「Buddy」 partially closes ETH long position, liquidation price is $2105.19

March 19: Crypto reporter Eleanor Terrett posted on social media that following a Senate Republican meeting on crypto market structure (attended by White House Crypto Czar Patrick Witt), Sen. Cynthia Lummis told reporters negotiations on the revenue/reward mechanism are progressing but remain in a “delicate stage.” The current focus, she noted, has shifted from upcoming legislative text to “who needs to be brought on board.” Lummis added: “I think some important ideas were sparked in this meeting. There’s now a path forward I didn’t anticipate when I walked in.” Witt looked somewhat frustrated after the meeting and did not comment. Sen. Tim Scott left with his usual smile but declined to comment, stating he would not take questions from reporters in the hallway.

March 19th — Per HTX market data, Ethereum has fallen below $2100, registering a 3.5% drop over the past 24 hours.

On March 19, U.S. political news outlet Politico reported that the United States will not impose an oil export ban.

March 19 — Per HTX market data, Bitcoin has dropped below $69,000, posting a 3.4% 24-hour decline.

On March 19, Coinglass data shows Coinbase’s Bitcoin Premium Index flipped negative again—currently at -0.0022%—after 5 straight days of positive premiums. U.S. market buying sentiment has improved since February, following 40 consecutive days of negative premiums prior to that. **BlockBeats Note**: The Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index measures the gap between Bitcoin’s price on Coinbase (a major U.S. exchange) and the global market average. It’s a key indicator for tracking U.S. capital flows, institutional investment interest, and shifts in market sentiment. - A **positive premium** (Coinbase price > global average) typically signals: strong U.S. buying pressure, active inflows from institutional/compliant funds, ample USD liquidity, and bullish investor sentiment. - A **negative premium** (Coinbase price < global average) often reflects: significant U.S. selling pressure, reduced risk appetite, higher market risk aversion, or capital outflows.

March 19 — The U.S. is deploying additional troops to the Middle East and may seize a key Iranian oil export hub to pressure Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, sources told *The Wall Street Journal* on Wednesday. Some 2,200 Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps’ 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are aboard amphibious assault ships en route from Japan to the Middle East, with an expected arrival time of about a week, the report said. The U.S. could use the force to occupy Harq Island as leverage to compel Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Former U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Frank McKenzie noted: “(The U.S. military) could destroy its (Harq Island’s) oil infrastructure, causing irreversible damage to Iran and the global economy. Or we could occupy it as a bargaining chip.”