Tether says it has begun the process of commissioning a full audit by a Big Four accounting firm, expanding its disclosures beyond periodic reserve attestations. On March 23, 2026, Celo reported more than 5 million weekly stablecoin users and 7.2 million+ stablecoin transactions last week, pointing to rising USDT utility. The move comes as a draft of the US Clarity Act sparks fresh concerns about potential restrictions on stablecoin yields and related rewards models.

Tether has taken a strategic stake in AI sleep-tech firm Eight Sleep at a $1.5 billion post-money valuation, positioning the deal as more than a passive investment. The move draws on Tether's reported 2024 profit of over $13 billion and its $6.3 billion in excess reserves, which it has been deploying across multiple venture divisions.

Circle shares slid 20% on Tuesday as investors reacted to draft stablecoin legislation that could curb rewards tied to holding USDC. The move came alongside Tether's announcement that it has hired a Big Four accounting firm for its first full audit and claims that Circle froze USDC balances across 16 hot wallets.

Circle Internet Group's CRCL shares fell nearly 19% on March 24 as investors weighed concerns that proposed rules could restrict stablecoin yield and rewards. The stock moved from an intraday high near $127 to about $102 after rallying earlier in March from below $60 to above $130.

Bitcoin spot ETFs started the week back in positive territory, posting a $167.23 million net inflow after three straight days of redemptions. IBIT led with $160.81 million and FBTC added $41.70 million, while ether ETFs logged a fourth consecutive outflow day of $16.18 million and XRP and Solana ETF segments showed zero flows.

Bernstein analysts said bitcoin appears to have formed a cyclical bottom and reiterated an outperform rating on Strategy, projecting 226% upside from Monday's close of $138.20 to a $450 target. They argued STRC preferred shares are central to Strategy's capital model, helping it fund BTC purchases with non-dilutive, permanent capital as it continues to build its holdings.

The New York Stock Exchange is working with Securitize to build a blockchain-based platform for issuing and trading tokenized securities, with the goal of enabling 24/7 markets and near-instant settlement. Securitize is set to serve as NYSE's first digital transfer agent, helping convert stocks and ETFs into on-chain tokens while preserving shareholder rights such as voting and dividends.

AI-focused tokens and stablecoins have been more resilient than most crypto sectors in 2026, even as Bitcoin is down 18.5% and the total market falls to $2.42 trillion. In Q1/2026, the AI sector had the smallest decline at 14%, while stablecoin market cap reached a record $320 billion on March 23 and monthly volumes hit $1.8 trillion in February. Data also shows USDC supply at $78 billion and AI usage metrics such as ChatGPT weekly active users rising to 900 million in March 2026.