On Wednesday, Bitcoin’s price rebounded above $74,000, with $683.3 million flowing into U.S. spot BTC ETFs this week, suggesting a potential short-term bottom. Analysts are assessing whether this move, alongside recoveries in key altcoins such as ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, DOGE, ADA, BCH, HYPE and LINK, can extend further. Technical charts highlight critical resistance and support zones that could determine if this bounce evolves into a broader trend reversal.

On March 4, Kraken said its Wyoming-chartered bank, Kraken Financial, obtained a Federal Reserve master account with Tier 3 status and an initial one-year, limited-purpose term. The approval lets the firm settle US dollar payments directly on Fed rails, positioning it as a live test of the Fed’s emerging payments-only access framework that could reshape how regulated crypto institutions connect to core US payment services.

Patrick Witt, who leads the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, disputed Jamie Dimon's argument that paying yield on stablecoins should automatically trigger full bank-style regulation, while Donald Trump publicly backed the pro-yield GENIUS Act and urged swift passage of the Clarity Act. Kraken's banking unit obtained a Federal Reserve master account, K33 described bitcoin as deeply oversold despite recent losses, and a Bitcoin Policy Institute study found AI models favor bitcoin for long-term value and stablecoins for payments.

On 4 March 2026, South Korea's Financial Services Commission proposed capping individual and corporate ownership in major crypto exchanges at 15–20%, with limited exemptions up to 34%. Large shareholders at platforms such as Upbit, Bithumb, and Coinone could be required to divest significant stakes over three to six years, while industry groups argue the plan violates property rights and may push businesses abroad. The initiative is part of the Digital Asset Basic Act (Phase 2), which will be reviewed by parliament in early 2026.

U.S. banking trade associations have criticized the Federal Reserve's decision to grant Kraken Financial a limited-purpose master account, arguing it could expose the payment system to risk without traditional bank-level safeguards. The approval has intensified calls for the Fed to finalize and clarify its framework for so-called "skinny" accounts for nontraditional financial institutions. Some crypto industry participants view the move as a significant step toward enabling payment-focused firms that do not rely on conventional deposit-lending models.

On March 4, 2026, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City approved a limited master account for Kraken Financial, giving the crypto-focused bank unit direct access to core payment rails like Fedwire. Kraken can now move U.S. dollars without an intermediary, though it will not receive full bank privileges such as interest on reserves or access to the discount window.

A U.S. banking lobby has objected to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's decision to grant Kraken Financial a limited-purpose master account for an initial one-year term. The group warns the move could increase payment-system risks, set a precedent for crypto-focused institutions and was approved before a broader access framework is finalized.

Crypto exchange MEXC has expanded its tokenized equity lineup through Ondo Finance, adding 17 new onchain stock pairs that trade against Tether and waiving trading fees on them for the first 30 days. A separate announcement this week introduced seven additional tokens linked to US defense and energy companies, with withdrawals for the new assets scheduled to open on March 5. The latest listings build on a tokenized equity product MEXC and Ondo first launched in September 2025.