The leaked seed phrase gave full control of the wallet, allowing transfers to unknown addresses within hours. Experts say the mistake highlights serious gaps in how authorities handle and secure sensitive digital asset information, raising concerns about institutional readiness for crypto regulation and custody.

The UK Gambling Commission is exploring allowing cryptocurrency payments for bets, starting discussions on how digital assets could be used by licensed gambling operators in the country. This move comes as the Financial Conduct Authority advances its digital asset regulatory framework, with new crypto rules expected to take effect by October 2027, and could open the door for gambling firms to seek crypto‑related licences under the updated regime. Regulators say the change could help protect consumers and reduce illegal gambling, though challenges like anti‑money laundering checks and crypto volatility remain key concerns.

Minnesota legislators introduced House File 3642, a bill that would ban the placement and operation of all cryptocurrency kiosks, physical crypto ATMs, across the state by prohibiting anyone from installing or running them. The proposal also calls for repealing existing rules that regulate kiosk licensing, require disclosures, set transaction limits, and govern consumer protections, effectively dismantling the current legal framework. Supporters say the ban aims to reduce scams tied to these machines, while critics worry it could limit access to digital currency services for residents

Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) reported a $1.7 billion net loss in Q4 2025, down from a $528 million profit last year, mainly due to a $1.5 billion write-down on its Bitcoin after BTC fell about 30%. Revenue dropped 6% to $202.3 million, and adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.49 billion. By year-end, MARA held 53,822 BTC, with about 28% loaned or pledged, highlighting how Bitcoin price swings can hit the company’s earnings hard.

Terra Classic (LUNC) jumped 26.69% to $0.0000459 in 24 hours, sharply outperforming a mostly flat crypto market. The rally is driven by a rotation of capital into speculative altcoins, reflected in a rising Altcoin Season Index and extreme gains in low-cap tokens. A high-volume breakout above the 200-day simple moving average at $0.0000447 and key Fibonacci resistance confirms strong buyer momentum. If LUNC holds this support, it could target $0.0000494, while a drop could trigger a pullback toward $0.0000400.