The Solana-based memecoin launchpad Bonk.fun warned users on Thursday to avoid its website after attackers hijacked the platform's domain and deployed a malicious wallet-draining script designed to siphon funds from connected wallets. "A malicious actor has compromised the BONKfun domain. Do not interact with the website until we have secured everything," the project's official X account posted shortly after the breach was detected. How the Attack Unfolded According to Tom, an operator associated with the project, the breach began when an attacker gained control of a team-associated account. That access allowed the intruder to alter the website's interface and inject a deceptive prompt disguised as a standard terms-of-service confirmation. In reality, the prompt was linked to a wallet-draining program designed to trick visitors into signing a transaction that would grant the attacker permission to move assets from their wallets. "Do not use the bonk.fun domain until further notice, hackers have hijacked a team account, forcing a drainer on the domain," Tom wrote on X. Who Was Affected? Tom clarified in follow-up posts that only users who signed the fake terms-of-service message on the compromised domain during the active breach window were exposed to the exploit. Users who had previously connected wallets to Bonk.fun before the incident were not affected, and those trading Bonk.fun tokens through third-party terminals also remained safe. At least one user claimed to have lost $273,000 after interacting with the compromised interface. The Bonk.fun team has not disclosed the total value of funds affected but described losses as "minimal," attributing the limited damage to rapid detection and warnings spread across social media channels. A Growing Pattern of Domain Attacks The incident mirrors a broader pattern of domain hijacking targeting crypto platforms. A similar technique was previously used against decentralized finance protocol Curve Finance, where attackers redirected users to a malicious clone site. Rival Solana-based launchpad Pump.fun was also targeted last year after attackers hijacked its X account to promote fraudulent meme tokens. "We understand a lot of people are scared and rightly so," Tom wrote. "We're doing everything in our power to fix the situation." The platform, which is backed by Raydium and the BONK ecosystem, has operated for roughly eight months. The BONK token dipped approximately 0.9% in the 24 hours following the breach, trading at $0.0559 at the time of reporting. The incident remains under active investigation, and no timeline for full restoration of the domain has been confirmed. Bonk.fun had already been losing market share to rival launchpad Pump.fun, which recaptured over 70% of Solana's launchpad market by February 2026.

New Zealand's Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has issued a first-of-its-kind designation declaring that the NZDD stablecoin, pegged to the New Zealand dollar, does not qualify as a financial product under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. The designation, which came into force on March 11, emerged directly from the regulator's fintech sandbox pilot program. NZDD is issued by ECDD Holdings Limited, and each token is backed one-to-one by New Zealand dollars held in a trust account at a local bank. FMA's Reasoning The FMA determined that the stablecoin functions as a payment mechanism rather than an investment product. The regulator noted that no income, interest, or other financial gain is paid to NZDD holders, and the risks of acquiring the stablecoin are not substantially different from those associated with the underlying reserve assets. "The economic substance of the NZDD stablecoin is that it is not a debt security, as the NZDD stablecoin is not an investment," the FMA said. The authority added that regulating it as a debt security would confuse consumers, given its practical use as a payment tool, and that standard disclosure obligations would add no practical value. A Limited but Significant Precedent Law firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts, which acted for ECDD Holdings in relation to the sandbox pilot, called the designation an important step toward regulatory certainty. However, the firm cautioned that the ruling applies only to this specific stablecoin product. "The designation relates to a specific product and version of a stablecoin and does not constitute a general determination as to the regulatory treatment of all stablecoins," the firm said. It described the FMA's approach as "pragmatic" and consistent with developments in comparable jurisdictions. Broader Fintech Sandbox Expansion Alongside the NZDD designation, the FMA announced plans to introduce a restricted license pathway for fintech firms as part of an expanded sandbox pilot. FMA chief executive Samantha Barrass said the initiative reflects the pace of change in the financial system. "Our financial system is changing faster than ever before. This new type of licence will support firms to get access to the market with some restrictions in place that can be removed as the firm grows," Barrass said. The global stablecoin market capitalization now exceeds $300 billion, with annual transaction volumes surpassing $33 trillion in 2025.  As jurisdictions worldwide grapple with how to classify and regulate these instruments, the FMA's pragmatic approach may serve as a reference point for comparable markets. The regulator also published feedback from its 2025 tokenization discussion paper, noting that respondents highlighted both the potential for expanded capital access and concerns around cybersecurity risks, asset custody, and fraud.

Crypto exchange Kraken has announced that it will list the Pi Network token (PI) for spot trading, with trading set to begin on March 13. The announcement, made via the exchange's official listings account on X, arrives just two days before Pi Day on March 14, a date that has historically driven speculative activity around the token. The listing marks a significant milestone for Pi Network, representing the token's first availability on a major U.S.-regulated exchange. "Trading starts March 13," Kraken posted, describing Pi Network as a "mobile-first Layer-1 blockchain and developer platform enabling accessible crypto mining via smartphone." Market Responds With Immediate Price Movement Following the announcement, PI saw an immediate price uptick. The PI/USDT pair climbed roughly 2% on OKX within minutes of the news, according to TradingView data. The token was trading near $0.23 at the time of the announcement, representing a recovery of more than 78% from its all-time low recorded in February. The listing builds on Kraken's earlier engagement with Pi Network. The exchange launched Pi perpetual futures contracts in 2025 and added the token to its 2026 asset listing roadmap in February, signaling growing institutional interest in the project. Broader Exchange Access Could Be a Catalyst Pi Network has been trading on platforms including OKX, Bitget, and Gate since its mainnet launch in February 2025, but has lacked listings on top-tier U.S. exchanges. Supporters believe the Kraken listing could increase the token's liquidity and visibility, potentially prompting other major platforms such as Coinbase and Binance to consider similar moves. The listing also coincides with Pi Network's completion of a mandatory protocol upgrade to version 20.2, aimed at strengthening blockchain stability. More than 18 million users have completed KYC verification on the network. Sell Pressure Remains a Key Risk Despite the positive sentiment, analysts have flagged potential headwinds. Exchange supply recently hit a record 451 million PI, signaling rising sell pressure that could cap gains if buyer demand fails to keep pace after the listing. The token remains down more than 90% from its all-time high of $2.99, and roughly 58% of coins in circulation remain locked, according to Pi block explorer data. Historically, Pi Day has been a catalyst for short-term price spikes. Last year, PI surged 21% on March 13, the same date trading opens on Kraken this year. Whether the 2026 listing delivers a sustained rally or a sell-the-news event will depend largely on how effectively new exchange access converts speculative interest into lasting demand across a broader pool of U.S. traders.

Ghana is taking a significant step toward regulating the digital asset sector as the country moves to integrate cryptocurrency services into its financial ecosystem. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched a regulatory sandbox for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), allowing selected companies to test digital asset products under direct regulatory supervision. The initiative follows the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), which provides a legal structure for exchanges, tokenization platforms, and other blockchain-based financial services. By introducing a controlled testing environment, regulators aim to support innovation while ensuring investor protection and transparency across the market. Among the firms admitted into the sandbox is international cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT, which joins companies such as Vaulta and XChain in the first cohort selected by the SEC. Ghana Introduces A New Ecosystem For Digital Asset Development The SEC’s sandbox program will run for a 12-month period, giving participating firms the opportunity to pilot new technologies while regulators observe their operations. Exchanges involved in the program, including WhiteBIT, will operate under close regulatory supervision while authorities study how digital asset platforms manage compliance, trading activity, and customer protection measures. Companies that demonstrate regulatory readiness within the first six months may transition into full activity-based licenses. Others will be allowed to continue testing their services during the remaining period of the sandbox. The program will also help regulators gather data on governance requirements, custody practices, capital standards, and anti-money laundering compliance before final licensing guidelines are introduced. Rising Crypto Adoption Across Africa Captures Global Attention Across Africa, cryptocurrency adoption has expanded rapidly as digital financial services become more accessible. However, regulatory frameworks in many countries are still evolving. Ghana’s sandbox approach allows authorities to evaluate the sector carefully while giving companies room to innovate. The presence of global exchanges such as WhiteBIT highlights the growing international interest in Africa’s digital asset markets. Volodymyr Nosov, Founder and President of W Group, which WhiteBIT is a part of, shared his views on this new milestone: “WhiteBIT’s mission has always been to deliver secure, compliant, and accessible crypto services. Being selected for Ghana’s regulatory sandbox not only underscores our commitment to responsible market expansion but also reflects our confidence in Africa’s potential to lead in digital finance. As Africa’s crypto landscape continues to evolve, WhiteBIT looks forward to supporting innovation and enabling next-generation financial services through regulated and trustworthy platforms.” For exchanges like WhiteBIT, the sandbox offers a way to work alongside regulators while helping shape the future structure of Ghana’s digital asset industry. Selected Companies Begin Testing Crypto And Tokenization Services The SEC admitted 11 companies into the sandbox, representing a combination of crypto exchanges, fintech firms, and blockchain infrastructure providers. Some participants will focus on cryptocurrency trading platforms, giving regulators insight into how exchanges manage liquidity, security, and user verification. International platforms such as WhiteBIT will help demonstrate how large-scale trading infrastructure operates within a supervised environment. Other companies will explore tokenization models that convert traditional assets into blockchain-based digital tokens. These projects include initiatives involving digital securities, fractionalized assets, and tokenized commodities. The participation of exchanges like WhiteBIT alongside tokenization platforms provides regulators with a broader view of how the digital asset ecosystem functions as a whole.

