This article summarizes cryptocurrency news as of March 25, 2026, focusing on the latest Bitcoin updates, Ethereum upgrades, Dogecoin trends, real-time crypto prices, and price forecasts. Major Web3 events today include:
- This Friday, crypto options settle quarterly, BTC options worth $14.16 billion
This Friday (March 28), the crypto options market will undergo quarterly settlement, marking the expiration date for the largest current positions. BTC options are valued at approximately $14.16 billion, with a maximum pain point at $75,000; ETH options are worth about $2.2 billion, with a maximum pain point at $2,350.
- Ripple pilots RLUSD stablecoin in MAS’s BLOOM sandbox in Singapore
According to CoinDesk, Ripple is testing its RLUSD stablecoin within the MAS’s BLOOM sandbox in Singapore. The pilot, in collaboration with supply chain company Unloq, will test automated cross-border trade payments triggered by goods verification on the XRP Ledger.
- Pump.fun launched with creator fee adjustment limited to once, trading volume drops sharply
Memecoin issuance platform Pump.fun updated its creator fee distribution mechanism, now allowing token issuers to change their fee receiving method only once after launch. Co-founder Alon Cohen stated on X that this aims to prevent fee redirection abuse or market manipulation, with configurations locked after the change.
This update continues platform reforms earlier this year. In January, Pump.fun adjusted multi-wallet distribution and post-launch control mechanisms to improve transparency and tie rewards more closely to trader activity. The subsequent “Cashback Coins” also require creators to set fee allocations at launch, which cannot be changed later. This update further restricts creators from adjusting recipient wallets after launch.
Community reactions are mixed. Some users believe this change may not significantly improve overall trading dynamics, calling its effect “a drop in the bucket,” but at least it shows the team’s awareness of trust issues.
Platform activity and revenue are declining. Data from DefiLlama shows Pump.fun’s January 2026 revenue was about $31.8 million, down roughly 75% from $148 million in January 2025; February revenue was $25 million, down 66%. Trading volume also plummeted—from over $11.6 billion in January 2025 to about $2.1 billion in January 2026, an 81% drop; February’s volume was about $1.91 billion, down 68% year-over-year.
This update indicates Pump.fun’s attempt to enhance transparency and fairness through limiting fee adjustment frequency, but it also reflects ongoing pressure on trading volume and fee revenue. Incentive structures for creators and traders still need further optimization to address the challenges of declining activity.
- Robinhood announces $1.5 billion share repurchase plan, stock down 39% in 2026
Robinhood Markets’ board approved a $1.5 billion share repurchase plan on March 24, aiming to boost shareholder confidence and optimize capital returns. The plan adds over $1.1 billion in repurchase capacity and is set to start in Q1 2026, lasting about three years, with no official deadline.
CFO Shiv Verma said this authorization reflects management’s confidence in the company’s product lineup and long-term growth potential. He noted Robinhood has the potential to be a generational platform, with steady capital returns and increased shareholder value.
Previously, Robinhood executed $1 billion and $500 million buybacks in May 2024 and April 2025, respectively. As of March 20, 2025, the company had repurchased over 25 million Class A shares at an average price of about $45. The new buyback will further expand capital return efforts.
At the time of this announcement, Robinhood’s stock had already fallen sharply. After reaching a record high in October 2025, HOOD declined over 50%, and in 2026 alone, the stock dropped about 39%, trading at $69. Analysts suggest the buyback may help ease market pressure, but short-term prices remain influenced by market sentiment and macro factors.
Overall, Robinhood’s buyback plan is both a capital return to shareholders and a sign of management’s confidence in the company’s future. Over the next three years, as buybacks are implemented, this move could support the stock price and boost investor confidence, reflecting a strategic effort to stabilize in volatile markets.
- Lido releases 2025 annual report: total revenue down 18.2% YoY, ETH staking market share at 24.12%
Lido published the GOOSE-2025 & EGGs-2025 annual reports. The report shows that in 2025, Lido faced challenges such as APR compression in Ethereum staking, funds flowing out from Simple LST to exchanges and institutional staking, and increased competition, resulting in an 18.2% YoY decline in total revenue (a 17.4% decrease in ETH terms). Its market share in ETH staking is 24.12%. The report also announced leadership adjustments and stated that in 2026, the focus will remain on three main areas: scaling stETH product line, completing validator market development, and pushing LDO incentives under treasury surplus constraints.
