![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db920-d8ee-7a27-ad51-a95f1522239b.png\")
Two Polymarket accounts have attracted suspicion after making $37,000 betting correctly on two unusual temperature readings of a weather station located in a major airport in France.
The two weather-focused prediction markets focused on the highest temperature in Paris on April 6 and 15, using the highest temperature recorded at the Charles de Gaulle Airport Station in degrees Celsius, according to Polymarket.
French media outlet BFMTV reported on Monday that the temperature suddenly climbed to over 21 degrees Celsius on April 6, before dropping again immediately. The market resolved with the winner taking over $16,000.
Meanwhile, blockchain analytics tool Bubblemaps reported a similar glitch for the April 15 market. The weather station showed 18 degrees Celsius most of the day, then suddenly spiked to 22 degrees Celsius before dropping back.
Some have questioned whether foul play was involved. Prediction markets are already facing growing scrutiny over insider trading and possible violations of gambling laws.
“That spike didn't show on nearby stations,” Bubblemaps analysts said, adding that “Just before the spike, one trader started buying NO shares on \"18°C,” before exiting with over $21,000.
Ruben Hallali, a meteorologist, told BFMTV the temperature glitch was unlikely to be a natural event and speculated it may have been tampered with onsite.
Related: Charles Schwab, Citadel Securities are eying prediction markets
“Such temperature variations seem very unlikely, especially on these two dates, and over such a short period. We can imagine that an individual with a good understanding of how the sensors work intervened, resulting in temperatures rising by two degrees at the right time, to validate a bet,” he added.
Météo France, the official government weather agency of France, has reportedly made a complaint with the police unit, the Roissy Air Transport Gendarmerie Brigade, for alleged tampering with the operation of its automated data processing systems.
Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Two Polymarket accounts made over $37,000 betting on Paris temperature markets after a suspected weather station glitch caused sudden spikes.", "published": "2026-04-23T08:23:22+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "france" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "technology" }, { "slug": "predictions" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "suspicion-rises-after-polymarket-traders-win-37k-on-paris-weather-data-glitch", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263752" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Crypto sentiment index soars to a 3-month high as Bitcoin holds $77K", "leadText": "Despite the rise, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index score remains stuck in the “Fear” zone, where it has been since Jan. 18.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "A crypto market sentiment index has risen to its highest level in over three months on Wednesday after Bitcoin rallied nearly 6% to within striking distance of $80,000.
The Alternative.me Crypto Fear & Greed Index rose 14 points to 46 out of 100, its highest level since Jan. 18 and its largest single-day gain in more than three months.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db8e5-a26c-7186-ac45-cd59246d0a49.png\")
While still in the “Fear” zone, the current reading marks a sharp rebound from the all-time low of 5 recorded on Feb. 23 after the Trump administration imposed a 15% global tariff, sending Bitcoin (BTC) down to about $63,000.
The crypto sentiment index has been stuck in the Fear zone since Jan. 18. This has come despite continued institutional crypto adoption on Wall Street and a crypto-friendly regulatory agenda in Washington.
However, Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan and others have noted that retail traders haven’t shown up in the same numbers as previous market cycles.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index score incorporates metrics such as social media posts and Google search volume related to crypto, which are mostly retail-driven metrics.
Bitcoin rose 5.9% to nearly $79,400 over a 20-hour period on Wednesday but has since cooled to $77,920, according to CoinGecko data.
In a post to X on Wednesday, CryptoQuant’s head of research, Julio Moreno, said Bitcoin’s rally was “completely driven by demand” in the perpetual futures market.
However, he noted that spot demand has been contracting, albeit at a slow pace, and warned that a market correction could arise if traders start taking profits as spot demand continues to contract.
Related: LONGITUDE recap: Adam Back on Satoshi, crypto regulation needs tweaks
In a separate X post, CryptoQuant noted that over 300,000 Bitcoin have moved into long-term holder wallets over the last 30 days, while shorter-term holders have offloaded the cryptocurrency.
“Bitcoin supply is moving into stronger hands,” CryptoQuant said, noting that Strategy has scooped up 53,000 Bitcoin alone in the last month.
Bitcoin’s rise toward $80,000 has come despite continued uncertainty in the Middle East, with the US and Iran struggling to reach a resolution over management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Magazine: Ripple joins Singapore sandbox, Bhutan’s big Bitcoin selloff: Asia Express
Tech giant Apple has fixed a security flaw that had allowed the FBI to access a Signal user’s deleted messages through their phone’s push notification database, despite the app being deleted and messages being set to disappear.
In a security advisory released on Wednesday, Apple said it had fixed a bug that allowed “notifications marked for deletion” to be “unexpectedly retained on the device.”
In an X post on Wednesday, Signal said the update fixed the issue that made a user’s messages retrievable by law enforcement.
\"Apple's advisory confirmed that the bugs that allowed this to happen have been fixed in the latest iOS release,\" Signal said.
Signal uses end-to-end encryption to secure messages between its users. The bug is a reminder that messaging encryption may not be enough to keep data protected when using certain devices or operating systems.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db8dc-b2b5-719d-b7fc-964e04a31468.png\")
This security flaw was first highlighted by independent technology news website 404 Media, which reported on April 9 that documents recently unsealed in Texas federal court related to an FBI case over an attack on the Prairieland ICE Detention Facility last July.
The court proceedings showed that the FBI was able to forensically extract a defendant's Signal messages from the iPhone's notification database, which contained cached, readable previews of incoming Signal messages even after disappearing messages were enabled and the app was deleted.
Related: X rolls out smart cashtags in US, Canada in step toward ‘everything app’
Following the 404 Media report, Signal President Meredith Whittaker called on Apple to quickly fix the issue, noting in an April 14 X post that \"notifications for deleted messages shouldn't remain in any OS notification database.\"
Pavel Durov, the co-founder of competing privacy messaging app Telegram, also commented on the report, arguing in an April 14 Telegram post that the only way to truly stay safe was for the app to \"force an absence of notification previews\" on both ends of a conversation.
Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Apple issued a patch after court documents revealed that the FBI accessed a defendant's encrypted Signal messages via notification previews.", "published": "2026-04-23T07:05:30+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "fbi" }, { "slug": "privacy" }, { "slug": "telegram" }, { "slug": "encryption" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "apple-fixes-bug-fbi-read-encrypted-messages-signal-via-notifications", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263737" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Blockchain Capital is raising $700M for 2 new funds: Report", "leadText": "The new funding rounds are expected to be completed in the next six months, but the firm has already begun deploying some of the new capital, according to a person familiar with the matter.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Crypto-focused venture capital firm Blockchain Capital is in the process of raising another $700 million for two new funds, according to Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The firm is raising capital for its seventh early-stage fund aimed at experimental or early-stage projects as well as a second growth fund, which covers more mature companies that already have some traction, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Blockchain Capital previously raised a total of $1 billion for crypto investments, the source said. The new funding rounds are expected to be completed in the next six months, but the firm has already begun deploying some of the new capital.
Venture capital funds are responsible for investing in crypto startups. Blockchain Capital has more than $2 billion in assets under management and has invested in crypto exchanges Kraken and Coinbase, and stablecoin issuers Circle and Tether.
Cointelegraph has contacted Blockchain Capital for comment.
Despite a crypto market slump, the average crypto funding deal size is up nearly 50% over the last 30 days, according to market intelligence platform Messari.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db8d2-e192-78dc-9ae8-2ea001e7e8a1.png\")
However, crypto projects have raised only $466 million so far in April, down from $3 billion in March, with Bitcoin miner and artificial intelligence infrastructure company Core Scientific's $1 billion debt financing through investment bank Morgan Stanley the largest deal of the month.
“Capital concentration is heavily skewed by debt and late-stage mega-rounds, masking a more modest median deal size,” Messari analysts said.
“While total capital inflows were bolstered by massive transactions like Core Scientific’s $1 billion post-IPO debt financing and Polymarket’s $600 million undisclosed round, the majority of activity remains in the sub-$10 million range,” they added.
Related: Switzerland’s Crypto Valley funding rose 37% in 2025 as TON led deals
Monthly crypto fundraising has also cooled significantly since its peaks in November 2021 and May 2022, when funding consistently exceeded $4 billion per month.
However, according to Messari, institutional infrastructure and fintech-adjacent crypto services such as financial platform Slash and cross-border payment company OpenFx are still attracting high-value raises, with capital flowing toward platforms that bridge traditional finance and digital assets.
Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Crypto venture capital firm Blockchain Capital is reportedly raising $700 million for two new funds, according to a person familiar with the matter.", "published": "2026-04-23T06:54:02+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "venture-capital" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "blockchain-capital-raises-700-million-crypto-funds", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263732" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Ether taker volume rises by 72% as traders target ETH liquidity gap at $2.6K", "leadText": "ETH derivatives show strong buyer dominance, leading traders to target $2,500 to $2,600 as the next crucial rally.", "author": { "slug": "biraajmaan-tamuly" }, "bodyText": "Ether (ETH) futures on Binance have risen to a near two-month high as aggressive buyers stepped into the market over the past week. Buy-taker volume rose above $5 billion, and the current setup suggests the ETH rally is poised to continue.
On Binance, the 24-hour cumulative net taker volume reached $5.5 billion, rising 72% from $3.2 billion earlier in the month. The metric tracks the difference between market buy and sell orders, indicating who is driving price action.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5f0-96da-7353-85a8-13b1924660f7.png\")
The 30-day average has stayed positive since March 1, returning to levels last seen in July 2022. The positive readings point to consistent buyer aggression.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5ef-c019-74d7-87d9-240432bd5308.png\")
Crypto analyst Amr Taha explained that when the buying spikes near local highs, it signals stronger conviction from participants. The sustained demand of this kind often keeps buyers in control of the short-term price direction.
Related: The quantum gap: Why Bitcoin and Ethereum are taking different paths on security
The ETH price is compressing under the $2,400 level, a resistance that has been tested three times since Feb. 6. Each rejection has reduced the density of the overhead sell orders. A clean move above this level exposes the $2,475–$2,634 range, where a daily fair-value gap lies.
The gap formed during February’s sell-off marks an area where price moved quickly, leaving unfilled orders. ETH's price may revisit these zones to rebalance flows as the momentum builds.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5f1-d693-79d7-884e-7a845cea8b89.png\")
Ether is also attempting to reclaim the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA), a level associated with trend-continuation phases. The stability above this trend would reinforce the upward rally. The 200-day EMA is drifting toward the upper end of the imbalance zone near $2,634, creating a technical overlap with liquidity.
The derivatives positioning adds context. The futures cumulative volume delta (CVD) continues to climb toward $12.6 billion, while funding rates remain near neutral.
This indicates leverage has not expanded aggressively alongside price. The balance between buyers’ demand and measured leverage keeps the $2,475–$2,634 zone in focus as a near-term liquidity cluster.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5f1-3869-7f6d-a834-9b7077b1a288.png\")
Related: Singapore’s OCBC launches tokenized gold fund on Ethereum and Solana
", "description": "Ether derivatives data show a sharp rise in aggressive buying, with taker volume exceeding $5 billion.", "published": "2026-04-23T05:47:21+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "binance" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "futures" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "altcoin-watch" } ], "slug": "ether-taker-volume-rises-by-72percent-as-traders-target-eth-liquidity-gap-at-dollar2-6k", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Altcoin Watch" } ] }, "id": "263727" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Market maker GSR launches first ETF tracking Bitcoin, Ether and Solana", "leadText": "The GSR Crypto Core3 ETF is GSR's first crypto exchange-traded product, giving investors access to the top three largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "Institutional crypto trading platform GSR launched its first crypto exchange-traded fund on Wednesday, recording nearly $5 million in trading volume on its first trading day.
The GSR Crypto Core3 ETF (BESO) tracks the spot price of Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL) and offers staking rewards, GSR said in a statement on Wednesday.
In a separate post on X, GSR said it will be adopting a “dynamic allocation strategy” to optimize returns for the fund, which carries a 1% management fee.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db89e-7406-7b00-ba46-6e952e6b8c49.png\")
BESO saw 185,574 shares traded worth about $4.8 million on its opening day, Nasdaq data shows. The fund closed at $26.04 but rose to $33 in after-hours trading.
GSR’s market entry coincides with a wave of Wall Street firms that have recently launched or signaled their intention to launch a crypto ETF.
Among them is investment bank Morgan Stanley, which launched a spot Bitcoin ETF on April 8 that has already attracted $163.8 million in net inflows.
On April 14, Goldman Sachs filed for a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, enabling investors to earn passive income while still benefiting from potential price appreciation in Bitcoin.
GSR was founded by former Goldman Sachs traders Cristian Gil and Richard Rosenblum in 2013, making it one of the most established crypto market-making platforms in the industry.
Related: Charles Schwab to roll out spot Bitcoin, Ether trading for retail clients
GSR CEO Xin Song said the company expanded into the crypto ETF market to make its services available to a broader range of investors, adding:
“Our ETF strategy reflects our deep understanding of how this asset class is evolving.”
GSR said allocations between Bitcoin, Ether and Solana for BESO will be rebalanced weekly based on “research-driven signals designed to pursue additional returns.“
GSR published a model portfolio analysis on Wednesday showing an optimized allocation between the cryptocurrencies, with Ether and Solana dominating at 51.4% and 41.67% respectively, while Bitcoin holds a smaller position at 6.93%.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "Crypto liquidity provider GSR launched its first crypto ETF on Wednesday, an actively managed multi-asset fund that recorded nearly $5 million in trading volume on its debut.", "published": "2026-04-23T05:46:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrency-investment" }, { "slug": "liquidity" }, { "slug": "etf" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "crypto-market-maker-gsr-launched-multi-asset-etf", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263722" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Phishing, deepfakes, supply chain attacks to fuel 2026's biggest crypto hacks: CertiK", "leadText": "CertiK has urged crypto users not to overlook basic security practices as major crypto hacks spiked in April.", "author": { "slug": "ciaran-lyons" }, "bodyText": "Real-time deepfakes, phishing attacks, supply chain compromises and cross-chain vulnerabilities will likely be the root of some of the biggest hacks in 2026, according to CertiK senior blockchain investigator Natalie Newson.
The industry has already lost over $600 million to hacks in 2026, due largely to two North Korea-linked crypto thefts in April, including the $293 million Kelp DAO exploit on Saturday involving a single point-of-trust failure in cross-chain messaging protocol LayerZero’s infrastructure, and the $280 million exploit of the Drift Protocol.
Another DPRK-linked attack involved the use of AI for social engineering. Crypto wallet Zerion revealed on April 15 that North Korean-affiliated hackers used AI in a long-term social engineering attack to steal about $100,000 from the company’s hot wallets.
Newson warned that, in “some aspects,” the acceleration of AI will only worsen crypto attacks.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db885-b397-7cc5-bd92-cc77d91a6612.png%3Fprefix%3Dmedia%252Fcontent\")
“The best way for investors to protect themselves is to be aware of the current threats they may face... For instance, to protect yourself against phishing, always verify the authenticity of URLs and smart contracts,” Newson said.
Newson said that as exploits become more sophisticated, retail investors should explore storage options outside of crypto exchanges.
“Using cold wallets can help keep assets that you don’t use regularly safe and allows you to sign transactions without ever exposing your private keys,” she said.
“There are now more convincing deepfakes, autonomous attack agents, and ‘agentic AI’ that can autonomously scan smart contracts for bugs, draft exploit code and execute attacks at machine speed,\" she said.
On April 6, Cointelegraph reported that a threat actor known as “Jinkusu” was allegedly selling cybercrime tools designed to bypass Know Your Customer (KYC) checks at banks and crypto platforms, using deepfakes and voice manipulation.
“At the same time, AI can also be one of the biggest defenses,” said Newson.
Cointelegraph recently reported that an increase in AI use has led to a flood of bug bounty submissions, both valid and invalid. Anthropic’s AI model Claude Mythos, claimed to have the ability to find vulnerabilities in major operating systems, has been deployed defensively with a release to a limited set of tech firms.
CertiK shared with Cointelegraph in December 2025 that crypto hackers stole $3.3 billion in 2025.
The company said supply-chain breaches emerged as the most damaging threat, accounting for $1.45 billion in losses across just two incidents, including the $1.4 billion Bybit hack in February 2025.
Related: Telegram CEO Durov warns EU age-verification app could enable wider tracking
\"The Bybit exploit signals that well-capitalized, well-coordinated threat actors are becoming more active across the ecosystem,\" the report said, predicting a rise in the “sophistication” of supply chain attacks as attackers target more infrastructure providers.
Regulators are responding. On April 9, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection (OCCIP) announced on Thursday that it is expanding its cybersecurity threat identification program to include digital asset companies.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "CertiK’s senior blockchain investigator says real-time deepfakes, supply chain compromises and cross-chain vulnerabilities will dominate crypto exploits in 2026.", "published": "2026-04-23T05:11:58+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "phishing-deepfakes-supply-chain-attacks-to-fuel-2026-s-biggest-crypto-hacks-certik", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263717" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Kalshi bans 3 US politicians for betting on their own election races", "leadText": "Matt Klein, a sitting member of the Minnesota State Senate, said he made a bet out of curiosity, while Mark Moran claimed he wanted to see how Kalshi responds to insider trading activity.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Two US congressional candidates and one sitting lawmaker have received fines and bans from Kalshi after they were found betting on the outcomes of their election races, as prediction market platforms crack down on insider trading.
Matt Klein, a sitting member of the Minnesota State Senate, was fined $539 for betting on his primary race in his bid for the US House of Representatives, which is set to take place in August. Ezekiel Enriquez, who ran for a US House seat in March, received a $784 penalty, according to Kalshi's notice of settlement.
Another case involved Mark Moran, a candidate in Virginia's US Senate race, who received a $6,229 penalty and was ordered to return any profits from his trades after allegedly refusing to cooperate with Kalshi to resolve the issue. All three were banned from the platform for five years.
Prediction markets, which let users trade contracts on the outcomes of future events, have faced growing scrutiny over insider trading and possible violations of gambling laws. Kalshi and Polymarket, the two largest platforms, have pledged to introduce stricter controls and crack down on unlawful activity.
Moran said in a statement on X that he placed his wager to test Kalshi's procedures and see how the platform would respond to insider trading.
“YES, I did bet ~$100 on myself on Kalshi because I wanted to get caught,” he said, adding that he “wanted to see (1) if Kalshi would come after me and (2) what their path would be.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db827-3dfe-7053-aad4-728b760cefb0.png\")
Klein said in a statement that he placed the wager out of curiosity about how prediction markets worked, but later learned it violated platform rules.
“In compliance with their request, I paid a penalty and agreed to be suspended from the platform. That was the only wager I have ever made on a predictions market,” he added.
Klein is a co-sponsor of a bill in the Minnesota Legislature that aims to ban wagers on the outcomes of real-world events such as elections or policy decisions.
Cointelegraph was unable to reach Ezekiel Enriquez for comment.
