Hyperliquid has recorded $1.29 billion in trading volume on its oil perpetual futures, placing the product just behind Bitcoin at $3.56 billion and ahead of Ether at $1.24 billion. The surge, a 66.67% jump from the prior day's $720 million, has been driven by a sharp move in oil prices linked to the US-Iran war and disruptions in Middle East energy infrastructure. At the same time, the DEX's broader HIP-3 real-world asset markets and its HYPE token have also seen notable gains.

On March 9, 2026, Strategy Inc. (MSTR) disclosed a Bitcoin purchase worth about $1.28 billion, adding 17,994 BTC acquired between March 2 and March 8. This followed a 22,305 BTC buy on January 20, 2026, and brought the firm's total holdings to 738,731 BTC, representing 3.5% of Bitcoin's supply and an aggregate cost of roughly $56.04 billion. MSTR shares rose over 2% in the past five days to around $137 as the company accelerated accumulation amid debate over unrealized losses and expectations that BTC may be near its bear market bottom.

On March 6, the Florida Senate unanimously passed Bill 314, creating a detailed regulatory framework for payment stablecoins and classifying issuers as Money Services Businesses. The measure requires licensing, KYC, transaction reporting above $10,000, 1:1 reserves, and federal oversight once valuation reaches $10 billion, and now awaits Governor Ron DeSantis' signature.

On March 6, 2026, Bitcoin faced renewed selling pressure from short-term holders who transferred 27,000 BTC, worth about $1.86 billion, to exchanges in profit. This wave of profit-taking was the largest since January 14, 2026, a period that preceded a 36% decline in BTC's price. Analysts point to worsening macro conditions, ETF outflows, falling open interest, and a new death cross between the 50 and 200 SMA as signals that Bitcoin may be entering the final downward phase of its current cycle unless it can reclaim the $94,000 level.

In 2026, the FBI arrested John "Lick" Daghita in the Caribbean on accusations that he diverted $46 million in seized crypto assets from US Marshals Service wallets via his role at Command Services & Support, Inc. Investigations tied his addresses to funds allegedly siphoned in 2024 after he reportedly boasted about the theft to another offender. The case emerges amid broader crypto crime trends, including billions in stolen assets, large exchange hacks and growing threats from malware and operational security failures.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Ethereum's price climbed more than 3% to a local high near $2,090 before trading around $2,041, while its market capitalization stood at roughly $245.9 billion. The move followed a broader crypto rebound led by Bitcoin after a policy push related to stablecoin yields, with open interest and funding rates signaling renewed bullish sentiment. A trading expert noted that a break above $2,140 could open the way toward $2,500, while another rejection might send ETH closer to $1,820 amid recent net outflows from U.S. spot ETH ETFs.

In February 2026, long-term Bitcoin holders increased their positions by 212,000 BTC while the asset traded in a sideways range, following a significant capitulation phase in late 2025. Institutional demand also picked up, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recording a weekly net inflow of $787 million even as they closed the month with a $206 million net outflow. Strategy Inc. reported several Bitcoin purchases in February and early March, lifting its holdings to 720,737 BTC. Technical indicators, including a bullish MACD crossover and a 5.3% weekly price advance to around $67,325, point to a potential move toward $70,000.

Tom Lee, co-founder and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, told CNBC's Squawk Box that he expects a broad rebound in both crypto and stock markets starting in March 2026. He projected the S&P 500 could climb to 7,700 by year-end and reiterated a Bitcoin target of $200,000–$250,000, alongside an Ethereum rally toward $7,000–$9,000 by early 2026. Lee's outlook, which highlights AI-driven productivity and strong corporate earnings, has drawn skepticism from some social media users who point to his historically bullish calls.

On February 28, Morgan Stanley filed with the OCC for a de novo national trust bank charter, aiming to operate as a regulated crypto custodian and later offer trading and staking. If approved, the bank would join BNY Mellon and Fidelity in custody services while pursuing a self-custody wallet and multiple spot ETF plans.