According to Huoxun Finance on March 18, spot gold fell below the $4,900/ounce mark, currently trading at $4,899.44, a daily drop of 2.12%.

According to TechCabal, the Kenyan Ministry of Finance released the "Virtual Asset Service Providers Regulation (Draft) 2026" on March 18th, soliciting public comments on the access and regulatory framework for crypto and digital asset businesses until April 10th, with national hearings scheduled to begin on March 30th. The regulation is based on the previously enacted "Virtual Asset Service Providers Act," with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) responsible for regulating stablecoins and payment-related institutions, and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) responsible for exchanges, brokers, and tokenization platforms. Previously, Kenya had changed its 3% digital asset tax on crypto transactions to a 10% consumption tax on service fees. On-chain data indicates that between July 2024 and June 2025, Kenya saw approximately $19 billion in crypto inflows, with over 6 million users.

According to Odaily Planet Daily, Bitcoin prices quickly fell to $72,300, a 24-hour drop of about 2%, influenced by escalating tensions in the Middle East and stronger-than-expected US inflation data. Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP all fell by nearly 3%, putting pressure on risk assets overall. In terms of news, US President Trump issued a tougher signal towards Iran, calling it the "number one state sponsor of terrorism" and hinting at a potential further escalation. Meanwhile, the attack on Iran's South Pars gas field, the reported killing of Iran's intelligence minister by Israel, and the US use of heavy bombs to strike missile facilities near the Strait of Hormuz exacerbated market tensions, pushing WTI crude oil prices from around $92 to nearly $96. On the macroeconomic front, the US February PPI rose 0.7% month-on-month, higher than the expected 0.3%; core PPI rose 0.5%, also higher than expected. It is worth noting that this inflation data did not yet factor in the recent surge in oil prices, further exacerbating market concerns about sticky inflation and weakening expectations for interest rate cuts. Against this backdrop, the crypto market and US stock futures weakened in tandem, with the three major stock index futures reversing gains to fall by approximately 0.4%. Market focus shifted to the upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision and Chairman Powell's comments on growth risks and inflationary pressures. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his public call for interest rate cuts, adding a political variable to the meeting. (CoinDesk)

According to Greg Michalowski, an analyst at the financial website Investinglive, the US PPI rose more than expected in February. The overall PPI rose 0.7% month-on-month, higher than the expected 0.3%; the year-on-year increase accelerated to 3.4% (expected 2.9%). Core PPI showed a similar trend, rising 0.5% month-on-month (expected 0.3%) and 3.9% year-on-year, far exceeding expectations. This indicates that underlying price pressures have not eased as quickly as expected. The stronger-than-expected inflation data boosted the dollar, and US Treasury yields rose slightly as the market reassessed the timing and magnitude of potential Fed rate cuts. Meanwhile, the stock market fell slightly, reflecting market concerns that persistent inflation could lead to a longer period of tightening policies. (Jinshi)

Odaily Planet Daily reports that the US February PPI rose more than expected, and may accelerate further as the Middle East war pushes up oil prices and import transmission continues. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday that the PPI surged 0.7% month-over-month in February, driven by the service sector, while January's increase was revised to 0.5%. The war between the US and Israel and Iran, which began at the end of February, has already pushed oil prices up by more than 40%. Economists expect the inflationary impact of the war to be reflected in the March Consumer and Producer Price Report, to be released next month. The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged later today. Fed officials will submit new economic projections, and economists expect inflation forecasts to be revised upwards; financial markets expect only one rate cut by the Fed this year. (Jinshi)