Bitcoin at $85,381!

The Fear & Greed Index stands at 27 – Fear, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty amid major regulatory and institutional developments.

U.S. Bitcoin Reserve: Government Seeks „Cost-Neutral“ Strategies for BTC Acquisition

The U.S. government is exploring ways to acquire Bitcoin without additional costs, potentially selling off other reserves such as gold, oil, and foreign currencies.

• The U.S. strategic reserves include assets like gold, crude oil, natural gas, foreign exchange reserves, and even cheese.
• The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve holds 395 million barrels of crude oil, valued at $26.4 billion.
• The U.S. gold reserves are valued at $10.9 billion, while foreign exchange reserves stand at $35 billion.
• Senator Cynthia Lummis has proposed converting a portion of U.S. gold reserves into Bitcoin, aligning with Trump’s executive order to build a national Bitcoin reserve.
• White House crypto advisor David Sacks called Bitcoin the „digital Fort Knox“, highlighting its scarcity and store-of-value potential.

Analysts estimate that a U.S. Bitcoin reserve could boost BTC’s market cap by 25%—approximately $460 billion.

SBF Moved to Solitary Confinement After Unauthorized Tucker Carlson Interview

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been placed in solitary confinement after participating in an unauthorized interview with Tucker Carlson.

• The U.S. Bureau of Prisons stated that SBF did not have permission for the interview.
• The interview, released on March 6, has already amassed over 730,000 views on YouTube.
• In the interview, SBF denied being a criminal and spoke about crypto regulations and his life in prison.
• The interview sparked speculation about a potential pardon from Donald Trump, with Polymarket odds for an SBF pardon nearly doubling.
• SBF’s lawyers claim he was denied the presumption of innocence and subjected to biased prosecution.

With his appeal ongoing, the crypto community is closely watching whether Trump will intervene in SBF’s case.

Animoca Brands Boosts Revenue as AI Cuts Costs by 12%

Animoca Brands has reported a 12% revenue increase in 2024, driven by business expansion and AI-driven cost reductions.

• The company recorded $314 million in bookings, up from $280 million in 2023.
• The Digital Asset Advisory (DAA) division grew 116%, generating $165 million in revenue.
• Animoca is expanding into Real-World Assets (RWA) and stablecoins in partnership with Standard Chartered and Hong Kong Telecommunications.
• AI-driven optimizations have reduced operating costs from $246 million to $217 million.
• CEO Yat Siu expects further growth into 2025, despite concerns over Trump’s new tariffs.

The company remains focused on leveraging AI for investment decisions, game development, and operational efficiency.

Belarus to Use Surplus Energy for Crypto Mining

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the expansion of the national energy grid and the use of surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining.

• Lukashenko instructed the new Energy Minister to develop Belarus’ crypto industry.
• The move aims to monetize excess energy and position Belarus as a crypto-mining hub.
• Inspired by Donald Trump’s push to make the U.S. the global crypto leader, Belarus wants to follow suit.
• Belarus has some of the lowest electricity costs in Europe, making it attractive for crypto miners.
• Government officials have already met with investors exploring Belarus as a potential mining center.

With cheap energy and a growing interest in crypto, Belarus could become a new hotspot for Bitcoin mining.

This week’s news underscores Bitcoin’s growing role in government reserves, crypto regulation, and institutional adoption.