Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) on Tuesday launched Verified Pools, a new initiative designed to improve transparency and security in decentralized finance (DeFi) liquidity pools.



The <a href="https://www.coinbase.com/en-gb/blog/the-future-of-onchain-Liquidity-is-here-via-coinbase-verified-pools">move </a>comes amid growing scrutiny of risks associated with DeFi platforms, particularly regarding opaque liquidity sources and counterparty risks.



The product, available to users in the U.S., Singapore, the Netherlands, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Channel Islands, introduces a verification system that integrates identity checks through Coinbase Verifications.



The system aims to reduce the uncertainty associated with who is providing liquidity in these pools, a common issue within DeFi ecosystems.



Verified Pools uses the Uniswap v4 protocol and operates on Coinbase&#8217;s Base layer-2 network, which focuses on reducing transaction fees and improving transaction speeds. 



Coinbase has also partnered with risk modeling firm Gauntlet to help optimize the liquidity pool configurations.



For institutional participants, Verified Pools offers features such as concentrated liquidity strategies, restricted access via verified credentials, and non-custodial asset management through Coinbase&#8217;s Prime Onchain Wallet. Institutions can also connect via API for liquidity provisioning.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44383209/solana-underperforms-historical-bitcoin-ethereum-volumes-on-first-day-of-cme-futures-trading">Solana Underperforms Historical Bitcoin, Ethereum Volumes On First Day Of CME Futures Trading</a>



Retail users are provided with simplified access to liquidity pools through Coinbase Wallet. 



The system allows direct interaction with pools while offering verified liquidity sources aimed at reducing potential risks. 



Users maintain full control over their assets while participating in onchain trading.



"Verified Pools is the next step in Coinbase's commitment to advancing the onchain ecosystem," the company stated, indicating plans to expand, though no specific schedule has been set.



Despite the new offering, Verified Pools enters a competitive market where DeFi participants already have access to a variety of liquidity solutions on decentralized exchanges. 



Coinbase's approach highlights the increasing trend of incorporating identity verification into DeFi protocols, as regulators and users push for higher security and transparency standards.



Coinbase said the new product is part of its broader strategy to expand onchain adoption, but stopped short of offering specifics on future geographic expansions or additional features.



The company has stated that Verified Pools will continue to evolve, with further developments expected depending on user demand and regulatory requirements across different markets.



Read Next: • <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44380265/bitcoin-is-past-the-bull-cycle-peak-top-analyst-warns">Bitcoin Is &#8216;Past The Bull Cycle Peak,&#8217; Top Analyst Warns</a>



Photo: Shutterstock

Coinbase Introduces Verified Pools For Clearer Onchain Liquidity In Limited Areas

Cryptocurrency markets are trending lower on Tuesday as investors brace for tomorrow's FOMC meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$82,037.14</td><td>-3.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$1,903.81</td><td>-2.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$123.88</td><td>-5%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$2.25</td><td>-4.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.1657</td><td>-5.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001242</td><td>-5%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume increasing by 32.6% and daily active addresses growing by 16.1%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are up from 6,332 to 9,291 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 426.1%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 110,223 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $209.24 million.</li>



<li>Crypto trader Ted Pillows <a href="https://x.com/TedPillows/status/1901945621159764399">noted</a> that long-term holders purchased 167,000 BTC worth $13.9 billion. He believes Bitcoin will follow gold.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44379524/what-will-happen-to-bitcoin-prices-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-agree-on-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine">What Will Happen To Bitcoin Prices If Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin Agree On A Ceasefire In Ukraine?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377037/bitcoin-meanders-around-82500-as-etfs-net-275-million-in-inflows">Bitcoin Meanders Around $82,000 As ETFs Net $275 Million In Inflows</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44378673/strategy-announces-500-million-strf-preferred-stock-offering-to-boost-bitcoin-investments">Strategy Announces $500 Million STRF Preferred Stock Offering To Boost Bitcoin Investments</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44369296/peter-schiff-pushes-his-own-bitcoin-nfts-to-mark-gold-highs-far-more-scarce-than-btc">Peter Schiff Pushes His Own Bitcoin NFTs To Mark Gold Highs: &#8216;Far More Scarce Than BTC&#8217;</a></li>



<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44380265/bitcoin-is-past-the-bull-cycle-peak-top-analyst-warns">Bitcoin Is &#8216;Past The Bull Cycle Peak,&#8217; Top Analyst Warns</a></li>
</ul>



Top Losers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Pi (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PI</a>)</td><td>$1.12</td><td>-16.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Berachain (CRYPTO: BERA)</td><td>$5.89</td><td>-11.9</td></tr><tr><td>Celestia (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TIA</a>)</td><td>$3.17</td><td>-8.8%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Stockmoney Lizards sees the current dip as a normal correction in a bull market and cautions traders not to be misled. He expects BTC to break $108,000 within weeks or months.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> Ongoing correction in a bull market. Don&#39;t get fooled. We will break the 108k ATH within a couple of weeks / few months. <a href="https://t.co/kxcGLdIZVm">pic.twitter.com/kxcGLdIZVm</a>&mdash; Stockmoney Lizards (@StockmoneyL) <a href="https://twitter.com/StockmoneyL/status/1902073755159159044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



CrediBULL Crypto <a href="https://x.com/CredibleCrypto/status/1902068969181475107">notes</a> Bitcoin is ranging between support and resistance, while forming a higher timeframe bottom, with price action remaining choppy as it awaits a breakout.



