This article summarizes cryptocurrency news as of March 13, 2026, focusing on the latest Bitcoin updates, Ethereum upgrades, Dogecoin trends, real-time crypto prices, and price forecasts. Major Web3 events today include:
- Bitcoin Approaching $72,000: Supply Tightening and Regulatory Positive Signals Boost BTC
Bitcoin briefly neared $72,000 today, continuing its upward trend since the week began. Market analysts believe this rebound is driven by improved regulatory signals, declining Bitcoin reserves on exchanges, and ongoing institutional inflows.
Midweek, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced a coordinated crypto regulation plan, aiming to establish data sharing and simplify reporting requirements to reduce regulatory uncertainty from separate enforcement. Though not formal regulation, this is seen as a sign of increasing clarity in U.S. digital asset oversight. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has repeatedly expressed hopes for clearer policies supporting the crypto industry.
Macro factors also influence market sentiment. Previously, tensions in the Middle East pushed international oil prices close to $100 per barrel, pressuring global stocks. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later announced the U.S. would allow the purchase of stranded Russian crude oil, causing oil prices to fall about $2 per barrel. As energy market volatility eased, Bitcoin quickly broke above $70,000 and continued rising.
On-chain data shows a clear tightening of Bitcoin supply. CryptoQuant reports that as of March 12, reserves held on centralized exchanges dropped to around 2.75 million BTC, the lowest since 2019. Meanwhile, long-term holders control about 14.5 million BTC, assets that haven’t moved in over five months.
Institutional inflows are also reducing circulating supply. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw net inflows of approximately $570 million last week, and daily withdrawals from trading platforms reached 32,000 BTC. Several listed companies continue increasing their Bitcoin holdings, with Strategy and others accumulating nearly 350,000 BTC.
Analysts note that when trading platforms hold fewer tradable BTC, even modest demand increases can significantly impact prices. This situation is commonly described as “supply tightening.”
Technically, Bitcoin fell to around $60,000 in February but then recovered gradually, oscillating between $67,000 and $71,000. A successful break above $72,000 could trigger short covering and further accelerate gains. Current daily trading volume remains above $50 billion, with mining breakeven electricity costs around $64,000–$65,000.
- Wall Street Turns to Bitcoin Mining Power: AI Data Center Demand Surges, Miners May Reassess Valuations
As AI computational demands grow, Bitcoin miners’ years of infrastructure investment are gaining attention from Wall Street. Matthew Sigel, head of research at VanEck Digital Assets, said the market has yet to fully recognize the potential value of mining companies’ AI data center assets, which already possess key resources AI firms need.
In an CNBC interview, Sigel explained that Bitcoin miners’ land, power contracts, cooling systems, and grid access give them a competitive edge in the AI infrastructure race. New data centers often take years to connect to power grids, with some projects queued until after 2028.
Despite these advantages, Bitcoin miners are still valued below traditional data center operators. Sigel believes this gap stems from the market’s limited understanding of miners’ potential to pivot into AI infrastructure or cautiousness about their business model shifts.
This transition is already underway. Public data shows several miners plan to expand their power capacity from about 7 GW to 20 GW by 2027, with some transforming existing facilities into AI data centers.
For example, Mara announced in February plans to convert some mining sites into large-scale data centers. Core Scientific secured up to $1 billion in financing from Morgan Stanley to fund AI infrastructure. CleanSpark stated in Q1 2026 that, given current computing prices, AI operations now yield higher returns than traditional Bitcoin mining.
This trend is reflected in network hashrate data, which shows a roughly 6% decline from the November 2025 peak, partly due to miners redeploying equipment for AI tasks.
Not all miners are reducing mining activity. Bitdeer, for instance, plans to deploy about 50,000 of its own ASICs on a 413 MW grid, adding approximately 33 EH/s of hashpower, generating around $335 million in Bitcoin at current prices.
Beyond hashpower and hosting, the value of miners in grid regulation is gaining recognition. Because miners can quickly shut down or restart based on grid needs, some energy markets see them as flexible load resources. Industry forecasts suggest that by 2030, AI data centers’ power demand will grow at about 24% annually, with mining infrastructure playing a key role.
- Ethereum Fee Reduction Sparks Surge in Scams? Address Poisoning Attacks and Small USDT Transactions Spike 612%
As Ethereum transaction costs drop, on-chain security concerns re-emerge. Data shows that after the Fusaka upgrade in December 2025, “address poisoning” attacks increased significantly, with many small transfers used to forge transaction histories and trick users into sending funds to scam addresses.
