Bitcoin risks new 'death cross' as BTC price tackles $84K resistance
Bitcoin is on the move again, passing $84,000 as markets gear up for the US Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been on a steady rise, reaching local highs of $84,358 on Bitstamp. However, with the Fed expected to hold rates steady until at least June, the focus is now on Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s commentary and the potential impact on Bitcoin and risk assets.
According to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, Bitcoin’s price action has been closely tied to the Fed’s decision. As risk assets remain on edge, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index trading down year-to-date, Bitcoin’s fate hangs in the balance.
While some analysts hope for a spike to $87,000, others warn of a potential drop to $76,000 if the Fed’s decision is unfavorable. The market is also closely watching for any dovish shifts in the Fed’s commentary, particularly on growth and inflation expectations.
Despite the uncertainty, there are some potential silver linings. Retail investors in the US are increasing their allocation to equities, with retail net inflows into Nasdaq 100 index stocks reaching a record high. This could potentially provide some support for Bitcoin in the short term.
However, the overall sentiment remains cautious, with traders struggling to identify any meaningful tailwinds to reverse the current market rout. As Bitcoin continues to retest the CME gap as support, the potential for a death cross between the 200-day and 21-day moving averages looms.
In the end, the Fed’s decision and Powell’s commentary will have a significant impact on Bitcoin’s price momentum. A dovish tone could send Bitcoin above key moving averages, while a more negative outlook could lead to a retest of multimonth lows. As always, investors should conduct their own research and make informed decisions when it comes to their investments.
CertiK exec explains how to keep crypto safe after $1.4B Bybit hack
The February hack against Bybit sent ripples through the industry after $1.4 billion in Ether-related tokens was stolen from the centralized exchange, reportedly by the North Korean hacking collective Lazarus Group, in what was the most costly crypto theft ever.The fallout from the hack has left many people wondering what went wrong, whether their own funds are safe, and what should be done to prevent such an event from happening again.According to blockchain security company CertiK, the massive heist represented roughly 92% of all losses for February, which saw a nearly 1,500% increase in total lost crypto from January as a result of the incident.On Episode 57 of Contelegraph’s The Agenda podcast, hosts Jonathan DeYoung and Ray Salmond speak with CertiK’s chief business officer, Jason Jiang, to break down how the Bybit hack happened, the fallout from the exploit, what users and exchanges can do to keep their crypto secure, and more.Are crypto wallets still safe after Bybit hack?Put simply, Lazarus Group was able to pull off the massive hack against Bybit because it managed to compromise the devices of all three signers who controlled the multisignature SafeWallet Bybit was using, according to Jiang. The group then tricked them into signing a malicious transaction that they believed was legit.Does this mean that SafeWallet can no longer be trusted? Well, it’s not so simple, said Jiang. “It is possible that when the Safe developer’s computer got hacked, more information was leaked from that computer. But I think for the individuals, the likelihood of this happening is rather low.”He said there are several things the average user can do to drastically increase their crypto security, including storing assets on cold wallets and being aware of potential phishing attacks on social media.Source: CertiKWhen asked whether hodlers could see their Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets exploited in a similar manner, Jiang again said that it’s not a big risk for the average user — as long as they do their due diligence and transact carefully.“One of the reasons that this happened was that the signers were like a blind-send-signing the order, just simply because their device did not show the full address,” he said, adding, “Make sure that the address you are sending to is what you’re intending to, and you want to double check and triple check, especially for larger transactions.”“I think after this incident, this is probably going to be one of the things the industry will try to correct itself, to make the signing more transparent and easier to recognize. There are so many other lessons being learned, but this is certainly one of them.”How to prevent the next multibillion-dollar exchange hackJiang pointed to a lack of comprehensive regulations and safeguards as a potential element contributing to the ongoing fallout from the hack, which fueled debates over the limits of decentralization after several validators from crosschain bridge THORChain refused to roll back or block any of Lazarus Group’s efforts to use the protocol to convert its funds into Bitcoin (BTC).