Crypto News Today: Saylor Buys 3,015 BTC, Bitmine Adds 50,928 ETH While Iran War Shakes Global Markets

Published: 3 March 2026 · Updated: 08:00 UTC · By AffMiss Editorial

Five stories shaped crypto markets on Monday 3 March 2026. Michael Saylor’s Strategy completed its 101st Bitcoin purchase — 3,015 BTC at $67,700 each. Tom Lee’s Bitmine added 50,928 ETH worth $98.6 million. An Iranian drone struck Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, shutting one of the world’s largest oil-processing facilities. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, threatening to fire on any vessel that passes. And the US crypto market structure bill faces growing delays as Congress shifts focus to midterm elections.

Bitcoin dropped to $63,000 on Saturday when Operation Epic Fury — joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran — killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. By Monday afternoon, BTC had recovered to $68,600. The S&P 500 fell less than feared. Gold surged past $5,350. Oil jumped 10%. Crypto outperformed equities through the volatility, prompting traders to weigh whether Bitcoin functions as a risk asset or a hedge during geopolitical crises.

1. Strategy Buys 3,015 BTC for $204 Million — 101st Purchase

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) purchased 3,015 Bitcoin between 23 February and 1 March 2026. The SEC Form 8-K filing confirmed the firm spent $204.1 million at an average price of $67,700 per coin.

Strategy now holds 720,737 BTC acquired for a total cost of $54.77 billion at an average entry of $75,985. At Monday’s price of $68,600, the position is worth roughly $49.4 billion — an unrealised loss exceeding $5 billion.

The company funded this purchase through stock sales: $229.9 million from 1.7 million MSTR shares and $7.1 million from 71,590 STRC preferred shares. This marks Strategy’s tenth consecutive weekly Bitcoin acquisition and its 101st overall.

Metric	Value
Latest Purchase	3,015 BTC
Cost	$204.1 million
Average Entry (This Buy)	$67,700
Total Holdings	720,737 BTC
Total Cost Basis	$54.77 billion
Average Entry (All-Time)	$75,985
Current Value (~$68.6K)	~$49.4 billion
Unrealised P/L	~ −$5.3 billion

Saylor has stated repeatedly that Strategy does not plan to sell during downturns. MSTR shares opened Monday at $133, up 6% from Friday’s close of $129. The purchase signals continued conviction that Bitcoin’s present price sits well below its long-term value — a position Saylor has held since Strategy’s first BTC buy in August 2020.

What this means for traders: Strategy’s consistent accumulation at prices below its average entry creates a visible institutional floor. The firm is buying 3,000+ BTC per week regardless of macro conditions. For retail traders watching institutional behaviour, this pattern suggests deep-pocketed buyers see current levels as discounted.

2. Bitmine Adds 50,928 ETH — Now Holds 3.71% of Total Supply

Tom Lee’s Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) purchased 50,928 Ethereum worth $98.6 million in the final week of February. Total holdings reached 4,473,587 ETH — approximately 3.71% of Ethereum’s 120.7 million circulating supply.

Bitmine has staked 3,040,483 ETH (68% of holdings), generating an estimated $172 million in annualised staking revenue at a 2.86% yield. Once its Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN) launches in Q1 2026, the company projects annual staking income of $253 million.

Metric	Value
Latest Purchase	50,928 ETH (~$98.6M)
Total ETH Holdings	4,473,587 ETH
% of ETH Supply	3.71%
ETH Staked	3,040,483 ETH ($6.0B)
Staking Yield	2.86% annualised
Annual Staking Revenue	$172M (current) / $253M (projected)
Total Treasury	$9.9 billion
Unrealised Loss	~$7.3 billion

Lee commented: “Bitmine has been buying Ethereum, as we view this pullback as attractive, given the strengthening fundamentals. The price of ETH is not reflective of its utility or its role as the future of finance.”

Despite the aggressive accumulation, BMNR shares have fallen 51% in six months as ETH dropped 59% from its August 2025 all-time high. Monday brought relief — shares rose 8.4% to $20.61 as Ethereum climbed to $2,037.

Bitmine ranks as the largest corporate Ethereum treasury globally and the second-largest overall crypto treasury behind Strategy. Key backers include ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood, Founders Fund, Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, and Bill Miller III.

