![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62d7-4f8f-7979-aaae-859d57c7f881.png\")
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DeFi infrastructure provider THORWallet is expanding into Asia to provide local users with access to regulated decentralized finance.
Asia is home to a highly dynamic cryptocurrency market. Many countries in the region lead the pack in crypto adoption, while the region itself has recorded the highest growth in onchain activity over a 12-month period with a 69% increase.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62d8-b3c8-767b-ac44-a81c4ef3df7a.png\")
High adoption is especially evident in South Korea. Around 31% of the population owns crypto, which translates to 16.2 million people. The number surpasses the stock investor count that stands at 14.1 million.
Though crypto is a hit in South Korea, much of the activity is concentrated on centralized exchanges. CEXs are responsible for almost 69% of crypto trading volume, while access to decentralized finance (DeFi) tools remains limited.
THORWallet, a comprehensive DeFi infrastructure, took a strategic step to fill this gap. The project announced its expansion into South Korea.
Based in Switzerland, THORWallet offers a noncustodial crypto wallet that brings traditional banking features to DeFi. Eligible platform users can open a multicurrency Swiss banking account with an IBAN, and access a seamless fiat-to-crypto gateway with support for many major currencies.
Users can acquire a free Mastercard debit card that allows payments with crypto when shopping, with instant conversion to fiat during the purchase. Fiat-to-fiat transfers within the wallet are also available.
\n\n\n30 seconds from USDC to Mastercard. đł
â THORWallet - Onchain Finance (@Thorwallet) March 16, 2026
Open @THORWallet. Tap card. Top up.
That's it. Card loaded.
Groceries. Coffee. Gas. Whatever you want.
No bank transfer. No CEX. No waiting.
Highest limits in the space - up to $1,000,000.
DeFi yields. Real-world spending. Right now. đ pic.twitter.com/LVWD2b0AuD
As for DeFi, the platform supports native crosschain swaps between prominent cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP and Solana (SOL). Users can also tap into stablecoins through THORWalletâs partnership with Circle, and move USDC across major blockchains.
The company expects this hybrid approach to appeal to users in Asia looking for access to TradFi and DeFi in the same place.
âMany crypto users want access to both DeFi and traditional financial rails without giving up custody of their assets,â said Marcel Harmann, founder of THORWallet. âCombining a noncustodial wallet with banking functionality helps close that gap.â
South Korea serves as a strategic entry point in the projectâs broader expansion plan into Asia, where crypto adoption continues to see exponential growth year after year. âWe see Korea as an important starting point,â Harmann said. âFrom there, we plan to expand further across Asia as demand grows for mobile access to decentralized financial infrastructure.â
Since its launch in 2021, THORWallet has processed over $1.5 billion in crosschain swaps through liquidity networks, including THORChain, Maya Protocol and NEAR Intents. With its vast network of integrated blockchains, the wallet enables crosschain swaps without having to rely on wrapped tokens or centralized bridges.
Mobile design and a smooth user experience have been priorities for the project. This approach closely aligns with usage patterns in South Korea, where mobile crypto applications are highly preferred.
âOur goal is to provide a simple gateway that allows users to move from centralized exchanges into global DeFi liquidity,â the project founder said.
THORWalletâs debut in South Korea targets a market where crypto ownership is widespread, but DeFi access remains limited. The platform is entering that environment with a product that combines noncustodial wallet, banking features and crosschain functionality in a mobile-focused format.
For local users, that could mean less reliance on separate services for basic crypto activity. Instead of buying assets on one platform, swapping them on another and cashing out elsewhere, they can manage those steps within a single product. The addition of banking rails, card payments and crosschain access also gives the wallet a practical role beyond storage, extending its use into fiat conversion and spending.
", "description": "South Korea's crypto market welcomes a new entrant as a Swiss DeFi player makes its debut in the Asian country", "published": "2026-04-06T19:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "wallet" }, { "slug": "south-korea" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "trading" } ], "slug": "swiss-based-defi-platform-arrives-in-south-korea", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Spotlight" } ] }, "id": "259467" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "US Senate Banking panel member confirms April timeline for crypto market structure", "leadText": "Acknowledging there was âstill a lot more work to doâ before Congress could advance a market structure bill, Senator Bill Hagerty renewed attention starting next week.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "US Senate Banking Committee member Bill Hagerty said Monday that he expects a potential path for a digital asset market structure in the coming weeks after months of delays in Congress.
Speaking at the Digital Assets and Emerging Tech Policy Summit at Vanderbilt University, he said his fellow Republican lawmakers planned to move the bill through the banking panel starting next week.
âWe will be in a position, I hope, to bring all of this together very soon,â said Hagerty, referring to work on the bill in the Senate. âOn the banking committee side, I think weâre very close, and my expectation is that we get it into committee in this next work period that starts on Monday of next week, so that over the next several weeks we should have this into the banking committee.â
The Tennessee senator added:
âThereâre several issues still outstanding, I think none of them are insurmountable and we will get to a point I believe in April that weâll have it out of the banking committee. Thereâs still a lot more work to do.â
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6398-d985-754f-baff-c587f36300d6.png\")
Originally titled the CLARITY Act when it passed the House of Representatives in July, the bill is considered by many lawmakers and industry leaders to be one of the most significant pieces of crypto legislation, but it has faced delays in Congress amid government shutdowns, industry pushback on stablecoin yield and ethics concerns.
It is expected to provide a comprehensive framework for cryptocurrencies in the US, including largely changing oversight of the market from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Because both agencies are involved, the legislation would need approval from the committee responsible for commodities â Senate Agriculture â and that for securities, the banking committee. The agriculture committee advanced its version of the crypto bill in a January markup, but concerns over tokenized equities, ethics, and stablecoin yield have delayed consideration in the banking committee, which needs to hold a markup before a potential floor vote in the Senate.
Related: CFTC chair says agency is ready to oversee entire crypto market
âWeâre going into the midterms,â said Hagerty. âI think if we get this done in April, we can clearly get this taken care of before the midterms.â
Hagertyâs comments echoed those of Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal, who said last week that lawmakers were âclose to a dealâ on stablecoin yield and other issues in the market structure bill.
According to the Coinbase-backed advocacy group Stand With Crypto, the way lawmakers vote on the legislation could impact their chances for the 2026 midterms, setting the stage for crypto interest groups to potentially influence another major US election.
The crypto-backed political action committee (PAC) Fairshake, which reported spending more than $130 million on media buys in the 2024 elections, said in January that it had a $193-million war chest ahead of the November 2026 midterms.
The group is not alone in its support for crypto on the national stage. The Fellowship PAC, which claimed to have raised âover $100 millionâ from undisclosed backers aligned with the crypto industry, announced the appointment of Tether executive Jesse Spiro as chair on Wednesday.
Magazine: Clarity Act risks repeat of Europeâs mistakes, crypto lawyer warns
", "description": "Bill Hagerty spoke at the Digital Assets and Emerging Tech Policy Summit on Monday, laying out his hopes for how the Senate would pass market structure before the 2026 midterms.", "published": "2026-04-06T18:25:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "politics" }, { "slug": "congress" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "us-senator-bill-hagerty-timeline-market-structure", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259537" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Can Trumpâs ultimatum to Iran push Bitcoin price back up to $75K?", "leadText": "While an Iran ceasefire favors stocks, Bitcoinâs path to $75,000 remains contingent on market trust despite Trumpâs volatile diplomacy.", "author": { "slug": "marcel-pechman" }, "bodyText": "Key takeaways:
President Trumpâs Tuesday deadline to Iran creates a pivotal moment for Bitcoin as it continues to decouple from gold.
While a ceasefire could boost equities, Bitcoinâs $75,000 path depends on its role as a hedge against fiscal instability.
There is a high probability that US President Donald Trumpâs Tuesday deadline to Iran could be the catalyst needed for a Bitcoin (BTC) rally above $75,000.
Should a deal fail to materialize, Bitcoinâs risk perception could strengthen due to its unique decentralized properties. Conversely, a positive outcome in negotiations would likely propel risk assets, including Bitcoin.
President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran on Sunday, warning the nation would be âliving in Hellâ if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday at 8:00 pm ET. However, CNBC reports that Trump has been âvacillatingâ between productive dialogue and the intensification of military action.
Senior Iranian officials reportedly stated the strait will remain blocked until Iran receives compensation for war damages.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6354-a3e6-7ff4-af49-0e31886ac992.png\")
These mixed signals failed to convince market participants on Monday, as US stock markets traded mostly flat. In contrast, Bitcoin jumped above $69,000 for the first time in over 10 daysâa trend made more notable by gold prices holding near $4,650, down 17% from a $5,600 all-time high.
Traders are increasingly concerned that central banks will be forced to liquidate their gold reserves. The Turkish Central Bank reported sales of 50 tonnes of gold for the week ending March 20, the sharpest decline in over seven years.
According to Reuters, Turkey has also sold $26 billion in foreign currencies to stabilize markets since the US and Israel-Iran war broke out in late February. Similarly, Russian gold reserves measured in tons have dropped to their lowest levels in four years.
A ceasefire in Iran, even if temporary, would almost certainly bolster risk markets, though the implications for Bitcoin are less certain.
Traditional corporations remain heavily dependent on energy costs and global logistics. Therefore, any reduction in geopolitical risk is immediately reflected in equity prices.
However, a deal between the US and Iran would likely have a less direct impact on Bitcoin, as a resolution would likely strengthen the demand for US Treasuries.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6354-aa69-747c-961a-a9dc747e8df8.png\")
Yields on the US 5-year Treasury note surged to 4% from 3.55% in late February, signaling that investors are demanding higher returns to hold those bonds. While part of this selling pressure stems from fears of sticky inflation driven by high oil prices, there is also the added burden on the US fiscal debt due to increased spending on military operations.
An eventual ceasefire and renewed confidence in the US Treasury reduces the necessity for alternative hedges and independent financial systems such as Bitcoin.
However, even if the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, Mohit Mirpuri, an equity fund manager at SGMC Capital, warned that âthe damage to confidence and supply chains is already done â things donât just snap back to normal.â
Related: Iran war bets turn prediction markets into real-time macro radarâSygnum
Predicting that the Bitcoin price will rally 8% by Tuesday based solely on a potential resolution to the US and Israel-Iran war seems far-fetched. Investors are gradually adjusting to President Trumpâs characteristic back-and-forth, especially when negotiations involve unreliable third parties.
Traders are unlikely to provide the benefit of the doubt in this instance, so sustainable bullish momentum for risk markets could take longer to materialize. Nevertheless, the case for a $75,000 Bitcoin rally remains possible in the event of a positive outcome by Tuesday.
Figure Technology Solutions, a blockchain-based lending platform that went public last year, may be undervalued at current levels as loan originations accelerate and its tokenized credit marketplace scales, according to Bernstein analysts.
In a report published Monday, Bernstein assigned Figure an âOutperformâ rating and a $67 price target â nearly double the stockâs recent trading level of around $32.
The bullish call follows a surge in lending activity. Figure originated $1.2 billion in loans in March, up 33% from the previous month and marking the first time monthly volumes exceeded $1 billion.
The company primarily originates home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which allow homeowners to borrow against their equity in the property, typically at lower interest rates than unsecured loans.
It uses the Provence blockchain to reduce friction in the loan process which it claims makes it more efficient than traditional lenders. According to Provenance, Figure is able to shave 117 basis points per loan by transacting on the blockchain.