“Welcome to the Wild West,” said Jiang. “This is where we are right now.”“From our view, we think crypto, if it is to be flourishing, it needs to hug the regulation,” he argued. “To make it easy to be adopted by the mass general here, we need to hug the regulation, and we need to figure out ways to make this space safer.”Related: Financial freedom means stopping crypto MEV attacks — Shutter Network contributorJiang commended Bybit CEO Ben Zhou on his response to the incident, but he also pointed out that the exchange’s bug bounty program prior to the hack had a reward of just $4,000. He said that while most people in cybersecurity are not motivated by money alone, having larger bug bounties can potentially help exchanges stay more secure.When asked about the ways exchanges and protocols can motivate and retain top-tier talent to help protect their systems, Jiang suggested that security engineers don’t always get the credit they deserve.“A lot of people say that the first-degree talent goes to the developers because that’s where they will get most rewarding,” he said. “But it’s also about us giving enough attention to the security engineers. They carry a huge responsibility.”“Cut them some slack and try to give them more credit. Whether it’s monetary or whether it’s recognition, give them what we can afford, and make it reasonable.”To hear more from Jiang’s conversation with The Agenda — including how CertiK carries out audits, how quantum computing and AI will impact cybersecurity, and more — listen to the full episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And don’t forget to check out Cointelegraph’s full lineup of other shows! Magazine: Bitcoin vs. the quantum computer threat — Timeline and solutions (2025–2035)This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
The crypto industry has turned into a global memecoin casino
Opinion by: Georgii Verbitskii, founder of TYMIO Memecoins have dominated the crypto narrative over the past year, leading to a series of high-profile events where most traders lost money while insiders profited. The Libra token alone, by some estimations, resulted in $4.4 billion in public losses. Unlike previous crypto cycles where broad market growth rewarded holders, today’s memecoin speculation has created an environment where the average trader’s chances of success are slim. How did memecoins happen to drive the market to a dead end, and will this ever end?Speculation or investment?Investing and speculation are fundamentally different games with distinct rules. Investing isn’t about making quick money. It is about purchasing the right assets to protect capital in the long haul. Usually, investors don’t wait for the right “entry point” but purchase assets to be held for years. Such assets grow relative to fiat currencies based on fundamental factors. For example, stocks, gold and Bitcoin (BTC) rise against the US dollar, which faces unlimited issuance and inflation.Some assets have extra growth drivers — rising property demand, growing company profits or even Bitcoin adoption by governments — but these are bonuses. The key point is that your investment is not supposed to lose all its value against the fiat. Investors follow long-term macroeconomic trends, which helps them preserve purchasing power.On the other hand, speculation is a zero-sum game where the skilled minority profits because of the uninformed majority. Typically, such people are chasing quick profits. This is what happens with memecoins. Unlike traditional investments, they lack intrinsic value, dividends or interest returns. While in the case of Bitcoin, the “greater fools” who buy after a trader could be companies adopting the Bitcoin standard, followed by entire nations establishing strategic Bitcoin reserves after the US, in the case of a token like LIBRA, the greater fool is the one who bought it after Javier Milei’s announcement on X. That’s it — there are no more buyers.Unregulated gamblingMemecoins operate similarly to online casinos. They provide entertainment and promise quick profits but favor only those who create and promote them. Unlike regulated gambling, where risks are well-known, memecoins are often hyped by influential figures — starting from the famous crypto influencer Murad and ending with the US president — and, consequently, social media narratives. The harsh reality is that, like in a casino, the odds overwhelmingly favor insiders and early adopters while the majority suffer losses.Recent: Solana’s token minting frenzy loses steam as memecoins get torchedThe memecoin craze clearly thrives on speculation and psychological triggers — this is the game that evolves emotions and leaves players’ wallets empty. Platforms like Pump.fun, which facilitate memecoin launches, have reaped massive profits, proving that selling shovels is the best way to profit from a gold rush. How can opening a casino require a license and choosing a location in strictly designated areas, while