Short News

Sam Bankman-Fried has argued that FTX was financially sound at the time it filed for bankruptcy, claiming the platform held sufficient assets to meet customer balances even after withdrawals were frozen. Speaking amid his prison sentence, he maintains that users have since been repaid in full and says this should be considered in his request for a reduced sentence. His remarks have reopened debate over the exchange’s liquidity, asset management, and the true state of its finances before the collapse.

Standard Chartered has cut its XRP year‑end 2026 price forecast from $8 to $2.80, a sharp 65% reduction, citing sustained weakness across the crypto market and waning institutional flows. The bank’s digital assets team noted that XRP’s price recently dipped to multi‑month lows amid broader sell‑offs in major tokens. Persistent ETF outflows, macroeconomic pressure, and risk‑off sentiment across digital assets have forced the reassessment. This downgrade aligns with similar cuts to Bitcoin and Ethereum forecasts, reflecting deep market challenges.

Financial author Robert Kiyosaki says the massive market crash he predicted in his 2013 book Rich Dad’s Prophecy is now close. He believes investors holding assets like gold, silver, Ethereum, and Bitcoin could gain, while those unprepared may face losses. Kiyosaki adds that he is increasing his Bitcoin holdings as prices drop, pointing to its 21 million supply limit and calling market crashes powerful opportunities to buy assets at discounted prices.

Security researchers have uncovered a new phishing campaign in which fraudsters send physical mail to owners of Ledger and Trezor wallets, impersonating official support. The letters use convincing logos and messaging to push users toward fraudulent websites that ask for recovery seed phrases, which are private keys that grant full control of crypto assets. This offline tactic aims to bypass usual email and SMS filters. Experts strongly advise never sharing or entering seed phrases online and to always verify support contact details through official company channels to avoid theft.

OKX has secured a Payment Institution license from Malta’s financial regulator, giving it full regulatory approval to offer stablecoin payment services across the European Union under the bloc’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) and Payment Services Directive (PSD2) frameworks. This license lets OKX expand OKX Pay and the OKX Card, supporting stablecoins like USDC and USDG in compliant transactions throughout the EU. The move strengthens OKX’s regulated presence ahead of tighter European crypto rules taking effect in 2026 and positions the exchange to bring stablecoins into everyday payments and card spending.

Russia’s Central Bank will study the risks and benefits of a ruble-pegged stablecoin this year, First Deputy Governor Vladimir Chistyukhin said at the Alfa Talk conference in Moscow. The research will learn from other countries and lead to public discussion. The move comes as crypto use in international trade grows amid sanctions, with a daily turnover of 50 billion rubles. A ruble stablecoin could give the private sector more flexibility, complementing the ongoing digital ruble pilot, while foreign-pegged private coins remain restricted.

Seoul authorities disclosed that about $1.5 million in Bitcoin seized in a 2021 fraud case was transferred out of a secure wallet without detection and only uncovered during a nationwide audit. Although the device itself remained physically intact, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency has opened an investigation into possible internal involvement. The case follows a separate incident in which the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office lost 320 BTC in a phishing attack, raising fresh concerns over how confiscated crypto assets are protected in South Korea.

South Korea’s leading exchanges Upbit and Bithumb announced they will remove Loopring ($LRC) from trading on March 16, 2026, at 1500 KST. The decision comes after ongoing concerns over disclosure transparency, project operations, and development progress. Withdrawals will remain available until April 16, but deposits and services such as airdrops will no longer be supported. The announcement caused $LRC to drop about 10%, reflecting growing regulatory oversight and stronger protections for crypto users in South Korea.

A social media post claimed Binance earned 60,000 BTC by shorting Bitcoin on BitMEX ahead of the March 2020 Black Thursday crash. Binance co‑founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao dismissed it as fake news, stating Binance never traded on BitMEX and there’s no proof or official record of such activity. He also noted BitMEX’s withdrawal system wouldn’t support a huge single exit. Most in the crypto community called the rumor baseless FUD, with no evidence offered to back it.

Chinese regulators have privately instructed major commercial banks to limit new U.S. Treasury purchases and gradually reduce large holdings due to market volatility and concentration risks. Sovereign reserves are unaffected, but China’s Treasury holdings are near multi‑year lows after years of diversification. Analysts suggest this cautious approach reflects broader interest in alternative assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, as China seeks to manage risk while exploring non‑dollar stores of value.