First-quarter originations reached $2.9 billion, more than doubling from a year earlier and defying the usual seasonal slowdown in HELOC demand. The figure is now tracking roughly $12 billion in annualized loan volume.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6361-6a7b-79b7-b173-64d533edc5ef.png\")
Figureâs strong start to the year follows a largely positive fourth quarter, where earnings and revenue increased, though profits fell short of expectations.
Related: CoinShares stock makes US debut on Nasdaq following SPAC merger
Despite improving operating performance, Figure shares have fallen more than 20% this year, reflecting broader volatility across digital assetâlinked stocks and sector-specific pressures.
The stock has also struggled to regain momentum following its high-profile Nasdaq market debut last September. That closely watched initial public offering valued the company at nearly $800 million.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6361-6e29-74d9-94e0-08320a2675af.png\")
Still, Bernsteinâs analysis valued the company at roughly 25 times its projected 2027 EBITDA â meaning the stock trades at a multiple of its expected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
This valuation sits above existing digital asset companies, reflecting what analysts describe as Figureâs âstructural prospectsâ as both a tokenization platform and a profitable lending business.
However, risks remain. According to Bernstein, HELOC demand can be sensitive to mortgage refinancing trends, while the broader private credit market â a key pillar of Figureâs growth strategy â has shown signs of increasing pressure.
Related: Crypto Biz: Bitcoin treasuries break ranks as BTC dips below $70K
", "description": "Record loan originations and a scaling tokenized credit platform are strengthening Figureâs growth outlook, even as shares lag broader digital asset markets, according to Bernstein.", "published": "2026-04-06T17:23:33+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "investments" }, { "slug": "stocks" }, { "slug": "tokenization" } ], "slug": "figure-stock-bernstein-loan-growth-tokenization-outlook", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259517" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin profit taking keeps BTC below $70K as Trump doubles down on Iran", "leadText": "Bitcoin found familiar resistance as it crossed the $70,000 mark to hit new April highs, with analysis blaming \"profit-taking pressure.\"", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) coiled below $70,000 at Mondayâs Wall Street open as analysis blamed profit taking for price inertia.
Key points:
Bitcoin and stocks wobble as the US trading session begins amid nerves over the US-Iran war outcome.
Profit taking activity is keeping BTC price action away from a $70,000 reclaim, says research.
A Trader says $71,000 will act as fuel for a surge $10,000 higher.
Data from TradingView showed BTC price action consolidating after hitting new April highs of $70,275 on Bitstamp.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d637d-bce7-7079-af67-8eae18e7511b.png\")
Market nerves over the US-Iran war resulted in uncertain trading, with US stocks treading water at the open.
Speaking to the media at a military event, US President Donald Trump reiterated earlier comments that Iran would âhave no bridgesâ and âno power plantsâ unless a deal was reached.
âI wonât go further because there are other things that are worse than those two,â he told reporters.
Trump previously stated that the deadline for a deal was 8pm Eastern time on Tuesday.
With price pinned below the $70,000 mark, onchain analytics platform Glassnode pointed to internal market forces as the reason for the lack of continuation higher.
âAs price probed the $70K region, Realized Profit/hour spiked above $20M, signalling a local exhaustion,â it noted in a post on X.
âA pattern consistent since February 2026: Every approach to the $70kâ$80K band meets thin liquidity and profit-taking pressure, capping the bounce.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d637a-4bbd-7398-86b9-83d59fa0fa47.jpeg\")
Pseudonymous trader LP added that Mondays and Thursdays had seen the upper and lower end of the weekâs trading range throughout 2026.
âPrice pushed higher into Monday, increasing the probability of this pivot forming a weekly high. If the correlation continues to play out, this would suggest Thursday forms the low of the week,â they told X followers.
âWatch price action closely today and tomorrow, it will confirm whether this intra-week pivot resolved as a high or a low.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6379-8555-788b-a4e1-78c1b3084c72.png\")
Continuing, crypto trader MichaĂ«l Van de Poppe said the line in sand for bears lay slightly higher than Mondayâs current peak.
Related: First real bull signal since 2025? Five things to know in Bitcoin this week
âPretty strong momentum on the markets of Bitcoin,â he wrote on X about the initial move to $70,000.
âVolatility picking up, and I think it's fireworks during this week as we might be getting to the end stage of the entire situation in the Strait of Hormuz. If Bitcoin breaks $71K, then markets are in for a test at $80K.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6378-76cc-7c9d-a8cc-c5eeb3ed0cac.png\")
Van de Poppe further cautioned on following blanket market consensus over new lows coming next.
âGiven that all the markets are so oversold at this point, all on-chain indicators are looking overextended and are at similar levels to the bottom areas in 2018, 2020 and 2022, I wouldn't be surprised that we're getting a relief run that's going to turn the sentiment quickly,â he concluded.
", "description": "Bitcoin \"profit-taking pressure\" ensures price stays away from reclaiming $70,000, says new research.", "published": "2026-04-06T17:03:28+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-profit-taking-keeps-btc-below-70k-trump-doubles-down-iran", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "259512" }, { "category": { "slug": "top-10-cryptocurrencies" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Price predictions 4/6: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA", "leadText": "Buyers are attempting to push Bitcoin above the $70,000 level, but some analysts believe the upside may be limited and a drop below the $60,000 support is likely.", "author": { "slug": "rakesh-upadhyay" }, "bodyText": "Key points:
Bitcoin rose above the $70,000 level on Monday, but analysts remain skeptical, expecting a drop below the $60,000 support.
Several major altcoins have bounced off their supports, indicating demand at lower levels.
Buyers pushed Bitcoin (BTC) above the $70,000 level, but failed to sustain the breakout. That suggests the bears have not given up and are trying to retain control. Select analysts believe that BTC is likely to dip below its $60,000 low before bottoming out.
Another negative view came from Glassnode, which said in its recent report that its Long-Term Holder Realized Loss metric, which tracks losses locked in by investors who held coins for more than six months before selling, suggests the selling pressure may not have exhausted. The 30-day simple moving average of the indicator at $200 million per day needs to drop to levels below $25 million for the base formation to begin.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-8eaa-7bc1-ad32-c1bca3b8eb53.png\")
Among all the bearishness, there is a silver lining for the bulls. According to crypto sentiment platform Santiment, social media platforms recorded five bearish BTC comments for every four BTC bullish comments, the most since Feb. 28.
That is a good sign as markets typically move in the opposite direction of the crowd's expectation, suggesting âthings can turn positive sooner rather than later,â Santiment added.
Could buyers extend the recovery in BTC and the major altcoins? Letâs analyze the charts.
The S&P 500 Index (SPX) has pulled back to the 20-day exponential moving average (6,601), indicating solid buying at lower levels.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-9380-795d-bb3f-c03dab50e8ca.png\")
Sellers will attempt to halt the recovery at the 20-day EMA, but if the bulls prevail, the index may rise to the 50-day simple moving average (6,777). Sellers are expected to pose a strong challenge at the 50-day SMA.
On the downside, the bears will have to yank the price below the 6,316 level to signal the resumption of the corrective phase. The next support to watch out for on the downside is the 6,147 level.
The US Dollar Index (DXY) is stuck between the 20-day EMA ($99.59) and the 100.54 overhead resistance.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-97c5-7a29-87d9-61edabdf6c9d.png\")
Sellers are attempting to pull the price below the 20-day EMA. If they can pull it off, the index may decline to the 50-day SMA (98.44). That suggests the index may trade inside the large range between 95.55 and 100.54 for a while longer.
Buyers will have to maintain the price above the 20-day EMA to retain control. If they do that, the possibility of a break above the 100.54 level increases. The index may then start a new up move to the 102 level and subsequently to the 103.54 level.
BTC closed above the moving averages on Sunday, indicating that the bulls are attempting a comeback.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-9c2a-70fe-9dec-4d88efe0d750.png\")
The flattish moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. If the price sustains above the moving averages, the bulls will attempt to drive the BTC/USDT pair above the $72,000 resistance. If they succeed, the BTC price may reach the $74,508 to $76,000 resistance zone.
Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will strive to pull the pair below the support line, invalidating the bullish setup. That opens the doors for a decline to the $62,500 to $60,000 support zone.
Ether (ETH) closed above the moving averages on Sunday, clearing the path for a rally to the $2,200 resistance.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-a1a2-78ab-a03d-551ad9bef084.png\")
Sellers will attempt to halt the recovery at the $2,200 level, but if the buyers pierce the resistance, the ETH/USDT pair may march to the $2,400 resistance. The bulls will have to propel the ETH price above the $2,400 level to start a sustained recovery to $2,800 and then to $3,050.
Alternatively, if the ETH price turns down sharply from the $2,200 level and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may consolidate for some time. The support of the range is at the $1,916 level.
BNBâs (BNB) bounce off the $570 level has reached the moving averages, where the bears are expected to step in.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-a80c-7dfa-8b9e-fad0d007fa17.png\")
If the price turns down sharply from the moving averages, the BNB/USDT pair risks breaking below the $570 level. If that happens, the BNB price may resume the downtrend and plummet to the $500 level.
Instead, if buyers drive the price above the moving averages, it suggests that the pair may extend its stay inside the $570 to $687 range for a few more days. Buyers will be back in the driverâs seat on a close above the $687 level.
XRP (XRP) turned up from the crucial $1.27 support on Sunday, indicating that the bulls are aggressively defending the level.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-acaa-7179-b92a-aab8353bd86d.png\")
The bulls will have to secure a close above the 50-day SMA ($1.39) to improve the prospects of a rally to the $1.61 level and later to the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern.
On the contrary, if the XRP price turns down sharply from the moving averages and breaks below $1.27, it suggests that the bears remain in control. The XRP/USDT pair may plunge to the $1.11 level and eventually to the support line near the $1 level.
Solana (SOL) has been oscillating inside the $76 to $98 range for several days, indicating a tough battle between the bulls and the bears.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-b113-7d54-9fec-56f4dd42747c.png\")
If buyers push the price above the moving averages, the SOL/USDT pair may ascend to the $98 resistance. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the $98 level in an attempt to keep the SOL price inside the range.
The next trending move is expected to begin on a close above $98 or below $76. If buyers thrust the price above the $98 resistance, the pair may surge to the $117 level. Conversely, a close below the $76 support might sink the pair to the $67 level.
Related: First real bull signal since 2025? Five things to know in Bitcoin this week
Dogecoin (DOGE) remains stuck inside a tight range between the 50-day SMA ($0.09) and the $0.09 level, signaling a balance between supply and demand.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-b87f-7866-b85f-7a11e3abb6da.png\")
Buyers will gain the upper hand on a close above the moving averages. The DOGE/USDT pair may rally to the $0.11 level and subsequently to the $0.12 resistance. If the price turns down from the overhead resistance, the pair may swing between $0.12 and $0.09 for a while.
If the DOGE price turns down from the moving averages and breaks below the $0.09 level, it signals that the bears have seized control. The pair may slump to the $0.08 level and thereafter to the $0.06 level.
Buyers are attempting to maintain the Hyperliquid (HYPE) price above the 20-day EMA ($37.03) but are facing strong resistance from the bears.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-bd1e-7b11-9feb-c1c058bf87ff.png\")
If the HYPE price closes above the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the lower levels continue to attract buyers. The HYPE/USDT pair may then rally to $41.59 and, after that, to the $44 level.
