XRP Plunges 4% As Leverage Drops 78%: What Is Going On?

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is down 4% on the day, despite Binance leverage ratios plunging 78% from 0.59 in mid-July 2025 to just 0.13 now as speculative positions flush out and the derivatives market resets.

The Leverage Unwind

Binance’s Estimated Leverage Ratio for XRP has collapsed from around 0.59 in mid-July to 0.13, indicating that most highly leveraged positions have been flushed out. 

Analysts calculate this ratio by dividing an exchange’s open interest by its coin reserves to measure average leverage used.

At the same time, XRP’s open interest on Binance stands at only $375 million, significantly lower than peaks recorded over the past year. 

“The main takeaway is that speculative…

Read more on Benzinga

Brazil Passes Law Turning Seized Crypto Into Public-Security War Chest

Brazil has enacted a landmark law that allows authorities to channel crypto seized from criminal organizations directly into public security initiatives, marking a major step in the country’s crackdown on organized crime.

Signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Law No. 15.358 equips law enforcement with unprecedented powers to freeze, block, and seize both traditional and digital assets, including crypto, during investigations. 

The legislation also permits the provisional use of seized cryptoassets, with judicial approval, to fund police operations, intelligence work, officer training, and other public security efforts—even before final convictions.

The law specifically…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Coinbase, Fannie Mae To Introduce Crypto-Backed Mortages

How The Product Works

Home buyers get a traditional 15- or 30-year Fannie-backed mortgage from Better, then take out a separate loan backed by either Bitcoin or USDC to cover the down payment, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

This structure lets buyers avoid triggering capital gains taxes from selling crypto while maintaining exposure to the market.

The trade-off comes at a cost. Paying interest on two loans instead of making a cash down payment increases the overall cost of homeownership significantly. 

Interest rates on both loans would range from comparable to typical Fannie Mae mortgages to 1.5 percentage points higher.

Once the homeowner pledges the crypto as collateral,…

Read more on Benzinga

MARA Dumps $1.1 Billion In Bitcoin To Cut Debt By 30%

MARA, a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin miner expanding into digital energy and

AI infrastructure, announced a major balance sheet restructuring on Thursday. 

The company said they sold 15,133 Bitcoin for approximately $1.1 billion between March 4 and March 25 to fund the repurchase of its 0.00% convertible senior notes due 2030 and 2031.

The company will repurchase $367.5 million of its 2030 notes for $322.9 million and $633.4 million of its 2031 notes for $589.9 million. 

The purchases represent an approximate 9% discount to par value and are expected to generate roughly $88.1 million in cash savings. The transactions are scheduled to close on March 30 and March 31, pending customary…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Circle Could Double To $75B By 2030 Despite 20% Stock Crash, Says Bitwise’s Matt Hougan

Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) could reach a $75 billion valuation by 2030 despite Tuesday’s 20% crash on Clarity Act news, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan’s analysis.

The $75 Billion Math

Hougan’s valuation model uses three key assumptions: stablecoin market size, Circle’s market share, and revenue margins. 

Citigroup (NYSE:C) forecasts the stablecoin market will grow from roughly $200 billion today to $1.9 trillion by 2030.

Hougan assumes Circle maintains this 25% share, giving the company control of about $475 billion in stablecoins by 2030.

Circle earns interest by investing customer deposits into U.S. Treasuries, which currently pay around 4%. 

However, the company pays…

Read more on Benzinga

Coinbase, Fannie Mae Launch Bitcoin-Backed Mortgages

Coinbase is partnering with Better Home & Finance to roll out crypto-backed mortgages backed by Fannie Mae, marking a step toward integrating digital assets into traditional housing finance.

The new offering allows qualified borrowers to pledge Bitcoin or USDC as collateral for a down payment without selling their holdings, avoiding potential capital gains taxes while maintaining exposure to their assets.

Structured as conforming loans, the mortgages carry the same standards and protections as traditional Fannie Mae-backed loans. Better originates and services the loans, while Coinbase provides custody and infrastructure for the pledged bitcoin or crypto.

The product targets…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

Senator Lummis Says America Can’t Wait Until 2030, But Coinbase Still Blocking Stablecoin Bill

Coinbase Holds The Line

Representatives of Coinbase told Senate offices this week that the exchange couldn’t support the latest version of the legislation due to significant concerns about “stable yield language,” according to Punchbowl News. 

This marks the second time CEO Brian Armstrong has withdrawn support, famously stating in January that “we’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.”

The bill bans crypto platforms from paying users to hold stablecoins, similar to how banks pay interest on savings accounts. 

Coinbase earns substantial revenue by holding customer stablecoins and collecting the interest generated from backing assets like U.S. Treasuries. The legislation would…

Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin Carved in Marble? Alexis Ohanian Highlights Massive AI-Crafted Sculpture

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian spotlighted Monumental Labs’ massive Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) marble sculpture in an X post on Wednesday.

‘Decentralied Digital Currency’

Monumental Labs uses AI-driven robotics to create large-scale, Renaissance-style stone and marble sculptures. It aims to progressively automate stone fabrication and reduce costs up to 90%.

In the latest X post, it showcased a 4-foot-wide, 1,000-pound marble Bitcoin sculpture, carved with intricate circuit engravings and inscribed with “Decentralized Digital Currency.”

The coin was also commissioned for Ti Morse’s interview set with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong

“We made this 4ft, 1000lb marble bitcoin,”…

Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Hold Steady Amid US-Iran Truce Momentum: Here’s Why This Analyst Thinks Now Is A ‘Great Time To Buy’ BTC

Leading cryptocurrencies were range-bound on Wednesday, while stocks closed higher as investors weighed de-escalation prospects in the Middle East war.

Crypto Market Consolidates

Bitcoin traded sideways between $70,380 and the mid-$71,000s, with trading volume down 13% over the past day.

Ethereum also meandered in the $2,100 region as bullish momentum stalled against strong resistance at $2,200. XRP and Dogecoin also consolidated.

Over $150 million in crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours, with $100 million in short positions alone wiped out,  according to Coinglass data.

Open interest in Bitcoin futures rose a further 2.66% in the last 24 hours, while the majority of retail…

Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin Volatility Falls As Asset Matures, Charles Schwab Report Finds

A new report from Charles Schwab suggests bitcoin is shedding one of its defining traits: extreme volatility. That might be good or bad news.

According to the firm’s analysis, bitcoin’s price swings have declined sharply in recent years, with the asset now exhibiting less volatility than some of the largest U.S. technology stocks. The report found BTC’s historical volatility (HV) dropped to 42% in 2025 — roughly half of what it recorded in 2021 — marking a significant shift as the cryptocurrency matures into a widely traded financial asset.

Schwab’s data shows bTC now behaves similarly to major equities, and in some cases appears more stable. Shares of Tesla posted a…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine