OKX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has reached a valuation of 25 billion dollars following its most recent investment round. Reports indicate that the Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, acquired a minority stake in OKX as part of the deal.
This new valuation positions OKX well above several recent entrants in the crypto market, including Bullish at 5.39 billion dollars and Gemini at 1 billion dollars.
Following the announcement, OKX’s native token, OKB, surged dramatically, climbing roughly 37 percent within minutes as traders reacted to the news.
This development marks the latest example of growing institutional involvement in the cryptocurrency sector. Earlier reports highlighted that Morgan Stanley filed for a Bitcoin Trust ETF, while Kraken, a U.S.-based crypto exchange, became the first digital asset firm to obtain a Federal Reserve Master Account.
The investment by the parent company of the NYSE reflects continued confidence from traditional financial institutions in major cryptocurrency platforms, signaling increasing mainstream adoption and recognition of the digital asset market.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
When Elon Musk acquired Twitter several years ago, he spoke about his vision of transforming the platform into an “everything app,” combining social media, payments, commerce, and more into a single ecosystem. One of the key elements missing from that vision has been the development of a payments platform, now known as X Money highlighted this development by bringing in William Shatner to distribute invitations to the beta. Shatner shared several screenshots of the platform, giving users a first glimpse of its features. Among the highlights, the app will reportedly offer a debit card with cashback rewards, showing that X Money is aiming to combine traditional financial features with modern digital conveniences.
In his social media post, Shatner noted, “Here’s a few more screenshots. There’s a debit card with cash back too! 😳😱” The post included images of the app interface, demonstrating that the user experience is being carefully designed ahead of the broader rollout.
Possibility of Cryptocurrency Integration
Musk has been particularly outspoken about his involvement with cryptocurrencies, especially Dogecoin. His influence on the market has been significant, with his posts about Dogecoin causing dramatic price movements on multiple occasions. Given this history, many speculate that the integration of crypto into X Money is not just possible but likely.
The idea was indirectly supported when Musk reposted a tweet by Teslaconomics outlining several planned features for X Money, including high-yield savings, investment options, loans, money market accounts, potential access to treasury services, smart cashtags for tracking live stock prices, seamless trading execution, and, notably, cryptocurrency integration along with the potential for full asset management. Musk’s brief comment on the post was simply, “This will be big,” leaving little doubt that crypto is on the roadmap.
Even if X Money does ultimately allow for crypto payments, it would not represent the first time a mainstream financial application has supported digital currencies. Services like Revolut and PayPal already allow users to buy, sell, and pay with cryptocurrencies. What makes X Money potentially significant is its ability to further normalize crypto as a retail finance tool within a widely recognized social and payment ecosystem.
The integration of cryptocurrency into X Money, combined with Musk’s high profile and the visibility of the X platform, could help accelerate mass adoption of digital assets in everyday transactions. While it may not immediately disrupt the crypto market, it reinforces the growing presence of cryptocurrencies within mainstream financial applications, making it easier for ordinary users to interact with digital currencies as part of their daily financial routines.
In summary, X Money is beginning to take shape as a payments and financial platform under Musk’s guidance, currently running in a closed beta with a broader rollout planned. Early indications suggest that cryptocurrency integration is a likely feature, reflecting Musk’s ongoing support for digital assets and the increasing role of crypto in mainstream finance. The platform could therefore serve as another step toward wider retail adoption of cryptocurrencies, bringing digital assets closer to everyday use for millions of users worldwide.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Bitcoin surged from about 68,000 dollars to nearly 74,000 dollars on March 4, reaching a new monthly high. The move occurred as two key datasets began showing bullish signals at almost the same time.
On chain metrics indicate a sharp increase in futures open interest delta on Binance during the breakout. At the same time, spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds in the United States have added around 23,600 BTC to their holdings since February 25, suggesting renewed institutional demand.
Derivatives Activity and ETF Accumulation Grow
Market analyst Amr Taha reported in an update on March 5 that Bitcoin futures open interest expanded significantly on March 4. Binance alone added roughly 430 million dollars in new positions. Other exchanges also recorded large increases, including Gate.io with about 189 million dollars and Bybit with around 166 million dollars.
This expansion occurred as Bitcoin climbed to 74,000 dollars. According to Taha, the overall increase in open interest across exchanges surpassed the previous peak recorded in January, marking the strongest expansion in derivatives activity in almost two months.
Taha explained that when open interest delta rises, especially when led by Binance, it often indicates that new positions are entering the market and that fresh liquidity is flowing into derivatives trading.