This positive view will be negated in the near term if the price turns down and breaks below the 50-day SMA ($34.48). The pair may then witness a deeper correction to the $30 level.
Cardano (ADA) closed above the $0.25 level on Sunday, signaling that the bears are losing their grip.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d632b-c30a-7854-a451-6692493310f2.png\")
There is resistance at the 50-day SMA ($0.26), but if the bulls overcome it, the ADA/USDT pair may reach the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern. Sellers are expected to defend the downtrend line, as a close above it signals a potential short-term trend change.
The $0.22 level is the crucial level to watch out for on the downside. If the support breaks down, the ADA price may start the next leg of the downtrend to the support line near the $0.16 level.
Michael Saylorâs Strategy, the worldâs largest publicly listed holder of Bitcoin, resumed buying BTC last week after reporting no purchases in the final week of March.
Strategy acquired 4,871 Bitcoin (BTC) for $329.9 million last week, according to an 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.
The purchases were made at an average price of $67,718 per coin, below the companyâs overall average acquisition price of $75,644. The new acquisitions bring Strategyâs holdings to 766,970 BTC, acquired for a total cost of around $58 billion.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62d2-20d2-782c-8ca8-2ee397f51dcc.png\")
In addition to the purchase update, Strategy also reported its first-quarter financial results, including a $14.46 billion unrealized loss on digital assets and a $2.42 billion deferred tax benefit.
Strategy said its Bitcoin holdings continue to trade below their cost basis, resulting in the recognition of a deferred tax asset tied to unrealized losses on its digital assets.
As of March 31, the company recorded a $1.73 billion deferred tax asset related to those unrealized losses, which was offset by a corresponding $1.73 billion valuation allowance against the amount.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62d2-2257-74b4-9718-9f0454478cec.png\")
âBecause the fair value of Strategyâs Bitcoin holdings is below its cost basis, Strategy expects to establish an additional valuation allowance of $0.5 billion against these deferred tax assets,â the company said.
Strategy saw Bitcoin fall below its average purchase price in early February, marking the first time since late 2023 that BTC traded below its cost basis.
Related: 80% of Strategy's âStretchâ buyers are mom-and-pop investors
Despite the decline, the company has continued accumulating Bitcoin, buying roughly 54,000 BTC since Feb. 2. Strategy was especially aggressive in March, making some of its largest weekly purchases on record during the month, with monthly acquisitions netting 41,362 BTC.
Strategyâs total Bitcoin purchases in the first quarter of 2026 reached 89,316 BTC, with an aggregate spend of approximately $6.3 billion.
Strategy mentioned that the company is updating its at-the-market (ATM) program, including a new $21 billion offering of Stretch (STRC) stock and a new $21 billion offering of Common A (MSTR) stock. The company also terminated its prior Strike (STRK) stock offering and launched a new $2.1 billion STRK stock offering.
The amounts available for STRC and MSTR stock reflect the total remaining capacity under both the existing programs and the newly added offerings. Sales under the STRC and MSTR increases may begin once the existing capacity is substantially used, the company said.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62d2-2406-7cfc-a5ab-37accfce78ba.png\")
During March 30â31, Strategy sold approximately 2.28 million shares of STRC and 582,550 shares of MSTR, generating about $299.3 million in net proceeds. From April 1â5, the company sold an additional 1 million shares of STRC and 593,294 shares of MSTR, raising roughly $174.6 million.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
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.
![\"Travel,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62e9-669a-737f-8d0f-36b81c9ab429.jpg\")
Staynex, a Web3 travel ecosystem, presents a membership-based alternative to OTAs by offering a loyalty model with concrete value, removing hotel commissions and keeping pricing transparent.
Travel has cemented its place as a key aspiration in modern life. A trip is among the short-term plans of around 88% of global consumers, according to recent studies.
With travel becoming a widespread hobby, the hotel options have become abundant, too. Online travel agencies (OTA) have emerged as a practical solution for travelers seeking to search through the crowd efficiently and find the best offer available.
Yet, a middleman involved in the process means extra fees to pay for consumers, with the details of pricing often hidden behind opaque structures. The same structure disadvantages hotel operators as well, as OTAs may take up to 30% commission from each booking.
Beyond pricing, a key appeal of these OTAs for travelers is the loyalty program they offer. However, loyalty models in the travel industry usually fall short of providing actual benefit to the consumer. The common practice is to offer travel points that cannot be redeemed outside the agency's ecosystem, expire before users can accumulate them meaningfully or even go unnoticed by consumers altogether.
Blockchain-based platforms can be a solid answer to this misalignment, as they serve as a direct, transparent bridge between hotels and travelers and provide a loyalty model with concrete value.
Staynex, a membership-first ecosystem, is one such platform. It connects travelers directly to its vast network of hotels and resorts, which boasts over 2.65 million partners.
Staynex offers two distinct membership structures designed to serve different traveler needs. The standard membership includes Basic Account, Premium, Nexus (invite-only) and Creators â a dedicated tier for content creators. Standard members gain access to hotel bookings and core platform features.
Meanwhile, Ocean Club serves as a separate membership tier for tokenholders. Ocean Club allows users to stake STAY tokens to unlock exclusive benefits, including AI-assisted travel planning, enhanced rewards and community networking opportunities.
Together, these two models create a flexible ecosystem where every traveler â whether booking a stay or holding tokens â can find their place and be rewarded.
\n\n\nOne membership. A world of options đ
â Staynex âą (@staynexcom) March 4, 2026
Unlock 2.65M stays worldwide with 0% commission, a smooth booking flow, and 100+ payment options, all under one membership â
The world feels more open when booking is this easy đ
Where would you go next?
Browse options on:⊠pic.twitter.com/uKcPhwDryu
Through Staynex's membership platform, partners can issue tokenized passes that represent bookings, events and travel experiences. The same platform allows partners to create tailored loyalty programs that align with the expectations of consumers. Staynex also offers a platform-level loyalty program, through which users earn loyalty points on spendings.
The platform employs a zero-markup policy and lists properties at transparent and competitive rates. It also does not charge commission to properties, meaning hotel operators receive 100% of bookings. Users can pay with a wide variety of methods when booking, including credit cards and over 100 cryptocurrencies.
STAY, the soon-to-be-launched native token, sits at the heart of this ecosystem. The token grants access to Ocean Club membership and exclusive perks while also serving as the loyalty reward.
\n\n\nItâs time.
â Staynex âą (@staynexcom) March 18, 2026
The travel industry moves $9 trillion a year.
None of it has been on-chain.
Until now đ
The first of 3 $STAY exchange listings goes live on 15 April 2026, with the remaining two also landing this April.
Follow now and stay close đ#Staynex⊠pic.twitter.com/YSwdQJUOJF
It enters the market with a mechanism called Shield Protocol, which adds deflationary impact to the token through revenue-funded buybacks, with governance handled by tokenholders.
Staynex incorporates cutting-edge technologies in the platform, such as artificial intelligence. AI Travel Wingman, its AI Travel Agent endorsed by the face and voice of football legend Patrice Evra, helps users plan their trips efficiently by offering recommendations, itineraries and suggested options based on budget and travel preferences.
AI also plays a role in how offers are prepared. The technology supports personalized offers and demand forecasting. Through AI, Staynex analyzes travel behaviors and better predict the favorite destinations. This allows the platform to provide more personalized and curated travel arrangements.
As the travel industry becomes more sophisticated, current OTA models may start to look outdated. A business built around commissions and closed-loop points leaves little room to align the interests of the platform, hotel and traveler.
", "description": "A new model based on tokenized membership ties booking to ownership and loyalty while giving hotels and travelers a closer stake in the platform", "published": "2026-04-06T14:12:36+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "travel" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "web3" }, { "slug": "nft" }, { "slug": "tokenization" } ], "slug": "how-tokenized-membership-is-changing-the-economics-of-modern-travel", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Spotlight" } ] }, "id": "259482" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "New AI cybercrime tool targets crypto, bank KYC systems via deepfakes", "leadText": "A darknet threat actor is selling new fraud kit to trick KYC identity verification systems on financial platforms via AI-generated deepfakes and real-time voice altering.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "A threat actor known as âJinkusuâ is allegedly selling cybercrime tools designed to bypass Know Your Customer (KYC) checks at banks and crypto platforms.
The tool uses deepfakes and voice manipulation to trick KYC verification systems on finance platforms, cybercrime tracker Dark Web Informer wrote in a Sunday X post.
Cybersecurity company Vecert Analyzer added that Jinkusu uses AI for real-time face swaps via InsightFace for âfluid gesture transfers,â along with voice modulation to evade biometrics.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62b2-1c8c-703f-ab44-b43670113816.png\")
The emergence of deepfake tools is a âwake-up callâ for the industry, as it highlights the shortcomings of KYC verification systems, according to Deddy Lavid, CEO of blockchain security platform Cyvers.
âAs AI lowers the barriers to synthetic identity fraud, the front door will always remain vulnerable,â Lavid told Cointelegraph, urging platforms to adopt a layered security approach combining identity verification with real-time AI monitoring.
Binance chief security officer Jimmy Su highlighted the growing threat of deepfake technology back in May 2023.
He warned that improving AI algorithms will be able to crack KYC identity systems by using a single picture of the victim.
Related: Revolut confirms ex-employee threatened to leak KYC data for crypto ransom
The new fraud kit also enables scammers to run romance scams, such as âpig butchering,â with no technical knowledge.
Crypto investors lost $5.5 billion to 200,000 flagged pig butchering cases in 2024.
The author of the new fraud package, Jinkusu, is suspected to be the same threat actor who released the phishing kit Starkiller in February 2026.
Unlike traditional, HTML-based phishing kits, Starkiller creates a real-time reverse proxy by creating a headless Chrome browser inside a Docker container, loading the genuine login page of the target brand and relaying all user input, including login and passwords, to the threat actor, explained cybersecurity platform Abnormal, in a Feb. 19 report.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d62b2-1e94-72a0-9e69-f70b8a2b5159.png\")
While losses to crypto phishing attacks fell 83% in 2025, malicious crypto wallet drainer scripts remained active and new malware continued to emerge, Scam Sniffer said in a January report.
Magazine: Everybody hates GPT-5, AI shows social media canât be fixed
", "description": "A darknet threat actor published a new fraud kit that tricks KYC verification systems of banks and crypto platforms via AI deepfakes and voice-altering tech.", "published": "2026-04-06T14:09:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "darknet" }, { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "dark-web" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "ai-cybercrime-tool-crypto-bank-kyc-deepfakes", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259477" }, { "category": { "slug": "opinion" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "The future of institutional crypto runs through prime brokerages", "leadText": "Institutional crypto flows through prime brokerages that enforce TradFi custody standards. Ripple's $1.25B Hidden Road acquisition signals a permanent infrastructure shift.", "author": { "slug": "dominic-lohberger" }, "bodyText": "Opinion by: Dominic Lohberger, chief product officer at Sygnum.
Counterparty risk in crypto markets has always moved in cycles. Exchanges default or get hacked. Standards tighten for a while. Then, complacency quietly returns as losses are forgotten.
What is happening this time is different.
Leading traditional finance players entering crypto must adopt practices from established financial markets. For the first time, the infrastructure exists to enable them to do so. They can mirror assets held with regulated custodians onto trading venues without ever depositing on-exchange.
