Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Stablecoin payments startup KAST has raised $80 million in a Series A funding round aimed at accelerating the expansion of its cross-border payments platform. The investment round was co-led by QED Investors and Left Lane Capital, with additional participation from Peak XV Partners, HSG and DST Global Partners. According to details surrounding the deal, the funding places the company at an estimated valuation of about $600 million. The capital will be used to support the company’s growth across North America, Latin America and the Middle East while strengthening its regulatory and operational framework. Stablecoin Fintech Platform and Business Model Founded…

Bitmine Immersion Technologies has significantly expanded its Ethereum treasury, pushing total holdings to 4,534,563 ETH after acquiring 60,976 ETH during the past week. The purchases were valued at roughly $120 million and lifted the company’s position to about 3.76% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, which currently stands near 120.7 million tokens. Based on an approximate price of $1,965 per ETH, the company’s Ethereum holdings are valued at nearly $8.9 billion. The digital asset reserves represent the majority of Bitmine’s reported $10.3 billion in combined crypto and cash holdings. At the time of writting ETH is trading near $2030. Ethereum Staking Generates…

Job openings in the US finance and insurance sector dropped sharply toward the end of 2025, reaching their lowest level in more than a decade. Data released by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows that available positions in the sector declined to around 134,000 in February. The figures indicate a steep fall of about 117,000 vacancies since December. Compared with the peak seen in 2022, finance and insurance job openings have dropped by roughly 410,000, representing a decline of about 75%. The job openings rate in the sector has also fallen to 1.9%, meaning fewer than two out…

Crypto exchange Bybit has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) despite rising geopolitical tensions in the region. The company recently announced the appointment of a new country manager as part of its broader plan to strengthen regional engagement and market development. The decision comes at a time when tensions escalated following military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel, which were followed by retaliatory actions targeting several neighboring countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite the situation, Bybit confirmed it has no plans to reduce its presence in the…

Oil prices retreated sharply on Monday after the Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers reportedly planned an emergency call to discuss releasing 300–400 million barrels from strategic reserves. Crude futures, which spiked nearly 25% to around $117 overnight amid Middle East tensions, fell roughly 14.5% to near $100 following the report, as traders factored in the likelihood of coordinated policy action easing supply concerns. Bitcoin Rebounds Amid Market Stabilization The crypto market reacted alongside oil, with Bitcoin climbing from a low of about $65,725 to nearly $68,000, gaining approximately 3.45% within hours. Analysts note that while elevated oil prices can…

Turkey confirmed that NATO air defence systems intercepted a second ballistic missile launched from Iran after it entered Turkish airspace. The incident occurred on March 9 and marks the second time within a week that a missile originating from Iran has been intercepted over the territory of the NATO member state. According to Turkey’s defense ministry, the missile was neutralized by NATO air and missile defence assets operating in the eastern Mediterranean. Fragments from the intercepted projectile reportedly landed in open land near Gaziantep, approximately 200 kilometers east of Adana. Authorities said no casualties or injuries were reported. Rising Regional…

Strategy has significantly increased its exposure to Bitcoin after purchasing an additional 17,994 BTC for approximately $1.28 billion. The acquisition was made at an average price of $70,946 per bitcoin during the period between March 2 and March 8. Following the latest purchase, the company’s total Bitcoin holdings have climbed to 738,731 BTC. The accumulated position was built at an average purchase price of $75,862 per bitcoin, bringing the total acquisition cost to roughly $56 billion including related fees and expenses. With these holdings, Strategy now controls more than 3.4% of Bitcoin’s total fixed supply of 21 million coins. Based…

Dubai’s real estate market has experienced a rapid correction, with property prices falling around 20% within five days, according to tradingview data. The sudden decline has raised concerns among investors as market sentiment weakens amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The sharp drop comes during a period of broader financial volatility across the region. Analysts say the speed of the decline has fueled fears that the market could face deeper pressure if geopolitical risks continue to intensify. Dubai Stock Market Slides After Trading Resumes Equity markets in the United Arab Emirates also reacted strongly after a temporary shutdown…

Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, acquired a 6.31% stake in London-listed bitcoin treasury company Stack BTC through his Thorn In The Side Ltd. vehicle. The investment of £215,000 ($286,000) is part of a larger fundraising round that raised £260,000 ($346,000), also supported by Blockchain.com. Stack BTC Expands Bitcoin Strategy Stack BTC, chaired by former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, currently holds 21 BTC and plans to grow its bitcoin treasury while building a portfolio of cash-generative UK businesses. The company sold 5.2 million new shares at 5 pence each, with trading on the Aquis Growth Market set to begin…

Bitcoin-focused exchange traded products (ETPs) attracted $619 million in net inflows last week, marking the second consecutive week of investor demand, according to CoinShares. The surge occurred despite heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices, which pressured global markets. Most of the inflows originated in the United States, totaling $646 million, while funds in Europe, Asia, and Canada experienced minor withdrawals. Regional and Asset Breakdown Bitcoin based funds dominated investor allocations, drawing $521 million during the week. Ethereum-linked products added $88.5 million, and Solana funds received $14.6 million. Short-bitcoin products also recorded $11.4 million in inflows,…