According to DB News, the DOJ is cleared to sell 69,370 $BTC($6.58B) confiscated from Silk Road.

On March 4, QCP released its daily market analysis, noting: "The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, tightening energy supplies and pushing prices higher. Brent crude is trading at $83 per barrel, while Dutch natural gas (TTF) has jumped 50% to $55. Additionally, refining facilities have been targeted in attacks, and maritime insurance providers have pulled out of the market—despite Washington’s proposed guarantees and a naval escort plan." A chain reaction has now hit the AI and tech sectors. South Korea—highly dependent on energy imports and home to several top semiconductor firms—is under pressure, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) down 20% from its recent high. We expect market volatility to persist. However, if supply disruptions continue, pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz may grow. Notably, Bitcoin has outperformed more mainstream risk assets, a development worth watching that could serve as an early sign of stabilizing market sentiment.

On March 4th, Strike announced the launch of Bitcoin-backed credit lines, enabling users to access liquidity without selling their Bitcoin. The product features low minimum withdrawals (starting at just $1), charges interest only on the actual amount borrowed, and allows for flexible, anytime repayments. The service is currently live in Georgia and Massachusetts, with plans to expand to additional states in the future.

March 4th — Per Cointelegraph, independent analyses from TRM Labs and Chainalysis show Iran’s largest crypto exchange, Nobitex, did not face sustained, user-driven runs after the U.S. strike on Iran. Chain data, however, reveals a temporary spike in activity and increased outflows across major Iranian exchanges. The outlet’s report reviewed Nobitex’s on-chain activity in the days following the February 28 U.S. strike. It found a notable surge in platform activity shortly post-strike, including over $35 million in transfers from hot wallets to cold wallets. TRM noted these moves were likely part of the exchange’s internal fund management — not panic withdrawals by users.

On March 4, crypto reporter Eleanor Terrett tweeted: “Kraken, the U.S.’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, just pulled off an industry first—securing key access to the Federal Reserve. Its banking arm, Kraken Financial, has been approved by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City to open a master account with the Fed. This marks the first time a native crypto firm has gained **limited** direct access to the Fed’s payment system. The approval comes after Kraken filed its application with the Kansas City Fed back in October 2020—five and a half years ago.” The account grants Kraken direct access to the Fed’s payment system but excludes use of the central bank’s lending tools. The company can hold reserves and settle transactions in central bank money, but it cannot issue loans, access the discount window, or operate as a traditional commercial bank. Sources note Kraken’s approval is viewed as a “pilot” to test this new model. The decision carries historical weight for the cry

On March 4, Tether Investments announced a strategic investment in Eight Sleep—a smart sleep technology firm—at a $1.5 billion valuation. Eight Sleep leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and embedded sensors to deliver personalized sleep insights and enhancement services. The investment aims to bolster Eight Sleep’s capabilities and forge a long-term partnership to co-develop cutting-edge AI-powered health technology built on Tether’s QVAC architecture.

March 4th — Per official sources, Binance Wallet has announced that its airdrop distribution will kick off at 8:00 PM today. Users who hold at least 240 Alpha points may claim the tokens on a first-come, first-served basis until the airdrop pool is exhausted or the event concludes.