hodler

24 Mar 2026, 14:19

Bitcoin Dips Below $70K as Reports Suggest Saudi Arabia Is Pushing to Continue Iran War

Bitcoin has staged another unsuccessful breakout attempt after yesterday’s impressive surge, as this time it was stopped at $71,000 and slipped by a grand following new reports on the war in the Middle East. According to a report from the New York Times cited by The Kobeissi Letter, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been “pushing” Trump to continue the war against Iran. The paper reads that this military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the region as Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the current regime. The report further stated that Prince bin Salman has urged Trump to send troops to Iran to seize energy infrastructure and force the government out of power. BREAKING: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been “pushing” President Trump to continue the war against Iran, per NYT. Saudi’s Mohammed bin Salman says: 1. The US-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East 2. Iran poses a… pic.twitter.com/DEUmb40G4K — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 24, 2026 The timing of this report is quite intriguing, as just yesterday, President Trump said his country reached some sort of a deal with the Iranian authorities to halt any military action against the latter’s power plants for a five-day period. Although Iran’s officials denied Trump’s claims, more reports emerged in the following hours indicating that both parties have indeed been in talks, perhaps through middlemen. Separately, another report from earlier today suggested that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are “inching toward” joining the war against Iran as they have been targeted multiple times by their Middle Eastern enemy. Bitcoin reacted immediately yesterday with a push from $68,000 to almost $72,000 after Trump’s de-escalation message, but dipped below $70,000 minutes ago after the news about Prince bin Salman went live. BTCUSD March 24. Source: TradingView The post Bitcoin Dips Below $70K as Reports Suggest Saudi Arabia Is Pushing to Continue Iran War appeared first on CryptoPotato .

24 Mar 2026, 13:45

Tether Audit Breakthrough: Landmark Big Four Agreement Signals New Era for USDT Transparency

