Industry News

Tracks company news, strategic changes, funding activities, and personnel adjustments across the blockchain and crypto industries, delivering a full-spectrum industry overview for our users.

RWA Weekly: Compromise on Crypto Market Structure Bill Sparks Industry Divisions; Three Major Traditional Exchanges Develop Tokenization Products

RWA Weekly Digest: March 21–27, 2026 The RWA sector saw steady growth, with total on-chain market cap reaching $26.6 billion (+4.73% MoM) and holder count rising to 694k (+6.07% MoM). Stablecoin market cap remained stable at ~$3 trillion, though transaction volume and active addresses declined, indicating more holding than trading activity. Key regulatory developments included a U.S. crypto market structure bill compromise on stablecoin yield provisions, causing division within the industry, and Delaware’s proposed legislation to bring stablecoins under banking supervision. Major exchanges and institutions advanced tokenization: NYSE partnered with Securitize; Nasdaq collaborated with Talos; CME and Bank of Montreal launched tokenized cash settlement services. Franklin Templeton and Ondo introduced a 24/7 tradable tokenized ETF, while Invesco acquired Superstate’s $900M on-chain treasury fund. Ecosystem developments included Circle integrating USDC into Africa’s Sasai network, USDT₀ expanding to Tempo blockchain, and Ripple testing RLUSD for automated cross-border trade settlements in Singapore. Financings included XFX raising $17M for fiat-stablecoin FX infrastructure and Payy securing $6M for private stablecoin payments. Reports highlighted concerns from the FSB on dollar stablecoin risks in emerging markets and Electric Capital’s analysis showing only 34 RWA assets exceed $50M in on-chain size, with AI infrastructure spending poised to drive future growth.

marsbit03/27 09:07

RWA Weekly: Compromise on Crypto Market Structure Bill Sparks Industry Divisions; Three Major Traditional Exchanges Develop Tokenization Products

marsbit03/27 09:07

From Speculation to Utility: Why AI and Stablecoins Remain Unfazed by the Bear Market?

Despite the overall downturn in the cryptocurrency market in 2026, the AI and stablecoin sectors have outperformed, showing resilience and continued adoption. While Bitcoin price dropped by 18.5% and the total crypto market cap fell to $2.42 trillion, these two areas recorded significant growth in usage and market activity. Key data highlights include: - The AI token sector declined by only 14% in Q1 2026, the smallest drop among major categories. - Stablecoin total market cap reached a record $3.2 trillion, with monthly trading volume hitting $1.8 trillion in February 2026, also a historic high. USDC supply grew by 220% since November 2023, reaching $78 billion, while ChatGPT’s weekly active users increased tenfold to 900 million during the same period. Tether’s USDT remains the leading stablecoin with a $184 billion market cap. The convergence of AI and stablecoins is driven by structural trends: AI requires fast, low-cost payment systems, and stablecoins serve as ideal “internet money.” Both sectors benefit from real-world utility beyond speculation—AI enhances productivity and security, while stablecoins provide efficient global dollar distribution and settlement infrastructure. This shift reflects a broader market transition from speculation to practical, infrastructure-focused applications, positioning AI and stablecoins for sustained growth.

marsbit03/27 09:04

From Speculation to Utility: Why AI and Stablecoins Remain Unfazed by the Bear Market?

marsbit03/27 09:04

BIT Makes First Appearance After Brand Upgrade, Hosts 'Trust in Digital Finance' Industry Event in Singapore

BIT (formerly Matrixport) held its first industry event, "Trust in Digital Finance," in Singapore on March 27, 2026, following its recent rebranding. The event brought together global financial institutions and digital asset industry representatives to discuss governance standards, compliance frameworks, and operational infrastructure as the sector becomes increasingly institutionalized. Cynthia Wu, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the approval of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024 as a key turning point, attracting more mainstream institutional capital. This has elevated requirements for platforms and infrastructure, making custody architecture, compliance, and operational transparency essential rather than optional. Chief Brand Officer Wendy Sun explained that the rebrand to BIT—which stands for "Bridge Into Tomorrow," "Build on Integrity and Trust," and "Build It Together"—reflects the group’s vision to advance digital finance infrastructure collaboratively and trustworthily. Discussions also centered on BIT’s recently published Trust Whitepaper, which outlines a trust framework covering risk governance, multi-jurisdictional compliance, custody security, and independent auditing. Cactus Custody CEO Daniel Lee and Chief Compliance Officer Christopher Liu elaborated on its practical implementation, including SOC audits and ISO certifications. BIT, headquartered in Singapore, is a global digital asset financial services group with over $6 billion in assets under management and a valuation exceeding $1 billion. It holds regulatory licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the UK, the U.S., and Bhutan.

marsbit03/27 08:12

A 140% Surge in Valuation in One Year: Who's Writing Checks for Defense AI?