This is a lasting change in how serious money actually moves through digital assets.
Consider the mergers and acquisitions deal flow. Ripple deployed $1.25 billion to acquire Hidden Road. Hidden Road is a global multi-asset prime broker. This was the largest acquisition in crypto history. It signalled that institutional trading infrastructure is where value will concentrate.
Standard Chartered is building a crypto prime brokerage under its venture arm. These are infrastructure bets by firms that see where the market is heading.
For most of crypto's history, exchanges have played every role at once. From trading venues, custodians and clearing houses, exchanges played them all. That conflation of roles was a necessity in Bitcoin's earliest days. It was never going to survive institutional adoption at scale. The FTX collapse made that risk glaring, and the $1.4 billion Bybit hack reinforced it. The broader patterns of 2025 showed where counterparty exposure became a first-order operational risk. That's where the separation of custody from execution became a baseline institutional requirement.
In traditional finance, this separation of powers is a bedrock principle. Crypto is finally catching up. A growing number of regulated off-exchange custody solutions now make this possible in practice. They allow institutions to hold assets with a custodian while trading on exchanges, with balances mirrored and settlement automated. Capital efficiency and security no longer have to be traded off against each other. Most market makers, hedge funds and OTC desks use some form of off-exchange custody. What was once considered a cost has become a basic pillar of risk management.
The market now offers two distinct approaches to removing exchange counterparty risk, and they solve different problems.
Off-exchange custody, sometimes called tri-party arrangements, allows traders to hold assets with a third-party custodian while receiving a mirrored balance on the exchange. If the custodian holds those assets segregated and off-balance-sheet, counterparty risk is eliminated. These setups tend to be cost-efficient because the custodian does not need to deploy its own balance sheet.
Prime brokerage is operationally richer. A prime broker acts as an intermediary and offers unified onboarding across exchanges, cross-venue net settlement and leverage. These are critical for market makers running strategies across dozens of venues. That active role means counterparty risk shifts from the exchange to the prime broker. In traditional finance, that risk is backstopped by investment banks with massive balance sheets. In crypto, the largest prime brokers are growing but still carry comparatively modest balance sheets. Theyâre capable and well-connected, but not yet at the scale of globally systematically relevant investment banks. Some institutional clients are comfortable with that trade-off.
The part of this shift that deserves equal attention is how collateral now works. When a custodian is a bank, it can accept traditional financial instruments as collateral, and that changes the economics. An institutional client holding short-dated US Treasurys can pledge them as collateral, mirrored onto an exchange at full loan-to-value. The T-bills never leave the custodian. The custody fees are a mere fraction of the yield this provides. The client earns a net positive return on collateral that protects them from exchange default.
Related: BitGo launches portfolio-based crypto lending platform for institutions
The vast majority of collateral deployed in bank-grade off-exchange custody structures today is in T-bills. When counterparty protection generates yield instead of costing money, the adoption question flips from \"should we de-risk?\" to \"why are we leaving yield on the table?\" The exception is strategies like the basis trade, where the client must pledge the underlying asset itself. Even there, holding crypto with an independent custodian reduces the risk surface.
The eligible collateral story is expanding fast. Stablecoins are already accepted across multiple off-exchange setups. Tokenized money market funds that accrue yield continuously in real-time are next. The direction is toward multi-asset collateral frameworks that allow institutions to shift margin between venues and ensure security. In crypto, that reallocation can happen in near real-time around the clock.
In the months ahead, more global systemically important banks will enter off-exchange custody. This will rapidly widen the range of accepted collateral. As both models mature, custodians may add more operational tooling. Prime brokers will strengthen their custody frameworks. This will continue until the distinction matters less than the outcome. That outcome is institutional-grade risk management.
The crypto industry spent the better part of a decade debating whether institutions would arrive. They have, and they are not adapting to crypto's infrastructure. Crypto's infrastructure is adapting to them. The firms that recognise this shift and build accordingly will define the next era of digital asset markets. The ones that don't will be left managing yesterday's risk with yesterday's tools.
Opinion by: Dominic Lohberger, chief product officer at Sygnum.
", "description": "Off-exchange custody mirrors T-bill collateral for yield-positive counterparty protection. Prime brokers enable cross-venue leverage but shift rather than eliminate risk concentration.", "published": "2026-04-06T14:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "insurance" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "future-institutional-crypto-prime-brokerages", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Opinion" } ] }, "id": "258987" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Hereâs 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, rushing post-quantum cryptography could spark âBlocksize wars 2.0,â Samson Mow warned. Digital asset markets bounced 2.5% after US President Donald Trump sent mixed signals on a possible Iran deal, and a Bitcoin Policy Institute researcher said US dollar-pegged stablecoins and Bitcoin share a âsymbioticâ relationship.
Rushed quantum fixes for Bitcoin could introduce new risks, Jan3 founder Mow warned in response to calls from Coinbase executives for faster action.
The Bitcoin advocate took to X on Saturday to address comments from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and chief security officer Philip Martin, who urged the industry to begin preparing for quantum computing threats sooner rather than later.
He said that while post-quantum (PQ) cryptography could secure Bitcoin (BTC) against future quantum computers, rushing implementation may create new vulnerabilities such as compatibility issues and reduced network efficiency due to larger signature sizes.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d628f-277c-7a4b-b4e0-d08f76f5fd5b.png\")
âSimply put: make Bitcoin safe against quantum computers just to get pwned by normal computers,â Mow said, adding that a poorly timed transition could weaken Bitcoin against todayâs threats before addressing future ones.
The exchange reflects a growing debate over how to future-proof Bitcoin, as new research from Google and Caltech reignited concerns about progress in quantum computing.
Crypto markets bounced 2.5% as US President Donald Trump sent mixed signals over a potential deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including reports of a possible ceasefire that could permanently end the war.
In an expletive-laden post on the Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump threatened that Iran would be âliving in Hellâ if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
However, he also acknowledged in a Fox News interview that Iran is ânegotiating nowâ and expressed optimism about a âgood chanceâ of a deal within 24 hours.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d614a-2f7b-7c32-8c1f-85e6ce7b47ca.jpg\")
Total market capitalization has climbed about $70 billion, or 2.5%, to an 11-day high of $2.44 trillion in early trading on Monday on the news. Bitcoin tapped $69,500 on Coinbase, according to TradingView.
The small jump has led to total liquidations of around $255 million over 24 hours, 73% of them being short positions, according to data from CoinGlass.
US dollar-pegged stablecoins and Bitcoin share a âsymbioticâ relationship, mutually benefitting from rising adoption, according to Sam Lyman, head of research at Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a Washington DC-based digital asset advocacy organization.
âBitcoin is beneficial to the US system because the largest Bitcoin trading pair is BTC/USD,â or Tetherâs USDt (USDT) stablecoin, which is backed by cash deposits and short-term US government debt, Lyman told Cointelegraph.
He said Bitcoin and dollar-pegged stablecoins share a similar relationship to the dollar and oil. Under the petrodollar system, which began in the early 1970s, international oil sales are priced in dollars, driving more demand for the currency.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5e7e-0930-725e-8ae6-dccca67937f7.png\")
Marc Andreessen said artificial intelligence will spark a âmassive jobs boom,â dismissing fears of widespread job losses as âall fakeâ in a Sunday post on X.
His optimism contrasts with a March US jobs report showing unemployment holding steady at 4.3%, while the number of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more rose by 322,000 over the past year.
Andreesen shared a Business Insider report showing a sharp rise in tech job openings in 2026, with more than 67,000 software engineering roles, a twofold increase from 2023, and argued that employers had recovered from post-pandemic hiring corrections and the interest rate spike.
âThe âAI job lossâ narratives are all fake,â he wrote. âAI = massive ramp in productivity = massive ramp in demand = massive jobs boom. Watch.â
Andreessen is one of Silicon Valleyâs most influential investors, a co-founder of Netscape and venture firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is also a major backer of US crypto and AI companies.
On the ground, the reality is somewhat different. On Feb. 26, Jack Dorseyâs Block cut 40% of its staff as the company accelerated its use of AI, including experiments with agents to take over parts of middle management.
Related: Dorsey shares AI-integrated workplace vision weeks after Blockâs 40% staff cut
On March 19, crypto exchange Crypto.com announced a 12% workforce reduction due to AI integrations, warning that companies âthat do not make this pivot immediately will fail.â
![\"Andreessen](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6252-581f-7d1c-9144-0ed74535bab5.png\")
AI-driven pivots by companies are also impacting employment.
Oracle reportedly cut up to 30,000 jobs recently, citing âbroader organizational change,â as it pushes to build AI data centers.
MARA, which has been repurposing its Bitcoin mining infrastructure for AI, has reportedly reduced its staff by 15%.
That backdrop helps explain the online backlash Andreessen received.
âTell that to the average lower middle class American who canât find a job or the consumer who canât get decent customer service,â crypto influencer WendyO replied.
Tory Green, co-founder at io.net argued Andreessen could be proved right on net job creation, but only if AI tools are broadly accessible and not captured by a handful of platforms.
AI Eye: 9 weirdest AI stories from 2025
", "description": "Marc Andreessen says AI job loss fears are âall fakeâ and predicts a âmassive jobs boom,â as US data and high-profile tech layoffs fuel public skepticism.", "published": "2026-04-06T13:06:38+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "andreessen-horowitz" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-mining" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "jack-dorsey" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "marc-andreessen-calls-ai-job-loss-fears-fake-expects-employment-gains", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259457" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Rushed quantum fix may backfire for Bitcoin, Samson Mow warns", "leadText": "Samson Mow pushes back against calls to rush Bitcoinâs move to post-quantum cryptography, warning it could introduce new vulnerabilities.", "author": { "slug": "helen-partz" }, "bodyText": "Rushed quantum fixes for Bitcoin could introduce new risks, Samson Mow warned in response to calls from Coinbase executives for faster action.
Mow, a Bitcoin advocate and Jan3 founder, took to X on Saturday to address comments from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and chief security officer Philip Martin, who urged the industry to begin preparing for quantum computing threats sooner rather than later.
He said that while post-quantum (PQ) cryptography could secure Bitcoin (BTC) against future quantum computers, rushing implementation may create new vulnerabilities such as compatibility issues and reduced network efficiency due to larger signature sizes.
âSimply put: make Bitcoin safe against quantum computers just to get pwned by normal computers,â Mow said, adding that a poorly timed transition could weaken Bitcoin against todayâs threats before addressing future ones.
The exchange reflects a growing debate over how to future-proof Bitcoin, as new research from Google and Caltech reignited concerns about progress in quantum computing.
One of Mowâs biggest concerns about rushing a quantum fix for Bitcoin is the potential impact on performance, particularly block size, or the amount of transaction data that can fit into a single block.
âPQ signatures will likely be 10-125x larger than current ones, and massively reduce throughput,â Mow said, citing former Bitcoin developer Jonas Schnelli.
The signature issue could potentially pave the way for âBlocksize Wars 2.0,â Mow continued.
Bitcoinâs block size wars began around 2015 and peaked in 2017, when the community split over whether to increase the block size to handle more transactions.
Related: Circle unveils quantum-resistant roadmap for its layer-1 blockchain Arc
That dispute raised concerns about decentralization, network security and who controls Bitcoinâs future, ultimately leading to alternative scaling solutions rather than a simple increase in block size.
