On March?19, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially approved a Nasdaq rule change this morning—greenlighting the trading of tokenized securities on the exchange, a critical step for traditional capital markets toward blockchain technology. Under the plan, eligible stocks and ETFs will clear and settle via the existing trading system as on-chain tokens, with the same order book, trading priority, and shareholder rights as traditional securities. The pilot is tied to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s (DTCC) tokenization initiative: investors may opt for tokenized settlement when placing orders, and the system will handle on-chain processing post-trade. Nasdaq noted that beyond the settlement method, trading rules, market data, fee structures, and regulatory oversight will remain unchanged. Tokenized securities will also be fully integrated into existing U.S. securities law frameworks. For additional details, see the accompanying infographic.

March 19 – Seth G. Jones, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), says direct U.S. military strikes on Iran could only last a few days or weeks, primarily due to limited stockpiles of long-range strike and defense munitions. Jones noted that before the latest round of strikes, U.S. key munitions reserves were already stretched thin, which would force the Donald Trump administration to scale back its military operations. Even as the U.S. gradually pulls back, Israel is likely to keep conducting periodic strikes on Iran—similar to its longstanding military approach against armed groups in Lebanon. Analysis suggests that if the current phase of the conflict winds down, it could help de-escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and lower oil prices. However, shipping resumptions will still hinge on progress in follow-up diplomatic talks.

On March 19, Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas facility was hit by a missile again in the early hours of local time that day. Earlier the same day, Iranian sources claimed Iran had once again attacked oil facilities in “Gulf countries hosting Iran’s enemies.” Ras Laffan Industrial City is home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility, per CCTV.

On March 19, per OnchainLens data, BlackRock withdrew 2,267 BTC (valued at roughly $161.82 million) and 5,041 ETH (worth around $11.02 million) from Coinbase. Over the past three consecutive days, the asset manager has pulled a total of 8,435 BTC—with an aggregate value of approximately $618.05 million—from the exchange.

March 19 — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest hawkish remarks delivered a sharp blow to market expectations Wednesday, as he explicitly stated the central bank will hold off on rate cuts until inflation sees a **significant decline** — dashing investors’ hopes of earlier easing. U.S. Treasuries sold off sharply in response: - The 2-year yield jumped to ~3.78%, a 7-month high; - The 10-year yield rose to 4.27%. Rate-cut bets cooled rapidly: The odds of at least one cut this year are now near a **coin flip**, with some market chatter even turning to potential rate hikes. Analysts note Middle East tensions have pushed oil prices higher, amplifying inflation pressures and prompting the Fed to take a more cautious stance. Earlier bets on multiple cuts have largely reversed, driving heavy volatility in the bond market.

March 19 — CoinDesk reports the tokenized stock market has surged from under $100 million at the start of 2025 to over $4 billion, marking explosive growth.