BitcoinWorld Tether Audit Breakthrough: Landmark Big Four Agreement Signals New Era for USDT Transparency In a landmark move for cryptocurrency transparency, Tether Holdings Ltd., the issuer of the world’s dominant stablecoin USDT, announced a pivotal agreement for an independent financial statement audit with a Big Four accounting firm on March 21, 2025. This development marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing questions about the reserves backing the $110 billion USDT ecosystem. Consequently, the crypto industry views this as a potential watershed moment for regulatory compliance and institutional trust. Tether Audit Agreement: A Deep Dive into the Announcement Tether made the announcement via its official blog, revealing it had finalized a contract with one of the elite Big Four firms—Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG. However, the company deliberately withheld the specific firm’s name, citing standard confidentiality protocols during the engagement’s initial phase. Importantly, Tether framed the audit’s scope as exceptionally comprehensive. The firm stated the examination would be “of a caliber typically seen only in the world’s largest national institutions.” This audit will scrutinize Tether’s complex asset portfolio, which notably includes three core components: Digital Assets: This category encompasses cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum held within its reserves. Traditional Reserves: These are conventional assets such as U.S. Treasury bills, commercial paper, and cash equivalents. Tokenized Government Bonds: This represents a newer, innovative asset class involving blockchain-based representations of sovereign debt. This tripartite structure highlights the evolving nature of stablecoin reserve management. Therefore, the audit’s complexity mirrors the hybrid financial reality Tether navigates daily. The Critical Context: Why This Audit Matters Now This announcement does not occur in a vacuum. For years, Tether operated under intense scrutiny from regulators, competitors, and the media regarding the sufficiency and quality of its reserves. Previously, the company provided attestations from a smaller accounting firm, BDO Italia, which offered snapshots of its holdings. However, these attestations differ fundamentally from a full-scope audit. An audit provides a formal opinion on the fairness of financial statements, following strict international standards. Meanwhile, an attestation simply verifies information at a point in time. The push for this higher standard of verification intensified throughout 2024. Specifically, regulatory frameworks like the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation and proposed U.S. legislation began mandating stringent reserve reporting and audit requirements for stablecoin issuers. Tether’s proactive move, therefore, appears strategically aligned with this global regulatory trajectory. It demonstrates a clear effort to pre-empt compliance demands and build legitimacy. Expert Analysis on the Market Impact Financial analysts specializing in digital assets view this development as profoundly positive for market structure. “A Big Four audit is the gold standard of financial credibility,” notes Dr. Anya Petrova, a fintech researcher at the Global Digital Finance Institute. “For Tether, this is less about proving solvency—which its attestations have aimed to do—and more about adopting the rigorous, repeatable disclosure framework that traditional capital markets require. This could significantly lower the perceived risk premium for institutions interacting with the USDT ecosystem.” Furthermore, the audit’s focus on tokenized government bonds is particularly insightful. This asset class represents a growing intersection between decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi). By including it in the audit scope, Tether signals its reserves are adapting to modern, on-chain financial instruments. This move could encourage other asset managers to explore tokenized real-world assets with greater confidence. Comparing Audit Types: Attestation vs. Full-Scope Audit To understand the leap Tether is taking, one must distinguish between its previous reports and the forthcoming audit. The table below clarifies the key differences: Feature Previous BDO Italia Attestation New Big Four Audit Primary Objective Verify the existence and value of assets at a specific date. Express an opinion on the fairness of the entire financial statement. Scope Limited to agreed-upon procedures (e.g., checking bank statements). Comprehensive, including internal controls, risk assessment, and substantive testing. Standards International Standard on Related Services (ISRS) 4400. International Standards on Auditing (ISA). Output A report of factual findings. A formal audit opinion (e.g., “presents fairly, in all material respects”). This shift represents a maturation in Tether’s approach to financial transparency. It moves the company from demonstrating it holds assets to proving its entire financial reporting is robust and reliable. Potential Implications for the Stablecoin Landscape The ramifications of a successfully completed Big Four audit for Tether are multifaceted. Firstly, it would establish a new benchmark for reserve transparency in the stablecoin sector. Competitors like Circle (USDC) and Binance (BUSD) may face increased pressure to pursue similar audits, potentially raising the industry’s overall credibility. Secondly, it could influence ongoing regulatory debates. Legislators often cite a lack of transparent auditing as a key risk; Tether’s action directly addresses this concern. Thirdly, and perhaps most significantly, it could catalyze broader institutional adoption. Many traditional finance entities have strict internal policies requiring audited financials from counterparties. A clean audit opinion from a Big Four firm would remove a major compliance hurdle for these institutions to hold, trade, or integrate USDT. This could further cement Tether’s market dominance while bringing substantial new capital into the crypto space. Conclusion Tether’s agreement with a Big Four firm for a comprehensive audit is a defining event for the stablecoin industry. This decision directly responds to years of external pressure and aligns with tightening global regulations. By subjecting its diverse portfolio—including digital assets, traditional reserves, and tokenized bonds—to the highest level of financial scrutiny, Tether is strategically working to legitimize its operations and build foundational trust. The successful completion of this Tether audit could herald a new era of transparency, potentially reshaping regulatory attitudes and accelerating institutional participation in the cryptocurrency market. The industry now awaits the final audit report, which will carry substantial weight for the future of digital asset finance. FAQs Q1: What is the difference between Tether’s old reports and this new audit? The old reports were “attestations” that verified asset values at a single point in time. The new Big Four audit is a full financial statement audit that will test internal controls, provide substantive evidence, and issue a formal opinion on whether Tether’s financial statements are presented fairly according to accounting standards. Q2: Why won’t Tether name the specific Big Four firm? It is standard professional practice for audit engagements. The client-auditor relationship is confidential, and the firm’s name will likely be disclosed in the final, published audit report. Premature disclosure could violate contractual terms. Q3: How long will this Tether audit process take? A full-scope audit of a complex, $100+ billion portfolio is a massive undertaking. While no timeline was given, similar large-scale financial audits can take several months to over a year to complete, depending on the complexity and cooperation. Q4: Will this audit prove every USDT is backed 1-to-1? The audit will provide an opinion on whether Tether’s financial statements as a whole are materially correct. This includes verifying its reported assets and liabilities. A “clean” audit opinion would provide strong, independent evidence supporting the claim that sufficient reserves back the outstanding USDT. Q5: What does this mean for other stablecoins like USDC? It sets a new transparency benchmark. Tether’s main competitors may now face increased market and regulatory pressure to undergo comparable Big Four audits to maintain competitive parity and user trust, potentially raising industry standards across the board. This post Tether Audit Breakthrough: Landmark Big Four Agreement Signals New Era for USDT Transparency first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

24 Mar 2026, 13:34

Circle Urges EU to Ease Crypto Thresholds in Proposed Markets Framework

Circle is pushing back on Europe. The stablecoin issuer has formally petitioned the European Commission to lower the capitalization thresholds in its proposed Market Integration Package. The argument is direct: the current rules create a regulatory paradox where a stablecoin must already be massive before it is legally permitted to operate at an institutional scale. For euro-denominated stablecoins like EURC, the framework creates friction. It effectively bans them from institutional settlement before they ever get the chance to grow. Key Takeaways: Circle’s Feedback on MIP The Ask: Lower the market cap threshold for e-money tokens (EMTs) to qualify as collateral under the Central Securities Depositories Regulation. The Framework: The EU’s Market Integration Package, designed to unify capital markets and expand the DLT Pilot Regime. Market Impact: Removing these barriers would allow EURC and other euro stablecoins to function as liquidity layers in formal securities settlement. The Mechanics of the ‘Chicken-and-Egg’ Problem The complaint comes down to one mechanical flaw. Under the current draft of the Central Securities Depositories Regulation, only e-money tokens that already meet a high market capitalization threshold can be used in settlement systems. Circle’s problem with that is straightforward. No euro-denominated EMT currently meets that threshold. The regulation creates a chicken-and-egg scenario . Tokens need a settlement utility to grow. Settlement utility requires a scale that they cannot achieve without it. Circle is calling it a structural barrier to entry and they are right. The firm is requesting amendments to the DLT Pilot Regime to break the cycle. Excluding non-significant EMTs from settlement does not protect the market. It stalls the EU’s entire tokenization ambition before it starts. BULLISH: CIRCLE AND COINBASE TO WIN BIG FROM STABLECOIN SURGE According to analysts at Bernstein, both @Circle and @Coinbase can help investors gain exposure to the fast-growing stablecoin sector. The firms have formed a partnership around the $USDC stablecoin and stand to… pic.twitter.com/CisztMTGZL — BSCN (@BSCNews) March 24, 2026 The stakes are direct. If the European Commission adopts Circle’s recommendation, EURC moves from a niche trading pair to a recognized settlement instrument for traditional finance. Banks and asset managers can settle trades on-chain. Euro stablecoins become functional collateral under CSDR rules. If nothing changes, institutional participation stays theoretical. The vast majority of stablecoin liquidity sits in USD-denominated assets like USDC. For the EU to build a functioning DLT-based economy it needs a euro equivalent that moves frictionlessly between crypto exchanges and regulated securities venues. The current framework does the opposite. It locks euro stablecoins out of the infrastructure they need to scale. Circle’s March 20 submission is an attempt to preempt a liquidity freeze in a market that has not even launched yet. Regulatory Context: MiCA and the Integration Gap Circle’s lobbying effort comes just months after the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation took full effect in December 2024. While MiCA provided the licensing framework for issuers, the Market Integration Package is intended to build the rails for those assets to move across borders. The friction underscores a broader disconnect. While MiCA is law, its implementation has been criticized by legal experts for varying wildly from country to country. Yuriy Brisov, a partner at Digital & Analogue Partners, has argued that the rules remain difficult to interpret, leaving issuers in a gray zone regarding compliance. The Commission’s proposals are intended to fix this fragmentation, but Circle warns that without specific tweaks to the DLT regime, the “integration” will be in name only. As negotiations on the package continue—potentially through 2027—the gap between regulatory intent and market reality is widening. Will stablecoins become the backbone of the AI economy? @circle 's CFO breaks down how $USDC can become the go-to payment solution for millions of AI agents online. FULL: https://t.co/ZSCkRE2XPv pic.twitter.com/G3szhazbiM — The Rundown (@rundowndaily_) March 23, 2026 If the Commission adjusts the thresholds, Europe opens the door to on-chain capital markets. If they hold the line, euro stablecoins remain stuck in the sandbox. Until the final text is agreed upon, institutional adoption is waiting on a definition. Discover: The best new crypto in the world The post Circle Urges EU to Ease Crypto Thresholds in Proposed Markets Framework appeared first on Cryptonews .

