Only 1M Bitcoin left to mine

March 09, 2026

 

Reading time: 5 minutes

Oil shock rocks markets but Bitcoin holds its ground

Key points:

  • Crypto funds recorded $619M in weekly inflows after early-week inflows of $1.44B were partially offset by $829M in late outflows as geopolitical tensions escalated.

  • Despite oil briefly surging above $115–$119 per barrel, Bitcoin held near the $67K range after dipping toward $65K.

News - Crypto investment products still logged $619M in net inflows last week, but the headline figure hides a sharp shift in sentiment as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered volatility across global markets.

Inflows surged to $1.44B in the first half of the week, driven largely by U.S. investors and strong demand for Bitcoin exposure. However, the momentum faded after $829M in outflows later in the week as traders trimmed positions amid rising geopolitical risk.

Bitcoin dominated flows with $521M, while Ethereum and Solana also attracted capital. XRP was the only major asset to record notable outflows.

The shift coincided with a dramatic surge in oil prices after tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for roughly 20% of global oil shipments, raised fears of supply disruptions. Crude briefly climbed above $115 per barrel, reaching nearly $119, before retreating toward the $100 level following discussions among G7 leaders about potentially releasing emergency oil reserves.

During the turbulence, Bitcoin fell to about $65.6K before rebounding toward $68K–$69K, returning to the broader $60K–$70K range seen in recent weeks.

Macro pressure meets institutional demand - Analysts say the late-week outflows likely reflected portfolio risk management, not a collapse in confidence. Institutional investors often reduce exposure heading into weekends when geopolitical risks are rising.

Higher oil prices also pressured equities and increased concerns about inflation and interest rates, which can dampen appetite for volatile assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Still, several indicators suggest institutional demand has not disappeared. The return of the Coinbase premium and continued spot ETF inflows point to renewed buying interest from U.S. investors. Some analysts also attribute Bitcoin’s relative stability to its growing correlation with U.S. markets, which have held up better in part because the United States is now a major net oil exporter.

Bitcoin’s resilience catches analysts’ attention - Despite the oil shock, Bitcoin has remained relatively stable around $67K, outperforming several traditional assets since the conflict began. Over the same period, gold and silver declined while major stock indices slipped.

Some analysts say the stability may signal that Bitcoin has already cleared excessive leverage during the recent sell-off. With speculative positions flushed from the market, price movements are increasingly driven by spot demand rather than high-risk bets.

If oil prices stabilize and macro fears ease, traders believe Bitcoin’s ability to hold current levels could mark the early stages of a broader market recovery.

Bitcoin’s scarcity moment arrives as institutions continue accumulating

Key points:

  • The Bitcoin network has now produced its 20 millionth BTC, leaving just 1 million coins to be mined before the final issuance expected around 2140.

  • Michael Saylor’s Strategy purchased 17,994 BTC for $1.28B, pushing its holdings to 738,731 BTC.

News - Bitcoin crossed a historic milestone this week as the network produced its 20 millionth coin, bringing the world’s largest cryptocurrency closer to its hard supply cap of 21 million BTC.

At current issuance rates, roughly 450 new Bitcoins are mined daily, with that supply cut in half every four years through the halving mechanism. With only 1 million coins left to be mined, the final Bitcoin is projected to enter circulation around 2140.

The milestone highlights Bitcoin’s fixed issuance model, where supply growth follows a transparent schedule known decades in advance. Supporters argue this predictability is increasingly attractive in an economic environment where fiat currencies can expand rapidly.

However, several analysts say the milestone itself is unlikely to move prices in the short term, noting that Bitcoin’s issuance schedule has been publicly known for years and is already reflected in market expectations.

Large buyers continue accumulating Bitcoin - Institutional buying has remained visible in recent weeks. Michael Saylor’s Strategy recently purchased 17,994 BTC for $1.28B, raising its total holdings to 738,731 BTC, acquired at a total cost of roughly $56B.

The purchase alone represents about five weeks of newly mined Bitcoin supply, based on the current pace of roughly 3,150 BTC mined per week.

The latest acquisition was made at an average price of $70,946 per coin, even as Bitcoin traded around the $67K range for much of the week.

Bitcoin activity expands into new arenas - Bitcoin’s presence is also appearing in new areas of finance and technology. In the United Kingdom, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recently invested about $286K in London-listed Bitcoin treasury company Stack BTC, securing a 6.31% stake in the firm.

Stack BTC currently holds 21 BTC and raised $346K in a funding round that also included Blockchain.com, which will help develop the company’s treasury infrastructure.

