Geopolitics

Indiana has become the first U.S. state to legally include cryptocurrencies in state-managed retirement plans, requiring at least one crypto investment option. Additionally, it has banned crypto ATMs statewide under a separate law.

From 15:45 to 16:00 on March 4, 2026 (UTC), the ETH price experienced a significant anomaly, with a K-line return of +1.09%. The price range fluctuated between 2126.16 and 2158.9 USDT, with an amplitude of 1.54%. Short-term volatility intensified during this period, attracting market attention, with trading volume and sentiment rising simultaneously. The main drivers of this anomaly were large on-chain whale purchases and continuous net inflows of ETF funds. Specifically, on March 3, a whale exchanged 99.5 BTC for 33

Iranian officials deny having contact with the United States to negotiate a ceasefire, calling it a "psychological warfare" and a lie. Reports indicate that Iran's intelligence agency had contacted the CIA through channels, but this was denied. Subsequently, international oil prices briefly rose and then fell back due to U.S. military plans to escort oil tankers. Additionally, the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to cause casualties and energy price hikes, with Bitcoin also rising to break through $73,000.

On March 4, 2026, from 15:15 to 15:30 (UTC), ETH achieved a return of +2.38% within 15 minutes, with a price range of 2088.93-2144.2 USDT and an amplitude of 2.65%. Trading volume significantly increased in a short period, market attention heightened, volatility intensified, and funds rapidly flowed into mainstream assets, with short-term activity clearly rising. The main drivers of this movement are the inflow of global macro risk-averse funds and continuous net inflows from ETF institutional investors. Escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have driven funds toward gold and cryptocurrencies, with ETH and BTC as the mainstream assets.

ChainCatcher News, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated during a live CNBC broadcast, "You walk into a bank, and they can provide you with both fiat currency services like the US dollar and digital asset services like Bitcoin. This will create the financial services industry of the 21st century." Influenced by this news, BTC broke through $72,000, with a 24-hour increase of 6.95%; ETH broke through $2,100, with a 24-hour increase of 7%.

As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate, Bridgewater founder Ray Dalio questions Bitcoin and reaffirms gold as the preferred safe haven. Nevertheless, gold prices fell accordingly, while Bitcoin only experienced a slight correction, indicating that the correlation between the two is weakening. Dalio doubts Bitcoin's transparency and future risks, but he still maintains a small allocation of Bitcoin for diversification.

Author: Zen, PANews The global spotlight is on Iran and the Persian Gulf. The outside world often discusses Iran through two main narratives: military and regime risks, and energy and shipping impacts. Mainstream media reports focus on military actions, oil and gas facilities, the Strait of Hormuz, and sharp fluctuations in financial markets. But beneath these grand narratives, if you zoom in on cities like Tehran, Mashhad, and Ahvaz and look at individual ordinary people, you will find that when tensions are high, the most important things are life and asset hedging. After the US and Israel launched an attack, the outflow of assets from Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex surged, skyrocketing by about 700% within just a few minutes. Chainalysis’s report also confirmed that within hours after the attack, the hourly trading volume of crypto assets within Iran rapidly increased.

Author: Fenrir, Crypto City From the regulatory gray area to the mainstream, the UK Gambling Commission explores the possibility of crypto asset payments The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) recently signaled a major policy shift, planning to formally explore the integration of cryptocurrencies into compliant gambling markets. During the annual conference of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) in London, the commission’s Director of Research and Policy Implementation, Tim Miller, pointed out that digital assets are transitioning from the regulatory gray area to mainstream payment options. Image source: Lottery Daily | UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) Director of Research and Policy Implementation Tim Miller This move reflects the UK government’s commitment to establishing the country as a global “crypto hub,” and aims to connect one of the largest economic pillars domestically with modern consumer payment preferences. According to statistical data, currently

Indiana Governor signs House Bill 1042, allowing certain retirement funds to invest in crypto assets. The bill requires public savings and retirement plans to offer cryptocurrency options and establish related investment channels by July 1, 2027. Additionally, the state government shall not impose special taxes on cryptocurrency transactions. This move indicates the growing integration of cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system in the United States.

As the US-Israel coalition's military actions against Iran escalate, Iran's "shadow economy" becomes a focal point. Iran has legalized Bitcoin mining and is utilizing cheap electricity for mining to bypass US dollar sanctions, with the mining scale potentially reaching $7.8 billion and being heavily relied upon by the military. The rial has depreciated by over 96%, and the stablecoin USDT has become a new tool for trade, while the public is turning to Bitcoin to protect their assets.

Under the influence of the Middle East conflict, Bitcoin has risen against the trend, reaching a one-month high, and the overall crypto market is recovering. Factors driving the increase include expectations of fiat currency devaluation, optimistic sentiment about conflict easing, and the upcoming passage of the CLARITY Act, which is expected to benefit the legal status of stablecoins.

Amid military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, the US Bitcoin spot ETF attracted a net inflow of $458 million, pushing Bitcoin prices close to $70,000. Institutional investors believe that geopolitical risks are short-term shocks, with market leverage levels declining, and no systemic risk being triggered. The options market also shows a calm atmosphere, reflecting traders' preference for short-term hedging rather than long-term bearishness.

Recent reports indicate that after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex did not experience user-led withdrawal surges, despite a brief increase in on-chain activity. Analysts believe that these fund transfers are related to internal platform fund management and are not due to user panic withdrawals.

The ECB warns that increasing stablecoin adoption could threaten Europe's banking system by reducing bank deposits, impacting lending, and complicating monetary policy. The report emphasizes the need for balanced regulation to manage digital finance's growth and stability.

The cryptocurrency market has recently shown signs of recovery, with Bitcoin breaking through $71,000 and a single-day increase of 4.81%. At the same time, the total amount of short positions liquidated across the network has exceeded $100 million, and the liquidation amount for Ethereum is also quite significant. The US stock indices have slightly risen, indicating macro market capital adjustments.

Ethereum Treasury Company Chairman Tom Lee told CNBC that despite bad news in the market, performance has exceeded expectations and a bottom is being formed. He believes March is the bottom formation period, and the decline in software and crypto assets is nearing an end. Investors should remain patient and seize opportunities.

Trump recently supported legislation for the crypto industry, criticizing banks for blocking the 《GENIUS Act》, and calling for the promotion of the 《Clarity Act》. He emphasized that the United States must complete legislation on the crypto market structure as soon as possible to maintain domestic industry development, prevent opportunities from flowing abroad, and promote cooperation between banks and the crypto sector to ensure economic benefits.

Trump accuses banks of stalling the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts due to disputes over stablecoin rewards, warning delays could harm U.S. crypto leadership. Senate debates highlight divides over traditional banking models and crypto regulation.

Iran's stablecoin strategy, which garnered international attention during geopolitical unrest, highlights the currency's role in the economy. The Central Bank halted USDT-toman trading to manage currency values. Reports indicate stablecoins were involved in 84% of Iran's illicit crypto volumes in 2025, with significant ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Amid airstrikes, Iran's crypto activities plummeted, revealing vulnerabilities while regime-related transactions likely persisted. The FATF's findings emphasize the duality of stablecoins in both legitimate and illicit financial activities.

Gate News bot message: According to Bloomberg citing The New York Times, Iranian agents have proposed terms to end the war. The source of the news is Tree News.