The UK Treasury Department selects HSBC blockchain platform for pilot issuance of digital government bonds

Powell: Federal Reserve's Latest Economic Forecast Difficult to Accurately Predict Due to Iran War Uncertainty

Gate News reported that on March 18, Federal Reserve Chair Powell stated on March 19 that given the uncertainty brought about by the Iran war, the Federal Reserve's latest round of economic projections is somewhat like a guess. Powell said: "Regarding this economic projections summary, many people have mentioned that if we were to skip a projections summary, this would be the best candidate, because given the various uncertainties brought by the war, we simply cannot predict what will happen in the future."

Ghana SEC Approves 11 Firms for Crypto Sandbox

_Ghana’s SEC admits 11 firms into a 12-month VASP Act 2025 crypto sandbox, setting the stage for full digital asset licensing across West Africa._ Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission just moved. Eleven virtual asset service providers got access to a regulatory sandbox on March 10, 2026.

Federal Reserve FOMC Statement Changes in Three Areas: Unemployment Rate Wording Adjusted, New Addition of Middle East Situation Impact, Waller Shifts to Support Holding Rates Steady

Gate News reports that on March 18, the Federal Reserve FOMC released a statement on March 19, showing three changes compared to the January statement: First, the unemployment rate description was adjusted, changing from "the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization" to "the unemployment rate has changed little in recent months"; Second, new language regarding the Middle East situation was added, stating that "the impact of developments in the Middle East on the U.S. economy remains uncertain"; Third, Federal Reserve Governor Waller shifted his stance, having supported a 25 basis point rate cut at the last meeting, but now supporting unchanged interest rates.

Most of Iran's regions have experienced a complete disconnection from international internet, with diplomatic institutional communications nearly interrupted.

Gate News reports that starting on the afternoon of March 18 local time, most regions of Iran, including the capital Tehran, entered a complete disconnection from the international internet. Communications between diplomatic institutions in Iran and those outside Iran have also been almost entirely cut off. It is understood that some networks within Iran remain available.

Bitcoin Breaks Below $71,000, Ethereum Falls Below $2,200! Nearly $300 Million in Liquidations Across the Network in 4 Hours, Inflation, Conflict, and Political Deadlock "Triple Kill" Crypto Market

The crypto market experienced a sharp decline on the evening of the 18th, with Bitcoin falling below $71,000 and Ethereum dropping to $2,200. The causes include U.S. PPI data exceeding expectations, which reduced the likelihood of Federal Reserve rate cuts; escalating Middle East conflicts increasing geopolitical risks; and gridlock in the U.S. Congress over crypto regulations. Market sentiment was severely damaged, with 110,000 people liquidated in just 4 hours, resulting in losses of $300 million.

Bitcoin hashrate declined 8% over the past week to 920 EH/s, with network difficulty expected to adjust down 8%

On March 18th, driven by Middle East conflict pushing oil prices higher, Bitcoin hashrate declined approximately 8% to 920 EH/s, with price falling below $72,000. Difficulty is expected to adjust down around 8%. Miners face profit pressure, with many enterprises beginning diversified layouts and increasing Bitcoin sales to maintain operations.