Bobby DeNault, Kalshi's head of enforcement, said Tuesday these cases violated Kalshi's exchange rules but didn't warrant referral to the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Department of Justice for further investigation and prosecution.
Related: Charles Schwab, Citadel Securities are eying prediction markets
“Regardless of the size of a trade, political candidates who can influence a market based on whether they stay in or out of a race violate our rules. No matter how small the size of the trade, any trade that is found to have violated our exchange rules will be punished,” he added.
The platform issued a $2,000 fine and a five-year ban in February to a former California gubernatorial contender for betting on his own candidacy last year.
Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Kalshi has banned and fined two US congressional candidates and one sitting lawmaker for betting on the outcomes of their own political races.", "published": "2026-04-23T03:38:19+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "politics" }, { "slug": "technology" }, { "slug": "predictions" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "kalshi-bans-us-candidates-election-betting-insider-trading", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263712" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "New York, Illinois sign EOs banning state employees from prediction markets", "leadText": "New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized the Trump administration for not implementing any “meaningful ethical standards” to curb insider trading in prediction markets.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order banning state employees from betting on prediction markets, following a similar move by Illinois earlier this week.
“Getting rich by betting on inside information is corruption, plain and simple,” Hochul said on Wednesday, adding: “Our actions will ensure that public servants work for the people they represent, not their own personal enrichment.”
Hochul also slammed the Trump administration and congressional Republicans for allowing an “ethical Wild West” to take hold around prediction markets without implementing any “meaningful ethical standards” to protect against insider trading.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db802-0b09-769f-a252-5c839a0fb3e7.png\")
Adoption in prediction markets is rapidly accelerating, with monthly trading volumes rising over the last seven consecutive months to an all-time high of $23.6 billion in March, with markets covering everything from sports and elections to financial results and cultural outcomes.
However, the rise has been accompanied by increasing concerns about insider trading and market manipulation.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also signed an EO banning state employees from betting on prediction markets on Tuesday, stating:
“Illinois is doubling down on its commitment to a transparent and ethical government by bolstering its current state laws to prevent insider trading amid the rapid growth of online prediction markets and event-based gambling contracts.”
Hochul’s EO made reference to several suspected insider trading instances involving US military action.
One of them was a Polymarket trader who placed a low-odds bet that Nicolás Maduro would be ousted as Venezuelan president just hours before he was captured by US forces, profiting around $400,000.
Another related to suspicious trades placed on the invasion of Iran and the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, in late February.
Hochul’s EO stated that any violation may result in dismissal and law enforcement action, and also noted that New York state employees and officers cannot assist others in profiting on confidential information through prediction markets.
Prediction markets, meanwhile, have been fighting potential insider traders their own way.
In February, Kalshi said it banned a former contender for governor of California after he had bet $200 on his own candidacy last year.
Kalshi did not name the politician. However, details in the enforcement summary align with public posts by Kyle Langford, a former Republican turned Democrat who is now running for election to the US House representing California’s 26th Congressional District.
Related: Charles Schwab, Citadel Securities are eying prediction markets
The latest EO adds to a wave of action from US states to attempt to police prediction markets.
The New York State Gaming Commission sent prediction market platform Kalshi a cease-and-desist letter in October for illegally operating an unlicensed mobile sports wagering platform in the state.
Kalshi is also engaged in a court battle with the Nevada Gaming Control Board after a lower court temporarily blocked Kalshi from operating in the state, with the regulator arguing that Kalshi’s contracts facilitate unlicensed gambling.
Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal has predicted that the case could reach the US Supreme Court, potentially creating precedent over the regulatory treatment of prediction markets and event-based derivatives.
Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order banning state employees from prediction market betting to curb insider trading, following a similar move by Illinois earlier this week.", "published": "2026-04-23T02:53:56+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "new-york-state" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "new-york-illinois-sign-executive-order-banning-official-from-prediction-markets", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263707" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "LONGITUDE recap: Adam Back on Satoshi, crypto regulation needs tweaks", "leadText": "Blockstream’s Adam Back discusses why people think he’s Satoshi Nakamoto, while the CEO of OKX Europe said MiCA is “extremely beneficial” for the industry at the latest LONGITUDE event in Paris.", "author": { "slug": "ciaran-lyons" }, "bodyText": "Blockstream CEO Adam Back, the British cryptographer and inventor of Hashcash, said it’s “flattering” that people think he’s Satoshi Nakamoto and was probably the result of his being a little too “talkative” on the cypherpunk mailing list that started it all.
Back was speaking in a fireside chat with Cointelegraph at the recent LONGITUDE event in Paris, co-hosted by crypto exchange OKX, with discussions centered on crypto regulation, market structure and the growth of stablecoins.
“It is flattering in some sense that they think you could have done it,” Back told Cointelegraph, reflecting on the widely publicized New York Times article on April 8 that suggested he is Satoshi, a claim he has denied.
Back said there is a logical reason people think he’s Bitcoin’s creator. “The problem for me is I was very talkative on the mailing list,” he said, referring to the 1992 Cryptography Mailing List, where Satoshi later introduced the Bitcoin white paper in October 2008.
“So anytime anyone was talking about electronic cash, I was right there, I was the reply guy with something to say about it,” he said.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db7bc-f65c-78f3-a4bf-9bdddb8ae32f.jpeg%3Fprefix%3Dmedia%252Fcontent\")
Back said the mystery behind Satoshi is an “interesting question” that he and others in the industry have pondered but never answered.
Prior to the fireside with Back, the event also featured three panels covering the role of traditional financial institutions in Web3, the need for clearer regulation and the pace of stablecoin adoption, alongside a separate fireside chat with OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos.
Crypto industry executives said recent moves to regulate the industry have been positive for improved clarity, but regulatory fragmentation and overregulation could hurt innovation.
In an onstage interview, Ghoos shed light on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, a framework with which OKX Europe was deemed fully compliant in January 2025.
“I think MiCA is extremely beneficial for the industry,” Ghoos said, explaining that it has helped to build trust in crypto.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db7bd-3d40-7777-bd53-c1a0222b3f6a.jpeg%3Fprefix%3Dmedia%252Fcontent\")
“Now it is a fully regulated asset class, which is very important,” Ghoos said, adding that industry participants will be “vetted and held up to the highest standards.”
However, he warned that the “regulatory burden” could slow innovation across Europe.
“Right now, because there is such a big and heavy regulatory overhead for startups, I do fear even more that the innovation and the great entrepreneurship that we have in Europe will start to shift to other jurisdictions around the world,” he said.
CertiK CEO Ronghui Gu said the lack of a unified global framework is a pain point for the industry.
“For developers, for crypto companies in different regions, they are still under different compliance frameworks,” Gu said.
Commenting on the proposed US CLARITY Act, which has been delayed largely because of unresolved issues around stablecoin yields impact on the banking system, Gu said that while the bill aims to bring structure, “many terms are not that clear to be honest, and a little bit vague.”
“I think different firms have different interpretations and so on,” he added.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db7bd-6a72-731f-ac61-1a1ea25656de.jpeg%3Fprefix%3Dmedia%252Fcontent\")
“But I would say it definitely gives a much more friendly environment to crypto companies, to developers,” he added.
Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard said he is “very confident” the CLARITY Act will pass soon, adding: “You feel the vibration from the policymakers saying we are going to adopt this,” he said.
“They are super stoked about it,” Gregaard added.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db7bd-9aab-75b2-8cfc-c5c0038d49cf.jpeg%3Fprefix%3Dmedia%252Fcontent\")
“When this passes, from the non-TradFi adoption, you are going to see 100X,” Gregaard said, arguing that “classical industries” have been waiting for clarity before embracing the technology.
US Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said on Monday that he does not expect the Senate Banking Committee to mark up the legislation, also known as the CLARITY Act, in April and has recommended that Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott schedule it for next month.
Mastercard's senior vice president for blockchain and digital assets, Christian Rau, said that stablecoins are “very well suited for payment purposes” during a panel with Stella Development Foundation chief business officer Raja Chakravorti and Ethereum Foundation enterprise lead Matthew Dawson.
“They don’t come with the volatility of other digital assets, given that they enjoy regulatory clarity in a lot of the world,” Rau said.
Rau said the traditional payments industry does a “good job of almost faking real-time payments.”
“When I tap my card, it says transaction approved or payment made…it’s authorization, clearing, and settlement,” he said.
“A lot of the things that work arguably very well today, they still come with time delays, costs, and so forth,” he added.
Related: How Mastercard plans to settle card payments with stablecoins
Meanwhile, Stella Foundation’s Chakravorti pointed to the roughly $317 billion in stablecoin circulation, which is up about 50% from last year, adding that he is starting to see some short-term cooling.
“Although to be clear, over the last two quarters, that’s started to slow down a little bit,” calling it a positive sign as it suggests parts of the underlying infrastructure are starting to mature.
“I think this next transition is local stablecoins, because people are now very focused on creating that opportunity in their economy as super important,” he said.
Chakravorti pointed to the “last mile” as one of the biggest hurdles for adoption, referring to the challenge of turning digital assets into something “workable” inside local financial systems.
“I think it is the absolute key, ultimately, that is where all the friction lies within this system,” he said.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "Blockstream CEO Adam Back denies he's Satoshi Nakamoto, as crypto leaders at LONGITUDE warn that unclear crypto regulation could slow innovation and adoption.", "published": "2026-04-23T01:30:34+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "longitude-recap-adam-back-on-satoshi-crypto-regulation-needs-tweaks", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263702" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Four reasons why the crypto market is rallying today: Will bulls maintain control?", "leadText": "Bitcoin and Ether surged as US liquidity measures and record spot ETF inflows offset investors’ recession fears and their concerns over the war in Iran.", "author": { "slug": "marcel-pechman" }, "bodyText": "Key takeaways:
US government bailout plans and currency swap lines with the UAE are easing global liquidity fears and lowering credit crisis risks.
Record Bitcoin ETF inflows and rising BTC miner profits suggest strong bullish momentum despite the ongoing war in Iran.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization surged to an 11-week high on Wednesday as Bitcoin (BTC) climbed to $79,000 and Ether (ETH) reached $2,400. The bullish momentum occurred as investors grew more confident that immediate US recession risks were fading, despite sustained high oil prices resulting from the war in Iran.
Traders are now weighing whether Bitcoin and Ether are destined for further gains or if a short-term correction is imminent given that economic recession risks persist.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db704-b0fc-726b-b8c8-912ac714cad4.png\")
The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index reached a record high on Wednesday as traders awaited Tesla (TSLA US) quarterly earnings. Brent crude prices rose 9% over two days after reports indicated Iran targeted two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Elevated energy costs increase the likelihood of economic stimulus, providing a temporary buffer for risk assets.
US President Donald Trump reportedly stated during a CNBC interview that “the federal government should help” Spirit Airlines, a budget carrier that has experienced bankruptcy twice since 2025. The Trump administration previously provided capital to chipmaker Intel (INTC US), utility Southern Company (SO US) and defense contractor L3Harris (LHX US).
Direct US government intervention in private firms and the US Treasury signals that credit lines for allies have eased liquidity concerns. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted Wednesday that both the US and the United Arab Emirates would benefit from a currency swap line intended to “maintain order in the dollar funding markets.”
US allies are facing pressure to sell US bonds to raise dollars for local defense, imports and liquidity amid the collapse of oil revenue and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Potential currency swaps ease these dollar shortages, preventing a spike in US Treasury yields. The overall impact includes lower borrowing costs and a reduced risk of an immediate credit crisis.
Six consecutive days of inflows into US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), totaling $1.54 billion, have likely boosted sentiment. The successful launch of the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT US), which reached $145 million in total net assets in under three weeks, improved Bitcoin’s risk perception despite global socio-economic uncertainty.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db704-b46c-78ff-b401-51d15665dc76.png\")
Related: Bitcoin inflows to Binance fall to 2023 low as BTC bulls set target on $80K
As Bitcoin price neared $79,000, miner profitability hit its highest level since January, according to Luxor’s Hashprice Index.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db704-b952-7fc5-a234-2dc9a8c5efea.png\")
Miners recently gained attention as firms sold significant Bitcoin holdings to fund investments in data centers and AI infrastructure. Examples include MARA Holdings (MARA US), Riot Platforms (RIOT US), Core Scientific (CORZ US) and Cango (CANG US). While higher profitability does not guarantee reduced selling pressure from miners, the bullish momentum creates an incentive to accumulate.
Ultimately, a short-term correlation with US stock markets continues to dictate cryptocurrency trends; therefore, the war in Iran and tech earnings remain decisive for trader sentiment.
As the US government signals that stimulus measures will be used to secure liquidity and address credit concerns, Bitcoin and Ether appear primed to sustain their upward momentum.
", "description": "Bitcoin and Ether rallied as expansionist US monetary policy and a cool-down in the Iran war tensions buoyed investor confidence.", "published": "2026-04-23T01:30:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "nasdaq" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-mining" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "tesla" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-etf" } ], "slug": "four-reasons-why-the-crypto-market-is-rallying-today-will-bulls-maintain-control", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "263697" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin chases monthly high above $80K as nearly all BTC price metrics turn bullish", "leadText": "Bitcoin moves closer to $80,000 as data shows traders positioning in futures markets. Will potential profit-taking in the $83,000 to $88,000 range put a cap on the rally?", "author": { "slug": "biraajmaan-tamuly" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) reached a monthly high of $79,472 on Wednesday, marking its strongest 28-day return since April 2025. The rally aligns with a shift in a market positioning metric and a surge in leverage use.
A combined view of the market positioning metric and open interest shows new positions are being added, potentially influencing BTC’s push toward new highs.
Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. said that the Bitcoin positioning index has turned higher, with its 30-day average rising to 4.5 from -10.9 in February. The indicator blends net taker flow direction, open interest trends, funding and the exchange balance into a single metric.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5b3-df3d-7017-8614-21de7cc1b292.png\")
Its steady climb since late March, from 0.4 to current levels, shows a consistent improvement without breaking the price trend.
The growth in open interest confirms the same trend. The 30-day change stands at +14.5%, with 23 of the past 30 sessions closing positive. The rising positioning alongside expanding open interest signals new capital entering derivatives markets.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5b5-44e7-74f6-80cb-388c3c0a2ca6.png\")
Over the past 24 hours, aggregated open interest rose 6.7% to 260,000 BTC, while leverage declined by 10.7% over the weekend, suggesting recent deleveraging before the latest positioning build.
Related: Bitcoin Bull Score hits six-month high as 2022 bear-market fears linger
Bitcoin has moved above a descending trendline dating back to the October 2025 peak near $126,000 and has reclaimed the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA). This indicates a strong shift in trend from bearish to neutral-to-bullish on the higher time frame.
The $81,000 level now serves as the first test area, with a small fair-value gap indicating a liquidity imbalance, where a price hold would signal that buyers are accepting higher prices.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5b9-3230-732a-8d66-7e8cb80c47f9.png\")
Above that, $88,000 stands as the supply zone tied to prior distribution. The $88,000–$91,000 range stands out as a key supply zone, shaped by a prior distribution phase when large volumes of Bitcoin last changed hands.
Many of those holders are now sitting near break-even or in slight profit, which typically increases activity when the price revisits that area.
Adding to this, the realized price of the three–to-six–month holder cohort sits at $91,600, further reinforcing this zone as a major decision point.
A sustained move through this range would signal strong demand, showing that buyers are absorbing overhead supply and setting the stage for Bitcoin price to move higher.
Crypto analyst Crazzyblockk highlighted a tight range, with the $72,000–$75,000 zone acting as a floor, supported by clusters of realized prices from mid-term holders. A break below this band would push more supply into loss, increasing the risk of reactive selling.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5b8-1d49-7573-8301-16852bad6e17.jpg\")
On the upside, the $83,000–$85,000 marks a profit-taking zone for recent short-term holders. Price strength through this range would signal that buyers are absorbing the supply, allowing momentum to build.
Related: ‘Powerful move’ looms for Bitcoin price, says Bollinger Bands indicator
", "description": "Bitcoin approaches monthly highs as market positioning data and open interest rise together. Is a rally to $88,000 on the cards?", "published": "2026-04-23T00:30:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "derivatives" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-futures" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-chases-monthly-high-above-dollar80k-as-nearly-all-btc-price-metrics-turn-bullish", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Price Analysis" } ] }, "id": "263692" }, { "category": { "slug": "top-10-cryptocurrencies" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Price predictions 4/22: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, XMR", "leadText": "Bitcoin rally above the $78,333 resistance signals sustained buying by the bulls, clearing the path for a potential rally to $84,000.", "author": { "slug": "rakesh-upadhyay" }, "bodyText": "Key points:
Bitcoin’s rise above the $78,333 resistance opens the door for a rally to $84,000.
Several major altcoins are attempting to rise above their resistance levels, signaling aggressive buying at lower levels.
Bitcoin (BTC) rallied above $79,000, indicating that the bulls are back in the game. Crypto market intelligence platform Decode said in a post on X that BTC was ready for a short squeeze, waiting for the bulls to light a fuse in a loaded cannon.
Select analysts expect the current relief rally to pick up strength. CryptoQuant analyst CW8900 said in a post on X that BTC’s adjusted Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL), the difference between total profits and losses currently held by investors, has turned positive. That suggests BTC’s downtrend has ended and the “real rally of this cycle has begun.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-af89-7e06-95aa-6aa7835c1ff1.png\")
The sharp recovery off the $60,000 level has pushed the Bitcoin Bull Score Index (BSI) into neutral territory for the first time since the bear market began. However, there was a word of caution from CryptoQuant contributor Julio Moreno, who said in a post on X that the BSI had entered neutral territory for a week during March 2022 but had resumed its decline later.
Could BTC and select major altcoins extend their recovery? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
BTC turned up from the 20-day exponential moving average ($73,758) on Monday and rose above the $78,333 level on Wednesday, indicating an advantage to the bulls.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-b4b6-7915-882c-30615f4f2d59.png\")
If the BTC price remains above the $78,333 level, the likelihood of a rally to $84,000 increases. Such a move suggests that the BTC/USDT pair may have bottomed out at $60,000.
The 20-day EMA is the critical level to watch out for on the downside. Sellers will have to pull the price below the 20-day EMA to invalidate the bullish setup. The pair may then collapse to the 50-day simple moving average ($70,934).
Ether (ETH) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($2,273) on Monday, indicating a change in sentiment from selling on rallies to buying on dips.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-b93e-78bb-a08c-742e77e89e06.png\")
The upsloping moving averages and the RSI in the positive zone signal that the path of least resistance is to the upside. If buyers clear the $2,465 hurdle, the ETH/USDT pair may surge toward the resistance level and then toward $2,800.
The first sign of weakness will be a break and close below the 20-day EMA. That signals the bulls are booking profits. The ETH price may then slump to the 50-day SMA ($2,157) and later to the support line.