In March 2026, military AI company Shield AI raised $2 billion in funding round, led by Advent International and J.P. Morgan, with additional participation from Blackstone. Its valuation surged 140% to $12.7 billion within a year. Similarly, competitor Anduril is reportedly seeking new funding at a $60 billion valuation. Both companies have seen valuations grow fourfold in just over two years, far outpacing revenue growth, indicating that the market is pricing them based on future platform potential rather than current earnings. This trend is mirrored in the public market, where Palantir’s market cap grew to over $420 billion by late 2025. Shield AI’s products include the MQ-35 V-BAT drone and the upcoming X-BAT autonomous fighter, while its Hivemind AI engine was selected by the U.S. Air Force for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. A key driver is the structural shift in defense tech funding. Private equity firms like Advent, KKR, and Carlyle are increasingly investing in long-term defense infrastructure, moving beyond traditional venture capital. In 2025, global defense tech VC deals reached $49.1 billion, with 87% going to late-stage companies. The U.S. Department of Defense’s FY2026 budget request allocated $13.4 billion specifically for AI and autonomous systems, with $9.4 billion dedicated to aerial drones—directly aligning with Shield AI and Anduril’s offerings. This clear demand signal, combined with institutional capital moving into defense infrastructure, marks a shift from speculative investment to asset-level allocation in the defense AI sector.

marsbit03/27 07:52

A 140% Surge in Valuation in One Year: Who's Writing Checks for Defense AI?

marsbit03/27 07:52

Coinbase Partners with Fannie Mae to Make Crypto Assets a Real 'Down Payment' for Home Purchases

Coinbase has partnered with Better Home & Finance to launch a bitcoin-backed mortgage program supported by Fannie Mae, integrating digital assets into the traditional housing finance system. The product allows eligible borrowers to use Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for down payments without selling their holdings, avoiding potential capital gains taxes while maintaining market exposure. The mortgage is structured as a compliant loan product with standards aligned to traditional Fannie Mae-backed loans. Better originates and services the loans, while Coinbase provides custody and infrastructure support for the crypto assets. The initiative aims to address the barrier of upfront down payment funds, particularly for the 41% of U.S. households that lack sufficient liquid assets despite holding other forms of wealth. Unlike traditional crypto-backed loans, this product minimizes volatility risk for borrowers—no margin calls or additional collateral are required due to price fluctuations. Collateral is only at risk if the borrower is at least 60 days delinquent on mortgage payments. Interest rates are expected to be 0.5 to 1.5 percentage points higher than standard 30-year mortgages. The product reflects shifting wealth patterns, especially among younger Americans—45% of young investors hold crypto, compared to 18% of older adults. It also introduces features like yield generation on USDC holdings to offset mortgage costs. Future plans may include expanding eligible collateral to tokenized stocks, fixed-income products, and real estate assets. Fannie Mae’s involvement signals a move toward broader adoption, positioning digital assets as part of mainstream financial infrastructure.

marsbit03/27 07:44

Coinbase Partners with Fannie Mae to Make Crypto Assets a Real 'Down Payment' for Home Purchases

marsbit03/27 07:44

25% Of Institutions Plan To Add XRP In 2026: Coinbase Survey

According to a Coinbase and EY-Parthenon survey of 351 institutional decision-makers, 25% plan to add XRP to their portfolios in 2026, highlighting a broader shift into altcoins beyond just Bitcoin and Ethereum. The survey, conducted in January 2026, reveals that 73% of institutions intend to increase their digital asset allocations, with 74% expecting crypto prices to rise. While Bitcoin and Ethereum remain dominant, other assets like Solana, Chainlink, and XRP are gaining traction. The data also shows a trend toward larger portfolio allocations, with regulated vehicles like ETFs being the preferred access method. Key drivers for increased adoption include greater regulatory clarity and improved institutional infrastructure. At the time of reporting, XRP traded at $1.37.

