Author: NBTC

Bitcoin miners are ditching hashpower for hyperscale as multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence (AI) contracts outpay mining by a wide margin, forcing a rethink of the industry that secures the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Bitcoin Mining Economics Struggle as AI Offers Higher Returns Per Megawatt What started as a side hustle has turned into a full-blown identity crisis for bitcoin miners. Across the United States and beyond, companies that once lived and died by hashprice are now chasing AI and high-performance computing (HPC) revenue, where the same megawatt of power can earn several times more. The inflection point traces back to April 2024,…

Bitcoin’s $BTC$69,657.53 biggest limitation just got shattered. A new protocol went live Thursday, making it simple to put the largest cryptocurrency directly to work in powerful, yield-generating strategies within the booming world of decentralized finance (DeFi). OpNet, a new smart-contract protocol, was activated on the Bitcoin blockchain, marking the arrival of DeFi-powering smart contracts that run directly on Bitcoin’s foundational layer. This keeps traders’ bitcoin on Bitcoin’s mainnet through standard transactions with $BTC as the only fee token. DeFi powers lending and borrowing activities that allow token holders to earn additional returns on their coin holdings. Holders of tokens native…

After the first wave of spot ether ($ETH) exchange-traded funds launched without staking, BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB), one of the industry’s most anticipated versions, begins trading on Nasdaq on Thursday. The fund marks the asset manager’s third crypto ETF and the first from BlackRock to incorporate staking. ETHB will hold spot ether and stake a portion of those holdings on the Ethereum network, allowing investors to potentially earn rewards while benefiting from price movements. The new vehicle expands BlackRock’s existing digital asset lineup, which includes the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). Those…

In a powerful vote of confidence for the maturing digital asset sector, premier Web3 venture capital firm Dragonfly has successfully closed its fourth fund, securing a formidable $650 million in committed capital. This significant raise, first reported by Fortune in May 2025, arrives at a pivotal moment for blockchain technology, underscoring a strategic, long-term institutional belief in decentralized infrastructure and applications far beyond speculative trading. Dragonfly Crypto Fund Anchors a New Era of Web3 Investment The announcement of Dragonfly’s $650 million fund represents one of the largest single venture capital raises dedicated to the crypto and Web3 space in 2025.…

Key takeaways The current state of crypto is compared to unregulated online sports betting, highlighting a disconnect between its intended purpose and reality. Coin Center is dedicated to protecting the development of free and open-source software in the crypto space. Common sense regulation is needed for trusted entities in crypto, but not for software development. AI development should utilize decentralized systems for better ownership and reward mechanisms. Legal standards for crypto and AI code distribution will likely align under the First Amendment. The state money transmission licensing regime is unsuitable for crypto businesses due to differing risk profiles. Equal treatment…

Circle has launched Nanopayments on testnet, offering developers a new infrastructure layer for ultra-small, gas-free $USDC transactions. The product is built on Circle Gateway and designed to serve the emerging agentic economy, where AI agents and autonomous software need to make rapid, sub-cent payments for services such as pay-per-call APIs, usage-based billing, and machine-to-machine marketplaces. The core challenge Nanopayments aims to solve is an economic one. Traditional payment rails carry fixed fees and overhead that make sub-cent transactions impractical, while even low-cost blockchain transactions can impose fees that dwarf the payment itself. Circle’s approach sidesteps this by aggregating transactions off-chain…

Russia is now offering preferential treatment for data centers involved in AI development, including reduced electricity rates, state funding, and tax breaks. New legislation prioritizing the use of computing power for artificial intelligence applications may limit available resources for crypto mining. It comes as a growing number of miners globally shift toward AI in pursuit of greater predictability and profits. Russia puts out bill designed to regulate AI Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media has released a draft law designed to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) in the country. The document, which was published Wednesday for public consultations…

JPool has announced a new partnership with Meria as the development of staking in the Solana ecosystem keeps growing faster, with big platforms joining in. The cooperation will improve accessibility, liquidity, and decentralization to its users who are engaged in staking within the network. Meria is now live on @JPoolSolana !From now on, you can liquid stake your $SOL for $JSOL with Meria as your validator.Start liquid staking your $SOL today by choosing our validator.Find out our article explaining the collaboration 👇 pic.twitter.com/6Dob4jFPeQ — Meria (@Meria_Finance) March 18, 2026 Staking is not a new concept and has traditionally been used…

The Ethereum price in consolidation is poised to challenge the overhead resistance of $2,142 amid significant drop in exchange reserve. On-chain data shows that Ethereum’s supply on centralized exchanges has dropped to 12.02%, the lowest level in recent years. A notable spike in daily RSI indicators to 50% without a sustained recovery in $ETH price shows failed attempts from buyers to drive a higher rally. Ethereum, the smart contract giants, witnessed a bullish uptick of roughly 2% on Tuesday, to reach its current trading value of $2,033. Despite the intraday gain, the daily candle shows overhead supply pressure with a…

Intensa Sanpaolo reveals $96 million in Bitcoin ETF holdings. The bank also holds a major put option tied to Strategy. Smaller investments include stakes in crypto firms and a $4.3 million position in a Solana-linked ETF. Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, has revealed a remarkable bet on crypto-linked investments, disclosing $96 million in spot Bitcoin ETF holdings. According to the latest regulatory filing, the exposure includes major U.S.-listed products such as the $ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and the iShares Bitcoin Trust. This indicates that the traditional European financial platforms are increasingly exploring opportunities in crypto investments. In addition to ETF…