Robinhood Markets released its operating data for February 2026. As of the end of February, the platform had 27.4 million users with money accounts, an increase of approximately 140,000 from January and approximately 1.74 million year-over-year; total assets on the platform were $314 billion, a 3% decrease month-over-month and a 68% increase year-over-year. In terms of trading, stock trading volume in February was $194.4 billion, a 14% decrease month-over-month and a 36% increase year-over-year; options trading volume was 180.3 million contracts, a 10% decrease month-over-month and a 9% increase year-over-year. Cryptocurrency trading volume was $25 billion, a 9% increase month-over-month and a 74% increase year-over-year. Of this, Robinhood App cryptocurrency trading volume was $9.4 billion, an 8% increase month-over-month, and Bitstamp trading volume was $15.6 billion, a 10% increase month-over-month. Furthermore, Robinhood's net deposits in February were $5.6 billion, with cumulative net deposits over the past 12 months reaching $67.8 billion. Margin financing balance reached $17.2 billion, a significant year-on-year increase of 98%. Overall data shows that although stock trading activity has declined somewhat, crypto trading volume continues to grow rapidly.

Key TakeawaysStrategy acquired 22,337 BTC for $1.57 billion last week at an average price of $70,194, per an SEC filingTotal holdings now stand at 761,068 BTC, acquired for a cumulative cost of approximately $57.61 billionThe purchase ranks among Strategy's five largest Bitcoin acquisitions on recordFunding came primarily from record STRC preferred stock sales -- 11.9 million shares generating $1.18 billion, covering 75% of the purchaseStrategy would need to acquire approximately 238,932 more BTC, roughly 5,700 per week over 42 weeks, to reach its 1 million BTC target by year-endMichael Saylor's Strategy added another 22,337 Bitcoin to its balance sheet last week, pushing total holdings past 761,000 BTC and cementing its position as the world's largest public holder of the asset, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing published Monday.The $1.57 billion purchase was executed at an average price of $70,194 per Bitcoin, below the company's overall average acquisition cost of $75,696. Bitcoin averaged $70,571 for the week of March 9–15 based on daily closing prices. The acquisition ranks among the five largest single-week Bitcoin purchases Strategy has made on record, following a 17,994 BTC buy for $1.28 billion the prior week.Total holdings now stand at 761,068 BTC acquired for approximately $57.61 billion in aggregate.STRC Drives FundingThe purchase was funded largely through record sales of Strategy's perpetual preferred equity, known as Stretch (STRC). According to the SEC filing, the company sold 11.9 million STRC shares last week, generating $1.18 billion in net proceeds -- accounting for 75% of the total Bitcoin purchase cost. An additional 2.8 million Class A common shares (MSTR) were sold, generating $396 million.The outsized STRC activity followed Strategy easing its sales rules on March 9, which allowed the company to run its STRC at-the-money offering in extended hours through a second broker. Bitcoin Quant founder Rohan Hirani noted on X that it was the first week Strategy could operate the STRC ATM under those expanded conditions, with approximately 10,767 BTC estimated to have been purchased across four active trading days via STRC proceeds alone.Saylor has described STRC as now the most liquid preferred stock in the market.Road to One Million BTCWith holdings at 761,068 BTC, Strategy requires an additional 238,932 Bitcoin to reach its widely cited 1 million BTC target. At the current weekly acquisition pace, that would require approximately 5,700 BTC per week across the remaining 42 weeks of 2026 -- a rate the company has exceeded in each of the past two weeks.

U.S. President Donald Trump is attempting to negotiate a comprehensive deal with Cuba, but nearly 6,000 U.S. property claims are complicating efforts to rejuvenate the island's struggling economy. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the significance of these claims as a major hurdle in diplomatic discussions. The claims, stemming from properties seized during the Cuban revolution, represent a longstanding issue that has hindered economic progress and diplomatic relations between the two nations. Resolving these claims is seen as crucial for any potential economic revival in Cuba, as they impact foreign investment and economic stability. The Trump administration's approach to Cuba has been marked by efforts to exert pressure on the Cuban government, aiming to secure concessions that could lead to improved economic conditions on the island. However, the unresolved property claims remain a significant barrier to achieving these goals, underscoring the complexity of U.S.-Cuba relations.