What this means for traders: Bitmine’s accumulation of 3.71% of ETH’s total supply mirrors Strategy’s Bitcoin playbook. The staking revenue model generates income even as spot prices decline. Institutional conviction in Ethereum’s long-term role in tokenisation and DeFi infrastructure remains strong, even as short-term price action punishes holders.

3. Saudi Arabia Shuts Ras Tanura Refinery After Iranian Drone Strike

Saudi Aramco halted operations at its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday after an Iranian drone struck the facility. Ras Tanura, located on Saudi Arabia’s Persian Gulf coast, is one of the world’s largest oil-refining and export terminals with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry confirmed two drones targeted the refinery. Interception debris caused a limited fire. No civilian casualties were reported. Aramco shut the facility as a precautionary measure.

The strike is part of Iran’s retaliatory campaign following Operation Epic Fury — the joint US-Israeli strikes launched on 28 February that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader and destroyed military and nuclear sites. Tehran has since targeted energy infrastructure across the Gulf region, including facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

ICE gasoil futures jumped 20% on the news. Brent crude surged to $82 per barrel, up 10% from Friday. European diesel prices spiked 20%. Natural gas prices rose nearly 50% in Europe after QatarEnergy halted LNG production following separate attacks on its facilities.

Why this matters for crypto: Higher oil prices feed directly into inflation expectations. If inflation reaccelerates, the Federal Reserve is less likely to cut rates — tightening the liquidity conditions that drive risk-asset prices. A March rate cut is now off the table ahead of the Fed’s 18 March meeting. For Bitcoin and altcoins, sustained oil above $80 creates a headwind for any near-term rally attempt.

4. Iran Declares Strait of Hormuz Closed — 20% of Global Oil at Risk

Ebrahim Jabari, senior adviser to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief, declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on Monday. “If anyone tries to pass, the heroes of the Revolutionary Guard and the regular navy will set those ships ablaze,” Jabari said on Iranian state media.

The Strait of Hormuz is a 34-kilometre (21-mile) waterway between Iran and Oman. Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil per day — about 20% of global supply — transit through it. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iran all rely on this corridor for energy exports.

Although Iran has not declared a formal blockade, commercial tanker traffic has functionally stopped. Windward Maritime Intelligence data from 1–2 March shows:

Indicator	Status
Tanker Traffic Reduction	~70% decline since Saturday
Vessels Anchored Outside Strait	150+ crude and LNG tankers
Tankers Drifting in Gulf (No Destination)	~27 vessels (~12M barrels)
Tankers Struck in 36 Hours	4 commercial vessels
War-Risk Insurance	Withdrawn across corridor
Major Shippers (Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, NYK)	Suspended all Hormuz transits

Four commercial tankers were hit near the strait within 36 hours of Operation Epic Fury, including one with crew fatalities. US, UK, and EU-flagged vessels have halted all Gulf passage. Ships are rerouting around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to transit times and raising freight costs.

Why this matters for crypto: The Hormuz crisis represents the largest energy supply disruption since the 1970s oil embargo. If the strait remains blocked for weeks, oil could breach $100 — a scenario that would reshape inflation forecasts, delay rate cuts into 2027, and pressure every risk asset class including crypto. Bitcoin’s ability to hold $65,000 through this event is being read by some analysts as a sign of structural resilience. QCP Capital noted that Bitcoin fell below $100,000 during a similar (smaller) Iran strike in June 2025 and rallied to $123,000 weeks later.

5. US Crypto Market Structure Bill Faces Growing Delays

The passage of the CLARITY Act — the US crypto market structure bill — before the November 2026 midterm elections grows more unlikely as congressional delays mount.

The bill aims to define which digital assets fall under SEC jurisdiction (securities) and which the CFTC regulates (commodities). The House passed its version (FIT21) in mid-2025. The Senate Banking Committee has delayed markups three times since December 2025.

Multiple obstacles block progress. Democrats object to advancing crypto legislation they say legitimises President Trump’s crypto business ventures, including World Liberty Financial, the TRUMP memecoin, and American Bitcoin mining company. Disputes over DeFi regulation, stablecoin yield rules, and SEC staffing remain unresolved. The January 2026 Senate Banking Committee vote was postponed after Coinbase withdrew support over consumer protection concerns. Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer estimated a 60% probability of passage in 2026 but warned timing risk is rising.