Crypto trader Roman <a href="https://x.com/Roman_Trading/status/1902073046418010602">highlights</a> that BTC's 4-hour chart aligns with his plan to see $70,000 tested as weekly support before any short-term upside. 



He warns a drop below $80,000 could lead to a swift decline and believes the market is waiting on the FOMC for direction.  



Crypto Raven points to a gap between Bitcoin's price and Global M2 growth, historically a correlated metric. He sees this as a sign BTC is due for a catch-up rally toward at least $100,000, stating, "The bull market is far from over."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">These two charts are of Global Monetary Supply M2 vs BTC price. They are usually proportionally related. But in the recent times, we see a gap. BTC price hasn&#39;t caught up to it. This indicates we are due for a <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> price rush and that could be at least to 100K. Bull market is… <a href="https://t.co/nlF2VF43ve">pic.twitter.com/nlF2VF43ve</a>&mdash; Crypto Raven (@hiRavenCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/hiRavenCrypto/status/1901934857829392737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377385/bitcoin-remains-stuck-in-the-low-80000s-what-does-technical-analysis-say">Bitcoin Remains Stuck In The Low $80,000s: What Does Technical Analysis Say?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Dip As Markets Await FOMC: 'Don't Get Fooled With Ongoing Correction,' Trader Says

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) has dropped 16% in the past month, leading some analysts to warn of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44316555/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-decline-xrp-clinging-on-as-traders-wargame-bear-market-scenarios">a macro downtrend</a>. 



What Happened: Ali Martinez, a widely followed crypto chart analyst, points to several key indicators that suggest Bitcoin may be entering a bear market phase.



In an X <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1902044982564757791">post</a> on Tuesday, Martinez said Bitcoin may be entering a macro downtrend, as multiple indicators signal a shift. 



Large investors and miners have been actively taking profits, with miners realizing $27 million and whales cashing out over $260 million. 



Capital inflows have also plummeted from $135 billion in December to just $4 billion. 



Martinzez stated that key support lie in the $66,000–$69,000 range, where 750,000 investors bought 313,000 BTC.



Additional metrics, such as the UTXO Realized Price Distribution and Mayer Multiple, reinforce $66,000 and $69,354 as crucial levels. 



Whether Bitcoin holds this support could determine if a full bear market unfolds.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377385/bitcoin-remains-stuck-in-the-low-80000s-what-does-technical-analysis-say">Bitcoin Remains Stuck In The Low $80,000s: What Does Technical Analysis Say?</a>



What's Next: For the upcoming price targets, Martinez suggests keeping an eye on historical trends. In the past 10-years, when Bitcoin plunged below the 50-day simple moving average, it eventually touched the 200-week SMA at $46,000.  



He added that with rising global liquidity, there is still hope. 



This historically correlates with Bitcoin recoveries around mid-April. 



Martinez predicts reclaiming $93,700 as support is likely to push Bitcoin prices towards the $111,000 mark based on price bands.  



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44379524/what-will-happen-to-bitcoin-prices-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-agree-on-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine">What Will Happen To Bitcoin Prices If Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin Agree On A Ceasefire In Ukraine?</a></li>
</ul>



Image created using artificial intelligence with Midjourney.

Bitcoin Drops 16% In A Month: Are Bear Market Signals Flashing?

Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) has been a wild ride, surging 90.7% over the past year but slipping 4.48% year-to-date. Now, as the stock struggles below its five-, 20- and 50-day EMAs, the debate over its future is heating up — featuring none other <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/michael-saylor">than Michael Saylor</a> and Peter Schiff in opposing corners.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44376986/strategy-stock-is-sliding-tuesday-whats-going-on">Strategy Stock Is Sliding Tuesday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Strategy Stock: A Technical Tug-of-War</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&amp;ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQZTgRMrqRCVhFgxzpKjKzhszFB"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="618" height="487" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18133208/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-11.01.51-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-830047" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18133208/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-11.01.51-PM.png 618w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18133208/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-11.01.51-PM-300x236.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Strategy's current $281.44 stock price is flashing mixed signals:



<ul>
<li>Bullish: The eight-day SMA ($273.26) and 20-day SMA ($277.95) suggest buying pressure is building.</li>



<li>Bearish: The 50-day SMA ($318.59) and the negative MACD (-10.72) signal a downtrend.</li>



<li>Long-term strength: The 200-day SMA ($239.27) still supports the bulls.</li>
</ul>