XRP (XRP) turned up from the moving averages on Monday, indicating that the bulls are viewing the dips as a buying opportunity.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-bdb1-7961-b568-d76d10297892.png\")
Buyers will attempt to push the XRP price to the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern, where the bears are expected to sell aggressively. If the price turns sharply down from the downtrend line, it suggests that the XRP/USDT pair may spend more time inside the channel.
Buyers will get back into the driver’s seat if they propel and sustain the price above the downtrend line. The pair may then climb to the $2 level, signaling a short-term trend change.
BNB (BNB) turned up from the 20-day EMA ($623) on Monday and rose above the $649 resistance on Wednesday.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-c11e-75d4-b1d8-2181621f3aea.png\")
If buyers sustain the price above $649, the BNB/USDT pair may surge toward $687. Sellers are expected to mount a strong defense at $687, but if the bulls pierce the resistance, the recovery may extend to $790.
On the other hand, if the BNB price turns sharply lower from the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests the pair may remain within the $687 to $570 range for a while longer.
Solana (SOL) continues to trade near the moving averages, indicating a balance between supply and demand.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-c64c-7b3e-81f8-64de0e38687f.png\")
If the price rises above $91, the SOL/USDT pair may climb to the overhead resistance at $98. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the $98 level, but if the bulls prevail, the uptrend may reach $117.
Alternatively, if the SOL price turns down from the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the range-bound action may extend for a few more days.
Dogecoin (DOGE) turned up from the moving averages on Monday, indicating that the bulls are attempting a comeback.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-cabd-72b4-b237-96aa46ae1282.png\")
The DOGE price may rise to the psychological level of $0.10, where the bears are expected to step in. However, if buyers do not give up much ground to the bears, the prospects of a rally to the $0.12 overhead resistance increase.
Time is running out for the bears. They will have to swiftly pull the price back below the $0.09 level to retain the advantage. If they do that, the DOGE/USDT pair may slump to the Feb. 6 low of $0.08.
Hyperliquid (HYPE) bounced off the 50-day SMA ($38.41) on Tuesday, indicating that the bulls are buying the dips.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-ce19-79ef-9f6a-62dcfc317b05.png\")
The 20-day EMA ($40.90) is flattening, and the RSI is near the midpoint, indicating weakening bullish momentum. That increases the likelihood of a range formation in the near term.
The 50-day SMA is the crucial support to watch out for on the downside, as a close below it may deepen the pullback to $34.45. On the upside, bulls will need to push the HYPE/USDT pair above $45.77 to signal a resumption of the uptrend.
Related: ‘Powerful move’ looms for Bitcoin price, says Bollinger Bands indicator
Cardano (ADA) has risen to the stiff resistance zone between the 50-day SMA ($0.26) and the downtrend line.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-d1ac-760b-a487-a617adba7b90.png\")
If buyers push and sustain the ADA price above the downtrend line, it signals a potential short-term trend change. The ADA/USDT pair may then rally to $0.32, then to $0.37.
On the other hand, if the price turns sharply down from the downtrend line and breaks below the $0.22 level, it suggests the pair may remain within the descending channel for some time.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has broken above the 50-day SMA ($454), indicating solid demand at lower levels.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-d4fe-7fd5-9ac5-9b30bfaf3cd2.png\")
The moving averages are on the verge of a bullish crossover, indicating that the bulls have the upper hand. Buyers will attempt to strengthen their position by pushing the BCH price above the $486 resistance. If they succeed, the BCH/USDT pair may rally to $520.
Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down from the current level or the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may form a range for some time.
Monero (XMR) surged and closed above $382 on Tuesday, but bulls are struggling to sustain the gains.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5be-d860-79de-8289-ebfb3ffe679c.png\")
If the price remains above the $382 level, the XMR/USDT pair may initiate a new uptrend toward the pattern's target of $462.
Contrary to this assumption, if the XMR price closes below $382, it suggests that the bears are selling on rallies. The pair may then pull back to the moving averages, which are likely to act as strong support. If the price rebounds off the moving averages, the bulls will again attempt to initiate the uptrend.
", "description": "Bitcoin’s rally toward the $80,000 resistance level may signal that the bear market is ending. Will altcoins follow?", "published": "2026-04-22T23:37:05+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "dogecoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "xrp" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "monero" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-cash" }, { "slug": "cardano" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "solana" }, { "slug": "bnb" } ], "slug": "price-predictions-4-22-btc-eth-xrp-bnb-sol-doge-hype-ada-bch-xmr", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Price Analysis" } ] }, "id": "263687" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Sam Bankman-Fried pulls motion for a new trial, still asks for new judge", "leadText": "The ex-FTX CEO said he consulted with his parents and lawyers regarding a recent filing he sent from prison, but claimed to be the ”ultimate author of the documents.”", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, serving a 25-year sentence for his role in misusing user funds at the crypto exchange, has dropped a motion in federal court requesting a new trial for his criminal case, but still has a pending appeal of his conviction and sentence.
In a Wednesday filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Bankman-Fried responded to a March 23 letter from Judge Lewis Kaplan ordering the former FTX CEO to answer whether he received any assistance from lawyers for a pro se motion — a filing on his own behalf without an attorney. Kaplan’s order followed US prosecutors raising doubts whether the convicted company founder filed for an extension of his request for a new trial by himself in March, just a few days after his mother, Barbara Fried, though lacking standing, sent a letter to the court on her son’s behalf.
“I am the author of this letter, but did consult with my parents about it, since it concerns both of them,” said Bankman-Fried, referring to an extension to file for a Rule 33 motion for a new trial, adding:
“As I have had to focus on responding to these questions rather than drafting a response to the prosecution's opposition, and because I do not believe I will get a fair hearing on this topic in front of you, I am now requesting to withdraw the Rule 33 motion, without prejudice to renewing it after my direct appeal and the related request for reassignment have been ruled upon.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db6f7-6648-736d-afe9-29facc555ccd.png\")
Bankman-Fried requested in February that a different judge rule on his motion for a new trial, claiming that Kaplan showed “extreme prejudice.” He also awaits a decision on his appeal of his conviction and sentence in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Neither filing was apparently affected by Bankman-Fried’s letter, posted to the public docket on Wednesday.
Related: Interview with SBF’s parents drops chance of pardon on betting markets
Bankman-Fried, known as SBF, was once the CEO of one of the largest crypto exchanges globally before he was convicted of fraud and charges related to his misuse of customer funds in 2023 and later sentenced to 25 years in prison. As of Wednesday, he was housed at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc I, in California.
Following his incarceration, the former FTX CEO has made several public statements through interviews and his social media accounts signaling plans to apply for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
His request for a new trial included claims that former US President Joe Biden's Justice Department “threatened multiple witnesses into silence or into changing their testimony“ at his criminal trial. He has also posted to X praising Trump's crypto policies and the president's military actions in Iran.
In a January New York Times interview, Trump said that he had no intention of pardoning the convicted former FTX CEO.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
", "description": "Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, was forced to respond to a federal judge under penalty of perjury regarding a recent pro se filing related to his request for a new criminal trial.", "published": "2026-04-22T22:52:15+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "court" }, { "slug": "crimes" }, { "slug": "sam-bankman-fried" }, { "slug": "ftx" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "sam-bankman-fried-withdraws-motion-new-trial-new-judge", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263682" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Here’s what happened in crypto today", "leadText": "Need to know what happened in crypto today? Here is the latest news on daily trends and events impacting Bitcoin price, blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, Web3 and crypto regulation.", "author": { "slug": "cointelegraph" }, "bodyText": "Today in crypto, CertiK warns of four attack vectors that will likely drive the lion’s share of crypto hacks this year. Kraken calls for two key changes to US tax law affecting crypto users to eliminate millions of unnecessary forms and the UK Financial Conduct Authority has raided eight locations suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading.
Real-time deepfakes, phishing attacks, supply chain compromises and cross-chain vulnerabilities will likely be the root of some of the biggest hacks in 2026, according to CertiK senior blockchain investigator Natalie Newson.
The industry has already lost over $600 million to hacks in 2026, due largely to two North Korea-linked crypto thefts in April, including the $293 million Kelp DAO exploit on Saturday involving a single point-of-trust failure in cross-chain messaging protocol LayerZero’s infrastructure, and the $280 million exploit of the Drift Protocol.
Another DPRK-linked attack involved the use of AI for social engineering. Crypto wallet Zerion revealed on April 15 that North Korean-affiliated hackers used AI in a long-term social engineering attack to steal about $100,000 from the company’s hot wallets.
Newson warned that, in “some aspects,” the acceleration of AI will only worsen crypto attacks.
Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken called for a change in US tax policy after reporting millions of cases of transactions “worth less than $1” as part of its reporting requirements for 2025.
In a Wednesday blog post, Kraken said it issued more than 56 million tax forms — 1099-DAs — to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2025 as now required by law. However, the exchange said that about 18.5 million of those forms were for transactions under $1, with about 28 million for $10 or less and 75% under $50.
In an effort to “eliminate millions of unnecessary forms,” the exchange called for a de minimis exemption for taxes to exclude “small, routine digital asset payments from capital gains reporting.” It similarly advocated for an end to “phantom” income derived from staking cryptocurrencies, requiring holders to “owe taxes on value they have not realized” by not selling their staking rewards.
“This is not about helping crypto companies,” said Kraken about its recommendations. “It is about 55 million Americans, spanning every state, age bracket and industry, who are navigating a tax system designed before digital assets existed. Congress should act to make taxpayers’ lives easier.”
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5fd-89e4-7a53-a086-ae90b05e67b5.png\")
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has raided multiple sites suspected of running illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading operations.
The financial services and markets watchdog said Wednesday that it worked alongside HM Revenue & Customs and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit to inspect eight locations linked to illegal crypto trading. Officials issued cease-and-desist notices on site, ordering operators to halt activity immediately, while gathering evidence tied to ongoing criminal investigations.
“Unregistered peer-to-peer crypto traders operating in the UK are doing so illegally and pose a financial crime risk,” Steve Smart, the FCA’s executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said.
P2P crypto trading allows individuals to buy and sell digital assets directly, bypassing centralized exchanges. In the UK, such activity requires registration under anti-money laundering rules. The FCA said no peer-to-peer crypto traders or platforms are currently registered with the regulator.
The raids mark the FCA’s first operation of this kind focused on P2P crypto trading, but follow a series of enforcement steps against the sector. Previous actions include prosecutions tied to illegal crypto ATM networks and arrests linked to unlicensed exchanges.
", "description": "Today in crypto, CertiK flags phishing and deepfakes as top 2026 risks, Kraken urges crypto tax reform to cut filings, and the UK raids illegal peer-to-peer trading sites.", "published": "2026-04-22T22:28:43+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "p2p" }, { "slug": "sec" }, { "slug": "gemini" }, { "slug": "new-york" }, { "slug": "united-kingdom" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "justin-sun" }, { "slug": "governance-token" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "what-happened-in-crypto-today", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "110589" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "PUSD stablecoin deploys on ADI Chain, targeting $3T Islamic finance market", "leadText": "The Shariah-compliant stablecoin backed by Gulf currencies expands to a new Layer 2 network aimed at institutional settlement in the Middle East.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "PUSD, a Shariah-compliant stablecoin backed by Gulf currencies, is set to deploy on ADI Chain, a Layer 2 network focused on institutional settlement in the Middle East.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the stablecoin has about $2.3 billion in circulation and is backed 1:1 by reserves held in Saudi riyals and UAE dirhams, which are pegged to the US dollar.
It is already available on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana and Tron, with ADI Chain marking its latest integration. The stablecoin is positioned to provide access to Islamic finance markets, which represent more than $3 trillion in assets globally, according to the announcement from the ADI Foundation.
ADI Chain is the settlement layer for a dirham-backed stablecoin initiated by International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank and licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, according to the announcement.
The addition of PUSD introduces a second stablecoin to the network, allowing institutions to settle transactions using either a dollar-linked asset or a dirham-denominated token on the same infrastructure.
Transactions on the network require its native token for fees and are expected to support settlement across corridors linking the Gulf, the Middle East and parts of Africa.
PUSD is issued by Palm Azgar Finance and is designed for institutional use, including corporate treasuries, exchanges and payment processors.
Related: Here’s why crypto is moving to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates has developed a multi-layered regulatory framework for digital assets, with authorities including the Central Bank of the UAE and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) establishing rules for stablecoins and virtual asset providers. Within that framework, dirham-pegged payment tokens are being explored as a way to modernize domestic payments and improve cross-border settlement.
In December, UAE telecom giant e& signed an agreement with Al Maryah Community Bank to test a dirham-pegged stablecoin licensed by the UAE central bank for consumer payments across its digital platforms in an early-stage pilot.
The following month, RAKBank received in-principle approval from the central bank to issue a dirham-backed stablecoin, with the planned token expected to be fully backed 1:1 by reserves held in regulated accounts. The approval is subject to final regulatory and operational conditions before any live issuance.
The push has also expanded to dollar-denominated tokens operating under local rules. In January, Universal Digital launched USDU, a US dollar-backed stablecoin registered by the UAE central bank under its Payment Token Services Regulation, making it the first dollar-denominated token approved for payment use within the framework.
Separately, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority has granted approvals to several crypto firms, including Tether (USDT), Ripple USD and Circle, to operate inside the ADGM's financial zone.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?
", "description": "PUSD, a Shariah-compliant stablecoin backed by Gulf currencies, is deploying on ADI Chain as issuers expand into Islamic finance and regulated digital asset markets in the Middle East.", "published": "2026-04-22T22:11:15+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "uae" }, { "slug": "middle-east" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "pusd-stablecoin-deploys-on-adi-chain-targeting-3t-islamic-finance-market", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263677" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Banking group asks for more time to comment on US stablecoin bill", "leadText": "The letter to four US government agencies said banks needed 60 more days for comment after OCC stablecoin rulemaking had been finalized.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "The American Bankers Association (ABA) has asked US government agencies responsible for regulations related to a stablecoin bill for more time to comment, potentially delaying implementation by as much as two months.
In a Tuesday letter to the US Treasury Department, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the ABA requested the agencies extend the deadline for public comment on rules for the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin payments bill signed into law in July 2025.
The banking group asked for 60 additional days to comment on rulemaking after the issuance of a final rule by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), saying the rules by the other agencies were “substantially dependent” on the outcome of the OCC’s.
“The FDIC has stated explicitly in its [notice] that it ‘has endeavored, in many areas, to align this proposed rule with the OCC's proposed rule, to the extent relevant,’ and specifically invites comment ‘on the extent to which the primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators should further align in their final rules to promote consistency of regulations applicable to all PPSIs subject to the GENIUS Act,’” said the letter. “Meaningful comment on that question is impossible without knowing the final content of the OCC’s rule.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db6aa-d61a-78a8-ace0-602e04453440.png\")
Since being signed into law by US President Donald Trump in July, implementation of the stablecoin bill has moved to agencies like the FDIC and Treasury, which need to finalize regulations. According to the law, the legislation can be enacted 120 days after final regulations are issued or 18 months after enactment, whichever comes first.
Related: UK cracks down on illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading in nationwide raids
In addition to its request related to the GENIUS Act, the ABA is a party to policy debates concerning a crypto market structure bill, which could potentially affect the legal status of stablecoin yield. Last week, the association challenged a report from the White House that claimed banning stablecoin yields would only have a negligible impact on banks.
As of Wednesday, lawmakers in the US Senate had not announced a deal which could allow a separate crypto market structure bill, called the CLARITY Act when it passed the US House of Representatives in July, to move forward.
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis reportedly said on Monday that he recommended Senate Banking Committee leader Tim Scott schedule a markup on the bill in May, potentially pushing back a vote in the full chamber.
Magazine: How to fix insider trading on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "The American Bankers Association asked for 60 additional days to comment on rulemaking for the GENIUS Act after the issuance of a final rule by the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.", "published": "2026-04-22T21:32:17+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "banking-groups-ask-for-more-time-to-comment-on-genius-act-potentially-delaying-implementation", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263672" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Trump-linked American Bitcoin energizes 11,298 new ASICs", "leadText": "American Bitcoin (ABTC) originally purchased the mining rigs in March, weeks after reporting a $59 million loss for Q4 2025.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "American Bitcoin (ABTC), a publicly traded mining company co-founded by United States President Donald Trump’s sons, has completed its energization of 11,298 application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) at its Drumheller site in Alberta, Canada.
Following the acquisition of machines, the company now owns about 89,242 ASICs, the computers used to mine Bitcoin (BTC) and other proof-of-work (PoW) cryptocurrencies, according to the company’s announcement on Wednesday.
ABTC’s mining fleet now generates a total of about 28.1 exahashes per second (EH/s) of computing power, operating at an “average efficiency” of 16 joules per terahash, the company said.
Shares of ABTC surged by about 11.7% on Wednesday, rising to about $1.38 per share, according to data from Yahoo Finance.
![\"Mining,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db6ae-be76-7cc6-a0c2-bf811a38abbe.png\")
The announcement followed a tough business quarter for the company, which posted a loss of $59.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, as the mining industry grapples with multiple economic challenges that are chipping away at revenue.
Related: Aluminum giant Alcoa to sell dormant smelter to Bitcoin miner NYDIG: Report
Mining companies are grappling with reduced block rewards since the April 2024 halving, rising energy costs, and declining crypto prices from the ongoing crypto bear market.
The price of BTC declined by over 50%, reaching a low of about $60,000 in February, when ABTC filed its Q4 results with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
ABTC attributed its Q4 losses to a $227.1 million decline in the fair value of its BTC holdings as a result of the crash, but said it was able to “mine BTC at a 53% discount” to prices on the spot market.
![\"Mining,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db6b0-4878-7dfc-a095-aed6ea3f5b47.jpg\")
Public BTC mining companies sold more BTC in the first three months of 2026 than all of 2025.
Mining companies MARA, CleanSpark, Riot, Cango, Core Scientific and Bitdeer collectively sold about 32,000 BTC in Q1, according to TheEnergyMag.
Sales in the period topped the previous record of 20,000 BTC sold by public mining companies during Q2 2022.
Magazine: AI may already use more power than Bitcoin — and it threatens Bitcoin mining
", "description": "The American Bitcoin mining company has energized 11,298 Bitcoin mining machines at one of its facilities amid the bear market and declining asset prices.", "published": "2026-04-22T21:17:47+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "mining" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-mining" }, { "slug": "companies" } ], "slug": "trump-american-bitcoin-energizes-11-298-asics", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263667" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Thailand regulator mulls crypto futures expansion in licensing overhaul", "leadText": "Thailand’s SEC is seeking feedback on rule changes that would let digital asset firms offer derivatives within existing entities, lowering barriers to market entry.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking public comment on proposed rule changes that would allow licensed digital asset businesses to apply directly for derivatives licenses, removing the requirement to establish separate entities.
The proposed revisions would build on earlier changes recognizing digital assets as eligible underlying assets for futures contracts, expanding the scope of Thailand’s derivatives market while introducing additional requirements to manage conflicts of interest and strengthen oversight.
