Bitcoin Reclaims $70,000 as Oil Cools
The tape today is a live test of how much geopolitical cooling can reflate the "digital gold" and "on-chain capital markets" trades at the same time. Stay up on the crypto news that matters with "Crypto Currents," daily from The Fly. Join us at 2 PM ET for your essential briefing on the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency on FlyCast radio.BITCOIN JUMPS BACK ABOVE $70,000 AS OIL COOLS:reports that bitcoin (BTC-USD) reclaimed $70,000 and dragged ether (ETH-USD) and XRPhigher after President Trump said the Iran conflict could end "very soon," easing the war-premium pressure that had built up in oil and haven trades.Bloombergadds that bitcoin briefly pushed above $71,000 alongside a bounce in equities as crude backed off recent highs, reversing part of last week's energy-driven risk-off move.Bloombergseparately reports that many Hong Kong-based family offices plan to add exposure to digital assets and private equity over the next three years, signaling that institutional appetite in Asia is firming even as Western retail sentiment remains fragile.SPOT BITCOIN ETFS SNAP BACK TO $167M AS STRIVE AND CIRCLE GET STREET UPGRADES:says U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs pulled in about $167M of net inflows on Monday, reversing roughly $577M of outflows from the prior Thursday and Friday as BlackRock'sIBIT led with $109M and Fidelity's FBTC added $60M. Total spot bitcoin ETF assets sit near $88.3B, even as ether, XRP, and solanafunds logged a third straight day of redemptions. On the sell-side, B. Riley analyst Fedor Shabalin initiated Strive Enterprises (ASST) at Buy rating with a $12 price target, citing a dual-engine model that combines a roughly 13,100 bitcoin corporate treasury with about $2.5B of ETF assets under management across 13 products.TOKENIZED STOCKS TOP $1B AS NASDAQ AND KRAKEN BUILD THE ON-CHAIN EQUITY GATEWAY:Cointelegraphreports that tokenized stocks have crossed $1B in outstanding on-chain value for the first time, with Ondo Finance controlling about 60.5% share, roughly $605M, and Kraken's xStocks at about $232M.The Wall Street Journalcontinues to cover Nasdaq's (NDAQ) partnership with Kraken parent Payward to build an issuer-sponsored equity-token gateway using xStocks, which has processed more than $25B in cumulative volume since its June 2025 launch and now counts 85,000-plus on-chain holders. The tokens are expected to go live through DTCC settlement in the first half of 2027, putting traditional voting and dividend mechanics on-chain.BITCOIN TREASURY PLAYS DIVERGE AS HYPERSCALE STACKS AND EMPERY SELLS INTO STRENGTH:A freshpress releaseshows Hyperscale Data (GPUS) holding 617.16 bitcoin, worth about $40.7M at March 8 prices, plus $42.2M of cash and restricted cash, for total bitcoin-plus-cash of roughly $82.9M, or about 138% of its equity market cap. Empery Digital (EMPD) is running the opposite book, with adisclosing that it sold 102 bitcoin last week at an average of $71,636, raising about $7.3M to fund buybacks and bolster cash, while still holding 3,562 bitcoin and having repurchased 20.175 million shares under a $200M program. On the M&A front,notes that Signing Day Sports (SGN) expects to close its BlockchAIn Digital Infrastructure merger on March 16, with the combined company to trade as "AIB" on NYSE American and operate a 40 MW South Carolina AI/HPC data center.ETHER WHALES REPOSITION AS BITMINE MOVES $19.5M TO COINBASE PRIME:shows Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) moved 9,608 ether, about $19.5M, into Coinbase Prime in two tranches today, routing through an intermediate wallet in a pattern consistent with institutional custody or staking rather than spot selling. Bitmine still controls more than 1 million ether across tracked wallets and disclosed 4.53 million ether, 195 bitcoin, and $1.2B in cash on March 9, with Chairman Tom Lee telling investors the firm stepped up purchases to about 61,000 ether last week, its largest weekly buy of 2026. Separately, an OG whale address completed a full liquidation by sending its final 5,082 ether, about $10.3M, to Coinbase, closing out a position that traces back to a 23,300 ether withdrawal from Kraken in October 2016 at roughly $10.37 per coin for a roughly 19,383% gain, while a different whale bought 10,158 ether for $21M at around $2,069 and holds about $83.6M in 20x leveraged bitcoin and ether longs with more than $3M in floating profit.Cointelegraphframes all of this against ether's 65% underperformance versus bitcoin since the proof-of-stake transition, with the "ultrasound money" narrative fading as post-Dencun fee burns decline and supply turns modestly inflationary.SEC FILINGS ROUNDUP FROM BULLISH TO PERSHING SQUARE TO SOLUNA:Bullish (BLSH) filed its20-F annual reportshowing $84.1B in February 2026 trading volume, an adjusted revenue jump to $288.5M from $213.9M, adjusted EBITDA of $94.3M, and gross liquid assets of $3.72B, but a statutory net loss of $785.5M driven by digital-asset impairments. Teucrium Commodity Trust alsoregisteredits 7RCC Spot Bitcoin and Carbon Credit Futures ETF on NYSE Arca, targeting an 80/20 split between bitcoin and regulated carbon credit futures.The Wall Street Journalreports that Bill Ackman's Pershing Square filed its N-2 IPO registration for a closed-end fund planning to list on the NYSE under ticker 'PSUS', with $2.8B already committed toward an anticipated $5B-$10B raise, and the filing includes "cryptocurrency," "blockchain," and "digital asset" within its risk factors and investment universe language. A Lazard Fundsdisclosurerevealed holdings in Coinbase (COIN), Riot Platforms (RIOT), CleanSpark (CLSK), and MARA Holdings (MARA). Soluna Holdings (SLNH) filed an8-Ka day after putting a $1B shelf registration on file, advancing its 83 MW wind-powered bitcoin mining facility in Texas with a projected 3.5 EH/s hashrate and $17M to $20M in annual revenue, plus a 350 MW Tier 3 AI campus on more than 500 acres. BitGo Holdings (BTGO) CEO Mike Belshe is presenting at the Canaccord Genuity Digital Assets Symposium today, fresh off announcements that BitGo will provide stablecoin infrastructure for SoFiUSD, the first stablecoin from a U.S. nationally chartered bank, and completed the first tokenized equity trades with Figureon the Provenance blockchain.PRICE ACTION:As of time of writing, bitcoin was trading at$71,354.18, while ether was trading at $2,068.70,.
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BlackRock Spring Outlook: Focus on Real Economy Assets
- Bond Investment Opportunities: BlackRock's spring outlook highlights that despite increased market volatility, bonds continue to offer stable income, particularly those tied to the real economy, with the current 10-year Treasury yield nearing 4.35%, indicating strong demand for fixed income among investors.
- Rising Value of HALO Assets: BlackRock's chief investment strategist Gargi Chaudhuri emphasizes the growing importance of 'HALO' assets (Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence) in the current economic climate, especially as energy security concerns escalate and oil prices approach $102 per barrel, urging investors to focus on these assets' real economic connections.
- Attractiveness of MBS Products: Chaudhuri advises investors to consider mortgage-backed securities (MBS), which not only provide stable income streams but are also linked to pools of loans on residential and commercial properties, with the iShares MBS ETF currently offering a 30-day SEC yield of 4.14%, showcasing its appeal.
- Short-Duration Debt Strategy: In the current market environment, Chaudhuri recommends maintaining investment durations in the front end or belly (0 to 6 years) to navigate market volatility and ensure income stability in portfolios, underscoring the significance of fixed income amid rising uncertainties.
India's IT Sector Faces Employment Crisis Amid AI Disruption
- Deepening Employment Crisis: Bernstein warns that the rise of AI may lead to a reduction in high-quality jobs in India's IT sector, affecting the income and consumption capacity of 10 to 15 million employees in IT services and outsourcing, thereby threatening the foundation of national economic growth.
- Shifting Hiring Trends: Net hiring by India's top five IT companies dropped by around 7,000 in FY26, with TCS planning to hire only 25,000 fresh graduates compared to an average of 40,000 over the past three years, indicating a diminishing reliance on large-scale recruitment in the industry.
- Skills Gap Challenge: While the Indian government emphasizes
BlackRock and Standard Chartered Launch Tokenized Asset Framework
- Tokenized Asset Framework: BlackRock, Standard Chartered, and OKX have launched a new framework aimed at establishing utility for tokenized real-world assets, marking a significant integration of fintech with traditional finance.
- Treasury Fund Integration: BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized short-term treasury fund will be integrated into collateral workflows, with Standard Chartered acting as the custodian, ensuring asset security and compliance.