At the same time, spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds in the United States accumulated approximately 23,600 BTC between February 25 and March 5. The amount is worth around 1.5 billion dollars at current prices and contributes to the growing reserves held by ETFs, which many traders use as an indicator of institutional interest.
Historically, increasing ETF demand tends to support bullish market conditions because it introduces consistent buying pressure.
Order Flow Signals Strong Demand
Additional order flow data shared by analyst Maartunn on X suggests that large buyers are also entering the market. He noted that the premium on Coinbase widened to about 61 dollars, meaning Bitcoin was trading at a higher price on that platform compared with other exchanges. This premium often reflects strong demand from traders in the United States.
Price Recovery After Geopolitical Shock
The latest rally follows a rebound that began after Bitcoin briefly declined due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is trading close to 72,500 dollars after gaining nearly six percent over the past 24 hours and a similar amount during the past week.
Even with the recent recovery, Bitcoin remains more than 42 percent below its all time high reached in October 2025 when the asset surpassed 126,000 dollars.
Technical traders are also watching the 71,700 dollar level closely. Maartunn explained that the market has regained this previous range high, which could help maintain the current upward structure if the price continues to hold above it.
Meanwhile, derivatives markets show an increase in leveraged trading. According to the analyst, Bitcoin derivatives markets added about 3.55 billion dollars in new leveraged positions, representing an increase of roughly 18 percent. Ethereum derivatives also recorded nearly 1.8 billion dollars in additional leverage.
Maartunn noted that these positions depend on continued demand in the spot market to remain stable. If buying pressure slows down, highly leveraged positions could unwind quickly and increase market volatility. For now, however, he said that institutional demand in the spot market appears to be supporting the ongoing price move.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
XRP is currently attempting to move above the 200 exponential moving average and the 1.55 dollar level. According to market analyst EGRAG CRYPTO, a confirmed weekly close above this point would signal short term strength for the asset.
Despite the recent attempt to rally, XRP continues to trade within a descending channel that has shaped its price movement for several months. Because of this structure, the broader trend remains corrective unless the token manages to break above 2.20 dollars and shift the overall pattern to a bullish one.
XRP Attempts to Move Above the 200 EMA
In a post shared on X on March 4, EGRAG CRYPTO explained that XRP is attempting to push above its 200 EMA. However, the analyst emphasized that the price is still moving within a descending channel on the weekly chart.
According to the analysis, a weekly close above 1.55 dollars would weaken the current downward pressure. A stronger move above 2.20 dollars would invalidate the bearish market structure and could open the door for a rally toward the 2.70 to 3.60 dollar range.
If XRP fails to regain the 1.55 dollar level, the analyst expects the price to decline toward about 1.26 dollars. There is also the possibility of a deeper move toward macro support between 0.95 and 0.85 dollars. In another update, the analyst estimated a probability of about 55 to 65 percent for a deeper support test and a 35 to 45 percent chance that the asset could break out earlier.
EGRAG emphasized that market structure should take priority over emotions, noting that the descending channel still defines the overall trend.
Derivatives Activity Shows Market Cooling
The current technical situation comes as activity in both derivatives and spot markets has declined. Market analyst Amr Taha previously reported that XRP futures open interest has fallen by about 70 percent since October 2025, dropping to around 203 million dollars.
Data from Binance also shows that open interest on the platform has slipped below 270 million dollars, levels last seen in April 2025 before a significant rally. Historically, such reductions in leveraged positions have sometimes occurred near local market bottoms as excess leverage is cleared, although this does not guarantee an immediate recovery.
Price Movement Shows a Fragile Recovery
At the time of writing, data from CoinGecko indicates that XRP has risen by about 4 percent in the past 24 hours and roughly 3 percent over the past week after bouncing from a recent low near 1.27 dollars.
However, the token remains down more than 12 percent over the last 30 days and approximately 40 percent over the past year. It also trades more than 61 percent below its all time high of 3.65 dollars recorded in July 2025.
The latest recovery has taken place within a 24 hour price range between 1.34 and 1.42 dollars, with XRP’s market capitalization holding near 86 billion dollars.
For now, traders are closely watching whether the weekly close will hold above 1.55 dollars. A clear move beyond 2.20 dollars would change the current chart structure described by EGRAG. If the price fails to remain above the 200 EMA, the descending channel is likely to remain intact and lower support levels could come back into focus.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Vitalik Buterin, co founder of Ethereum, has proposed expanding the network’s vision beyond decentralized finance by supporting what he calls sanctuary technologies. He described these as open source digital tools that allow people to live, communicate, work, and collaborate in ways that remain resilient to political or corporate pressure.
Buterin’s Vision for Sanctuary Technologies
In a recent social media post, Buterin explained that sanctuary technologies could create stable digital environments that reduce the impact of power struggles while enabling forms of cooperation that cannot easily be controlled or weaponized. His proposal comes after a year of conversations in which many people raised concerns about growing government surveillance, rising geopolitical conflicts, expanding corporate influence, declining quality across major technology platforms, social media becoming increasingly combative, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
Buterin noted that some members of the community believe Ethereum has not significantly improved the lives of individuals dealing with these pressures, particularly in areas such as freedom, privacy, digital security, and community driven organization.
To address these concerns, he suggested developing sanctuary technologies as a practical approach. Rather than attempting to dominate existing systems, these tools would allow individuals and institutions to function in ways that are less vulnerable to outside influence. In this framework, Ethereum would provide a shared digital environment without a single owner, where users could coordinate activities and build lasting social and economic networks.
He clarified that the goal is not to reshape the world entirely around Ethereum or move every financial and governance system onto blockchain infrastructure. Instead, Buterin described the concept as reducing the possibility that any winner in global power struggles gains complete control while also lowering the risk that those who lose face total collapse.
Recognizing Ethereum’s Limits
Buterin also addressed the argument that Ethereum should focus only on financial applications. While he acknowledged the importance of financial freedom, he argued that finance alone cannot resolve larger challenges related to power structures, surveillance, and social division.
He emphasized that Ethereum cannot fix every global issue by itself. Attempting to do so would require a level of centralized authority that conflicts with the principles of decentralization. Instead, the network’s real strength lies in enabling durable digital systems that can support the development of sanctuary technologies.
As examples of technologies that promote greater freedom and independence, Buterin mentioned Starlink, open weight large language models that run locally, the secure messaging platform Signal, and Community Notes used on social platforms.
He concluded by encouraging stronger coordination across the entire technology stack, including wallets, applications, operating systems, and hardware. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on people who genuinely need these protective technologies and collaborating with partners both inside and outside the cryptocurrency industry.#cryptonewshttps://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
According to Matt Hougan, the chief investment officer of Bitwise Asset Management, the recent military strike by the United States on Iran demonstrated the growing influence of cryptocurrency and blockchain based markets. With most traditional financial exchanges closed at the time, crypto platforms became the primary venue for market activity and price discovery.
Donald Trump announced the strikes early on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at a time when financial markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia were not operating. As a result, blockchain markets that operate continuously became the main environment where traders could react to the news, execute trades, and assess the market impact. Hougan said the situation demonstrated how crypto markets can respond instantly and lead global trading activity when traditional markets are inactive.
Blockchain Markets Respond Quickly to Geopolitical Events
The decentralized trading platform Hyperliquid recorded strong trading activity as market participants reacted to the developments. The platform offers perpetual futures contracts, including products linked to crude oil prices. According to Bloomberg, the oil related perpetual contracts on Hyperliquid were among the earliest indicators of market sentiment during the weekend.
The platform’s native token, HYPE, rose by roughly 30 percent over the weekend, showing how assets connected to the exchange reacted rapidly to geopolitical volatility.
Several other digital assets also experienced a surge in activity. Tokenized gold products such as Tether Gold (XAUT) recorded more than 300 million dollars in trading volume within a single day. Prediction markets and crypto futures markets also saw significant increases in trading as participants adjusted their expectations in response to the rapidly evolving situation. These developments highlighted the increasing role of blockchain platforms in providing price discovery during periods when traditional markets are closed.
A Potential Shift Toward On Chain Finance
Data from blockchain analytics companies indicated that large amounts of capital moved out of crypto exchanges in Iran shortly after the strike was announced. Millions of dollars in digital assets were withdrawn from Iranian platforms within a short period, demonstrating how quickly cryptocurrency markets can react to geopolitical uncertainty.
Hougan suggested that events like these may encourage broader adoption of on chain financial infrastructure beyond the crypto industry’s traditional user base. He explained that institutional investors may find it difficult to ignore tools such as stablecoin wallets and decentralized trading platforms. Ignoring these systems could place them at a disadvantage in markets that respond immediately to global developments.
The situation also reflects a larger trend in global finance. When conventional financial systems are unavailable, blockchain based markets that operate continuously can become the main environment for price signals and capital movement. Over time, this dynamic could significantly influence how global markets respond to sudden geopolitical or economic shocks.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Bitcoin has surged to its highest level in a month, rising above 73,000 dollars and signaling a strong breakout in the market. The cryptocurrency has gained more than 10,000 dollars since tensions between the United States and Iran escalated.
