Bitcoin Briefly Exceeds $70,000 as Kraken Secures Direct Federal Reserve Payment Rail Access

Bitcoin briefly surged past $70,000, coinciding with cryptocurrency exchange Kraken's approval to connect directly to the Federal Reserve's core payment system, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Concurrently, Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA) affirmed its intention not to liquidate its 53,822 Bitcoin, currently valued at approximately $4.7 billion, refuting prior claims. In other market news, U.S.-listed Jiuzi New Energy announced a $1 billion agreement to acquire 10,000 bitcoins from strategic investors, a notable transaction given its modest $1.18 million market capitalization, according to Globenewswire. Additionally, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is reportedly preparing to raise $2 billion for its fifth dedicated crypto fund, targeting completion by the end of the first quarter of 2026, The Block reported.