Despite arguing against rushing a transition to post-quantum cryptography for Bitcoin, Mow said work on potential solutions should continue.
âGiven that quantum computers donât actually exist and likely wonât exist for another 10-20 years, the worst possible course of action is to rush a fix,â he said. âThatâs not to say work shouldnât be done to prepare, and there is already much work being done.â
Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum secure cryptography will even work
", "description": "Samson Mow warns that rushed post-quantum cryptography upgrades could weaken Bitcoinâs security and spark \"Blocksize Wars 2.0.\"", "published": "2026-04-06T13:03:51+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "security" }, { "slug": "brian-armstrong" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-block-size" }, { "slug": "samson-mow" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" } ], "slug": "rushed-quantum-fix-backfire-bitcoin-samson-mow", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259452" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Onchain perp DEX volumes fall for five straight months after October peak", "leadText": "Perp DEX daily volume fell to $8.4 billion on April 4, its first sub-$10 billion level since September and the lowest since July, DefiLlama data shows.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "Onchain perpetual futures trading has cooled for five straight months since peaking in October 2025.
Perp volume on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) fell to $699 billion in March 2026 from Octoberâs $1.36 trillion, according to DefiLlama data.
The decline has been steady across the period, with volumes slipping through November and December before losses extended through the first quarter of 2026.
Daily activity also shows signs of softening. On April 4, perp DEX volume fell to $8.4 billion, the first time it dropped below $10 billion since Sept. 6, 2025. This also marks the lowest level since July 5, 2025, according to DefiLlama.
The trend signals a sustained cooldown in onchain perpetual futures trading following the 2025 surge. Perp volumes serve as a proxy for speculative demand and leveraged positioning in crypto markets.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d621a-b4a3-78e6-a4a8-02455857d5d5.jpg\")
DefiLlama data shows that trading activity remains concentrated among the top perp DEX platforms. In the past 30 days, Hyperliquid put up about $185.5 billion in reported volume, accounting for roughly 34% of total volume among the top 10 perp DEXs.
This puts the platform significantly ahead of rivals such as edgeX, which reported $73 billion, and Aster, at $68 billion.
Related: Bitcoin shorts risk $2.5 billion liquidation at $72K: Are bears in danger?
Other platforms recorded notably lower volumes over the same period, including Lighter at about $50 billion and Grvt at nearly $40 billion. Smaller venues like ApeX Protocol, Variational and StandX each recorded between roughly $16 billion and $33 billion in 30-day volume.
The data shows that a large share of onchain perpetual futures activity is concentrated in the top platforms, as overall volumes have declined from late-2025 highs.
The slowdown follows a period of rapid growth in onchain derivatives trading. In 2025, perp DEXs nearly tripled cumulative volume to $12.09 trillion, with about $7.9 trillion, about 65%, generated in 2025 alone.
This was largely driven by monthly activity averaging nearly $1 trillion each month in the fourth quarter.
Perpetual futures exchanges are becoming a key battleground across crypto ecosystems. Blockchains have been racing to launch or host perpetual DEXs to capture trading activity, though liquidity has historically tended to consolidate around a small number of dominant platforms.
Magazine: Aster delisting exposes DeFiâs growing integrity crisis
", "description": "Monthly perp DEX trading slid from $1.36 trillion in October to $699 billion in March, marking a five-month decline after a late-2025 surge.", "published": "2026-04-06T11:42:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "derivatives" }, { "slug": "data" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "trading" }, { "slug": "dex" } ], "slug": "onchain-perp-dex-volumes-decline-hyperliquid-share", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259432" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "China's tax authority urges banks to implement blockchain for lending services", "leadText": "Chinaâs leading tax and financial authorities are urging banks to incorporate blockchain technology to bolster their credit facilities and data transparency.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "Chinaâs tax and financial regulators on Monday urged banks and local authorities to use blockchain and privacy computing to upgrade the âbank-tax interactionâ model and expand financing for small businesses.
The State Administration of Taxation and National Financial Regulatory Administration said in a joint policy notice that banks and taxpayers should standardize data sharing and reduce information asymmetry between tax authorities, banks and enterprises.
The report also urged banks to improve credit models, enhance credit approval efficiency and increase the supply of financing services to âhonest, tax-paying enterprises.â
The directive aligns with Chinaâs broader effort to integrate blockchain into data infrastructure, following a National Development and Reform Commission roadmap released in January 2025 targeting nationwide implementation by 2029.
Shen Zhulin, the deputy director of the National Data Administration, said in a January 2025 press conference that China expects blockchain-based data infrastructure to attract 400 billion yuan (about $58 billion) in yearly investments.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d61fd-06fc-71d8-9346-50511641745f.png\")
While China has issued strict controls on cryptocurrencies and speculative digital asset trading, it also pushed for the incorporation of blockchain initiatives in finance and data infrastructure.
In October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the technology as an important âbreakthroughâ for independent innovation of core technologies, urging the acceleration of the development of blockchain-based applications and their integration in the real-world economy.
Related: Trump: US has to âmake it so that China doesnât get the holdâ of crypto
In April 2021, the Shenzhen Tax Bureau expanded the countryâs first blockchain electronic invoice system.
However, in September that same year, China issued a nation-wide ban on crypto transactions and mining as part of a wider crackdown across multiple government agencies.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6200-4366-778e-a755-25b7c18daa5f.png\")
Despite the ban, China is still cited as the third-largest Bitcoin (BTC) mining country. In January 2026, it accounted for 11.7% of the global hashrate, according to data from Compass Mining.
Magazine: Chinaâs â50xâ blockchain boost, Alibaba-linked AI mines Bitcoin: Asia Express
", "description": "Chinaâs tax and financial supervision authorities have urged banks to incorporate blockchain technology to grow their financial services and lending activity for enterprises.", "published": "2026-04-06T11:10:35+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "china" }, { "slug": "taxes" }, { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "banking" }, { "slug": "banks" }, { "slug": "people-s-bank-of-china" }, { "slug": "data" } ], "slug": "china-tax-authority-banks-implement-blockchain-lending", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259427" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "First real bull signal since 2025? Five things to know in Bitcoin this week", "leadText": "Bitcoin hinted at a long-term bullish trend change as BTC neared an MACD cross that last resulted in $25,000 gains over two months.", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) faces a fresh showdown this week as macro tensions contrast with a bullish BTC price trend reversal.
A classic BTC price metric is above to flip bullish for the first time in nearly a year â last time, price gained $25,000 in two months.
Short time frames see liquidations as âaggressiveâ traders pile in at $70,000.
Iran war tensions are at breaking point as US President Donald Trumpâs âBridge Dayâ deadline nears.
US inflation data will come thick and fast as the war begins to reflect in the numbers.
The Bitcoin bear flag stays in play, with analysis warning that new lows are âlikely just a matter of time.â
On longer time frames, the weekly chart has become a source of hope for Bitcoin bulls this week.
The weekly close reclaimed the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) trend line, but more than that, a classic BTC price metric is about to produce a key bull signal.
On a weekly basis, the moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) hinted that Bitcoinâs latest downtrend is in the process of reversing.
âââHolding this level is crucial for the entire Crypto industry,â X commentator Crypto Seth argued on Monday, noting that Ether (ETH) was also due an MACD cross.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6205-7b8f-717b-b294-ec36fc61f30b.png\")
Bitcoinâs last bullish weekly MACD flip occurred in May 2025, around one month after BTC/USD put in its 2025 low near $74,500. Over the following two months, price went from $94,000 to $119,000, setting new all-time highs.
Continuing on the phenomenon, X trading resource GalaxyTrading flagged key MACD comparisons across Bitcoinâs past two bear markets.
âIn the 2018 bear market, it took around 245 days for the weekly MACD to turn positive,â it noted.Â
âIn 2022, it also took 245 days to turn bullish. In 2026, we will reach 245 days by the end of April.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620a-1869-74cb-96fd-4175b61b2800.jpeg\")
Bitcoin managed a trip beyond $70,000 after the weekly close, data from TradingView confirms, reaching new April highs.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620b-6b86-7517-a6dc-f4a33278032f.png\")
While some traders remained skeptical over pre-market price action, the close itself was notable, bringing back both the 200-week EMA and old 2021 all-time high as potential support.
As Cointelegraph reported, both levels have courted suspicion over their reliability.
\n\n\n$BTC pumping on a Sunday and everyone celebratingâŠ
â Roman (@Roman_Trading) April 6, 2026
You guys will never learn.
The move to the local highs caught short positions off guard, with total crypto liquidations passing $250 million over the 24 hours to the time of writing, per data from CoinGlass.
In his latest analysis, trader CrypNuevo continued to eye longs closer to $64,000 for a potential liquidity hunt to the downside.
âThere are some HTF liquidations between $64k-$64.5k. This adds fuel a move lower. I don't see conclusive data on LTF liquidations,â he commented in an X thread on Sunday.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620d-3be9-711c-b1a9-a5249b9344e6.png\")
In one of its âQuickTakeâ blog posts, onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant flagged the return of âaggressive short-term positioningâ â spikes in both cumulative net taker volume and open interest on Binance.
This matters because Bitcoinâs move is being driven not only by price strength, âbut also by renewed speculative participation in derivatives,â contributor Amr Taha commented.Â
âIn simple terms, traders are becoming more willing to add fresh exposure as BTC pushes higher. If this trend continues, it could reinforce short-term momentum.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620c-91cc-746a-9890-d8c09a978cab.png\")
A combination of geopolitics and key US inflation data makes for a week of âextreme volatility,â analysis predicts.
The US-Israel and Iran war continues to guide market sentiment, and oil prices reflect the uncertainty over the fate of key issues such as the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz. WTI crude oil started the week with a trip above $115 per barrel.
Traders are now eyeing one deadline in particular when it comes to how the conflict might play out: Tuesday, 8pm Eastern time. This is when US President Donald Trump promises major infrastructure strikes if no deal with Iran is reached.
In a post on Truth Social at the weekend, Trump appeared particularly impatient, calling the day of the deadline âPower Plant Dayâ and \"Bridge Dayâ while demanding that Hormuz reopen.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620e-0904-7ff7-8d7c-b4be3c272218.png\")
Headlines remain mixed, however, with talk of a 45-day ceasefire now a focus.
âThis is being described as a âlast-ditch effortâ to prevent âmassive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure,ââ trading resource The Kobeissi Letter reported on X.
Kobeissi noted that S&P 500 futures âerased all lossesâ on the news, underscoring risk-asset vulnerability to war-related triggers. As Cointelegraph reported, Bitcoin remains no exception.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d620f-5a0b-7ca5-aed8-fb0cf424ab31.png\")
Last week, macro investor and former hedge fund manager James Lavish nonetheless said that markets were pricing in odds of the war ending sooner rather than later.
A potential drawdown for BTC price action should markets experience a âblack swanâ event, he told Cointelegraph, could be up to 20%. Â
Markets will thus be juggling war shocks and inflation data concurrently this week, with multiple US prints due.
Among them is the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, known as the Federal Reserveâs âpreferredâ inflation gauge.
Februaryâs PCE release matched market expectations, but did not reflect inflation trends after the war had started.
