Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for March 9 as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$67,799.36, up by 0.6 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, March 9, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,996.40, up by 2.2 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.35, down by 0.3 percent over 24 hours.
Solana (SOL) was trading at US$83.67, up by 1.2 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Bitcoin slips as oil shock rattles global markets
Bitcoin traded under pressure over the weekend as a surge in oil prices and escalating tensions in the Middle East unsettled global markets.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency hovered near US$66,456, down roughly 1.7 percent over 24 hours, after briefly dipping below US$66,000. US stock futures also dropped sharply ahead of the new trading week, with Dow futures falling more than 800 points and contracts tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also sliding.
Energy markets drove much of the turbulence. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped about 18 percent to above $107 per barrel, while Brent crude surged roughly 16 percent, pushing global oil benchmarks back above the US$100 mark for the first time since 2022.
Traders are increasingly worried about potential supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor responsible for roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments. Israeli airstrikes targeting energy infrastructure in Tehran and Iranian drone attacks against oil-related assets across the Gulf have intensified fears that the conflict could spread into global energy markets.
Treasury pushes legal authority to freeze suspicious crypto funds
The US Treasury Department is urging lawmakers to create a new legal framework allowing crypto platforms to temporarily freeze funds tied to suspected criminal activity.
The proposal appears in a report submitted to Congress under the GENIUS Act, the legislation that established the first federal framework for stablecoins.
Under the recommendation, exchanges and financial institutions would receive a legal “safe harbor” enabling them to hold suspicious digital assets while investigators review potential illicit activity. Today, crypto firms often identify questionable transfers through blockchain analytics but lack clear authority to pause those assets without risking legal exposure.
The proposed hold law would create a defined window during which platforms could delay suspicious transactions before funds are moved through additional wallets or converted to other assets.
US judge dismisses terrorism lawsuit against Binance
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Binance of facilitating terrorism financing, dealing a legal victory to the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
The case was brought by more than 500 plaintiffs who were victims of, or related to victims of, attacks carried out by militant groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and ISIS between 2016 and 2024. The plaintiffs argued that Binance knowingly allowed transactions linked to sanctioned entities, indirectly enabling funds to reach terrorist organizations.
However, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the complaint failed to establish a direct connection between the exchange’s conduct and specific attacks cited in the case. Awareness of potential misuse alone, the court said, does not meet the legal threshold required under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.
While the judge dismissed the case, she gave plaintiffs 60 days to amend their filing with more specific evidence tying individual transactions and wallet addresses to particular attacks.
Binance welcomed the decision, calling it a “complete vindication” of what it described as unfounded allegations.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
