200+ crypto news providers in one place.
CoinFeather
200+ crypto news providers in one place.
Quick market read from this story
Bank of Japan launches blockchain settlement sandbox to test on-chain reserve money transfers
Sandbox will test atomic transactions, smart contracts, AI integration, and BOJ-NET compatibility
Potential for XRP Ledger (XRPL) to be chosen due to Ripple's existing ties with SBI Holdings in Japan
Focus is on infrastructure efficiency for interbank settlements, not a retail CBDC.
Deep Dive
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has initiated a new blockchain settlement sandbox program to explore the on-chain transfer of central bank reserve money. This initiative aims to test instant transfers and smart contract functionalities for interbank settlements, potentially modernizing Japan's financial infrastructure. While no specific blockchain network has been selected, the move has drawn attention due to Japan's existing strong relationship with Ripple and the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Governor Kazuo Ueda announced the sandbox program, which will allow commercial banks to test moving their reserve deposits on-chain. The program is designed to evaluate atomic transactions, smart contract capabilities, AI integration, and compatibility with the BOJ-NET settlement system. This initiative is distinct from Japan's central bank digital currency (CBDC) experiments, focusing instead on enhancing the efficiency of large financial transfer processing.
The BOJ's development gains significance given SBI Holdings' substantial stake in Ripple, holding approximately 9% since 2016. SBI, a major Japanese financial group, has collaborated with Ripple on cross-border payment services utilizing the XRPL. Furthermore, SBI has recently introduced a digital bond with XRP-linked incentives and agreed to distribute Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin in Japan.
Although the Bank of Japan has not confirmed any specific ledger choice for its sandbox testing, some market observers speculate that the XRPL could be a candidate if a blockchain system is adopted in the future, given its existing integration with parts of Japan's financial system. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has previously acknowledged the support from Japanese policymakers like Taira Masaaki for advancing blockchain technology through clear regulatory frameworks.
Source, catalyst, and sector overlap from the latest feed.
Bitcoin price surged above $71,000 driven by five consecutive days of spot Bitcoin ETF inflows. Binance buy-to-sell ratio reached 1.18, the highest this year, indicating strong buying pressure. Trading volumes exceeded $1 billion per hour, supporting Bitcoin's upward price movement. Continued inflows and buying pressure suggest potential for further short-term gains.
Total crypto market capitalization surpassed $2.4 trillion following a rapid rebound. Bitcoin surged past $71,000, gaining 5% in five hours, driven by short liquidations and declining selling pressure. Ethereum rose above $2,050, and XRP traded near $1.40 as the rally extended to major altcoins. Improved macroeconomic sentiment, including Fed comments on interest rates, supported risk asset inflows.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong cites stronger crypto foundations including faster settlements and institutional adoption. Bitcoin price surged over 6% to $71,000 amid geopolitical tensions and strong ETF inflows. Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded over $1 billion in weekly inflows. Market resilience is noted despite geopolitical fears and volatile price swings.
Bitcoin price surged above $71,000. A whale opened a 30x long position on 600 BTC valued at $42.7 million. The position achieved approximately $570,000 in unrealized profit. Liquidation risk exists if BTC drops to $66,942.69.
Bitcoin reached $71,490, recovering nearly 10% after dropping to $63,000 following geopolitical tensions. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $1.45 billion in inflows over the past five trading days, reversing a significant drawdown. Analyst sentiment suggests the Bitcoin bear phase may be over, with potential upside towards $90,000 if key resistance is broken. Exchange deposit volumes are low, indicating a potential exhaustion of sell-side pressure.
RippleX is integrating AI into the XRP Ledger development cycle for enhanced security. AI tools will be used for code review and automated invariant detection. The integration aims to prevent future vulnerabilities and improve ledger security. This follows a critical bug in the Batch amendment that risked ledger destabilization.
Bank of Japan is experimenting with blockchain for central bank money settlement. The project aims for 24/7 instant settlement and improved efficiency. Exploration of tokenization and cross-border payments using DLT. Focus on balancing innovation with financial stability.
Vitalik Buterin supports upgrades for Ethereum censorship resistance. Whale activity in ETH has declined, indicating reduced market liquidity. Kalshi traders price in a 50% probability of ETH falling to $1,250. Kalshi also suggests a 30% chance of ETH retesting 3-digit price levels.
Bank of Japan is testing blockchain for interbank and securities settlement. Experiments will examine links between blockchain systems and existing settlement infrastructure. Project frames controlled technical test, not policy rollout. Insights may improve BOJ-NET and explore AI integration with blockchain.
Ethereum to implement Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS) and Fork-Choice-Enforced Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) via Glamsterdam and Hegota upgrades this year. ePBS aims to decentralize block building and mitigate MEV, while FOCIL will prevent transaction censorship. Cardano's upcoming Midnight sidechain will offer similar privacy and transaction separation benefits. ETH and ADA prices are showing positive movement, influenced by broader market rallies and Bitcoin's performance.
Kraken Financial is the first crypto company to receive a master account from the US Federal Reserve. This grants Kraken direct access to the Fed's payment systems, moving money on the same rails as banks. The approval signifies a potentially softer regulatory tone from the Fed towards the crypto industry. Kraken's banking unit does not receive full banking privileges like interest on reserves.
Bitcoin reached a one-month high of $71,800, approaching previous resistance near $72,000. Rally driven by increased demand for haven assets amid escalating Middle East conflict. Gold and silver also saw significant gains, indicating a broader risk-off sentiment shift. Altcoins, particularly lower-market-cap tokens like KITE, AERO, and TAO, outperformed majors with double-digit gains.
Kraken's banking arm, Kraken Financial, has secured direct access to the Federal Reserve's master account. This grants Kraken direct access to Fedwire, a major interbank payment network, bypassing partner banks. The approval allows for potentially faster deposits and withdrawals for large traders and institutional clients. Access is limited; Kraken will not earn interest on reserves or access the Fed's emergency lending.
77,000 ETH worth $152.6 million withdrawn from Binance to an anonymous wallet. Ethereum price has reclaimed the $2,000 level amid a broader market recovery. Bitcoin shows resilience, trading as a potential safe haven while stocks and gold decline. A separate transaction shows a whale buying 4,900 ETH for nearly $10 million on Binance.
Live Feed
Loading the broader stream in the same flow as the homepage feed.
Nobitex, Iran's largest crypto exchange, showed no signs of user-driven capital flight post-strike. TRM Labs attributes spike in Nobitex wallet activity to routine liquidity management, not panic withdrawals. Chainalysis reported $10.3 million in digital assets left Iranian exchanges between Feb. 28 and March 2. Hourly outflows from Iranian exchanges briefly surged over 873% higher than the 2026 average.
Sanae Token on Solana surged to $27.7M market cap before crashing to $7M. Japanese FSA is reviewing the Sanae Token case for potential regulatory violations. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi publicly denied any connection to the token.
Bitcoin surged past $71,000 driven by a short squeeze and easing geopolitical tensions. Over $320 million in leveraged short positions were liquidated, accelerating BTC's rally. Ethereum, Solana, and XRP also saw significant gains as risk appetite returned. Analysts target $75,000 for BTC if oil prices remain stable below $85.
MARA Holdings authorized balance-sheet sales of its entire 53,822 BTC treasury, reversing its prior HODL policy. The shift is driven by funding AI data center infrastructure and covering operational costs amid tighter post-halving margins. This move signals a potential structural shift in how public miners manage their Bitcoin treasuries, treating them as working capital. The potential for significant miner BTC sales creates an overhang, especially with thin market liquidity and fragile sentiment.
FATF warns stablecoins are increasingly used for sanctions evasion. P2P stablecoin transfers via self-custody wallets can bypass AML checks. FATF urges countries to assess risks and apply proportionate safeguards for stablecoins.
FATF identifies P2P stablecoin transfers via self-custody wallets as a key vulnerability for AML oversight. Stablecoins accounted for 84% of illicit transaction volume in 2025, according to Chainalysis. FATF urges countries to assess risks and apply proportionate safeguards for stablecoin arrangements. Illicit activity remains a small share of total on-chain volume, less than 1%.
Nasdaq MRX filed with SEC for cash-settled binary options on Nasdaq-100 Index. These 'yes/no' contracts will be priced from $0.01 to $1, focusing on financial outcomes. The move signifies traditional finance exploring prediction market-style products. Nasdaq plans to potentially list these options on NOM and PHLX exchanges as well.
Strategy's STRC stock saw $198.7 million in trading volume, a significant increase from its 30-day average of $123.3 million. Approximately 1,000 BTC were purchased on Tuesday, with an additional estimated 763 BTC acquired on Monday, totaling 1,762 BTC over two days. The STRC issuance program is activated when trading volume exceeds its $100 par value, with 40% of volume above this threshold estimated for BTC purchases. Strategy raised the dividend rate on STRC to 11.5%, the seventh increase since its debut.
Shiba Inu price testing historic $0.0000050 support zone, last seen in June 2023. SHIB trading at $0.00000559, up 5.63% in 24 hours after testing yearly low. Macro uncertainty and geopolitical tensions are weighing on broader crypto market sentiment. Bitcoin shows relative strength, trading around $71,649, potentially supporting altcoin recovery.
Bitcoin liquidity clusters identified at $69K-$70K and $62K levels. Price action shows consolidation within a tight range, awaiting a breakout catalyst. Daily chart indicates a breakout and retest from a triangle pattern, with $70K as a key resistance. Potential for a short squeeze if price moves above the $69K-$70K liquidity zone.
XRP breaks above daily Bollinger Band midpoint, targeting $1.50 and potentially $1.92. Bitcoin recovers above $71,000, driven by over $250 million in short liquidations in the last 24 hours. Cardano whales redistributed 230 million ADA, with the price showing a 4% rebound. The Federal Reserve Beige Book release is a key event to watch for monetary policy sentiment.
Signal context only. Validate with price action, liquidity, and risk limits before taking a position.
