Square Rolls Out Bitcoin Payments, Midas Boosts Liquidity for Tokenized Assets, Mined in America Bill Sparks Bitcoin Debate, Altcoins Plunge Amid Global Tensions, and more...

0:00Good morning, it's March 31st and this is your daily brief in crypto, here's everything you need to know. Square is rolling out Bitcoin payments at point of sale terminals for eligible U.S. merchants with automatic conversion to dollars by default near instant settlement and zero processing fees through 2026. Miles Souter, Block's Bitcoin product lead, frames this as turning Bitcoin into everyday money, highlighting the scale and simplicity of the approach. Sellers can opt out or adjust settings and retain control over whether to accept Bitcoin payments. Regulators and major banks are watching the rollout with block expanding compliance teams and anticipation of increased scrutiny and reporting requirements. The article notes the use of AI-assisted workflow with ongoing human editorial oversight and verification. Market reception includes XYZ stock trading around $56.75, reflecting general investor sentiment.

1:03Industry reactions praise the potential shift in money infrastructure as competitors like PayPal expand their digital payments, signaling rising competition in crypto-enabled payments. Block notes its user base is predominantly US.dash-centric, about 78%, with 22% international usage, underscoring the domestic focus of the rollout. David Marcus notes the rollout could be a foundational moment for Bitcoin in money infrastructure, likening it to a TCP-slash-IP moment for value transfer. Lightspark CEO David Marcus describes the move as potentially transformative for Bitcoin's role in daily finance. The rollout follows testing since late 2025, including January 2026 tests that showed faster processing times and greater stability. Disclosures remind readers that the content is informational and not financial or legal advice. Midas is raising a series A to accelerate its open liquidity architecture and the Midas

2:05staked liquidity facility, designed to provide instant, atomic redemptions for tokenized assets without settlement risk or dependence on external market makers. The company argues liquidity remains the bottleneck for tokenized assets at scale, even as issuance grows, hindering exits and broader adoption. MSL aims to curb liquidity delays and expand cross-platform usability by enabling instant redemptions and encouraging competitive liquidity provisioning, potentially lowering costs for users. CEO Dennis Dinklemeyer notes early adopters are crypto-native with growing interest from larger institutions in tokenized assets. The broader tokenization market is expanding as major financial institutions explore tokenization and regulatory clarity improves the growth environment. Investors in the round include Framework Ventures, HV Capital, Ledger Cathay, M1 Capital, Anchorage Digital, FJ Labs, North Island Ventures, No Limit Holdings, and GSR, though post-money

3:06valuation was not disclosed. The round comes as crypto-venture funding rebounds, with total crypto fundraising up year-over-year, even as deal counts dip and rounds trend toward larger investments. Industry context shows rising interest in tokenized real-world assets and treasuries, attracting substantial funding in 2025 with a tilt toward bigger checks and fewer deals. The Series A is expected to drive expansion into new institutional asset classes and deeper DeFi ecosystem integrations, underscoring the maturation of the asset tokenization ecosystem and closer integration between traditional finance and digital asset platforms. Midas has also introduced the attestation engine for real-time on-chain verification of assets to boost trust in tokenized investment products, aligning with the broader goal of bringing institutional grade fully on-chain investment products to market with the speed and accessibility of crypto markets. A bipartisan push aims to reshape where bitcoin mining happens, with Senators Bill Cassidy

4:13and Cynthia Lumis introducing the Mind and America Act to expand domestic operations and create a voluntary certification for mining sites to qualify as Mind in America. The bill would establish a strategic bitcoin reserve within the treasury, funded by staking rewards, seized asset air drops, and discounted government purchases from certified miners, all designed to be budget neutral and to stabilize supply. Certified facilities would reduce reliance on equipment tied to foreign adversaries and would integrate into existing federal energy and rural development programs, avoiding new federal spending authorities. Despite price swings, bitcoin mining hash rate remains robust, with the global hash rate around 0.9 to 1.2 exa-hashes per second, indicating continued investment in mining infrastructure. Regulators and markets watch closely as price risk persists, with traders advised to monitor key levels and consider stop-loss orders.