- Digital Liquidity Fund Benefits: The BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund provides qualified institutional investors with USD yields via blockchain, enhancing investors' yield options and liquidity management capabilities.
- Enhanced Trading Convenience: Selected OKX clients can post the treasury fund as collateral without needing to move assets between venues, streamlining trading processes and improving market efficiency.
Meta Shifts to Commercial AI Strategy Amid Earnings Call
- Commercial Shift: During the latest earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta's pivot from open-source to a commercial AI strategy with the launch of its first closed-source model, Muse Spark, aimed at competing with paid services from Google and OpenAI, with Q1 revenue expected to rise 31% to $55.6 billion, highlighting the company's commitment to the AI market.
- Talent Investment: Zuckerberg's $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI and the hiring of former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman signal an aggressive rebuild of Meta's internal AI team to bridge the gap with market leaders and enhance technological capabilities.
- Advertising Revenue Potential: While vision models currently lag behind text in hype, analysts believe Meta's superior image generation tools will unlock advertising budgets by automating high-performing creative, driving short-term revenue growth and further solidifying its market position.
- Capital Expenditure Pressure: With projected capital expenditures hitting $135 billion, investors are concerned about the company's massive infrastructure spending and recent 10% workforce reduction, demanding a clear roadmap for profitability to support its long-term growth strategy.
BlackRock Boosts Classover Stake, Stock Surges
- BlackRock Stake Increase: According to SEC filings, BlackRock holds 87,463 shares of Classover, representing an 8% stake in its Class B stock, with full voting and dispositive power, indicating confidence in the education technology sector.
- Stock Price Surge: Classover's stock surged over 36% in premarket trading on Tuesday, reflecting positive market sentiment following BlackRock's stake increase and indicating investor optimism about the company's future prospects.
- Industry Recognition Boost: Classover was ranked 122nd in TIME's 2026 list of America's Top EdTech Companies, showcasing its market influence and financial strength, which enhances its brand image in the competitive education technology landscape.
- Strategic Partnership for AI Learning: Classover has partnered with ICreate Education Technology to develop AI and robotics learning environments, marking its transformation from a traditional online learning provider to an integrated developer of AI education tools, aligning with market demands for innovative educational solutions.
Trump Administration Finalizes Offshore Wind Lease Deal
- Offshore Wind Lease Termination: The Trump administration announced the termination of two U.S. offshore wind leases, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, in exchange for $885 million in pledged investments in domestic oil and gas, indicating a shift towards traditional energy sources.
- Bluepoint Wind Project: The Bluepoint Wind project, developed by France's Engie and Portugal's EDP Renewables off the coasts of New York and New Jersey, will relinquish its lease and receive $765 million for investing in a U.S. liquefied natural gas facility, promoting energy diversification.
- California Floating Wind Project: The Golden State Wind project, in its early development stages off Morro Bay, California, agreed to cancel its lease in exchange for $120 million in lease fees, committing to invest a similar amount in oil and gas and energy infrastructure, reflecting a strategic pivot in renewable energy focus.
- Policy Consistency: This deal aligns with a similar agreement announced last month, where the government released TotalEnergies and its partners from $1 billion in offshore wind leases to redirect investments towards U.S. oil and gas projects, demonstrating policy coherence and support for traditional energy sectors.
BlackRock Spring Outlook: Focus on Real Economy Assets
- Bond Investment Opportunities: BlackRock's spring outlook highlights that despite increased market volatility, bonds continue to offer stable income, particularly those tied to the real economy, with the current 10-year Treasury yield nearing 4.35%, indicating strong demand for fixed income among investors.
- Rising Value of HALO Assets: BlackRock's chief investment strategist Gargi Chaudhuri emphasizes the growing importance of 'HALO' assets (Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence) in the current economic climate, especially as energy security concerns escalate and oil prices approach $102 per barrel, urging investors to focus on these assets' real economic connections.
- Attractiveness of MBS Products: Chaudhuri advises investors to consider mortgage-backed securities (MBS), which not only provide stable income streams but are also linked to pools of loans on residential and commercial properties, with the iShares MBS ETF currently offering a 30-day SEC yield of 4.14%, showcasing its appeal.
- Short-Duration Debt Strategy: In the current market environment, Chaudhuri recommends maintaining investment durations in the front end or belly (0 to 6 years) to navigate market volatility and ensure income stability in portfolios, underscoring the significance of fixed income amid rising uncertainties.