- Kalshi launches “Report Insider Trading” feature amid increased market regulation
The prediction market platform Kalshi, valued at $22 billion, recently introduced a “Report Insider Trading” button, allowing users to directly report potential violations below relevant markets. This move is part of Kalshi’s efforts to strengthen compliance and trading oversight, along with new tools to restrict betting by political candidates, athletes, and referees to prevent conflicts of interest and market manipulation.
CEO Tariq Mansour said, “There’s no perfect screening system, but we hope the reporting feature enables traders to actively help maintain market integrity.” This comes as Washington lawmakers increase regulation pressure on prediction markets. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff proposed the “Prediction Market Gambling Ban,” which prohibits betting contracts related to sports, and Republican Senator John Curtis co-introduced it. Schiff noted these contracts are available in all 50 states and pose legal issues.
This year, lawmakers introduced six bills regulating prediction markets, including the “Death Bet Act,” aiming to ban contracts related to war, terrorism, assassination, and personal death. Previously, Kalshi and Polymarket shut down markets related to Iran military conflict, drawing industry attention. Rutgers University statistician Harry Crane said similar regulatory logic applies to oil, stocks, futures, and other financial products related to war.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig emphasized that prediction market regulation falls under CFTC jurisdiction, and platforms must maintain transparency and integrity. As the industry develops, companies like Kalshi are improving compliance through technology and user participation, establishing reliable risk controls and regulatory frameworks for digital assets, crypto derivatives, and prediction markets.
- Elon Musk suspends X platform creator revenue reforms, maintaining stable crypto incentives
Elon Musk has paused the planned reforms to the revenue sharing mechanism for X platform creators, after international creators warned that the new policy would harm legitimate English-language accounts. The reform aimed to adjust exposure based on creator location to limit foreign accounts targeting US and Japanese audiences. Product lead Nikita Beal announced the update would take effect Thursday, but after strong opposition, the policy was immediately shelved.
European, African, and some small-country creators expressed concerns that the policy would reduce income for global English content. French creator Deborah said about 43% of her audience is in the US, and the policy would significantly cut her earnings. A Portuguese user noted limited local audience and difficulty generating substantial income. Beal responded that the platform welcomes local content but will not pay extra for political commentary targeting the US abroad.
For crypto content creators, this pause is significant. Most Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and DeFi content on X is in English and reaches a global audience. Currently, the platform pays based on views of verified quality content, averaging about $8.50 per million views, with the 2026 revenue pool doubled. If the weighting mechanism is implemented, creators from markets like Kenya, Nigeria, and Portugal with large US audiences could see income decline. Musk’s decision ensures existing incentive structures remain unchanged.
X said it will continue fighting spam and organized engagement, and may introduce more precise policies to distinguish bad actors from legitimate creators. Overall, this policy suspension is unlikely to impact crypto content incentives or market prices directly, ensuring continued support for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and DeFi analysis content worldwide.
- Gold ETF worth $181 billion reveals investment surge; gold rebounds far beyond March’s plunge
Despite gold prices plunging over 13.6% in March, they rebounded above $4,550 per ounce on Wednesday, signaling renewed market confidence. News of efforts to end Iran conflict eased investor fears, while oil prices fell to $86.72 per barrel.
Demand for gold ETFs remains strong, highlighting investor focus on long-term value. Data shows SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) assets under management rose to about $181 billion, nearing all-time highs and doubling within a year. This indicates that despite short-term volatility, interest in gold remains high. Kobeissi Letter reports retail investors have bought over $70 billion worth of gold ETFs since Q2 2025, with assets under management increasing over 500% in eight years.
GLD’s gold holdings also increased, now about 1,098 tons—the highest since April 2022—and up about 274 tons since March 2024. Still, this is below the December 2012 record of 1,351 tons, suggesting room for further accumulation if market sentiment improves.
Recent geopolitical tensions had pressured gold sales, but ETF holdings and assets under management show long-term bullishness. BeInCrypto notes that even during March’s market turmoil, GLD demonstrated resilience, reflecting investor preference for safe-haven assets like gold ETFs.
Overall, the $181 billion in GLD assets tells a different story from March’s sharp decline: short-term price swings aside, long-term demand remains robust, providing a stable signal for safe assets beyond cryptocurrencies like BTC.