![\"Thailand,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db62a-6eb6-7202-8c57-678374f4147a.png\")
The proposal could lower barriers for crypto companies to enter the derivatives market by allowing them to apply for licenses within existing entities, rather than establishing separate companies, while bringing those activities under tighter regulatory oversight.
The regulator said the changes are intended to provide investors with additional tools for hedging and portfolio management, as well as bringing standards for derivatives exchanges and clearing houses in line with international practices.
The proposed changes are open for public consultation until May 20, with feedback from industry participants expected to inform the final framework.
Related: Thailand proposes tighter scrutiny of funders behind crypto firms
Thailand’s proposal comes as crypto derivatives expand globally and momentum builds toward regulatory approval in the United States.
On Tuesday, Blockchain.com introduced perpetual futures trading in its self-custody wallet, allowing users to open leveraged positions using Bitcoin (BTC) as collateral without transferring funds to an exchange. Underpinned by Hyperliquid, the feature offers access to more than 190 markets with as much as 40x leverage.
Other exchanges have taken a similar approach. Earlier this year, both Kraken and Coinbase launched perpetual futures tied to equities for non-US users as part of a broader push toward 24/7, multi-asset trading.
While most of these products remain largely unavailable in the United States, that could change soon. In March, Chair Michael Selig said the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is working to enable crypto perpetual futures, adding the agency could move on the products “within the next month or so.”
In the meantime, exchanges appear to be positioning for potential approval. Last week, Kraken parent Payward agreed to acquire Bitnomial, a US-regulated derivatives venue, in a move aimed at expanding access to products including perpetual futures for US clients.
Magazine: How to fix insider trading on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Thailand’s SEC is seeking feedback on proposed rules that would let crypto firms offer derivatives without separate entities, as global momentum around crypto futures grows.", "published": "2026-04-22T18:53:36+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "thailand" }, { "slug": "cftc" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "derivatives" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-futures" }, { "slug": "futures" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "thailand-s-sec-proposes-allowing-crypto-companies-to-offer-futures-directly", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263637" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Kraken calls for de minimis exemption on crypto taxes after 2025 reports", "leadText": "The crypto exchange advocated for two key changes to US tax law affecting crypto users to “eliminate millions of unnecessary forms.”", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken called for a change in US tax policy after reporting millions of cases of transactions “worth less than $1” as part of its reporting requirements for 2025.
In a Wednesday blog post, Kraken said it issued more than 56 million tax forms — 1099-DAs — to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2025 as now required by law. However, the exchange said that about 18.5 million of those forms were for transactions under $1, with about 28 million for $10 or less and 75% under $50.
In an effort to “eliminate millions of unnecessary forms,” the exchange called for a de minimis exemption for taxes to exclude “small, routine digital asset payments from capital gains reporting.” It similarly advocated for an end to “phantom” income derived from staking cryptocurrencies, requiring holders to “owe taxes on value they have not realized” by not selling their staking rewards.
“This is not about helping crypto companies,” said Kraken about its recommendations. “It is about 55 million Americans, spanning every state, age bracket and industry, who are navigating a tax system designed before digital assets existed. Congress should act to make taxpayers’ lives easier.”
Reporting requirements for both holders and exchanges have changed significantly since the advent of cryptocurrencies. Although there have been proposals for a de minimis tax exemption for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), the most recent draft bill in the US Congress suggested that only stablecoin transactions over $200 trigger reporting to the IRS.
Related: NY lawmaker proposes ‘AI dividend’ to address potential job losses
According to a Fortune report citing data from the nonprofit Tax Foundation, individual returns cost US taxpayers $146 billion in time and out-of-pocket expenses. The Trump administration ended the IRS's free Direct File tax filing program in November 2025. The program had allowed eligible taxpayers to file their taxes online at no cost.
After the crypto exchange filed for a confidential initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2025, reports signaled that Kraken may have put its plan on hold amid volatile market conditions. However, Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi confirmed reports at a Semafor event in April that the company would likely go public soon.
Magazine: How to fix insider trading on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi
", "description": "Kraken called for an end to ”phantom” income reporting for staking and a de minimis exemption for crypto transactions to the IRS after announcing it issued 56 million forms in 2025.", "published": "2026-04-22T18:30:14+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "kraken" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "taxes" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "kraken-de-minimus-exemption-crypto-taxes", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263632" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Pyth Network to determine outcomes in Kalshi’s commodities expansion", "leadText": "The prediction platform will use Pyth’s pricing data to settle trades on its new commodities markets, as it expands into assets including oil, gold and crops.", "author": { "slug": "sam-bourgi" }, "bodyText": "Oracle network Pyth Network has been selected as the resolution data source for Kalshi’s expansion into commodities markets, underscoring the growing focus on reliable pricing infrastructure in event-based trading.
Kalshi said on Wednesday that Pyth will supply real-time pricing data for its newly launched commodities hub, which debuted in April. The data will be used to determine how event contracts tied to commodity prices are settled.
The move reflects a broader push among prediction market platforms to strengthen backend infrastructure as they expand into more complex asset classes. Accurate, tamper-resistant data feeds are critical for ensuring fair and transparent contract resolution, particularly in markets tied to real-world financial benchmarks.
Kalshi’s commodities hub allows users to trade event contracts linked to physical assets, including gold, silver, oil, copper and key agricultural products. Pyth’s price feeds will serve as the source of truth for determining contract outcomes.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5e6-f151-70be-8574-9c7692b58b68.png\")
Pyth has also been selected by rival prediction market Polymarket to provide price feeds for equities and commodities.
Pyth Network is a decentralized oracle that delivers real-time market data to blockchain applications. As Cointelegraph recently reported, Pyth has also recently deployed infrastructure that enables institutions to publish and monetize proprietary data across multiple networks.
Related: Kalshi mulls crypto expansion with perpetual futures launch: Report
Kalshi is rolling out these changes as it seeks to bring more structure to the fast-growing prediction market sector. The company is regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a designated contract market, meaning it is approved to offer trading in derivatives contracts under federal oversight, similar to a traditional exchange.
State regulators have pushed back on Kalshi and other prediction platforms, arguing that some contracts resemble unlicensed gambling or fall outside existing derivatives rules.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5e6-f884-7076-8d0e-8d1f997170fb.png\")
However, the US Department of Justice and the CFTC recently asked a federal court to block Arizona from enforcing state gambling laws against Kalshi’s contracts, signaling support for federal jurisdiction in this area.
The dispute comes as prediction market activity has grown sharply over the past two years, drawing in new entrants from both traditional finance and the crypto sector.
Related: After Kalshi appeal, prediction markets fight could head to US Supreme Court
", "description": "Kalshi will use Pyth’s real-time data to settle trades in its new commodities markets, covering assets like oil, metals and agricultural products.", "published": "2026-04-22T18:13:45+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "kalshi-pyth-commodities-market-pricing-data", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263612" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Robinhood Venture Fund's $75M stake in OpenAI aims to enable retail investments", "leadText": "The private equity investment will be used to give retail customers indirect price exposure to OpenAI through venture tokens.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI), a publicly traded closed-end fund that offers retail investors access to private equity investments, announced a $75 million investment in OpenAI.
The company announced on Wednesday that it purchased $75 million of the AI developer's common stock, which will be used as the underlying asset to give Robinhood clients price exposure to OpenAI via the fund's venture tokens.
The investment is “one of RVI’s largest investments to date,” according to RVI president Sarah Pinto, who added that the tokens aim to democratize access to private investing.
Shares of RVI were trading more than 14% higher on Wednesday, to $27.85 at the time of publication, according to data from Yahoo Finance.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db607-a00c-7710-abfe-52e88f91906f.png\")
Robinhood’s private equity tokens for retail investors have raised regulatory questions about the legal rights of token holders and how price exposure through tokens differs from holding private equity in a company, which is reserved for qualified investors.
Related: ARK buys $13M in Robinhood as US Treasury taps platform for Trump Accounts
Robinhood distributed OpenAI and SpaceX tokens to users in June 2025 as part of its rollout of tokenized stock trading for users in the European Union.
However, OpenAI immediately responded to the announcement, warning that the tokens do not represent a private equity stake in the company.
“These ‘OpenAI tokens’ are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it,\" OpenAI said at the time. \"Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval — we did not approve any transfer.”
John Murillo, chief business officer of financial technology company B2BROKER, told Cointelegraph that investors holding these private equity tokens must understand that they do not hold “actual shares” in these companies.
Customers may be entitled to payouts if the underlying shares of the private equity companies increase, but the tokens are strictly a financial instrument created by a third party and not equity, according to Murillo.
“There is no direct claim on company assets, no voting rights and no access to internal financial information,” Murillo said.
A request for comment sent to Robinhood by Cointelegraph was not immediately replied to.
Magazine: Robinhood’s tokenized stocks have stirred up a legal hornet’s nest
", "description": "Robinhood's private equity investment fund has invested $75 million in OpenAI and will give customers indirect price exposure to the company.", "published": "2026-04-22T17:38:27+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "robinhood" }, { "slug": "openai" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "robinhood-venture-fund-invests-75m-in-openai", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263597" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Ethereum risks 10% decline versus Bitcoin despite record ETH staking", "leadText": "Ethereum’s record 32.33% staking ratio is shrinking liquid supply, reducing sell pressure and potentially supporting an ETH price recovery over time.", "author": { "slug": "yashu-gola" }, "bodyText": "Ether (ETH) has fallen about 5.5% against Bitcoin (BTC) over the past week, and a bearish continuation setup now points to the risk of deeper losses ahead.
Key takeaways:
ETH/BTC’s bear flag pattern points to a possible 10% drop toward 0.026 BTC in May.
Ethereum’s record 32.33% staking ratio is tightening liquid supply.
The ETH/BTC ratio has been carving out a bear flag pattern since February, consolidating inside a rising parallel channel after a sharp downside move.
In technical analysis, bear flags are typically viewed as continuation patterns. Analysts derive the downside target by taking the height of the previous decline and projecting it lower from the point where price breaks below the flag’s lower trend line.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5b1-5913-7637-a380-f8460a161cee.png\")
Using that method, the ETH/BTC pair’s measured downside target comes in near 0.026 BTC, about 10% below current levels, in May.
Notably, a similar bear flag breakdown earlier this year preceded a roughly 15% decline, suggesting the current setup could once again favor Bitcoin over Ether in the near term.
Conversely, the bearish breakdown setup may get postponed if ETH/BTC rebounds from the flag’s lower trend line, opening the door for a recovery toward the upper boundary near 0.032 BTC in May.
Ethereum’s fundamentals are strengthening even as ETH continues to lag Bitcoin.
The network’s staking ratio hit a record 32.33% on April 21, with about 39 million ETH locked across 816,578 validators, according to data resource Token Terminal.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db5c0-264e-720d-9c13-5109f835a5d3.jpeg\")
That amounts to roughly $90.26 billion in staked value and marks the first time more than one-third of Ethereum’s circulating supply has been committed to the network.
Earlier this month, the Ethereum Foundation completed its 70,000 ETH staking target, shifting more of its holdings into yield-generating positions instead of potential sell-side supply.
Meanwhile, BitMine Immersion Technologies now holds 4.976 million ETH, or 4.12% of total supply, with around 3.334 million ETH already staked through its validator network.
Overall, it means less ETH is available for active trading. That can reduce selling pressure and support prices in dollar terms over time, especially if demand keeps rising while available supply keeps shrinking.
Related: Ethereum whale opens $90M long bets as ETH price chart eyes $3.2K
Ether has lagged behind Bitcoin partly because Ethereum’s “ultrasound money” thesis has weakened, while Bitcoin continues to benefit from accumulation by firms like Strategy and its accelerating integration into Wall Street portfolios.
", "description": "Ethereum’s record 32.33% staking ratio is shrinking liquid supply, reducing sell pressure and potentially supporting ETH price over time.", "published": "2026-04-22T17:19:07+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "tech-analysis" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "ethereum-decline-10percent-versus-bitcoin-despite-record-eth-staking", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "263592" }, { "category": { "slug": "sponsored" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin and physical gold under one roof: A diversification case study", "leadText": "Here’s how pairing Bitcoin’s upside with physical gold’s stability through a single account builds a modern diversification portfolio.", "author": { "slug": "ayse-karaman" }, "bodyText": "Disclaimer. This content is part of a paid partnership. The text below is a sponsored article that is not part of Cointelegraph.com editorial content. The material is written by our advertorial team and has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance, it may not reflect the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.com. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company. Disclosure.
![\"Gold,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db0c3-89df-751d-b844-a6842ce8293e.jpg\")
Bitcoin has moved deeper into mainstream portfolio conversations over the past two years. In January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission approved the listing and trading of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products. Gold has held a strong place in the same period.
Total gold demand in 2025 exceeded 5,000 tonnes for the first time, while global gold ETF holdings rose by 801 tonnes and bar-and-coin buying reached a 12-year high. Many investors want upside alongside assets with a long record through inflation shocks, geopolitical strain and macro uncertainty.
Portfolio construction now centers on balance and durability. Bitcoin (BTC) often fills the growth side of that equation. Gold brings a familiar store-of-value role that has shaped portfolio discussions for decades.
That mix has become easier to understand than it has been to execute. A simple diversification idea can still turn into a fragmented experience when Bitcoin sits on one platform and physical metals sit in another.
Physical metals add another layer of friction because many digital investors expect upfront pricing, continuous access and fast execution. Investors tend to stick more closely to a plan where they can review positions in one place and act without extra hurdles.
A portfolio with Bitcoin and gold can feel coherent on paper and scattered in practice when each asset lives in a separate system. That tension shows up clearly in the way many self-directed investors now think about diversification.
For many investors, traditional gold IRA channels may add another layer of friction. The process often runs through commissioned sales teams, product markups and limited pricing visibility, which can make it harder to compare options and manage a portfolio on their own terms.
Consider an investor who wants Bitcoin exposure without building an all-crypto posture. They are comfortable with digital platforms, interested in long-term upside and looking for a second asset with a very different market identity during volatile stretches.
Their portfolio logic is simple. Bitcoin serves as a growth sleeve. Physical gold adds a familiar store of value. Each asset has a distinct purpose and that clarity supports steadier decisions. More investors want broader asset access inside a cleaner workflow.
iTrustCapital centers its platform on that exact need. It gives investors 24/7 access to cryptocurrencies and physical precious metals through self-directed accounts that include tax-advantaged IRAs* and Premium Custody Accounts. Investors can buy and sell gold and silver with real-time spot pricing, 24/7 liquidity, and positions that are fully backed by physical gold or silver.
That structure brings both assets into one account environment. A self-directed investor can hold BTC and physical metals in the same dashboard, review exposure more easily and stay closer to the original allocation logic when markets move. For this investor, the appeal goes beyond access to Bitcoin and gold. They can manage both positions through one routine.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db0c4-387b-71dc-a968-41b80a6a5726.png\")
The precious metals offering centers on three practical points. Investors get support from a 100% US-based team, pricing that will resonate with fee-conscious investors and the ability to sell metals at the push of a button around the clock.
In more traditional channels, exiting a metals position can involve dealer calls, price negotiations or separate resale routes through shops and marketplaces. A digital sell function creates a clearer process and gives investors more immediate visibility into execution when they decide to rebalance or reduce exposure.
Together, those features address some of the longest-standing friction points in the category. Simpler execution can reduce hesitation. Clear pricing can make it easier for investors to stick to their original allocation logic.
The precious metals side of the platform also rests on a defined partner stack. Kitco serves as the precious metals dealer. Tradewind’s VaultChain digitally tracks ownership of physical precious metals. The metal is stored with the Royal Canadian Mint and VaultChain tracks ownership in fractions of ounces, which adds flexibility at the position level.
For investors who want Bitcoin and physical metals in the same account, infrastructure matters as much as access. People want new-market exposure and familiar stores of value inside systems that feel current and easy to use.
iTrustCapital’s combined offering reflects a wider shift in self-directed investing. People want easier financial access inside a modern digital framework, and they want multiple asset classes to coexist in one ecosystem. Bitcoin, gold and silver each serve a distinct purpose, and investors increasingly value the ability to hold them side by side in one account.
\n\n\nLooking for the best crypto platform?
— iTrustCapital (@iTrustCapital) February 2, 2026
iTrustCapital makes investing in crypto easy with secure Premium Custody Accounts to manage alternative assets and tax-advantaged Crypto IRAs, all in one easy-to-use platform.
↳ Discover iTrustCapital, the only crypto account you need:… pic.twitter.com/9rVaBN9ovg
That outlook points to a more diversified financial ecosystem where digital assets coexist with traditional stores of value. Access to crypto, gold and silver in one platform gives investors a more flexible toolkit for building balanced portfolios through different market cycles.
For investors who want digital assets and traditional stores of value in the same account, that kind of access can make diversification easier to put into practice over time.
*Some taxes may apply.
Disclaimer: iTrustCapital is a fintech software platform for alternative assets. iTrustCapital is not an exchange, funding portal, custodian, trust company, licensed broker, dealer, broker-dealer, investment advisor, investment manager, or adviser in the United States or elsewhere. iTrustCapital has no direct relationship and is not associated with BTC. iTrustCapital is not affiliated with and does not endorse any particular digital asset, precious metal or investment strategy.
", "description": "Here’s how pairing Bitcoin’s upside with physical gold’s stability through a single account builds a modern diversification portfolio", "published": "2026-04-22T16:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "gold" }, { "slug": "assets" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-etf" }, { "slug": "etf" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-and-physical-gold-under-one-roof-a-diversification-case-study", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Use Case" } ] }, "id": "263292" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Lazarus-linked macOS malware hits crypto and fintech firms", "leadText": "Security researchers linked a new “Mach-O Man” malware kit to a Lazarus campaign that steals credentials and accesses corporate systems on macOS.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "Security researchers have linked a new macOS malware campaign to the Lazarus Group, the North Korea-linked hacking operation behind some of the crypto industry’s biggest thefts.
Flagged on Tuesday, the new “Mach-O Man” malware kit is distributed via “ClickFix” social engineering schemes across traditional businesses and crypto companies, according to Mauro Eldritch, offensive security expert and founder of threat intelligence company BCA Ltd.
Victims are lured into a fake Zoom or Google Meet call where they are prompted to execute commands that download the malware in the background, allowing attackers to bypass traditional controls without detection to gain access to credentials and corporate systems, the security researcher said in a Tuesday report.
Researchers said the campaign can lead to account takeovers, unauthorized infrastructure access, financial losses and the exposure of critical data, underscoring how Lazarus continues to expand its targeting beyond crypto-native companies.
The Lazarus Group is the main suspect in some of the largest-ever cryptocurrency hacks, including the $1.4 billion hack of Bybit exchange in 2025, the industry’s largest so far.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db54b-0490-7e77-b9ea-434f7d6edc8e.png\")
The final stage of the campaign is a stealer designed to extract browser extension data, stored browser credentials, cookies, macOS Keychain entries and other sensitive information from infected devices.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db548-5773-7ac0-8bb3-bb1680420561.png\")
After collection, the data is archived into a zip file and exfiltrated through Telegram to the attackers. Finally, the malware’s self-deletion script removes the entire kit using the system’s rm command, which bypasses user confirmation and permissions when removing files.
