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Crypto companies citing artificial intelligence (AI) as the reason for recent layoffs may be using it as a cover for pre-planned staff reductions, DL News has analyzed. The analysis follows a recent announcement from Crypto.com that it was cutting its workforce by about 12%, primarily in roles deemed unsuitable for a new, AI-integrated environment. DL News noted that while Crypto.com and other firms are framing the cuts as a move to improve efficiency through AI, it remains unclear if this is a pretext for previously planned downsizing.

Cross-chain Layer 1 blockchain project Zetachain (ZETA) announced on its official X account that it has integrated the AI model Minimax into its AI interoperability layer, Anuma. Minimax is a prominent Chinese AI startup with its own large-scale AI model and is considered one of the most widely used AI applications in China. Zetachain stated that it has connected Minimax, an AI model utilized by 236 million users, adding that its M2.7 AI model has been a complete game-changer through its open-source availability. Anuma is a universal AI-Web3 layer built on Zetachain 2.0.

Erik Voorhees, an early Bitcoin supporter and founder of crypto exchange Shapeshift, purchased 5,805.51 ETH ($12.34 million) about an hour ago. The average purchase price was $2,126.32.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended its review period for a proposal from the Nasdaq PHLX exchange to list and trade Bitcoin index options. Consequently, the final deadline for a decision on the proposal has been postponed from March 28, 2026, to May 27. The SEC explained that the extension is to ensure sufficient time to fully consider various questions and public feedback that have been raised.

Whale Alert reported that 348,000,000 USDC has been transferred from Coinbase Institutional to Coinbase. The transaction is valued at about $348 million.

An address associated with Bitcoin investment firm Twenty One Capital has transferred 392.19 BTC, worth approximately $27.67 million, to Bitfinex.

An anonymous whale purchased 3,618 ETH for 7.7 million USDT, Onchain Lens reported. The address currently holds 107,000 ETH (approximately $229.12 million) and 23 million USDT, suggesting the possibility of additional purchases.

Mirae Asset Group is officially joining the board of directors of South Korean crypto exchange Korbit, moving a step closer to finalizing its acquisition of the platform. Maeil Business Newspaper reported today that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under South Korea's Financial Services Commission has accepted a filing from Mirae Asset Consulting to change executives, allowing for its representative to join Korbit's board. The new director, reported to be a professional manager, will be officially appointed following a resolution by Korbit's board and the completion of the executive change registration process. Industry sources anticipate the acquisition will be fully completed as early as the first half of this year.

Binance announced it will list PAYP/USDT perpetual futures, the stock token for PayPal, at 2:30 p.m. UTC on March 23. The contract will support up to 10x leverage.

According to CoinNess market monitoring, BTC has fallen below $70,000. BTC is trading at $69,975.01 on the Binance USDT market.

The three major U.S. stock indices opened lower today. - S&P 500: -0.29% - Nasdaq: -0.47% - Dow Jones: -0.26%

Cryptocurrency companies and fintech firms are competing to build their own infrastructure to secure revenue from stablecoin payments, Cointelegraph reported, citing a Delphi Digital report. The report noted that stablecoin issuers are launching dedicated blockchain networks optimized for payments, such as Tether's Plasma and Circle's Arc. This move is seen as a strategy to capture more revenue by operating their own layers rather than paying fees to external networks like Ethereum. Meanwhile, payments giant Stripe is vertically integrating its wallet and payment processes through a series of acquisitions. These include the $1.1 billion purchase of stablecoin infrastructure startup Bridge in October 2024, followed by wallet infrastructure firm Privy in June 2025 and DeFi protocol Metronome in January 2026. The industry anticipates that whichever entity dominates stablecoin payment rails could achieve a market position similar to that of Visa and Mastercard in the current payments landscape.

The U.S. Federal Reserve could resume interest rate hikes if the current oil price shock and geopolitical uncertainty persist, Bank of America (BofA) has analyzed. According to Walter Bloomberg, BofA noted that a combination of a stable job market, the continuation of Jerome Powell's leadership, and a sustained oil shock could prompt the Fed to raise rates again. The bank suggested that the likelihood of a rate hike increases if oil prices remain in the $80 to $100 per barrel range. BofA explained that inflation and rising energy costs are currently weighing on the Fed's policy decisions, limiting the potential for rate cuts. It also highlighted that Fed Chair Powell is maintaining a hawkish stance, emphasizing inflation risks and uncertainty related to Iran.