Tokyo-listed Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet is expanding beyond simple accumulation, announcing the creation of two wholly owned subsidiaries and a $25 million investment initiative targeting Japan's emerging Bitcoin financial infrastructure. CEO Simon Gerovich confirmed in a Thursday post on X that the company's board approved the formation of Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management. "Japan has built the best regulatory framework in the world for digital assets," Gerovich wrote. $25 Million Venture Push Metaplanet Ventures, a Japan-based subsidiary, will deploy roughly $25 million (4 billion yen) over the next two to three years into companies building Bitcoin-focused financial infrastructure. Target sectors include lending, payments, custody, stablecoins, derivatives, and compliance technology. The initiative will also include an incubator for Japanese founders and grants for open-source Bitcoin developers and educators. For its first investment, the venture arm signed a letter of intent to invest up to $2.6 million (400 million yen) into JPYC Inc., the issuer of Japan's first licensed yen-denominated stablecoin, as part of the firm's Series B financing round. JPYC maintains its peg through bank deposits and government bonds and operates across Avalanche, Ethereum, and Polygon. Miami-Based Capital Markets Unit The second subsidiary, Metaplanet Asset Management, will operate from Miami as a digital credit and Bitcoin capital markets platform. The unit will develop yield strategies, equity and credit exposures, and volatility and derivatives instruments, with the stated goal of bridging capital flows between Asian and Western markets. Expansion Amid Volatile Conditions The strategic pivot comes at a challenging time for the firm. Metaplanet currently holds 35,102 BTC, acquired at an average price of approximately $107,000 per coin. With Bitcoin trading near $69,540, the company is sitting on an unrealized loss of roughly $1.4 billion. Last month, the firm disclosed a full-year net loss of $605 million, driven by a $664 million decline in the value of its Bitcoin holdings in the final quarter. Despite the headline loss, Gerovich has maintained that operating profit surged over 1,600% year-over-year and that unrealized losses on long-term holdings are not meaningful to the company's strategy. Its stock fell 3.25% on Thursday to $2.20, extending a six-month decline of more than 62%. Analysts have noted that the venture and asset management businesses could help diversify revenue streams away from sole dependence on Bitcoin's price movements. The investment in JPYC underscores an interest in settlement infrastructure, particularly as Japan recently saw the launch of a bank-backed yen stablecoin by SBI Holdings and Startale Group. Gerovich framed the move succinctly: "Every Bitcoin transaction has two sides: Bitcoin and a currency. As this market goes institutional, that currency side goes digital."

Why Did the Court Dismiss the Case? A federal judge in Alabama has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Binance entities and Binance.US operator BAM Trading Services of aiding terrorism financing, finding that the complaint failed to meet basic federal pleading standards. The case was brought by victims and relatives of victims of attacks attributed to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In a 19-page order issued Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Chad W. Bryan of the Middle District of Alabama ruled that the amended complaint filed by the plaintiffs was legally and factually inadequate. The judge described the filing as a classic example of a “shotgun pleading,” a term used in federal courts when complaints combine multiple claims and defendants without clearly identifying how each party is tied to specific allegations. The plaintiffs sought damages from Binance Holdings, former CEO Changpeng Zhao, and BAM Trading Services, the operator of Binance.US. The lawsuit relied on several legal frameworks, including the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Alien Tort Statute, and negligence claims under common law. According to the court, the complaint stretched beyond 100 pages and included hundreds of allegations. However, the filing repeatedly grouped defendants together and did not clearly identify which actions were attributed to each entity. The court also noted that the complaint failed to clarify which plaintiffs were asserting specific claims or how the alleged conduct was connected to the attacks referenced in the lawsuit. What Did the Judge Say About the Complaint? Judge Bryan concluded that the complaint did not satisfy federal procedural rules requiring clear and concise claims. The order stated that the filing forced both the court and the defendants to search through a large number of allegations without a clear structure linking defendants, claims, and injuries. “The First Amended Complaint has been determined to be legally and factually deficient,” the judge wrote, adding that the filing failed to meet the requirement for a “short and plain statement” of each claim. Rather than ending the case immediately, the court allowed the plaintiffs an opportunity to correct the deficiencies. The order instructs them to submit a revised complaint by April 10, 2026. Investor Takeaway The ruling does not resolve the underlying allegations but delays the case while plaintiffs attempt to restructure their claims. Legal exposure tied to terrorism-financing accusations remains a reputational and regulatory risk for crypto exchanges. What Must the Plaintiffs Change? The judge ordered the plaintiffs to reorganize the complaint so that each legal claim appears as a separate count. The revised filing must clearly identify which plaintiffs are bringing each claim and which defendants those claims target. The court also instructed the plaintiffs to include specific factual allegations describing the conduct attributed to each defendant and explain how that conduct allegedly led to the injuries claimed in the lawsuit. Failure to correct these issues could lead to the case being dismissed entirely. The judge warned that if the plaintiffs submit another deficient complaint, the court may terminate the action. How Does This Fit Into Other Cases Against Binance? The Alabama ruling arrives shortly after a separate terrorism-financing lawsuit against Binance was dismissed in federal court in Manhattan. That case involved hundreds of victims of attacks linked to groups including Hamas and Hezbollah. In the Manhattan decision, the court concluded that the plaintiffs had not plausibly connected Binance’s activities to the attacks that caused their injuries. The Alabama decision differs in that it focused primarily on the structure and clarity of the complaint rather than the viability of the underlying liability claims. Judge Bryan noted that the filing forced the court and the defendants to review hundreds of paragraphs of allegations without clear guidance on which claims applied to which defendants. Why Binance Still Faces Legal and Regulatory Attention The latest decision comes as Binance continues to face scrutiny related to alleged illicit finance risks. Regulators and lawmakers have raised concerns about how digital asset platforms monitor and prevent misuse of their services for unlawful activities. The company recently filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over reporting that Binance dismantled an internal investigation into crypto flows tied to Iranian networks. Binance has denied those allegations. While the Alabama case is not yet resolved, the court’s order underscores how procedural standards can shape litigation involving large crypto platforms. Whether the plaintiffs can file a revised complaint that meets federal pleading requirements will determine whether the case proceeds to substantive arguments about liability.

Why Is Utah Targeting Prediction Market Platforms? Utah lawmakers are moving to block prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket from offering sports-related contracts in the state, deepening a growing clash between state regulators and federal authorities over how these markets should be governed. Utah’s HB243 bill, titled Gambling Revisions, was sent to the governor’s desk on Wednesday after passing the state House on Feb. 10 and clearing the Senate on Feb. 27. The legislation classifies “proposition betting” as gambling under state law, expanding the scope of restrictions applied to wagering activity. Proposition bets refer to wagers on specific in-game events rather than final outcomes. These can include predictions about how an individual athlete performs or whether a team reaches a certain statistical milestone. Utah lawmakers say prediction market platforms offering similar contracts are effectively providing sports betting under a different label. The bill aims to prevent companies from offering sports-linked prediction contracts in Utah, even if those platforms present themselves as financial markets rather than sportsbooks. Investor Takeaway State-level action against prediction markets adds another layer of uncertainty for platforms operating across the United States, where federal oversight claims are increasingly colliding with state gambling laws. Governor Signals Support for the Ban Utah Governor Spencer Cox has indicated he intends to sign the legislation once it reaches his desk. Speaking about the spread of digital betting platforms, Cox warned that easy access to online wagering poses risks for younger users. “We are putting a casino in the pocket of every single American, and they are targeting especially young people,” Cox said, according to the Associated Press. “It is really awful what they are doing, and we are going to make sure this doesn’t happen in our state.” If signed, the law would give Utah regulators stronger legal grounds to block prediction market operators from offering contracts tied to sports outcomes. The move places the state among a growing number of jurisdictions testing whether these platforms fall under traditional gambling rules. Kalshi Pushes Back With Federal Lawsuits Kalshi has already moved to challenge Utah’s efforts in federal court. In February, the company sued the state after the Utah Senate Business and Labor Committee unanimously approved the HB243 bill, asking a judge to prevent enforcement against its platform. The company argues that its event contracts are federally regulated derivatives rather than gambling products. According to Kalshi, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over such markets under the Commodity Exchange Act, which would prevent states from banning them outright. Utah is not the only legal front the company is facing. Kalshi also filed a lawsuit against Iowa this week, citing the risk of imminent enforcement action by state regulators. The move came shortly after an Ohio federal judge rejected the company’s request to block state authorities from applying gambling laws to its sports event contracts. The growing number of legal disputes highlights the unresolved question at the center of the industry: whether event-based contracts should be treated as financial derivatives or as a form of online betting. Investor Takeaway Prediction markets may face a fragmented regulatory landscape in the US, where federal oversight claims do not necessarily prevent states from enforcing their own gambling frameworks. Federal Regulators Defend Their Authority The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has repeatedly stated that it holds authority over prediction markets operating as derivatives exchanges. The agency views these platforms as venues where participants trade contracts tied to future events, a structure that can fall under existing commodities law. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig recently warned that the agency is prepared to defend that authority in court if necessary. “To those who seek to challenge our authority in this space, let me be clear, we will see you in court,” Selig said. Speaking at an industry conference in Florida earlier this week, he described prediction markets as tools that can aggregate information about future outcomes. According to Selig, well-functioning markets can act as “truth machines,” producing signals based on participants willing to put capital behind their views rather than simply offering opinions. The dispute between federal oversight and state gambling enforcement remains unresolved. As more states examine how prediction markets operate within their jurisdictions, additional legal challenges are likely to determine how these platforms can function across the US.

