❗️ Rwanda Launches CBDC Pilot Program

🌍 The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has initiated a 12-month pilot program for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), following a successful proof of concept completed in late 2025. The pilot, announced on February 26, will involve a diverse group of users across Kigali and selected rural areas, prioritizing financial inclusion by testing simple channels like unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) and low-cost devices.

🔍 A recent research paper from the NBR recommended a two-tier, universal, zero-interest CBDC with partial pseudo-anonymity. The study identified 15 opportunities for CBDC adoption but highlighted four areas with particularly high potential. It emphasized that CBDC adoption could enhance financial inclusion, support innovation and competition, strengthen resilience against outages, and advance Rwanda’s cashless economy goals.

According to the paper, CBDC adoption is seen as enhancing financial inclusion while supporting innovation and competition.

🔒 The concept of partial pseudo-anonymity aims to balance user privacy with regulatory oversight, allowing transactions to remain private to a degree while remaining traceable under legal or compliance requirements. The NBR stressed that the pilot will be conducted with strong safeguards, including privacy-by-design, cybersecurity protections, and close coordination with financial institutions.

🆕 Kraken's xStocks Launches Xchange: Bridging Liquidity for Tokenized Equities

🚀 xStocks, a leader in tokenized securities, has launched Xchange, an on-chain trading engine that connects the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. This platform facilitates the trading of over 70 tokenized equities without intermediaries, addressing the liquidity fragmentation in the real-world asset (RWA) space.

🔗 Xchange serves as a unified execution layer, linking on-chain prices to traditional market data and allowing assets to move freely between the two blockchain networks. This is crucial as liquidity for tokenized stocks has often been restricted to specific blockchains, hindering the efficiency of digital securities.

📌 To enhance its ecosystem, xStocks has integrated with 1inch, a leading decentralized exchange aggregator. This partnership provides users with access to extensive liquidity pools, minimizing slippage and ensuring competitive rates for tokenized assets.

Every transaction is executed as a single, indivisible instruction, meaning trades either complete in full at the quoted price or do not execute at all

the platform states. This atomic on-chain settlement approach eliminates the risk of partial fills, offering the execution certainty needed by sophisticated traders.

📊 U.S. Inflation Steady Amid Geopolitical Tensions

📈 U.S. stocks opened cautiously on Wednesday following the release of February's Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which showed inflation holding steady at 2.4% year-over-year. This figure matches January's reading and aligns with economist expectations. However, rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East kept energy markets and risk assets on edge.

Inflation remains slightly above the central bank’s 2% target but continues trending downward from the roughly 9% peak reached in 2022.

📉 The CPI report indicated a 0.3% increase in headline CPI for February, slightly faster than January's 0.2% gain. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose by 0.2% for the month and 2.5% from a year earlier. Shelter costs were the largest contributor to monthly price increases, rising 0.2% in February and up 3% over the past year. Food prices climbed by 0.4%, while energy costs rebounded modestly with a 0.6% increase month-over-month.

⚖️ For Federal Reserve policymakers, the CPI numbers present a delicate balance. While inflation remains slightly above the 2% target, it is trending downward from last year's peak. Markets widely expect the Fed to maintain its benchmark federal funds rate in the current 3.50% to 3.75% range at its upcoming meeting as officials await more evidence of controlled price pressures.

With seven days left until the Fed members meet, CME’s Fedwatch tool shows a 99.3% chance of no change.

📈 Blackrock's Ethereum ETF: A New Era for Institutional Crypto Investment

🚀 Blackrock's recently launched staking-enabled Ethereum ETF, the Ishares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB), has made a significant impact on the market with its impressive opening day trading volume exceeding $15 million. This move marks a growing institutional interest in yield-generating crypto assets.

💬 Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart reported that the ETF achieved approximately $15.5 million in trading volume on its first day, describing it as a "solid opening performance" for a newly listed crypto ETF. ETHB differentiates itself by combining spot ether exposure with staking rewards, while still relying on a pricing benchmark provided by CF Benchmarks.

📊 As of March 13, the ETF manages $152.5 million in net assets with over 5.6 million shares outstanding. It traded with a minimal premium or discount to net asset value, indicating ongoing market activity. The trust plans to stake approximately 70% to 90% of its ether holdings under normal market conditions to support liquidity needs.

📉 Crypto ETFs Experience Significant Outflows as Bitcoin's Inflow Streak Ends

🔄 On Wednesday, crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) faced a notable pullback after a week of steady inflows, particularly in Bitcoin ETFs. This shift was marked by a sharp reversal in Bitcoin's seven-day inflow streak, which ended with a combined outflow of $163.52 million. Fidelity’s FBTC led the way with a significant withdrawal of $103.84 million, followed by BlackRock’s IBIT at $33.91 million. Other funds like Grayscale’s GBTC and Bitwise’s BITB also saw outflows, but none reported any inflows.

📉 Ether ETFs mirrored this trend, experiencing total outflows of $55.70 million. Fidelity’s FETH was the hardest hit, shedding $37.11 million. Grayscale’s ETHE and Vaneck’s ETHV also recorded notable exits. However, Blackrock’s ETHB was an exception, posting a modest inflow of $1.13 million.

📣 In contrast, XRP ETFs remained inactive with no trading movement. Solana ETFs experienced a slight outflow of $295,730 from Vaneck’s VSOL. Overall, Wednesday marked a clear shift in market sentiment as investors took profits and reassessed their positions after a period of accumulation.

🔔 Ripple's Expansion in Brazil and Regulatory Developments in Latin America

🚀 This week in Latin American crypto news, Ripple is making significant strides in Brazil, the Brazilian government is reconsidering its crypto taxation plans, and Argentina has banned access to the prediction market platform Polymarket.

🌍 Ripple is intensifying its efforts in Brazil, aiming for greater institutional dominance in the crypto space. The company announced on March 17 its plans to expand its presence in Brazil, enhance its institutional offerings, and apply for a Virtual Asset Service Provider license.

Latin America has always been a priority market for Ripple

said Monica Long, President at Ripple.

Brazil has built one of the most advanced and forward-thinking financial ecosystems in the world.

📉 In contrast, Brazil is delaying its plans to tax stablecoin transactions. Local media had reported that these taxation measures were imminent, but new information suggests that the government is shifting its focus to other priorities as the presidential election approaches. A source noted,

It remains on the radar. But it needs to be handled carefully, because tempers are running high in Brasilia.

🚫 Meanwhile, Argentina has become the second country in Latin America to block access to Polymarket. This decision follows a lawsuit by the Buenos Aires City Lottery and the Argentine Chamber of Casinos and Bingos, which argued that Polymarket was operating as an unregulated betting platform. The court's ruling is based on concerns that the platform allows users to participate without identity checks, potentially enabling minors to engage in transactions using credit cards or cryptocurrencies.

📝 Betplay Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Crypto Casino and Sportsbook

🔍 As cryptocurrency continues to transform online gaming, Betplay positions itself as a serious contender in the casino and sportsbook arena. I, Regina - your Web3 Gaming enthusiast at Bitcoin, tested Betplay to see how it performs across registration, payments, games, bonuses, and overall experience.

🖥 Getting started with Betplay is straightforward. Simply visit betplay, click the "Register" button, and provide your email address and password. Betplay is licensed and uses secure SSL encryption, ensuring your account and funds are protected. Note that you will need to verify your account before withdrawing funds, which is standard practice.

💰 One of Betplay's main advantages is its extensive support for cryptocurrencies. In addition to Bitcoin, USDT, and Litecoin, players can use Ethereum, BNB, Solana, USDC, XRP, Dogecoin, Tron, Shiba Inu, and even the Bitcoin Lightning network for near-instant transactions. Deposits are simple, and withdrawals are processed quickly. The standout feature? Zero withdrawal fees.

🎁 Betplay offers various incentives, including welcome bonuses, free spins, and risk-free sports bets. However, like most casinos, bonuses come with wagering requirements. Be sure to check the terms before participating.

❗️ Betplay's game library is extensive, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and live dealer tables. Their signature games - Crash and Dice - stand out. Crash tests your timing skills as you cash out before the multiplier drops, while Dice allows you to adjust odds and strategies for greater control.

💬 Stablecoins and Money Laundering: A Misleading Narrative

🔔 A recent The New York Times article suggests that stablecoins facilitate money laundering for criminals. However, it misrepresents the issue by highlighting weak compliance measures from financial companies as the primary enablers of such activities, rather than the stablecoins themselves.

According to research firm Chainalysis, $25 billion in illicit transactions last year involved stablecoins.

Despite this, the article's author, Aaron Krolik, shifts focus to the real culprit: poor due diligence enforcement by service providers who can also utilize other funding sources. For instance, he claims to have used a crypto ATM to purchase stablecoins with cash and later issued a debit card as proof of his point. However, it is Visa and Mastercard that issue these cards and facilitate further payments, not Tether or Circle, the issuers of the two largest stablecoins in the crypto world.

💪 The stablecoin industry has made efforts to combat illegal activities on the blockchain. Tether alone has blocked over $3.4 billion in illicit funds, demonstrating the sector's willingness to assist in the fight against crypto crime.

📉 While the figures related to money laundering ($25 billion) are significant and measures must be taken to reduce them, they pale in comparison to the use of the U.S. dollar for this purpose. For example, the FBI estimates that $300 billion is laundered annually in the U.S., far exceeding the crypto industry's figures. Worldwide, money laundering reaches $2 trillion, significantly surpassing the reported $25 billion in cryptocurrency flows.

📉 JPMorgan Reports Significant Decline in Crypto Asset Inflows in Q1 2026

📊 Analysts from JPMorgan have reported a sharp decline in the inflow of funds into crypto assets during the first quarter of 2026, as stated by The Block. They estimate that the total volume reached approximately $11 billion, which is about three times lower than the same period last year. This assessment takes into account combined flows, including investments in crypto funds, activity in CME futures markets, venture financing, and corporate treasury purchases of Bitcoin.

📌 Year-on-year, the current dynamics indicate an inflow of around $44 billion compared to a record $130 billion in 2025. According to analysts, the majority of the inflow in the first quarter was driven by Bitcoin purchases from corporate players, particularly from Strategy and crypto venture funds. However, the activity of retail and institutional investors was weak or even negative.

🚫 There was a noted outflow of funds from spot ETFs on Bitcoin and Ethereum, especially in January, although a partial inflow was recorded in March for funds based on the first cryptocurrency. The decline in activity also affected CME futures markets, indicating a weakening institutional demand through derivative instruments.

💰 An additional factor contributing to this decline was the selling pressure from miners. Some public companies were selling Bitcoin or using it as collateral to enhance liquidity and finance capital expenditures, which partially included investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

📈 Bitcoin Rally Gains Momentum Amid Hidden Cycle Warning

🔍 The price movement of Bitcoin shows renewed strength at the beginning of April. However, long-term cycle models indicate a potential decline before the next major growth phase. Data from PlanB reveals that while Bitcoin aligns with historical growth trends, its current position in the cycle suggests that further consolidation or decline may occur before reaching a new all-time high.

📊 Despite periodic corrections, Bitcoin's macro structure remains above key indicators, including the 200-week moving average and realized price. This positioning demonstrates resilient long-term strength. Cycle-based indicators show that previous peaks transitioned into cooling phases before resuming recovery.

No doubt there will be a new bull market with new ATHs but IMO bitcoin will go lower before next bull market

📉 Recent price behavior aligns with previous stages of mid and late cycles. Data indicates that losses have decreased during subsequent buying cycles, suggesting a shift in market structure and more stable investor positioning.

📈 The Stock-to-Flow model continues to predict higher valuations during the current halving period, estimating an average price of around $500,000 from 2024 to 2028, although current market levels remain below this threshold.

💰 Record Cryptocurrency Fraud: Over 181,000 Victims and $11 Billion in Losses in 2025

📈 In 2025, cryptocurrency fraud losses exceeded $11 billion, with investment schemes accounting for the largest share at over $7 billion. The FBI reported that the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 181,000 complaints, a 20% increase from the previous year. The average loss per victim was approximately $62,600, with thousands losing over $100,000.

🔔 The most affected group was individuals aged 60 and above, who suffered losses of around $4.4 billion. This was followed by the 50-59 age group with losses of about $2.1 billion, and the 40-49 age group with over $1.5 billion. The report highlighted that fraudsters often employ complex social engineering tactics targeting older adults.

📊 Fraud losses have been steadily increasing over the years, reaching a peak in 2025. In 2018, losses were only in the tens of millions of dollars, but by 2025, they had surged to over $11 billion. The states with the highest number of complaints were California, Texas, and Florida.

🤖 The report also noted a rise in AI-related crimes, with over 8,700 cases and approximately $740 million in losses.

❗️ Adam Back Questions Satoshi's Billion-Dollar Fortune and Suggests Key Loss

👤 Cryptographer Adam Back has raised doubts about Satoshi Nakamoto's billion-dollar Bitcoin fortune, suggesting that the absence of movement in early Bitcoins may not be due to intentional inaction. During a speech at the Blockchain Paris Week conference, he stated,

This could have happened. After all, he is human.

📣 Back pointed out that in the early years of Bitcoin, wallet backup was not as reliable and convenient as it is today. Users had to manually save the wallet.dat file containing their private keys, and this backup needed to be regularly updated with active transactions. He noted that not everyone was aware of this requirement, which could have led some early users to lose access to their funds.

💰 The expert also emphasized that the market still does not know for sure how many coins belong to Bitcoin's creator. Common estimates are based on mining pattern analysis, but these conclusions remain mere hypotheses. He reminded that in the first year of the network's existence, participants mined about 2.5 million BTC, with Satoshi's presumed share usually estimated at 500,000 to 1 million BTC.

⚠️ Peter Schiff Warns of Bitcoin's Inevitable Collapse

📉 Economist Peter Schiff has once again warned about the impending collapse of Bitcoin. His warning came at a time when Michael Saylor announced that his company, Strategy, had made one of the largest Bitcoin purchases in its history.

It's already some kind of madness. I wonder how much lower Bitcoin would be right now without all these purchases. This can't go on forever. A crash is inevitable. The more you build a pyramid, the greater the losses will be when it collapses,

the economist wrote.

📌 Schiff's post coincided with Saylor's announcement that Strategy had acquired an additional 34,164 BTC for approximately $2.54 billion at an average price of $74,395 per coin. This latest statement from Schiff aligns with his long-standing position on the flagship cryptocurrency. He has always been known for his pessimistic outlook on this asset. However, this time his criticism is directed specifically at the force he believes is propping up the market - massive corporate accumulation.

💔 Schiff's stance is straightforward. He believes that repeated large purchases are supporting Bitcoin's price, but this cannot continue indefinitely. At the time of writing, Bitcoin had risen to $76,192, increasing by almost 2% over the past day and more than 2% over the past week, according to CoinMarketCap.

📉 Impact of the Investigation Closure on Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decisions

🔔 Recent developments in the U.S. monetary policy and Federal Reserve System leadership have stirred market expectations. The closure of the investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell is seen as a dual-faceted event that reduces institutional uncertainty while bolstering expectations for interest rate cuts.

🌐 U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Robert Piro, announced the cessation of the investigation regarding Powell's expenditures on construction. Officials stated that Federal Reserve expenditures will continue to be scrutinized by the department's inspector general, but added that the investigation could be reopened if deemed necessary.

📊 Market expectations regarding interest rates have reached significant levels. According to CME's FedWatch data, the probability of the U.S. Federal Reserve lowering the interest rate by 25 basis points by the end of the year is estimated at 76%. In more aggressive scenarios, the likelihood of a 50 basis points cut stands at 21.3%, 75 basis points at 2.2%, and 100 basis points at 0.1%. The probability of no change in interest rates is merely 0.4%.

⚡️ Government Commission to Discuss Cryptocurrency Mining Ban in Moscow and the Moscow Region

🗓 On May 18, the Government Commission for Energy Development will consider the possibility of imposing restrictions on cryptocurrency mining in Moscow and the Moscow region. This was announced by Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Pyotr Konyushenko during the Caucasian Investment Forum, as reported by TASS.

🗣 In early April, Sergey Voropanov, the Minister of Energy for the Moscow Region, emphasized the need to ban mining in the area. He stated that cryptocurrency extraction does not benefit the regional economy and that a ban could have a positive impact in other regions. For instance, authorities in the Irkutsk region have claimed that mining restrictions have "relieved the energy system".

🔍 Following Voropanov's statement, Andrey Maximov, the Director of the Department for Energy Development at the Ministry of Energy, clarified that no requests had been received from the authorities of Moscow and the Moscow region regarding mining restrictions. He noted that for such a matter to be considered by the government commission, the regional head must submit a request.

🔔 Coinbase Announces 14% Workforce Reduction Amid Market Volatility and AI Advancements

📉 Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange, has announced a reduction of approximately 14% of its workforce. CEO Brian Armstrong communicated this decision to employees, citing market volatility and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) as the primary reasons.

Today I’ve made the difficult decision to reduce the size of Coinbase by ~14%. I want to walk you through why we're doing this now, what it means for those affected, and how this positions us for the…

said Armstrong.

📊 Armstrong explained that despite having capital and diversified revenue sources, Coinbase's business remains volatile from quarter to quarter. The company is currently in a market downturn and is seeking to optimize expenses. The influence of artificial intelligence was also highlighted as a significant factor. Armstrong noted that engineers are now able to complete tasks in days instead of weeks, and some processes are being automated. This allows smaller teams to achieve better results.

🔄 As part of its transformation, Coinbase plans to streamline its management structure to five levels, eliminate "pure" managerial roles in favor of a "player-coach" model, form teams focused on AI, and experiment with minimal teams including a "one-person" model.

❗️ Hut 8 Leases AI Infrastructure for $9.8 Billion

🌟 Hut 8 has announced the launch of the first phase of its AI campus, Beacon Point, in Texas. The company has signed a 15-year lease agreement for 352 MW of infrastructure with a base contract value of $9.8 billion, which could extend up to $25.1 billion if all renewal options are exercised. The lessee is an unnamed organization with a high investment rating, planning to use the computing power for large-scale AI model training and inference tasks.

📌 The facility will be built according to NVIDIA DGX architecture standards for gigawatt-level infrastructure. Beacon Point is Hut 8's second AI campus following River Bend, and it operates on an "energy first" model. The company first secures the site and grid connections before entering into lease agreements with clients.

📈 Following this deal, Hut 8's total contracted AI data center capacity has increased to 597 MW, with a combined base contract value of approximately $16.8 billion and an expected average annual net operating income of $1.1 billion. The Beacon Point facility has a total capacity of up to 1 GW, with 352 MW of IT capacity currently commercialized requiring about 500 MW of electricity. The remaining capacity can be used for future project expansions.