anyone can launch their own memecoin? Well, the situation is likely to change soon.Will this ever end?The lack of regulatory oversight has enabled the explosive growth of memecoins. How did we get here? Let’s remember the SEC’s activities in recent years, namely lawsuits against major decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and large crypto companies that tried to play fair. Another serious step was Operation Chokepoint 2.0, directed by the previous US administration against the crypto industry as a whole. All this not only stifled well-intentioned companies that created something meaningful in crypto but also indirectly triggered a counterweight in the form of other players who took advantage of unclear rules.As a result, crypto exchanges have recently been listing mostly memecoins almost immediately after their release. Chaos in the field of regulation has turned the crypto industry into a sizable global casino. While earlier, everyone hoped to win in this gamble, now, along with the losses, it seems that general disappointment is setting in.There is a ray of hope. The current US administration can unequivocally be called “crypto-friendly,” which means we will likely see significant regulation progress this year. This is especially crucial for the DeFi sector, which has long found its product-market fit and is rapidly developing, capturing the markets of traditional finance (banks, brokers and other intermediaries).It is essential to rewrite outdated financial regulations as quickly as possible. The old rules were designed for a system based on trust in centralized intermediaries, whereas the new framework must incorporate smart contracts — in other words, executable blockchain code.Stronger regulatory frameworks could introduce stricter requirements for token launches, including mandatory disclosures of creators’ personalities and restrictions on centralized exchange listings. Yet market participants may learn through costly mistakes even without direct intervention and become more cautious about memecoin investments. After a series of harsh but sobering memecoin rug pulls, the Web3 community should finally realize that such projects rarely reward risk-takers. If someone still decides to take a chance, they should treat it like a trip to the casino: only bringing the amount they are prepared to lose and making the most of the joy from this experience. For those to whom this approach doesn’t appeal or those truly serious about growing their net worth to pass it on to future generations, welcome to the real world of bland, regular Bitcoin purchases. It seems the market is only now starting to realize this.Opinion by: Georgii Verbitskii, founder of TYMIO.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
SEC will drop its appeal against Ripple, CEO Garlinghouse says
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s multi-year enforcement action against Ripple is finally coming to an end, according to the company CEO.“This is it — the moment we’ve been waiting for. The SEC will drop its appeal — a resounding victory for Ripple, for crypto, every way you look at it,” Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse wrote on X on March 19.Source: Brad Garlinghouse“I’m finally able to announce that the case has ended; it’s over,” Garlinghouse said in the attached video to the X post.The end of a long-running legal battle between Ripple and the SEC comes four years after the US securities regulator sued the company over an alleged $1.3 billion unregistered securities offering in December 2020.Garlinghouse announces the news at the Digital Asset SummitGarlinghouse’s announcement on the end of the SEC-Ripple case came amid the Digital Asset Summit in New York.“Just a few minutes ago, right before I walked up here, I posted on X that we can now announce that the SEC is no longer pursuing their appeal in the Ripple case,” the CEO stated.Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse at the Digital Asset Summit 2025. Source: Cointelegraph“We’re now closing a chapter in crypto history,” Garlinghouse said in the video on X, adding that “it’s time to make the United States the crypto capital of the world.”“Ripple’s main message is about gratitude”In the statement, Garlinghouse praised the new SEC leadership and executive and legislative branches of the US government for “seeking a rational and constructive way forward on crypto.”The CEO emphasized that his main message is about gratitude, stating:“It’s gratitude to everyone who stood by us, to every Ripple employee, to the incredible legal team here at Ripple, led by the best chief legal officer in the business. To all the gratitude, certainly to the XRP family, to our customers, to our partners.”Garlinghouse expressed confidence that Ripple’s legal victory sends an “ominous sign for innovation around cryptocurrency in the United States” following years of “intimidation and terror” from Gary Gensler-headed SEC.XRP spikes about 9% amid the newsRipple-issued XRP (XRP) has recorded significant action amid the news, with its price surging about 9% in the first hour following the announcement, according to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView.By publishing time, XRP is the third largest crypto asset by market capitalization, at $146 billion.XRP price surged 9% following SEC’s backdown. Source: TradingViewThe news has also triggered a broader rally in crypto markets, with multiple tokens reacting with minor gains in the first hour following Garlinghouse’s statement.Additional reporting by Turner Wright.Magazine: Classic Sega, Atari and Nintendo games get crypto makeovers: Web3 Gamer