According to Arkham, Grayscale deposited 3,979 ETH to Coinbase Prime approximately five minutes ago. The deposit is valued at $8.52 million. Coinbase Prime is a prime brokerage platform that handles large-scale trading and custody for institutional investors.

Global Web3 security firm CertiK announced that it has officially joined a global security cooperation framework to combat Web3 crime. At the 2026 UN Global Fraud Summit, CertiK committed to providing the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol with on-chain risk monitoring, expert teams for technical and forensic support in major cyberattacks, and briefings on blockchain security policy and technology. CertiK currently offers on-chain risk monitoring and other services to over 5,000 clients worldwide, utilizing its proprietary security platform, Skynet, and the industry's largest Web3 security database. The firm noted that as the cryptocurrency market is brought into the regulatory fold, security systems are evolving from simple technical services into infrastructure that supports regulatory compliance and market trust. Other global IT and financial companies, including Google and Lloyds Banking Group, are also participating in the framework.

Ripple and its co-founder Chris Larsen have each contributed $5 million, for a total of $10 million, to the political action committee Golden State Promise to block the introduction of a wealth tax in California, TheStreet reported. The state is advancing a bill to impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires residing there as of Jan. 1, with 90% of the collected funds intended for public health services. Other prominent figures opposing the tax include Kraken founder Jesse Powell, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and investor Peter Thiel.

Michelle Bowman, Vice Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), said she expects three cuts to the benchmark interest rate this year.

U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could create additional inflationary pressure, according to Walter Bloomberg.

An address presumed to belong to London-based asset management firm Abraxas Capital deposited 1,000 BTC ($70.39 million) to Kraken about 10 minutes ago, Whale Alert reported. Deposits to exchanges are typically interpreted as a move to sell.

Hardware wallet maker Ledger has hired John Andrews, a former executive at USDC issuer Circle, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), The Information reported. Additionally, Ledger plans to open an office in New York to expand its U.S. operations.

Bitcoin is showing more strength than traditional assets like gold and U.S. stocks amid inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty, and it is currently in an undervalued state with negative factors already priced in, according to André Dragosch, Head of Research for Europe at Bitwise. In an interview with CoinDesk, he said that BTC's bull market has coincided with a strong economy and rising inflation expectations, which is why it has recently outperformed U.S. stocks and gold. Dragosch noted that BTC is less sensitive to interest rates than gold, making it less affected by rising bond yields. He added that while an uncertain monetary policy stance is a barrier to price increases, BTC has already priced in this risk. Dragosch suggested that BTC is currently trading at a macro discount and that future key triggers will include an improved monetary policy environment, an end to the conflict in the Middle East, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Bitcoin's sharp drop yesterday, accompanied by a rise in open interest (OI), appears to be a typical process of building short positions, Coinglass reported via X. The analytics firm noted that while the price is currently rebounding, OI has remained almost unchanged, suggesting the rebound is not driven by an influx of new buying pressure. Coinglass added that the current market phase seems closer to consolidation than a trend reversal.

Whale Alert reported that 406,235,399 USDT has been transferred from HTX to Aave. The transaction is valued at about $406 million.

BlackRock has deposited 47,728 ETH, valued at $102 million, and 544 BTC, worth $38.3 million, into Coinbase Prime, according to Lookonchain. Coinbase Prime is a prime brokerage platform that facilitates large-scale trading and custody for institutional investors.

Decentralized exchange (DEX) Aster (ASTER) has announced the launch of a staking feature on its proprietary mainnet. Users can delegate ASTER to validators and select a lock-up period to earn returns through a dual mechanism composed of "Base Rewards" and "Loyalty Rewards." The Base Rewards, earned by delegating to validators, draw from a pool of 150,000 ASTER, with yields determined by a validator's transaction throughput and an individual's staking share. The Loyalty Rewards program allows users to lock up ASTER for up to 208 weeks, with compensation based on the amount, duration, and transaction volume. This program is funded by a 300,000 ASTER pool and includes additional rewards from platform buybacks. Initial validators participating to secure the network include Trust Wallet, BNB Chain, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), Lista DAO, and PancakeSwap (CAKE). To participate, users can visit the staking page to select a validator and set their desired amount and lock-up period.