Crypto Market Update: Trump Demands Swift Passage of Clarity Act Amid Bank Pushback
Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for March 4 as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$70,987.43, up by 6.7 percent over the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin price performance, March 4, 2026.
Chart via TradingView
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,064.63, up by 5.8 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.40, up by 4.1 percent over 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$89.34, up by 7.4 percent over 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Trump presses banks as crypto legislation fight intensifies
President Donald Trump accused major banks of trying to undermine the administration’s digital-asset agenda in a recent post on Truth Social.
Trump warned that the GENIUS Act and the broader Digital Asset Market Clarity Act must move forward quickly, arguing delays could push the industry overseas. “The U.S. needs to get Market Structure done, ASAP,” Trump wrote, adding that banks should not “hold The Clarity Act hostage.”
The remarks come as lawmakers continue debating stablecoin rules and whether crypto platforms should be allowed to offer yield on token balances—a provision banks strongly oppose.
Industry advocates echoed the urgency.
‘American leadership in digital assets is a national priority and it remains imperative that the U.S. leads. CCI is focused on ensuring that market structure legislation passes and is enacted as soon as possible. We remain committed to working constructively on a path forward on stablecoin rewards.’
The White House has framed the GENIUS Act as the first major step toward establishing federal rules for stablecoins, while the Clarity Act would define oversight responsibilities across US crypto markets.
US–UK regulators diverge on path toward tokenized finance
Efforts to coordinate digital-asset rules between the US and Britain are facing friction as regulators disagree on how quickly to test blockchain-based securities, Reuters reported.
The two countries formed a transatlantic task force last year to improve crypto cooperation and reduce barriers for firms operating across both markets. While both sides support closer alignment on stablecoins and digital-asset frameworks, officials differ on how tokenized securities should be introduced.
British regulators favor testing the technology through a regulatory sandbox, which would allow companies to trial products under supervision before wider adoption.
Some US officials, however, have raised concerns that the sandbox approach could slow innovation and limit commercial viability. Instead, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly exploring “exemptive relief,” a model that would allow certain projects to proceed with fewer restrictions.
Bitcoin climbs past US$71,000
Bitcoin rallied past $71,000 this week—its highest level in roughly three weeks— a gain of nearly 9 percent over the week.
The surge triggered more than US$430 million in liquidations across crypto derivatives markets, with Bitcoin and Ether positions accounting for roughly two-thirds of the total.
Analysts say the move appears linked to macro instability rather than purely crypto-specific catalysts.
ETF flows have also shown signs of improvement, suggesting some institutional investors are stepping back into the market after weeks of redemptions.
Still, sentiment remains fragile with the Crypto Fear and Greed Index hovering near 10, a level associated with “extreme fear.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