Bitcoin may recover to $90k amid easing inflation concerns after FOMC meeting
Bitcoin may stage a recovery above the key $90,000 psychological mark amid easing monetary inflation concerns in the world’s largest economy.Bitcoin’s (BTC) over two-month downtrend has raised numerous alarms that the current Bitcoin bull cycle may be over, defying the theory of the four-year market cycle.Despite widespread investor concerns, Bitcoin may be on track to a recovery above $90,000 due to easing inflation concerns in the United States, according to Markus Thielen, the CEO of 10x Research.“We can see some counter-trend rally as prices are oversold, and there is a good chance that the Fed is mildly dovish,” Thielen told Cointelegraph, adding:“This is not a major bullish development, rather some fine-tuning from the policymakers. We think BTC will be in a broader consolidation range but we could trade back towards $90,000.”Bitcoin daily RSI indicator. Source: 10x ResearchInvestor confidence may also be improved by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s comments indicating that the Fed will “remain on hold amid rising uncertainty among households and businesses,” wrote 10x Research in a March 17 X post, adding:“Powell also expressed doubts about the sustained inflationary impact of Trump’s tariffs, referencing the 2019 scenario where tariff-related inflation was temporary, and the Fed eventually cut rates three times.”Meanwhile, investors are eagerly awaiting today’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, for cues on the Fed’s monetary policy for the rest of 2025, a development that may impact investor appetite for risk assets such as Bitcoin.Related: Crypto market’s biggest risks in 2025: US recession, circular crypto economyFOMC meeting will be crucial for Bitcoin’s trajectory: analystTraders and investors will be watching for any hints about the ending of the Fed’s quantitative easing (QT) program, “a move that could boost liquidity and risk assets,” according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at Nexo digital asset investment platform.“The upcoming Fed decision could be a major catalyst for further movements,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding:“If Chair Powell spreads his dovish wings, Bitcoin could take flight on renewed bullish momentum.”“However, persistent inflation concerns or a reaffirmation of tight financial conditions, such as elevated interest rates or continued liquidity tightening, could limit upside potential,” added the analyst.Related: Rising $219B stablecoin supply signals mid-bull cycle, not market topFed target interest rate probabilities. Source: CME Group’s FedWatch toolMarkets are currently pricing in a 99% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates steady, according to the latest estimates of the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.Still, investors have slashed their exposure to US equities by the most on record by 40-percentage-points between February and March, according to Bank of America’s latest survey — raising concerns that recession fears may hurt Bitcoin’s price action.Magazine: ETH may bottom at $1.6K, SEC delays multiple crypto ETFs, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 9 – 15
Fund managers dump US stocks at record pace — Can recession fears hurt Bitcoin?
Bitcoin’s (BTC) price action has closely mirrored that of the US equity market in recent years, particularly the tech-heavy Nasdaq and the benchmark S&P 500. Now, as fund managers stage a historic exodus from US stocks, the question arises: could Bitcoin be the next casualty?Fund managers dump US stocks at record monthly paceInvestors slashed their exposure to US equities by the most on record by 40-percentage-points between February and March, according to Bank of America’s latest survey. This is the sharpest monthly decline since the bank began tracking the data in 1994. The shift, dubbed a “bull crash,” reflects dwindling faith in US economic outperformance and rising fears of a global downturn. With a net 69% of surveyed managers declaring the peak of “US exceptionalism,” the data signals a seismic pivot that could ripple into risk assets like Bitcoin, especially given their persistent 52-week positive correlation over the years.Bitcoin and S&P 500 index 52-week correlation coefficient chart. Source: TradingViewMore downside risks for Bitcoin and, in turn, the broader crypto market arise from