No doubt, we’re in a digital economy, with data being one of the most valuable resources. Developers, businesses, and researchers depend on large datasets to train AI models, analyze trends, and build new digital services.  As blockchain technology becomes mainstream, new platforms are making it feasible to achieve on-chain data monetization. These systems enable individuals and organizations to share datasets, set access rules, and get paid through smart contracts.  However, data monetization on-chain is still developing. Many contributors and projects make common mistakes that restrict the value of their data or reduce trust in the ecosystem. This article reveals some of the common mistakes in on-chain data monetization and how they can be avoided.  Key Takeaways Smart contracts assist in automating data access, payment distribution, and licensing. On-chain monetization enables organizations and individuals to earn from datasets with blockchain-based systems. Privacy protection and regulatory compliance are important when handling sensitive information. Data quality and proper verification are important for building trust in decentralized data marketplaces.  What Does On-Chain Data Monetization Mean? This concept refers to the process of getting value from data with blockchain-based systems. It removes the need to depend on centralized platforms to collect and sell information. Now, organizations or individuals can share datasets directly through decentralized networks.  In this model, blockchain technology records transactions, manages data access, and distributes payments. Smart contracts are mostly used to automate how data is shared or licensed. Therefore, when someone accesses or purchases the data, the smart contract can automatically pay the data owner. Various types of data can be monetized on-chain. These might include IoT data, consumer behavior data, AI training datasets, or research data. This process uses blockchain to become more transparent because every transaction can be recorded on a public ledger. The essence of on-chain data monetization is to create fairer data markets where contributors have more control over their data and get compensated when it is used. Common Mistakes in On-Chain Data Monetization Several Web3 projects and data contributors enter the on-chain data economy with many expectations. However, some mistakes can limit adoption or reduce the value of datasets. 1. Ignoring data privacy requirements Some projects don’t pay attention to privacy concerns when monetizing data on-chain. Personal or sensitive information must be managed carefully to avoid ethical or legal problems. 2. Poor data quality or verification Incomplete or low-quality datasets don’t have sufficient value in data marketplaces. When there’s no proper verification process, buyers may lose faith in the platform. 3. Absence of clear data ownership When there are unclear ownership rights, it can create disputes over who has the permission to sell or distribute certain datasets. This can discourage buyers from using the data.  4. Weak incentive structures When reward systems are not properly designed, contributors might not be encouraged to provide valuable data. Solid incentives are needed to ensure participants are active in the network.  5. Overestimating market demand Some projects mostly assume that any dataset will attract buyers. However, only special types of data, like AI training data or analytics datasets, mostly have strong demands.  How to Avoid Common Mistakes in On-Chain Data Monetization If you want to build a successful on-chain data monetization strategy, you need careful planning. You can avoid mistakes when you focus on transparency, quality, and user needs.  1. Prioritize high-quality and verified data Data buyers will likely trust and buy datasets that are accurate, well-structured, and complete. Projects must incorporate verification systems to confirm data sources and maintain consistent quality standards. When datasets are reliable, it increases credibility. It also makes the platform valuable for developers, researchers, and analytics teams. 2. Introduce solid privacy and compliance measures Privacy protection is important when handling personal or sensitive information. Platforms should apply encryption anonymization techniques, and secure storage solutions to keep user data safe.  It is also essential to work with the relevant data protection regulations to avoid legal hassles and maintain user trust. 3. Design sustainable incentive models Participants should have clear reasons to contribute valuable data. Sustainable reward structures like revenue-sharing models or token incentives can encourage long-term participation. Well-designed incentives are also important in maintaining a steady supply of useful datasets in the marketplace. 4. Simplify data access and user experience When a system is complex, it can discourage buyers and contributors from using the platform. To make the process seamless, do the following: Design clear interfaces, easy-to-understand smart contract interactions, and simple onboarding processes. 5. Validate market demand before launching Before you create a marketplace or data product, it is crucial to understand the types of datasets that buyers really need. Conduct market research and engage with potential users to identify high-demand data categories to prevent resources from being wasted on low-value datasets.  How On-Chain Data Monetization Works It leverages blockchain systems to control how data is shared, accessed, and paid for. This process follows some steps that enable data owners to make their datasets available in decentralized marketplaces.  1. Data collection and preparation This process begins with collecting helpful data from trusted sources. It may include IoT device data, consumer behavior data, research datasets, or AI training data.  2. Tokenization of datasets In several Web3 systems, datasets are tokenized. This means the data is represented by a digital token that defines access rights or ownership.  x3. Smart contract licensing Smart contracts help define the rules for how data can be used or accessed. These contracts can specify usage limits, pricing, or licensing terms. When the conditions are met, the contract automatically processes the transaction. 4. Listing on a data marketplace The dataset is listed on a decentralized data marketplace. This enables researchers, developers, or companies to discover and assess available datasets before purchasing access. 5. Payment and reward distribution When someone accesses or buys the datasets, payment is processed through the blockchain. Smart contracts will distribute rewards automatically to the contributors or data owners according to the platform’s rules.  Conclusion: Building Better On-Chain Data Markets On-chain data monetization presents new opportunities for organizations and individuals to gain from the value of their data. However, success depends on preventing common mistakes like weak incentives, poor data quality, and privacy risks. It is important to focus on reliable datasets, transparency, and real market demand so that projects can build more sustainable and stronger data markets in Web3. 

When it comes to finding information online, search engines have been at the forefront of this. For several years, Google and other platforms have helped individuals discover answers and digital content within seconds.  These systems leverage large databases and complex algorithms to organize and present information on the internet.  Presently, search technology is changing. New tools are relying on artificial intelligence to enhance how search works. AI-powered search engines can understand natural language questions and generate more direct answers rather than listing links.  At the same time, decentralized search is another idea that is emerging in the Web3 space. These systems focus on reducing reliance on central companies by leveraging distributed networks and community participation to index and organize information.  In this article, we’ve compared decentralized search to AI-augmented search engines. We’ve explained how they work and what makes them distinct from each other.  Key Takeaways Decentralized search and AI-augmented search represent two diverse approaches to modern search technology. AI-augmented search focuses on enhancing search results by understanding language and user intent. Both systems offer special advantages but also face hassles like scalability, accuracy, and adoption. Future search solutions might merge elements of both technologies to make the user experience more seamless. Decentralized search focuses on privacy, transparency, and ensuring control doesn’t rest in the hands of one company.  Understanding Decentralized Search This concept refers to search systems that don’t need a single company or central server to index and rank information. They use distributed networks where multiple participants store, organize, and verify web data. In traditional search engines, one organization controls the search index, ranking rules, and data collection. Decentralized search attempts to change this model. It distributes these tasks across a network of independent contributors. These systems usually use peer-to-peer or blockchain technologies. Participants may help store data, crawl websites, or verify search results. Sometimes, contributors are rewarded with tokens to help maintain the network. The goal of decentralized search is to make the whole process more transparent. It also aims to reduce censorship risks and give users more control over how search data is managed. What Are AI-Augmented Search Engines? These search engines leverage artificial intelligence to enhance how search results are generated and presented. Instead of just matching keywords, these systems attempt to understand the meaning behind an individual’s question. They depend on technologies like natural language processing and machine learning. This enables the search engine to interpret longer queries, provide summaries, and generate more relevant answers. For instance, AI-powered search tools can merge information from various sources and present it in a simple response. They might also learn from user behavior to enhance future search results. AI-augmented search aims to make information seamless and faster to find. These systems understand context and intent to deliver more useful results than traditional keyword-based search.  How Decentralized Search Engines Work They rely on distributed networks rather than a single company controlling the system. Different participants contribute to building and maintaining the search infrastructure. 1. Distributed web indexing Instead of just one organization indexing the web, several nodes in the network assist in collecting and storing website data. These nodes work collaboratively to create a shared search index. 2. Peer-to-peer data storage Search data is stored across several independent computers instead of centralized servers. This brings down the risk of data control by a single company.  3. Token incentives for contributors Some decentralized search networks reward users with tokens when they crawl websites. Other activities that attract rewards are maintaining the network or content verification. 4. Community participation Users may help enhance search quality by verifying results, contributing data, or supporting network operations.  5. Privacy-focused search queries Several decentralized search engines focus on protecting user privacy. They usually avoid monitoring personal search activity or building detailed user profiles. How AI-Augmented Search Engines Work They use artificial intelligence to process queries and deliver more relevant results. These systems are beyond simple keyword matching. 1. Natural language query understanding AI systems are adept at interpreting questions written in normal language. This enables users to ask detailed questions rather than typing short keywords.  2. AI-powered ranking systems Machine learning models analyze massive amounts of data to find out which search results are most helpful for a given query. 3. Context-aware responses AI search engines attempt to understand the context behind a question. This enables them to deliver more accurate results depending on the user’s intent. 4. Automated summaries and answers Rather than showing just links, AI-powered systems can generate short summaries that provide more clarity on the information directly on the results page. 5. Continuous learning from user interaction AI systems get better over time by analyzing how users interact with search results, helping refine future responses.  Challenges Facing Both Technologies Both AI-augmented and decentralized search engines offer new ways to find information online. However, each approach also faces vital challenges that could disrupt performance and adoption. 1. Data reliability and accuracy Search engines depend on trustworthy and accurate information. Decentralized systems may find it challenging to verify content from several independent contributors, while AI systems can generate incorrect or misleading answers sometimes.  2. Bias in search results Bias can reflect in both systems. Decentralized systems may face issues if contributors influence rankings or indexing, while AI models may reflect biases in the data used to train them. 3. Scalability challenges Handling billions of web pages requires large infrastructure. Decentralized networks have to coordinate many nodes efficiently. In contrast, AI search engines need significant computing power to generate responses and process queries. 4. Infrastructure and operating costs AI-powered search needs expensive computing resources and constant model training. Decentralized search networks require solid infrastructure to maintain distributed indexing and storage. 5. User trust and adoption New technologies usually take time to gain trust. Users may be reluctant to depend on AI-generated answers or decentralized networks until these systems prove dependable and consistent. Conclusion: Decentralized Search vs AI-Augmented Search Engines The comparison between the two models highlights two distinct visions for the future of online information discovery.  Decentralized search focuses on privacy, transparency, and shared control of search infrastructure. On the other hand, AI-augmented search aims to make search faster and more intelligent by using top-notch machine learning models.  As both technologies keep developing, they may address different user needs. Sometimes, they might work together to create more intelligent and transparent search systems. 

