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Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Platform for $1.8 Billion

<p class="text-left mb-4 ">Mastercard is <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260317174940/en/Mastercard-to-Acquire-BVNK-to-Connect-On-Chain-Payments-and-Fiat-Rails" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">preparing</a> to make one of its biggest moves yet towards digital assets, and specifically stablecoin-based payment infrastructure. The company announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK in a deal that could reach up to $1.8 billion. The agreement also includes an additional $300 million in performance-based payments. This acquisition stands out as a key part of Mastercard's goal to build a direct bridge between its global fiat payment network and blockchain-based systems. The company states that BVNK's technology will complement its existing infrastructure, thus opening a new era where traditional finance and onchain payment rails can work together seamlessly. The rapid increase in stablecoin usage in recent years is one of the main motivations behind this move. According to Boston Consulting Group data, stablecoin transaction volumes alone will reach at least $350 billion by 2025. Financial institutions and fintech companies are increasingly turning to stablecoin and tokenized deposit-based services as regulations become clearer. According to Mastercard, BVNK's infrastructure; This will enable new use cases in areas such as cross-border money transfers, corporate payments, peer-to-peer transfers, and bulk payment solutions. In the longer term, the goal is to reduce existing inefficiencies in areas such as capital markets and treasury management thanks to the advantages of programmability and rapid reconciliation.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">One of the most critical points emphasized by the company is the secure and compatible integration of blockchain-based payment systems with traditional financial infrastructure. With this acquisition, Mastercard aims to provide “scalable and reliable interoperability” between different blockchain networks and existing financial systems.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Mastercard Product Director Jorn Lambert states that they believe the vast majority of financial institutions will offer digital currency services in the future. According to Lambert, these services, offered through stablecoins or tokenized assets, will bring speed and programmability to payment systems. This can make almost every type of financial transaction more efficient.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Founded in 2021, BVNK operates in more than 130 countries and provides infrastructure that allows businesses to send and receive payments across different blockchain networks. The company's CEO, Jesse Hemson-Struthers, states that the merger with Mastercard will create an unprecedented infrastructure for digital currency-based financial services.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Coinbase Competition</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">This acquisition also shows how intense the competition has become. It was previously known that <a href="https://jrkripto.com/tr/exchanges/coinbase-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">Coinbase</a> was in talks to acquire BVNK for approximately $2 billion, but this process ended unsuccessfully in November. In addition to Mastercard and Coinbase, it was stated that other players were also interested in the company, and the valuation ranged between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">The wave of consolidation in the sector is not limited to this. In 2024, Stripe's acquisition of Bridge for $1.1 billion showed the increasing appetite for stablecoin infrastructure. Mastercard has also recently strengthened its presence in this area by launching a partnership program with more than 85 digital asset companies.</p>

