hodler

11 Mar 2026, 14:04

US Inflation Remains at 2.4% as BTC Price Slips Below $70K

Bitcoin traded at $69,423 at the time of writing , slipping from earlier intraday highs of $71,694 after the latest U.S. inflation report showed prices holding steady. The reaction appeared almost immediate. Minutes after the data release, BTC dropped roughly 1.8%, sliding toward the $69,000 level. What happened? On the surface, the numbers looked calm. The annual inflation rate came in at 2.4%, exactly in line with market expectations and unchanged from January. Yet the crypto market did not celebrate. Traders had pushed Bitcoin toward the $71K in anticipation of the report. When the numbers arrived without a surprise, many participants took profits. The result looked like a classic “sell-the-news” reaction. Expectations had already priced in the outcome. CPI Data Shows Inflation Stabilizing The latest consumer price index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics offered a snapshot of a stabilizing inflation environment. On a year-over-year basis, the CPI rose 2.4%, aligning with the 2.4% economists expected. Monthly inflation increased 0.3%, matching forecasts and rising slightly from January’s 0.2% increase. Monthly core CPI came in at 0.2%, lower than January’s 0.3% increase. That reading suggested that underlying inflation pressures may have eased slightly. Source: ForexFactory Price changes across sectors painted a mixed picture. Gasoline costs moved higher, while prices tied to services, food, and housing showed signs of slowing. Used vehicle prices continued their downward trend. These details hint at gradual stabilization across the broader economy. Still, inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. That small gap keeps policymakers cautious. Why Markets Didn’t Celebrate At first glance, stable inflation might sound like good news for risk assets. So why didn’t Bitcoin rally? The answer lies in interest rates. A steady inflation reading strengthens expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep borrowing costs unchanged in upcoming policy meetings. The next decisions arrive on March 18 and again in April. Investors now expect policymakers to maintain a “higher for longer” stance through much of the first half of 2026. Higher interest rates tend to reduce liquidity in financial markets, which can limit momentum in speculative assets such as cryptocurrencies. Energy markets also complicate the picture. Oil prices recently pushed above $110 per barrel amid tensions in the Middle East. Those higher energy costs have not fully appeared in the latest inflation report. Could the next CPI reading show a rebound? That possibility remains on many traders’ radar. What the Bitcoin Charts Are Starting to Signal Market behavior after the CPI release also highlights a technical shift developing beneath the surface. Analysts tracking blockchain data point to a rising portion of Bitcoin supply currently held at a loss. Source: CMC Why does that matter? When more coins sit below their purchase price, selling pressure can increase as investors attempt to cut losses or reduce exposure. Historically, this pattern sometimes appears during early stages of broader market stress. It does not guarantee a major downturn. However, it often signals that sentiment has started to weaken. Meanwhile, the macro environment continues to shape Bitcoin’s long-term outlook. If inflation gradually drifts lower over the coming months, pressure may build on the Federal Reserve to eventually cut rates later in 2026. Lower rates often support liquidity and risk assets. On the other hand, if inflation climbs again due to energy costs, the U.S. dollar could strengthen. That scenario tends to weigh on crypto markets.