Despite the volatility, Strategy is ranked as the top momentum stock per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/screener/top-momentum-stocks">Benzinga&#8217;s Stock Screener Tool</a>, outpacing quantum players like Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) and D-Wave Quantum Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saylor's Strife — And Schiff's Slam</h2>



Michael Saylor, Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) most vocal corporate bull, just doubled down, announcing $STRF (&#8220;Strife&#8221;), a new perpetual preferred stock offering aimed at institutional investors.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This is ridiculous. It&#39;s a pathetic Hail Mary to keep the air from coming out of the Bitcoin bubble. The only thing keeping it from deflating completely is the Trump administration&#39;s support. Once that goes, it&#39;s all over for Bitcoin and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSTR&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSTR</a>.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1902005322027319555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



But gold bug and crypto critic Peter Schiff wasn't having it.



&#8220;This is ridiculous. It&#8217;s a pathetic Hail Mary to keep the air from coming out of the Bitcoin bubble,&#8221; Schiff declared, warning that once the Trump administration's backing disappears, &#8220;it's all over for Bitcoin and $MSTR.&#8221;



With technicals in limbo and the Bitcoin debate raging on, Strategy remains one of the most polarizing stocks on the market. Who wins this round — Saylor or Schiff?



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44378673/strategy-announces-500-million-strf-preferred-stock-offering-to-boost-bitcoin-investments">Strategy Announces $500 Million STRF Preferred Stock Offering To Boost Bitcoin Investments</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Michael Saylor's Bitcoin Bet Faces Peter Schiff's Wrath: Who's Right About Strategy?

Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) futures have started trading on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/25/03/44221065/a-glimpse-into-the-expert-outlook-on-cme-group-through-12-analysts">Chicago Mercantile Exchange</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CME#NASDAQ">CME</a>) this week, but early activity was underwhelming compared to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.



According to a report by research firm K33, the first day of trading for Solana futures saw a total volume of $12.3 million, with open interest ending at $7.8 million.



This marked a stark contrast to Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) futures, which drew $102.7 million in volume and $20.9 million in open interest during their December 2017 debut on CME. 



Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) fared better too, recording $31 million in trading and $20 million in open interest when its futures launched in February 2021.



K33 analysts Vetle Lunde and David Zimmerman <a href="https://k33.com/research/articles/stabilizing-flow-stabilizing-market">attributed</a> the tepid performance to broader market conditions, noting that Solana's introduction came during a period of muted risk appetite and without the tailwinds of a strong bull market or a rally in alternative cryptocurrencies.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44380265/bitcoin-is-past-the-bull-cycle-peak-top-analyst-warns">Bitcoin Is &#8216;Past The Bull Cycle Peak,&#8217; Top Analyst Warns</a>



&#8220;Although Solana&#8217;s performance appears more reasonable when adjusted for its market capitalization, its absolute figures were far lower than previous futures launches,&#8221; the K33 report stated.



The analysts added that despite the subdued start, the listing does fit a pattern often associated with eventual spot ETF approvals. 



However, they cautioned that Solana's lower trading activity suggests any future ETF tied to the token may have a more modest impact on prices compared to the rally sparked by Bitcoin's spot ETF approval in early 2024.



What&#8217;s Next: The report comes at a time when several altcoin ETFs, including those for Solana, are under review by U.S. regulators.



For now, the futures market signals that institutional demand for Solana has yet to match the enthusiasm seen for Bitcoin and Ethereum during their initial futures rollouts.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44378673/strategy-announces-500-million-strf-preferred-stock-offering-to-boost-bitcoin-investments">Strategy Announces $500 Million STRF Preferred Stock Offering To Boost Bitcoin Investments</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Solana Underperforms Historical Bitcoin, Ethereum Volumes On First Day Of CME Futures Trading

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) are struggling despite positive on-chain metrics and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/shiba-inu-price-prediction">technical buy signals</a>. 



While SHIB&#8217;s burn rate is soaring and DOGE whales are accumulating, broader market sentiment remains cautious.  



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1645</td><td>$24.4 billion</td><td>-4.3%&nbsp;</td><td>+1.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001233</td><td>$7.3 billion</td><td>-4.4%&nbsp;</td><td>+4.1%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.056781</td><td>$2.9 billion</td><td>&nbsp;-4.2%</td><td>+11.6%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto analyst Ali Martinez <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1902021929504010489">noted</a> that the TD Sequential indicator is flashing a buy signal for DOGE on the 3-day chart, suggesting a bounce is imminent.



Trader Tardigrade pointed out that Dogecoin's Stochastic RSI indicates the downtrend may be ending, with $1 as a potential target.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> Stochastic RSI suggests <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> could stop its downtrend here and aim for the $1 mark &#x1f525;<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24Doge&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$Doge</a> <a href="https://t.co/gkpayjUoTc">pic.twitter.com/gkpayjUoTc</a>&mdash; Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1901959530365477116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Glassnode <a href="https://x.com/glassnode/status/1901683344120631703">data</a> shows that early SHIB holders accumulated over 20% of the supply at low prices and sold at key peaks, driving sharp corrections. This shows how concentrated ownership amplifies volatility.  



