Morning Brief: Crypto Remains Resilient Amid Rising Conflict

Morning Minute: Your Daily Crypto Briefing

Morning Minute is a daily newsletter authored by Tyler Warner. The insights and perspectives shared are his own and do not necessarily represent those of Decrypt.

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Good Morning!

Here are the most important updates for today:

• Major cryptocurrencies are surging, with Ethereum leading the rally; Bitcoin stands at $73,700 and Ethereum at $2,275.
• Bitcoin ETFs have seen five consecutive days of net inflows, totaling $763 million.
• Tom Lee has acquired $10 million worth of Ethereum directly from the Foundation via OTC.
• Stanley Druckenmiller believes stablecoins could transform the global payments landscape.
• A new LIBRA report uncovers a $5 million payment linked to Argentina’s President Milei.

🌍 Crypto Markets Stay Resilient Amid Global Tensions

Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the cryptocurrency market is showing remarkable resilience.

This morning, Bitcoin is priced at $73,900, Ethereum at $2,280, and Solana at $93.80.

Over the past week, Bitcoin has climbed 9%, Ethereum has surged 13.9%, and Solana has gained 12.1%.

This performance stands out, especially as gold prices have dipped and equities remain stagnant.

Many investors had braced for a sharp downturn at the start of the week. After the U.S. targeted Kharg Island—responsible for about 90% of Iran’s oil exports—energy markets reacted swiftly. Brent crude jumped to $105 per barrel, and U.S. oil briefly exceeded $100, reflecting fears of broader supply disruptions in the Gulf region, according to Reuters.

However, oil prices have since retreated, stock futures are slightly positive, and leading cryptocurrencies are outperforming.

Highlights:

• Reuters noted oil surged over 25% during the weekend.
• Bitcoin rose 9% this week, with Ethereum up 14%, outpacing other asset classes.
• HYPE token is trading above $39, marking a 24% weekly increase.

💰 Bitcoin ETFs Achieve Five-Day Inflow Streak

Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows every trading day last week, as reported by CoinGlass.

Between March 9 and March 13, these funds attracted approximately $763.4 million in net inflows—the first such streak in 2026, a milestone not seen since November 2025.

Ethereum ETFs also posted gains, with $117 million in net inflows over the last four trading days.

Key Points:

• Total net inflows for the week reached $763.4 million.
• This marks the first five-day inflow streak of 2026.
• IBIT led contributions, with $185.8 million on March 10 and $143.6 million on March 13.

🟣 Tom Lee’s BitMine Acquires ETH Directly from Ethereum Foundation

The Ethereum Foundation has sold 5,000 ETH to Tom Lee’s BitMine in an over-the-counter deal valued at roughly $10.2 million, according to Decrypt.

The Foundation reported an average sale price of $2,042.96 per ETH. Proceeds will support core operations, protocol research, ecosystem growth, and grants. As of last Monday, BitMine held 4,534,563 ETH, valued at about $9.41 billion.

Details:

• Transaction: 5,000 ETH for approximately $10.2 million.
• Average price per ETH: $2,042.96.
• BitMine is the largest ETH treasury, holding 4.53 million ETH (about 4% of the total supply).

🏦 Druckenmiller: Stablecoins Poised to Revolutionize Payments

In a recent Morgan Stanley interview, billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller shared his belief that stablecoins will become a cornerstone of future payment systems.

He told Decrypt, “I would assume our whole payments systems will be stablecoins in 10 or 15 years.”

Druckenmiller praised stablecoins for their efficiency and low costs, though he remains cautious about the broader crypto sector.

Highlights:

• Druckenmiller predicts stablecoins could dominate payments within 10 to 15 years.
• He is optimistic about stablecoins, but skeptical about the wider crypto industry, calling it “a solution looking for a problem.”
• Stablecoin supply has reached around $315 billion, up by more than $180 billion since early 2024, according to Decrypt.

🇦🇷 Investigation Uncovers Alleged $5M LIBRA Deal Linked to President Milei

Investigators have reportedly found documentation outlining a $5 million payment arrangement connected to Argentine President Javier Milei’s promotion of the LIBRA token.

The Block reports the document was retrieved from lobbyist Mauricio Novelli’s phone during an ongoing judicial investigation.

The alleged agreement involved three separate payments totaling $5 million. Reports indicate the draft included an upfront payment, a second payment for Milei’s public endorsement of Hayden Davis, and a final payment for a formal blockchain or AI advisory role.

For context, LIBRA is notorious in the Solana and meme coin communities, widely blamed for the collapse of the 2023-2025 meme coin cycle.

Key Details:

• The document was reportedly found on Mauricio Novelli’s iPhone.
• The alleged payment plan totaled $5 million across three installments.
• LIBRA’s market cap briefly exceeded $7 billion before crashing to just $1 million—a drop of over 99.9%.

🌎 Macro Crypto and Market Overview

• Major cryptocurrencies are outperforming other markets: BTC up 3% at $73,900; ETH up 8% at $2,279; SOL up 6% at $94.
• Top movers: PEPE (+20%), FET (+13%), DOT (+11%), TAO (+10%).
• Oil is at $96, declining after briefly surpassing $100; gold remains steady at $5,010.
• Ethereum Foundation emphasized decentralization and self-sovereignty in a recent 38-page report.
• Kraken’s SPAC is seeking a crypto-native acquisition worth up to $10 billion, focusing on stablecoins, DeFi, and payments.
• Mizuho raised its price target for Circle after USDC overtook USDT in adjusted transaction volume for the first time.
• The crypto lobby has already invested $271 million in the 2026 midterm elections and plans further ad campaigns against lawmakers opposing crypto-friendly policies.
• Hyperliquid was featured in the Wall Street Journal, highlighting the platform’s appeal for 24/7 trading.

Corporate Treasuries & ETFs

• Bitcoin ETFs recorded $180 million in net inflows on Friday, capping a $760 million week; Ethereum ETFs saw $27 million in inflows, totaling $117 million for the week.
• MetaPlanet announced a $255 million private placement to increase its Bitcoin holdings.

Meme Coin Tracker

• Leading meme coins posted strong gains: DOGE +4%, SHIB +5%, PEPE +20%, TRUMP -3%, PENGU +8%, SPX +7%, FARTCOIN +15%.
• USELESS (+16%) was the top on-chain mover during a relatively quiet weekend.

💰 Token, Airdrop & Protocol Updates

• MoonPay integrated Ledger hardware wallet signing into its CLI wallet for MoonPay Agents, enabling users to verify and sign AI-driven transactions directly on their devices.
• Sky DAO reduced its token buyback program by 87% to bolster stablecoin reserves.
• AAVE DAO proposed a 40% reduction in its token buyback program due to declining revenues.

🚚 NFT Market Highlights

• Top NFT collections remained mostly stable over the weekend, even as ETH surged: Punks down 1% at 28.25 ETH, Pudgy up 1% at 4.32 ETH, BAYC down 1% at 5.35 ETH, Hypurr unchanged at 436 HYPE.
• Creepz led notable movers with a 37% increase.