Michael Hartnett of Bank of America stated that a protracted war with Iran poses a risk to the rebound in Japanese and European bank stocks, as investors are abandoning these markets in favor of oil and the US dollar. The strategist noted that investors may shift towards assets of “beneficiaries of a long-term conflict,” at the cost of sacrificing “oil-importing countries with minimal energy stock exposure,” such as South Korea, Japan, and Europe. US technology stocks and the global defense industry are sectors likely to benefit from this rotation. This has already begun to emerge since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran and the conflict escalated. European stocks are heading for their worst weekly decline since the tariff turmoil last April, as is Japan's Nikkei 225 index. South Korean stocks experienced sharp fluctuations, with the KOSPI index recording both a record drop and its largest single-day gain since 2008. (Jinshi)

Trading activity for Binance’s traditional finance (TradFi) perpetual contracts has surpassed $130 billion in cumulative volume, according to data from CryptoQuant.Gold and Silver Dominate Trading ActivityAmong all TradFi perpetual contracts listed on Binance, precious metals have seen the strongest activity.Contracts tied to gold and silver which have accounted for the majority of trading volume.

Bank of America strategist Michael Hartnett has issued a warning regarding potential war risks impacting the stock markets in Europe and Japan. According to Jin10, Hartnett's analysis suggests that geopolitical tensions could pose significant threats to these markets. Investors are advised to remain cautious as these developments unfold, potentially affecting market stability and investor confidence.

U.S. stocks have significantly outperformed international markets since the onset of conflict in the Middle East. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the shift in investor focus towards American equities during this period. The geopolitical tensions have prompted investors to seek stability in U.S. markets, which have shown resilience compared to their global counterparts. This trend underscores the appeal of U.S. stocks as a safe haven amid international uncertainties. The performance of U.S. equities has been notably stronger, reflecting investor confidence in the American market's ability to weather geopolitical disruptions.

Bitcoin exchange withdrawals spiked to more than $2 billion of BTC on Wednesday, with analysis eyeing a potential major spot buy. source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-anomalous-exchange-outflow-32k-btc-leave-bitfinex?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Key takeawaysUniCredit economists expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates only once in 2026.Central banks may look past short-term geopolitical turbulence caused by the Iran conflict.The European Central Bank is expected to keep rates unchanged until 2027.Risks for the ECB have shifted from easing toward potential earlier tightening.Central Banks Expected to Look Beyond Short-Term Geopolitical TurmoilEconomists at UniCredit say global central banks are likely to look through the short-term economic volatility caused by the Iran conflict.According to a report by chief economists Marco Valli and Daniel Vernazza, military operations against Iran could last several weeks but are unlikely to fundamentally alter long-term monetary policy paths.The analysts believe that once the conflict subsides, energy markets and geopolitical tensions should stabilize, reducing the need for immediate policy changes.Fed Expected to Deliver Only One Rate CutUnder UniCredit’s baseline scenario, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates only once this year.The cautious outlook reflects persistent inflation risks and uncertainty around energy prices linked to geopolitical tensions.The central bank has maintained a relatively restrictive stance, keeping borrowing costs elevated to ensure inflation remains under control.ECB Seen Holding Rates Until 2027The report also suggests the European Central Bank will take an even more conservative approach.UniCredit economists forecast the ECB will keep interest rates unchanged until 2027, signaling a prolonged period of policy stability in the eurozone.However, they also noted that risks for the ECB have shifted.Rather than needing additional monetary easing, the central bank may face the possibility of tightening policy sooner than previously expected if inflation pressures persist.Energy Markets Remain Key Risk FactorEnergy prices remain a central variable for policymakers.The conflict in the Middle East has increased concerns about potential disruptions to oil supplies, which could push energy prices higher and complicate inflation management.If oil prices rise sharply, central banks may need to maintain tighter monetary conditions for longer, delaying rate cuts.For now, UniCredit’s outlook suggests policymakers are likely to focus on long-term economic trends rather than short-term geopolitical shocks when determining interest rate decisions.

Vitalik Buterin has urged Ethereum developers to experiment more boldly at the app layer while preserving the network’s core principles. source: https://www.theblock.co/post/392621/vitalik-buterin-calls-for-bolder-experimentation-in-ethereums-app-layer-while-preserving-core-principles?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

null source: https://x.com/coindesk/status/2029869141167845516

Binance Alpha is launching the second round of the Magma Finance (MAGMA) airdrop. Users with at least 241 Alpha Points can claim an airdrop of 320 MAGMA tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the rewards are not fully distributed, the point threshold will automatically decrease by 5 points every 5 minutes. Claiming this airdrop will cost 15 Alpha Points. Users must confirm their claim on the Alpha event page within 24 hours, otherwise they will be considered to have forfeited their airdrop.

Japan is contemplating the release of its national oil reserves, according to Jin10. This move is being considered as a response to current global energy challenges and to stabilize domestic supply. The decision comes amid ongoing discussions about energy security and market stability. Japan's potential action reflects broader concerns about energy availability and price fluctuations in the international market. The release of oil reserves is seen as a strategic measure to mitigate potential disruptions and ensure a steady supply for the country.

Kraken, Kraken Acquires Federal Reserve Master Account: Crypto Industry Moving from "Outsider" to "Core Player" (Jinse Finance)

In February 2026, Palo Alto Networks issued a security warning, pointing out that OpenClaw poses a serious prompt injection risk.

Artificial intelligence, mining, and the great migration of mining companies: Some have already secured $12.8 billion in AI orders. Golden Finance reports that mining companies are turning to AI computing power, with no way out.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced a strategic investment in OKX, valuing the company at $25 billion, and acquired a seat on OKX's board of directors.

Early morning of March 3, 2026, Washington, D.C. The Bitcoin Policy Institute's servers completed the final round of data processing.

Ethereum's token economic model has been damaged following the Fusaka upgrade in December 2025. Vitalik is well aware of this and is selling off, while ETH's most fervent bullish investor, Tom Lee, continues to fill the bottomless pit.

As the world's second-largest issuer of stablecoins, how did Circle become the biggest beneficiary of AI payments?

The essence of investing is to find price mismatches in a future that has already arrived but is not yet evenly distributed.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will drop its lawsuit against Justin Sun after one of his companies agreed to pay a $10 million fine. The case accused Sun and his firms of illegal token sales and wash trading linked to TRON (TRX).

A Coinbase shareholder has filed a derivative lawsuit against several of the exchange’s top executives and board members, accusing them of failing to properly oversee compliance and disclosure practices