Crypto markets moved higher on March 31, 2026 after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is prepared to end the war if binding security guarantees and compensation are provided. Bitcoin rose 1.4% to $68,034, while Ethereum gained 2% to $2,109 and Solana climbed 2.3% to $83, with HYPE up 2.7% to $37. The rally unfolded as investors waited for any official response from Washington.

XRP, Solana and Cardano are trading near key support levels around $1.30, $80 and $0.24 as Bitcoin hovers near $66,430 after pulling back from $68,000. Macro releases scheduled from Mar 31 to Apr 3, including JOLTS and non-farm payrolls, are expected to influence volatility and direction across major altcoins.

Standard Chartered said stablecoin velocity has doubled over the past two years, allowing higher transaction volumes without requiring supply to expand at the same pace. In a Tuesday report, the bank said it still expects the stablecoin market to reach $2 trillion by late 2028 despite faster turnover. The report added that USDC has driven much of the velocity increase, while USDT remains more associated with lower-velocity savings use.

On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor unveiled a proposed regulation that could broaden what 401(k) retirement plans are allowed to offer, including potential access to cryptocurrency and other alternative assets. The rule sets a process-focused standard for fiduciaries to assess options by criteria such as performance, fees, liquidity, valuation, and complexity, while adding a “safe harbor” approach aimed at lowering litigation risk.

Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has published an Exchange Services Rulebook that sets governance, disclosure, and risk-control requirements for licensed VASPs offering margin trading and crypto derivatives. The framework includes 24-hour settlement expectations, suitability checks before opening margin accounts, and VARA powers to suspend trading or change margin requirements. It also introduces conduct and surveillance obligations, plus board independence and compensation-reporting requirements.

Bitcoin ETFs posted $69.4 million of net inflows on March 30, led by ARK Invest's ARKB at $33 million and Fidelity's FBTC at $28.9 million, while Ethereum ETFs added $5 million. On the same day, Solana ETFs saw $6.2 million in net outflows and XRP ETFs lost about $2.31 million. The session marked a small reversal after several days of net redemptions across major crypto ETF categories.

On Monday, Bernstein analysts led by Gautam Chhugani said crypto-adjacent stocks that are down about 60% from all-time highs offer a rare opportunity to buy at a "big" discount, despite an Extreme Fear backdrop. The team kept Outperform ratings on Coinbase, Robinhood, and Figure Technology Solutions, while cutting price targets and bracing for weak first-quarter results in upcoming earnings.

WTI Crude Oil (USOIL) tests $105 on March 31, 2026, as Trump’s tribute tankers clash with a fresh Iranian attack in Dubai. Discover if the 8 million bpd supply plunge will propel oil toward $119 or if diplomacy will force a correction to $90.