17 Mar 2026

Major Announcement from PayPal: PYUSD Launched in 68 Countries

<p class="text-left mb-4 ">PayPal has taken a significant step towards expanding its own-brand stablecoin, PYUSD. According to May Zabaneh, the company's senior executive in charge of crypto assets, users in 68 countries will be able to hold PYUSD in their PayPal wallets as of this month. Previously only available to users in the US and the UK, this feature now covers many new markets in South America, Africa, and Asia. Countries such as Uganda, Colombia, and Peru are among the notable destinations in this expansion. The final figure is 70.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Solution for cross-border payments</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">This step strengthens <a href="https://jrkripto.com/tr/coin/pyusd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">PayPal's</a> position in the stablecoin space, aiming to provide solutions to the cost and access problems experienced in cross-border payments. According to Zabaneh, making PYUSD available in more countries not only increases accessibility but also has the potential to reduce the high costs of international money transfers. Stablecoins are generally known as digital assets pegged to real assets such as the US dollar. Thanks to their structure, these assets minimize price volatility and have long stood out as lower-cost alternatives, especially in international money transfers. PayPal is positioning PYUSD in line with this vision.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">With the new system, users will no longer only be able to send and receive PYUSD, but also earn returns on this asset. While an annual return of approximately 4% is offered for existing users in the US, this model is planned to be extended to other countries. Thus, users will have the opportunity to earn passive income from the PYUSD balances they hold in their PayPal accounts.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">One of the most striking aspects of this development is the transformation it creates in cross-border payments. In the current system, for example, a payment sent from New York to Lima has to be converted to the local currency by the recipient, and both exchange rate differences and transfer fees come into play in this process. With PYUSD transactions, users can hold their funds directly in a dollar-based digital asset. This both reduces costs and makes transactions more efficient. In addition, in some countries, the existing PayPal infrastructure does not allow users to hold their balances within the platform. For example, in Malawi, money sent to a user is transferred directly to their bank account. With the introduction of PYUSD, users will be able to hold these funds in their PayPal wallets. This significantly changes the user experience and encourages the use of digital wallets. PayPal's move with PYUSD is not limited to individual users. The company aims to actively use the stablecoin within its own ecosystem. For example, content creators who receive payments through platforms like YouTube can choose to receive their earnings in PYUSD through PayPal's payment solutions. Similarly, the company is testing this stable asset for international fund transfers between different corporate units. According to data, the market value of PYUSD has increased more than fivefold in the last year, reaching $4.1 billion. First launched in the summer of 2023, this stablecoin initially experienced a brief pause due to regulatory pressures. However, following this period, PayPal began to expand its product globally by making it part of a broader strategy.</p>

17 Mar 2026

Metaplanet Makes Massive Bitcoin Transfer: Stocks Drop Sharply

<p class="text-left mb-4 ">Japan-based Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet has come back into the spotlight with a large-scale transfer after a long period of silence. After approximately three months of inactivity, the company moved a total of 4,986 BTC to new wallets. The market value of this transfer is estimated at around $368.3 million, sparking various speculations within the crypto community.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">According to information shared by on-chain data providers, Metaplanet conducted small-scale test operations before the transfer and then distributed its assets to five different new wallets. This was interpreted as an operational restructuring rather than a sell-off. Experts suggest that this move by the company may aim to increase asset security or update its institutional custody strategy.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">This development coincides with Metaplanet's recently announced new capital strategy. The company's board of directors announced that, from now on, capital increases will only be carried out through share issuance and share buybacks will be implemented under certain conditions. This approach is said to aim at increasing long-term company value and creating a more sustainable structure for shareholders.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Metaplanet's growth plans are also remarkable</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">The company secured approximately $255 million in new funding from institutional investors. In addition, it created an additional potential capital of $276 million through fixed-price warrants. Thus, a total financing package of $531 million was prepared. This structure is designed to directly convert increases in the company's share price into Bitcoin purchasing power.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">It is stated that the company currently holds approximately 35,102 BTC, and the total value of these assets is over $2.5 billion. However, Metaplanet's goals extend far beyond the current level. The firm plans to reach 100,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and 210,000 BTC by 2027. If these goals are achieved, the company could become one of the few institutional actors controlling approximately 1% of the Bitcoin supply. On the other hand, despite all these strategic developments, Metaplanet shares experienced a sharp decline. The company's shares, traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed the day down over 12% at 344 yen. The intraday trading range was between 342 and 390 yen, while the trading volume, significantly above average, reached 61 million yen. This indicates that investors are acting cautiously in the face of short-term uncertainties. The decline in the share price was influenced not only by internal company developments but also by macroeconomic factors. In particular, profit-taking seen in the market before the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate decision led to a pullback in the Bitcoin price. <a href="https://jrkripto.com/tr/coin/btc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">Bitcoin</a>, after rising to $75,988 in the last 24 hours, fell to $72,912 and is trading around $73,600 at the time of writing. Although trading volume remains high, it signals a slight slowdown in the short term.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 "> <figure class="my-6"> <img src="https://minio-api-1.jrkripto.com/blog/btcusdt-2026-03-17-13-38-46-95dde9ea.webp" alt="BTCUSDT_2026-03-17_13-38-46.png" width="auto" height="auto" class="w-full rounded-lg border" /> </figure> </p>

17 Mar 2026

Bitcoin Hits $75K, Triggers Short Squeeze Rally

<p class="text-left mb-4 ">The cryptocurrency market started the week with a strong recovery, with the rise led by Bitcoin being particularly noteworthy. In a market marked by short-lived sharp movements, both the closing of positions in the derivatives market and the relative improvement in the macroeconomic outlook drove prices upwards.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 "><a href="https://jrkripto.com/tr/coin/btc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">Bitcoin </a>gained approximately 4 percent in the last 24 hours, rising to $75,800. However, this level was not sustained, and the price quickly retreated to the $74,300 range. Similarly, Ethereum rose to $2,300, while XRP reached $1.52. Although the overall rise in the market indicates a renewed investor appetite, the dynamics behind the movement are being carefully examined.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 "> <figure class="my-6"> <img src="https://minio-api-1.jrkripto.com/blog/btcusdt-2026-03-17-10-42-36-ff54648c.webp" alt="BTCUSDT_2026-03-17_10-42-36.png" width="auto" height="auto" class="w-full rounded-lg border" /> </figure> </p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Short positions liquidated</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">One of the most important triggers of this rise was the large-scale liquidation of short positions in the derivatives markets. A total of $609 million in liquidations occurred in the last 24 hours, with $485.6 million of this amount consisting of short positions. This situation created a classic “short squeeze” effect, causing prices to accelerate upwards. A short squeeze occurs when short (bearish) positions are forced to close as the price rises, accelerating buying and strengthening the upward trend. However, some analysts are cautious about the sustainability of such movements. Zeus Research analyst Dominick John notes that rallies driven by short squeezes are generally not long-lasting. According to him, without real and sustainable demand, such price movements tend to subside within a few days to a few weeks.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">In market sentiment, a limited recovery is observed. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index rose to 28, moving from the “extreme fear” zone to the “fear” level. This change indicates a gradual improvement in investor psychology.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">On the institutional side, the renewed increase in demand is noteworthy. According to analysts, strong fund inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs played a significant role in this rise. Last week, a total net inflow of $767.3 million was recorded into spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, marking the third consecutive weekly positive inflow. During the same period, spot Ethereum ETFs also saw inflows of $160.8 million.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Presto Research analyst Rick Maeda notes that Bitcoin's move towards $76,000 was largely supported by these fund flows. Furthermore, the continued purchase of cryptocurrencies for company balance sheets is another factor strengthening demand. CoinEx analyst Jeff Ko similarly states that the dip-buying strategy is strengthening, indicating a healthier market structure.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Macro Developments on the Agenda</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">On the macro front, there is a mixed but beginning to balance out picture. US stock markets started the week higher, while Asian markets also saw a positive trend. However, the renewed rise in oil prices continues to create uncertainty in the markets. Brent oil is approaching the $103 level, while WTI crude oil has risen above $96. In particular, developments in the Strait of Hormuz and concerns about global energy supply are among the factors that could directly affect investors' risk appetite. Analysts say that the crypto market is now driven not only by its internal dynamics but also by... He emphasizes that it is also closely related to macroeconomic indicators such as commodity prices, bond yields, and the dollar index. The direction of the markets in the coming period will largely depend on two main factors: whether corporate fund flows continue and how macroeconomic risks will unfold. Investors are closely monitoring ETF inflows, oil prices, and upcoming economic data. Among these, producer price index (PPI) data and the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision could be decisive for the short-term direction of the market.</p>

17 Mar 2026

Monday Classic: Institutional Bitcoin and Ethereum Purchases Continue Unabated

<p class="text-left mb-4 ">Aggressive accumulation strategies by institutional companies in the cryptocurrency market continue to attract attention. According to the latest data, large-scale purchases have taken place in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin-focused treasury company Strategy increased its total BTC reserves to over 750,000 with a new purchase, while Ethereum-based treasury company Bitmine Immersion Technologies also continued to increase its holdings.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Strategy's purchase of 22,337 BTC</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Between March 9-15, Strategy purchased a total of 22,337 <a href="https://jrkripto.com/tr/coin/btc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="text-primary underline">Bitcoin</a> at an average price of $70,194. This transaction, worth approximately $1.57 billion, was one of the largest purchases the company has ever made. According to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this purchase was recorded as the fifth largest Bitcoin purchase by the company to date.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 "> <figure class="my-6"> <img src="https://minio-api-1.jrkripto.com/blog/hdcxa69w4aazc13-scaled-0581238c.webp" alt="HDcxa69W4AAZC13-scaled.webp" width="auto" height="auto" class="w-full rounded-lg border" /> </figure> </p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">With this latest purchase, Strategy's total Bitcoin holdings reached 761,068 BTC. This reserve, worth approximately $56 billion at current prices, represents more than 3.5% of Bitcoin's total supply. The company purchased these Bitcoins at an average cost of $75,696, bringing the total expenditure to approximately $57.6 billion.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Strategy's Bitcoin purchases are primarily financed through the sale of company shares. In the latest transaction, the company used proceeds from the sale of Class A shares (MSTR) and perpetual preferred shares (STRC). Last week, the company sold approximately 2.83 million MSTR shares worth about $396 million, while raising $1.18 billion from the sale of STRC shares.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">The company also runs a long-term capital plan to finance its Bitcoin purchases. Under this strategy, called the "42/42 plan," the company aims to raise a total of $84 billion in capital by 2027. It is stated that a large portion of these funds will be used to purchase Bitcoin. Strategy's co-founder and chairman, Michael Saylor, as usual, hinted at the new purchase in advance through social media. Sharing the company's Bitcoin purchase chart, Saylor alluded to the phrase "orange dots," noting that STRC shares are playing an increasingly significant role in the company's weekly Bitcoin purchases.</p><h2 class="text-left text-foreground text-3xl font-bold mb-3 mt-1">Bitmine Continues Ethereum Purchases</h2><p class="text-left mb-4 ">Institutional purchases are not limited to Bitcoin. A similar accumulation strategy is emerging on the Ethereum side as well. Bitmine Immersion Technologies continued to grow its Ethereum reserves last week by purchasing 60,999 ETH. This transaction, worth approximately $140 million, was recorded as the company's largest token-based purchase of the year.</p><p class="text-left mb-4 ">With this latest purchase, the company's total Ethereum holdings reached 4,595,562 ETH. At current market prices, the value of this reserve is over $10 billion. Bitmine also announced that it continues to hold $1.2 billion in cash on its balance sheet. Staking revenue is also a significant part of the company's strategy. Bitmine currently has 3.04 million ETH in its staking program, generating approximately $180 million in annual revenue. It is estimated that annual revenue could reach up to $272 million when more tokens are locked in staking. Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee stated that despite recent increases in geopolitical tensions, crypto assets have performed strongly compared to other markets. According to Lee, rising energy prices, in particular, are increasing global growth concerns, leading investors to shift towards growth-oriented assets such as technology stocks and crypto assets.</p>

16 Mar 2026

Blockchain

Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Platform for $1.8 Billionabout 5 hours ago

Altcoin

Major Announcement from PayPal: PYUSD Launched in 68 Countriesabout 8 hours ago

BTC

Metaplanet Makes Massive Bitcoin Transfer: Stocks Drop Sharplyabout 8 hours ago

BTC, Altcoin

Bitcoin Hits $75K, Triggers Short Squeeze Rallyabout 11 hours ago

ETH, BTC

Monday Classic: Institutional Bitcoin and Ethereum Purchases Continue Unabated1 day ago

Blockchain

Mastercard Acquires Stablecoin Platform for $1.8 Billionabout 5 hours ago

Altcoin

Major Announcement from PayPal: PYUSD Launched in 68 Countriesabout 8 hours ago

BTC

Metaplanet Makes Massive Bitcoin Transfer: Stocks Drop Sharplyabout 8 hours ago

BTC, Altcoin

Bitcoin Hits $75K, Triggers Short Squeeze Rallyabout 11 hours ago

ETH, BTC

Monday Classic: Institutional Bitcoin and Ethereum Purchases Continue Unabated1 day ago

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