11 Mar 2026, 14:00

Bitcoin Down 44% From Its Peak, But Bitwise Still Sees A Path To $1 Million

Central banks aren’t buying it. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio doesn’t trust it as a safe haven. And Bitcoin is trading 44% below its October peak while gold sits near all-time highs. Related Reading: Bitcoin Crosses 20 Million Coins Mined — And Only 1 In 20 Remains That’s the backdrop against which Bitwise Asset Management’s chief investment officer is making the case that Bitcoin could still reach $1 million a coin within a decade. A Different Way To Run The Numbers Most people who shoot down the $1 million forecast do so by pointing out what it would take for Bitcoin to swallow up half of gold’s current market value. Matt Hougan says that’s the wrong calculation. According to Hougan, the error is treating gold’s market cap as a fixed number rather than a moving one. Gold has grown at roughly 13% annually since 2004, climbing from $2.5 trillion to around $38 trillion — driven by rising government debt concerns, geopolitical tension, and loose monetary policy. Hougan projects that if gold’s trajectory holds, the broader store-of-value market will reach around $121 trillion within 10 years. At that scale, Bitcoin would only need to capture 17% of the total — about one-sixth — to be worth $1 million per coin. That’s a notably different ask than the 50% figure critics typically cite. Hougan also pointed to institutional investment as a driver. Exchange-traded funds, sovereign wealth funds, and growing portfolio allocations are all being cited as forces that could push Bitcoin’s market share higher over the next decade. “There are still miles to go,” he wrote in a blog post, “but capturing a sixth of the store-of-value market in 10 years doesn’t seem extreme.” The Gap Between Thesis And Charts The argument rests on Bitcoin behaving more like gold over time. Right now, it isn’t. Gold struck a record high above $5,327 per ounce in late January and remains within 2.2% of that level. Bitcoin, by contrast, has been sliding. It’s down sharply from its highs, even as the macroeconomic conditions — debt concerns, inflation uncertainty, geopolitical friction — that typically lift gold have remained very much in play. Research out of NYDIG addressed this gap directly in early March. Bitcoin does not appear to be getting priced as a macro hedge, a sovereign risk hedge, or an inflation trade, according to the firm’s global head of research. That disconnect explains the frustration around Bitcoin’s failure to track gold despite the “digital gold” label that has followed it for years, NYDIG said. Dalio’s Pushback Dalio added his voice to the skeptics’ side earlier this month, arguing that gold remains a far stronger long-term store of value. His reasoning: central banks are buying gold, not Bitcoin. And Bitcoin, he said, trades less like a commodity hedge and more like a tech stock — something that follows risk appetite rather than countering it. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Break 5-Month Streak With 2nd Consecutive Week Of Inflows Bitcoin & Iran-US War Bitcoin’s recent price action tells the story plainly. A US-Israeli military strike on Iran in late February triggered over $300 million in crypto liquidations, pushing Bitcoin lower before a partial recovery followed signals that the conflict could be winding down. It moved with risk appetite, not against it — which is exactly the behavior Dalio and others point to when they argue Bitcoin still has a long way to go before it earns the gold comparison. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

11 Mar 2026, 13:55

US Stocks Mixed at Open: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Edge Higher as Dow Slips