Statistics: Shibburn data shows 15.49 million SHIB burned in the past 24 hours, pushing the burn rate up 529.9%. 



A single transaction 22 hours ago removed 11.69 million SHIB from circulation. 



Shibariumscan data shows Daily transactions jumped from 205,000 to 2.17 million in the past three days.



Shiba Inu large transaction and daily active addresses are down 38.9% and 11.2%, respectively, in a single day.



Santiment <a href="https://x.com/santimentfeed/status/1901756204696977566">data</a> shows a rise in wallets holding at least 1 million DOGE, signaling increased whale accumulation. 



DOGE's active addresses surged to a 4-month high, indicating growing investor interest despite recent price declines. 



Between March 11 to March 16, more than 150,000 active DOGE addresses per day were recorded which is highest since mid-November.         



Community News: Lucie, Shiba Inu's marketing lead, <a href="https://x.com/LucieSHIB/status/1901665415362674794">urged</a> Elon Musk to recognize SHIB's evolution beyond meme status, highlighting five key developments from 2021 to 2025. 



Shibarium L2, Shib Games &amp; Metaverse, Major Partnerships, Shib OS and Shib Torch are the five game changing factors of SHIB community.



What's Next: With Dogecoin showing buy signals and Shiba Inu&#8217;s burn rate surging, traders are eyeing potential reversals. 



However, broader market sentiment remains cautious, and investors are watching for further whale accumulation or macroeconomic shifts to drive the next move.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44260478/i-lost-everything-trader-turns-0-into-5-million-loses-it-all-with-meme-coins-that-were-supposed-to-become-the-next-dogecoin-shiba-inu">&#8216;I Lost Everything&#8217;—Trader Turns 0 Into $5 Million, Loses It All With Meme Coins That Were Supposed To Become The Next Dogecoin, Shiba Inu</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu Slide 5% Despite Rising Burn Rates, Whale Accumulation: What's Going On?

Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) bull cycle appears to have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377385/bitcoin-remains-stuck-in-the-low-80000s-what-does-technical-analysis-say">come to an end</a>, according to Ki Young Ju, Founder and CEO of blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant.



The comments follow fresh signals from CryptoQuant's proprietary PnL Index chart, which now reflects a sell signal that has historically aligned with prior market tops.



What Happened: "We are likely past the bull cycle peak," Ju <a href="https://x.com/ki_young_ju/status/1901776141024989658">said</a>, suggesting Bitcoin may face a prolonged period of sideways or bearish movement over the next six to twelve months.



The chart, spanning over a decade, plots Bitcoin's price alongside cyclical buy and sell signals derived from on-chain profitability metrics. 



The latest signal indicates a similar pattern to those seen in 2013, 2017, and 2021, each of which preceded either steep corrections or extended consolidation phases.



Bitcoin currently trades around $81,550, holding above key psychological levels despite broader market caution. 



This resilience is echoed by Nexo Dispatch analyst Iliya Kalchev, who described the market as entering a crucial consolidation phase. 



"Bitcoin is at a critical juncture," Kalchev said. "Support is holding around $82,000, but deeper levels near $73,000 may come into play depending on market sentiment."



While recent inflows to U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs suggest some institutional confidence—<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377037/bitcoin-meanders-around-82500-as-etfs-net-275-million-in-inflows">with $274 million in net inflows recorded on Monda</a>y—the broader sentiment remains mixed amid macroeconomic uncertainty.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44374846/presearch-bolsters-web3-transition-with-pre-token-beta-launch-on-base-layer-2">Presearch Bolsters Web3 Transition With PRE Token Beta Launch On Base Layer 2</a>



"The renewed ETF interest could be a positive driver, but this market could still go in many directions," Kalchev added.



CryptoQuant's cyclical analysis reinforces these concerns, showing that Bitcoin tends to experience cooling-off periods following major cyclical tops. 



The historical chart's orange sell indicators, including the latest signal for 2025, have often been followed by six to twelve months of weak or sideways performance before new buying opportunities emerge.



The wider market is also reflecting caution. 



Kalchev noted Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) is hovering near $1,890, while Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) slipped to around $124 amid broader weakness in altcoins.



What&#8217;s Next: Amid these technical factors, the market's next moves could hinge on Wednesday's U.S. Federal Reserve rate decision, which may influence risk asset sentiment globally.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44379524/what-will-happen-to-bitcoin-prices-if-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-agree-on-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine">Geopolitical uncertainties</a> and inflationary risks tied to U.S. tariffs have cast a shadow over investor confidence.



"This is a market in wait mode. Vigilance is key as institutional players weigh both the macro backdrop and on-chain signals,&#8221; Kalchev said.