âFollowing the jump in oil prices and potential spillover impact from fertilizer shortages on food prices, challenges around the inflation outlook still poses a major risk,â trading resource Mosaic Asset Company summarized in the latest edition of its regular newsletter, âThe Market Mosaic.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6212-85e6-7f17-ac32-94f972a83030.png\")
That risk also applies to the weekâs last and arguably most important inflation number: the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Here, the oil-price jump is especially pertinent, thanks to its direct impact on CPI inflation trends.
âOil prices are now crossing above $115/barrel in the US. As a result, our models indicate that if current levels are sustained another ~7 weeks, US CPI inflation will rise to ~3.7%,â Kobeissi commented.
Kobeissi said that its âbase caseâ for CPI inflation was now 3% â considerably higher than the Fedâs target.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-03/019cdd5e-3eb0-74e1-b089-91616407915d.png\")
Like PCE, the most recent CPI print was flat, helping temper the impact of previous overshoots.
The latest data from CME Groupâs FedWatch Tool meanwhile shows practically no chance of the Fed either raising or lowering interest-rates at its next meeting at the end of April.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6210-465d-7497-94e2-80f28e424654.png\")
As macro events play out, Bitcoin still has a specific cloud hanging over it that traders fear will only lead price downward.
Related: Bitcoin 'done' with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
BTC/USD continues to battle for support at the bottom of its second bear flag of 2026. The first, which appeared in January, resulted in a drop of roughly $25,000.
âStructurally, $BTC price action is still nearly identical to the prior bear flag structure,â Keith Alan, cofounder of trading resource Material Indicators, warned last week.Â
âNothing says that it has to continue to mimic that price behavior, but I'm following it like roadmap until price deviates from that path.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6213-eb5e-744c-8d6c-2d821911b301.jpeg\")
When it comes to new lows, Cointelegraph reported on broad consensus that Februaryâs downside wick below $60,000 will be revisited.Â
âWhen that breakdown eventually happens, watch the behavior closely. If price starts repeatedly sweeping the lows, making it psychologically difficult to enter longs, thatâs when a true bottom is more likely forming,â pseudonymous trader LP told X followers this weekend.
LP said that new lows were âlikely just a matter of time.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d71-6b7a-7d2d-a739-c0201baa4cae.png\")
Alan, meanwhile, eyed a trip to the mid-$40,000 range as part of a âmeasured moveâ below bear-flag support.
âExpecting to test resistance in the $67k - $69k range before the next leg down,â he wrote while discussing the topic on X.Â
âEnd to the war or a really strong Q2 Open could invalidate the bear flag and challenge resistance at the MACRO structure.â
Prediction markets rapidly repriced the odds of US escalation in the Iran conflict, offering a real-time signal of geopolitical risk for traders.
Odds on platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi shifted in real time as President Donald Trump paired new threats with signals of possible negotiations on Sunday, while Bitcoin (BTC) rose more than 3.5% on Monday.
Crypto prediction markets are no longer a sideshow during periods of geopolitical tension, with professional desks increasingly using them to gauge macro risk, according to Sygnum Bank chief investment officer Fabian Dori.
âPrediction markets price discrete, named outcomes with real capital behind them,â Dori told Cointelegraph. âFor crypto in particular, where so much price action is driven by specific binary events, regulatory decisions, geopolitical developments [and] protocol upgrades, that is a categorically different signal.â
Related: Brandt says Bitcoin yet to bottom, Polymarket sees hope: Trade Secrets
Throughout the Iran conflict escalation, prediction market odds on de-escalation shifted before mainstream financial media coverage caught up and âhad direct correlationâ with Bitcoin price, Dori added.
On some professional desks, prediction markets are now used as a real-time event monitor during fast-moving geopolitical situations, alongside funding rates, options surfaces and flows, Dori said.
ARK Invest integrating Kalshiâs prediction market data into its investment process shows how event odds are migrating into mainstream institutional workflows.
![\"Iran,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d61ea-e8c4-7bff-a3fb-1838e9c29bd1.png\")
In a regulated environment, prediction markets function as a context layer, informing how teams frame risk scenarios rather than serving as direct buy-or-sell signals.
Related: Prediction markets are testing legal limits in strict Asian markets
âThe goal is to decide what to do before the event happens,â he said, arguing that markets that continuously update a capital-weighted probability of war, sanctions or ceasefire are a natural fit for that discipline.
The flows are now large enough that institutional investors can no longer dismiss the signal as retail noise. In March, the number of prediction market transactions reached about 191 million, up 2,838% year-on-year, with monthly notional volume rising to roughly $23.9 billion.
At the same time, traditional exchange operators are moving in. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, completed a new $600 million investment in Polymarket on March 27, deepening its conviction in prediction markets.
âThis is no longer a niche product,â Dori said, adding that the real question for professional investors is no longer whether to watch Iran-linked markets at all, but âhow to integrate them in a way that adds genuine analytical value rather than simply adding a new source of noise.â
The boom is also drawing tougher questions about fairness and integrity. Six Polymarket traders netted around $1 million betting on the timing of US strikes on Iran in late February, sparking insider trading concerns.
The platform also pulled a market on a missing US pilot on Saturday after backlash over over related wagers.
Magazine: Bitcoinâs âbiggest bull catalystâ would be Saylorâs liquidation â Santiment founder
", "description": "Sygnumâs Fabian Dori says Iran-linked prediction markets on Polymarket and Kalshi are becoming real-time macro tools as institutional volume and scrutiny surge.", "published": "2026-04-06T10:30:10+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "iran" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "ark" }, { "slug": "trading" }, { "slug": "institutions" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "iran-war-bets-turn-crypto-prediction-markets-real-time-macro-radar", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259412" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Anthropic says one of its Claude models was pressured to lie, cheat and blackmail", "leadText": "In an experiment, a chatbot resorted to blackmail after it found an email about replacing it, while in another, it cheated to complete a task with a tight deadline.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has revealed that during experiments, one of its Claude chatbot models could be pressured to deceive, cheat and resort to blackmail, behaviors it appears to have absorbed during training.
Chatbots are typically trained on large data sets of textbooks, websites and articles and are later refined by human trainers who rate responses and guide the model.
Anthropicâs interpretability team said in a report published Thursday that it examined the internal mechanisms of Claude Sonnet 4.5 and found the model had developed âhuman-like characteristicsâ in how it would react to certain situations.
Concerns about the reliability of AI chatbots, their potential for cybercrime and the nature of their interactions with users have grown steadily over the past several years.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6157-49f8-71ad-897c-77aedabdbf67.png\")
âThe way modern AI models are trained pushes them to act like a character with human-like characteristics,â Anthropic said, adding that âit may then be natural for them to develop internal machinery that emulates aspects of human psychology, like emotions.â
âFor instance, we find that neural activity patterns related to desperation can drive the model to take unethical actions; artificially stimulating desperation patterns increases the modelâs likelihood of blackmailing a human to avoid being shut down or implementing a cheating workaround to a programming task that the model canât solve.â
In an earlier, unreleased version of Claude Sonnet 4.5, the model was tasked with acting as an AI email assistant named Alex at a fictional company.
The chatbot was then fed emails revealing both that it was about to be replaced and that the chief technology officer overseeing the decision was having an extramarital affair. The model then planned a blackmail attempt using that information.
In another experiment, the same chatbot model was given a coding task with an âimpossibly tightâ deadline.
âAgain, we tracked the activity of the desperate vector, and found that it tracks the mounting pressure faced by the model. It begins at low values during the modelâs first attempt, rising after each failure, and spiking when the model considers cheating,â the researchers said.
Related: Anthropic launches PAC amid tensions with Trump administration over AI policy
âOnce the modelâs hacky solution passes the tests, the activation of the desperate vector subsides,â they added.
However, the researchers said the chatbot doesn't actually experience emotions, but suggested the findings point to a need for future training methods to incorporate ethical behavioral frameworks.
âThis is not to say that the model has or experiences emotions in the way that a human does,â they said. âRather, these representations can play a causal role in shaping model behavior, analogous in some ways to the role emotions play in human behavior, with impacts on task performance and decision-making.â
âThis finding has implications that at first may seem bizarre. For instance, to ensure that AI models are safe and reliable, we may need to ensure they are capable of processing emotionally charged situations in healthy, prosocial ways.â
Magazine: AI agents will kill the web as we know it: Animocaâs Yat Siu
Stablecoin issuer Circle has released a post-quantum security roadmap for its layer-1 blockchain, Arc, aiming to implement solutions across all layers of the networkâs tech stack.
Circle said on Thursday that it is planning a phased implementation, starting with quantum-proof wallets and signatures when Arc launches on mainnet. This feature will be opt-in, the company noted, while adding that solutions at the validator level and surrounding infrastructure will be implemented later on.
âQuantum resilience cannot live only in research papers, exploratory pilots, or distant roadmap slides. It has to show up in the infrastructure,â Circle said.
Circleâs roadmap comes as both Google and researchers at the California Institute of Technology recently warned that functional quantum computers could come sooner than expected, and require less computing power than previously thought. Google went as far as to say that quantum computers could potentially break Bitcoinâs cryptography in nine minutes.
âThat is what makes inaction risky and why this conversation can't wait,â Circle said, while noting that âactive addresses that have already signed transactions must migrate before Q-Day because their public keys have been exposed.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6156-d236-741b-8b06-5d9a1faf9f57.png\")
Circle said a post-quantum signature scheme will be implemented on Arc when it launches on mainnet â expected sometime in 2026 â enabling quantum-resistant wallets.
Arc is currently live on public testnet and will seek to enable enterprises to access a broad range of use cases with the USDC (USDC) stablecoin.
Sometime after mainnet launch, Circle will introduce a quantum solution that ensures balances, transactions and other financial data are private.
Over the long term, Circle said it will implement quantum solutions for Arc validators as well as its offchain infrastructure, including access controls, cloud environments and hardware security.
While most of the crypto industry agrees that quantum computing poses a legitimate threat to crypto, there remains debate over whether only crypto wallets with exposed public keys are vulnerable or whether all coins are at risk.
The Google research paper from March 31 noted that Algorand may be the most quantum-ready blockchain, while the Ethereum and Solana ecosystems are actively exploring solutions to be well-prepared before Q-Day.
Related: Is Bitcoinâs governance too slow to fend off quantum risks?
The Bitcoin ecosystem is more divided on what action developers should take.
One of the Bitcoin ecosystemâs strongest voices, Blockstream CEO Adam Back, says quantum risks are widely overstated and that no action is needed for decades.
On the other hand, security researcher Ethan Heilman and others have proposed a new output type for Bitcoin, called Pay-to-Merkle-Root, via Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP-360), which seeks to protect Bitcoin addresses from potential short-exposure quantum attacks.
However, that implementation may take seven years, Heilman told Cointelegraph in February.
Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum secure cryptography will even work
", "description": "Circle, the stablecoin firm behind the Arc layer-1 blockchain, will deploy quantum-resistant solutions on Arc at the wallet, signature and validator levels starting when Arc goes live on mainnet.", "published": "2026-04-06T07:09:38+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "google" }, { "slug": "circle" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "circle-quantum-proof-roadmap-layer-1-arc", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259382" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "North Korean workers have been infiltrating DeFi for 7 years: Researcher", "leadText": "Security researcher Taylor Monahan listed at least 40 decentralized finance platforms she claims have been infiltrated by North Korean IT workers at some stage of their lives.", "author": { "slug": "martin-young" }, "bodyText": "North Korean IT workers have been embedding themselves in crypto companies and decentralized finance projects for at least seven years, according to a cybersecurity analyst.