A truck driver in the United States put $650 into Shiba Inu in 2020 and quit his job less than a year later after his bag grew to $1.7 million. Two brothers from New York invested $7,900 during the COVID lockdowns and cashed out $9 million. A warehouse manager put $8,000 in and retired at 35. These are not legends. They are documented stories. And the common thread is simple: every one of them found a meme coin before the world knew the name, bought at a price with too many zeros to take seriously, and held while the crowd caught up. Pepeto sits at $0.000000186 right now. The zeros are there. The community is growing. And the products that SHIB never had are already built. Shiba Inu Rallied 85 Million Percent in 2021 but the Token Is Down 90% From Its Peak SHIB hit an all time high of $0.00008616 in October 2021 after rallying 85,000,000% from its launch price, according to Watcher Guru. CNN Business confirmed two brothers turned $7,900 into $9 million in under three months.  Today SHIB trades at $0.0000057, down over 90% from that peak, with a $4.9 billion market cap that makes another 100x mathematically impossible without exceeding Ethereum’s valuation. The millionaire window for SHIB is closed, but the same type of window is open elsewhere. Is Pepeto the Next Meme Coin That Turns Small Money Into Life Changing Returns Pepeto: Same Stage as Early SHIB but With Everything SHIB Never Had Is Pepeto the next shiba inu? That is what the wallets rushing into the presale during the final stretch believe. And the reasoning goes deeper than just hype. Pepeto is the most complete meme coin ecosystem in the market, and it is still at a price that makes the SHIB millionaire math look conservative. The cofounder who built Pepe to a $7 billion market cap is the person behind Pepeto. That alone separates this project from the thousands of meme coins that launch with nothing except a logo and a Telegram group. But the build goes further than credibility.  Pepeto has a full exchange with zero fee trading across Ethereum, BSC, and Solana. A cross chain bridge that moves tokens between all three without the fees and delays that trap liquidity on other platforms. Revenue sharing that pays every holder from every trade the exchange processes, proportional to how much they hold. A SolidProof audit on the smart contract. And a former Binance expert guiding the listing strategy. This live utility is what SHIB never offered. SHIB rallied 85 million percent on pure meme energy with no exchange, no bridge, no revenue, and no audit. The truck driver who turned $650 into $1.7 million did it without any of those safety nets. Pepeto investors get all of them plus 201% APY staking that compounds daily. At $0.000000186, a $650 entry, the same amount the truck driver put into SHIB, buys 3.5 billion tokens. Pepe reached $0.00002803 with the same 420 trillion supply and nothing behind it. At that price, the $650 bag is worth $98,000, and that is the floor because Pepeto has the exchange infrastructure that Pepe lacked. With the presale having raised $7.87 million during extreme fear and the Binance listing approaching, the adoption is scaling fast. For anyone who watched the SHIB millionaire stories and wondered if they would ever see that kind of opportunity again, the presale window is open right now, and the zeros in the price will not last. Shiba Inu Today: 90% Below All Time High With Limited Path to Recovery SHIB trades at $0.0000057 according to CoinMarketCap with Shibarium processing modest volume. Reaching its $0.00008616 peak requires a 10x rally, but for SHIB to make new millionaires from a $1,000 entry, it would need to hit $0.024, requiring a $14 trillion market cap per Motley Fool analysis.  That valuation would be four times larger than Microsoft. The window that made SHIB millionaires in 2021 has closed. Conclusion A truck driver turned $650 into $1.7 million with SHIB and that token had no exchange, no audit, no bridge, and no revenue sharing. Pepeto has all four at $0.000000186 with a $7 billion founding team and 201% APY staking live.  The same $650 buys 3.5 billion Pepeto tokens targeting $98,000 at the price Pepe reached with nothing. SHIB made its millionaires because they were early.  The early window for SHIB is gone. The early window for Pepeto is open right now. Visit the Pepeto official website and take the entry that the next wave of millionaire stories will be written about. Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale FAQ Can Shiba Inu still make millionaires?  Reaching the price needed to turn $1,000 into $1 million would require a $14 trillion market cap, larger than any company on earth. Most analysts consider this impossible at current supply levels. How does Pepeto compare to early Shiba Inu?  Pepeto sits at a presale price with the same number of zeros that early SHIB had, but with a SolidProof audited exchange, revenue sharing, 201% APY staking, and a $7 billion founding team. Visit the Pepeto official website for the full comparison. Is it too late to buy Shiba Inu?  SHIB is down 90% from its all time high with a $4.9 billion market cap. Another 100x from current prices is mathematically unrealistic. The early investor window that made SHIB millionaires in 2021 has closed.

A sharp crypto market downturn in the second half of 2025 led to a $734.6 million net loss for Ethereum treasury firm Sharplink on its 868,699 ETH holdings. Yet the company says it will continue to accumulate Ether. Pepeto investors share that same conviction toward holding through volatility, though the difference is that they are up from their presale entry instead of down $735 million. At $0.000000186 with a SolidProof audited exchange and revenue sharing from every trade, the ethereum price prediction math tells one story while the Pepeto presale math tells another entirely.  This article covers what happened to Sharplink, where ETH goes from here, and which project offers the return that ETH cannot at current prices. Sharplink Reports $734.6 Million Loss on Ethereum as 2025 Crash Hits Treasury Holdings Ethereum treasury firm Sharplink posted a $734.6 million net loss for 2025 following a massive drop in the value of its 868,699 ETH position, according to CoinDesk reports. CryptoQuant data shows ETH is down 59% from its August 2025 all time high of $4,951 and continues to lag behind Bitcoin, Solana, and even meme coins on a 12 month basis.  Despite the loss, Sharplink’s leadership, which includes Ethereum cofounder Joseph Lubin as chairman, announced the firm will keep accumulating ETH. The ethereum price prediction community remains divided, but the treasury firm’s loss highlights why many traders are looking beyond large caps for returns. When ETH Drops $735 Million in Value, Traders Start Looking for the Entry That Grows Instead Pepeto: The Presale Where Holders Earn While Ethereum Holders Wait Sharplink’s $735 million loss happened because ETH dropped and the firm had no mechanism to earn income on its holdings during the decline. No revenue sharing. No staking yield high enough to offset the fall. Just raw exposure to a token that lost more than half its value while processing record transaction volume. Pepeto inverted that problem. The exchange ecosystem generates revenue from every trade it processes, and the smart contract distributes a proportional share of that revenue to every token holder based on position size. In a declining market, the exchange still processes volume and the holders still earn. In a rising market, the income compounds on top of the price appreciation. The cofounder behind Pepeto is the same person who built the original Pepe token to a $7 billion market cap with zero products. This time, there is a full exchange with zero fee trading across Ethereum, BSC, and Solana, a cross chain bridge connecting all three, and a SolidProof audit on the smart contract confirming the code is secure. A former Binance expert advises the listing strategy as the Binance listing approaches. At $0.000000186, a $1,000 entry buys 5.4 billion tokens. Pepe reached $0.00002803 with the same 420 trillion supply and absolutely nothing built. At that price, your bag is worth over $150,000, which is a 150x return. And unlike Sharplink’s ETH position, your Pepeto position earns 201% APY staking that compounds daily, growing your token count before the listing even arrives. The presale raised $7.87 million during the same fear market that created Sharplink’s $735 million loss. That is $7.87 million in conviction capital entering a presale while institutions were losing hundreds of millions on large cap holdings. The pattern is clear: the wallets that buy fear at presale pricing are the ones that earn the most when the cycle turns. Ethereum Price Prediction: $2,020 With Recovery Targets Between $2,200 and $5,732 ETH trades at $2,069 according to CoinMarketCap after losing more than half its value from the $4,951 peak. Cryptopolitan projects an average of $5,732 by year end in the bull case, while CoinCodex forecasts $2,290 by mid March.  The Glamsterdam upgrade in H1 2026 could catalyze recovery, but the ethereum price prediction consensus is that ETH needs Fed rate cuts and geopolitical resolution to sustain any rally. A 2x from here gives your $1,000 a $2,000 return, modest next to presale math. Conclusion Sharplink held $735 million in ETH and lost it because the token dropped with no income to cushion the fall. Pepeto holders will not face that problem because revenue sharing pays from every trade regardless of market direction, and 201% APY staking grows every position daily.  At $0.000000186 with a SolidProof audit and a $7 billion founding team, a $1,000 entry targets $150,000 at the same price Pepe reached with nothing.  The ethereum price prediction gives you a potential 2x. Pepeto gives you 150x at the floor. Visit the Pepeto official website and choose the math that actually changes your life instead of protecting a position that already lost half its value. Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale FAQ What is the ethereum price prediction for 2026?  Analysts forecast ETH could trade between $2,200 and $5,732 by year end depending on macro conditions and the Glamsterdam upgrade. Recovery from the current $2,020 depends on Fed rate cuts and geopolitical resolution. Why did Sharplink lose $735 million on Ethereum?  The firm held 868,699 ETH through the 2025 market crash without hedging. ETH dropped 59% from its all time high, and the lack of revenue generating mechanisms left the position fully exposed to the decline. How does Pepeto protect holders during market downturns?  Revenue sharing pays every holder from exchange volume regardless of market direction. Staking at 201% APY compounds daily. Visit the Pepeto official website for details on how the revenue sharing mechanism works through the smart contract.