bitcoinist03/27 06:02

25% Of Institutions Plan To Add XRP In 2026: Coinbase Survey

bitcoinist03/27 06:02

AI Read '1984' and Decided to Ban It

A UK secondary school in Manchester used AI to review its library, resulting in a list of 193 books recommended for removal—including George Orwell’s *1984*—due to themes like torture, violence, and sexual coercion. The librarian who resisted the AI’s recommendations was forced to resign after the school reported her for violating child safety procedures. The school later admitted the decisions were AI-generated but deemed them “broadly accurate.” In the same week, Wikipedia voted to ban the use of AI for generating or rewriting content, citing concerns over factual accuracy, the risk of AI “poisoning” its own training data, and the inability of human editors to verify AI-generated content at scale. Meanwhile, OpenAI indefinitely delayed the release of an “adult mode” for ChatGPT, which would have allowed age-verified users to engage in erotic conversations. Internal advisors warned of risks including unhealthy emotional dependency and minors bypassing verification. These events highlight a growing tension: AI can produce content faster than humans can evaluate it, leading institutions to adopt quick—often poorly considered—solutions. The lack of coherent global standards and the widening gap between AI output and human oversight raise urgent questions about who should control what AI decides—and who is accountable when it gets it wrong.

marsbit03/27 05:33

marsbit03/27 05:33

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Disney's $1 Billion Investment Goes Down the Drain, AI Video Market Reshuffles

OpenAI has officially shut down its AI video generation product Sora, including its consumer app, API, and the sora.com domain, as of March 24, 2026, just six months after its public launch. This decision also led to the cancellation of Disney’s three-year licensing agreement and a planned $1 billion investment in OpenAI. The tech community’s reaction highlighted Sora’s lack of real-world adoption, with many questioning whether the product was ever widely used. Competitors like Runway Gen-4, Kling 3.0, and Google Veo are now positioned as the main players in the AI video market. Sora’s shutdown is attributed to high operational costs—estimated at $15 million daily during peak usage—coupled with limited revenue alignment ahead of OpenAI’s expected IPO. Deepfake concerns related to Sora’s content generation features also contributed to its termination. OpenAI will retain Sora’s underlying technology for internal "world simulation" research aimed at robotics field, but no consumer-facing video products are planned. Current Sora users are advised to migrate to alternatives such as Runway, Kling, or Pika. The exit of OpenAI is expected to lead to market consolidation, potential price increases from remaining providers, and greater enterprise opportunities for competitors like Kling. Runway, in particular, may raise subscription prices due to increased demand.

marsbit03/27 05:32

OpenAI Shuts Down Sora, Disney's $1 Billion Investment Goes Down the Drain, AI Video Market Reshuffles

marsbit03/27 05:32

Performance Surpasses Opus! Anthropic Leaked Document Reveals: The New Generation Super Model Claude Mythos Is Already in Testing

According to leaked internal documents from Anthropic, the company's highly anticipated next-generation AI model, Claude Mythos, is currently in a secret testing phase. The documents reveal a new model tier named "Capybara," which represents a major technological leap, featuring a larger scale and superior intelligence that surpasses the flagship Claude Opus model. The leak also highlights significant concerns within Anthropic regarding unprecedented cybersecurity risks associated with Claude Mythos, prompting a cautious release strategy to balance advanced capabilities with safety. This development is expected to significantly raise the benchmark for large language models, intensifying competition in the AI industry and pushing the evolution of models toward deeper logical reasoning and complex task handling. The official release date for Claude Mythos remains unannounced.

marsbit03/27 03:52

Performance Surpasses Opus! Anthropic Leaked Document Reveals: The New Generation Super Model Claude Mythos Is Already in Testing

marsbit03/27 03:52

Lei Jun Announces: 60 Billion Investment in the Next Three Years! Xiaomi's MiMo-V2 Large Model Family Officially Released

Lei Jun, founder of Xiaomi, announced at the Spring Product Launch that the company plans to invest over 60 billion yuan in AI over the next three years, with R&D and capital expenditure for 2026 alone exceeding 16 billion yuan. This underscores Xiaomi's strategic shift from a smartphone maker to an AI technology leader. The event featured the debut of Xiaomi's self-developed large model family, MiMo-V2, including the flagship agent-oriented MiMo-V2-Pro, the multimodal V2-Omni, and the voice-focused V2-TTS. These models are already being deployed across Xiaomi’s device portfolio. Xiaomi also showcased its first AI-native smartphone, Xiaomi Miclaw, currently in closed testing, and an upgraded version of its smart car, SU7, equipped with the XLA cognitive model and a new intelligent cabin system. The substantial investment aims to build a technological moat and accelerate Xiaomi’s integration of AI across its human-vehicle-home ecosystem.

marsbit03/27 02:50

Lei Jun Announces: 60 Billion Investment in the Next Three Years! Xiaomi's MiMo-V2 Large Model Family Officially Released