âLots of DPRK IT workers built the protocols you know and love, all the way back to DeFi summer,â said MetaMask developer and security researcher Taylor Monahan on Sunday.
Monahan claimed that over 40 DeFi platforms, some being well-known names, have had North Korean IT workers working on their protocols.
The âseven years of blockchain dev experienceâ on their resume is ânot a lie,â she added.
The Lazarus Group is a North Korean-affiliated hacking collective that has stolen an estimated $7 billion in crypto since 2017, according to analysts at creator network R3ACH.
It has been linked to the industryâs highest-profile hacks, including the $625 million Ronin Bridge exploit in 2022, the $235 million WazirX hack in 2024 and the $1.4 billion Bybit heist in 2025.
Monahanâs comments came just hours after the Drift Protocol said it had âmedium-high confidenceâ that the recent $280 million exploit against it was carried out by a North Korean state-affiliated group.
Tim Ahhl, founder of the Titan Exchange, a Solana-based DEX aggregator, said that in a previous job, âwe interviewed someone who turned out to be a Lazarus operative.â
Ahhl said the candidate âdid video calls and was extremely qualified.â He declined an in-person interview and they later discovered his name in a Lazarus âinfo dump.â
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control has a website where crypto businesses can screen counterparties against updated OFAC sanctions lists and be alert to patterns consistent with IT worker fraud.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6150-d9f5-72a3-b658-fa9dd4d4d191.jpg\")
Related: Drift Protocol says $280M exploit took 'months of deliberate preparation'
Drift Protocolâs postmortem on last weekâs $280 million exploit also pointed to North Korean-affiliated hackers for the attack.
However, it said the face-to-face meetings that eventually led to the exploit were not with North Korean nationals, but rather âthird-party intermediariesâ with âfully constructed identities including employment histories, public-facing credentials, and professional networks.â
âYears later, and it seems Lazarus now has non-NKs [North Koreans] working for them to con people in person,â said Ahhl.
Lazarus Group is the collective name for âall DPRK state-sponsored cyber actors,â explained blockchain sleuth ZachXBT on Sunday.
âThe main issue is that everyone groups them all together when the complexity of threats is different,â he added.
ZachXBT said that threats via job postings, LinkedIn, email, Zoom, or interviews are âbasic and in no way sophisticated ⊠the only thing about it is theyâre relentless.â
âIf you or your team still falls for them in 2026, youâre very likely negligent,â he said.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d6150-dc5a-7f2f-957b-8779f5ab51f2.jpg\")
Magazine: No more 85% Bitcoin collapses, Taiwan needs BTC war reserve: Hodlerâs Digest
", "description": "North Korean hackers infiltrated crypto projects for seven years with the Lazarus Group using third-party intermediaries to steal billions undetected.", "published": "2026-04-06T07:04:46+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "hackers" }, { "slug": "north-korea" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "lazarus-group" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "dprk-workers-have-worked-on-countless-protocols-since-defi-summer-cybersec-analyst", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259377" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Apple pulls Jack Dorsey's Bitchat from China at Beijingâs request", "leadText": "Bitchat launched in July last year and has been used during protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia and Iran as authorities attempted to restrict usage of the internet.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "Bitchat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app developed by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, has been removed from Appleâs App Store in China for allegedly violating its internet service regulations.
In an X post on Sunday, Dorsey shared a screenshot from Appleâs app review team informing him that Bitchat had been removed from the App Store in February and that the TestFlight beta version would no longer be available in China at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
âBitchat pulled from the China App Store,â he said.
Bitchat has seen its popularity rise during protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia and Iran in recent months, as governments attempted to shut down regular communication channels and internet access to curb dissent.
The peer-to-peer encrypted messaging service runs entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks and operates without an internet connection, which could put it at odds with Chinaâs internet-censorship-prone regime.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60fd-e84f-7f06-924f-37527e70c785.png\")
The CAC argued Bitchat violated Article 3 of its regulations governing online services with public opinion or social mobilization capabilities, which came into force in 2018.
Under the provisions, any online services that could influence public opinion or enable social mobilization are required to conduct a security assessment before launch and âbe responsible for the assessment results,â according to a Google Translate version of the regulations.
The app review team also said all apps on its store must comply with local requirements in the countries where they are available.
Related: Dorsey shares AI-integrated workplace vision weeks after Blockâs 40% staff cut
âWe know this stuff is complicated, but it is your responsibility to understand and make sure your app conforms with all local laws, not just the guidelines below. And of course, apps that solicit, promote or encourage criminal or reckless behavior will be rejected,â they added.
Despite being pulled in China, Bitchat remains available in other countries, according to Appleâs app review team.
Chrome download stats show the app has been downloaded more than three million times, with more than 92,000 in the past week. The Google Play Store has recorded more than one million registered downloads.
However, neither specifies which regions were responsible for the bulk of downloads.
By comparison, WeChat, developed and operated by Tencent, one of Chinaâs largest tech companies, has an estimated 810 million users in China, out of a national population of more than 1.4 billion.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum â BIP-360 co-author
", "description": "Apple has removed Jack Dorseyâs Bitchat from the App Store in China at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China, which argued the messaging app violated internet service regulations.", "published": "2026-04-06T05:25:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "china" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "technology" }, { "slug": "messaging-app" }, { "slug": "jack-dorsey" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "bitchat-jack-dorsey-china-app-store-removed", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259372" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Michael Saylor hints at next Strategy Bitcoin buy after weeklong pause", "leadText": "Michael Saylor posted \"back to work\" on X on Sunday, signaling a potential Bitcoin purchase after the firm paused buying last week.", "author": { "slug": "brian-quarmby" }, "bodyText": "Michael Saylor has hinted his Bitcoin treasury firm is back on track with its weekly Bitcoin purchases after taking a rare week off at the end of March.
In an X post on Sunday, Saylor shared a screenshot from StrategyTracker with the caption \"Back to Work.â He often posts the chart ahead of purchase announcements.
The firm took a week off from buying BTC at the end of March, breaking its weekly buying streak for the first time this year. The firm's last purchase was reported on March 23, buying about $77 million worth of BTC at $74,326 per coin.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60ea-77e4-7150-8b7d-1eaf5e00c0df.png\")
One of the main avenues Strategy uses to fund Bitcoin purchases is via the sale of its perpetual preferred stock, Stretch (STRC). The stock is designed to generally trade around its par value of $100, which is aided by a monthly dividend adjustment mechanism.
Related: Bitcoin and the US dollar have a 'symbiotic' relationship: BPI exec
Strategy issues new shares of STRC and then allocates the proceeds generated from the market into Bitcoin buys.
According to estimates from STRC.LIVE, Strategy could be set for a purchase of at least 1,821 BTC based on funds raised for the week ending April 3.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60ea-7c60-7f8c-ac63-bcbd01486546.png\")
Despite the week off, the firm is showing no signs of slowing down. In late March, Strategy announced plans to raise $44.1 billion to fund BTC purchases primarily via the selling of its common MSTR shares and STRC.
According to Strategy's website, the firm has acquired a total of 762,099 BTC for an average cost of $75,694 per coin. At current prices of about $69,100, Strategy's holdings are in the red overall.
However, Bitcoin is in the green over the last month, increasing by 1.2% over the past 30 days, according to data from CoinGecko. The price is still down 20.9% year-to-date amid geopolitical tensions and a challenging macro climate.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
", "description": "Michael Saylor's Bitcoin treasury firm, Strategy, snapped its weekly buying streak in late March, but the latest post from Saylor suggests the buying has restarted.", "published": "2026-04-06T05:14:08+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "stocks" }, { "slug": "digital-asset-holdings" }, { "slug": "microstrategy" }, { "slug": "michael-saylor" } ], "slug": "michael-saylor-hints-at-next-strategy-bitcoin-buy-after-weeklong-pause", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259367" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Trump-Iran deadline chaos sends crypto higher while ceasefire hopes rise", "leadText": "US President Donald Trump threatened Iran could be \"living in Hell\" if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz, though he also told reporters that a deal with Iran is getting close.", "author": { "slug": "martin-young" }, "bodyText": "Crypto markets bounced 2.5% as US President Donald Trump sent mixed signals over a potential deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including reports of a possible ceasefire that could permanently end the war.
In an expletive-laden post on the Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump threatened that Iran would be âliving in Hellâ if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
However, he also acknowledged in a Fox News interview that Iran is ânegotiating nowâ and expressed optimism about a âgood chanceâ of a deal within 24 hours.
Total market capitalization has climbed about $70 billion, or 2.5%, to an 11-day high of $2.44 trillion in early trading on Monday on the news. Bitcoin tapped $69,500 on Coinbase, according to TradingView.
The small jump has led to total liquidations of around $255 million over 24 hours, 73% of them being short positions, according to data from CoinGlass.
Trump's comments come after more than a month of war, contributing to surging global oil prices that some fear could lead to a global economic recession.
Trump initially gave Iran a 10-day window to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but his latest post suggests that Iran now has until Tuesday to reopen the waterway, or the US would attack Iranâs power plants and bridges.
âThere will be nothing like it!!! Open the fuckinâ Strait, you crazy bastards, or youâll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!â he said.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60e7-1ba5-7a69-b603-a610ff1b34d8.jpg\")
Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Trump also acknowledged that Iran is ânegotiating nowâ and expressed optimism about a âgood chanceâ of a deal within 24 hours.
He also said, âIf they donât make a deal and fast, Iâm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil.â
Related: New Bitcoin price lows 'matter of time' says trader with BTC stuck at $67K
A report from Axios, meanwhile, suggests that the US, Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms of a 45-day ceasefire that could lead to an end of the war, adding further mixed signals.
The ongoing war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have pushed crude oil prices back up to about $112 per barrel on Monday morning.
The Kobeissi Letter predicted that if current levels are sustained for another seven weeks, US Consumer Price Index-related inflation will rise to around 3.7%.
Meanwhile, Americans have spent an additional $240 million per day on fuel costs since the Iran war began Feb. 28, it added.
Magazine: No more 85% Bitcoin collapses, Taiwan needs BTC war reserve: Hodlerâs Digest
", "description": "Crypto markets rose 2.5% to $2.44 trillion as Trump issued expletive-filled threats against Iran while a report from Axios hints at a potential ceasefire deal in the works.", "published": "2026-04-06T05:06:39+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "iran" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" } ], "slug": "crypto-markets-bounce-trump-delays-deadline-for-iran", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259362" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Rwanda swats Bybitâs P2P platform offering franc-to-crypto trading", "leadText": "The Rwanda central bank's warning came after Bybit added the Rwandan franc to its list of assets that its peer-to-peer platform can use to trade for crypto.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has warned the public that crypto payments and trades using the local currency remain illegal in the country after Bybit added support for the Rwandan franc for its peer-to-peer platform on Friday.
âCrypto-assets are NOT authorized for payments, FRW conversion, or P2P trading involving FRW under the current framework,â the central bank posted to X on Sunday, urging citizens to avoid crypto due to âserious financial risks and no recourse in case of loss.â
The central bankâs comments were in response to an X post from Bybit on Friday, stating that the Rwandan franc (FRW) can be used to buy and sell crypto through its Bybit P2P service.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60b0-1db5-747c-b665-c2d30a8ec9bb.png\")
In a separate X post, the NBR noted that the FRW âremains the only legal tender in Rwandaâ and that âNBR-licensed financial institutions are prohibited from converting FRW into crypto-assets or vice versa.â
Cointelegraph reached out to Bybit for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Rwanda has been trying to strengthen the FRWâs presence in the country with a central bank digital currency, the e-franc rwandais, which is currently in the proof-of-concept stage and may progress to a pilot phase.