OpenAI has announced the appointment of a new head of infrastructure to oversee its Stargate project, following its decision to lease more AI servers from major cloud service providers instead of building its own data centers. As part of the restructuring, OpenAI has divided its computing efforts into three groups: the technical design of the data centers used by OpenAI, commercial collaborations with cloud service providers and chip companies, and on-site management of the facilities. (The Information)

According to SoSoValue data, as of 8:30 AM ET on March 16, 2026, global listed companies (excluding mining companies) saw a net purchase of $1.57 billion in Bitcoin last week, a 22.7% increase compared to the previous week. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) announced on March 16 that it invested $1.57 billion (a 22.7% increase from the previous week) to acquire 22,337 Bitcoins at a price of $70,194, bringing its total holdings to 761,068 Bitcoins. Japanese listed company Metaplanet did not purchase any Bitcoin last week, marking its ninth consecutive week without any purchases. In addition, two other companies purchased Bitcoin last week. On March 10th, the UK-based Bitcoin company The Smarter Web Company announced an investment of $200,000 to purchase 3 Bitcoins at a price of $65,291 each, bringing its total holdings to 2,695 Bitcoins. On March 13th, the UK-based Bitcoin company BHODL announced an investment of $71,161 to purchase 1 Bitcoin. Nasdaq-listed Zeta Network Group Inc. announced the issuance of $10 million in convertible bonds, with the first tranche of $6 million earmarked for Bitcoin purchases. As of press time, the total Bitcoin holdings of globally listed companies (excluding mining companies) totaled 1.02 million, a 2.1% increase from the previous week, with a current market value of approximately $75.4 billion, representing 5.1% of Bitcoin's circulating market capitalization.

North Africa is experiencing varied economic impacts due to ongoing regional conflicts. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting that Egypt is facing economic challenges, while Algeria is seeing some benefits from the situation. The region's geopolitical dynamics are influencing economic conditions, with Egypt encountering setbacks and Algeria gaining certain advantages. The situation underscores the complex interplay of regional politics and economics in North Africa.

Iran is reportedly seeking to secure supplies of certain medicines and medical equipment, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move comes amid ongoing challenges in the country's healthcare sector. According to Jin10, the Iranian government is focusing on addressing shortages in essential medical supplies to improve healthcare services. The effort highlights Iran's continued struggle to meet the healthcare needs of its population in the face of various economic and logistical hurdles. The specifics of the supplies being sought and the potential international partners involved in these efforts have not been disclosed.

OpenAI has announced the appointment of a new head of infrastructure, marking a significant leadership change within the organization. According to Jin10, this move is part of OpenAI's ongoing efforts to enhance its technological capabilities and infrastructure management. The new appointee is expected to play a crucial role in advancing OpenAI's infrastructure to support its growing suite of AI products and services. This leadership change comes at a time when OpenAI is expanding its operations and seeking to improve the efficiency and scalability of its AI systems. The appointment underscores OpenAI's commitment to maintaining a robust and reliable infrastructure as it continues to innovate in the field of artificial intelligence.

Iran has requested that India release three oil tankers seized in February, according to sources. This request is part of ongoing negotiations between the two countries concerning the safe passage of Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Jin10, the discussions aim to address maritime security and ensure the smooth transit of ships in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway, and its security is crucial for global oil transportation. The negotiations reflect the importance of maintaining stability in this vital maritime corridor.

Israel's Defense Forces have reported detecting a missile launch originating from Iran. According to Jin10, efforts are currently underway to intercept the missile. The situation is developing, and further updates are expected as more information becomes available.

If we're talking about investors in the current crypto industry who are worth watching, Cai Wensheng should be one of them.

The printing press is already running; the future ceiling depends on only two major variables.

Cryptocurrency is essentially a consumer product, which is also the origin of currency.

Tether is growing from a stablecoin company into a superpower that is shaking up traditional finance.

The explosive popularity of crayfish has ushered in a fully automated era for crypto trading in 2026.

China is projecting confidence in its energy resilience, claiming robust reserves and domestic production to weather global oil disruptions from the ongoing Iran conflict — even as U.S. President Donald Trump presses Beijing to assist in securing the strategic Strait of Hormuz ahead of his planned visit later this month.

In the first week of March 2026, the weather in San Francisco was unpredictable, much like the ever-changing landscape of the artificial intelligence race.

Australia has moved a step closer to implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets after the Australian Senate Economics Legislation Committee recommended passing new legislation that would bring crypto platforms under the country’s financial-services regime.

RWA projects should focus their resources on one thing—finding truly good RWA assets.

Australia’s financial regulator ASIC warned young investors not to rely solely on social media or AI for financial advice, as these sources can be unreliable and risky. A survey found that 23% of Gen Z own crypto, with many making trades based on influencer content or short-term speculation.