The crypto market never stays quiet for long. With major networks making headlines again and investors searching for the next big breakout opportunity, momentum is building across the industry. While established blockchains continue to evolve, attention is quickly shifting toward new opportunities that could deliver massive growth in the coming cycle. That’s exactly why discussions around the best crypto presale in March are dominating investor conversations. Recent developments around Algorand’s expanding stablecoin ecosystem and Solana’s surge in trading activity have pushed these networks back into the spotlight. Yet, while these projects evolve in the open market, APEMARS ($APRZ) is capturing attention in a different way — through a rapidly advancing presale that many early investors believe could outperform established tokens. As the presale progresses, momentum around APEMARS is growing fast, and investors are beginning to position themselves before launch. Why Is APEMARS Emerging As The Best Crypto Presale In March? Investors chasing the best crypto presale in March often look for projects with solid tokenomics, clear growth mechanics, and a thriving community. APEMARS ($APRZ) is hitting all those marks as its presale advances through multiple stages, generating excitement and steadily increasing demand among early adopters. Each stage is carefully structured, offering both scarcity and opportunity for participants, making Stage 11 a key milestone in the project’s journey. Currently in Stage 11 (Speed Spike), the token is priced at $0.000107, with a planned listing at $0.0055, offering early buyers a potential ROI of 5,040%. The presale has already drawn 1,383+ holders, raised over $294,000, and sold 12.42 billion tokens, showing strong community engagement. As the supply tightens with each stage, APEMARS is proving why it’s one of the most promising opportunities in the market right now. Why Is The Presale Everyone Is Talking About? APEMARS’ Orbital Boost System rewards early contributors with 9.34% for every referral, while their friends earn the same. Starting from just $22, this system fuels organic growth, building a strong, engaged community. Rewards come from a dedicated pool, ensuring long-term sustainability as the presale gains momentum and excitement around $APRZ continues to surge. Built on Ethereum (ERC-20), APEMARS combines security with versatility. Investors enjoy seamless integration with major wallets, DEXs, staking platforms, analytics tools, and cross-chain bridges. Ethereum’s proven reliability and deep liquidity give participants confidence that their tokens are secure while benefiting from a presale structured for rapid growth and maximum early-stage opportunity. What If You Invested $1,000 In APEMARS Today? Imagine investing $1,000 in APEMARS ($APRZ) during Stage 11 at just $0.000107 per token, securing roughly 9.34 million $APRZ. At the planned listing price of $0.0055, that investment could grow to about $51,400, a projected 5,040% ROI. Looking further ahead, if the token reaches $1 or $5, your holding could soar to $9.3 million or $46.7 million. While crypto markets remain unpredictable, this structured presale offers early investors a rare chance to enter before public listing and potentially ride massive growth momentum. How To Buy APEMARS Buying APEMARS during the presale is designed to be simple for both new and experienced investors. Visit the official APEMARS presale platform. Connect a compatible crypto wallet. Choose the amount you wish to invest. Complete the purchase using supported cryptocurrencies. Secure your $APRZ tokens in your connected wallet once the transaction is confirmed. Early participation allows investors to secure tokens before the project reaches its planned listing price. Algorand Stablecoin Market Cap Rises 27% As USDC Adoption Expands Algorand’s stablecoin ecosystem saw notable growth in Q4, with total market capitalization rising 27.4% from $47.5 million to $60.5 million, driven largely by USD Coin (USDC) adoption. Integration with crypto payments provider Coinify allowed merchants and customers to settle payments using USDC on Algorand, expanding its real-world utility. By quarter-end, USDC represented over 96% of the network’s stablecoin supply, highlighting its growing dominance in Algorand’s ecosystem. Despite stablecoin growth, Algorand’s native token ALGO declined, with market capitalization falling 46.7% from $1.8 billion to $974.2 million and token price dropping from $0.21 to $0.11 amid broader crypto downturns. Network activity showed modest improvement, with average daily transactions rising 5.2% to 1.7 million and total quarterly transactions reaching 151.9 million. Staking participation increased after the v4.0 upgrade, which added enhanced block rewards and delegation options, reinforcing long-term ecosystem engagement. Solana Reclaims $80 As Trading Volume Surges And Institutional Interest Grows Solana recently regained the $80 price level, climbing 4.3% in 24 hours as daily trading volume surged 76% to approximately $4 billion, signaling strong accumulation around this support zone. The token has traded between $76 and $90 for over a month, repeatedly testing resistance near $90. Technical indicators like the RSI suggest bullish momentum is strengthening, showing growing confidence among buyers defending key support levels. Network activity remains robust, with 882 million transactions processed in the past week, approaching Solana’s all-time high. Institutional demand also increased after the launch of U.S. spot Solana ETFs in October 2024, with major investors like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citadel Advisors, and Electric Capital holding over $540 million in ETF positions during Q4. Total net inflows into Solana ETFs have surpassed $952 million, reflecting growing trust from large-scale investors. Conclusion The crypto market continues to evolve as networks like APEMARS, Algorand, and Solana expand their ecosystems through new partnerships, infrastructure upgrades, and increasing institutional engagement. These established and emerging platforms collectively showcase the long-term growth potential of blockchain technology, reinforcing their role as key drivers in shaping the future of the cryptocurrency industry. However, while these networks expand, many investors are increasingly searching for early opportunities, such as the best crypto presale in March. APEMARS is gaining momentum as its presale progresses, offering a structured entry point before exchange listings. For those looking for the best crypto to buy now, early participation in $APRZ could represent a rare opportunity before wider market exposure arrives. For More Information: Website: Visit the Official APEMARS Website Telegram: Join the APEMARS Telegram Channel Twitter: Follow APEMARS ON X (Formerly Twitter) Frequently Asked Questions About Best Crypto Presale In March What Is The Best Crypto Presale In March Right Now? Many investors consider APEMARS among the best crypto presale in March opportunities due to its structured presale stages, strong ROI projections, and growing community participation during its ongoing presale campaign. What Is APEMARS ($APRZ)? APEMARS ($APRZ) is a crypto project currently in presale that uses a staged token distribution model inspired by a Mars journey, designed to reward early participants and build long-term ecosystem growth. Why Are Investors Interested In APEMARS? Investors are drawn to APEMARS because of its structured presale pricing, Ethereum-based infrastructure, referral reward system, and projected ROI from early presale stages before the token reaches exchanges. How Does The APEMARS Presale Work? The APEMARS presale operates through multiple stages where token prices gradually increase. Early participants purchase tokens at lower prices before the project moves closer to its final listing stage. Is Solana Still A Strong Blockchain Project? Yes, Solana remains a major blockchain network with high transaction throughput, increasing institutional ETF interest, and rising trading activity, which continues to support its long-term ecosystem development. Summary This article explored why APEMARS is gaining attention as the best crypto presale in March, while also examining recent market developments around Algorand’s stablecoin expansion and Solana’s institutional demand. The analysis highlighted APEMARS’ presale metrics, referral growth system, Ethereum infrastructure, and potential investment scenarios compared with established blockchain networks.

Given the clear daily uptrend and the bearish Japanese yen sentiment seen across the FX markets today, CHFJPY currency pair be expected to rise to the next resistance level 116.00 (target for the completion of the active short-term impulse wave 5). AUDJPY broke resistance area Likely to rise to resistance level 116.00 AUDJPY currency pair recently broke the resistance area between the resistance level 112.00 (which reversed the pair at the start of March) and the resistance trendline of the daily up channel from November. The breakout of this resistance area accelerated the active short-term impulse wave 5 – which belongs to the intermediate impulse wave (3) from the end of August. The breakout of this up channel signals the strengthening of the bullish pressure on this currency pair and the acceleration of the uptrend Given the clear daily uptrend and the bearish Japanese yen sentiment seen across the FX markets today, CHFJPY currency pair be expected to rise to the next resistance level 116.00 (target for the completion of the active short-term impulse wave 5). The subject matter and the content of this article are solely the views of the author. FinanceFeeds does not bear any legal responsibility for the content of this article and they do not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. The information does not constitute advice or a recommendation on any course of action and does not take into account your personal circumstances, financial situation, or individual needs. We strongly recommend you seek independent professional advice or conduct your own independent research before acting upon any information contained in this article.

Who Was Arrested in the GainBitcoin Investigation? India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Ayush Varshney, co-founder and chief technology officer of Darwin Labs Private Limited, as part of its investigation into the GainBitcoin cryptocurrency investment scheme. Authorities detained Varshney at Mumbai airport on Monday while he was attempting to leave the country. According to a press release issued Wednesday through the agency’s official account on X, a Look Out Circular had been issued against Varshney before his attempted departure. He was formally taken into custody and transferred to the CBI on Tuesday. Investigators said Darwin Labs helped build the technical infrastructure used by the alleged scheme, including the GainBitcoin investor platform and related tools used to manage payments and cryptocurrency wallets. The arrest adds a new development to one of India’s largest alleged cryptocurrency fraud investigations, a case that authorities say has affected thousands of investors across the country. Investor Takeaway The GainBitcoin case highlights how crypto investment schemes often rely on proprietary platforms and tokens, leaving investors exposed when those systems collapse. What Role Did Darwin Labs Play? According to the CBI, Darwin Labs played a central role in developing the technology used by the alleged operation. The company and its co-founders, including Varshney, Sahil Baghla and Nikunj Jain, were linked to the design and deployment of the MCAP cryptocurrency token along with its associated ERC-20 smart contract. Authorities said the company also built several components connected to the GainBitcoin ecosystem. These included the GBMiners.com mining pool, a Bitcoin payment gateway, the Coin Bank Bitcoin wallet, and the GainBitcoin website used by investors to track their accounts. The CBI said the infrastructure developed by the firm enabled the platform to manage deposits and transactions tied to the alleged scheme. Investigators claim these tools were part of the operational backbone supporting the investment program. How the GainBitcoin Scheme Operated GainBitcoin emerged in the mid-2010s as a cloud-mining investment platform that encouraged users to purchase Bitcoin and deposit it with the service in exchange for fixed returns. According to investigators, the program promoted monthly returns of around 10% in Bitcoin for a period of up to 18 months. The scheme was promoted through Variabletech Pte. Ltd., and authorities say funds collected from participants were later misappropriated. The CBI stated that the platform eventually adopted a multi-level marketing structure that tied payouts to recruiting additional investors. As deposits slowed, investigators say the platform began distributing returns using its internally issued MCAP token rather than Bitcoin. Authorities claim the token carried a far lower value than the promised returns, leaving investors with assets worth far less than expected. Investor Takeaway Fixed-return promises and in-house tokens remain common warning signs in crypto investment schemes, especially when payouts depend on continued investor recruitment. A Decade-Old Crypto Case in India Authorities say the alleged scheme involved roughly 8,000 investors and losses estimated at around 6,606 crore Indian rupees, or roughly $790 million. The case has unfolded over several years as investigators track the network of companies and individuals tied to the operation. The project was allegedly organized by Amit Bhardwaj, an early promoter of Bitcoin in India who died in 2022 while out on bail. Investigators have continued pursuing other individuals connected to the platform since his death. In February 2025, authorities conducted searches at more than 60 locations as part of the investigation. The probe continues as officials attempt to trace funds and determine the full scope of the alleged fraud.