- CFTC establishes Innovation Working Group to regulate crypto and AI markets
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has formed an Innovation Working Group to oversee cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, and prediction markets. Chair Michael Selig said at the New York Digital Asset Summit that the group will draft regulatory guidelines and work closely with federal agencies to establish clear rules, ensuring U.S. market competitiveness amid rapid technological development.
Selig emphasized that the group will provide direct channels for innovators to communicate with regulators, share ideas, and receive policy feedback, promoting responsible innovation domestically and preventing capital and technology from flowing to less regulated regions. Clear rules will help maintain market order in digital assets and AI-driven financial tools while supporting innovation.
The CFTC is coordinating with the SEC and issuing joint guidance reaffirming that most cryptocurrencies are not securities, and regulating derivatives like prediction markets. The group will also collaborate with the CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee, which includes over 30 executives from finance and tech sectors, to enhance institutional engagement in digital assets. Some states express concern over prediction market regulation, fearing conflicts with local gambling laws.
Additionally, the White House released a National AI Framework on March 20, emphasizing streamlined regulation and prioritizing consumer protection, workforce safety, and infrastructure. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the foundation will invest at least $1 billion over the next year to foster innovation and address systemic AI risks. He noted AI can advance science but also pose economic upheaval, biosecurity threats, and unpredictable risks requiring societal cooperation.
The establishment of this Innovation Working Group signals the U.S.’s accelerated efforts in crypto and AI regulation, providing institutional safeguards and boosting global investor confidence in digital assets and AI-powered financial products.
- Ethereum Quantum Upgrade roadmap revealed: $260 billion network aims for 2029, comprehensive hard forks for defense
The Ethereum Foundation released its latest quantum-resistant roadmap, aiming to complete key protocol upgrades by 2029 to counter the potential impact of quantum computing on blockchain cryptography. With the current network valued at about $2.6 trillion, this proactive plan is seen as critical for long-term security.
The plan involves multiple hard forks to gradually introduce quantum resistance. The first “I” and “J” forks will support quantum-safe public keys and optimize verification costs, likely included in the Hegota upgrade planned for this year. Subsequent “L” fork will use zero-knowledge proofs to reconstruct state expressions, while “M” will focus on strengthening layer-two security.
The foundation warns that quantum computing could eventually break widely used public key cryptography, threatening account ownership, transaction signatures, and consensus. Although immediate risks are limited, the window for technological advancement is closing, and preparations must be completed before threats materialize.
Quantum security concerns also affect Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Researcher Pierre-Luc Dallaire-Demers predicted that quantum computers could crack current encryption within years. Developers are working on BIP360 proposals to enhance Bitcoin’s quantum resistance.
Institutions have also incorporated this risk into assessments. BlackRock’s Bitcoin-related products mention the potential threat posed by quantum computing. Industry consensus suggests that once quantum power surpasses a critical threshold, traditional cryptography could face systemic challenges.
The Ethereum Foundation states that the first phase of protocol upgrades should be completed by 2029, but full execution layer migration will take longer. As testnets roll out, quantum defense tech will enter practical validation, accelerating the crypto ecosystem’s transition into the “post-quantum era.”
- Fluid repaid approximately $70 million USR-related debt, remaining expected to settle in days
Fluid announced the latest update on the Resolv security incident. About $70 million of USR-related debt on BNB and Plasma chains has been repaid, with remaining amounts expected to be settled in the coming days. A governance proposal has been issued to transfer the remaining USR debt positions to the team’s multi-signature wallet for further liquidation with Resolv Labs. Fluid states that compensation plans for affected users will be announced soon, and the platform’s market operations remain normal with user funds secure.
- Meta launches $900 billion valuation stock option plan, grants options to executives for the first time since IPO
Meta recently announced a new stock option incentive plan, where executives can only realize full value if the company surpasses a $900 billion market cap before 2031—a 500% increase from current approximately $150 billion. This is Meta’s first stock option grant to top executives since its 2012 IPO. The plan covers six key executives: CTO Andrew Bosworth, Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, COO Javier Olivan, CFO Susan Li, General Counsel C.J. Mahoney, and Vice Chair Dina Powell McCormick, excluding CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Options are structured with multiple exercise thresholds: the lowest at $1,116.08 (an 88% increase from current, corresponding to a $2.82 trillion market cap), and the highest at $3,727.12 (over $9 trillion). Meta also increased some RSU grants for executives.