India's IT Sector Faces Employment Crisis Amid AI Disruption
- Deepening Employment Crisis: Bernstein warns that the rise of AI may lead to a reduction in high-quality jobs in India's IT sector, affecting the income and consumption capacity of 10 to 15 million employees in IT services and outsourcing, thereby threatening the foundation of national economic growth.
- Shifting Hiring Trends: Net hiring by India's top five IT companies dropped by around 7,000 in FY26, with TCS planning to hire only 25,000 fresh graduates compared to an average of 40,000 over the past three years, indicating a diminishing reliance on large-scale recruitment in the industry.
- Skills Gap Challenge: While the Indian government emphasizes
BlackRock and Standard Chartered Launch Tokenized Asset Framework
- Tokenized Asset Framework: BlackRock, Standard Chartered, and OKX have launched a new framework aimed at establishing utility for tokenized real-world assets, marking a significant integration of fintech with traditional finance.
- Treasury Fund Integration: BlackRock's BUIDL tokenized short-term treasury fund will be integrated into collateral workflows, with Standard Chartered acting as the custodian, ensuring asset security and compliance.
- Digital Liquidity Fund Benefits: The BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund provides qualified institutional investors with USD yields via blockchain, enhancing investors' yield options and liquidity management capabilities.
- Enhanced Trading Convenience: Selected OKX clients can post the treasury fund as collateral without needing to move assets between venues, streamlining trading processes and improving market efficiency.
Meta Shifts to Commercial AI Strategy Amid Earnings Call
- Commercial Shift: During the latest earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta's pivot from open-source to a commercial AI strategy with the launch of its first closed-source model, Muse Spark, aimed at competing with paid services from Google and OpenAI, with Q1 revenue expected to rise 31% to $55.6 billion, highlighting the company's commitment to the AI market.
- Talent Investment: Zuckerberg's $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI and the hiring of former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman signal an aggressive rebuild of Meta's internal AI team to bridge the gap with market leaders and enhance technological capabilities.
- Advertising Revenue Potential: While vision models currently lag behind text in hype, analysts believe Meta's superior image generation tools will unlock advertising budgets by automating high-performing creative, driving short-term revenue growth and further solidifying its market position.
- Capital Expenditure Pressure: With projected capital expenditures hitting $135 billion, investors are concerned about the company's massive infrastructure spending and recent 10% workforce reduction, demanding a clear roadmap for profitability to support its long-term growth strategy.
BlackRock Boosts Classover Stake, Stock Surges
- BlackRock Stake Increase: According to SEC filings, BlackRock holds 87,463 shares of Classover, representing an 8% stake in its Class B stock, with full voting and dispositive power, indicating confidence in the education technology sector.
- Stock Price Surge: Classover's stock surged over 36% in premarket trading on Tuesday, reflecting positive market sentiment following BlackRock's stake increase and indicating investor optimism about the company's future prospects.
- Industry Recognition Boost: Classover was ranked 122nd in TIME's 2026 list of America's Top EdTech Companies, showcasing its market influence and financial strength, which enhances its brand image in the competitive education technology landscape.
- Strategic Partnership for AI Learning: Classover has partnered with ICreate Education Technology to develop AI and robotics learning environments, marking its transformation from a traditional online learning provider to an integrated developer of AI education tools, aligning with market demands for innovative educational solutions.
Trump Administration Finalizes Offshore Wind Lease Deal
- Offshore Wind Lease Termination: The Trump administration announced the termination of two U.S. offshore wind leases, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific, in exchange for $885 million in pledged investments in domestic oil and gas, indicating a shift towards traditional energy sources.
- Bluepoint Wind Project: The Bluepoint Wind project, developed by France's Engie and Portugal's EDP Renewables off the coasts of New York and New Jersey, will relinquish its lease and receive $765 million for investing in a U.S. liquefied natural gas facility, promoting energy diversification.
- California Floating Wind Project: The Golden State Wind project, in its early development stages off Morro Bay, California, agreed to cancel its lease in exchange for $120 million in lease fees, committing to invest a similar amount in oil and gas and energy infrastructure, reflecting a strategic pivot in renewable energy focus.
- Policy Consistency: This deal aligns with a similar agreement announced last month, where the government released TotalEnergies and its partners from $1 billion in offshore wind leases to redirect investments towards U.S. oil and gas projects, demonstrating policy coherence and support for traditional energy sectors.