BitcoinWorld US Stocks Mixed at Open: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Edge Higher as Dow Slips U.S. equity markets presented a fragmented picture at the opening bell on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, as the three major indices diverged in early trading. This mixed opening for US stocks follows a session of cautious global sentiment and precedes key economic data releases. Investors are currently parsing corporate earnings, monetary policy signals, and geopolitical developments. Consequently, the market’s indecisive start reflects a complex interplay of competing fundamental forces. US Stocks Show Divergent Paths at Opening Bell The session began with clear divergence among the headline indices. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite demonstrated relative strength, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average faced immediate pressure. Market analysts often scrutinize such splits for sector-specific trends. For instance, the Nasdaq’s performance frequently hinges on mega-cap technology stocks. Meanwhile, the Dow’s composition of 30 established industrial and financial giants makes it sensitive to different economic cues. Here is a precise snapshot of the opening moves: S&P 500: Gained 0.12%, reflecting broad but muted optimism. Nasdaq Composite: Advanced 0.28%, led by strength in select tech shares. Dow Jones Industrial Average: Declined 0.16%, weighed down by losses in key components. These initial movements, though modest, set the tone for the day’s trading narrative. Historically, mixed opens can precede periods of consolidation as the market searches for direction. Furthermore, low-volume moves in the first hour sometimes reverse as fuller participation arrives. Context and Drivers Behind the Market Movement Several factors contributed to the uneven start for US stocks. Overnight, Asian and European markets traded with a cautious bias. This global sentiment inevitably influenced the U.S. pre-market futures. Additionally, investors are awaiting the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report scheduled for release tomorrow. Inflation data remains a critical input for Federal Reserve policy expectations. Consequently, many traders adopted a wait-and-see approach, limiting aggressive bets. Sector performance provided immediate clues. Early data showed consumer discretionary and information technology sectors in the green. Conversely, the industrials and financials sectors traded slightly lower. This sector rotation aligns with the performance gap between the Nasdaq and the Dow. It also suggests a market narrative favoring growth-oriented segments over cyclical ones, at least for the morning session. Expert Analysis on Market Sentiment and Technicals Financial strategists point to key technical levels influencing trader behavior. For example, the S&P 500 continues to test a crucial resistance zone near its all-time high. “A mixed open often indicates a battle between bulls and bears at important technical junctures,” notes a senior market technician from a major Wall Street firm. “The slight gains in the S&P and Nasdaq suggest underlying bullish momentum, but the Dow’s weakness highlights persistent concerns about economic cyclicality.” Beyond technicals, corporate news flow played a role. Before the open, several major companies released earnings guidance. Upbeat forecasts from a few large-cap tech firms likely supported the Nasdaq. Conversely, a profit warning from a major aerospace manufacturer directly pressured the Dow Jones index. This micro-level news consistently creates intraday volatility and index divergence. The Broader Economic Landscape and Market Implications The current trading environment exists within a specific macroeconomic framework. The Federal Reserve has signaled a data-dependent approach to future interest rate decisions. Therefore, every economic data point receives heightened scrutiny. Bond markets showed minimal movement in early trading, with the 10-year Treasury yield holding steady. This stability in fixed income suggests the equity moves were driven more by stock-specific factors than a shift in macro outlook. Historical context is also informative. Mixed market opens have been common during periods of transition between monetary policy cycles. They frequently reflect investor uncertainty about the timing and impact of central bank actions. A review of market data from similar periods in the past shows that such indecision often resolves with a clearer trend once a dominant catalyst emerges, such as a major economic report or central bank commentary. Conclusion The mixed opening for US stocks underscores a market in a state of equilibrium, balancing optimism in growth sectors against caution in more traditional industries. The divergent performance of the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones highlights the selective nature of current investor sentiment. As the trading day progresses, volume and sector leadership will provide further clues about the market’s next directional move. Ultimately, this early session indecision reflects the broader wait for concrete data on inflation and economic resilience, which will shape the trajectory of US stocks in the coming weeks. FAQs Q1: What does a ‘mixed open’ mean for the stock market? A mixed open occurs when the major stock market indices, like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, move in different directions at the start of trading. It indicates a lack of consensus among investors and can signal sector-specific trends or general uncertainty. Q2: Why did the Nasdaq outperform the Dow at today’s open? The Nasdaq, heavily weighted toward technology and growth stocks, often reacts to different catalysts than the Dow, which comprises 30 large industrial and financial companies. Today, positive sentiment toward tech shares and negative news for specific Dow components likely caused the divergence. Q3: Are mixed market opens a sign of future volatility? Not necessarily. While they can indicate indecision, mixed opens are common. They may lead to a volatile session if conflicting signals persist, or they may resolve into a clearer trend as more traders participate and new information is absorbed. Q4: How should a long-term investor react to a mixed market open? Long-term investors should generally avoid making decisions based solely on short-term opening moves. These fluctuations are normal. It is more important to focus on your overall investment strategy, asset allocation, and the fundamental health of the companies you own. Q5: What economic data do traders watch that could influence a market open? Traders closely monitor pre-market releases like jobless claims, futures indices, and key earnings reports. Global market performance overnight and announcements from central banks also significantly influence how US stocks open. This post US Stocks Mixed at Open: S&P 500 and Nasdaq Edge Higher as Dow Slips first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

