Bitcoin dips on Tehran strikes as DOJ arrests $328M crypto Ponzi founder

On this week’s version of the weekly recap, Bitcoin fell to $63,062 earlier than recovering following explosive strikes in Tehran amid U.S.-Israel operations and Iranian retaliatory missiles.

In different distinguished information, federal authorities arrested Goliath Ventures founder Christopher Alexander Delgado on expenses associated to an alleged $328 million Ponzi scheme, and MetaMask partnered with Mastercard to launch its self-custodial fee card throughout the USA.

Cryptocurrency markets react to Center East battle

• Bitcoin (BTC) declined to $63,062 earlier than rebounding to $66,201 following stories of huge explosions in Tehran as the USA and Israel launched coordinated strikes throughout Iran.
• Ethereum (ETH) dropped to $1,837 earlier than recovering to $1,940 in the course of the volatility spike as Iran launched retaliatory missiles at a number of areas together with Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

Federal prosecutors cost crypto Ponzi operator

• The Division of Justice introduced the arrest of Christopher Alexander Delgado, 34, founder and CEO of Goliath Ventures, on federal expenses tied to an alleged $328 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.
• Delgado was taken into custody in Apopka, Florida, on a legal criticism filed in the USA District Courtroom for the Center District of Florida charging wire fraud and cash laundering.

MetaMask expands crypto card to U.S. market

• MetaMask and Mastercard have formally launched the MetaMask Card in the USA.
• The self-custodial crypto fee card is now out there in 49 U.S. states, together with New York for the primary time.

Magic Eden narrows platform focus to Solana

• The distinguished NFT market introduced plans to shut its Bitcoin and EVM-based buying and selling platforms in early March 2026 whereas discontinuing help for its multi-chain pockets.
• The platform will proceed supporting Solana-based belongings solely.

MoonPay introduces AI agent pockets entry

• The crypto funds platform launched February 24 a brand new product offering synthetic intelligence methods direct entry to digital wallets and on-chain transactions.
• MoonPay Brokers, a non-custodial software program layer, allows AI brokers to create wallets, handle funds, and commerce on behalf of verified customers.

Morgan Stanley plans a number of Bitcoin merchandise

• The banking big has intentions to supply varied Bitcoin-related product choices in accordance with digital belongings technique head Amy Oldenburg.
• These deliberate merchandise would develop Morgan Stanley’s cryptocurrency publicity past its present restricted choices.

AI safety instrument identifies vital XRP vulnerability

• An autonomous AI safety instrument found a bug within the XRP Ledger that might have aided attackers to steal funds from any community account with out accessing non-public keys.
• XRPL Labs disclosed Thursday the vulnerability existed in signature-validation logic of the Batch modification.
• This was a pending improve permitting a number of transactions to be bundled and executed collectively.

Barclays explores blockchain fee platform

• The multinational financial institution is inspecting creation of a blockchain platform for funds and different processes in accordance with stories
• The London-based monetary providers big is consulting with potential know-how suppliers to develop infrastructure rivaling JPMorgan and others utilizing decentralized know-how for banking providers.

Kalshi penalizes insider buying and selling violations

• The prediction market agency disclosed catching and penalizing two customers for insider-trading exercise, together with an editor for social media star MrBeast.
• The corporate acknowledged it has over a dozen lively insider-trading circumstances amongst 200 investigated, with Wednesday disclosures detailing two resolved issues together with motion towards Artem Kaptur, recognized as working for James Donaldson’s MrBeast persona.