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Bitcoin Rally Above $74,000 Fades as Geopolitical Tensions And Profit-Taking Weigh on Crypto Market

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Bitcoin’s brief rally above the $74,000 mark lost momentum on Thursday as renewed geopolitical concerns and profit-taking dampened investor enthusiasm across the cryptocurrency market.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency had surged earlier in the week, reaching a high of $74,500 and breaking through a key resistance level at $71,000, a level that previously acted as a major swing high on February 8 and 15. However, the gains proved short-lived as market sentiment shifted.

By Thursday, Bitcoin had retreated to around $70,000, erasing a portion of its recent gains. Ethereum also followed a similar trajectory, declining to about $2,085. Other major cryptocurrencies, including XRP, Dogecoin, Hyperliquid, and Zcash, fell by more than 2.5% over the past 24 hours as the broader crypto market cooled.

The earlier rally in the cryptocurrency market was largely fueled by reports suggesting that Iran had reached out to the United States to initiate talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The prospect of diplomatic negotiations briefly boosted global risk appetite, encouraging investors to reenter risk assets such as cryptocurrencies.

However, the optimism quickly faded after Iranian officials denied the reports, significantly lowering expectations of a ceasefire. Data from prediction platform Polymarket shows that the odds of a ceasefire occurring in March or April have declined sharply over the past two days.

Further adding to market uncertainty, a report from Politico indicated that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a prolonged conflict that could extend until September. Other reports suggest that U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, are evaluating strategies that could involve supporting Kurdish forces to destabilize Iran, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.

Market analysts say these developments have contributed to renewed caution among investors. According to Joel Kruger of LMAX Group, Bitcoin’s decline reflects a combination of profit-taking after the recent rebound and broader investor caution amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Similarly, Nick Ruck of LVRG Research told Cointelegraph that the recent rally in cryptocurrencies was driven by renewed risk appetite and inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, he noted that the upward momentum quickly encountered resistance as macroeconomic uncertainties resurfaced.

Ruck added that while the rally provided a temporary boost under favorable liquidity conditions, broader bear-market dynamics continue to keep investors cautious. Softer macroeconomic signals, including expectations of a slowdown in U.S. February nonfarm payrolls, could leave digital assets vulnerable to renewed downside pressure.

Analysts also describe Bitcoin’s recent pullback as a “natural pause” following its breakout above $70,000. The move was partly driven by investors closing earlier bearish positions and momentum-driven buying during the rally.

Despite the short-term decline, several fundamental indicators remain supportive for Bitcoin. Institutional demand continues to grow, with corporate treasuries steadily accumulating the cryptocurrency. Notably, Strategy holds more than 568,000 BTC, while a growing number of public companies are also adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets.

On-chain data also indicates that long-term holders are increasingly reluctant to sell. Metrics show that coins held for more than one year now account for a growing share of Bitcoin’s circulating supply, a trend often viewed as a sign of strong investor conviction.

Technical Outlook

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin’s ability to hold above the $70,000 level remains crucial for maintaining bullish momentum.

If the cryptocurrency fails to reclaim and sustain a move above the $72,000 resistance zone, analysts warn that another decline could follow. Immediate support is located near $70,000, which also aligns with the 50% Fibonacci retracement level of the upward move from the $66,164 swing low to the $74,062 high.

The next key support level lies around $69,000, followed by stronger support near the $68,500 region. Should selling pressure intensify, Bitcoin could fall toward the $68,000 level in the near term.

Outlook

Analysts note that as long as institutional demand remains steady and Bitcoin continues to trade above critical support levels, the broader long-term outlook for the cryptocurrency remains cautiously optimistic despite near-term volatility.

Jiuzi Holdings Acquires 10,000BTC Valued Around $1 Billion

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The Chinese EV company in question is Jiuzi Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN), a Hangzhou-based firm involved in new energy vehicle (NEV) retail, franchising, and charging infrastructure in lower-tier Chinese cities.

Recent developments show two key phases to their Bitcoin strategy: In September 2025, Jiuzi’s board approved a “Crypto Asset Investment Policy” authorizing up to $1 billion in deployments into digital assets. This initially focused on Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and BNB, with plans for a dedicated risk committee and professional custody (no self-custody).

