The ECB’s Piero Cipollone said the central bank wants key technical standards for a possible digital euro locked in by this summer so banks and merchants can prepare for the rollout. European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said on Tuesday that the ECB expects by this summer to announce the European standards it will use for a potential digital euro, a step aimed at helping payment providers and merchants prepare their systems ahead of any issuance decision. Cipollone told European Union lawmakers that, once those standards are announced, the ECB will work with market participants so they can begin embedding them into payment terminals and other solutions as soon as possible. Cipollone said finalizing the rulebook would let new terminals and payment apps ship with the necessary rails already embedded, giving European companies a head start once EU legislation is in place, which the ECB expects to happen in 2026. Read more
Bitcoin bounced back above $71,000 after US President Donald Trump’s administration sent a proposal to Iran aimed at ending the war. Bitcoin (BTC) rose back above $71,000 during the early Asian trading hours on Wednesday after Trump’s administration offered a 15-point plan to Iran to end the war, sparking short-term optimism across risk assets. Key takeaways: Bitcoin bounces 4% to $71,500 after President Trump sent Iran a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the war. Read more
Bhutan moved 519 Bitcoin from its state-linked wallet, extending a March drawdown that has cut its sovereign stash far below 2024 levels. Bhutan moved more Bitcoin from its state-linked wallet on Wednesday, extending a March drawdown in its sovereign holdings. Arkham data showed a Bhutan government-linked wallet transferred about 519.7 BTC, worth roughly $36.7 million, to two wallets on Wednesday. Onchain Lens said one of the destination wallets was linked to trading firm QCP Capital. The move marked the Bhutan-tagged wallet’s third large Bitcoin transfer in March, following the $72 million moved in six separate transactions in the 24 hours leading up to March 18, and the $11.8 million moved on March 9. Read more