The novel malware kit was reconstructed by the security expert through cloud-based malware sandbox Any.run’s macOS analysis capabilities.
Related: CZ sounds alarm as ‘SEAL’ team uncovers 60 fake IT workers linked to North Korea
Earlier in April, North Korean hackers used AI-enabled social engineering schemes to steal about $100,000 worth of funds from crypto wallet Zerion, after gaining access to some team members’ logged-in sessions, credentials and the company’s private keys, Cointelegraph reported on April 15.
Magazine: 53 DeFi projects infiltrated, 50M NEO tokens could be ‘given back’: Asia Express
", "description": "Lazarus Group is targeting fintech and crypto executives using macOS through a new malware kit delivered via social engineering schemes using fake Zoom or Google Meet calls.", "published": "2026-04-22T15:20:48+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "lazarus-group" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "lazarus-group-malware-crypto-business-execs-macos", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263562" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Binance.US cuts spot trading fees to near zero in push to undercut rivals", "leadText": "The exchange set maker fees at 0% and taker fees at 0.02% across all pairs, extending near-zero pricing to all users with no volume tiers or subscription requirements.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "Update (April 22 7:49 PM UTC): This article has been updated to reflect the relationship between Binance.US and Binance in the eighth paragraph.
Binance.US has reduced spot trading fees to 0% for makers and 0.02% for takers across all trading pairs, extending near-zero pricing to all users without volume thresholds or subscription requirements.
The new pricing replaces the platform’s tiered fee structure and applies to all accounts, with the company saying the move could reduce trading costs by as much as 98% compared with competitors such as Coinbase.
Coinbase’s fees start at about 0.40% to 0.60% for lower-volume traders while Kraken’s fees start around 0.25% to 0.40% and decline with volume, according to information on those exchanges’ websites.
Last week, Charles Schwab, one of the largest US brokerage firms, said it will roll out spot cryptocurrency trading for retail clients in the coming weeks, starting with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) at a fee of 75 basis points per transaction.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the updated Binance.US fee structure applies to every user with no portfolio minimums, volume tiers or subscription fees and takes effect immediately.
The change follows the appointment of Stephen Gregory as chief executive and expands the platform’s earlier zero-fee offering on select Bitcoin pairs to all spot markets.
The platform said the new fees are supported by its trading infrastructure and follow the completion of a SOC 2 Type II audit covering its systems and controls.
Binance.us is a separate legal entity and operates independently from Binance, according to a company spokesperson.
Related: Bitcoin inflows to Binance fall to 2023 low as BTC bulls set target on $80K
Binance’s operations in the United States have remained under close regulatory and political scrutiny since its 2023 settlement with authorities.
In 2023, the exchange reached a $4.3 billion settlement with US authorities over anti-money laundering and sanctions violations, with former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao pleading guilty to a felony charge. The agreement also placed the company under a court-imposed monitoring program requiring ongoing oversight and reporting to US regulators.
In March 2025, scrutiny intensified after a UAE-based entity invested $2 billion in Binance using a stablecoin issued by a company linked to US President Donald Trump and his family, raising conflict-of-interest concerns among lawmakers. Later that year, Trump issued a pardon to Zhao following his four-month prison sentence.
Regulatory pressure has continued into 2026. In February, a group of US senators urged Treasury and Justice Department officials to conduct a comprehensive review of Binance’s compliance controls following reports that more than $1.7 billion in transactions linked to Iranian entities may have flowed through the platform.
Binance denied the allegations in a letter to Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ron Johnson, calling the reports “false” and unsupported by evidence. The company also said it had filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal.
Most recently, Blumenthal sent letters to the Justice Department and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to determine whether Binance is meeting its obligations under the 2023 court-imposed monitoring program.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "Binance.US slashes spot fees to 0% maker and 0.02% taker for all users, undercutting rivals like Coinbase as Binance faces renewed US scrutiny over compliance and Iran-linked transactions.", "published": "2026-04-22T15:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "iran" }, { "slug": "changpeng-zhao" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "binance" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "binance-us-cuts-spot-trading-fees-to-near-zero-in-push-to-undercut-rivals", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263402" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Aave deposits fall by $15B as Kelp exploit sparks flight from DeFi lender", "leadText": "Aave’s supplied balance tanked after the Kelp DAO bridge exploit, as users pulled funds amid uncertainty over how much of the shortfall the protocol will absorb.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "Aave, the largest decentralized lending protocol, has seen around $15 billion in deposits withdrawn since the Kelp Dao exploit on Saturday.
Total value supplied to Aave fell from $45.8 billion on Saturday to $30.8 billion on Wednesday, according to Aavescan data.
The decline followed an attack that drained about 116,500 restaked Ether (rsETH), worth roughly $293 million, from Kelp DAO’s LayerZero-powered rsETH bridge. The exploiter then used part of the stolen funds to borrow on Aave.
Aave’s incident report said 89,567 rsETH were deposited on the protocol and that the resulting shortfall could range from about $123 million to $230 million, depending on how losses are ultimately allocated.
The outflows reflect fears of contagion from Aave’s bad debt and broader capital flight from decentralized finance (DeFi), according to institutional digital asset trading platform Talos.
The bad debt created by the Kelp exploiter resulted in Aave’s v3 Wrapped Ether (WETH) market temporarily reaching 100% utilization and leaving no liquidity available for immediate withdrawals, Talos said in a Tuesday report.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db508-4e25-7394-893e-df100653a5b5.png\")
SparkLend’s total value locked (TVL) has risen by $1.3 billion since the Kelp DAO exploit, signaling that the fourth-largest lending protocol was absorbing some of the funds withdrawn from Aave, blockchain analyst EmberCN said in a Wednesday post on X.
Related: Crypto hackers stole $17B over past 10 years: DefiLlama
The episode highlights how DeFi’s interconnectedness is a double-edged sword, as the Kelp DAO exploit spread across lending markets and escalated into a “broader liquidity crunch,” Tanay Ved, senior research associate at Talos, told Cointelegraph.
She said the asset bundled risks across restaking, bridging and lending layers, allowing the impact to spread far beyond the initial exploit, adding that the incident reinforces the need for a more robust collateral framework and a more holistic security approach to address the systemic vulnerabilities of yield-bearing assets.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db508-5248-708a-ae29-bf5e052aa762.png\")
Aave said it had unfrozen WETH reserves on the Ethereum Core V3 market on Tuesday, enabling users to supply WETH to the V3 lending protocol, but that WETH reserves across Ethereum Prime, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle and Linea remain frozen.
Related: Kelp DAO attacker moves $175M in Ether after exploit: Arkham
On Monday, Aave’s risk manager outlined two potential scenarios for addressing the bad debt. The first scenario involves spreading the losses across all rsETH token holders on Ethereum mainnet and layer 2s, leaving about $123 million in bad debt on Aave.
The alternative would shift the shortfall entirely to layer-2 networks, resulting in about $230 million in bad debt on Aave.
Traders took to prediction markets to bet on the outcome, with only 20% of traders wagering on Kelp DAO socializing the losses across rsETH holders on mainnet, rather than L2 holders bearing the shortfall, Polymarket data shows.
Magazine: 53 DeFi projects infiltrated, 50M NEO tokens could be ‘given back’: Asia Express
", "description": "Aave deposits fell by $15 billion following the $293 million exploit on Kelp DAO, triggering a DeFi liquidity crunch, as traders started betting on the recovery path of the exploit.", "published": "2026-04-22T14:47:33+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "lending" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "aave" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "aave-deposits-drop-15b-kelp-dao-exploit", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263557" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "UK cracks down on illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading in nationwide raids", "leadText": "The Financial Conduct Authority raided eight locations suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading, issuing cease-and-desist orders.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has raided multiple sites suspected of running illegal peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading operations.
The financial services and markets watchdog said Wednesday that it worked alongside HM Revenue & Customs and the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit to inspect eight locations linked to illegal crypto trading. Officials issued cease-and-desist notices on site, ordering operators to halt activity immediately, while gathering evidence tied to ongoing criminal investigations.
“Unregistered peer-to-peer crypto traders operating in the UK are doing so illegally and pose a financial crime risk,” Steve Smart, the FCA’s executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said.
P2P crypto trading allows individuals to buy and sell digital assets directly, bypassing centralized exchanges. In the UK, such activity requires registration under anti-money laundering rules. The FCA said no peer-to-peer crypto traders or platforms are currently registered with the regulator.
Related: Stratiphy reopens tax-free route to crypto ETNs for UK investors
The raids mark the FCA’s first operation of this kind focused on P2P crypto trading, but follow a series of enforcement steps against the sector. Previous actions include prosecutions tied to illegal crypto ATM networks and arrests linked to unlicensed exchanges.
Earlier this month, authorities in the UK and other countries, including the US and Canada, froze millions of dollars linked to crypto scams as part of a coordinated enforcement effort called Operation Atlantic. The operation, carried out in March, was led by agencies including the UK’s National Crime Agency, the US Secret Service and Canadian law enforcement and securities regulators.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d72a3-15fc-7c1f-abee-ed53c2d9e63f.png\")
Officials said the operation identified more than 20,000 victims across the three countries and secured over $12 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Investigators also traced more than $45 million in additional stolen crypto linked to fraud networks.
“These raids mark a shift under the incoming FSMA crypto regime, unregistered OTC desks are no longer an AML-registration gap, they’re an unauthorised regulated activity, and enforcement will look more like traditional finance,” Slav Demchuk, CEO at AMLBot.com, told Cointelegraph.
He added that unregulated OTC brokers are one of the most consistent chokepoints in illicit flows, including “Iran-linked evasion corridors where actors cut off from regulated exchanges use informal desks to move USDT and BTC in and out of fiat.”
Related: UK plans payments rule changes for stablecoins, tokenized deposits
Earlier this month, the FCA opened a consultation on guidance for its upcoming crypto regulatory regime, which is expected to take effect in 2027. The guidance will cover key areas including stablecoins, trading platforms, custody and staking.
Companies are expected to be able to apply for authorization from September 2026, with full compliance required once the framework is implemented.
Magazine: Singapore isn’t a ‘crypto hub’ — it’s something better: StraitsX CEO
", "description": "UK regulators intensify enforcement against unregistered crypto trading, targeting peer-to-peer operations and signaling stricter oversight of digital asset markets.", "published": "2026-04-22T14:38:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "uk-government" }, { "slug": "united-kingdom" }, { "slug": "peer-to-peer-lending" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-investment" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "uk-fca-illegal-peer-to-peer-crypto-trading-raids", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263552" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Europe’s MiCA regime puts smaller crypto firms under pressure", "leadText": "Smaller crypto companies across Europe face mounting compliance costs as MiCA moves from framework to enforcement, raising fears of market consolidation.", "author": { "slug": "christina-comben" }, "bodyText": "The European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) transition period is entering its final stretch, forcing smaller crypto firms across the EU to either secure authorization quickly or prepare to shut down regulated services. The transitional period ends across the bloc on July 1, after which any crypto asset service provider operating without a MiCA license must stop serving EU clients.
Early movers like United Kingdom-based exchange CoinJar, which said it secured MiCA authorization in Ireland in 2025, call the regime a necessary maturation that rewards compliance-first players, but founders in markets like Poland warn thousands of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) could fall off a regulatory cliff as deadlines hit.
Companies face a hard stop of July 1 for the longest 18-month grandfathering window, with some national regimes already closing. For smaller companies and hybrid crypto projects, the same regime may prove a breaking point.
The cost of authorization, governance upgrades and ongoing reporting is raising the barrier to entry just as MiCA leaves only narrowly defined, fully decentralized services outside its scope, setting up a likely wave of consolidation across Europe’s crypto market.
EU supervisors maintain the rules are proportionate and designed to support innovation alongside stronger investor protection, but whether MiCA cements Europe as a trusted crypto hub or drives the next generation of builders offshore remains to be seen.
Polish crypto exchange Ari10 secured a MiCA licence in the Netherlands in February. Founder Mateusz Kara told Cointelegraph that, to his knowledge, of the roughly 2,000 registered VASPs in Poland, only his group holds a MiCA licence so far; a gap he believes will force many local firms to close.
For Kara, MiCA’s cost and organizational requirements leave “no room for small players,” and the market will consolidate, a view echoed by Matthew Pinnock, chief operating officer at Altura decentralized finance platform.
He told Cointelegraph such an environment favors larger exchanges and custodians, mirroring patterns seen in countries like Japan, where stricter post-2018 licensing pushed smaller firms out of business.
Decentralized impact investment platform Kula’s head of digital assets, Taran Dhillon, made a similar point, telling Cointelegraph that “one-size-fits-all” authorization, governance and reporting requirements risk pushing early-stage teams and experimental projects to other hubs.
Related: Poland stalls on crypto law, forcing local companies to move abroad
MiCA’s exemption for fully decentralized services in Recital 22 is one of the main pressure points for protocols trying to comply without abandoning their designs.
Pinnock said Altura runs non-custodial strategies where users retain control, but elements like unified vaults and coordinated front ends may still attract scrutiny. Many DeFi systems, he expects, will be treated as hybrids, with factors like upgradeability and whether there is an identifiable operator influencing outcomes determining their classification.
Related: ECB paper questions if DeFi DAOs are decentralized enough to sit outside MiCA
To adapt, Altura is building a model where core functions remain onchain while regulated exchanges, custodians and wallets act as access points for EU users. Dhillon, meanwhile, says the decentralization exemption remains too ambiguous, leaving most protocols in “regulatory limbo,” with prolonged uncertainty that could push responsible innovation offshore.
EU supervisors insist MiCA was designed to balance innovation with investor protection, not drive out smaller firms. A European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) spokesperson told Cointelegraph the framework supports innovation and fair competition, and the transitional period was deliberately structured to give existing providers time to adapt. Requirements are proportionate to risk, they stressed, with smaller firms not expected to meet the same bar as systemically important players.
![\"Legislation,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db514-3ef2-7a33-a173-f6d8ee61f7f6.png\")
ESMA fully backs the European Commission’s push to centralize supervision of major cross-border exchanges at the EU level, arguing a single supervisor would reduce forum shopping and streamline oversight. Others, such as Malta’s Financial Services Authority (MFSA), see that move as premature given how recently MiCA came into force, and warn that local knowledge remains crucial for proportionate supervision in smaller markets.
If smaller founders see MiCA as an existential hurdle, early movers like CoinJar frame it as a filter that will strengthen the market. CEO Asher Tan told Cointelegraph the rules do not create an unlevel playing field so much as bring crypto in line with “serious financial frameworks.”
Tan views Europe as a core growth market and says MiCA gives it a clear, passportable path to scale across the bloc. He claims MiCA is nudging the industry away from speculative, poorly understood tokens toward selective listings and long-term value — even if that accelerates consolidation and makes life harder for lightly capitalized newcomers.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?
", "description": "EU MiCA rules are moving into enforcement, putting smaller crypto firms under pressure as compliance costs rise and grandfathering windows close.", "published": "2026-04-22T14:28:35+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "europe" }, { "slug": "legislation" }, { "slug": "esma" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "european-union" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "mica" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "europe-mica-regime-smaller-crypto-firms", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263547" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Russia advances crypto bill that could pave way for criminal penalties", "leadText": "Russian lawmakers passed a first reading of a bill regulating crypto through licensed intermediaries, with key rules set to take effect in July 2026 and 2027.", "author": { "slug": "helen-partz" }, "bodyText": "Russia’s lower house of parliament passed a bill in first reading on Tuesday that would create the country’s core legal framework for digital currency, moving Moscow closer to a system that channels crypto trading through licensed intermediaries under Bank of Russia oversight.
The draft bill No. 1194918-8, titled “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,” passed its first reading in the State Duma on Tuesday, according to official records.
The bill would allow Russians to buy and sell crypto through approved intermediaries as early as July, while banning unlicensed crypto platforms beginning in July 2027, if the draft becomes law.
The bill is part of a new comprehensive legislative package aimed at restricting crypto trading to regulated platforms in Russia, alongside at least three other related bills introduced. One of them, bill No. 1194929-8, also passed the first reading on Tuesday.
Together, the bills would push Russia’s crypto market toward a licensed, state-supervised structure, though key enforcement pieces are still unresolved.
Bill 1194918-8 “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,” would introduce investment limits for retail investors, allowing purchases only of the “most liquid digital currencies,” as defined by the Bank of Russia.
Those assets would have to meet several thresholds, including an average market capitalization of more than 5 trillion rubles ($66.6 billion) over the two years before listing, average daily trading volume of more than 1 trillion rubles ($13.3 billion) over the same period, and a trading history of at least five years.
The legislation would require retail investors to pass a test and would cap purchases through a single intermediary at 300,000 rubles ($4,000) per year.
The bill also allows residents to buy crypto abroad through foreign accounts, provided those transactions are reported to tax authorities.
The legislation also maintains a strict prohibition on crypto payments, a core provision of the crypto law “On Digital Financial Assets,” which took effect in 2021.
Apart from the two draft bills that passed their first reading, lawmakers have introduced two separate measures establishing liability and criminal penalties for violations of the new rules, including bills No. 1194944-8 and No. 1209607-8.
The latter proposes criminal penalties for unlicensed digital asset services and mandates registration with the Bank of Russia, with fines and prison terms for non-compliance.
But the Supreme Court declined to support that measure in its current form, saying the proposal depends on a broader digital currency framework that has not yet been adopted and therefore appears premature.
![\"Bank](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4f7-44c0-79a6-9f78-ab11ae23469f.png\")
“The proposed article is drafted as a blanket provision, the application of which is not possible in isolation from rules directly established by regulatory acts,” the court said in an official review of the bill released last week, adding:
“Meanwhile, the draft federal law ‘On Digital Currency and Digital Rights,’ aimed at regulating issues related to the organization of digital currency circulation, is currently under development. Until the relevant federal law is adopted, the initiative in question appears premature.”
That means Tuesday’s first-reading vote is important not because it advances the base law that other enforcement measures still depend on.
Related: Russia-linked crypto exchange Grinex halts trading after $14M hack
Several local industry participants have repeatedly warned that the proposed legislation could backfire, pushing the sector further underground instead of bringing it out of the grey zone.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
Kelp DAO suffered a $292 million hack on Saturday, overtaking Drift as the largest crypto exploit of the year so far. North Korea-linked hackers are suspected to be behind the attack.
Kelp DAO said Monday that the exploit stemmed from a failure of cross-chain messaging protocol LayerZero’s infrastructure. LayerZero said the breach was enabled by Kelp DAO’s use of a single verifier configuration to approve cross-chain messages.
LayerZero said that “preliminary indicators” attributed the exploit to TraderTraitor, a subgroup of North Korea’s state-backed hacking unit known as Lazarus Group.
Blockchain investigator Tanuki42’s findings also found ties to TraderTraitor. Tanuki42 said Tuesday that funds stolen from the Kelp DAO incident have commingled with previous exploits linked to the same group.
While North Korea’s cyber activity targeting decentralized finance platforms has accelerated in April, its tactics also pose a threat to companies and end users.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db50c-abab-7517-9409-bb32ac9e04b9.jpg\")
The April Fools’ Day exploit on decentralized exchange Drift totaled $285 million, bringing suspected North Korea-linked crypto theft to at least $578 million across major incidents throughout the month.
The two attacks are the largest crypto heists attributed to North Korean actors since the Bybit hack.
By now, the crypto industry has caught on that DPRK-linked operatives pose as IT developers to secure remote jobs at tech companies. Security researchers and the United Nations say that this tactic generates millions of dollars to support North Korea’s weapons programs.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db50d-dbb6-77eb-93ee-a23187757558.jpg\")
Related: North Korean cyber spies are no longer just remote threats
In March, the US Treasury Department sanctioned six individuals and two entities for their alleged roles in North Korean IT worker fraud schemes. The FBI also issued guidance in June, recommending that employers verify candidates’ professional history and require in-person meetings.
However, the Drift exploit suggests Pyongyang’s cyber operatives are adapting. The DeFi platform said its contributors were approached in person by individuals posing as a quant trading firm at a major crypto conference in November. The attackers continued to communicate and build trust ahead of the breach.
Smaller-scale attacks have continued in parallel. Crypto wallet provider Zerion said DPRK-linked actors used AI-assisted social engineering to steal about $100,000 in a separate incident.
North Korea rarely responds to such accusations, though its foreign ministry issued a statement in May 2020 denying involvement in cyberattacks and accusing the United States of attempting to tarnish its image.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported a 21% increase in crypto-related crime complaints in its 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report. The FBI launched IC3 in 2000 as a portal for victims in the US to report online fraud.
Cryptocurrency cases were linked to 181,565 complaints in 2025, resulting in $11.37 billion in losses, more than half of the total.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db50e-6377-753a-8a75-259f98d68aaa.jpg\")
Related: North Korean spy slips up, reveals ties in fake job interview
Older Americans aged 60 and above filed the highest number of crypto-related complaints. Investment scams were the largest category, generating 61,559 complaints, including 13,685 from people 60 and older.
That doesn’t mean the retail sector is untouched by suspected North Korean operations. An investigation published last November found that DPRK-linked operatives also recruit individuals to support remote IT worker schemes.
Throughout 2025, Heiner García, a cyberthreat intelligence expert at Telefónica, came into contact with a suspected North Korean operative.
García previously told Cointelegraph that the individual attempted to use him as a proxy to bypass VPN restrictions set by freelancing platforms. The tactic involves using a victim’s device in a local jurisdiction by installing remote access software such as AnyDesk.
In August 2024, the US Department of Justice arrested Matthew Isaac Knoot for running a “laptop farm” that allowed DPRK IT workers to appear as US-based employees using stolen identities. In July 2025, Christina Chapman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for her role in helping North Korean IT workers earn more than $17 million.
A unique element of the Kelp DAO hack was the Arbitrum Security Council’s decision to freeze 30,766 ETH linked to the exploit.
Crypto’s ethos is decentralization, yet responses to major hacks continue to divide the industry. Some projects lean toward minimal intervention, even as security experts call for action, leaving little consensus on when it is appropriate to step in.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db50f-1a63-722d-9996-dd6ba2677946.jpg\")
Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet said on Tuesday that the outcome was “probably” good, but not a comfortable one. Freezing the funds likely prevented further losses. The discomfort comes from what the action makes explicit.
The Arbitrum Security Council did not exploit a bug or discover a backdoor. It exercised its intended authority to override the state. That authority exists by design and sits in tension with the idea of credibly neutral infrastructure. In practice, assets on today’s rollups can still be affected by governance decisions under certain conditions.
Guillemet ties that tradeoff to the threat environment. The Kelp DAO exploit did not rely on a novel smart contract bug. It exposed weaknesses in infrastructure and configuration, showing how attacks are moving beyond code into the systems that support it.
At the same time, North Korea-linked groups have evolved into well-resourced, persistent adversaries capable of probing those systems across multiple fronts.
That leaves the industry split between accepting intervention or accepting losses that cannot be undone.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "North Korea-linked crypto exploits surged in April, with major exploits and retail scams exposing a widening attack surface.", "published": "2026-04-22T13:29:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "north-korea" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "features" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "north-korean-hackers-578m-april-kelp-dao-exploit", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Analysis" } ] }, "id": "263522" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "SEC ‘on the cusp’ of onchain tokenized securities exemption: Atkins", "leadText": "SEC Chair Paul Atkins says the SEC is “on the cusp” of an innovation exemption to enable compliant onchain trading of tokenized securities.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins said the agency is nearing the release of an exemption that would allow market participants to trade tokenized securities onchain within a compliant framework.
Speaking at the Economic Club of Washington on Tuesday, Atkins said the SEC is close to introducing what he described as an exemption aimed at enabling limited activity in tokenized markets while the agency develops longer-term rules.
“We are on the cusp of releasing what I call an ‘innovation exemption,’ which will provide market participants with a cabined framework to begin facilitating the trading of tokenized securities onchain in a compliant fashion as the Commission works toward long-term rules of the road,” he said.
The exemption would provide a structured pathway for companies seeking to facilitate trading of blockchain-based securities, an area that has remained constrained in the US due to the absence of clear frameworks.
The innovation exemption has been under discussion at the SEC for months as part of efforts to accommodate tokenized securities and blockchain-based markets. In July 2025, Atkins said the agency was considering targeted relief to support tokenization and new trading methods.
In March, Commissioner Hester Peirce said staff were still developing the exemption as a way to allow limited experimentation with tokenized securities while assessing how existing securities laws apply to onchain markets.
Related: SEC crypto guidance marks ‘final nail’ in Gensler era: Analyst
The comments build on the SEC’s recent efforts to clarify how digital assets are treated under federal securities laws.
On March 17, the agency issued interpretive guidance outlining a token taxonomy that groups digital assets into categories such as digital commodities, collectibles, tools and stablecoins, with only tokenized securities falling under its core jurisdiction.
Related: One year under Paul Atkins, SEC's crypto stance shows break with past
The interpretation was positioned as a bridge ahead of potential market structure legislation and aimed to provide clearer lines between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
In his speech, Atkins described the taxonomy as “long overdue,” framing it as a step toward clearer rules for digital assets.
On March 24, the SEC sent the proposed interpretation to the White House for review, marking a further step toward formalizing its approach to crypto classification and oversight. As of Wednesday, government records showed the proposal as still “pending review” by the White House.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?
Bitcoin (BTC) could see further upside volatility as several technical indicators suggested the BTC price was due for a “powerful“ upward move.
Key takeaways:
Bitcoin’s Bollinger Bands indicator now sees the potential for a massive price breakout.
BTC price needs to overcome resistance at $80,000 for more upside.
Bitcoin’s Bollinger Bands have reached their tightest point ever on the monthly time frame, signaling that volatility should be expected soon.
Related: Bitcoin 'Bull Score' hits six-month high as 2022 bear-market fears linger
Bollinger Bands (BB) is a technical indicator used by traders to assess momentum and volatility within a certain range.
The “tightest Bitcoin monthly Bollinger band squeeze, ever,” said analyst Cantonese Cat in an X post on Wednesday.
“This will lead to a very powerful move when it expands,” the analyst added.
The BTC/USD pair gained about 230% between December 2023 and August 2025 to its current all-time high of $126,000, after breaking above the upper boundary of the Bollinger Bands.
Similar occurrences in 2020 and 2016 triggered the previous bull runs that saw BTC price rally more than 520% and 4,400%, respectively.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4df-f176-7641-970d-15a904bbaaaa.png\")
Meanwhile, Coinvo Trading shared a chart showing that Bitcoin’s monthly RSI has dropped to its lowest level since late 2022.
This coincided with the BTC/USD drop to a multi-year support trend line, an occurrence that has previously marked Bitcoin’s macro bottoms.
The last time this happened was at the bottom of the 2022 bear market, preceding a 350% BTC price rally to its previous all-time high of $73,800, reached in March 2024.
“The same exact trendline, the same oversold RSI, the same outcome,” Coinvo Trading said, adding:
“Bull run is next in line.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4df-f6c8-7870-996d-84d1cd23055a.png\")
As Cointelegraph reported, several Bitcoin metrics, including a bullish MACD crossover on the weekly chart, suggest that a BTC price breakout is about to begin.
Bitcoin’s 6% rally over the last three days saw the BTC/USD pair fill the $74,000-$77,000 CME gap created over the weekend.
Traders are now looking at the next CME gap above $80,000, formed in early February.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4df-fb30-778b-a8bc-bcf75517793a.png\")
MC Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said resistance at $79,000 could temporarily “stall” Bitcoin’s upward momentum
“Likely we'll test it first, come back down for a little, find extra stamina, and then we'll push through to $86K.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4df-ff72-7ec7-b213-4901efd12705.png\")
Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s whale order book showed “heavy sell pressure” between $78,000-$80,000, reinforcing the significance of this resistance level.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db4e0-0273-7501-b28a-46b00ce59a41.jpg\")
As Cointelegraph reported, a close above the $76,000-$78,000 resistance zone would confirm that the buyers are in control, clearing the path for a potential rally to $84,000.
Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, said Wednesday that the company had removed New York Attorney General Letitia James’ prediction markets lawsuit from state court to federal court, arguing that the case turns on disputed questions of federal law over how event contracts are regulated.
The move escalates a legal fight that could help define whether prediction markets fall under federal commodities regulation and the scope of the US Commodities and Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) or state gambling laws, with broader implications for the oversight of platforms like Coinbase and Gemini.
“We have removed this action to federal court,” wrote Grewal in a Wednesday X post, adding that New York’s claims raise “disputed and substantial questions of federal law” and are subject to “complete preemption.”
It comes in response to a Tuesday lawsuit filed by New York’s Attorney General Letitia James against Coinbase Financial Markets and Gemini Titan, alleging their prediction market offerings violate New York gambling law by allowing users to bet on sports, entertainment and elections without a state gaming license, including users between 18 and 20 years old.
Related: Kalshi, Polymarket face trading halt in Nevada after court rulings
The lawsuit seeks fines, forfeiture of alleged illegal profits and restitution for customers, while also asking the court to stop the companies from offering similar products in New York without complying with state law.
Cointelegraph has approached Coinbase for comment on the matter and a copy of the court filing.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db494-505d-75bf-b89b-fd72832c471c.png\")
State regulators have stepped up pressure on prediction market platforms in recent months, with 11 states having pursued legal action against them, seeking to assert control over federal regulators.
Coinbase’s Grewal said in a Tuesday X post that prediction markets are “federally regulated national exchanges” under the CFTC and the company will continue to “fight for the federal oversight of these markets that Congress intended.”
Coinbase launched prediction markets across 50 US states, including New York, on Jan. 28, offering trades on “any real-world outcomes” across sports, politics, culture and more.
The New York Attorney General’s lawsuit is the latest sign that state regulators are seeking to assert their jurisdiction over emerging prediction markets, contradicting the CFTC’s stance, which said it has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets registered as designated contract markets, such as Polymarket and Kalshi.
On April 2, the CFTC filed three separate lawsuits against the gaming regulators of Illinois, Connecticut and Arizona, arguing that those states could not apply their gambling laws and licensing requirements to event contracts listed on CFTC-regulated platforms.
On April 8, the CFTC and US Department of Justice (DoJ) asked a federal court to block Arizona from enforcing state gambling law against Kalshi’s event contracts, arguing that they fall under the CFTC’s exclusive authority.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?
", "description": "Coinbase transferred its lawsuit against the New York attorney general to a federal court, in a move that may bring greater clarity related to the CFTC’s jurisdiction over prediction markets.", "published": "2026-04-22T11:55:44+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "new-york" }, { "slug": "court" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "coinbase-ny-prediction-markets-federal-court", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263492" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin Bull Score hits six-month high as 2022 bear-market fears linger", "leadText": "Bitcoin price metrics saw a broad recovery in April, but analysis warns that the 2022 bear-market breakdown could still repeat.", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) price metrics are showing relief this month, but the risk of repeating the 2022 bear market remains.
Key points:
Bitcoin’s Bull Score Index combined price metric reaches its highest levels since October last year.
The relief may be short-lived, analysis warns, pointing to the 2022 bear market.
Crypto sentiment reaches its most bullish since January, per the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
New data from onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant places the spotlight on the Bitcoin Bull Score Index (BSI).
Bitcoin has finally entered “neutral” territory with its push to $78,000, the latest BSI data confirms, with the Index climbing to its highest since October 2025.
BSI incorporates nine price metrics to give an overall impression of performance. Since the bear market began, it has been sharply bearish — just as in the early stages of the previous bear market four years ago.
“First time in this bear market that the Bull Score Index enters neutral zone (50),” CryptoQuant contributor Julio Moreno noted in an X post on Wednesday.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db45b-b4b8-728d-a078-da3982e079df.png\")
Moreno cautioned that despite the pressure being off for now, BSI also had a brief cooling-off period before the 2022 bear market continued.
“In March 2022, the Bull Score entered neutral territory for about a week, and then the price resumed its decline,” he added.
Should history repeat, attention will be on the Index’s performance into the April monthly close, as BTC/USD attempts to break out of a multi-month range.
Examining BSI readings last week, with price around $74,000, CryptoQuant contributor Arab Chain described a “balance between supply and demand forces.”
“On the other hand, the current BSI reading shows that the market is still far from the area of strong optimism (above 60), which typically indicates strong bullish conditions, while also remaining above the zone of extreme pessimism (clearly below 40),” they wrote in a QuickTake blog post.
“This places the market in a transitional phase, as investors await new catalysts to determine the next direction.”
Other signs of a broader market recovery come from crypto trader sentiment.
Related: BTC price due new highs: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week
\n\n\n🚨 UPDATE: Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits at 32 (Fear) today, a notable recovery from Extreme Fear at 23 last week. pic.twitter.com/lmjfjh0Ui3
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) April 22, 2026
According to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, a classic lagging indicator that uses a basket of factors to reflect the mood among investors, conditions are at their least negative since mid-January.
Fear & Greed measured 32/100 on Wednesday — still within its “fear” zone while like BSI also approaching the “neutral” bracket.
The Index value has nearly tripled in a little over a week.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db45d-06f3-769e-80c5-9221a29bfe5f.png\")
Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Volo has disclosed a security breach that resulted in the loss of approximately $3.5 million in digital assets, marking the latest incident in a series of exploits targeting DeFi platforms.
In a Wednesday post on X, the team said the attack affected select vaults and involved assets including Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Matrixdock Gold XAUm and USDC (USDC). “We detected the attack, immediately notified the Sui Foundation and ecosystem partners to contain the damage, and froze the vaults to prevent any further exposure,” the team wrote.
The protocol added that around $28 million in total value locked across other vaults is safe, with the exploit limited to three isolated vaults and no shared vulnerability identified. It also revealed plans to absorb the losses rather than pass them on to users, though details of any remediation plan have yet to be finalized.
Volo is a liquid staking DeFi platform on the Sui blockchain, allowing users to stake their Sui (SUI) tokens and receive voloSUI (VSUI) in return. DeFi is already on edge, as the exploit comes as another liquid restaking protocol, Kelp, was hacked for approximately $293 million over the weekend, which has had a ripple effect across the broader ecosystem.
Related: Kelp DAO attacker moves $175M in Ether after exploit: Arkham
In two separate updates, Volo said it has frozen or blocked roughly $2 million of the stolen funds so far. In the first update, the protocol said that roughly $500,000 linked to the breach has already been frozen. In a later update, the team claimed it had successfully blocked an attempt by the attacker to bridge 19.6 WBTC, effectively removing those funds from the hacker’s control.
“We are now working with ecosystem partners to determine the best path to return these funds to Volo,” the protocol wrote.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db478-8876-7ff3-8aa0-81080b64659a.PNG\")
As Cointelegraph reported, more than $17 billion has been stolen in crypto over the past decade, with private key compromises identified as one of the major contributing attack vectors, according to DefiLlama.
Related: ZachXBT asks MemeCore to explain valuation and token supply
Roughly 22.3% of incidents are linked to brute-force key compromises, 18.2% to unknown methods and 10% to phishing attacks on multi-signature wallets. The findings show that many of the biggest losses stem from wallet security and user-side weaknesses rather than protocol bugs.
Magazine: 53 DeFi projects infiltrated, 50M NEO tokens could be ‘given back’: Asia Express
", "description": "DeFi platform Volo has disclosed a $3.5 million exploit affecting select vaults, with some funds frozen and recovery efforts underway alongside ecosystem partners.", "published": "2026-04-22T10:55:41+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "staking" }, { "slug": "sui" } ], "slug": "volo-defi-3-5m-exploit-vault-attack-recovery", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263462" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Uzbekistan creates state-backed crypto mining zone with tax breaks", "leadText": "Uzbekistan has created a supervised crypto mining zone in Karakalpakstan, allowing foreign sales while requiring proceeds to flow through local bank accounts.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "Uzbekistan has created a special crypto mining zone across Karakalpakstan under a presidential resolution signed on Friday, opening a supervised framework that lets approved mining companies sell mined digital assets on foreign platforms while keeping the proceeds inside the country’s banking system.
A presidential decree effective Monday creates the “Besqala Mining Valley,” a special mining zone across the Republic of Karakalpakstan, where registered legal entities can carry out crypto mining, use a mix of power sources and apply for resident status through a new directorate under the republic’s Council of Ministers.
The framework gives miners in the zone the right to sell crypto assets obtained through mining on national crypto exchanges or foreign platforms, including through direct contracts, and to exchange them for other liquid crypto assets. Still, the opening comes with strict controls over how mining revenues move through the financial system, and proceeds from those sales must be transferred to bank accounts in Uzbekistan.
The decree also provides for a tax exemption through Jan. 1, 2035, while requiring them to pay a monthly fee equal to 1% of income from mining activity to the zone’s directorate. The resolution separately instructs officials to submit draft amendments to Uzbekistan’s tax code within two months.
The new decree adds to Uzbekistan’s recent use of special-zone incentives in Karakalpakstan to attract investment into a region that a 2025 United Nations Development Programme report described as having high poverty rates and limited industrial development.
The new framework also adjusts Uzbekistan’s earlier approach to crypto mining. In 2023, Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP) issued a decree on licensing crypto mining operations, requiring firms to only use solar power to mine digital assets.
The new decree allows a wider mix of power sources within the zone, including renewable, hydrogen and grid electricity, with higher tariffs applied for grid usage.
Related: Uzbekistan increases fees for crypto operations
The move also fits a broader investment strategy in Karakalpakstan. According to a Reuters report in November 2025, the government had established a separate tax-free zone for artificial intelligence and data center projects, offering discounted electricity and tax exemptions to draw foreign investors.