11 Mar 2026, 13:53

Binance Sues WSJ for Defamation Over Iran Sanctions Evasion Claims

Key Highlights: Binance filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a February 23 report alleging sanctions evasion linked to Iran. The exchange claims the article contained misleading information that damaged its reputation and triggered unnecessary regulatory inquiries. Binance highlighted its compliance program, stating that more than 1,500 staff work in risk, investigations, and sanctions monitoring roles. Binance has sued The Wall Street Journal for defamation after an article posted Feb 23 accused the exchange of facilitating sanctions evasion associated with Iran. The company said the report consisted of ‘false and damaging’ claims that harmed its reputation and triggered unwarranted scrutiny from regulators. Binance said the report led to confusion for both partners and stakeholders and also prompted what it described as baseless inquiries from authorities. The legal action was asserted by its lawyers to protect its reputation and hold the publication accountable for the effect of the reporting. Binance Files Defamation Lawsuit against Wall Street Journal In a statement , Binance said inaccurate reporting can quickly spread when repeated across media and social platforms. Such amplification, the company stated, can erode trust in institutions and create misunderstandings about how crypto platforms work. Binance also said the attention triggered by the article diverted time and resources from operational and compliance work that the firm conducts globally. Dugan Bliss, global head of litigation at Binance, said the company views the lawsuit as a necessary step to address misinformation. He said the exchange is trying to protect its reputation and respond to what it believes were misleading claims presented as factual reporting. Bliss said the company’s compliance systems are of utmost importance to its business. He says Binance has put much effort into having a risk monitoring system that contributes to user safety and regulatory cooperation across multiple jurisdictions. Its platform, the exchange said, also has more than 300 million users around the world. Operating at that scale, the company said, requires significant oversight and constant monitoring of financial activity. Binance claims it has directed hundreds of millions of dollars toward developing compliance infrastructure, hiring specialists, and implementing technology designed to track financial crime and sanction risks. According to Binance, today, more than 1,500 employees within the organization work in compliance, investigative, and risk related roles. These teams include specialists trained in sanctions compliance, counter terrorist financing, and financial crime analysis. Their work also involves complex on-chain investigations designed to trace crypto movements across blockchain networks. Binance described its compliance framework as structured around clear procedures. When credible risk signals emerge, the company says it investigates the activity, applies mitigation measures, and in some cases removes accounts from the platform. The firm also reports relevant information to law enforcement agencies when required. These operations depend on a broad set of monitoring tools. Binance uses systems that review customer identification data, analyze transaction patterns, and conduct sanctions screening. Behavioral analytics and investigative workflows are also integrated into the platform’s monitoring environment. The company has also imposed geolocation controls to restrict access from regions where its services are not permitted. These controls are designed to detect and block attempts to bypass geographic restrictions, including the use of virtual private networks. Binance said its compliance efforts have produced measurable results in recent years. According to internal data cited by the company, sanctions related exposure as a share of total exchange volume declined sharply between early 2024 and mid 2025. The proportion reportedly fell from 0.284 percent in January 2024 to 0.009% by July 2025. Direct exposure linked to four Iranian crypto exchanges also dropped during the same period. Binance said transaction flows tied to those platforms decreased from $4.19 million in January 2024 to about $110,000 by January 2026. The exchange also pointed to cooperation with law enforcement agencies worldwide. During 2025 alone, Binance processed more than 71,000 requests from investigators. The company also said it helped in freezing and recovering hundreds of millions of dollars connected to suspected illicit activity. Executives at the firm noted that public blockchains allow anyone to send cryptos to an exchange address without prior approval from the platform. As a result, they argue that complete elimination of risk is not possible within open blockchain systems. Compliance strategies focus on detection, investigation, and mitigation of suspicious activity once it occurs. Besides operational safeguards, Binance has worked for regulatory approvals across multiple regions. The company currently holds licenses in more than twenty jurisdictions globally. Among the most prominent approvals was that received from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority within the Abu Dhabi Global Market, where Binance became the first exchange to get full authorization under the authority’s regulatory framework. The firm said it continues to strengthen governance and oversight processes as regulatory expectations change. Also Read: Binance Responds to Senator Blumenthal on Iran Allegations

11 Mar 2026, 13:31

Binance Takes Legal Action Against Wall Street Journal Over Iran Sanctions Report

Binance sued the Wall Street Journal over allegations involving compliance and Iran-related sanctions. The exchange claims WSJ ignored extensive evidence and misrepresented facts in its reporting. Continue Reading: Binance Takes Legal Action Against Wall Street Journal Over Iran Sanctions Report The post Binance Takes Legal Action Against Wall Street Journal Over Iran Sanctions Report appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

11 Mar 2026, 13:30

Arthur Hayes plans to wait for Fed liquidity expansion before buying Bitcoin

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, says that current market conditions don’t support buying Bitcoin. Instead, he plans to wait for a change in U.S. monetary policy before reentering the market. Speaking on the Coin Stories podcast hosted by Natalie Brunell, Hayes explained that liquidity expansion by central banks remains the key catalyst for Bitcoin’s next major rally. “If I had $1 to invest right now, would I be putting it into Bitcoin? No. I would wait,” Hayes said during the interview. Bitcoin recently traded around $69,926, down roughly 45% from the October all-time high price of $126,000. Hayes believes the current macroeconomic environment remains vulnerable to further volatility. Hayes explains why macro risks could pressure Bitcoin prices Hayes cited increasing geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran as a cause of greater financial instability in global markets. However, he emphasised that conflict alone does not automatically benefit Bitcoin. Where is Bitcoin headed next? @CryptoHayes latest takes might surprise you. Full show streaming now 🎧 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Arthur Hayes’ origin story 8:33 Bullish or bearish on Bitcoin 9:59 Institutions taking over Bitcoin? 11:52 Bitcoin price manipulation 13:26 What's holding… pic.twitter.com/Q5w86NdMW8 — Natalie Brunell ⚡️ (@natbrunell) March 10, 2026 Instead, Hayes believes that monetary policy reactions to geopolitical events are the real driver behind the momentum in the crypto market. Military expenditure and fiscal constraints often compel governments to resort to large-scale liquidity expansion. “The longer this conflict goes on, the higher the likelihood that the Fed has to print money to support the American war machine,” Hayes said. According to his view, Bitcoin performs best when central banks water down the financial system by injecting liquidity. “Money printing is good for Bitcoin,” Hayes noted. “That’s when I’m going to buy Bitcoin — when the central banks start printing money.” Hayes often refers to Bitcoin as a “liquidity alarm.” In other words, the cryptocurrency is highly responsive to changes in global money supply. When liquidity is limited, risk assets, such as cryptocurrencies, tend to weaken. Analysts warn short-term volatility could still push Bitcoin lower Hayes also warned that downside risks remain. He proposed that Bitcoin may briefly drop below $60,000 if macroeconomic conditions worsen. The cryptocurrency already came close to that level earlier this year, when prices fell to around $60,000 on February 6 before rebounding a little. According to Hayes, weakness in equity markets could lead to wider risk-off sentiment. In such an environment, investors often reduce their exposure to speculative assets, which can accelerate selling pressure across the crypto sector. Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick has voiced similar fears. The bank’s global head of digital assets research recently said there was potential for Bitcoin to see a final capitulation towards $50,000 before stabilizing. Kendrick described the ongoing downturn as more of a macro-driven technology sell-off than a structural breakdown in crypto. Despite the fragile short-term setup, he still expects Bitcoin to bounce back and reach $100,000 by the end of the year. Long-term forecasts still project major Bitcoin expansion Despite his cautious near-term outlook, Hayes is extremely optimistic about Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory. He believes that aggressive global liquidity expansion may push the cryptocurrency far beyond its previous highs. Hayes has suggested that Bitcoin could be worth anywhere up to $500,000 to $750,000 by the end of 2026, provided that central banks dramatically increase the supply of money. Meanwhile, he believes $250,000 is a more conservative figure for the next liquidity cycle. To be fair, Hayes recently admitted that his predictions occasionally miss the exact timing. A review of about 20 recent market predictions found that only 2 were right and 16 missed their likely timelines. Other industry analysts have also maintained bullish projections. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, recently argued that Bitcoin could eventually inch closer to $1 million per coin. Hougan said investors tend to underestimate Bitcoin because they do not consider the size of the global store-of-value market. He noted, “I think of bitcoin as an emerging store-of-value asset. It serves a purpose similar to gold—allowing people to hold wealth outside the traditional fiat and banking system—but in a digital form. It is more volatile and less established than gold, but it is increasingly competing for the same market.” There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance .