The US dollar has long reigned as the world’s primary reserve currency and the default choice for global trade and international transactions. But its dominance is now facing growing scrutiny as shifting geopolitical and economic forces—and concerns over the potential weaponization of the greenback—push more countries to accelerate efforts to loosen their dependence on the dollar.By almost every measure, the US dollar’s command of the global economy is staggering. Although the country accounts for roughly 25% of global GDP, its currency reigns over nearly  60% of global foreign exchange reserves—far outpacing its nearest rival, the euro. But this dominance is increasingly…

Thomas John Sfraga, also known as “TJ Stone,” received 45 months in prison for wire fraud and was ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in forfeiture as part of a scheme targeting crypto investors.In a March 14 notice, the US Justice Department said Sfraga was sentenced in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) for wire fraud following a May 2024 guilty plea. Court filings stated that the influencer and podcaster claimed he was the owner of businesses — including Vandelay Contracting, a name based on a running joke from the television series Seinfeld…

In the first three months of his presidency, Donald Trump has ignited trade tensions by announcing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China and the result has been unexpected turmoil in US and global markets.The fallout from the tariffs has been relatively swift, and the impact has been felt across the crypto market. As of March 8, the US president had backed away from some plans to impose tariffs on certain Mexican and Canadian goods—another twist in the rollercoaster of US trade policy that continues to shake markets.Singapore crypto trading firm QCP Capital said in a note. “This week’s crypto markets…

Argentina’s securities regulator has finalized rules for virtual asset service providers (VASPs), which cover general codes of conduct and custody requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other platforms facilitating digital asset transactions. The regulations were published on March 13 by the National Securities Commission, also known as CNV, under General Resolution No. 1058. According to a translated version of the announcement, the regulations impose “obligations regarding registration, cybersecurity, asset custody, money laundering prevention, and risk disclosure” on VASPs operating in the country.The stated goal of the rules is to guarantee “transparency, stability, and user protection in the crypto ecosystem,” the announcement said.Argentine tax…

Bolivia’s state-owned energy firm YPFB is planning to use cryptocurrency to pay for energy imports, according to a March 13 report from Reuters. The move comes as the South American nation faces a shortage of foreign currency reserves and a dwindling supply of domestic gas production.A spokesperson for YPFB said that a system had been put in place to use cryptocurrency to purchase energy imports after the government approved the use of digital assets to meet the country’s demand. While YPFB has not used the system yet, it plans to do so.The report does not reveal what cryptocurrency will be…

Bitcoin (BTC) has risen back above the 200-day simple moving average ($83,754), indicating that the bulls are attempting a comeback. The failure of the bears to capitalize on the drop below the 200-day SMA shows that selling dries up at lower levels.However, Bitcoin may not be out of the woods yet. Crypto analyst Matthew Hyland said in a video posted to X that Bitcoin needs a weekly close above $89,000 to confirm a bottom. A move above $89,000 could liquidate roughly $1.60 billion in short positions, according to CoinGlass data. If that does not happen, Hyland warns that Bitcoin will…

Bitcoin (BTC) circled $83,000 at the March 14 Wall Street open as traders set out requirements to flip bullish.BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBTC price RSI teases key “bullish divergence”Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD gaining up to 5% on the day before consolidating.A characteristic lack of momentum at the start of the US trading session persisted, with risk assets still wary of macroeconomic and geopolitical surprises, notably in the form of US trade tariffs.Assessing the current status quo on the daily BTC/USD chart, popular trader and analyst Rekt Capital reported increasing odds of a bullish divergence playing…

REX Shares, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider with over $6 billion in assets under management (AUM), launched its Bitcoin (BTC) Corporate Treasury Convertible Bond (BMAX) ETF that invests in the convertible bonds of companies with a BTC corporate reserve strategy.According to the March 14 announcement, the ETF will purchase the convertible notes of companies such as Strategy. Convertible notes are commercial paper that can be converted into equity at a predetermined rate if an investor chooses.Typically, these convertible bonds are purchased by institutional investors, including pension funds, some of which specialize in convertible note investing. Greg King, CEO of REX…

Opinion by: Kadan Stadelmann, chief technology officer, Komodo PlatformThe Crypto Task Force held a press conference in early February 2025. It struck the wrong tone. While the task force gave lip service to regulatory clarity, the goal seemed to placate the crypto industry, not bring about change that empowers individuals. On Jan. 23, the president established a working group for digital assets to propose a federal regulatory framework around issuing and operating digital assets, including stablecoins and a Bitcoin reserve. These goals must be expanded upon, and it seems they are, as the development of a strategic reserve is now underway.…

The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry is breathing a sigh of relief as Congress relaxes reporting obligations, but questions remain about how lawmakers will regulate DeFi.On March 12, the House of Representatives voted to nullify a rule that required DeFi protocols to report gross proceeds from crypto sales, as well as info on taxpayers involved, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The rule, which the IRS issued in December 2024 and wasn’t set to take effect until 2027, was regarded by major industry lobby groups as burdensome and beyond the agency’s authority. The White House has already signaled its support for the bill.…

Today in crypto, a new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Democrat Representative Gerald Connolly has urged the US Treasury to halt any efforts for a US strategic crypto reserve, and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao denied claims in a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that he has been actively seeking a federal pardon from President Trump.US Rep. Byron Donalds to introduce bill codifying Trump’s Bitcoin reserveA new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a…

The cryptocurrency market has faced a significant downturn since the start of 2025, with some investors calling it the most painful cycle in history.Some were disappointed about industry policy changes and the memecoin craze in the United States, while others even speculated about talent leaving the sector for other industries.However, while the current crypto market state might look grim to some, the current cycle is far from being the most brutal on record, and many community members remain bullish.“For those who have been through multiple cycles, this is just part of the process,” Trezor analyst Lucien Bourdon told Cointelegraph.The post-Trump…

Bitcoin (BTC) breached a rising support trendline against gold (XAU), which has been intact for over 12 years, on March 14. XAU/BTC ratio weekly performance chart. Source: TradingView/NorthStarPopular analyst NorthStar says this breakdown could spell the end of Bitcoin’s 12-year bull run if it stays under the gold trendline for even a week or—worse—a month. Is Bitcoin’s bull market over? Let’s take a closer look at BTC’s correlation with gold. Gold hits new record high as Bitcoin’s uptrend coolsThe BTC/XAU ratio breakdown occurred as spot gold rates hit a new record high above $3,000 per ounce on March 14, after rising…

Hong Kong anticipates the continued growth of its fintech ecosystem, with blockchain, digital assets, distributed ledger technology (DLT) and artificial intelligence playing a central role in shaping its future.Hong Kong is home to over 1,100 fintech companies. This includes 175 blockchain application or software firms and 111 digital asset and cryptocurrency companies, which marked 250% and 30% increases, respectively, since 2022, according to the Hong Kong Fintech Ecosystem report by InvestHK, a government department overseeing Foreign Direct Investments.Participants of the Hong Kong Fintech Ecosystem. Source: InvestHKExploring deeper fintech revenue streamsThe expansive growth of Hong Kong’s Web3 industry is attributed to…

A new bill set to be introduced in Congress aims to formalize President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a move that could further integrate Bitcoin into the nation’s financial strategy.Trump signed an executive order on March 7 to use Bitcoin (BTC) seized in government criminal cases to establish a national reserve.The legislation, introduced by US Representative Byron Donalds, seeks to ensure the Bitcoin reserve becomes a permanent fixture, preventing future administrations from dismantling it through executive action.Source: Margo Martin“For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto,” Donalds, a Florida Republican, said in a statement to…