Under the initiative, foreign firms investing $100 million or more get full tax and duty exemptions until 2040. According to the report, Uzbekistan expects to attract over $1 billion in foreign investment by 2030 from the AI special zone project.
Related: Uzbekistan greenlights stablecoins for payments under new sandbox regime
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "The mining zone follows Uzbekistan’s AI tax-free zone push, part of a broader strategy to attract investment into Karakalpakstan.", "published": "2026-04-22T10:30:26+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "mining" }, { "slug": "taxes" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-mining" }, { "slug": "uzbekistan" } ], "slug": "uzbekistan-crypto-mining-zone-karakalpakstan-investment-push", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263457" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Stratiphy reopens tax-free route to crypto ETNs for UK investors", "leadText": "Stratiphy is reopening a tax-free route to crypto ETNs in the UK after HMRC’s ISA rule change left retail investors with little practical access.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "UK fintech platform Stratiphy launched a new offering with a practical, tax-free route back into crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for UK investors after a series of regulatory shifts effectively shut them out.
In October 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority lifted its four-year ban on retail access to crypto ETNs tied to assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). These products could initially be held in standard stocks-and-shares Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), offering tax-free exposure.
However, that changed at the start of the new tax year, when HM Revenue & Customs ruled that new purchases of crypto ETNs would no longer qualify for those ISAs. Instead, eligibility was limited to Innovative Finance (IF) ISAs, a niche wrapper typically used for peer-to-peer lending, and no platform offered both, resulting in a dead end for investors seeking access.
Stratiphy’s launch now reopens that route by offering three ETNs issued by 21Shares, covering Bitcoin, Ether and a blended Bitcoin-gold product, according to the Financial Times.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db41e-e4e7-7b59-aab2-3b0d84d0db03.PNG\")
Cointelegraph reached out to Stratiphy for comment, but had not received a response by publication.
Related: Coinbase rolls out UK crypto-backed loans as FCA shapes rules
Crypto ETNs are already available through platforms such as Interactive Investor, Freetrade and Revolut. However, none currently offers IF ISAs, and those accounts fall outside the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme, per the FT.
Trading 212, one of Europe’s largest online investment platforms, also reportedly allowed UK retail customers to trade crypto ETNs without the required regulatory permission. The company later sought the proper authorization after being contacted by regulators.
An October 2025 research report by IG Group predicted that the UK crypto market could expand by up to 20% following the relaunch of crypto ETNs. The study found that around 30% of UK adults would consider investing in crypto through ETNs, largely due to the perceived safety and regulatory oversight these products offer.
Related: UK plans payments rule changes for stablecoins, tokenized deposits
As Cointelegraph reported, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation on guidance for its upcoming crypto regulatory framework, which is expected to take full effect on October 25, 2027. The regulator is seeking industry input on rules covering areas such as stablecoin issuance, trading, custody and staking.
The guidance is part of a wider set of consultations released since late 2025 and aims to prepare firms for the new regime, under which crypto companies will need FCA authorization.
Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt
", "description": "Stratiphy has relaunched crypto ETN access for UK investors through an ISA structure, reversing earlier restrictions that left no compliant route to tax-free crypto exposure.", "published": "2026-04-22T10:01:44+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "uk-government" }, { "slug": "united-kingdom" }, { "slug": "etns" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-investment" } ], "slug": "stratiphy-crypto-etns-uk-isa-offering", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263452" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "AI drives surge in ‘bug bounty’ reports, but ‘slop’ is rising too", "leadText": "HackerOne, one of the largest bug bounty platforms in the world, reported there were 85,000 valid bounty submissions in 2025, up 7% from the previous year.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Crypto protocols have warned that an increase in AI use has led to a flood of bogus bug bounty submissions, putting a strain on teams trying to identify real threats to their protocols.
Bug bounties are a system to reward “good” hackers for submitting reports about potential vulnerabilities and are popular in the crypto industry. AI has now made it easier to sift through large amounts of code to find possible bugs, though AI is also known to hallucinate.
“AI is changing the way that bug bounty programs must operate,” said Barry Plunkett, co-CEO of Cosmos Labs, on Tuesday, responding to a bug bounty hunter who accused the protocol of ignoring their vulnerability report.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db3ef-8f90-774e-8dcb-44426022d0eb.png\")
“Our program has seen a 900% increase in submission volume from last year, on the order of 20-50 per day,” he said, adding that it’s led to a huge increase in both valid and invalid reports.
Kadan Stadelmann, a blockchain developer and chief technology officer at Komodo Platform, told Cointelegraph he has also seen a notable increase in bug bounty submissions and payouts across organizations.
“There has definitely been an increase in low-quality bug bounty submissions, some of which have been false positives, potentially suggesting AI sourcing. One potential explanation is that AI has caused a decrease in the cost to produce a report, resulting in an influx of submissions.”
In January, Daniel Stenberg, the creator of the open-source data transfer tool curl, which is used in many apps, including blockchain infrastructure, announced he was ending his bug bounty program because of an influx of “AI slop in vulnerability reports,” and he was exhausted from sifting through them.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db3ef-9d26-717e-b1ed-c60060f94c42.png\")
HackerOne, one of the largest bug bounty platforms in the world, reported in January that there were 85,000 valid bounty submissions in 2025, up 7% from the previous year.
Plunkett said Cosmos Labs has already started to adapt its approach as a result of the uptick in bug bounty submissions by tightening how it scores submissions, prioritizing trusted researchers with a proven track record and working with other bug bounty providers that offer more advanced triage.
Meanwhile, Stadelmann said bug bounty programs have proven integral to defending decentralized systems, and adopting AI to assist in sifting through the noise could be a solution.
“Blockchain teams will have to create AI deterrents to sift through incoming bug bounties. The smaller the team, the bigger the problem of increased bug bounties will become. Software engineers won't have the capacity to examine everything,” he said.
“This is where defensive AI systems to automatically sift through incoming bug bounties will be crucial. Teams dependent on bug bounties will need to develop stricter standards on their bug bounty programs as a means of lowering the number of incoming reports.”
Related: Crypto hackers stole $17B over past 10 years: DefiLlama
", "description": "Artificial intelligence tools have driven a massive spike in crypto bug bounty submissions, though a large portion of them are false positives.", "published": "2026-04-22T07:57:50+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "security" }, { "slug": "technology" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "cosmos" }, { "slug": "web3" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "ai-crypto-bug-bounty-submissions-surge", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263442" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Privacy protocol Umbra shuts front end to stifle Kelp exploiters", "leadText": "Umbra has shut down its front end to stop hackers, but says it can’t stop the use of its smart contracts or another version of its open-source front end.", "author": { "slug": "jesse-coghlan" }, "bodyText": "Privacy-focused crypto protocol Umbra said it has taken down its front-end website to make it more difficult for hackers who have been using it to move funds from recent “high-profile hacks.”
Umbra posted to X on Tuesday that it is aware that around $800,000 worth of stolen funds were moved via its protocol.
It added that it made the decision to move the hosted version of its front end into maintenance mode and would restore it “as soon as we are assured that doing so won't create obstacles to the current recovery efforts.”
It comes just days after the Kelp protocol was exploited for over $280 million, which is suspected to have been carried out by North Korean hackers. Recent reports pointed to Umbra as among the protocols that the exploiter has been attempting to use to bridge funds from Ether to Bitcoin.
North Korean hacking groups are heavily sanctioned by the US, and multiple crypto platforms have worked to freeze or stifle the hackers’ efforts to move the funds.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db3cb-cd96-7340-af42-e6ee1f5db986.png\")
Umbra said, however, that there was “nothing we can do” to stop anyone from using its smart contracts or a local or self-hosted version of its open-source front end.
Roman Storm, co-founder of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, argued the move to pause the front end may not be enough to avoid ire from authorities.
Storm was convicted in August of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, despite arguing that he was not in control of how the protocol was used.
“Prosecutors in my case called me a liar when I said that I can’t control Tornado Cash,” said Storm, who beat charges of conspiring to violate US sanctions.
He claimed that authorities viewed “changing a front end is the same thing as controlling an entire protocol.”
Related: Crypto hackers stole $17B over past 10 years: DefiLlama
“If you can make changes to the user interface, including further updates through new builds on IPFS, then you are in full control,” he added.
In its post, Umbra said that its protocol was “useful for protecting the identity of the receiver, not the sender,” and wasn’t useful for hackers wanting to obscure their money trail.
“All the stolen funds moved through the protocol can be identified, and we have been in touch with security researchers who are involved,” it added.
Magazine: South Korea gets rich from crypto… North Korea gets weapons
", "description": "Privacy protocol Umbra said it has put its front-end website into maintenance mode to make it harder for the hackers responsible for the recent Kelp exploit to move money.", "published": "2026-04-22T07:11:20+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "north-korea" }, { "slug": "tornado-cash" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "privacy-protocol-umbra-shuts-front-end-in-attempt-to-stifle-kelp-exploiters", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263432" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "US law firm apologizes after AI hallucinations made it to legal filing", "leadText": "Sullivan & Cromwell’s Andrew Dietderich said the company has AI policies to prevent incorrect citations and other errors, but procedures weren’t followed on this occasion.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "Wall Street law firm Sullivan & Cromwell has apologized to a federal judge after submitting a court filing that contained around 40 incorrect citations and other errors caused by AI hallucinations.
“We deeply regret that this has occurred,” Andrew Dietderich, co-head of Sullivan & Cromwell’s global restructuring team, wrote Friday in a letter to Chief Judge Martin Glenn of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
“The Firm and I are keenly aware of our responsibility to ensure the accuracy of all submissions including under Local Bankruptcy Rule 9011-1(d), and I take responsibility for the failure to do so,” he said of an emergency motion filed nine days earlier.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db3aa-ffde-7f75-a617-75ab87d5b425.png\")
The incident highlights the risk AI tools can pose in high-stakes professional work without proper oversight. A database managed by legal technologist Damien Charlotin has recorded 1,334 incidents of AI hallucinations in court filings around the world, including more than 900 in the US.
Charlotin pointed out that most of these hallucinations involve fabricated citations, though AI-generated legal arguments have also occasionally been identified.
Dietderich said Sullivan & Cromwell has policies in place for the use of AI tools, which include a review of the citations it uses, but said the policies weren’t followed.
“Regrettably, this review process did not identify the inaccurate citations generated by AI, nor did it identify other errors that appear to have resulted in whole or in part from manual error.”
Sullivan & Cromwell is one of the largest law firms in the US by revenue, ranking 30th on the AmLaw Global 200. The firm also represented crypto exchange FTX in its bankruptcy case.
Dietderich said the law firm took “immediate remedial measures,” including a full review of the circumstances that led to the errors.
Related: Coinbase’s AI payments protocol x402 launches app store for AI agents
The firm is also “evaluating whether further enhancements to its internal training and review processes are warranted,” Dietderich said.
Dietderich also noted that the errors were spotted by a rival law firm.
“I also called Boies Schiller Flexner LLP on Friday to thank them for bringing this matter to our attention and to apologize directly to them as well,” he said.
Magazine: IronClaw rivals OpenClaw, Olas launches bots for Polymarket — AI Eye
", "description": "Wall Street law firm Sullivan & Cromwell sent an apology letter to a bankruptcy judge after one of its filings contained dozens of incorrect citations and errors caused by AI hallucinations.", "published": "2026-04-22T06:50:15+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "wall-street" }, { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "job" }, { "slug": "court" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "us-law-firm-apologizes-ai-hallucinations-filing", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263427" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Coinbase highlights Algorand, Aptos' work to mitigate quantum threat", "leadText": "Coinbase’s quantum advisory board says quantum computing isn’t yet a threat, but has urged for upgrade work to begin, with some blockchains being less prepared than others.", "author": { "slug": "jesse-coghlan" }, "bodyText": "Coinbase’s quantum researchers have highlighted Algorand and Aptos’ work to prepare their networks for potential threats from quantum computing in a report on Tuesday, as they warned that other proof-of-stake chains may be more vulnerable to attacks.
Coinbase’s Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain released a paper outlining the threat that quantum computers pose to blockchains and suggested ways to prepare networks for the technology.
“A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could one day break the cryptography that secures digital assets across major blockchains,” Coinbase said. “The board has high confidence this type of machine will eventually be built.”
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db381-6666-7164-ba1b-f6d55e0570f4.png\")
Quantum computers are an emerging technology expected to be significantly more powerful than today’s top supercomputers, which has some crypto analysts worried that the technology could eventually crack blockchains’ algorithms and break into crypto wallets.
Coinbase said in its report that the layer-1 blockchain Algorand has a “staged roadmap toward full quantum readiness,” and is among the first networks to have deployed cryptography designed to be secure against quantum computers.
“At the transaction and execution layers, Algorand already provides the cryptographic tools necessary to support quantum-resistant accounts,” the report said, adding that users can create such accounts “without requiring protocol modifications.”
It added that Algorand had recently completed its first quantum-resistant transaction on mainnet, but block proposals and committee voting mechanisms “remain vulnerable to quantum attacks,” which the blockchain is researching ways to secure.
Coinbase said that Aptos, a competing layer-1 blockchain, was “well positioned for the transition to post-quantum secure transactions.”
It explained that on Aptos, a user’s public key is stored as metadata associated with the account, and a user's address isn’t derived from the hash of the user’s public key.
“Users who want to become post-quantum secure need only sign a transaction that updates their authentication key to a post-quantum public key,” Coinbase said. “There is no need to move assets to a new account.”
Coinbase warned that proof-of-stake blockchains, including Ethereum and Solana, may be at greater risk to quantum computing because of the signature schemes validators use to secure the network, according to the board.
Related: Adam Back says Bitcoin’s post-quantum shift may reveal true Satoshi stash
However, Coinbase acknowledged that Solana has created a new signature scheme, and users can move their tokens to a new address based on the upgraded scheme and will be “no longer exposed to a quantum attacker.”
Ethereum, too, “has a clear roadmap to address this in the near future,” Coinbase said, which includes upgrading signatures to be quantum-resistant.
The report also discussed how networks could deal with quantum-vulnerable tokens and wallets, suggesting that blockchains could tell their users to migrate to quantum-proof wallets and that wallets with assets that are quantum-vulnerable would be revoked and lost forever.
However, the board said that the threat of quantum computing “doesn't exist yet,” as a computer that could threaten crypto “would need to be orders of magnitude more powerful than anything available today,” which could take at least a decade.
Magazine: Bitcoin may face hard fork over any attempt to freeze Satoshi’s coins
", "description": "Coinbase’s quantum computing advisory group says Algorand and Aptos are more prepared for quantum computing and has warned other proof-of-stake blockchains to begin upgrading as soon as possible.", "published": "2026-04-22T05:57:30+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "algorand" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" }, { "slug": "aptos" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "coinbase-says-algorand-aptos-better-prepped-for-quantum-threat", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263422" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Justin Sun sues World Liberty Financial over token lockup", "leadText": "Sun said the suit is to protect his rights as a token holder, but he remains a supporter of President Donald Trump and his administration’s efforts to make the US crypto-friendly.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Update: April 22, 6:40 am UTC: This article has been updated to include more information on Justin Sun and World Liberty Financial.
Tron founder Justin Sun said he filed a lawsuit against Trump-family-backed World Liberty Financial for allegedly freezing his tokens and threatening to burn them “without any proper justification.”
In a post to social media on Wednesday, Sun said the suit, filed in a California federal court, was meant to protect his rights as a token holder.
“I have tried in good faith to resolve this situation with the World Liberty project team without resorting to litigation. But the project team has refused my requests to unfreeze my tokens and restore my rights as a token holder. They have left me with no choice but to turn to the courts,” he added.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db36b-5bd7-73e5-866e-17bf18fff33e.png\")
Sun previously threatened legal action earlier this month over lengthy lockup periods for WLFI’s governance token and accused WLFI’s recent governance proposal of lacking transparency because 76% of the voting tokens came from 10 wallets.
Related: World Liberty burns 47M tokens in bid to pump price as slide continues
At the time, the WLFI project team said on X that the claims were “baseless allegations” and added, “We have the contracts. We have the evidence. We have the truth. See you in court pal.”
Cointelegraph has contacted Tron and World Liberty Financial for comment.
At the same time, Sun took aim at an April 15 WLFI governance proposal that would lock founders, team members, and advisors' tokens for two years and then gradually release them over the next three years, with a 10% token burn when it passes.
Holders who don’t accept the new schedule remain locked indefinitely under existing terms, according to WLFI.
Sun argued that if the proposal passes, it will be bad for the community because “token holders who do not affirmatively accept its terms — including a requirement that 10% of all advisor tokens be permanently burned — will have their tokens locked indefinitely.”
“This proposal is bad for the community, but because World Liberty has frozen my early investor tokens, I cannot vote them for or against the proposal,” he added.
Sun said on X that the lawsuit doesn't change his views on US President Donald Trump or his administration.
“Unfortunately, certain individuals on the World Liberty project team have been operating the project in a manner that goes against President Trump’s values,” Sun said.
He is also believed to be one of the largest holders of the TRUMP memecoin, which earned him an invitation to the crypto gala dinner in May 2025 and a watch presented at a ceremony.
Crypto data analytics platform CoinCarp lists 642,882 TRUMP holders, with over 91% of the supply concentrated among the top 10 wallets and over 97% among the top 100 wallets.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi
", "description": "Tron founder Justin Sun is suing the Trump-backed World Liberty Financial project for allegedly freezing his governance tokens and threatening to burn them, following a lawsuit threat in early April.", "published": "2026-04-22T05:29:24+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "technology" }, { "slug": "court" }, { "slug": "justin-sun" }, { "slug": "governance-token" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "justin-sun-sues-world-liberty-financial-token-freeze", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263417" }, { "category": { "slug": "explained" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Inside the MAS Sandbox: How Ripple is testing RLUSD for real trade settlements", "leadText": "How Ripple is testing RLUSD in Singapore’s MAS sandbox to enable conditional trade settlements, and why this does not amount to full regulatory approval.", "author": { "slug": "dilip-kumar-patairya" }, "bodyText": "Singapore has strengthened its position as a leading hub for tokenized finance through Project BLOOM (Borderless, Liquid, Open, Online, Multi-currency).
This collaborative initiative brings together a group of traditional banks, fintech firms and stablecoin providers to evaluate how digital settlement assets can be integrated into existing financial infrastructure.
A notable partnership in the pilot involves Ripple and supply chain specialist Unloq. Together, they are exploring automated trade settlements using Ripple’s upcoming stablecoin, RLUSD, on the XRP Ledger.
While Ripple’s inclusion may appear to signal a green light from Singaporean regulators, the reality is more measured. RLUSD is currently operating within a sandboxed environment, a structured testing phase focused on specific technical applications rather than a broad regulatory mandate.