5:14Momentum appears neutral with upside potential, as the RSI sits near 55. Market sentiment shows constructive momentum, with agreed index near 65 and rising active addresses, signaling heightened activity tied to policy news favorable to mining. Historically, mining equities and diversified crypto portfolios have shown correlated gains, often rising 10 to 20% after pro-industry policy announcements. Trading implications suggest a bullish catalyst if the bill passes and institutions increase inflows, with technical showing support near $58,000, resistance near $65,000, and a potential break toward $70,000, while the 50-day exponential moving average tracks the trend. The story is excerpted from the Unchained Daily Newsletter, which invites subscribers for updates, and Lums' broader tax reform agenda includes exempting small crypto transactions under $300 from capital gains, while taxing mining or staking rewards only upon sale.

6:19Policy makers frame secure mining capacity and resilient supply chains as part of a digital asset strategy that leans on existing programs rather than creating new spending authorities, and industry groups like the Satoshi Action Fund back the bill, as a framework linking energy policy, manufacturing, and digital asset strategy to reduce foreign dependency. Altcoins are under heavy pressure as macro uncertainty and geopolitical tensions weigh on risk assets, with more than 40% trading at or near all-time lows. Bitcoin and larger assets fare comparatively better, while smaller tokens bear the brunt of volatility and liquidity competition. The report notes extreme underperformance can create entry points for stronger projects, with active development, real usage, and resilient communities, though not every cheap altcoin is a bargain. A disclaimer emphasizes the content is informational, not financial advice, and flags potential accuracy or timeliness issues.

7:21The FAQ repeats that altcoins face liquidity dilution and competition for capital, with over 47 million cryptocurrencies concentrated on networks like Solana, Base, and BNB smart chain. liquidity dilution means less trading capital per token, making many altcoins more fragile and harder to sustain value. Near new lows, assets like Athena and VChain highlight broad weakness, while Arbitrome and SUE risk-breaking passed previous all-time lows. Despite the bleak backdrop, selective opportunities exist for investors who identify resilient altcoins with long-term potential and avoid broad exposure. Bitcoin remains comparatively resilient. XRP, Solana, and Cardano have fallen sharply, with Cardano down about 92% from its all-time high. Historical patterns suggest extreme underperformance can create entry points for patients, selective investors who identify fundamentally strong projects amid crowded competition.

8:26Bitcoin remains the central focus as blockchain technology expands into decentralized finance, AI, and broader digital infrastructure, with ongoing investor and institutional interest shaping the next market cycle. Bitcoin's status as a decentralized digital store of value with limited supply and global reach underpins its prominence, influencing trader behavior, and serving as a core reference asset for the crypto market. Analysts note that institutional interest and long-term adoption, driven by the growth of decentralized finance, help track Bitcoin's activity as a gauge of overall market direction. Bitcoin remains the leading cryptocurrency by market cap and a benchmark for wider crypto trends, attracting renewed market activity and attention in March 2026. As the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin continues to shape discussions on blockchain technology and digital finance adoption. BM Blockchain is developing an AI-powered distributed computing platform to simplify access to blockchain analytics and scalable

9:29infrastructure for beginners and researchers with support for multiple cryptocurrencies. The platform emphasizes automated rewards, user-friendly interfaces, and scalable infrastructure, enabling deeper market monitoring and research into blockchain behavior. Readers are reminded that the release is informational, not financial advice, and they should perform due diligence or consult a license professional before investing. Institutional interest and long-term adoption, driven by the growth of decentralized finance, help track Bitcoin's activity as a gauge of overall market direction. Bitcoin's continued prominence influences trader behavior and serves as a core reference asset for the crypto market. This has been your daily brief in crypto. To read more about these stories, follow the links in the episode bio. You can also subscribe to these updates via email at www.brief.news. For more daily podcasts about the topics you love,

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