Author: Isabella Taylor
Gemini’s GEMI stock is down about 3% over 24 hours and trading below $6 even as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Coinbase rebound, signaling growing decoupling from the crypto rally. Summary GEMI opened near $5.95, about 3% below its 24‑hour level and near the bottom of today’s $5.92–$6.98 range, a pattern that suggests distribution rather than fresh accumulation. After a 2025 IPO at $28 and a first‑day pop to ~$37, the stock has traced a classic post‑hype round‑trip as exploding losses, heavy spend and thin liquidity leave late‑cycle retail deep underwater. Bitcoin and Ethereum have rebounded on ETF flows while Coinbase trades…
Canada’s FINTRAC has yanked 23 crypto MSBs from its registry in a single sweep, escalating an AML crackdown that now targets exchanges, ATMs and offshore operators alike. Summary FINTRAC revoked the registrations of 23 money services businesses offering crypto services, citing failures to respond to information requests, keep records updated, or meet AML eligibility conditions. The move follows Finance Minister François‑Philippe Champagne’s February order to “mobilize resources” against illicit finance and high‑risk virtual currency businesses, including crypto ATMs and foreign operators. Ottawa has already signalled its direction with a record C$176.96 million fine against Cryptomus operator Xeltox in 2025, and…
Oil tops $100 as the Hormuz blockade chokes 20% of global supply, forcing a rare Jones Act waiver and stoking inflation that threatens Fed cuts and crypto risk appetite. Summary Brent trades above $104 and WTI near $97, more than 70% above January levels, as the U.S.-Israel war on Iran effectively shuts the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration’s 60‑day Jones Act waiver lets foreign tankers move fuel between U.S. ports, but estimates suggest only modest relief for gasoline prices. Surging energy costs flow into PPI and future CPI, keeping Fed cuts on hold and adding macro pressure to Bitcoin…
Ethereum Foundation deploys 3,400 more ETH into Morpho vaults, cementing its shift toward active, on-chain DeFi treasury management instead of selling ETH to fund operations. Summary The Foundation allocated 3,400 ETH (about $7.6M) to Morpho Vaults, including 1,000 ETH to Vaults V2, as part of an expanding DeFi treasury program. Since early 2025, it has funneled tens of thousands of ETH plus stablecoins into Morpho, Compound and Spark to earn yield while backing Ethereum-aligned, open-source protocols. The latest move signals confidence in Ethereum’s DeFi stack even as ETH trades near $2,239, with Morpho’s TVL near $5.8B and growing RWA exposure.…
Ethereum client teams are testing an opt-in mechanism that could cut the time some layer-2 networks and exchanges wait to recognize mainnet deposits, allowing them to process transactions much faster. Summary Ethereum client teams are testing a Fast Confirmation Rule that could reduce deposit recognition times for layer 2 networks and exchanges to about 13 seconds. The proposal suggests replacing block counting with validator attestations, offering faster confirmation than canonical bridges while avoiding the need for a hard fork. Dubbed the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR), the proposal is expected to bring confirmation times down to around 13 seconds, according to…
Australians are increasingly using cryptocurrency for day-to-day payments, even as banking restrictions continue to hamper access to the ecosystem. Summary Crypto payments in Australia doubled to 12% in 2026 as more users turn to digital assets for everyday spending, led by online shopping and service payments. Nearly 30% of investors reported bank delays or blocks when transferring funds to crypto exchanges, up from 19.3% in 2025. A recent survey by crypto exchange Independent Reserve, which polled 2,000 “everyday Australians” between Jan. 12 and Jan. 30, found that the share of users paying with crypto has doubled from 6% to 12%…
Spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds drew in $138.2 million in net inflows over the past day, their highest single-day inflows since Feb. 25. Summary Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $138.2 million in daily inflows, marking their highest since late February and extending a six-day inflow streak. Institutional demand strengthened amid Bitmine’s continued ETH accumulation, with Fundstrat’s Tom Lee calling a potential market bottom near $2,150. ETH price traded near $2,328, with price approaching a breakout above $2,400 as markets await the Federal Reserve rate decision. According to data compiled by SoSoValue, BlackRock’s ETHA led the inflows of the day with $81.7 million…
Whale activity around the Official Trump (TRUMP) token, which is tied to United States President Donald Trump, has hit a five-month high according to on-chain data. Summary Whale wallets holding over 1 million TRUMP tokens have risen to a five-month high of 83, with combined holdings valued at around $3.7 million, according to Santiment. TRUMP price has climbed more than 50% from recent lows after a Mar-a-Lago luncheon announcement for top holders, though the token remains over 95% below its all time high. According to Santiment, there are now 83 wallets that hold more than 1 million Official Trump (TRUMP)…
UK lawmakers are raising concerns over the risks tied to crypto donations, which they claim can open the door to foreign influence in political financing. Summary UK parliamentary committee calls for an immediate ban on crypto donations to political parties, citing risks of foreign influence and gaps in oversight. Lawmakers warn that tools such as mixers and AI-driven micro-donations could obscure fund origins and bypass existing reporting thresholds. Experts remain divided, with some pointing to transparency within regulated systems while others caution that a ban may push activity offshore without resolving core risks. In its latest report, the Joint Committee…
The notorious Lazarus Group may have been behind a cyberattack on crypto e-commerce store Bitrefill, the firm estimates. Summary Bitrefill linked a March 1 cyberattack to tactics associated with the Lazarus and BlueNoroff groups, after attackers compromised an employee laptop and drained funds from hot wallets. Around 18,500 purchase records were accessed, though the company said only limited customer information was exposed and there was no evidence of a full database breach. Detailing the March 1 incident in a Tuesday X post, the firm said the attackers used malware, on-chain tracing, and reused IP and email infrastructure to drain funds…