Bitcoin mining difficulty decreased by 7.76% on March 21 to 133.79 T, marking the second-largest decline this year. JPMorgan analysts predict that Bitcoin mining costs have fallen to $77,000, still higher than spot prices. More and more mining companies are pivoting their infrastructure toward AI computing power. Core Scientific plans to sell Bitcoin holdings in 2026 to fund AI expansion, while Bitdeer has liquidated its Bitcoin positions. Multiple companies are formulating diversification strategies.

Monero核心开发者jeffro256在3月20日发布了第一季度开发计划，提案涵盖了钱包API变更、Carrot衍生账户支持、FCMP++压力测试网启动、与硬件钱包合作以及多签实现等方面的工作。

Gate News reported that on March 19, Privy, a wallet infrastructure platform, has integrated Ethena-backed savings functionality as a core component, currently covering over 120 million accounts. Any application or platform built on Privy can now offer users sUSDe rewards, with yields automatically accruing over time.

Gate News reported that on March 19, Web3 wallet application TopNod announced its global user base has exceeded 1 million, with the product reaching this milestone in 170 days since its launch. TopNod officials stated that 1 million is just the starting line, with its core mission being to break down barriers to Web3 adoption and transform complex blockchain underlying technology into real value that all users can experience seamlessly. The team also expressed gratitude to early ecosystem partners and revealed that a major product upgrade for the next phase will be coming soon.

As institutional investors and quantitative funds enter prediction markets, the industry structure is undergoing transformation. In 2026, prediction market trading volume breaks through $13.7 billion, with quantitative strategies gradually becoming mainstream, adopting mature financial models to achieve stable returns. Core methods include LMSR, Kelly Criterion, and Bayesian updates, with technical implementation focusing on data quality and execution efficiency. Retail investors struggle to replicate institutional advantages due to lack of modeling capabilities.

Over 20 DeFi projects have jointly called on U.S. universities to incorporate DeFi and cryptocurrency education into core curricula of business schools and law schools, advocating for the inclusion of blockchain and decentralized technology courses and providing practical opportunities. The campus tour initiative is scheduled to launch at the University of Pennsylvania on March 27.

Gate announced on March 18 the completion of a major upgrade to its AI App, launching version v8.12.0 with 20 new core features covering multiple business lines. Users can easily conduct trading, analysis, and asset management through natural language, improving efficiency and user experience.

The Federal Reserve will maintain interest rates at 3.5%-3.75% on March 18, with the market focusing on Powell's statements regarding inflation and future policy. Rising core PCE and oil price pressures limit rate-cutting room, with only a 30% probability of rate cuts expected this year. Political factors affecting Powell's tenure have sparked notable market reactions, which will impact risk assets and cryptocurrency prices.

A latest research report points out that XRP remains the core of Ripple's cross-border payment infrastructure, serving as a liquidity bridge. Even with the launch of stablecoin RLUSD, XRP is irreplaceable in value exchange and transaction speed. Ripple is positioning it as a bridge for central bank digital currencies, enhancing long-term market confidence.

Gate News reported that on March 18, Bitcoin Core released v31.0rc1 release candidate, which is the next major version following v30.2. The version is currently open for testing, and developers can download binary files and review the release notes. The official version is expected to be released after subsequent testing is completed.