Category: Business

$XRP Ledger developer and Xaman founder Wietse Wind has issued an alert to the $XRP community regarding scams targeting wallet holders.

In such scams, the scammer sends fake NFTs with the intent of making an offer to an unsuspecting victim to trade something in return. According to recent reports, scammers pry at offers made from wallets for NFTs, copy or duplicate and mint from another wallet to offer to unsuspecting users for sale.

In another such scam attempt, a scammer creates a website with a fake Xaman domain and sends an offer, a pass to join a closed Xaman beta.

In this light, Wind flagged a fake Xaman $NFT in a recent tweet, warning the $XRP community that the wallet provider is not sending “passes” or “NFTs.” These, he stated, are being sent by scammers.

Wind urges $XRP holders to cancel such offers and never engage or accept. As fake $NFT offers proliferate, users are urged to exercise caution and verify wallet addresses of artists and projects before accepting any offer.

This follows similar warnings in recent times to $XRP wallet holders. Fake support accounts are flagged as one of the more common XRPL scam vectors. Genuine support will never ask for seed phrases or for users to sign a transaction or “verify” their wallets and does not contact users via X, Discord or unsolicited DMs.

Wind shares a few tips to stay safe for $XRP users: they should never engage with anything they do not trust, never accept offers they did not ask for or do not understand, use only in-app support, never share their secrets and never sign anything that feels too good to be true.

What’s coming in March?

According to the official XRPL blog, $XRP Ledger devnet is scheduled for a reset on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

The reset will delete all ledger data in the devnet, including all accounts, transactions, balances, settings, offers, AMMs, escrows and other data.

Crypto is just a day away from the highly anticipated March 1 deadline to settle reward provisions for the Clarity Act. Analysts expect this potential development to be the main driver of markets heading into March.

Increased geopolitical risk in global markets following US and Israeli military operations against Iran led to sharp fluctuations in cryptocurrency markets over the weekend.

During hours when traditional markets were closed, investors turned to tokenized commodities like oil and gold via Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange offering 24/7 trading.

On the platform, oil contracts rose approximately 6.2% to $70.6 per barrel. Gold increased by over 5% to $5.464 per ounce, while silver surged more than 8% to $97.5. These price movements are seen as an early indication of a potential reaction in commodities when trading resumes in traditional markets on Monday.

Rising geopolitical tensions triggered a “risk-off” trend in crypto assets. Bitcoin fell by as much as 3.8% during weekend trading, reaching $63,038, before stabilizing around $64,000. Ethereum, meanwhile, dropped by as much as 4.5%, falling to $1,836. According to CoinGecko data, approximately $128 billion was wiped from the total value of the digital asset market immediately following these developments.

On the tokenized commodities side, silver contracts saw the highest trading volume. Volume exceeded $400 million in the last 24 hours, while gold contracts accounted for approximately $140 million in transactions. Contracts linked to US stock indices on the platform declined by 1% to 2%.

Following US and Israeli forces’ strikes across Iran today, Iran reportedly launched missile attacks against targets in Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain within hours, and issued new threats against US-linked bases in Iraq.

LVRG Research Director Nick Ruck stated that escalating tensions have created a widespread risk-aversion wave, adding, “While crypto assets are falling sharply due to their high beta characteristics, tokenized commodities on platforms like Hyperliquid are seeing safe-haven demand. This demonstrates the increasingly strong role of crypto as a space where macro expectations are priced in 24/7 while traditional markets are closed.”

*This is not investment advice.

As tensions flare once again between Iran, Israel, and the U.S., social media, especially on crypto social media X (or Crypto Twitter), fears that Tehran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint. Such a move, many worry, could send oil prices and global inflation soaring and roil financial markets, including bitcoin.

However, those concerns may be exaggerated, according to some observers.

Early Saturday, Israel and the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran, aiming to dismantle the nation’s nuclear facilities and missile capabilities after failed negotiations. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and the U.S. bases in the region, escalating fears of a full-blown military conflict.

This sparked jitters in the crypto market, the only venue open for investors to express fear and risk, while traditional markets stay closed over the weekend.

Bitcoin BTC$64,892.86, the leading cryptocurrency by market value, dropped to $63,000 from around $65,600 before rebounding to $65,000. Oil-linked futures on Hyperliquid surged more than 5%.

Hormuz fears

The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint (21 miles wide at its narrowest point) between Iran to the north and Oman to the south, and facilitated about 20 million barrels of oil shipments each day in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Naturally, amid simmering tensions, crypto accounts on X are worried that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz, choking off oil supplies.

“If a direct conflict between the United States and Iran has begun, this isn’t just geopolitics. It’s a global economic event. If the Strait of Hormuz is threatened, oil could spike toward $120–$150,” an X handle called @Crypto_Diet said.

This could lead to an inflation shock, market sell-offs, a dollar surge, and depreciation in emerging-market currencies, the post added.

Several more accounts have posted similar views, with some savvy geopolitical experts sharing these concerns.

“Oil prices had already climbed to six-month highs ahead of the strikes. Iran is a founding OPEC member and the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil passes, is now directly implicated,” Geopolitical Strategist Velina Tchakarova said.

On top of that, some news outlets are already reporting that several oil majors, including trading houses, have suspended oil and fuel shipments through the strait.

Outright closure unlikely

Some observers, however, argued that an outright closure of the strait is not in Iran’s best interests and may be geographically impossible.

According to Daniel Lacalle, a PhD economist, fund manager, and chief economist at Tressis, Iran currently produces 3.3 million barrels per day of oil, but exports just half of that, which almost entirely goes to its ally China.

“It would shoot itself in the foot,” Lacalle said, downplaying fears of an eventual Iranian shutdown of the strait.

He added that OPEC members could quickly offset any potential disruption to oil supplies from Iran, while stressing that the United States, by itself, is the world’s largest oil producer.

In other words, any spike in oil prices could be measured and temporary.

The other aspect to consider is Geography. While the strait is split roughly in the middle between Iran and Oman, the shipping lanes are predominantly in Omani waters. It’s because water on the Iranian side is said to be shallower, while on the Omani side, it is deeper and better suited for the movement of large oil tankers.

So, technically, ships could pass through Oman’s yard, which means Iran’s closure of its territory may not have a big impact on supplies.

“Most waterways are in Oman, not Iran,” Energy Market Expert Dr. Anas Alhajji said on X.

“Hormuz strait has never been blocked despite all wars – It cannot be blocked. Too wide. Well protected,” he added.

All things considered, the odds of Iran shutting the strait and choking off oil supplies are low. That said, an all-out war can still trigger widespread risk aversion, potentially driving bitcoin below the widely watched $60,000 support level.

Meanwhile, bitcoin’s price chart also signals a potential for deepening of the bear market ahead amid the Middle East crisis.

Bitcoin’s bullish setup is strengthening as wallets holding 100 $BTC or more approach record levels, according to Santiment, which says this trend can be considered a bullish sign when it rises during or after price declines.

Bitcoin Flashes Possible Bullish Sign as Large Holders Climb Toward 20,000 Threshold

Crypto analytics platform Santiment shared on social media platform X on Feb. 26 that bitcoin’s growing number of wallets holding 100 $BTC or more is approaching 20,000 addresses and may signal accumulation behavior, according to the firm. Santiment stated:

“ Bitcoin is about to hit a milestone, surpassing 20,000 wallets with at least 100 $BTC. When this number rises during or after price declines (like it has been), it can be considered a bullish sign.”

“If the number of 100+ $BTC wallets is growing, that suggests distribution across more large holders rather than a small group controlling everything,” Santiment noted. The platform emphasized that historically, rising whale wallet counts have occasionally been observed during accumulation stages that later supported price rebounds. This pattern has at times been associated with medium- to long-term upward price movements, particularly when larger entities absorb supply from retail traders during weaker market conditions, according to Santiment.

At the same time, Santiment clarified that supply concentration among key stakeholders has not yet significantly expanded, which may explain why bitcoin prices remain subdued despite the increase in large wallets. The firm detailed:

“The growth in wallet numbers just needs to match the growth in overall supply held, with retail slowly selling off their coins to the larger wallets.”

Based on historical cycles, such redistribution phases have, in some instances, formed market bottoms before broader recoveries emerge, Santiment’s data suggests. While the data does not guarantee immediate upside, the predictive signal from expanding whale participation may indicate a strengthening accumulation structure that could support future price appreciation if sustained.

FAQ 🧭

• Why does the rise in 100 $BTC wallets matter for investors?
  Growing large-wallet counts are viewed by Santiment as signaling accumulation phases that have historically preceded price rebounds.
• Does more whale participation guarantee a bitcoin rally?
  No, but sustained accumulation has at times aligned with medium- to long-term upward trends.
• What does distribution across more large holders indicate?
  It suggests supply is spreading among whales rather than concentrating in a few hands, supporting structural stability.
• Why are bitcoin prices still subdued despite wallet growth?
  Overall supply held by large wallets has not yet expanded enough to confirm a full accumulation-driven breakout.

Venus Flux, a liquidity layer launched yesterday on the BNBChain, continues to experience significant market performance, according to a revelation disclosed today by Venus Protocol, a decentralized lending protocol that allows users to earn interest by supplying crypto or borrow against their assets.

Yesterday, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, Venus Protocol and a liquidity infrastructure project, popularly called Fluid, announced a strategic collaboration that enabled them to launch a unified liquidity layer, dubbed Venus Flux, on the BNBChain.

As per the announcement, Venus Flux functions as a liquidity layer that aims to enhance capital efficiency, streamline yield generation, and make assets more productive across DeFi networks supported by the BNBChain blockchain.

Venus Flux On-Chain Activity and Usage Focus

Today, Venus Protocol shared market updates that revealed that Venus Flux has recorded a massive $119,087,766 in total market size (market capitalization) following its debut on the BNBChain yesterday. This surge showcases increasing investor confidence in the Venus Flux platform, which is designed to integrate lending, trading, and other DeFi applications into a unified liquidity infrastructure.

The liquidity platform aims to allow users and traders to engage in both lending and liquidity markets, thereby decreasing the need for manual token transfers between different chains. Following the launch, Venus Flux introduced smart collateral and debt mechanisms that facilitate both collateral and borrowed funds to constantly operate as positions in DEX liquidity pools, aiming to enhance capital efficiency.

On-chain indicators show rising user engagement and governance participation on Venus Flux. According to the latest data from Dune Analytics, a total of $17,895,795 in capital has been borrowed from the liquidity platform since the beginning of its official network operation yesterday.

Venus Flux Traction In DeFi Growing

Data from Dune Analytics indicates that Venus Flux has achieved a significant milestone in DeFi, recording $17.89 million in cumulative lending volume after its launch yesterday, driven by the continued expansion of institutional participation and RWA integration in decentralized finance.

The accomplishment showcases Venus Flux’s position as a rapidly emerging on-chain liquidity infrastructure. The record is an indicator that Venus Flux is on the journey towards becoming a major and efficient liquidity network globally, reducing costs and enhancing liquidity across financial markets.

Ethereum creator and co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined 8 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that comprise the upcoming Glamsterdam hardfork scheduled for the first half of 2026.

Ethereum: 2026 Glamsterdam hardfork

The proposals follow Ethereum’s three-track roadmap enshrined in its 2025 “predictable engineering delivery model” and comprising:

• Scalability.
• Improved user experience.
• Heightened security, censorship-resistance, and quantum-resistance.

More specifically, block building will now take place directly on Ethereum rather than external relays. This increases decentralization and transaction verification time for validators.

Additionally, the upgrade will pave the way for parallel block verification, effectively increasing the network’s transaction processing speed. Users will also enjoy a 78.6% reduction in gas fees for both simple and complex smart contracts, and the ability to run nodes at a lower bandwidth.

Developers, on the other hand, would be financially incentivized to write leaner code on the network’s database, aka “The State.” They would also experience fewer memory-related errors during code compilation and fewer smart contract security risks.

Source: CoinMarketCap