investors’ rising cash allocations.BofA’s March survey finds that cash levels, a classic flight-to-safety signal, jumped to 4.1% from February’s 3.5%, the lowest since 2010.BofA Global Fund Manager March survey results. Source: BofA Research Adding to the unease, 55% of managers flagged “Trade war triggers global recession” as the top tail risk, up from 39% in February, while 19% worried about inflation forcing Fed rate hikes—both scenarios that could chill enthusiasm for risky assets like Bitcoin.Conversely, the survey’s most crowded trades list still includes “Long crypto” at 9%, coinciding with the establishment of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in the US. Meanwhile, 68% of managers expect Fed rate cuts in 2025, up from 51% last month. Related: ‘We are worried about a recession,’ but there’s a silver lining — Cathie WoodLower rates have previously coincided with Bitcoin and the broader crypto market gains, something bettors on Polymarket believe is 100% certain to happen before May.Bitcoin price hangs by a threadBitcoin’s price has declined by over 25% two months after establishing a record high of under $110,000 — a dropdown many consider a bull market correction, suggesting that the cryptocurrency may recover in the coming months. “Historically, Bitcoin experiences these types of corrections during long-term rallies, and there’s no reason to believe this time is different,” Derive founder Nick Forster told Cointelegraph, adding however that the cryptocurrency’s next six months depend on how traditional markets (stocks) perform. Technically, as of March 19, Bitcoin was holding above its 50-week exponential moving average (50-week EMA; the red wave) at $77,250.BTC/USD weekly price chart. Source: TradingViewHistorically, BTC price returns to the 50-week EMA after undergoing strong rallies. The cryptocurrency’s decisive break below the wave support has signaled a bear market in the past, namely the 2018 and 2022 correction cycles.Source: Milkybull CryptoA clear breakdown below the wave support could have BTC’s bears eye the 200-week EMA (the blue wave) below $50,000, echoing the downside sentiment discussed in the BofA survey.Conversely, holding above the 50-week EMA has led prices to new sessional highs, akin to what the market witnessed in 2024. If Bitcoin recovers from the said wave support, its likelihood of testing the $100,000 psychological resistance level is high.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Sophisticated crypto address poisoning scams drain $1.2M in March
Victims of address poisoning scams were tricked into willingly sending over $1.2 million worth of funds to scammers, showcasing the problematic rise of cryptocurrency phishing attacks.Address poisoning, or wallet poisoning scams, involves tricking victims into sending their digital assets to fraudulent addresses belonging to scammers. Pig butchering schemes on Ethereum have cost the crypto industry over $1.2 million worth of funds in the nearly three weeks since the beginning of the month, wrote onchain security firm Cyvers in a March 19 X post:“Attackers send small transactions to victims, mimicking their frequently used wallet addresses. When users copy-paste an address from their transaction history, they might accidentally send funds to the scammer instead.”Source: Cyvers AlertsAddress poisoning scams have been growing, since the beginning of the year, costing the industry over $1.8 million in February, according to Deddy Lavid, co-founder and CEO of Cyvers.The growing sophistication of attackers and the lack of pre-transaction security measures are some of the main reasons for the increase, the CEO told Cointelegraph, adding:“More users and institutions are leveraging automated tools for crypto transactions, some of which may not have built-in verification mechanisms to detect poisoned addresses.”While the higher transaction volume due to the crypto bull market is a contributing factor, pre-transaction verification methods may stop a significant amount of phishing attacks, said Lavid, adding:“Unlike traditional fraud detection, many wallets and platforms lack real-time pre-transaction screening that could flag suspicious addresses before funds are sent.”Related: August sees 215% rise in crypto phishing, $55M lost in single attackAddress poisoning scams have previously cost investors tens of millions. In May 2024, an investor sent $71 million worth of Wrapped Bitcoin to a bait wallet address, falling victim to a wallet poisoning scam. The scammer created a wallet address with similar alphanumeric characters and made a small transaction to the victim’s account.However, the attacker returned the $71 million days later, after he had an unexpected change of heart due to the growing attention from blockchain investigators.Related: Ledger users targeted by malicious ‘clear signing’ phishing emailPhishing scams are a growing problem for the crypto industryPhishing scams are becoming a growing threat to the crypto industry, next to traditional hacks.Pig butchering scams are another