Meanwhile, orbital data center startup Starcloud says it plans to begin mining Bitcoin in space later this year using ASIC hardware. The company’s satellite data centers are primarily powered by solar energy.

These developments illustrate how Bitcoin’s fixed supply continues to intersect with institutional participation, political interest, and emerging technological experimentation.

Nasdaq and Coinbase push deeper into tokenized finance

Key points:

  • Nasdaq has partnered with Kraken and Backed to develop a framework that allows tokenized equities to move between regulated markets and blockchain networks, with a potential launch in 2027.

  • Coinbase has launched regulated crypto and equity-linked futures trading across 26 European countries, expanding derivatives access for digital assets and traditional market exposure.

News - Major exchanges are expanding efforts to connect traditional financial markets with blockchain infrastructure through new tokenization and derivatives initiatives.

Nasdaq announced a partnership with crypto exchange Kraken and tokenization platform Backed to develop a system that enables tokenized equities to move between regulated financial markets and onchain networks while preserving issuer rights, regulatory compliance and price integrity.

At the same time, Coinbase has rolled out regulated crypto and equity-linked futures trading for Coinbase Advanced users across 26 European countries, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands, through its MiFID-regulated entity.

Together, the initiatives signal a broader push by major trading platforms to combine traditional financial products with blockchain-based market infrastructure.

Nasdaq and Kraken build tokenized equity gateway - Nasdaq’s collaboration with Kraken and Backed aims to create an equities transformation gateway that connects the exchange’s existing market infrastructure with the xStocks ecosystem, which issues tokenized versions of publicly listed shares.

Under the proposed framework, tokenized equities would remain linked to their traditional counterparts using the same identifiers used in existing markets. Token holders would retain the same governance rights as traditional shareholders.

Kraken would act as a distribution layer, offering tokenized equities to European and international investors. If approved by regulators, the system could launch in the first half of 2027, allowing participating companies to distribute blockchain-based versions of their shares globally.

Advocates say tokenized equities could shorten cross-border settlement times and automate processes such as dividend distribution and proxy voting.

Coinbase expands regulated futures access in Europe - Meanwhile, Coinbase is expanding its derivatives offerings in Europe as part of its broader goal to build an “exchange for everything.”

The platform has launched cash-settled futures contracts tied to assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, along with an equity-linked product called Mag7 + Crypto Equity Index Futures, which combines exposure to major technology stocks and crypto-related equities.

Traders can access leverage of up to 10x on select contracts, with fees starting as low as 0.02% per contract. The rollout gives European users a regulated alternative to offshore derivatives platforms while broadening access to both crypto and traditional market exposure.

As exchanges experiment with tokenized assets and multi-asset derivatives, the boundaries between traditional finance and crypto markets continue to narrow.

South Korea’s crypto market faces fresh pressure as Bithumb probe and FLOW delisting clash

Key points:

  • South Korean regulators have issued a preliminary notice of a six-month partial suspension for Bithumb over alleged AML and KYC violations, with a final decision expected later this month.

  • Meanwhile, Flow Foundation is seeking a court order to block the delisting of its FLOW token from three major Korean exchanges ahead of a March 16 deadline.

News - South Korea’s crypto sector is facing renewed regulatory and legal pressure as authorities investigate major exchanges while a blockchain project fights to preserve local market access.

The country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has issued a preliminary notice of sanctions against crypto exchange Bithumb, proposing a partial business suspension of up to six months over alleged anti-money laundering (AML) and customer verification failures.

At the same time, Flow Foundation and Dapper Labs have filed a motion with the Seoul Central District Court seeking to halt the planned delisting of the FLOW token from several Korean exchanges following a December network security incident.

Bithumb faces potential partial suspension - Bithumb, South Korea’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, could face restrictions if regulators finalize the proposed sanction.

Authorities allege the platform conducted transactions with unregistered overseas virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and failed to properly enforce certain know-your-customer (KYC) requirements under the country’s financial transaction reporting law.

If implemented, the measure would restrict newly registered users from transferring digital assets off the platform, though existing customers could continue trading and withdrawing funds.

The case reflects tighter enforcement across the sector. In 2025, regulators imposed a three-month partial suspension and a 35.2 billion won fine on Upbit operator Dunamu, while exchange Korbit received a warning and a 2.73 billion won fine for similar compliance violations.

Flow Foundation moves to block token delistings - At the same time, Flow Foundation and Dapper Labs are attempting to prevent the FLOW token from being removed from Upbit, Bithumb and Coinone.

The exchanges announced the delisting after a December security incident on the Flow network that allowed certain tokens to be duplicated. The exploit created about $3.9M in duplicate tokens, though no user funds were compromised and the counterfeit tokens were later destroyed.

The Seoul Central District Court will review the case before the March 16 delisting deadline, a decision that could determine whether Korean traders retain access to a major regional market for FLOW while the foundation continues remediation efforts.

Did you know?

  • Bitcoin’s Lightning Network quietly crossed the billion-dollar transaction milestone - Despite Bitcoin’s base layer being slower and more expensive for micro payments, its Layer-2 Lightning Network processed over $1B in monthly transaction volume in late 2025, showing how off-chain scaling is increasingly handling everyday BTC payments.

  • The hack that split Ethereum into two blockchains - In 2016, a vulnerability in The DAO, a decentralized venture fund built on Ethereum, allowed an attacker to siphon roughly 3.6 million ETH (about $50–$60M at the time). The crisis led to a controversial hard fork that created two separate chains: Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC).

  • The biggest crypto crowdfunding campaign once controlled 14% of all ETH in existence - When The DAO launched in 2016, it raised about $150M worth of ETH from over 11,000 investors, temporarily holding nearly 14% of the total Ether supply at the time, making it one of the largest crowdfunding experiments ever attempted on blockchain.

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Top 3 coins of the day

DeXe (DEXE)

Key points:

  • DEXE traded around $4.40 after a strong daily rally, emerging as one of the top gainers amid renewed capital flows into DeFi tokens.

  • The Madrid Ribbon flipped green while the EWO histogram expanded into positive territory, with rising volume supporting the breakout.

What you should know:

DEXE pushed higher over the past several sessions, continuing a recovery that began after February’s sharp sell-off. The latest daily candle drove the token toward the $4.40 region, marking the strongest level seen on this chart since the trend reversal began.

Momentum strengthened as the Madrid Ribbon transitioned from a prolonged red downtrend into a widening green formation, signaling a shift toward sustained bullish control. The EWO also crossed into positive territory and continued expanding upward, reflecting accelerating upside momentum.

The rally coincided with renewed interest in DeFi tokens. Market trackers highlighted DEXE among the sector’s top daily performers, while trading activity surged sharply with a reported 224% jump in 24-hour volume.

For now, the $3.85 zone acts as a nearby support area to monitor. Holding above that region could help maintain the current bullish structure.

Bittensor (TAO)

Key points:

  • TAO hovered near $196 after an 8% daily rise, rebounding sharply from February’s lows near $150 as buying momentum returned.

  • The Madrid Ribbon began compressing with price pushing into the band cluster, while the Awesome Oscillator turned positive and volume strengthened during the recovery move.

What you should know:

TAO advanced toward the $196 region in the latest session, extending its rebound from the mid-February decline that briefly dragged the token near $150. The recent move brought price back toward the upper boundary of its short-term consolidation range.

The broader downtrend began losing momentum as candles gradually moved back into the Madrid Ribbon, with the band cluster tightening to signal fading bearish pressure. At the same time, the Awesome Oscillator crossed above the zero line, indicating a shift toward mild bullish momentum.

The recovery also aligned with stronger market participation. Trading activity rose notably, with reported daily volume climbing over 42%, suggesting renewed speculative interest in the AI-focused token.

For now, the $200 to $205 zone acts as a key resistance area to watch, while the $181 region serves as a nearby support level if momentum cools.

Ethereum (ETH)

Key points:

  • ETH moved back toward $2,006 after posting a modest daily gain, recovering from February’s drop near $1,830 as the broader crypto market stabilized.

  • Price remained below the Supertrend resistance near $2,158, while DMI showed narrowing bearish momentum and volume improved during the rebound.

What you should know:

Ethereum edged higher toward the $2,006 region in the latest session, continuing a gradual rebound after February’s sharp correction pushed the asset briefly below $1,850. The move unfolded alongside a broader market recovery, with Bitcoin also climbing as macro concerns tied to elevated oil prices eased following discussions among G7 nations about releasing strategic reserves.

Institutional demand added further support. ETH spot ETFs recorded more than $20M in net inflows over the past week, while roughly $31.6M worth of ETH reportedly moved off exchanges in a single day, tightening available supply.

From a technical perspective, ETH still trades under the Supertrend line near $2,158, signaling that the broader downtrend remains intact. The $2,020 to $2,050 zone now acts as immediate resistance, while the $1,950 region serves as nearby support if momentum softens.

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