Australian exchange BTC Markets has informed the Australian Securities and Investments Commission that it plans to apply for a markets license to list regulated tokenized real-world assets alongside cryptocurrencies. CEO Lucas Dobbins said around $26.5 billion in tokenized RWAs onchain today is still only a proof of concept, while forecasts point to trillions of dollars in potential market value by 2030 and significant economic gains in Australia.

Bitcoin hovered around $67,536.61 while major crypto-related equities, including miners and corporate holders, posted notable declines. At the same time, 77% of companies with Bitcoin treasuries were reported to be underwater on their holdings, a situation last seen in May 2022, even as spot ETFs saw about $348.9 million in net outflows. Public firms still control roughly 1.138 million BTC, led by Strategy with around 720,737 BTC, underscoring that large institutional balances remain despite market volatility.

At the start of the week, gold extended losses and briefly dropped as much as 3% before spot prices traded 1.5% lower at $5,093.39 an ounce, while the U.S. dollar strengthened and oil climbed toward $120 a barrel. Other precious metals, including silver at $82.66 an ounce, also declined as investors weighed higher energy costs, potential delays to interest-rate cuts, and risks from the intensifying conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Persian Gulf.

Driven by a near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, global energy markets have entered a historic "war premium" rally as WTI and Brent decisively clear the $100 and $110 thresholds for the first time since 2022. This 2026 supply squeeze, which has sidelined 20% of global oil, is fueling extreme volatility and a massive surge in decentralized hedging on platforms like Hyperliquid. While the Trump administration weighs a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) release to inject liquidity and fill price gaps near $90, technical indicators remain parabolic with price targets eyeing $130. Investors are now pivoting to upcoming US CPI data and EIA reports to determine if the current vertical momentum will face a mean reversion or continue its record-breaking ascent.

During a podcast on Sunday, former CFTC chair Chris Giancarlo said US banks need clear crypto rules more urgently than the crypto sector, as their legal teams will not approve major investments without regulatory certainty. He warned that continued delays around the CLARITY Act in the Senate could leave US banks behind Asian and European competitors, and suggested that if the bill fails, current SEC and CFTC leaders may draft interim rules to guide the industry.

In 2026, the value of tokenized real-world assets rose to about $24.9 billion, roughly four times higher than a year earlier amid strong institutional demand. U.S. Treasuries, commodities, and products from issuers like BlackRock and Ondo Finance led this expansion, while total RWA holders across major chains climbed to over 663,000. Despite a recent monthly pullback, tokenized RWAs still represent more than $346 billion in underlying assets and could surpass $50 billion in value by 2030 if current trends persist.

On Monday, Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP posted gains even as global equity futures signaled steep losses amid a severe oil supply shock and rising U.S.-Iran tensions. Bitcoin traded near $66,124.97, while Ethereum hovered around $1,944.62 and XRP reached $1.34, with total crypto market capitalization at $2.28 trillion. Analysts pointed to digital assets' lack of direct exposure to disrupted physical energy infrastructure and Bitcoin's positioning as a value store as factors supporting prices.

On Mar. 8, Intercontinental Exchange, the listed parent of the New York Stock Exchange, was reported to have taken a minority stake of about $200 million in crypto exchange OKX at a roughly $25 billion valuation and to have secured a board seat. Investors and analysts cited OKX's global user base, derivatives-focused structure and strategic positioning as key reasons, while viewing the deal as part of a broader push toward tokenization and future digital market infrastructure.