type of phishing scheme involving prolonged and complex manipulation tactics to trick investors into willingly sending their assets to fraudulent crypto addresses.Pig butchering schemes on the Ethereum network cost the industry over $5.5 billion across 200,000 identified cases in 2024, according to Cyvers.The average grooming period for victims lasts between one and two weeks in 35% of cases, while 10% of scams involve grooming periods of up to three months, according to Cyvers data.Pig butchering victim statistics and grooming periods. Source: CyversIn an alarming sign, 75% of victims lost over half of their net worth to pig butchering scams. Males aged 30 to 49 are most affected by these attacks.Phishing scams were the top crypto security threat of 2024, which netted attackers over $1 billion across 296 incidents as the most costly attack vector for the crypto industry.Magazine: Down to $200 one day, Pixels founder had $2.4M the next: Luke Barwikowski, X Hall of Flame
BFI charity allocates $90M, pledges $200M for health, climate initiatives
Blockchain For Impact (BFI), a charity established by Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, has committed $90 million to advance biomedical research, driving healthcare innovation, and enhancing climate resilience — a development that could spur blockchain’s adoption for charity initiatives.The Polygon co-founder’s BFI plans to allocate an additional $200 million to support the growth of healthcare startups, expand biomedical research, and strengthen the public health systems.BFI has backed several impactful projects in India’s healthcare sector, including Solar-Powered Public Health Centers (PHCs), a floating hospital in Assam to aid communities in flood-prone areas, the UNICEF Healthcare Innovation Partnership, and relief funding during the COVID-19 crisis. Their further initiatives will place a greater emphasis on healthcare innovation and research.Incorporating blockchain technology can make philanthropic efforts more transparent and accountable thanks to the ledger’s verifiability, according to Sandeep Nailwal, Founder of Blockchain for Impact and co-founder of Polygon.Nailwal told Cointelegraph:“All donations received by BFI can be tracked through blockchain. While the final transfer to non-profit programs happens through a bank, every financial step is transparently displayed on our website. All financial data can be visualized, and we publish NGO details, allowing anyone to independently verify the disbursements.”“Separately, the $68 million we channeled for COVID-19 relief in India, including $15 million to the Government of India through UNICEF for 128 million syringes during COVID-19, followed the same approach,” said Nailwal, adding:“Anyone, be it donors or communities, can see where the money goes. This shows up in the results: 96% of healthcare workers say care has improved, and vaccine wastage dropped 83% because refrigeration is steady.”Source: The Given Block Annual ReportAccording to The Giving Block’s report, BFI exemplifies the rapid growth of crypto philanthropy, with its $90 million in donations representing 9% of all cryptocurrency contributions tracked globally in 2024.This surge aligns with the transformative potential of digital donations to enhance transparency and efficiency in fund allocation. The same report reveals that over 70% of the top 100 US-based charities now accept crypto.Related: Crypto giving exceeded $1B in 2024 — ReportGlobal charities are embracing crypto donationsCharitable organizations are increasingly embracing cryptocurrency donations, thanks to the transparency of the blockchain ledger, which makes donations publicly traceable and reduces the transaction fees of charitable transactions compared to fiat-based donations.Beyond just the US, charities across the globe embrace crypto donations, including large charities like the UK Red Cross and Singapore Red Cross. Save the Children, a leading international nonprofit organization, disclosed that they had received $8.6 million in crypto donations so far.Source: Save The Children WebsiteAs cryptocurrency adoption grows, so does the need for secure and compliant solutions for nonprofits. The Given Block announced its partnership with Gemini on March 13. The organization thinks artificial intelligence can help make crypto in philanthropy more secure.Crypto donations have the potential to enhance charitable revenue. A report from Fast Company found that nonprofits with a strong track record of transparency experienced a 53% increase in contributions on average the following year compared to organizations lacking such transparency. As donation transparency improves, donor willingness to contribute also increases.As the crypto market continues to grow, crypto donations are expected to be increasingly accepted by more organizations. The Giving Block estimates crypto donations in 2035 would be approximately $89.27 billion.Additional reporting by Zoltan Vardai.Magazine: Crypto is changing how humanitarian agencies deliver aid and services