Gate News bot message, according to Gate official announcement on March 18, 2026 Gate's contract stock section will launch the BMNR (BitMine) perpetual contract live trading for the first time on March 18, 2026 at 18:00 (UTC+8). It will use USDT settlement and support 1-20x long and short operations. Users can choose their leverage ratio when placing orders. BMNR is the stock ticker for BitMine Immersion Technologies, Inc., a company that primarily holds cryptocurrency assets such as Ethereum (ETH).

OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer, responding to the Vanity Fair controversy, stated that despite external criticism, the team continues to develop and focuses on products that users love. He emphasized that the crypto industry is still in its early stages and will become integrated into daily life in the future, noting that the report misunderstood the industry.

neoyokio.eth whale's ASTER long position on Hyperliquid platform has expanded unrealized gains to $2.7 million with a return rate of 56.4%. After the whale's initial entry at $0.69, it added positions against the trend, reducing the average holding cost to $0.636. Recently ASTER surged to $0.78, now pulling back to $0.737.

On March 18, U.S. national debt surpassed $39 trillion, drawing market attention. Rising debt is driven by persistent deficits and increased interest burdens, with investors showing growing interest in decentralized assets such as Bitcoin. Policymakers face trade-offs between debt servicing and funding new initiatives, with rising debt potentially impacting infrastructure investment and long-term economic growth. Markets should monitor how debt developments influence investment strategies.

On March 18, X Twitter launched a "dislike" button to optimize reply rankings, but simultaneously phishing impersonation scams surged, putting users at security risk. Cybersecurity experts remind users to be vigilant against suspicious emails to avoid information leaks. The platform's long-term strategy aims to reduce spam, but users need to remain vigilant during the transition period.

In a challenging digital asset market, Hyperliquid Strategies Inc. (PURR) has realized approximately $595 million in paper gains by holding HYPE tokens, reflecting its successful benefit from HYPE price appreciation and the HIP-3 upgrade. In contrast, Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), which primarily holds Ethereum, faces losses. Analysts believe PURR's long-term performance depends on its ability to expand into real-world asset trading.

Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty welcomes the SEC's latest guidance, classifying XRP as a digital commodity rather than a security, ending regulatory disputes. The document provides a clear framework for the digital asset market, boosting market confidence, promoting long-term XRP adoption, and supporting the development of the Ripple ecosystem.

Bitcoin price has fallen back to $74,000, with the market paying close attention to Fed Chair Powell's speech. Ongoing whale buying and ETF inflows demonstrate long-term demand, but short-term selling pressure should be watched carefully. Market sentiment is improving, and volatility could increase.

A latest research report indicates that XRP remains the core of Ripple's cross-border payment infrastructure, serving as a liquidity bridge. Even with the launch of the stablecoin RLUSD, XRP remains irreplaceable in value exchange and transaction speed. Ripple is positioning it as a bridge for central bank digital currencies, enhancing long-term market confidence.

Mastercard announced the acquisition of blockchain payments company BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, aimed at connecting traditional finance with blockchain systems to support digital asset payments. This move reflects Mastercard's strategic transformation in the stablecoin and digital asset sectors. Despite short-term stock price declines, the long-term development prospects are promising.