The rally has surprised many market observers because it comes at a time of significant geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Some analysts have even described the situation as a potential war after military operations involving the United States and Israel targeted Iran over the weekend.
Following the initial attacks, Bitcoin dropped sharply to around 63,000 dollars as markets reacted to the uncertainty. Iran quickly responded with strikes against several countries in the region. Reports also indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed during the attacks. Despite this development, Iran has continued its retaliatory actions, while Donald Trump suggested that the conflict could continue for up to four weeks.
Bitcoin Reverses Its Trend
Rather than continuing to decline, Bitcoin began recovering later on Saturday and climbed back to around 68,000 dollars. The asset later faced resistance and slipped to about 66,000 dollars during the following days.
In the past several hours, however, the cryptocurrency resumed its upward momentum. Bitcoin added more than 5,000 dollars in roughly half a day and pushed above 73,000 dollars, reaching its highest price level in about a month. Compared with its low on Saturday when the attacks first began, the digital asset has now gained more than 10,000 dollars.
Whale Activity Drives the Rally
According to market analyst CW, the Bitcoin cumulative volume delta indicator shows strong buying pressure in the market. The data suggests that large investors, often referred to as whales, are responsible for much of the current demand rather than retail traders.
The analyst also pointed out that the surge coincides with the end of a week long holiday period in China. With trading activity returning, major exchanges such as Binance and OKX are reportedly recording significant net buying of Bitcoin.
Another market commentator known as Daan Crypto Trades described the latest move as a strong breakout so far. However, he warned that the bullish momentum must hold. In his view, Bitcoin should remain above the 71,500 dollar level because a drop below that point could signal weakness in the current rally.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Billionaire investor and founder of Bridgewater Associates, Ray Dalio, has again expressed skepticism about Bitcoin. This time he challenged the idea that the digital asset should be viewed in the same way as Gold, arguing that Bitcoin does not function as a true safe haven.
During an interview on the All-In Podcast, Dalio said that Bitcoin has not demonstrated the same safe haven qualities historically associated with gold. He acknowledged that the cryptocurrency has gained significant attention as a potential form of money but warned that it still faces several long term risks. His remarks come as global financial markets respond to geopolitical tensions linked to the ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Dalio Explains Key Differences Between Bitcoin and Gold
Dalio emphasized that there are fundamental differences between Bitcoin and gold that influence how institutions view the two assets. One major issue he pointed out is the lack of privacy in Bitcoin transactions. Because activity on the blockchain can be monitored and potentially influenced by external parties, Dalio believes central banks and large financial institutions may be hesitant to hold the cryptocurrency.
In contrast, institutions have continued to accumulate gold because it is widely recognized as a reliable store of value and a hedge against inflation. Dalio stressed that gold is not merely a speculative asset as many people assume. Instead, he described it as one of the most established forms of money and noted that it ranks as the second largest reserve asset held by central banks around the world.
He also pointed out that gold does not face some of the technological risks associated with Bitcoin. Dalio referenced concerns about the potential impact of advances in quantum computing on the Bitcoin network. Although Bitcoin has attracted growing attention, particularly from individual investors who see it as an alternative form of money, Dalio argued that its market remains relatively small and more concentrated compared with the global gold market.
Dalio’s position reflects the complicated relationship he has had with Bitcoin over the years. He was once strongly critical of the cryptocurrency but later softened his stance around 2021 and gained some exposure to it. Even so, he continues to view gold as the superior financial asset and believes Bitcoin does not yet measure up to it.
Market Performance During the US Iran Tensions
Despite Dalio’s criticism of Bitcoin’s safe haven reputation, the cryptocurrency has held up relatively well since tensions escalated between the United States and Iran. On March 3, the day Dalio made his remarks, gold declined by about six percent during trading hours, falling from 5,377 dollars to 5,039 dollars according to data from TradingView. Over the same period, Bitcoin dropped by about 3.7 percent.
The price movements of the two assets on that day raise questions about Dalio’s argument because gold experienced a larger decline during a crisis that investors typically expect it to protect against.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Kraken has secured a limited purpose master account from the Federal Reserve, marking a major step for the cryptocurrency sector and strengthening its integration with traditional financial systems.
The digital asset industry has reached an important infrastructure milestone that pushes it closer to mainstream adoption and greater alignment with conventional finance.
Kraken’s banking division, Kraken Financial, has been granted access to a limited purpose master account by the United States Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Although the account comes with certain restrictions, the approval represents a meaningful change in how crypto companies interact with the traditional financial system.
For many years, cryptocurrency firms have struggled to obtain stable banking relationships, whether due to regulatory pressure or initiatives like Operation Chokepoint 2.0. With this new development, Kraken now has a direct connection to the core infrastructure used to move US dollars.
