KEYTAKEAWAYS
- Strategy continues aggressive Bitcoin acquisition with 130 more BTC purchased and launches STRF preferred stock offering to finance further crypto investments.
- Institutional crypto adoption accelerates with North Carolina's Bitcoin Reserve Act, Dubai's tokenisation sandbox, and new ETF applications for Polkadot from Nasdaq and 21Shares.
- Platform competition intensifies as EOS rebrands to Vaulta focusing on Web3 banking, while Raydium launches LaunchLab to compete directly with pump.fun's token launchpad.
CONTENT
Welcome to the CoinRank Crypto News Roundup. CoinRank will provide daily important crypto news in this column series, allowing readers to quickly obtain the latest crucial updates from the cryptocurrency market.
MORNING NEWS
1. Strategy Launches STRF Preferred Stock to Finance Bitcoin Purchases
Strategy, the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, announced the launch of STRF (Strife), a new perpetual preferred stock offering for institutional and select retail investors. The company plans to offer 5 million shares with a 10% annual fixed dividend rate to raise funds for Bitcoin purchases. Strategy also reported purchasing 130 Bitcoin at an average price of $82,981, bringing its total holdings to 499,226 BTC (over 2% of Bitcoin’s entire supply), valued at approximately $41.6 billion.
2. Nasdaq Files for 21Shares Polkadot ETF
Nasdaq officially submitted a 19b-4 filing to the SEC, requesting permission to list and trade shares of 21Shares’ Polkadot (DOT) exchange-traded fund. The proposed ETF would track the spot price of DOT, Polkadot’s native cryptocurrency. This filing follows 21Shares’ earlier amended S-1 form and represents another step in the company’s efforts to expand crypto investment products. Grayscale Investments has also filed to launch a Polkadot ETF, signaling broader interest in the asset.
3. Blockchain Fintech Halliday Raises $20M in Series A Funding
Halliday, a startup helping financial institutions automate services using blockchain and AI technology, has completed a $20 million Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Blizzard Fund, Credibly Neutral, SV Angel, and other investors. The company works with chartered banks and payment service providers interested in blockchain technology, simplifying financial workflow design and accelerating their entry into the field.
4. EOS Network Announces Rebrand to Vaulta, Focusing on Web3 Banking
EOS Network announced it will rebrand to Vaulta, aligning with a strategic shift toward Web3 banking. The transition, scheduled for late May 2025, will include a token swap and the creation of a Banking Advisory Council composed of banking and Web3 experts. Vaulta aims to revolutionize financial services by acting as a scalable operating system for real-world financial applications, connecting traditional banking with blockchain technology. The platform will focus on four pillars: Wealth Management, Consumer Payments, Portfolio Management, and Insurance.
5. Raydium Launches LaunchLab as Direct Competitor to Pump.fun
Solana DEX and automated market maker Raydium is launching LaunchLab, a token launchpad that initially resembles a direct fork of pump.fun. This move comes less than a month after pump.fun announced plans to develop its own AMM. LaunchLab will offer linear, exponential, and logarithmic bonding curves, support multiple quote tokens beyond SOL, and integrate with Raydium’s liquidity provider locker. Anonymous Raydium contributor Infra stated that LaunchLab is “an alternative for teams who don’t want to develop their own programs from scratch” rather than a pump.fun replacement.
NOON NEWS
1. Dubai Launches Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox for Digital Finance Innovation
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has introduced the Tokenisation Regulatory Sandbox, providing a controlled environment for companies to test and develop tokenised investment products. Open for submissions from March 17 to April 24, 2025, the sandbox offers clear regulatory guidelines that enhance investor trust while allowing firms to refine products before full market entry. The initiative supports tokenised financial products including equities, bonds, and investment fund units, positioning Dubai as a global leader in digital finance innovation.
2. Nova Energy Gets Approval for Natural Gas-Powered Crypto Mining Center
Nova Energy has obtained permission to build a natural gas-powered cryptocurrency mining data center in Frenchcreek, Pennsylvania. The permit is based on the approval of three lean-burn natural gas engines that will provide power for cryptocurrency mining. According to a 2023 UN study, natural gas is the energy source for 21% of global Bitcoin mining operations, second only to coal (45%).
3. Bitcoin Spot ETFs See $209 Million Net Inflow on March 18th
According to SoSoValue data, the total net inflow of Bitcoin spot ETFs reached $209 million on March 18. BlackRock’s IBIT led with a net inflow of $218 million, bringing its historical total to $39.497 billion. Ark Invest and 21Shares’ ARKB had the highest net outflow of $9 million. The total net asset value of Bitcoin spot ETFs now stands at $91.974 billion, representing 5.65% of Bitcoin’s total market cap, with historical cumulative net inflows reaching $35.788 billion.
4. North Carolina Introduces Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act
North Carolina has introduced the Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act (SB327), allowing the state to allocate up to 10% of its public funds ($9.5 billion) into Bitcoin. The legislation implements robust security protocols, including multi-signature cold storage and monthly audits, while establishing strict conditions for selling Bitcoin assets. The bill aims to position North Carolina as a leader in digital finance, potentially inspiring other states to adopt similar investment strategies despite market volatility and regulatory challenges.
5. Binance Completes BinaryX Token Swap to Four (FORM)
According to an official announcement, Binance has completed the token swap and brand upgrade of BinaryX (BNX) to Four (FORM). The exchange has opened deposits for the new FORM token, with withdrawals set to begin at 17:00 (UTC+8) on March 19, 2025. Binance will launch FORM/USDT spot trading at 16:00 (UTC+8) on the same day.
EVENING NEWS
1. Mubarak Token Surges 28% After CZ Changes Profile Picture
The token $mubarak briefly rose by 28% after Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) changed his X account avatar to a photo of himself in traditional Arabic clothing. The token’s market value reached $170 million, maintaining its leading market position. The top address holder saw floating profits increase to $2.3 million, representing a 3,189x return. This address, reportedly held by @fanqiege168, transferred remaining positions to address 0xC0b…39daf the previous day and has not yet sold.
2. Meteora Launches Rising Incubator for Crypto Projects
Meteora has introduced the Meteora Rising Incubator, designed to support innovative projects within the crypto ecosystem. The incubator emphasizes equitable project launches and community alignment, aiming to counteract the trend of zero-sum launches common in the industry. By offering comprehensive tools for launchpads, Meteora seeks to foster projects ranging from DeFi tools to blockchain infrastructure solutions, highlighting its commitment to promoting sustainable innovation in the cryptocurrency space.
3. Binance Founder CZ Changes X Profile Picture to Arabic Attire
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has changed his X (formerly Twitter) profile picture to a photo of himself wearing traditional Arabic clothing.
4. Ethereum Launches Hoodi Testnet for Pectra Upgrade Testing
Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko announced the launch of the new Hoodi testnet, aimed at completing testing for the upcoming Pectra upgrade. The Pectra upgrade will be launched on the Hoodi testnet next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Holesky testnet will continue to be maintained until September and remains usable for most testing purposes, though it does not support validator exit testing.
5. Gold Reaches New Record High Ahead of Fed Decision
Gold prices touched a record level of $3,045.24 per ounce before stabilizing at $3,034.12 as investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. The precious metal has climbed over 15% this year due to safe-haven demand, inflation concerns amid new U.S. tariffs, and ongoing geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and Gaza. Traders expect the Fed to hold its benchmark rate this month, with cuts likely to resume in June, which would make the non-yielding asset more attractive.
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