Address poisoning involves attackers creating addresses similar to real wallets and sending tiny amounts (dust transfers). These are recorded in transaction histories, and because Ethereum addresses are 42 characters long, some users copy addresses by only checking the first and last few characters, risking funds being sent to fake addresses.
Etherscan data indicates this isn’t new; from July 2022 to June 2024, about 17 million poisoning attempts targeted roughly 1.3 million users, causing confirmed losses of at least $79.3 million.
Post-Fusaka, small-value transactions surged. USDT small transfers jumped from about 4.2 million to nearly 29.9 million, a 612% increase; USDC from 2.6 million to 14.9 million (~473%); DAI from 142,000 to 811,000 (~470%). ETH dust transactions also rose from 104.5 million to 169.7 million (~62%).
Etherscan notes that shortly after Fusaka, transactions under $0.01 spiked sharply, then declined but remained well above pre-upgrade levels.
While success rates are low—about 1 in 10,000 attacks succeed—the low cost per attack means even rare successes can be lucrative, encouraging continued use.
Researchers observe an “industrialization” trend: multiple scam groups target the same addresses simultaneously, trying to insert fake addresses into user transaction histories to increase the chance of user error.
Not all small transfers are malicious; some are normal token swaps or testing. But security experts warn users to verify full wallet addresses carefully and avoid copying addresses directly from transaction history to reduce theft risk.
- Hong Kong Stablecoin Regulation Nears Implementation: HSBC and Standard Chartered Likely First to Obtain Issuance Licenses
According to Bloomberg, HSBC and Standard Chartered are expected to be among the first to receive stablecoin issuance licenses in Hong Kong. If approved, these banks can issue stablecoins under the regulatory framework established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), marking the start of practical operations of Hong Kong’s stablecoin regime.
Hong Kong’s “Stablecoin Ordinance,” enacted in 2025, established a licensing regime for fiat-backed stablecoins. It requires issuers to obtain approval, maintain reserves, disclose information, and implement risk controls. This move is part of Hong Kong’s strategy to promote compliant digital assets and position itself as a global digital asset hub.
Sources say the HKMA has reviewed dozens of license applications, but initial licenses will be limited. Up to 36 companies have expressed interest.
Specifically, Standard Chartered plans to issue a Hong Kong dollar-pegged stablecoin via a joint venture, mainly for cross-border payments and digital settlement. HSBC’s approval would attract more attention, as it has not participated in HKMA’s sandbox testing, which assesses technical and compliance readiness.
Stablecoins, pegged to fiat or other assets, are key in crypto markets, expanding from liquidity tools to cross-border payments, supply chain finance, and international settlements.
As global financial centers accelerate digital asset regulation, Hong Kong aims to balance innovation and stability. If HSBC and Standard Chartered obtain licenses, it could boost traditional banks’ involvement in blockchain payments and accelerate the development of HKD stablecoins.
- OpenClaw Sparks AI Trading Boom in China: Retail Traders Use AI for Crypto, Some Earn Nearly $3,000 in 48 Hours
OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent framework, has become a hit in China’s tech and investment circles. In less than four months, it gained over 260,000 GitHub stars, prompting many Chinese developers and retail traders to experiment with AI for crypto trading and market analysis, sparking a wave of “AI automation trading experiments.”
Media reports say OpenClaw’s influence has expanded from developers to broader audiences. Tencent, Baidu engineers host frequent setup events; office workers, students, and retirees are deploying their own AI agents. Related companies like Minimax Group saw stock prices jump over 550% in two months.
On ClawHub, the official marketplace, over 300 finance and investment plugins are available. Some developers use AI to predict markets and trade crypto assets. For example, a widely circulated case shows an AI bot that scans market data, weather, sports injuries, and on-chain sentiment, turning $50 into nearly $3,000 in 48 hours. Another account, “0x8dxd,” reportedly executed over 20,000 trades with a total profit of about $1.7 million.
However, real-world results vary. A two-week quantitative test on CNBlogs suggests OpenClaw functions more as an info analysis tool than a reliable auto-trader. Large language model “hallucinations” could trigger errors during extreme market moves, and API delays of 1–10 seconds pose risks during flash crashes.
Security concerns are also rising. The “ClawHavoc” supply chain attack in late 2025 infected over 1,100 malicious plugins on ClawHub. Koi Security and SlowMist disclosed some plugins target crypto wallets and assets. Bitdefender Labs estimates about 17% of third-party plugins pose theft risks.