24 Mar 2026, 13:30

Prioritizing tech sovereignty can hurt Europe in the AI race, Siemens exec says

Throttling AI innovation for the sake of tech sovereignty would be a disaster for Europe, according to the head of the industrial and technology giant Siemens. The warning from the top manager comes as the executive body in Brussels prepares to present the EU’s delayed tech sovereignty package at the end of May. Siemens boss bets on existing AI tools over building EU’s own Prioritizing the development of domestic artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure would prove disastrous for the European Union, according to Roland Busch, the man at the helm of Siemens. The chief executive of the German industrial conglomerate has made it clear he favors deploying existing tools already built by others to boost economic growth on the Old Continent. Busch, who has been steering Europe’s largest engineering company towards technology since he took over in 2021, shared his thoughts on the matter with the Financial Times. Quoted in an article that came out Tuesday, he also insisted the EU risks lagging behind in the race for AI solutions even further if it does not simplify its regulations. His comments coincide with European efforts to reduce dependency on U.S. tech companies in a number of areas, including cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence and office software, among other products and services. The European push in that direction comes amid concerns that the foreign policy of President Donald Trump’s administration could lead to a “tech decoupling,” the report highlighted. While the Siemens SEO admitted that building its own AI infrastructure would make the EU “more resilient” over time, he insisted Europeans shouldn’t wait for AI factories to be built in Germany or elsewhere in Europe before starting to tune their AI models and stressed: “You should not throttle your innovation speed for the sake of creating sovereignty. This would be a disaster.” Roland Busch’s statements echo concerns expressed by a number of companies in the region that weakening ties with U.S. tech firms would slow investment and raise costs, the business daily highlighted. The AI regulations the European Union has been trying to implement have been met with opposition from big tech companies, Washington and some member states that fear the new rules would make it harder to use the technology. Europe’s landmark AI regulation dogged by delays The European Commission recently delayed its flagship “tech sovereignty package” for a second time, as reported by Euractiv earlier this month. Its adoption was initially planned for March 25, but was moved to April 15 and is now rescheduled for May 27. The measures include the Cloud and AI Development Act ( CAIDA ), the Chips Act 2, a strategic roadmap for digitalization and the use of AI in energy, as well as a strategy on open-source software. CAIDA, in particular, has been portrayed as a key element of the bloc’s push towards tech sovereignty. The legislation should relax rules for building data centers as part of efforts to boost construction of digital infrastructure within the EU to help catch up with the leaders in the accelerating global AI race . The new version of the Chips Act aims to achieve what the original legislation failed – increase semiconductor manufacturing inside the bloc. And the open-source strategy is expected to support projects that have the potential to become viable alternatives to U.S. tech solutions. The delays in the deployment of AI in Europe, due to security concerns and overregulation, would slow growth, Roland Busch also warned, accusing the EU of having a “miscalibrated” approach to exerting control over the technology. In that regard, he likened America’s embrace of artificial intelligence to a “fast flowing river” in comparison with Europe’s “standing water” tech ecosystem. Siemens is investing €1 billion (nearly $1.16 billion) in the development of AI tools, according to its top executive. But most of the money is likely going to the U.S. and China, as his statements indicated. Last spring, the European Commission announced it would allocate €1.3 billion for investments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital skills with strategic importance for the EU’s tech sovereignty. Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank

24 Mar 2026, 12:59

EU and Australia sign deal as hedge against US unpredictability, China's critical minerals grip

Australia and the European Union have inked a landmark trade agreement that will transform economic relations between two of America’s closest friends at a time when the global trading order feels increasingly uncertain. On Tuesday, March 24, in Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra, nearly eight years of sporadic negotiations came to an end. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission both signed a deal they claim will reduce expenses, open up new markets, and protect their companies from an uncertain global environment. The timing is no coincidence. Both the EU and Australia have watched as U.S. trade policy has become harder to predict under President Trump, while China continues to dominate global supply chains for critical minerals. For countries in between, the message from Tuesday’s signing was clear that they must diversify quickly. “We are sending a strong signal to the rest of the world that friendship and cooperation is what matters most in times of turbulence,” von der Leyen said in a statement. She also pointed to the ongoing war in Iran as a reminder of how interconnected the world’s problems have become. “None of us is immune to the shocks, both geopolitical and economic, that the war in Iran brings to our populations,” she told the Australian Parliament. James Lindsay of the Council on Foreign Relations had warned in a February memo that Trump’s foreign policy had turned deep ties with Washington into something of a risk for traditional U.S. allies . This deal reflects that concern. While neither Australia nor the EU is walking away from its relationship with the United States, they are building alternatives. Economic diversification and critical resource security According to a joint statement released by the Australian Government and the European Commission, “The Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers between Australia and the European Union – a market of around 450 million people.” The document further highlights that “the trade agreement will support investment in both directions,” noting that the European Union was Australia’s second-largest source of foreign investment in 2024, with a total investment stock worth $869.3 billion. More than 99% of tariffs on EU goods heading to Australia will be removed. On the other side, duties on 98% of the current value of Australian exports to the EU will eventually be dropped. Access to Australian supplies of manganese, lithium, and aluminum is a significant victory for Europe. Von der Leyen was clear about the significance of this. She stated , “We cannot be over-dependent on any supplier for such crucial ingredients,” clearly referring to China. There would be no more tariffs on Australian energy products, such as lithium hydroxide and hydrogen. Additionally, both parties will waive taxes on environmentally friendly products like solar panel components and wind turbines. Australian exporters of wine, nuts, and seafood will enter the EU market without tariffs. European chocolate, wine, and machinery will face no duties going into Australia. Australia also agreed to raise the luxury car tax threshold for EU electric vehicles to A$120,000, which works out to around $83,600. Geographical protections In addition to trade, the two nations formed a defense alliance that includes emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, crisis management, and maritime security. Additionally, Australia will start negotiations to become a member of the Horizon Europe research financing program. The deal allows Australian businesses to bid on EU government contracts worth about $845 billion annually and facilitates employment for Australian specialists in the fields of finance, education, and tourism within the EU. It was a hard-won outcome, according to Prime Minister Albanese. “More trade, with more trading partners means more supply chain security, more well-paying jobs, cheaper prices, and more national income,” he stated. Still letting the bank keep the best part? Watch our free video on being your own bank .