Former CFTC chair Christopher Giancarlo warned that American banks need regulatory clarity far more than crypto does, and without it billions in digital infrastructure stay parked while competitors build the future of finance.  The ethereum price prediction is strengthening as VC capital surged 50% year over year concentrating on high conviction infrastructure, and the presale offering the biggest multiple in the market right now is Pepeto, where $8 million in presale capital sits behind exchange infrastructure designed to process billions in volume, creating a gap between current cost and actual value that no other presale in 2026 can match. Ethereum Price Prediction Benefits From Regulatory Momentum and VC Surge as Smart Money Concentrates on Proven Infrastructure The ethereum price prediction gained support as Messari data showed VC capital surged nearly 50% year over year with average rounds hitting $34 million, concentrating on fewer proven projects, as CoinDesk reported.  CoinMarketCap shows ETH at $2,065 while the CLARITY Act stalls over stablecoin provisions. Smart money stopped spraying capital at hype and is backing infrastructure with real utility, and the ethereum price prediction benefits because Ethereum remains the foundation every serious builder chooses. Ethereum Price Prediction Rises but Pepeto's Valuation Gap Between $8M Presale and Exchange Infrastructure Creates the Biggest Multiple Available Pepeto The math is what makes this the biggest multiple in crypto right now. Pepeto sits at an $8 million presale valuation while the exchange behind it was designed by a former Binance executive to process trading volume across three networks at scale. Compare that to any exchange token that launched in the last three years at $500 million or more with less infrastructure, no audit completed before launch, and no cofounder who already built a $7 billion project.  The gap between $8 million and what the market will price a working exchange with a cross chain bridge, AI screening, and zero fee trading is the entire opportunity, and it is the widest valuation gap in the presale space. The ethereum price prediction climbing toward $7,500 means Ethereum based projects rise with it, but the ones capturing volume rise faster. Every trade on Pepeto's exchange generates permanent income to presale wallets proportional to position size, and the presale is built on Ethereum, the same network institutions are backing with billions through ETFs.  SolidProof verified every contract before launch. The wallets entering understand the math: $8 million for infrastructure that comparable exchange tokens launched at fifty to a hundred times higher, and the listing is the moment the market corrects that gap. That correction is where the biggest multiple in crypto gets delivered. Ethereum Price Prediction for 2026 ETH trades at $2,065 according to CoinMarketCap, down roughly 60% from its $4,953 peak but accumulating as ETH ETF products pulled in over $12 billion and BitMine added 60,976 ETH in its largest buy since December. Standard Chartered placed its target at $7,500, Citi projected between $5,440 and $6,400, and van de Poppe sees the range extending from $10,000 to $17,500.  The Pectra upgrade arriving this year improves speed and reduces costs across the network. The ethereum price prediction is solidly bullish, but ETH's path from $2,065 to $7,500 is a 3x to 4x return over months, while presale infrastructure on the same network at an $8 million valuation offers multiples that ETH itself only delivered in its earliest days. Conclusion The holders who entered weeks ago are earning 204% APY compounding daily while the presale price has not changed, and the listing will change it permanently. Every day without entering is compounding that does not come back and stages filling without them.  The SolidProof audit is done, the $7 billion cofounder is leading, and the former Binance executive did not leave the biggest exchange to build something small. This is the setup people look back on and wish they had entered. Visit the Pepeto official website while stages are still filling, because the price on the other side of the listing will not look anything like today. Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale FAQs Where is the ethereum price prediction heading in 2026? Institutional forecasts place the ethereum price prediction between $5,440 and $7,500 for 2026, with bullish projections reaching $17,500 as ETF demand and the Pectra upgrade strengthen the network. Is Pepeto a good investment on Ethereum? Pepeto sits at $8 million for exchange infrastructure comparable tokens launched at 50x higher, with permanent revenue sharing. Visit the Pepeto official website. Is Pepeto safe for investors? Pepeto completed its SolidProof audit before the presale, has a former Binance executive behind the exchange, and the $8 million raised during fear reflects strong informed conviction.

Who Is the New Chief Executive? Binance.US has appointed Stephen Gregory as chief executive officer, replacing interim CEO Norman Reed as the exchange seeks to expand its presence in the United States. Gregory previously served as chief executive of Currency.com and has held compliance leadership roles at Gemini and CEX.io. The appointment comes as Binance.US continues rebuilding operations in the United States after a turbulent regulatory period that forced the exchange to suspend U.S. dollar deposits and withdrawals in 2023. Those services were restored more than a year later, allowing the platform to resume core banking functions for American customers. In a company statement, Binance.US described Gregory as “a lawyer who has become a leading expert in digital assets compliance and regulatory matters, having served as compliance leader at Gemini and CEX.io.” Gregory said he sees an opportunity to expand the platform’s footprint in the American market. “I am honored to lead the Binance.US team as we write the next chapter for the best platform for U.S. crypto investors to buy, trade, and earn digital assets,” he said. “The Binance.US brand is extremely powerful, with a founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who has continuously advocated to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.” Investor Takeaway Leadership changes at Binance.US come as the exchange tries to rebuild market share after regulatory disruptions that halted key banking services in 2023. Why the Leadership Change Matters Now Gregory’s appointment follows a transitional period under Norman Reed, who served as interim CEO after joining Binance in 2023. Reed previously worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and at Ripple, bringing regulatory experience during a time when the exchange faced intense scrutiny. Reed said the leadership transition reflects the company’s focus on expansion. “As we look to the next phase of growth for Binance.US, Stephen brings an entrepreneurial approach to leadership that I am confident will deliver for our customers in a meaningful way,” Reed said. “I am proud of the work we have accomplished together to offer a compliant, U.S. regulated home for digital assets.” The exchange’s ability to restore fiat deposit and withdrawal services was a key operational milestone. During the suspension period, many users relied solely on crypto-to-crypto transactions, which limited the platform’s appeal compared with rivals that retained banking access. How Binance’s Regulatory History Still Shapes the US Strategy Binance.US operates separately from the global Binance exchange, but the brand’s regulatory history continues to influence perceptions in the United States. The global exchange and its founder Changpeng Zhao were previously targeted by U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice, during a period of heightened enforcement against crypto platforms. That scrutiny forced structural changes across Binance’s operations and contributed to a more cautious strategy in the U.S. market. Binance.US now presents itself as a regulated domestic platform, with leadership hires and compliance messaging designed to reassure both regulators and customers. Gregory’s background in compliance and legal matters fits that approach. Exchanges operating in the United States face overlapping oversight from securities regulators, commodities authorities, and banking partners, making regulatory expertise a core requirement for executive leadership. Investor Takeaway For crypto exchanges operating in the United States, executive leadership increasingly reflects regulatory expertise rather than purely trading or technology backgrounds. Where Binance.US Stands in the US Crypto Market Despite the global brand recognition of Binance, its American affiliate remains smaller than leading domestic exchanges. Platforms such as Coinbase and Kraken continue to dominate U.S. crypto trading volumes and customer accounts. Even so, the United States remains one of the most attractive markets for digital-asset platforms because of its investor base, institutional participation, and relatively deep liquidity. For Binance.US, expanding its footprint will depend on restoring user trust, strengthening banking relationships, and operating within a regulatory environment that continues to evolve.

Stablecoin payments company Kast raised $80 million in a round pushing its valuation to $600 million, with plans to expand globally while targeting $100 million in annual revenue.  The solana price prediction is firming as institutional money flows into crypto infrastructure during the cooldown, and the presale where whale wallets are loading the heaviest right now is Pepeto, where nearly $8 million raised includes a growing concentration of large positions from wallets that do not enter small and do not enter projects without real infrastructure behind them. Solana Price Prediction Strengthens After Kast's $600M Valuation Proves Institutional Appetite for Crypto Infrastructure Remains Strong The solana price prediction gained support after Kast's round led by Left Lane Capital and QED investors valued the company at $600 million with $100 million in expected revenue, as CoinDesk reported.  CoinMarketCap shows SOL at $86 after recovering 2.9% alongside the broader bounce. When institutional capital flows into payments infrastructure at this scale during a cooldown, the solana price prediction favors projects with verified infrastructure and revenue models over tokens relying on sentiment. Solana Price Prediction Looks Positive but the Whale Wallets Are Not Waiting for SOL to Recover When Pepeto Offers This Entry Pepeto Whale wallets do not enter presales based on promises. They enter based on infrastructure they can verify, leadership they can research, and economics they can model, and that is exactly why the largest positions in Pepeto keep getting larger.  Pepeto connects Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana through a zero cost bridge, charges zero fees on every trade, and screens every listing through AI before tokens reach the floor. The cofounder built the original Pepe to $7 billion, a former Binance executive designed the exchange, and SolidProof completed the audit before the presale opened. The whale wallets entering are making the same calculation that whale wallets always make at market bottoms: find the most underpriced infrastructure with the strongest team and accumulate before the rest of the market catches on. Every trade after launch generates permanent income to presale wallets proportional to position size, which means larger positions earn more, and that is exactly why large wallets keep increasing their allocations with every stage.  The solana price prediction crowd watching this pattern knows what whale accumulation during fear means because it is the same pattern that preceded every major winner in crypto, and the presale approaching $8 million from wallets that keep returning with bigger entries is the clearest signal the market has that the price jump after listing is going to be significant. The 204% APY compounding daily on every position adds yield while the whales wait for the price explosion post listing. Solana Price Prediction for 2026 SOL trades at $86 according to CoinMarketCap, down over 30% year to date despite strong fundamentals and the Alpenglow upgrade targeting sub second finality. The solana price prediction for March consolidates between $80 support and $96 resistance, with recovery toward $100 possible by month end. Grok projects SOL reaching $300 by year end if Firedancer goes live and ETF inflows sustain. The solana price prediction is bullish long term, but SOL's large cap market cap means even strong recovery represents limited percentage gains compared to presale exchange infrastructure where the listing triggers the price jump and whale wallets are already positioned for what comes after. Conclusion The whale wallets that entered during the worst fear in years did their research, saw the SolidProof audit, the $7 billion cofounder, the former Binance executive, and committed because the math made sense, the same way early Solana made sense before it exploded.After listing, every new buyer purchases from the wallets already inside, and those wallets set the price.  The presale is still open, the exchange is built, and the community grows faster every day. Visit the Pepeto official website while entries are still accepted, because the whale wallets are not waiting and the price after listing will be whatever the market decides, not what the presale offered. Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale FAQs What is the solana price prediction for 2026? The solana price prediction targets recovery above $100 near term with year end projections reaching $300 if Alpenglow and ETF inflows sustain the momentum. Is Pepeto a good investment for SOL holders? Pepeto bridges Solana to Ethereum and BNB Chain at zero cost with permanent revenue sharing, and whale wallets are accumulating heavily. Visit the Pepeto official website. Is Pepeto a secure project? Pepeto completed a SolidProof audit before the presale, has a former Binance executive behind the exchange, and whale wallet accumulation during fear confirms strong informed conviction.

Subheading: Why traders are caught between structural restraint and fear. Recent months have highlighted a familiar contradiction in the oil market. Official production guidance continues to point toward stability, while geopolitical headlines reinforce a sense of persistent fragility. Prices have often been consolidated before reacting sharply to isolated shipping, security, or policy developments, underscoring the defining feature of the current environment: oil is no longer driven solely by steady changes in supply and demand, but by the tension between deliberate restraint and sudden disruption. For traders assessing the months ahead, this creates a more complex decision framework. The old models that relied heavily on Chinese consumption data or inventory builds in Cushing are frequently overshadowed by a more aggressive force. Confidence cycles now drive price action, and fear creates sharp bursts of volatility that defy standard fundamental logic. The OPEC+ paradox OPEC+ continues to act as a central stabilising mechanism in the market. Rather than relying solely on broad production targets, the group has demonstrated a willingness to adjust output tactically in response to shifts in demand and price pressure. This approach has helped limit sustained downside moves, particularly during periods of softer economic data from Europe and parts of Asia.  This discipline provides a degree of predictability, especially for medium-term positioning. However, it should not be mistaken for a permanent price floor. OPEC+ support reduces the probability of prolonged collapses, but it does not eliminate volatility. Prices can still move sharply within that range, especially when external shocks test the market’s confidence in uninterrupted supply.  Demand growth is slowing, not disappearing  The need for tighter supply management reflects a changing demand landscape. Global oil consumption is still expanding, but at a slower and less uniform pace than in previous decades. China’s role is evolving as efficiency gains, electrification, and structural shifts in its economy reduce the marginal growth rate of fuel demand, even as petrochemical and industrial use remain resilient. This creates a more sensitive balance. Small changes in global growth expectations now carry disproportionate weight. A modest downgrade in manufacturing outlook or trade volumes can trigger outsized reactions in crude prices, not because demand collapses, but because the margin for error has narrowed. For traders, this increases the importance of macro data as a volatility catalyst rather than a directional anchor. Geopolitics as a volatility accelerator Against this backdrop, geopolitical risk has reasserted itself as a primary source of price acceleration. Shipping disruptions, sanctions rhetoric, or regional security incidents force immediate reassessment of access rather than availability. The market reacts not to barrels lost, but to the possibility that flows could be interrupted. These repricings are often abrupt. A relatively contained event can trigger rapid moves as risk premiums are recalculated in real time. In this environment, short exposure carries asymmetric risk, as upside reactions tend to be faster and sharper than downside adjustments driven by supply data. Execution is part of the strategy  These rapid conditions place greater emphasis on execution quality. During headline-driven moves, liquidity can thin, spreads can widen, and slippage becomes a meaningful cost. Strategy alone isn’t enough if market access deteriorates at the moment of entry or exit.  This is where platform reliability matters. Brokers like Exness are built to minimize friction during fast markets, prioritizing ideal conditions even during high-impact news. One key example: Exness offers the most precise executions in the market across key instruments¹, helping traders manage headline-driven moves without execution quality becoming more of a liability. In this environment, execution is not a secondary consideration. It is part of the trading edge.  Sentiment overruling fundamentals In practice, oil pricing in early 2026 often reflects perceived risk rather than confirmed disruption. Physical balances still matter, but they are frequently overshadowed by sentiment shifts. Quiet periods allow fundamentals to reassert themselves. Noisy periods push prices away from equilibrium. "We are witnessing a decoupling of price from physical flow," said Terrence Hove, senior financial market strategist at Exness. "Traders who rely strictly on traditional supply metrics are finding themselves on the wrong side of momentum because the premium isn't in the barrel anymore. It's in the fear of missing the barrel." This does not render fundamentals irrelevant, but it does mean they operate on a different timeframe. The challenge is recognising when the market is trading scenarios rather than data. Forecasting a precise year-end oil price remains less useful than preparing for volatility. The defining feature of 2026 is not a single trend, but repeated oscillation between managed supply and sudden risk repricing. In a market shaped by both restraint and disruption, the goal is not to predict the next headline, but to remain resilient when it arrives. ¹ Most precise execution claims refer to average slippage rates on pending orders based on data collected between September 2024 and July 2025 for XAUUSD, USOIL, and BTC CFDs on the Exness Standard account vs similar accounts offered by four other brokers. Delays and slippage may occur. No guarantee of execution speed or precision is provided.