The move was positioned as a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainties and to preserve long-term shareholder value, following the appointment of crypto-savvy COO Dr. Doug Buerger. Jiuzi announced a groundbreaking strategic transaction: a proposed equity-for-Bitcoin swap to acquire 10,000 BTC valued at approximately $1 billion at the time from a global digital asset investor.

In exchange, the investor receives equity in Jiuzi worth about $1 billion. This deal aims to establish a long-term partnership in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The transaction remains subject to final agreements and approvals.

This positions Jiuzi among companies following a corporate Bitcoin treasury strategy similar to MicroStrategy, with the latest move drawing significant attention in crypto circles for signaling growing institutional and corporate adoption—especially from a China-linked though U.S.-listed EV player amid global economic pressures.

Note that Jiuzi is not a major EV giant like BYD, NIO, or XPeng—it’s a smaller, Nasdaq-listed operator in the NEV space. No evidence points to those larger firms making similar Bitcoin moves. Corporate crypto treasuries remain volatile and subject to regulatory and market risks.

Strategy views Bitcoin as “digital gold” or the ultimate store of value—superior to cash, which loses purchasing power due to inflation. Saylor has repeatedly emphasized that Bitcoin is “hard money” and a hedge against fiat debasement. The strategy shifted the company from a traditional business intelligence software firm to the world’s largest publicly traded Bitcoin treasury company.

Buy and hold BTC indefinitely, with no exit strategy or profit-taking. Saylor has stated the plan is to continue adding Bitcoin every quarter, framing it as long-term conviction rather than speculation. The goal is to increase BTC exposure per outstanding share, turning the company into a leveraged Bitcoin proxy.

Prediction markets and Saylor’s statements show near-zero probability of selling holdings through 2026; only ~16% odds by year-end in some trackers. The company treats BTC as a permanent, non-negotiable reserve. This has inspired other corporates like the recent Jiuzi Holdings announcement to explore similar treasury allocations.

Strategy funds purchases through creative capital raises, avoiding direct operational cash depletion:Issuing Class A common stock (MSTR). Selling perpetual preferred equity like STRC, which offers high dividends recently raised to 11.5% and ties trading volume directly to BTC buys. Convertible debt and other instruments in the past.

This creates a “flywheel”: Raise capital at a premium ? Buy BTC ? Boost perceived value ? Attract more investment. Recent examples include using STRC proceeds for large single-day buys (e.g., ~1,000 BTC implied on March 4, 2026). Added 3,015 BTC for ~$204 million (average ~$67,700) between late February and early March 2026.

Unrealized P/L: Slightly underwater at times due to volatility, but the strategy focuses on long-term appreciation. The company tracks purchases transparently on its site, with 101 reported buys to date. Strategy’s accumulation has driven institutional adoption, signaling corporate conviction.

Saylor’s mantra (“There isn’t enough Bitcoin for everyone”) highlights scarcity, with locked and lost coins reducing effective supply. MSTR stock acts as a high-beta Bitcoin play, amplifying gains and losses; massive rallies in bull markets, drawdowns in bears.

Heavy reliance on equity dilution, debt and leverage, and BTC volatility. Critics call it speculative or a “leveraged bet,” with share dilution pressuring the stock at times. Regulatory and market shifts could impact.

Strategy’s approach is a bold, conviction-driven experiment in corporate finance—treating Bitcoin as the apex asset for treasury management. It has redefined how companies view balance sheets and continues aggressive buying amid 2026’s market dynamics.

Intercontinental Exchange Invests in OKX to Bridge TradFi with Blockchain Technology

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Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), has made a strategic investment in the cryptocurrency exchange OKX. This deal values OKX at $25 billion and includes ICE taking a seat on OKX’s board.

The partnership aims to bridge traditional markets with blockchain technology. Key elements include: ICE licensing OKX’s spot crypto prices to support new U.S.-regulated futures products. OKX providing its users with access to ICE’s U.S. futures markets and NYSE-listed tokenized assets and equities with launches planned for later in 2026.