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Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Is 'Past The Bull Cycle Peak,' Top Analyst Warns

Ahead of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/03/44333033/trump-boasts-very-good-chance-of-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-but-zelenskyy-says-putin-broke-deals-25-times-before">much-anticipated phone call</a> between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia&#8217;s president Vladimir Putin, Bitcoin&#8216;s (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) price action remains closely tied to the outcome of a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.



What Happened: According to Polymarket <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/russia-x-ukraine-ceasefire-before-july?tid=1742310371455">data</a>, a ceasefire in Ukraine has a 61% chance of being announced until July and a 76% chance of being announced until the end of the year.



Vladimir Putin has signaled openness to the idea of a 30-day ceasefire, but voiced conditions that would first have to be fulfilled.



The outcome of ceasefire negotiations could have a significant impact on Bitcoin:



A successful ceasefire might stabilize global markets, boosting investor confidence and driving Bitcoin higher. 



If sanctions on Russia are eased, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44330826/vladimir-putin-said-nobody-can-ban-bitcoin-now-russia-reportedly-leverages-btc-to-evade-sanctions-when-selling-oil-to-china-india">Russia&#8217;s need for Bitcoin</a> in trade might decrease, potentially reducing demand and exerting downward pressure on price.



A failed agreement could increase volatility, with additional sanctions potentially pushing Russia toward greater Bitcoin adoption while dampening broader market sentiment.



An escalation might trigger risk-aversion among investors, leading to sell-offs in Bitcoin, as seen during the initial stages of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, when Bitcoin prices dropped below $40,000.



Thus, the impact on Bitcoin demand remains mixed.



Price Action: Ahead of the negotiation call and FOMC meet tomorrow, BTC prices are trading 1.6% down at $81,734.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44363340/crypto-leaders-step-up-pressure-on-sec-as-trumps-policies-reshape-regulatory-landscape">Crypto Leaders Step Up Pressure On SEC As Trump&#8217;s Policies Reshape Regulatory Landscape</a>



What's Next: Market observers will be closely watching the outcome of the Trump-Putin negotiation call, as it could significantly impact Bitcoin's price action and broader market sentiment. 



If geopolitical tensions ease, Bitcoin could find a strong bid from institutional investors, while continued uncertainty may heighten short-term volatility.



While the likelihood of a ceasefire remains uncertain, its potential market effects underscore Bitcoin's evolving role in the global financial landscape.



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Image: Shutterstock

What Will Happen To Bitcoin Prices If Donald Trump And Vladimir Putin Agree On A Ceasefire In Ukraine?

Dogecoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) price has decreased 3.59% over the past 24 hours to $0.16. This is contrary to the coins performance over the past week where it has experienced an up-trend of 4.0%, moving from $0.16 to its current price.
The chart below compares the price movement and volatility for Dogecoin over the past 24 hours (left) to its price movement over the past week (right). The gray bands are Bollinger Bands, measuring the volatility for both the daily and weekly price movements. The wider the bands are, or the larger the gray area is at any given moment, the larger the volatility.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742310041_0.png" alt="price_chart" />

The trading volume for the coin has tumbled 61.0% over the past week while the circulating supply of the coin has risen 0.86%. This brings the circulating supply to 148.47 billion. According to our data, the current market cap ranking for DOGE is #9 at $24.49 billion.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1742310041_1.png" alt="supply_and_vol" />

<a href="https://www.coingecko.com/en/api">Powered by CoinGecko API</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Dogecoin Decreases More Than 3% Within 24 hours

Known for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44358584/strategy-purchases-130-more-bitcoin-now-holds-over-499000-btc">its heavy investment in</a> Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) on Tuesday revealed plans to raise $500 million by offering 5 million shares of a new type of stock called Series A Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock, or STRF, to the public.



What HappenedL The company <a href="https://www.strategy.com/press/strategy-announces-proposed-strf-preferred-stock-offering_03-18-2025">stated</a> that the money raised will be used for everyday business needs and to buy more Bitcoin, continuing its strategy of building a large Bitcoin reserve.



Strategy on Monday added 130 more&nbsp;Bitcoin to its reserves, bringing its total BTC holdings to 499,226.



This move comes as Strategy, previously known as MicroStrategy, aims to strengthen its position as the world's largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, a digital currency that has seen significant price swings in recent years.



The STRF stock offers investors a steady 10% annual dividend, meaning they'll receive regular payments four times a year—on March 31, June 30, Sep. 30, and Dec. 31—starting from June 30, 2025.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44374846/presearch-bolsters-web3-transition-with-pre-token-beta-launch-on-base-layer-2">Presearch Bolsters Web3 Transition With PRE Token Beta Launch On Base Layer 2</a>



However, these payments aren't guaranteed and depend on Strategy's board deciding to declare them. 



If the company misses a payment, the unpaid amount will grow at an initial rate of 11% per year, and this rate could climb as high as 18% if payments remain unpaid over time. 



"The perpetual strife preferred stock will accumulate cumulative dividends at a fixed rate of 10.00% per annum," Strategy stated in its announcement, explaining the potential for investors to earn steady returns.



Strategy also outlined that each share of this new stock starts with a value of $100, but this value can change daily based on the stock's recent trading prices. 



The company has the option to buy back all the shares if fewer than 25% of the originally issued shares remain in circulation or if certain tax issues arise. 



If a major event, like a significant change in the company's structure, happens, investors can demand that Strategy repurchase their shares at the initial $100 value plus any unpaid dividends. 



"Strategy intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Bitcoin," the company noted.



What&#8217;s Next: The offering is being managed by major financial firms, including Morgan Stanley, Barclays, Citigroup, and Moelis &amp; Company, who are helping Strategy navigate the sale.



This isn't the first time Strategy has turned to the stock market to fund its Bitcoin purchases—earlier this year, it raised $584 million through a similar stock offering and has been steadily increasing its Bitcoin stash since 2020. 



However, the company's heavy reliance on Bitcoin has raised concerns among some investors, given the cryptocurrency's volatility, with its price dropping to around $81,000 on Tuesday after hitting higher levels earlier in the year.



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Image: Shutterstock

Strategy Announces $500 Million STRF Preferred Stock Offering To Boost Bitcoin Investments

Every year, new statements about blockchain technology&#8217;s rapid development in the banking sector appear. Since the industry is dynamically evolving, this implementation pace increases. However, banking isn&#8217;t a one-size-fits-all industry.&nbsp;



Obviously, technological adoption rates, legal systems, and regulations vary for different markets. Some regions implement new technologies such as blockchain more intensively, while others take a more measured approach. The clearest point is that financial institutions find blockchain a potential solution for a variety of challenges.



The global market for Fintech Blockchain was valued at <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/06/3022314/28124/en/FinTech-Blockchain-Global-Industry-Report-2025-Decentralized-Finance-DeFi-to-Bridge-the-Huge-SME-Financing-Gap-to-Boost-Blockchain-Adoption.html">$3.4 Billion</a> in 2024 and is expected to reach $49.2 Billion by 2030, highlighting a growing demand for financial institutions in the implementation of this technology.



Already, two of the world&#8217;s largest financial institutions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/events/24/12/42366131/major-banks-advance-blockchain-use-with-digital-cash-stablecoins">Citi and Société Générale</a>, have undertaken several steps to reshape conventional banking processes. The former has launched a tokenized inter-branch deposit system called Citi Digital Cash to streamline transactions within the bank's network, while the latter has issued a euro-denominated stablecoin on Ethereum to make digital payments faster and more secure. Moreover, last month, the Governing Council of the ECB <a href="https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr250220_1~ce3286f97b.en.html">decided</a> to expand its initiative to settle transactions recorded on distributed ledger technology (DLT) in central bank money.&nbsp;



So, how blockchain technology can potentially transform the banking sector and what challenges exist?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Challenges and Risks of Blockchain in Banking</h2>



Existing challenges of integrating blockchain in the banking sector include value transfer risks, which imply the absence of central intermediaries when peer-to-peer transactions are made, putting confidential information in danger.&nbsp;



The same is true about rights people in Europe have, recognized by the government, such as the "right to be forgotten," which grants free access to European citizens to the information kept in external databases.&nbsp;



In addition, even though atomic settlement is widely recognized by regulators, this increases the need for cash, especially for big financial institutions like banks. In other words, the higher liquidity amplifies the risk that funding may not be available when needed. This is called a liquidity risk.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Methods Banks Integrate to Implement Blockchain in Day-to-Day Operations</h2>



Despite the process of blockchain integration in banking operations isn't instant, there are many examples of how financial institutions have already embedded this technology into daily processes.



In general, improved transaction efficiency, better processing speed and a more effective cash flow for financial organizations are benefits on the surface. As for transaction speed, international payments have always been slow and expensive, while nowadays, blockchain streamlines these operations.



Instant payments are also being widely utilised by modern banks. This method plays an imperative role in controlling expenses and making reconciliation processes more reliable and cheaper. Moreover, adoption of instant payments mitigates the risks connected with malicious activity since real-time fraud detection mechanism is employed.



Additionally, compliance processes in banking demand a lot of time and resources. Blockchain streamlines procedures such as tracking transactions or clients' verification, providing more transparent and well-structured verification mechanisms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Factors Will Help Banks to Adopt Blockchain in 2025?&nbsp;</h2>



Undoubtedly, the banking and payments industry will significantly shift toward cryptocurrency in 2025 due to changes in the political and regulatory landscapes. Not only is support from the recently assigned crypto-friendly SEC Chairman ensured, but Trump's administration is also proactive in this stance. This means banks will have to adjust their policies and reshape processes.



By 2027, digital wallets are expected to handle over $25 trillion in transactions prevailing e-commerce and POS transactions. Besides, Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) was approved by the European parliamentaries and this framework establishes clearer rules for compliance and risk management, structuring financial institutions more efficiently. 



In this regard, 2025 is promised to be innovative. All these technologies will make the global financial landscape more exclusive and decentralized.

Banks vs. Blockchain: Will 2025 Transform the Payments Sector?

Cryptocurrency analyst Benjamin Cowen has provided a roadmap for Bitcoin's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) recovery, emphasizing that broader market trends, particularly a local bottom for the S&amp;P 500's, will play a crucial role in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44377037/bitcoin-meanders-around-82500-as-etfs-net-275-million-in-inflows">crypto market movements</a>.



What Happened: In a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeOCNEfwaHM">podcast</a> on March 16, Cowen suggested that Bitcoin's current downturn could extend until late March before a potential rebound in the second quarter. 



He noted that Bitcoin's price action in Q1 is unusual, as it has closed below the bull market support band for multiple weeks—something that has typically happened in Q3 of past cycles.



"The big difference this time is that it&#8217;s actually happening in Q1, not Q3," Cowen explained, drawing comparisons to 2017, when Bitcoin "did not really lose its bull market support band at all" during a similar market phase.



Bitcoin's S&amp;P 500 Correlation



In another podcast, Cowen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB3O2T0HElw">pointed</a> to historical S&amp;P 500 seasonality, particularly in post-election years, as a key influence on Bitcoin's price movements. 



He analyzed data dating back to 1928 and noted that "the S&amp;P has unfavorable seasonality really up until about the end of March" in these periods.



He also identified March options expiration as a likely turning point, stating that Bitcoin's local low will likely occur "sometime around March options expiration, plus or minus a week or two."



Cowen maintains that Bitcoin's overall market structure remains intact as long as it stays above its 2024 high of $73,000. 



A drop below this level, he warned, would introduce greater uncertainty into the market.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44363871/peter-schiff-slams-bitcoin-etfs-calls-selling-gold-for-btc-worst-timed-trade-in-history">Peter Schiff Slams Bitcoin ETFs, Calls Selling Gold For BTC &#8216;Worst-Timed Trade In History&#8217;</a>



What's Next: Looking ahead, Cowen expressed concerns about renewed weakness in Q3, citing potential Bank of Japan (BOJ) rate hikes as a risk factor.



&#8220;The Bank of Japan is expected to raise rates again in the third quarter of the year,&#8221; he said, noting that "the last three times the BOJ raised rates, it ultimately led to a market selloff."



For traders watching technical levels, Cowen pointed to the bull market support band, which currently sits between $88,000 and $94,000. These levels, he suggested, could be tested during any counter-trend rally in the coming weeks.



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Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Remains Stuck In The Low $80,000s: What Does Technical Analysis Say?

A sudden spike in U.S. spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44359400/bitcoin-etfs-see-record-5-5-billion-in-outflows-in-5-weeks-as-tariff-turbulence-looms">ETF inflows</a> has caused only a brief rally, with prices reversing in early Tuesday trading.



What Happened: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their highest daily net inflows in six weeks on Monday, totaling $274.6 million. 



This follows five consecutive weeks of net outflows amounting to $5.4 billion, according to SoSoValue <a href="https://sosovalue.xyz/zh/assets/etf">data</a>. 



Analysts attribute the shift to Bitcoin's price stabilization, institutional rebalancing and demand for lower-fee ETFs, The Block <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/346700/us-spot-bitcoin-etfs-post-largest-daily-net-inflows-in-six-weeks-worth-274-million?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss">reported</a>.



Fidelity's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FBTC#NASDAQ">FBTC</a>) led inflows with $127.3 million, followed by Ark/21Shares' (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARKB#BATS">ARKB</a>) with $88.5 million and BlackRock's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>) with $42.3 million. 



Bitcoin is down 1.7% to $82,000 in Tuesday morning trading.



Analysts anticipate continued fluctuations, with institutional rebalancing potentially driving further inflows or outflows.



As the quarter-end approaches, investors are closely monitoring positioning shifts.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44363871/peter-schiff-slams-bitcoin-etfs-calls-selling-gold-for-btc-worst-timed-trade-in-history">Peter Schiff Slams Bitcoin ETFs, Calls Selling Gold For BTC &#8216;Worst-Timed Trade In History&#8217;</a>



What's Next: Crypto trader Moustache said he is watching this week closely as the FOMC meeting and other key events unfold. 



He predicts a significant price increase, with Bitcoin's consolidation below the daily SMA200 (simple moving average) line indicating bullish momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> I&#39;m really looking forward to this week. Very important events + FOMC and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> consolidating below the daily SMA200 line (which is actually bullish). I wouldn&#39;t be surprised if we see a big green candle soon. <a href="https://t.co/6EDP3otxX0">pic.twitter.com/6EDP3otxX0</a>&mdash;

Bitcoin Meanders Around $82,000 As ETFs Net $275 Million In Inflows

Strategy Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) shares are trading lower Tuesday after the company announced an offering of 5 million shares of its Series A Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/b44374511/strategy-announces-proposed-strf-perpetual-preferred-stock-offering">a public offering.</a>



Strategy previously said it plans to sell its Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock over an extended period of time. The preferred stock will accumulate cumulative dividends at a fixed rate of 10% per annum.



Strategy has the right to redeem its preferred stock for cash if certain conditions are met. The liquidation preference of the perpetual strife preferred stock is initially set at&nbsp;$100&nbsp;per share. 



Strategy said it intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of additional Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>). The company announced plans in October 2024 to raise <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/41818982/will-microstrategys-42-billion-bitcoin-bet-boost-mstr-stock-further">$42 billion</a> over the next three years in an effort to keep stacking Bitcoin.



As of March 9, Strategy held an aggregate of approximately 499,096 Bitcoin, acquired at an average purchase price of approximately $66,357 per coin.



MSTR Price Action: <a href="http://benzinga.com/quote/mstr">Strategy shares</a> were down 4.17% at $282.00 at the time of publication Tuesday, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.



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Photo: Shutterstock.

Strategy Stock Is Sliding Tuesday: What's Going On?

Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), formerly MicroStrategy, has helped bond managers to outperform since the company has issued 0% convertible bonds. According to this analyst, MSTR's "novel strategy" has the potential for great upside in the future.



What Happened: After MSTR established itself as a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) treasury firm, the company has been issuing 0% convertible bonds and debt to acquire more Bitcoin. The novel thing about the company&#8217;s strategy is that they have issued these debt securities for almost no interest cost. So the BTC purchase is funded without having to actually pay for the interest expense.



"Now, you might think that this is a little bit reckless but it turns out it's a very novel strategy. Because they have created a network value, they are one of the largest holders of bitcoin now. Ultimately, they might become the second largest holder of Bitcoin after the U.S. government," said Tom Lee, the CIO at Fundstrat Capital.



According to Lee, bondholders were buying these bonds because they offered, for the first time, the ability to invest a billion dollars in a bond with Bitcoin exposure.



"These have been incredibly high performing bonds, they've been the best performing bonds, so they've helped bond managers outperform by buying typical corporate bonds but with an upside in crypto. So this works unless Bitcoin itself doesn't have a promising future," said Lee.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Fading <a href="https://twitter.com/fundstrat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fundstrat</a> Tom Lee has been a losing game for a very long time&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/WU4m1EjyM4">pic.twitter.com/WU4m1EjyM4</a>&mdash; Cory Klippsten &#x1f9a2; Swan.com (@coryklippsten) <a href="https://twitter.com/coryklippsten/status/1901641747538837677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44370387/fed-put-on-standby-while-trump-put-may-be-kaput-analysts-expect-jerome-powell-to-pivot-to-a-measured-stance-amid-economic-uncertainty" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fed Put On Standby, While Trump Put May Be Kaput? Analysts Expect Jerome Powell To Pivot To A Measured Stance Amid Economic Uncertainty</a>



Why It Matters: The Michael Saylor-led company, which transformed itself five years ago by using the cash on its balance sheet to purchase Bitcoin is no longer valued based on its software business, but it&#8217;s valued as a holder of Bitcoin.



Lee believes that Saylor had done something "brilliant," and that over time, as MSTR accumulates enough Bitcoin, the company would be able to do novel things like lending or securing financial systems with the cryptocurrency.



"MSTR is going to be one of the few companies that has a large holding of Bitcoin that you can actually tap, so I kind of applaud the strategy. I think that there is a lot of upside, as long as Bitcoin goes up, MSTR is likely goes up a lot more," added Lee.



Price Action: MSTR shares have declined 1.91% on a year-to-date basis and it&#8217;s up 95.81% over a year. Its shares were down 3.29% in premarket on Tuesday whereas the exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq 100 index,&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;was 0.46% lower.



Benzinga's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/MSTR">Edge Rankings</a> show a strong price trend in the medium and long term, whereas the short term trend has been poor. While its momentum ranking has been quite high at 99.97 percentile, its value and growth rankings are extremely poor.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/MSTR"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="804" height="135" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081348/Strategy-Edge-Rankings.png" alt="" class="wp-image-829294" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081348/Strategy-Edge-Rankings.png 804w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081348/Strategy-Edge-Rankings-300x50.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081348/Strategy-Edge-Rankings-768x129.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 804px) 100vw, 804px" /></a></figure>



Its consensus price target was $494.93, with a ‘buy' rating, based on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR/analyst-ratings">14 analysts tracked by Benzinga</a>. The price targets ranged from a low of $140 to a high of $690. The three latest ratings from Barclays, Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods, and Maxim Group averaged at $493.67, implying a 71.88% upside.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSTR/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="386" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081416/MSTR-ANR-startegy-1024x386.png" alt="" class="wp-image-829296" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081416/MSTR-ANR-startegy-1024x386.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081416/MSTR-ANR-startegy-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081416/MSTR-ANR-startegy-768x289.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18081416/MSTR-ANR-startegy.png 1062w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



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