A Meta spokesperson called this a “big gamble,” stating, “Only if Meta achieves huge success and all shareholders benefit will these compensations be realized.” By comparison, Tesla’s Elon Musk compensation plan last fall valued at up to $1 trillion, requiring the market cap to grow from $1.2 trillion to $8.5 trillion over ten years. Meta’s plan demands a similar increase but over half the time.
The AI talent race is driving up Meta’s stock compensation costs: in 2025, cash expenses related to employee stock rewards consumed 96% of free cash flow, about $42 billion; of the 40 million shares repurchased that year, 90% aimed to offset dilution from stock awards.
- Tether signs with Big Four auditors for largest USDT reserve audit in history
Stablecoin giant Tether announced it has contracted one of the Big Four accounting firms to conduct a comprehensive audit of its USDT reserves, marking the largest such audit in financial market history. Tether said the audit covers digital assets, traditional reserves, and tokenized liabilities, representing a milestone for the company and modern finance.
Headquartered in San Salvador, Tether has expanded into the U.S. market and launched USAT for U.S. users in January. With a market cap of $184 billion, USDT dominates the stablecoin market, holding roughly half of the total. Despite longstanding questions about reserve transparency, Tether has published quarterly reports since 2022, though with limited depth. CEO Paolo Ardoino said previous concerns from Big Four firms about reputational risk led to hesitation, but this full audit is crucial for trust and infrastructure resilience for hundreds of millions of users and businesses relying on USDT.
As of December last year, Tether held $122 billion in U.S. Treasuries, surpassing reserves of countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. With the USGenius Act promoting tokenized finance and stablecoins becoming mainstream, this audit could set new standards for industry transparency and compliance.
This announcement marks a key step toward transparency for USDT reserves and could boost confidence and mainstream adoption of stablecoins.
- Circle’s stock plunges 20% amid earnings ban, new regulation may create USDC regulatory moat
On March 24, Circle Internet Group’s (CRCL) stock fell about 20%, losing $4.6 billion in market value, after the draft “Clarity Act” proposed banning passive yield on stablecoins. The news sparked panic, while Tether announced it would undergo audits by Big Four firms, and 16 USDC corporate wallets were frozen, increasing market uncertainty.
The Clarity Act explicitly bans platforms, exchanges, and brokers from paying yields to stablecoin holders, though rewards for trading or governance are allowed. SEC, CFTC, and Treasury have 12 months to draft anti-avoidance rules. Previously, 96% of Circle’s revenue came from USDC reserve interest, which the bill does not target, allowing Circle to retain its core income. Analyst Simon Dedic said the bill effectively creates a regulatory moat for Circle, strengthening its business model.
Market reactions were sharp. Mizuho Securities analyst Dan Dolev said the ban might limit Circle’s applications short-term, and Coinbase’s stock also fell about 10% due to declining stablecoin-related income. However, in the long run, removing passive yield expectations could stabilize USDC’s centralized operation.
Meanwhile, Tether CFO Simon McWilliams said the company’s upcoming full independent audit will cover assets, liabilities, and internal controls, further enhancing transparency. On-chain investigator ZachXBT reported that Circle froze 16 hot wallets linked to exchanges, casinos, and FX firms, indicating increased risk controls.
The Clarity Act is not yet law; the Senate Banking Committee is expected to review it in late April. DeFi protocols are also adjusting reward mechanisms to comply. USDC’s market performance after removing passive yields will determine whether the stock’s volatility is a short-term reaction or a long-term shift.
- Irish authorities crack encrypted Bitcoin wallets of convicted drug trafficker, seize 500 BTC worth $35 million
The Irish Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), with support from Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, announced this morning that it successfully cracked a Bitcoin wallet previously believed to have lost its private keys forever, seizing 500 BTC valued at over $35 million.
The wallet belonged to convicted drug trafficker Clifton Collins. Between 2011 and 2012, Collins used drug proceeds to buy about 6,000 BTC, stored across 12 wallets, with the private keys printed on a sheet of A4 paper hidden inside a fishing rod case at his residence. After Collins was arrested and jailed in 2017, his landlord discarded the belongings, and the private key was lost.
On-chain intelligence platform Arkham shows that the 500 BTC transferred have moved into a centralized exchange address labeled “Clifton Collins: Lost Keys.” Arkham’s tracking indicates Collins owns 14 addresses holding about 5,500 BTC, worth over $391 million, with some wallets still unrecovered.