24 Mar 2026, 12:27

Oracle rebuilds Fusion for AI agents to handle routine back-office tasks

Oracle is rebuilding Fusion, its cloud back-office software for large companies, so workers can ask business questions and let AI agents find data, pull records from connected systems, and handle routine steps. The changes were set for a London event on Tuesday local time. They come as software vendors refit products for agents instead of only human clicking and typing. The update covers work inside Fusion, including factory production planning and collecting money from customers. Oracle says companies still need business software, but want repetitive work done by machines. That matters because Oracle shares are down about 40% this year as investors worry that strong AI systems could replace complex enterprise software. Executives say Oracle is using AI to keep its software ahead of that threat. Oracle shifts Fusion toward AI-led work across finance and operations The software push comes as Oracle raises the cost of its own restructuring. The company said it will spend another $500 million on restructuring in the current fiscal year as stronger AI models let it shrink parts of its workforce. That brings total restructuring costs to $2.1 billion for the year ending May 31, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Wednesday. In December, Oracle had projected $1.6 billion. The higher figure points to faster job cuts. Restructuring spending had already jumped 337% year over year in the nine months ended Feb. 28. Alongside third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, Oracle said better AI models would allow job cuts across software teams. The company said:- “AI models for generating computer code have become so efficient that we have been restructuring our product development teams into smaller, more agile and productive groups.” Steve Miranda, executive vice president of applications development at Oracle, said the goal is to let users focus on business questions, such as making a new product design cheaper and faster while cutting supply chain risk. Miranda said the needed information is spread across Oracle applications and connected third-party software. He said AI will take over data entry, data gathering, and recommendations. Human workers, he said, will spend more time on supplier talks and judging how much disruption risk a company can accept. Steve said:- “Typing in an invoice isn’t a particularly high-value skill to your enterprise or to the person you know who does that part of their job. Decision making is still kind of up to that human… But certainly the execution, the typing of the invoices, the typing of the purchase order, that is what is going to be replaced in whole in AI.” Cisco adds security controls as AI agents start taking real actions That wider agent push is also creating a security problem. As AI agents move into customer experience systems, they are not just answering queries like chatbots. They are processing transactions and triggering backend actions. That raises the stakes for security teams and customer experience leaders. Jeff Schultz, senior vice president of portfolio strategy for Cisco’s product organization, said:- “With chatbots, we worried about what they would say. With agents, we worry about what they do.” At the RSA Conference in San Francisco this week, Cisco rolled out security features meant to make autonomous AI safe enough for real-world use. Schultz said companies are focusing more on secure networking and compute connections as AI develops. He also said trust is slowing adoption. A Cisco survey found 85% of enterprise customers had tested AI agents, but only 5% had put them into production. Cisco said its new tools establish trusted identities, enforce Zero Trust Access controls, harden agents before deployment, apply runtime guardrails, and give SOC teams machine-speed tools to stop threats. Schultz said, “We also see a trust deficit… trust is holding them back.” Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .