Dear reader,
EOS Network Rebrands as Vaulta, Signaling Shift Toward Web3 Banking
EOS Network has announced a strategic rebrand to Vaulta, effective end of May 2025, as it pivots toward becoming a Web3 banking platform. This transformation will retain EOS’s foundational blockchain infrastructure while integrating Bitcoin-focused digital banking solutions and institutional-grade financial services.
The rebrand reflects an ambitious effort to reshape digital finance and meet the changing demands of the financial sector through decentralized technologies.
Spirit Blockchain Capital Inc. (CSE: SPIR) fully supports this transition. As a strategic partner, Spirit will work closely with Vaulta to develop blockchain-based financial solutions, offer advisory expertise, and facilitate initiatives bridging traditional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi). The partnership reinforces Spirit’s long-term mission to integrate blockchain into the core of institutional finance and drive sustainable innovation.
Read the full official press release here: Spirit Blockchain Capital Supports EOS Network’s Vaulta Evolution, Reinforcing Commitment to Web3 Banking
Federal Reserve Holds Steady
The U.S. Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark interest rate at 4.25%–4.5% in its March 20 decision. While widely anticipated, markets reacted to the Fed’s new projection of two 25-basis-point rate cuts by the end of 2025. Chair Jerome Powell emphasized data dependence amid inflationary concerns and uncertainties surrounding Trump administration fiscal policies.
Bank of England Decision
The Bank of England followed suit, keeping its base rate at 4.5%. The decision comes on the heels of an unexpected rise in UK inflation to 3% in January, with forecasts suggesting inflation could peak at 3.75% by Q3.
Equity Markets: Cautious Optimism Amid Volatility
U.S. equity markets remain turbulent. As of Friday morning, futures point to a tentative recovery, with the S&P 500 aiming to close its first positive week after four consecutive losses. Interest rate outlooks and economic data continue to drive investor sentiment.
In Europe, markets are stabilizing after Thursday’s decline, though investor caution remains high amid potential policy shifts and trade concerns, including possible U.S. tariff actions flagged by the European Central Bank.
Crypto Markets: Consolidation Following Volatility Bitcoin Performance
Bitcoin (BTC) has seen a minor pullback, trading at $84,123 as of 9:30 AM UTC on Friday—down 2.14% from its recent high of $86,532. The overall cryptocurrency market capitalization has climbed to $2.81 trillion, up 3.03% over the past 24 hours.
Institutional Flows and Volatility
Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, reflecting persistent institutional interest. However, market volatility remains elevated, driven by liquidations and shifting sentiment across derivatives platforms.
Altcoins and Sector Trends
- Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $1,976.61, down 1.54% in the past 24 hours.
- Other major altcoins, including XRP, SOL, and ADA, are also trading lower.
- Notable outperformers include ORCA (+132%), FARM (+39%), and ZRO (+26%).
The memecoin-driven activity that recently boosted network traffic on Solana has cooled significantly, leading to lower trading volumes and reduced speculative flows.
Regulatory Signals
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued updated guidance on the classification of Proof-of-Work mining assets. These clarifications are being viewed as a possible precursor to broader regulatory support for altcoin ETFs.
President Trump Addresses Blockworks Digital Asset Summit
In a landmark moment for the digital asset sector, President Donald Trump delivered a pre-recorded speech at the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit in New York City on March 20—the first time a sitting U.S. president has addressed a crypto conference.
Key highlights from the address included:
- A call for Congress to pass “simple, commonsense rules” for stablecoins and crypto market structure.
- Announcement of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile.
- Vision for crypto-backed financial technologies to drive U.S. economic growth, improve privacy and security, and modernize payments.
- Assertion that the U.S. will become the “undisputed Bitcoin superpower and the crypto capital of the world.”
Trump also declared an end to the “regulatory war on crypto and Bitcoin,” signaling a more favorable policy environment for the digital asset industry heading into the second half of the decade.
This Week’s Headlines
Strategy Raises $711M to Buy More Bitcoin in Upsized STRF Perpetual Offering: This is the initial sale of the company’s Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock.
Trump Administration Eyes Blockchain for Foreign Aid in USAID Overhaul: The plan aims to integrate blockchain technology into the procurement system to enhance security, transparency, and traceability of aid distributions.
XRP Surges as SEC Drops Appeal Against Ripple: The cryptocurrency market celebrated a major legal victory for Ripple, with XRP experiencing a significant price rally.
Australia Proposes New Crypto Regulation Structure: The Australian government unveiled plans to integrate digital assets into the economy, signaling a progressive approach to cryptocurrency regulation.
Solana-Based DEX Orca’s Token Skyrockets 92% on Upbit Listing: The native token of decentralized exchange Orca saw a dramatic price increase, highlighting the impact of major exchange listings on crypto assets.
Eric Trump Joins Metaplanet as Advisor: The son of President Donald Trump has taken on an advisory role with Japan’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, further intertwining the Trump family with the cryptocurrency industry.
Real-World Assets Cross $10 Billion in Total Value Locked: Growth comes from increases in TVL on Ethena USDtb and BlackRock’s BUIDL.
Notable Deals and Fundraising
VanEck Ventures leads round for real estate tokenization firm Manifest: Manifest, a firm focused on bringing US private equity real estate onchain, raised a $2.5 million round to bring together real estate and DeFi.
Stable Sea exits stealth, raising $3.5M: CEO Tanner Taddeo told Blockworks that institutions are looking to utilize stablecoins to make transfers cheaper, faster
Two new Uniswap governance proposals passed on Wednesday, securing around $177 million worth of UNI token-based funding for the Ethereum DeFi protocol’s Foundation to help support the growth of Uniswap V4 and Unichain.
Kraken to Acquire Futures Broker NinjaTrader in $1.5 Billion Crypto-TradFi Deal: The U.S.-based digital assets exchange has been looking to expand as it emerges from regulatory headwinds.
Rumble Acquires $17.1 Million in Bitcoin as Part of Treasury Strategy: Video-sharing platform Rumble boosts its Bitcoin holdings with a 188 BTC purchase, reinforcing its commitment to a Bitcoin treasury strategy.
MoonPay lands $200 million credit line from Galaxy to handle Trump memecoin-like frenzies.
Telegram-focused TON Foundation says VCs buy over $400 million of Toncoin: The Open Network Foundation, or TON Foundation, said a group of VCs including Sequoia Capital, Ribbit, Benchmark and Kingsway invested over $400 million buying the Toncoin cryptocurrency.
Have a great week!