Distinguishing between this experimental validation and official licensure is essential to accurately assess the project’s current scope and future potential.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db342-20c7-7c6e-b5c2-eb81fd3e9256.jpg\")
Ripple’s pilot project under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) BLOOM initiative is focused on a specific challenge: automating cross-border trade settlement through programmable digital money.
The setup brings together three core elements:
RLUSD as the settlement asset
XRP Ledger as the transaction infrastructure
Unloq’s SC+ system as the execution layer for trade finance workflows
Rather than simply moving funds between parties, the system is designed to release payments automatically once specific commercial conditions have been met. These conditions may include shipment confirmation, document verification or financing triggers.
RLUSD is being evaluated not just as a payment tool, but as an integrated part of a conditional settlement mechanism embedded directly into trade workflows.
Did you know? Traditional trade finance still relies heavily on paper documents such as bills of lading, which can take days or even weeks to process. Programmable settlement systems aim to digitize and automate these workflows.
The MAS launched BLOOM in October 2025 to examine how tokenized money could improve settlement processes across borders and between institutions.
The initiative extends well beyond any single participant. It includes banks such as DBS and UOB, infrastructure providers such as Partior, and stablecoin issuers including Circle. Ripple is just one participant in this broader ecosystem.
Importantly, BLOOM is not a live production system. It functions as a sandbox-style environment that allows firms to test financial innovations under regulatory oversight.
As a result, involvement in the initiative does not mean MAS has approved RLUSD as a universally accepted settlement asset. It simply indicates that MAS views the proposed use case as sufficiently promising to test in a controlled setting.
Recognizing this distinction helps avoid a common misunderstanding. Participation in a regulatory sandbox reflects supervised experimentation, not formal regulatory endorsement.
Trade finance is more complex than straightforward payments. A standard transaction typically involves multiple parties, including exporters, importers, banks, insurers and logistics providers, along with several layers of documentation and conditional obligations.
Payments are rarely executed immediately. They are tied to specific events, such as:
Shipment verification
Delivery confirmation
Document verification
Credit issuance or financing milestones
Traditional systems manage these interdependencies through manual procedures and intermediaries, often resulting in delays, errors and limited transparency.
Ripple’s RLUSD pilot seeks to address this complexity by embedding payment logic directly into the settlement layer. Instead of handling documents separately before releasing payments, the process takes place within a single, unified execution framework.
This approach sets the pilot apart from most stablecoin applications. It goes beyond simply speeding up money transfers. Instead, it focuses on synchronizing the movement of money with real-world commercial conditions in real time.
Did you know? Stablecoins were initially popularized as a source of liquidity in crypto trading, but regulators are increasingly exploring their role in real-world financial infrastructure, including cross-border payments and settlement systems.
Ripple’s involvement in BLOOM coincides with a separate regulatory development. In December 2025, MAS expanded the range of payment activities permitted under the Major Payment Institution (MPI) license held by Ripple’s Singapore subsidiary.
This licensing change allows Ripple to offer a broader range of regulated payment services in Singapore.
Nevertheless, the BLOOM pilot remains separate. It is not intended to license Ripple’s products for widespread use, but rather to evaluate whether a specific settlement architecture works effectively in practice.
The distinction can be outlined as follows:
MPI license expansion: Regulatory authorization for broader payment services
BLOOM pilot: Controlled testing of programmable settlement infrastructure
Confusing these two elements may overstate the regulatory significance of the pilot. BLOOM is designed to address technical and operational questions, not to select or endorse one settlement model over another.
Ripple’s pilot is part of a broader MAS effort to explore tokenized financial infrastructure across multiple areas.
In November 2025, MAS announced plans to issue tokenized MAS bills to primary dealers, with settlement facilitated through a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC). Around the same time, it also revised its guidance on tokenized capital market products to provide greater clarity on regulatory expectations.
These steps point to a broader approach. Rather than supporting a single type of digital money, Singapore is testing a multi-asset settlement ecosystem that includes:
Tokenized bank liabilities
Regulated stablecoins
Wholesale CBDCs
Tokenized securities
Within this framework, RLUSD represents one possible settlement asset among several.
Ripple’s approach differs from other stablecoin and tokenized money experiments currently underway in several important ways:
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db344-a4df-77f1-9033-c004171d92a6.jpg\")
Three elements distinguish Ripple’s pilot: conditional settlement logic, integration with trade workflows and a multi-asset environment.
Conditional settlement logic: Unlike most stablecoin pilots, RLUSD is being tested in a system where payments are contingent on real-world events. This adds a layer of programmability that extends well beyond basic transfers.
Integration with trade workflows: The pilot embeds settlement directly into trade finance processes rather than treating it as a separate function. This has the potential to reduce fragmentation across documentation, financing and payment.
Multi-asset environment: RLUSD is being evaluated alongside tokenized bank liabilities. This aligns with MAS’ broader objective of creating interoperable settlement assets rather than relying on a single dominant model.
Collectively, these elements place RLUSD within a broader experiment in programmable financial infrastructure rather than limiting it to digital payments alone.
Despite its potential, the pilot leaves several important questions unresolved:
Can trade conditions be reliably digitized and verified in real time?
Will smaller businesses actually benefit from improved access to financing?
Can stablecoins and bank issued tokens coexist without fragmenting liquidity?
How will regulatory oversight evolve if such systems move beyond the pilot stage?
These questions underscore that the pilot is not a complete solution. Rather, it is an exploration of whether a new settlement model can function effectively at scale.
Did you know? Smart contracts can reduce settlement risk by ensuring that funds move only when predefined conditions are met. This can help reduce disputes arising from mismatched documentation in international trade.
The BLOOM initiative suggests that the future of digital settlement may not be defined by any single asset type or infrastructure.
Instead, regulators such as MAS appear to be examining a layered approach in which different forms of tokenized money serve distinct roles:
Stablecoins for programmability and interoperability
Bank tokens for institutional liquidity
CBDCs for sovereign settlement assurance
Ripple’s RLUSD pilot adds to this ongoing experimentation, offering one possible model for how stablecoins could extend beyond simple payments into more sophisticated financial workflows.
A senior US military commander has lauded Bitcoin as a “valuable computer science tool,” arguing its usefulness extends beyond monetary applications and can support US national security interests.
“It is a valuable computer science tool, as a power projection,” Admiral Samuel Paparo said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, adding that Bitcoin’s proof-of-work technology “imposes more cost” on attackers attempting to compromise the network:
“Outside of the economic formulation of it, it has got really important computer science applications for cybersecurity.”
The Senate hearing looked into the strategic posture of US forces in Indo-Pacific, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, China’s military expansion and coordination with foreign adversaries, and threats from North Korea.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db2e4-2c81-7972-a93c-0efa67925931.png\")
Paparo’s remarks echo similar comments from US Space Force member Jason Lowery in December 2023, who said Bitcoin and other proof-of-work blockchains could protect the US in cyberwarfare.
At the time, he said that while Bitcoin is mostly seen as a “monetary system” to secure funds, few know that Bitcoin can be used to secure “all forms of data, messages or command signals.”
“As a result, this misconception underplays the technology’s broad strategic significance for cybersecurity, and consequently, national security.”
Research into Bitcoin’s use as a cybersecurity tool comes as many adversaries — including state-linked actors — have turned to cyberattacks such as phishing, ransomware and distributed denial-of-service to sabotage infrastructure and secure economic advantages.
North Korea’s notorious Lazarus Group is one of the most notable examples of this, having stolen billions of dollars in crypto over the past decade to support its nuclear program.
Paparo’s comments came in response to a question from US Senator Tommy Tuberville, who asked how the US and Congress can lead on Bitcoin competition, noting that China’s top monetary think tank now also views Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
Paparo didn’t address the question directly but added, \"Bitcoin is a reality. It is a peer-to-peer zero-trust transfer of value. Anything that supports all instruments of national power for the United States of America is to the good.”
The US holds the largest Bitcoin reserves among nation-states and holds the largest share of Bitcoin hashrate. However, it remains reliant on foreign-manufactured mining equipment, an issue that has raised national security concerns related to supply chain risks.
Related: Quantum threat to Bitcoin still years away, says Borderless Capital partner
Last month, US Senators Bill Cassidy and Cynthia Lummis introduced the Mined in America Act to resolve that issue by bringing more Bitcoin mining manufacturing back to the US.
It also seeks to codify Trump’s executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M
", "description": "US Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo said Bitcoin is a tool for “power projection,” arguing that the US can use it as a tool to strengthen cybersecurity.", "published": "2026-04-22T03:14:42+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-mining" }, { "slug": "us-government" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "energy" }, { "slug": "data" } ], "slug": "us-admiral-calls-bitcoin-instrument-us-power-projection", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263407" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Kalshi mulls crypto expansion with perpetual futures launch: Report", "leadText": "According to reports, Kalshi plans to launch crypto perpetual futures, expanding beyond prediction markets as regulated derivatives offerings in the US continue to evolve.", "author": { "slug": "sam-bourgi" }, "bodyText": "Prediction market exchange Kalshi is reportedly preparing to expand into cryptocurrency trading by introducing perpetual futures contracts, marking a major shift beyond its core event-based derivatives business.
In a Tuesday report, The Information cited people familiar with the matter as saying Kalshi plans to offer perpetual futures — commonly known as “perps” — on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC).
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db1a9-dd4b-76da-9d4a-80921b028b92.png\")
Perpetual futures are a type of derivative contract that allows traders to speculate on price movements without an expiration date.
Unlike traditional futures, which must be rolled over periodically, perps enable continuous exposure and are typically paired with leverage. The structure was popularized in crypto markets by BitMEX, helping fuel the rapid growth of derivatives trading.
Kalshi’s planned launch would signal a move away from binary event contracts toward continuous financial markets, potentially broadening its appeal to both retail and institutional traders.
Kalshi is regulated in the United States by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a distinction that could position it as a compliant alternative to offshore crypto derivatives platforms.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig has indicated that these products could become available in the United States in the near future, as regulators seek to bring more trading volume onshore.
Related: Onchain real-world perps surge, while altcoin rout drags on: Report
The reported move comes amid intensifying competition across both prediction markets and the fast-growing perpetual futures segment, with US platforms increasingly seeking to offer this trading to non-US residents.
Crypto exchanges have been drawn in this direction, with Coinbase recently launching round-the-clock perpetual-style futures tied to equities for non-US traders, expanding beyond its traditional crypto derivatives offering.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db1ac-fb54-7801-a64c-51229c0445cf.png\")
Kraken has also rolled out tokenized stock perpetual futures for users outside the United States, targeting exposure to US stock indexes, precious metals and individual stocks.
Related: S&P Dow Jones licenses S&P 500 perpetual futures for Hyperliquid
", "description": "Kalshi plans to launch crypto perpetual futures, signaling a shift beyond prediction markets amid intensifying competition in regulated derivatives trading, according to The Information.", "published": "2026-04-21T22:08:46+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "kalshi-eyes-crypto-expansion-with-perpetual-futures-launch-report", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263397" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "DoorDash to offer stablecoin payments to users via Tempo blockchain", "leadText": "Tempo announced the integration of ”stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure” with DoorDash, Stripe, Paradigm, Coastal Bank and ARQ.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "DoorDash plans to offer its users, “dashers” and merchants the option to use stablecoins in their transactions with the food delivery app, according to the Tempo blockchain.
In a Tuesday notice, Tempo said that together with DoorDash, it was “building stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure” in a move for its delivery drivers, also known as “dashers,” merchants, and users to settle transactions using digital currency. The blockchain cited payout speed, lower cross-border cost and transaction flexibility in its reasons for the integration, expected to apply to users in more than 40 countries.
“If we can get merchants and Dashers their money faster, and do that in a way that's affordable for them, that's a no-brainer for the entire ecosystem,” said DoorDash co-founder Andy Wang.
![\"App](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db104-4173-762f-ac5e-c154584060f2.png\")
Tempo announced the DoorDash integration as part of a larger move into stablecoins along with payments platform Stripe, investment firm Paradigm, Coastal Bank and fintech company ARQ.
While the delivery app previously announced moves into AI, the stablecoin infrastructure would represent a significantly large delivery app onboarding a digital asset payment rail for everyday settlements.
In February, DoorDash reported that it delivered 903 million orders in the fourth quarter of 2025, at a total value of $29.7 billion. The delivery platform is slated to report Q1 2026 results on May 6.
Related: UK plans payments rule changes for stablecoins, tokenized deposits
In addition to its work with Tempo, Stripe agreed to purchase the stablecoin platform Bridge as part of a $1.1 billion deal in 2024.
Traditional credit card companies, including Visa and Mastercard, have reached similar agreements moving closer to stablecoins. Mastercard agreed in March to buy stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK for a reported $1.8 billion, while Visa expanded its stablecoin settlement platform in July to support additional stablecoins.
Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi
", "description": "The Tempo blockchain said the stablecoin infrastructure in apps like DoorDash and other companies would help improve payout speed, cross-border cost and transaction flexibility.", "published": "2026-04-21T21:00:38+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "app-store" }, { "slug": "mobile-payments" }, { "slug": "delivery" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "doordash-stablecoin-payments-tempo", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "263392" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Blockchain.com adds perpetual futures trading to self-custody wallets", "leadText": "With a CFTC greenlight expected soon, industry momentum is building for the derivative contracts still only available to non-US investors.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "Blockchain.com has rolled out perpetual futures trading in its non-custodial DeFi wallet, allowing users to open leveraged positions directly from self-custodied Bitcoin used as collateral without transferring funds to an exchange.
According to Tuesday’s announcement, the feature is routed through decentralized derivatives exchange Hyperliquid and gives users access to more than 190 crypto markets with up to 40x leverage.
Perpetual futures are derivative contracts that allow traders to take leveraged positions on an asset’s price without an expiration date. Michael Selig, chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said last month that the derivatives regulator plans to allow the contracts in the coming weeks.
Trades are executed while assets remain in the wallet, allowing users to open, manage and close positions without relinquishing control of private keys or relying on a custodial intermediary.
Blockchain.com said the product also allows accounts to be funded directly with Bitcoin (BTC) from the user’s wallet in a single transaction, avoiding conversions or transfers across platforms. The company said it expects to expand the offering with additional asset classes, including foreign exchange, stocks and commodities, in the near future.
Blockchain.com, launched in 2011 and based in Malta, is a crypto services platform offering wallets, trading and infrastructure tools for retail and institutional users.
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Perpetual futures trading is expanding beyond cryptocurrencies into equities, commodities and other asset classes, as centralized and decentralized exchanges continue to broaden their offerings beyond digital assets.
In February, crypto exchange Kraken launched tokenized equity perpetual futures for non-US clients, offering 24/7 leveraged exposure to US stocks, indexes and commodities through crypto-based derivatives.
The following month, Coinbase launched stock-based perpetual futures for non-US users, offering leveraged, cash-settled exposure to major US equities as part of its push to expand 24/7 multi-asset trading.
On Tuesday, website The Information reported that prediction market platform Kalshi is exploring entry into crypto derivatives, with plans to offer perpetual futures trading in the United States.
Hyperliquid has also expanded beyond crypto-native markets. Data from the platform shows that commodity- and index-linked perpetual contracts, including oil, the S&P 500 and silver, rank among its most actively traded markets by volume, alongside major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether.
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Bitcoin (BTC) mid-size wallet inflows to Binance fell to 3,000–4,000 BTC, marking a multi-year low in sell-side activity from this cohort.
This coincides with Coinbase recording about 8,500 BTC in inflows from similar wallets on Sunday, while other exchanges saw much smaller flows. Binance exchange Bitcoin inflows have fallen to 2023 levels, but how is this significant to today’s market?
CryptoQuant data classifies mid-size wallets as the entities holding roughly 100–1,000 BTC, often linked to active traders and smaller institutions. These wallets tend to move coins to the exchanges during distribution periods, making their inflows a useful proxy for near-term selling intent.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db0a1-2607-707a-8ea2-9d8e1db10393.png\")
Crypto analyst Amr Taha noted that seven-day average Bitcoin inflows from this cohort into Binance have dropped to 3,000–4,000 BTC. This remains well below the deposits observed during April to May 2023, which ranged from 5,500 to 6,000 BTC.
The lowered inflow levels suggest reduced immediate sell-side pressure, as fewer coins are being positioned on the exchange, although inflows alone do not translate into active selling.
The chart shows no comparable surge from retail participants (1-100 BTC) either, with smaller wallets contributing limited inflows of less than 300 BTC on Tuesday. This indicates a contained flow profile rather than broad-based selling pressure.
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The distribution of BTC inflows across exchanges provides another perspective. Data from CryptoQuant shows that mid-size investor inflows into Coinbase reached about 8,500 BTC on Sunday, approaching levels last seen after the FTX exchange collapse in November 2022.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db0a8-0c6c-7c53-8ce7-24e958de5890.png\")
BTC activity across other exchanges remained relatively muted. Amr Taha noted that a broad distribution phase would typically reflect synchronized inflows across multiple exchanges, which is not evident in the current data.
A similar spike on Coinbase was observed on Jan. 14, shortly before Bitcoin declined from $95,000 to below $67,000 in February. However, the current conditions differ, as exchange inflows appear fragmented rather than market-wide, suggesting mixed sentiment rather than coordinated distribution.
Data from Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. also highlights a deeper shift in supply dynamics. Bitcoin’s 30-day net flow dropped to -300,000 BTC in March from +94,000 BTC in February, signaling a strong withdrawal phase. The metric stood near -98,000 BTC as of Tuesday, with outflows continuing at a slower pace.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019db0a1-fa31-72ef-9af0-ebb597ae961f.png\")
Adler Jr. added that exchange reserves have declined for seven consecutive weeks, falling by over 105,000 BTC since early March. Notably, even during the April 2 pullback toward $67,000, there was no significant return of coins to exchanges.
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Copies of the complaints show the state alleges both exchanges failed to obtain licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission to operate their markets, Reuters reported.
“Gambling by another name is still gambling, and it is not exempt from regulation under our state laws and Constitution,” Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
James said the lawsuit seeks to recover alleged illegal profits from operating prediction markets in the state, as well as restitution, and would bar Coinbase and Gemini from offering such products to individuals under 21 years of age.
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The move fits into a broader push by state regulators, including New York, to assert control over prediction markets, which occupy a fast-growing corner of crypto commerce that allows users to bet on real-world events.
Much of the recent scrutiny has centered on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, which have drawn questions over whether their products fall under financial regulation or gambling laws.
The tension has also reached the federal level. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has taken legal action against several states attempting to regulate prediction markets, arguing it has sole authority over the sector.
New York’s lawsuit underscores a key risk for crypto companies. Even as the federal stance has softened, state-level enforcement remains active. By targeting prediction-style markets, regulators may be opening a new front — one that could force platforms to rethink how these products are offered in major jurisdictions.
Nevertheless, not every company is taking it lightly. As Cointelegraph reported, Polymarket has filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts, arguing the state lacks authority to regulate prediction markets approved by the CFTC.
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