A shared focus on expanding tokenized securities, on-chain infrastructure, and bringing regulated traditional assets to a broader crypto audience. This move highlights growing Wall Street interest in digital assets, with ICE’s Jeffrey C. Sprecher emphasizing the potential to connect NYSE/ICE markets to OKX’s massive global user base (over 120 million users).In tandem with (or closely following) this announcement, OKX has launched USDT-margined perpetual futures (perps) on select U.S. equities and indices.

These contracts allow traders to gain leveraged exposure to stock price movements 24/7 directly within their crypto accounts, without needing a traditional brokerage. Initial listings rolled out starting March 4, 2026 include major names like: NVDA (Nvidia), AAPL (Apple), MSFT (Microsoft), META (Meta), GOOGL (Alphabet/Google), MU (Micron), SNDK (SanDisk), Plus index trackers: SPY (S&P 500 ETF) and QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF).

Leverage ranges from 0.01x to 5x, with all contracts settled in USDT stablecoin and available via OKX’s web, app, and API in supported jurisdictions. This combination of institutional backing from a NYSE parent and expanded equity derivatives on a major crypto platform signals accelerating mainstream integration of crypto and traditional markets.

OKB has seen significant price surges (reports of +38%) in response to the news. This isn’t just hype—it’s structural convergence with real implications across multiple layers. A minority stake from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)—owner of the NYSE—plus an ICE board seat, signals strong institutional endorsement.

OKX, already serving over 120 million users, gains credibility, regulatory pathways, and infrastructure ties that could accelerate user onboarding, product expansion, and volume. OKB token surge reflects market excitement over the deal’s long-term value accrual to the ecosystem.

This positions OKX as a leader in the “all-in-one” multi-asset platform narrative, blending crypto spot and derivatives with traditional equity exposure. No traditional brokerage needed: Eliminates KYC hurdles, separate accounts, or market-hour restrictions for crypto users—ideal for global, always-on trading.

This could drive higher volumes on OKX’s Pro suite and attract equity-focused traders into crypto. The partnership enables ICE to license OKX’s spot crypto prices for new U.S.-regulated futures products, while OKX users gain planned access (H2 2026) to NYSE-listed tokenized equities and ICE futures markets.

Wall Street giants are no longer observing—they’re investing in blockchain infrastructure for custody, settlement, and capital formation. This accelerates tokenized securities (real-world assets/RWAs), potentially bringing trillions in traditional assets on-chain.

Regulatory scrutiny, execution timelines, and potential fragmentation if other platforms respond aggressively. This deal underscores that barriers between Wall Street and blockchain are dissolving rapidly. It could boost overall crypto market sentiment, liquidity, and legitimacy—especially amid pro-crypto regulatory momentum.

Equity perps cater to crypto traders already using tech stocks (NVDA, etc.) as macro proxies for AI/decentralized compute trends. Combined with index exposure (SPY/QQQ), it enables seamless cross-asset strategies. These are synthetic derivatives (no actual share ownership, dividends, or voting rights), so they amplify volatility rather than replace traditional equities. Over-leveraged trading could increase systemic risks if markets turn.

This is a watershed moment—not just for OKX, but for the entire industry. It points to 2026 as potentially “the year of tokenized equities and hybrid derivatives,” with faster mainstream integration than many expected. Watch for H2 2026 launches of tokenized NYSE assets on OKX, ICE’s new futures tied to crypto data, and how competitors react.

Oura Acquires Gesture-control AI startup Doublepoint to Accelerate Next-generation Wearable Experiences

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Wearable technology company Oura has acquired Finnish startup Doublepoint in a move that signals the next stage of competition in the fast-growing smart ring market, where companies are racing to combine biometric monitoring with more intuitive forms of human-computer interaction.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition centers on Doublepoint’s technology, which enables users to control wearable devices through subtle hand gestures, powered by artificial intelligence and biometric sensing. By integrating the system into its rings, Oura hopes to expand beyond health tracking into what it describes as “ambient” computing — devices that understand user intent and respond without requiring screens or direct commands.

In a statement announcing the deal, Oura said Doublepoint’s technology allows devices to interpret small hand movements, enabling faster and more natural interactions across different interfaces. When combined with Oura’s continuous biometric sensing platform, the company believes gesture recognition could unlock new features that operate quietly in the background and simplify everyday tasks.

The move comes amid a broader shift underway in the wearable sector, where companies are increasingly exploring multimodal interfaces — combining voice, gestures, and biometric signals — to make devices more responsive while reducing reliance on smartphones. Oura said it expects the next generation of wearable AI to be driven by these types of interactions, and views Doublepoint’s technology as key to accelerating that vision.

The acquisition also strengthens Oura’s engineering base. The company will absorb Doublepoint’s Helsinki-based team, including its four founders, who will work on building AI-driven experiences for the platform. Oura CEO Tom Hale said the deal expands the company’s technical capabilities while reinforcing its commitment to Finland as a hub for product development.

“As we continue to build the next era of Oura, strategic acquisitions play a key role in accelerating our growth and expanding what our devices and platform can do,” Hale said.

The deal comes as the smart ring segment moves from a niche category into one of the fastest-growing parts of the broader wearable market. Research firm IDC reported that global smart ring shipments jumped nearly 51% in 2025, with Oura maintaining a leading position in the category.

The company’s growth trajectory underscores that expansion. Oura has sold about 5.5 million rings to date, more than doubling from the 2.5 million devices it reported in June 2024. The company was valued at roughly $11 billion in its latest funding round, and forecasts sales could exceed $1.5 billion in 2026.

Smart rings have gained traction partly because they provide continuous health tracking in a smaller and less intrusive form factor than smartwatches. Oura’s rings measure metrics such as heart rate variability, sleep quality, body temperature, and activity levels, and are widely used by athletes, health-conscious consumers, and increasingly by healthcare researchers studying sleep and recovery patterns.

Yet as the category grows, competition is intensifying. Major technology companies and consumer electronics brands have started exploring the segment, attracted by rising demand for health-focused wearables and the potential for rings to become hubs for ambient computing.

Against that backdrop, gesture control technology could offer a strategic advantage. Unlike traditional wearable interfaces that rely heavily on smartphone apps, gesture recognition could allow users to interact with devices more discreetly. For example, subtle finger or hand movements could be used to control music, trigger smart home devices, or interact with augmented reality systems without touching a screen.

The concept aligns with the tech industry’s push toward what many companies call “ambient AI” — systems that anticipate needs and operate quietly in the background rather than requiring direct commands.

For Oura, integrating gesture recognition with its existing biometric platform could allow the ring to detect not just health signals but also physical movements that signal user intent. That combination could create a more context-aware device capable of linking health data with everyday digital interactions.

The acquisition also fits into a pattern of targeted technology purchases by the company. Doublepoint marks Oura’s fourth acquisition as it expands beyond core hardware into data science and platform capabilities. Previous deals included the purchase of Sparta Science, metabolic health company Veri, and digital identity platform Proxy.

Those acquisitions indicate a broader ambition to transform Oura from a single-device company into a larger health and wearable technology platform built around continuous sensing, analytics, and AI-driven insights.

Analysts say the integration of gesture recognition could also position Oura for future integration with emerging technologies such as augmented reality glasses, spatial computing systems, and smart home ecosystems. In those environments, wearables that can detect subtle physical signals may become key interfaces for interacting with digital environments.

If that vision materializes, devices like smart rings could evolve from passive health trackers into active control hubs for a wide range of connected technologies.

Is BlockDAG the Biggest Crypto Launch Ever? Experts Predict a Path to a $1.2B Market Valuation!

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Many crypto projects promise huge results during presales but fail to deliver once trading begins. BlockDAG is showing the opposite. BDAG is now trading on exchanges, and the early market data is matching the expectations that surrounded the most successful presale the crypto industry has ever seen. Trading activity is already higher than what Kaspa and Solana recorded in their early days.

Staking participation is also ahead of where Solana started during its first phase. Short term price targets around $0.20 are now being discussed across the market, with $0.40 and $0.50 seen as the next steps that could follow. Analysts also view a top 50 global market cap above $1.2 billion as the structural level the project is moving toward.

Major Tier 1 US exchange listings have not happened yet. The presale created the foundation, the launch has started the market phase, and the first trading data is reinforcing the projections analysts made before BDAG went live.

What The Presale Suggested And What The Launch Is Revealing

BlockDAG’s presale broke records across several categories. Participation levels, institutional interest, community growth, and exchange readiness all surpassed previous crypto presales.

Because of this strong data, analysts created projections for the period after launch. These projections covered expected price ranges, market cap levels, trading activity, and staking growth. The presale gave analysts the evidence they needed. The launch is now showing whether those expectations were realistic.

So far, the numbers suggest they were. Trading volumes reported from the first BDAG sessions on centralized and decentralized exchanges are already higher than the early numbers seen with Kaspa and Solana.

Staking activity is also stronger than what Solana saw in its early stage, which reduces circulating supply and supports price strength. The $0.20 target is already within reach based on the current trading level. After that, $0.40 and $0.50 are the next price areas analysts are watching. The presale described a specific scenario. The launch is now proving it.

Price Targets Are Turning Into Active Market Levels

Before BDAG started trading, the price levels analysts discussed were simply projections. They were based on presale performance, institutional demand signals, and market cap modeling.

Now that BDAG is active in the open market, those numbers are becoming live targets rather than distant predictions. The first level being watched is $0.20. After that, analysts are focusing on $0.40 and then $0.50 as the next possible steps.

The movement toward these levels is supported by the same forces that were visible during the presale period. Demand from a very large participant base, buying from institutions that confirmed interest before launch, and a staking system that removes tokens from circulation all contribute to price pressure.

Institutional models have long suggested that a top 50 global ranking with a market cap above $1.2 billion is the logical structural floor. That idea is no longer theoretical. It has now become a real destination that the market is moving toward.

The Launch Data That Is Starting To Appear

As BDAG trading continues, the information coming from the market is strengthening the projections that were made before launch. Several key indicators are being watched closely.

  • Short term price targets include $0.20 in the near future, followed by $0.40 and $0.50, which analysts are tracking as the next potential levels.
  • Trading volume reports from exchanges and decentralized platforms show activity already surpassing the early days of Kaspa and Solana.
  • Staking participation is currently ahead of the levels Solana saw during its first stage, which lowers circulating supply and adds support to price stability.
  • Market cap expectations point toward the $1.2 billion level, a range that would place BDAG among the top 50 crypto assets globally.
  • Tier 1 US exchange listings are still pending and represent the largest remaining liquidity event on the roadmap.
  • Return potential after launch has led some analysts to discuss the possibility of 100x gains from the current starting price.

All of these signals were identified during the presale stage. Now the live market is beginning to confirm them.

US Exchange Listings And The Next Validation Stage

The first trading sessions have supported the expectations built during the presale. The next major stage will come from Tier 1 exchange listings, including large regulated platforms in the United States. These listings have not taken place yet, which means the biggest catalyst for BDAG price expansion is still waiting to arrive. When US retail and institutional investors gain direct exchange access, the total demand pool could increase dramatically beyond the activity seen so far.

This future step is the reason some analysts are discussing the possibility of 100x returns after launch. The presale validated early interest. The launch validated the presale. Upcoming Tier 1 listings could validate the entire growth model.

Each step in BlockDAG’s rollout has been designed to build on the previous stage, and the data available today suggests the strategy is working exactly as planned. The largest crypto launch in history has begun, but its full validation process is still unfolding.

Summing Up

BlockDAG’s launch is performing exactly the way the most successful presale in crypto history suggested it would. BDAG is trading live, and early volume is already exceeding what Kaspa and Solana experienced during their first market stages. Staking activity is ahead of early Solana levels, while the price levels of $0.20, $0.40, and $0.50 are now seen as active market targets instead of early projections.

A market cap above $1.2 billion is the structural level analysts expect as the project moves toward the top 50 global rankings. Major Tier 1 US exchange listings are still ahead and represent the biggest remaining catalyst in the roadmap. Analysts are already exploring scenarios where the project could reach returns of 100x or more from the current level.

The launch phase is validating those expectations step by step. Every new metric coming from the live market continues to support the same direction.

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu