Key Insights:
- BlackRock moves $159M in BTC and ETH to Coinbase Prime, sparking market-dump speculation, per the latest crypto news.
- Bitcoin and Ethereum extend losses as traders react to institutional transfer headlines.
- Tokenization momentum grows as WisdomTree rolls out 24/7 blockchain-based fund trading.
Crypto news headlines lit up today after BlackRock, the TradFi titan managing trillions in assets, sent nearly $160 million in BTC and ETH straight to Coinbase Prime. Critics have cautioned that a market dump may be incoming, but could this just be another institutional chess move in a volatile market?
BlackRock deposited 1,814 BTC (around $114.66 million) and 24,472 ETH (valued at about $44.57 million) to Coinbase Prime, totaling roughly $159 million.
This is not the first time BlackRock has sent massive crypto amounts to Coinbase Prime. Similar transfers popped up earlier in 2026, sometimes in larger batches, such as $270 million or $430 million clusters.
The move came as Ethereum and Bitcoin prices took a hit, sending them lower after a brief recovery. Some crypto news analysts point out these outflows as the reason for the bearish selling pressure and overall market downturn.
Coinbase Prime is the preferred exchange for most institutions due to its crypto custody, trading, and settlement services. This makes it ideal for rebalancing ETF holdings or prepping for staking plays.
BlackRock has been deep in crypto since launching the Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and Ethereum ETF (ETHA). If this staked ETH product receives approval from the SEC, BlackRock will keep 18% of staking revenue with Coinbase.
In short, they will use investors’ money to buy ETH and lock it up on Coinbase, distribute 82% of the staking rewards, and keep 18%. This transfer likely ties to operational flows, not a straight exit. Still, in a market already bleeding, it fueled FUD and added selling pressure.
Coinbase Makes Crypto News Headlines Courtesy of $30M Credit Boost to UK Firm
The latest crypto news reveals that the UK’s The Smarter Web Company has secured a $30 million credit line from Coinbase Credit, with its Bitcoin treasury serving as collateral. This flexible facility charges interest only on drawn amounts with fixed maturities. It also allows the company to deploy fresh equity raises into BTC instantly.
This will allow it to skip settlement delays that kill momentum in choppy markets. With this move, the company will be able to deploy capital into Bitcoin immediately after it raises capital.
The Smarter Web holds 2,689 Bitcoin, acquired at an average acquisition cost of $112,865 per coin, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net.
In the meantime, WisdomTree just leveled up its tokenization efforts after rolling out 24/7 trading and instant settlement for shares in its tokenized Treasury Money Market Digital Fund (WTGXX). The SEC granted it exemptive relief, allowing intraday trades on blockchain against USDC via their affiliated broker-dealer.
Investors will no longer have to wait for T+1 or end-of-day NAC. They can now jump right into yield-bearing assets in real time, cutting cash drag. This is the first registered tokenized mutual fund with true 24/7 liquidity under the Investment Company Act.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Continue Falling
The BTC and ETH charts showed a brutal beatdown over the past few months. The sell pressure continues to bear down on assets amid concerning crypto news, such as BlackRock moving assets to exchanges.
As of the time of writing, the BTC price was down 2.2% in the last 24 hours and traded slightly above $64,000. Over the past month, it’s shed about 30%, with drawdowns from the all-time high near $126k, hitting roughly 50%.
On the other hand, the Ethereum price was down 1.7% intraday and was trading at $1,877, a key level in its price action history. Previously, the $1600-$1700 zone proved to be a strong bounce area for ETH and is a multi-year support level.
As per the recent crypto news, ETH was just a small distance away from that bounce area. It could determine how the king of DeFi fairs next. Despite both assets experiencing sharp declines, Bitcoin still holds the upper hand. Its price was down only 27.52% Year-To-Date, compared to Ethereum’s 38.02%.
Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2026/02/26/crypto-news-blackrock-crypto-transfer-triggers-bearish-concerns/