KEY TAKEAWAYS Free, no-account-required access. Google Finance lets anyone view real-time price quotes (up to 20 minutes delayed), historical charts, and market-cap data for major cryptocurrencies directly from finance.google.com without creating an account or downloading software. Limited crypto coverage and the platform’s dedicated crypto tab originally launched with just Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. GOOGLEFINANCE function in Sheets. Google Sheets users can pull live and historical crypto prices using formulas such as =GOOGLEFINANCE("BTC-USD") or =GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY: ETHUSD", "price"), enabling custom portfolio dashboards that auto-update. However, historical crypto data retrieval is inconsistent and often returns errors. Data delays and sourcing disclaimers. All Google Finance data is provided "as is" for informational purposes only. Third-party add-ons fill the gaps. For broader altcoin coverage, NFT floor prices, and granular historical data, users can extend Google Sheets with marketplace add-ons. Google Finance is a free, web-based financial data platform that aggregates market quotes, charts, and news for stocks, ETFs, indexes, currencies, and, since early 2021, a dedicated cryptocurrency section. The crypto tab sits prominently at the top of the Google Finance homepage alongside U.S., European, and Asian market comparisons, a placement that signaled just how far digital assets had moved into the mainstream financial conversation. For casual investors who want a quick snapshot of where Bitcoin or Ethereum is trading without opening an exchange app, Google Finance delivers. Type "BTC" into the search bar, and you get a price chart, percentage changes, market capitalization, trading volume, and curated news headlines. The interface mirrors what you see for any traditional stock ticker, which is exactly the point.  Google’s broader push into crypto infrastructure, including adding 11 blockchain networks to its BigQuery data warehouse and investing billions in Bitcoin mining operations through TeraWulf, shows this is not a passing experiment. But the simplicity that makes Google Finance approachable also defines its constraints. Understanding both sides is essential for anyone trying to build a robust crypto-tracking workflow around the platform. How Google Finance Displays Crypto Data Google Finance presents cryptocurrency information in a clear format, making it easier for users to track digital asset performance.  The Web Interface The Google Finance website organizes crypto data in the same visual framework it uses for equities. When you navigate to the cryptocurrency market section, the platform displays a default list of major tokens sorted by market capitalization. Clicking on any individual cryptocurrency opens a detail page showing an interactive price chart (with selectable timeframes ranging from 1 day to 5 years), key statistics such as 52-week highs and lows, and a news feed aggregated from financial publishers. Google also integrates crypto price data directly into its search engine. A Google search for "Bitcoin price" returns a live price widget at the top of the results page, complete with a mini chart and conversion tools. This feature, which Google previously restored after a brief suspension in October 2024 due to data inaccuracies, pulls from the same underlying data providers that feed the Google Finance platform. The platform also now incorporates prediction market data from Polymarket and Kalshi, as announced in November 2025. This means users can ask questions about future market events and see real-time probability data alongside traditional price charts, a feature that runs on blockchain infrastructure through Polygon and USDC settlement. The GOOGLEFINANCE Function in Google Sheets Where the web interface gives you a visual snapshot, the GOOGLEFINANCE function in Google Sheets turns crypto data into something you can actually work with. The function pulls live and historical financial data directly into spreadsheet cells and supports cryptocurrency tickers in two main formats: =GOOGLEFINANCE("BTC-USD") for a simple current price, or =GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY: BTCUSD", "price") for the currency-pair format. According to Google’s official documentation, the function supports several real-time attributes, including price, volume, and market cap, as well as historical attributes such as open, close, high, and low, with daily or weekly intervals. A formula like =GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY: ETHUSD", "price", TODAY()-30, TODAY()) can retrieve the last 30 days of Ethereum closing prices as an array, which you can then feed into SPARKLINE charts or moving-average calculations. The auto-refresh behavior is worth understanding. GOOGLEFINANCE updates at irregular intervals, not in real time. Under Sheets settings (File > Settings > Calculation), you can set recalculation to "On change and every minute," but even this does not guarantee truly live prices. Expect delays of several minutes between refreshes, and plan your workflow accordingly. Where The Platform Falls Short Google Finance’s crypto limitations are significant enough that any serious investor or analyst needs to plan around them. Narrow Token Coverage: The GOOGLEFINANCE function reliably supports only a handful of major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a small group of top-10 tokens generally work, but most altcoins return errors. Google does not publish a comprehensive list of supported crypto tickers the way it does for traditional equities, which creates a trial-and-error process for users trying to track mid-cap or small-cap tokens. Unreliable Historical Data: Unlike stock data, historical crypto data through the GOOGLEFINANCE function is inconsistent. Attempts to pull date-ranged crypto data frequently return #N/A errors, and even when historical queries work, they typically return only closing prices without open, high, low, or volume breakdowns. English-only Availability: GOOGLEFINANCE is only available in English and does not support most international exchanges, limiting its utility for global crypto investors who work in other languages. No Trading Execution: Google Finance is purely an information and tracking tool. It does not custody crypto, execute trades, or connect directly to exchanges. Users who want to act on the data they see still need a separate brokerage or exchange account. Data Sourcing Opacity: Google aggregates crypto pricing from multiple data providers but does not disclose which ones. The platform’s standard disclaimer notes that all data is provided "as is" for personal informational purposes only, and Google explicitly states it is not a financial adviser. For investors who need exchange-specific pricing or volume-weighted averages, this lack of source transparency is a real gap. How To Extend Google Finance For Better Crypto Tracking The good news is that Google Sheets’ open architecture means you do not have to accept the GOOGLEFINANCE function’s limitations as the final word. Several approaches can dramatically expand what you can do. CoinGecko for Google Sheets. The official CoinGecko add-on is the most popular free option. A simple =COINGECKO() formula pulls live prices, market caps, 24-hour volume, and price changes for thousands of tokens. The add-on also supports historical price lookups, NFT floor prices, and bulk data retrieval for up to 1,000 assets in a single formula. For anyone tracking a diversified crypto portfolio, this is the most efficient free upgrade. API connectors and Apps Script. For advanced users, Google Sheets supports the IMPORTDATA and IMPORTJSON functions (the latter via a custom script) that can pull data directly from exchange APIs such as CoinGecko, CoinMarketCap, or even individual exchange endpoints. When combined with Google Apps Script, you can build automated refresh schedules, custom alert systems, and multi-exchange dashboards that update on a timed schedule. Crypto ETF tracking as an alternative. For investors who prefer regulated exposure, Google Finance fully supports crypto-adjacent ETFs and stocks. Spot Bitcoin ETFs, mining stocks like TeraWulf (WULF), and crypto exchange equities like Coinbase (COIN) all work flawlessly with the GOOGLEFINANCE function, including full historical data. Building a portfolio tracker around these instruments sidesteps most of the platform’s crypto-specific data gaps. The Bottom Line Google Finance has done something important by giving crypto prices the same visual treatment as stocks and ETFs on one of the internet’s most visited financial platforms. For millions of casual investors, that normalization matters. The ability to check Bitcoin’s price in the same place you monitor your 401(k) holdings removes a psychological barrier that still keeps some people from engaging with digital assets at all. But for anyone who needs more than a quick price check, the platform’s crypto coverage remains frustratingly thin. The narrow token support, unreliable historical data, and opaque sourcing mean that serious crypto investors will inevitably need to layer on third-party tools. The GOOGLEFINANCE function in Sheets is a strong foundation, but it is only a foundation. The real power comes from pairing it with add-ons and API integrations that fill in everything Google leaves out.   FAQs Is Google Finance free to use for crypto tracking? Yes. Google Finance is entirely free and does not require an account. You can view crypto prices, charts, and news at finance.google.com, and the GOOGLEFINANCE function in Google Sheets is available to anyone with a Google account at no additional cost. Which cryptocurrencies does Google Finance support? The web interface displays a broader range of tokens sorted by market cap, but the GOOGLEFINANCE Sheets function reliably works only with major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and a small number of top-10 tokens. Most altcoins are not supported and will return errors. Google does not publish a definitive list of supported crypto tickers. Is the crypto data on Google Finance real-time? Not quite. Google Finance price quotes can be delayed by up to 20 minutes, and the GOOGLEFINANCE function in Sheets refreshes at irregular intervals rather than continuously. Even with Sheets' recalculation set to "every minute," prices do not update in true real time. Can I use Google Finance to buy or sell cryptocurrency? No. Google Finance is only an information and portfolio-tracking platform. It does not execute trades, hold crypto, or connect to exchanges. You need a separate crypto exchange or brokerage to buy and sell digital assets. What is the formula to get Bitcoin’s price in Google Sheets? Use =GOOGLEFINANCE("BTC-USD") for the current price, or =GOOGLEFINANCE("CURRENCY: BTCUSD", "price") for the currency pair format. Both should return Bitcoin’s latest quoted price in U.S. dollars, subject to the platform’s typical 10- to 20-minute delay. Why does the GOOGLEFINANCE function return errors for my crypto ticker? The function has limited crypto coverage. If a token is not among the supported major cryptocurrencies, the formula will return a #N/A or #VALUE! error. To track unsupported tokens, install a third-party add-on like the CoinGecko for Google Sheets plugin, which covers thousands of additional assets. Can I pull historical crypto data with GOOGLEFINANCE? In theory, yes. The function supports date-range parameters for historical queries. In practice, historical crypto data is inconsistent and often fails, returning only closing prices when it works and #N/A errors when it does not. For reliable historical crypto data, the CoinGecko add-on or direct API integrations are more dependable alternatives. References CoinGeko Google Finance

NEW YORK, United States, March 11th, 2026, FinanceWire Freedom Holding Corp. (Nasdaq:FRHC), an international financial technology group founded by entrepreneur Timur Turlov, has announced an agreement to acquire 99.32% of the shares in Turkish Bank A.Ş. The sellers are Özyol Holding and the National Bank of Kuwait. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities in Turkey. The parties had previously announced their intention to conclude the deal, but the key parameters have now been disclosed, including the size of the stake being acquired. The purchase of the bank provides Freedom Holding Corp. with direct access to Turkey's banking market, which serves a population of around 90 million people, and represents an important stage in the development of the group's ecosystem in the Turkish market. The transaction includes only Turkish Bank A.Ş., which has been operating in Turkey since 1982. The TurkishBank Group's divisions in the United Kingdom and Cyprus are not part of the deal. The acquisition continues Freedom Holding Corp.'s strategy of developing its own digital infrastructure in the regions where it operates. Earlier, the holding's subsidiary, Freedom Finansal Hizmetler, received regulatory approval to launch the brokerage firm Freedom Yatirim (Freedom Investment Securities Inc.). Having a banking license will allow the group to combine investment, brokerage, and banking services within a single financial ecosystem. "We are entering Turkey with our digital product and ecosystem, with our SuperApp at the center," said Timur Turlov, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Holding Corp. "Our company is growing rapidly, driven by a strong team of talented professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs whose expertise enables us to scale efficiently. Last year we opened our brokerage office in Turkey, and acquiring a bank is the logical next step in expanding the holding's presence in a market where we see significant long-term potential." "Turkey's GDP is growing by approximately 3-4% annually, and the country ranks among the world's largest economies, with a population of more than 85 million people," Turlov added. We are confident in our ability to deploy our technologies effectively and build a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates banking services, capital markets, payment solutions, and retail investment products. Following the completion of the transaction, Freedom plans to invest in the bank's technological modernization, accelerate its digital transformation, and expand its product offering with a focus on retail customers as well as the small and medium-sized business segment. Hakan Borteçene, chairman of TurkishBank Group, emphasized that Freedom's international platform and digital expertise could contribute to the development of Turkey's financial sector. Turkish Bank A.Ş. provides a full range of banking services, including corporate, commercial, and retail banking. Entering the Turkish banking market is part of Freedom Holding Corp.'s ongoing international expansion. Over the past year and a half, the group's banking division entered the market in Tajikistan and is currently in the process of acquiring a bank in Georgia. The brokerage business is also expanding geographically: in December 2025 the company obtained a license in Abu Dhabi. Freedom Holding Corp.'s digital ecosystem already serves more than 11 million users across its markets. In Kazakhstan, Freedom Bank is among the country's largest financial institutions. The number of users of its SuperApp reached 5 million, doubling within a year, and the bank expects the SuperApp user base to grow to 8 million by the end of the year. The application provides access not only to traditional banking services but also to insurance products, event ticket purchases, online grocery and retail orders, airline tickets and travel packages, as well as a wide range of government services. Interest in the company from institutional investors is also growing. Among the company's institutional shareholders are BlackRock, Millennium Management, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. The company's shares were also added to the Russell 3000 Index, which tracks the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. Further confirmation of the company's stability is its credit rating from S&P Global Ratings, which reaffirmed Freedom Holding Corp.'s rating at "B-" with a stable outlook, reflecting the stability of its financial position and the holding's long-term growth potential. About Freedom Holding Corp. Freedom Holding Corp. provides financial services in 21 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. The Company's principal executive office is located in New York City. In Kazakhstan, Freedom is actively developing its financial and digital ecosystem, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, the insurance companies Freedom Life and Freedom insurance, as well as a lifestyle segment that features Arbuz.kz, Freedom Ticketon, and Freedom Travel. Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the U.S. technology exchange NASDAQ, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and the Astana International Exchange (AIX) under the ticker symbol FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the common stock is included in Russell 3000 Index. Contact Head of Public Relations Natalia Kharlashina Freedom Holding Corp. prglobal@ffin.kz +77013641454