With Congress focused on government funding deadlines, housing legislation, and midterm campaign season starting by Q3 2026, the window narrows each week. If the bill does not clear Senate markups by April, analysts at CoinDesk say chances of passage this year become slim.

Why this matters for crypto: Without a market structure law, a regulatory risk premium persists across US crypto valuations. Exchanges face listing uncertainty. DeFi protocols operate in legal grey zones. Institutional capital that requires regulatory clarity before deployment stays on the sideline. Benchmark warns that failure to pass would not return to the enforcement-heavy era of 2022–2023, but would cap valuation growth at a time when global adoption accelerates. JPMorgan analysts suggest the bill could still pass by mid-2026.

Market Outlook: What Traders Should Watch This Week

Bitcoin trades in a $62,500–$70,000 range that has held since early February. The weekend test of $63,000 found buyers. Monday’s recovery above $68,000 showed strength relative to equities. Several catalysts could break the range this week.

Catalyst	Date	Potential Impact
Iran Ceasefire / Negotiation Signals	Ongoing	Risk-on rally if tensions ease; BTC could test $72K
Strait of Hormuz Reopening	Unknown	Oil drop = bullish for risk assets including crypto
US Bitcoin Spot ETF Flows (Monday)	3 March	$506M inflows last week; trend continuation = bullish
Federal Reserve Meeting	18 March	Rate cut off the table; hawkish tone could pressure BTC
CLARITY Act Progress	TBD	Any markup announcement = regulatory clarity signal

Options traders on Deribit are buying March 27 call options at $74,000 and $75,000 strikes, suggesting expectations of a March rebound. Short-term put premiums sit 8–10% above calls — a sign of hedged but not panicked positioning. The 30-day Bitcoin implied volatility index (BVIV) holds steady at 58.8%, within the range seen throughout February.

Trump has indicated the military campaign will last four to five weeks. If the conflict resolves faster, a relief rally could push BTC back toward $75,000. If the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and oil stays above $80, risk assets face sustained pressure through March.

Bottom Line

Institutional buyers are not waiting for calm. Strategy bought its 101st batch of Bitcoin at a loss relative to its average entry. Bitmine now owns nearly 4% of all Ethereum in existence. Both firms are deploying capital into a market rattled by war, supply disruption, and regulatory ambiguity.

The divergence between institutional conviction and retail fear has defined this cycle. Strategy sits on $5 billion in unrealised losses. Bitmine carries $7.3 billion in unrealised losses. Neither firm is selling. For traders deciding how to act in this environment, the institutional signal is clear: buy when others hesitate, hold through volatility, and accumulate at levels that will look cheap in hindsight.

Whether the market rewards that conviction this quarter depends on Iran, oil prices, and the Federal Reserve — three variables no treasury analyst can predict.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much Bitcoin does Strategy hold in March 2026?

Strategy holds 720,737 BTC as of 1 March 2026, acquired for a total of $54.77 billion at an average price of $75,985 per coin. This makes Strategy the largest corporate Bitcoin holder in the world.

How much Ethereum does Bitmine hold?

Bitmine holds 4,473,587 ETH as of 1 March 2026 — roughly 3.71% of Ethereum’s total circulating supply. The firm stakes 3,040,483 ETH, generating an estimated $172 million in annual staking income.

Why did Bitcoin drop to $63,000?

Bitcoin fell to $63,000 on Saturday 28 February after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran (Operation Epic Fury), killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strike triggered $300 million in long liquidations across crypto exchanges. BTC recovered to $68,600 by Monday.

Is the Strait of Hormuz closed?

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on 2 March 2026. While no formal blockade is in place, tanker traffic has dropped 70% and all major shipping companies have suspended transits. About 20% of global oil supply passes through this 34-kilometre (21-mile) waterway.

What happened to the Ras Tanura refinery?

Saudi Aramco shut its Ras Tanura refinery on 2 March 2026 after Iranian drones struck the facility. Ras Tanura is one of the world’s largest oil refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. The Saudi Defence Ministry confirmed debris from intercepted drones caused a limited fire with no casualties.

Will the US crypto market structure bill pass in 2026?

Passage is uncertain. The CLARITY Act has been delayed multiple times since December 2025. Benchmark estimates a 60% probability of passage, but the approaching November midterm elections, Trump-related conflicts of interest, and disagreements over DeFi regulation narrow the window. JPMorgan analysts suggest mid-2026 as a possible timeline.