Chinese authorities issued security alerts, urging strict permission controls and closing unnecessary network access. Many universities restrict OpenClaw use on campus networks.
Market sentiment is shifting. In mid-March, “Uninstall OpenClaw” became a trending keyword on Alibaba’s secondhand platform Xianyu, with some users paying to remove the system. A Shanghai seller charges 299 RMB per removal, completing multiple orders.
While OpenClaw lowers the technical barrier to AI quant trading, industry experts agree that AI tools can improve data collection and analysis but human judgment remains essential. Opportunities and risks coexist in the AI-crypto integration space.
- Trump Plans April Crypto Summit at Mar-a-Lago: TRUMP Token Holders Get Priority, Only 297 Seats
Former U.S. President Donald Trump plans to host a limited crypto and business-themed summit at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on April 25, 2026. The event includes a formal luncheon and keynote speeches, with invitation-only access limited to 297 participants.
“The Official Trump Meme” website reports that attendance will be determined by TRUMP token holdings, ranked on a leaderboard. Larger holdings mean higher chances of entry. The top 29 will receive VIP treatment, including exclusive receptions, special talks on Mar-a-Lago’s history, and priority seating.
This approach again links politics with the crypto ecosystem, making TRUMP token holdings a market focus. Trump’s team previously hosted similar events to attract crypto investors and boost related digital assets.
Notably, in May 2025, Trump held a high-profile TRUMP token dinner at his golf club, with a black-tie invitation for key holders. About $394 million worth of TRUMP tokens were purchased for access, with some investors spending up to $10 million.
While most attendees remain anonymous, some notable figures appeared, such as blockchain influencer Justin Sun and digital platform CEO Jack Lu. Sun received a limited-edition “Trump Tourbillon” watch during the event, sparking social media buzz.
Market-wise, TRUMP token saw about an 11% rise after the announcement, then retraced gains. Currently, it trades around $2.89, roughly unchanged for the day.
Analysts say Trump’s crypto activities continue to draw attention, with token rankings, political involvement, and industry-politics interactions becoming key discussion points. As the April event approaches, token prices and community interest may fluctuate further.
- Over $2.2 Billion in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Options Expiring Today; US PCE Data May Trigger Market Volatility
Crypto markets face a critical day, with over $2.2 billion in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP options expiring, alongside the release of U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) inflation data. Multiple macroeconomic and derivatives factors heighten short-term volatility risks. Currently, the crypto fear and greed index has fallen to 15, indicating extreme caution.
Approximately 27,000 Bitcoin options worth nearly $1.9 billion expire today. The put/call ratio is about 0.97, slightly bearish. Open interest concentrates around $55,000–$60,000 puts, with fewer calls at $75,000–$80,000. The 25 delta skew for Bitcoin has eased, suggesting reduced panic hedging.
Key support levels show a maximum stop-loss near $69,000, below the current spot price of about $71,500. Market models estimate an 86% chance that Bitcoin’s expiry price exceeds $71,000, implying most traders expect high-side stability.
Ethereum has over 186,000 options expiring today, with a total notional of about $394 million. The put/call ratio is 1.20, indicating slight bearish hedging. The maximum stop-loss is around $2,000, with a 71% probability that expiry exceeds $2,100, keeping focus on key support zones.
XRP options are smaller, with about $8.85 million expiring. The put/call ratio is 0.13, showing bullish sentiment. The maximum stop-loss is at $1.40, slightly below current prices (~$1.42), with some traders targeting $1.50 short-term.
In addition, macro data will be released: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports on PCE inflation. Economists expect core PCE to rise 0.4% month-over-month and about 3.1% year-over-year; overall PCE to increase 0.3% MoM and roughly 2.9% YoY.
Meanwhile, Trump recently urged the Fed to consider emergency rate cuts before the upcoming FOMC meeting to counter inflation from rising oil prices. However, markets still see a 99% chance of holding rates steady.
Energy policy updates include the U.S. allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil within 30 days to stabilize volatile energy markets. Following this, Bitcoin briefly surged past $72,000, reflecting macro policy impacts on crypto sentiment.
- BlackRock’s Staked Ethereum ETF Launches with $15.5 Million on Day One, Marking a Key Step for Yield-Generating Crypto ETFs
BlackRock’s staking Ethereum ETF, iShares Staked Ethereum Trust (ETHB), attracted about $15.5 million in trading volume on its first day, marking a significant move in yield-focused crypto ETFs.
Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart reports the fund’s initial assets exceeded $100 million. Trading was active from open, reaching nearly $11.1 million in the afternoon and closing around $15.5 million. Industry experts see this as a solid debut for a new ETF.
Unlike spot crypto ETFs, ETHB tracks Ethereum’s price and generates yield via on-chain staking, with 70–95% of ETH assets staked to earn network rewards. About 82% of staking rewards are distributed monthly as dividends, similar to dividend ETFs, with the rest covering management, custody, and staking service costs.
The fund charges a 0.25% management fee, with a temporary 0.12% fee for the first $2.5 billion in assets to attract early capital.
ETHB expands BlackRock’s digital asset ETF lineup, which already includes the Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Ethereum Trust (ETHA), both popular among institutional investors.
Experts believe that integrating staking yields into ETFs could open new crypto investment avenues for traditional markets. If institutional interest grows, similar yield-based ETFs for other proof-of-stake assets may emerge, transforming crypto ETFs from price trackers into cash-flow-generating financial products.
- Trump’s Crypto Project Bets on AI Payments: USD1 Stablecoin Targets Machine-to-Machine Trading
Trump’s affiliated crypto project, World Liberty Financial, is accelerating efforts to combine AI and stablecoin payments. Co-founder Zak Folkman revealed they are developing AI agents capable of autonomous payments, aiming to position their USD1 stablecoin as a key player in future machine-to-machine trading.
Folkman said the team is actively building features to enable AI agents to settle and execute payments without human intervention. They are creating systems that can perform automatic transactions, representing users in digital economies.
This aligns with the expanding stablecoin market, now nearing $315 billion, nearly doubling since 2022. The U.S. government emphasizes stablecoins’ role in financial innovation. Trump has publicly supported stablecoin tech and envisions making the U.S. a global crypto hub.
Market analysts are optimistic about stablecoin growth. Scott Bessent predicts a $3 trillion market by 2030; Citigroup analysts suggest it could reach $4 trillion.
With AI advancing rapidly, stablecoins are increasingly seen as essential for machine trading. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire recently said stablecoins could become the native currency for AI agents’ transactions. Infrastructure improvements include new blockchain micro-payment systems allowing agents to hold balances and perform high-frequency, low-value trades.
In this model, AI agents can automatically buy data services, compute resources, or logistics info, enabling highly automated business processes. Industry experts believe that as AI-driven programmable money matures, digital currencies and automated payment systems could become foundational to future internet finance.
- CFTC Launches Prediction Market Oversight, Event Contract Rules May See Major Changes
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced a new initiative to strengthen regulation of prediction markets and event contracts. Chairman Michael Selig said this signals a shift after years of cautious observation, aiming to clarify compliance frameworks.
CFTC’s Market Oversight issued Circular 26-08, requiring registered platforms to meet stricter standards for listing event contracts, which are derivatives tied to real-world outcomes like sports, elections, etc. The agency also issued a proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), inviting public comments on whether new rules or revisions are needed, with a 45-day comment period.
Selig emphasized that prediction markets are longstanding financial tools, and CFTC will oversee their development in the U.S. to ensure legality. He noted increasing reliance on prediction data over traditional polls.
Regulatory jurisdiction remains debated. Some states consider prediction markets akin to sports betting, subject to gambling laws, not financial regulation. Industry consultant Peter Harmon said this action mostly reaffirms existing rules rather than proposing new ones.
Harmon added that regulation mainly concerns sports prediction markets; political or economic event contracts are less contentious. Most Western countries classify such activities as gambling.
The CFTC also warned platforms about insider trading, manipulation, and misuse of confidential info. If products don’t meet standards, regulators can suspend or restrict trading. Analysts expect further clarification of legal boundaries as the prediction market industry grows.
- Tencent Has Over 10 Claw-Like Products in Development or Launch; WorkBuddy Started Development as Early as Jan 17
Tencent Cloud told LatePost that it has over 10 Claw-like products either in testing or in development. WorkBuddy began development on January 17, with a small team quickly building an MVP overnight, opening it internally the following week. Originally scheduled for March 16, it was launched a week early amid a surge in installations. The team also prepared materials, docs, and install packages in advance for the Spring Festival launch, to avoid last year’s issues with DeepSeek.
Security head Su Jiandong said Tencent’s security solutions serve both internal products and third-party OpenClaw deployments, covering host security (vulnerability detection, password encryption), network security (prompt injection prevention, sensitive data leak detection), and supply chain security (malicious skill access checks). Tencent’s project lead Ding Ning acknowledged that OpenClaw can’t replace a full team but sees value in many non-technical users engaging with AI.
- Miner Profits Under Pressure! Wintermute Says Bitcoin Miners Must Transition to AI or Activate BTC Asset Revenue
Crypto market maker Wintermute’s latest report states that Bitcoin miners face declining profits in this cycle, with traditional mining becoming less profitable. To stay competitive long-term, miners may need to develop AI computing services or actively manage BTC holdings.
Wintermute notes that miners have built extensive infrastructure in low-cost energy regions, which aligns with AI’s demand for high-performance compute and energy. Some are considering shifting into AI hosting or data center operations, though this requires significant capital and involves risks.
Industry trends are emerging: Mara plans to sell some BTC to fund AI ventures. Since October 2025, several miners have sold over 15,000 BTC to boost cash flow or pivot strategies.
The report highlights that miners hold nearly 1% of total BTC supply, a “HODL legacy” with long-term holdings but limited active management. They could hedge risks via derivatives, covered calls, or cash-secured puts, or earn interest through lending.
It also points out that Bitcoin’s price has not doubled enough to offset halving income reductions, and fee revenue remains volatile. Rising energy costs further squeeze profits.
Wintermute sees this as a market restructuring rather than a repeat of 2018 or 2022 cycles. As less efficient miners exit, the industry may become more consolidated and efficient over the coming years.
- Eightco Holdings Completes $125 Million Funding, Bitmine Leads with $75 Million
Eightco Holdings announced a $125 million funding round to support blockchain and AI initiatives. Led by Bitcoin treasury firm Bitmine with $75 million, investments also include $25 million from Ark Invest and another CEX parent company. Bitmine’s chairman Tom Lee joins Eightco’s board; Ark’s futurist Brett Winton becomes an advisor. Eightco also announced a $50 million strategic investment in OpenAI and a $25 million stake in YouTuber MrBeast’s Beast Industries. The news caused Eightco’s stock to rise 12% on Thursday.
- Vitalik Buterin Responds to $500M SHIB Donation Controversy, Clarifies Relationship with AI Risk Organization FLI
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin addressed recent speculation about his large SHIB donation and involvement in AI policy. He explained the background of the 2021 SHIB donation event and clarified his stance on the organization’s AI risk efforts.
Buterin recalled that in 2021, he received a sudden influx of SHIB and other meme tokens, sent by project teams for marketing, with half the supply sent to his address. The tokens’ value soared, reaching over $1 billion. Concerned about a bubble, he quickly converted most to ETH and donated to multiple charities, including $50 million to GiveWell.
Of the remaining SHIB, half was donated to CryptoRelief for India’s healthcare projects; the other half went to FLI, which presented a long-term research plan on biosafety, nuclear risks, and AI safety. He expected these tokens to net only $10–25 million, but the organizations sold them for about $500 million.
Later, FLI shifted focus toward cultural and political AI governance. Buterin understands their concerns about rapid AI development but worries that large-scale political actions could have unintended consequences, such as power centralization or global regulatory conflicts.
He advocates a “development and adaptation” approach—building open, secure tech like air quality monitoring, early disease detection, and verifiable hardware—to reduce future risks. Recent $40 million+ funding supports secure hardware and cybersecurity research to ensure AI systems are safer.
Despite differences, Buterin supports some FLI initiatives, like the “AI Safety Declaration,” promoting international cooperation to prevent AI overconcentration. He urges caution and rationality in AI governance to mitigate risks.
- SEC Developing New Tokenized Securities Exemption Rules, Major Regulatory Framework Changes Expected
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said the agency is working on a new exemption mechanism for tokenized securities, which will be more limited than previous broad proposals. Her comments at the Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting have sparked market speculation about future U.S. regulation of tokenized securities.
Peirce explained that SEC staff are exploring a narrower exemption to allow limited trading of tokenized securities under strict conditions, without fully relaxing securities laws. This aims to gather experience for future rulemaking.
In February, the IAC’s Market Structure Subcommittee opposed broad exemptions, warning that removing securities protections like ownership disclosures and intermediary responsibilities could harm investors. They recommend incremental rule reforms with public input before full implementation.
While discussions continue, IAC recognizes potential benefits of tokenized securities, such as faster settlement and improved transparency. Still, regulators emphasize that proper oversight is essential.
Chair Paul Atkins indicated that the SEC plans to review these innovations soon, possibly using temporary exemptions to test new trading models while establishing long-term rules.