What Is a Federal Reserve Master Account
A Federal Reserve master account is essentially the central bank account used by eligible financial institutions in the United States. Every bank that participates in the national payment system holds one. These accounts allow institutions to settle transactions directly through the Federal Reserve, access the Fedwire interbank payment network, and maintain balances with the central bank that support settlement and payment operations.
In simple terms, the account enables financial institutions to transfer money securely across the financial system. Until now, no cryptocurrency related company had been granted direct access to this infrastructure.
Why This Development Is Significant
At first glance, this may seem surprising because one of the main promises of cryptocurrency is to remove intermediaries. However, most crypto businesses, including exchanges, still depend on traditional banks to process fiat currency.
Typically, the process works as follows. A user deposits US dollars into a partner bank. The bank sends the funds through the Federal Reserve’s payment network. The exchange then credits the user’s trading account.
This process introduces several friction points including counterparty risk, operational delays, and the possibility of accounts being suddenly closed.
With its newly approved master account, Kraken Financial can connect directly to the Federal Reserve’s payment infrastructure without relying on those intermediaries. This allows for direct settlement, faster movement of fiat currency, reduced counterparty risk, and stronger institutional credibility.
There is an important limitation, however. The account granted to Kraken is classified as limited purpose. It is not fully equivalent to the master accounts held by commercial banks. As a result, Kraken cannot earn interest on reserves held at the Federal Reserve and does not have access to the Federal Reserve’s lending facilities.
The development also comes at a time when United States President Donald Trump criticized traditional banks and financial institutions for actions he believes threaten the progress of the Genius Act and the CLARITY Act.
Trump stated that the Genius Act is being undermined by banks and emphasized that this situation is unacceptable. He also argued that the United States needs to finalize market structure reforms quickly so Americans can generate more returns on their money.
What This Means for the Crypto Industry
Although the approval currently applies only to Kraken, it sets an important precedent that could shape the future of the cryptocurrency sector.
Direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment system effectively connects a crypto company to the same financial infrastructure used by the global banking system. Over time, the industry has become increasingly institutionalized through developments such as the approval of exchange traded funds, the rise of digital asset treasury companies, and broader participation from traditional financial institutions.
Kraken’s master account with the Federal Reserve may not appear dramatic at first glance, but it sends a strong signal that major players in finance are gradually moving crypto closer to the center of the global financial system.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
Bitcoin experienced another volatile 24 hour stretch, briefly falling below 66200 dollars before rebounding and moving back toward the 70000 dollar level.
Most alternative cryptocurrencies are also slightly higher on the day. Ethereum is hovering around 2000 dollars, BNB is trading near 640 dollars, and Solana has gained more than 2 percent.
Bitcoin Moves Toward 70000 Once More
Last Thursday, Bitcoin climbed to 70000 dollars for the first time in more than a week but quickly faced selling pressure and turned lower. By Friday it was trading near 68000 dollars before sliding under 65000. A modest recovery to 66000 followed on Saturday morning, yet renewed tensions in the Middle East pushed the price down to 63000.
Instead of extending losses as geopolitical uncertainty intensified, Bitcoin rebounded strongly to above 68000 after reports surfaced that Iran’s Supreme Leader had been killed. The rally stalled, however, and the price slipped back to 65000 by Monday.
A sudden surge then lifted the asset past 70000 within minutes, an uncommon hourly move. That breakout was rejected, sending Bitcoin back to 66200. Continued swings have since carried it close to 70000 again, although some analysts warn that significant resistance remains ahead.
Bitcoin’s market capitalization has risen to nearly 1.4 trillion dollars, and its dominance over alternative coins has increased to 57 percent, according to CoinGecko.
Ethereum Tests 2000 as XDC Leads Gainers
Among larger cryptocurrencies, most gains have been more moderate compared with Bitcoin. Ethereum has climbed slightly above 2000 dollars. BNB is holding around 640 dollars and maintains a higher market capitalization ranking than XRP. Solana and Bitcoin Cash are both up about 2 percent. Meanwhile, Dogecoin, Cardano, Hedera, and Celsius have posted daily declines between 1 and 3 percent.
Aave has recorded the largest drop among major tokens, falling 6 percent to 113 dollars. In contrast, XDC Network has surged 9 percent to trade near 0.035 dollars, with Internet Computer and Jupiter also posting strong gains.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has added nearly 100 billion dollars since yesterday’s low and now stands at approximately 2.44 trillion dollars, based on data from CoinGecko.#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublichttps://coinsignals.net