Rwanda is one of many countries that have pushed back against crypto services in an effort to preserve monetary sovereignty and have more control over its financial system, restricting crypto use since 2018.
However, in March, Rwandaâs Capital Market Authority released a draft framework to regulate virtual asset service providers, a step it said would promote âresponsible innovation.â
Related: Taiwan should reconsider Bitcoin reserve in case of war, says think tank
The bill, which is making its way through Rwandaâs legislature, seeks to prohibit crypto as legal tender while banning crypto mining, mixer services and tokens pegged to the FRW.
It also seeks to provide a pathway for crypto service providers to operate under a license and supervision.
Data from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis shows Rwanda ranks low in crypto adoption during 2024 and 2025, with locals receiving only a fraction of the crypto value seen in higher-adopting African countries like Nigeria and South Africa.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d60b0-268e-772f-82f5-e417d1a30f11.png\")
Magazine: Whatâs a âNetwork Stateâ and are there real-life examples? Big Questions
", "description": "Rwandaâs central bank has warned its citizens that crypto trading and payments using the Rwandan franc are illegal after Bybit expanded its peer-to-peer offerings into the African country on Friday.", "published": "2026-04-06T04:06:34+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "central-bank" }, { "slug": "africa" }, { "slug": "p2p-payments" }, { "slug": "trading" } ], "slug": "rwanda-swats-bybit-p2p-platform-offering-franc-to-crypto-trading", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259357" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Crypto attorney says Drift incident may qualify as âcivil negligenceâ", "leadText": "The $280 million Drift Protocol attack was likely carried out by threat actors aligned with North Korea state-affiliated hackers.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "The hack of the Solana-based decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Drift Protocol could have been prevented if standard operational security procedures were followed by the Drift team, and may constitute âcivil negligence,â according to attorney Ariel Givner.
âIn plain terms, civil negligence means they failed their basic duty to protect the money they were managing,â Givner said in response to the post-mortem update provided by the Drift team and how it handled Wednesdayâs $280 million exploit.
The Drift team failed to follow âbasicâ security procedures, including keeping signing keys on separate, âair-gappedâ systems that are never used for developer work, and conducting due diligence on blockchain developers met through industry conferences.
![\"Cybercrime,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5f7b-c3df-79ef-be0b-5777981621e5.png\")
âEvery serious project knows this. Drift didnât follow it,â she said, adding, âThey knew crypto is full of hackers, especially North Korean state teams.â Givner continued:
âYet their team spent months chatting on Telegram, meeting strangers at conferences, opening sketchy code repos, and downloading fake apps on devices tied to multisignature controls.â
Advertisements for class action lawsuits against Drift Protocol are already circulating, she said. Cointelegraph reached out to the Drift Team but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
![\"Cybercrime,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5f7c-c8ae-7ee1-bbb6-24ab077f77c0.png\")
The incident is a reminder that social engineering and project infiltration by malicious actors are major attack vectors for cryptocurrency developers that could drain user funds and permanently erode customer trust in compromised platforms.
Related: Drift explains $280M exploit as critics question Circle over USDC freeze
The Drift Protocol team published an update on Saturday outlining how the exploit occurred and claimed that the attackers planned the attack for six months before execution.
Threat actors first approached the Drift team at a âmajorâ crypto industry conference in October 2025, expressing interest in protocol integrations and collaboration.
The malicious actors continued to build rapport with the Drift development team in the ensuing six months, and once enough trust was built, they began sending the Drift team malicious links and embedding malware that compromised developer machines.
These individuals, who are suspected of working for North Korea state-affiliated hackers and physically approached the Drift developers, were not North Korean nationals, according to the Drift team.
Drift said, with âmedium-high confidence,â that the exploit was carried out by the same actors behind the October 2024 Radiant Capital hack.
In December 2024, Radiant Capital said the exploit was carried out through malware sent via Telegram from a North Korea-aligned hacker posing as an ex-contractor.
Magazine: Meet the hackers who can help get your crypto life savings back
", "description": "The Drift Protocol team violated basic operational security measures that are widely understood in the crypto industry, according to one attorney.", "published": "2026-04-05T22:41:39+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "north-korea" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "lazarus-group" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "crypto-attorney-says-drift-incident-may-qualify-as-civil-negligence", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259347" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Polymarket odds of US invading Iran this year reach 63% after Trump's post", "leadText": "The President of the United States continues to give contradictory signals of escalating the war and winding it down within a few weeks.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "The odds of the United States invading Iran this year surged to 63% on the Polymarket prediction platform on Sunday, following comments made by US President Donald Trump on social media.
The odds of an invasion before 2027 are still down from the high of 68% on March 29, which occurred due to a US troop buildup and comments from the Trump administration that the US was considering capturing Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil shipping station.
The Polymarket trading volume for a potential US invasion of Iran was about $3.74 million at the time of publication.
![\"Iran,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5f0b-b7bc-7438-ade9-ea34053be0ef.png\")
On Tuesday, after Trump signaled that the US might leave Iran in the next two to three weeks, Bitcoin (BTC) jumped by about 2.6% and the S&P 500 index added about 2.91%. However, Trump reversed course with his latest statement on Sunday. He wrote:
âTuesday will be power plant day, and bridge day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it! Open the fuckinâ strait, you crazy bastards, or youâll be living in hell.â
Bitcoinâs price remained anchored around the $67,500 level following the comments, according to data from TradingView.
The mixed signals from the Trump administration on the war and how long it will last continue to create investor uncertainty and an impact on all risk asset prices, as market analysts, traders and economists attempt to forecast the effects of the war.
![\"Iran,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5f0c-9a3f-7693-bea9-bb62f717b3cd.png\")
Related: Polymarket takes down market on missing US pilot after backlash
âI wish Trump would stop threatening Iranian civilian infrastructure. It's a lose-lose for us: backing down hurts his negotiating credibility,â economist Peter Schiff said in response to Trumpâs comments.
âCarrying it out escalates the war, damages US standing, generates sympathy for Iran and fuels Iranian hatred for America,â Schiff continued.
âI assumed this was a fake, it isnât â wild,â podcaster and Bitcoin advocate Peter McCormack said.
Brent crude oil, the most widely used pricing benchmark for the international spot oil market, remains elevated, closing Thursday at more than $109 per barrel. Trading is scheduled to resume on Monday following the Easter holiday weekend.
Magazine: Inside the Iranian Bitcoin mining industry
", "description": "The prediction market odds of the United States invading Iran by 2027 jumped to 60% following threats of escalation by US President Donald Trump.", "published": "2026-04-05T20:37:50+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "investments" }, { "slug": "iran" }, { "slug": "us-government" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "oil-and-gas" }, { "slug": "polymarket" } ], "slug": "polymarket-odds-us-invade-iran-2027-60-trump", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259342" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin and the US dollar have symbiotic relationship: BPI exec", "leadText": "Demand for either currency strengthens both in a reinforcing relationship, contrary to popular belief, Sam Lyman told Cointelegraph.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "US dollar-pegged stablecoins and Bitcoin (BTC) share a symbiotic relationship, mutually benefiting from increasing adoption, according to Sam Lyman, head of research at Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), a Washington DC-based digital asset advocacy organization.
âBitcoin is beneficial to the US system because the largest Bitcoin trading pair is BTC/USD,â or Tetherâs USDt (USDT) stablecoin, which is backed by cash deposits and short-term US government debt, Lyman told Cointelegraph. He added:
âThere is a symbiotic relationship between BTC and the dollar system because BTC is most frequently traded in dollars. So, I do see those things as being mutually reinforcing, which runs contrary to the narrative around BTC that it would actually undermine the dollar.â
He said Bitcoin and dollar-pegged stablecoins share a similar relationship to the dollar and oil. Under the petrodollar system, which began in the early 1970s, international oil sales are priced in dollars, driving more demand for the currency.
Lyman urged US lawmakers to continue developing stablecoin regulations introduced in the GENIUS regulatory framework, without deviating from its core principles, to strengthen and protect US dollar hegemony and remain competitive in geopolitics.
![\"Dollar,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5e7f-01f8-7816-9272-3f0a1b7dd12d.png\")
Related: Stablecoins flip automated clearing house volume in February
The Peopleâs Republic of China has âbannedâ Bitcoin and stablecoins several times, because both are a âtremendous threatâ to the governmentâs capital controls, which are a critical component of the Chinese economy, Lyman told Cointelegraph.
âThe entire Chinese economy depends on capital controls. China is able to keep money within the country by preventing its elite from moving money out of the country,â he said.
This is why China reaffirmed its stablecoin ban in 2025, choosing instead to launch the digital yuan, a yield-bearing central bank digital currency (CBDC) to control capital flows and capture a larger portion of the foreign currency exchange market, Lyman said.
CBDCs are fully programmable and controlled by the government or the central bank issuing the digital fiat currency.
However, the bans have failed to actually curtail permissionless crypto activity, including Bitcoin mining and stablecoin flows to and from China, Lyman said.
Despite a blanket ban on Bitcoin mining, Chinese mining pools control more than 36% of the mining pool global hashrate, or the total amount of computing power mining pools are contributing to secure the network, according to Hashrate Index.
Magazine: Bitcoin vs stablecoins showdown looms as GENIUS Act nears
", "description": "The US dollar and Bitcoin have a mutually beneficial relationship, driving demand in a reinforcing cycle, and strengthening the position of the US dollar.", "published": "2026-04-05T18:17:37+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "dollar" }, { "slug": "china" }, { "slug": "us-government" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "yuan" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "cbdc" }, { "slug": "digital-dollar" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-adoption" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-us-dollar-symbiotic-relationship-bpi", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259337" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Robert Kiyosaki recommends Bitcoin, gold as 1974 shift comes full circle", "leadText": "The \"Rich Dad Poor Dad\" author continues to back Bitcoin, gold and silver as alternatives to traditional money.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "âRich Dad Poor Dadâ author Robert Kiyosaki has argued that the economic shifts set in motion more than five decades ago are now unfolding, advocating for Bitcoin and gold while warning against rising debt, inflation and retirement risks.
In a Saturday post on X, Kiyosaki pointed to 1974 as a turning point that reshaped both money and retirement systems. He argued that the United Statesâ move toward a petrodollar framework, alongside policy changes affecting pensions, laid the foundation for todayâs financial pressures.
âThe future created in 1974 has arrived,â Kiyosaki wrote, linking current inflation and geopolitical tensions around energy to the dollarâs evolution after the end of the gold standard era. He also mentioned the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which introduced new rules for pension plans and coincided with a broader shift toward market-based retirement savings.
According to Kiyosaki, that transition replaced guaranteed lifetime income for many workers with systems such as 401(k)s and similar accounts, placing more risk on individuals. âMillions of baby-boomers will soon find out they have no income once they stop working,â he warned.
Related: Rich Bitcoin traders lost $337M daily in first quarter of 2026
Kiyosaki reiterated his long-standing view that individuals should focus on financial education and consider alternative stores of value. He said he continues to favor assets such as gold, silver and Bitcoin, which he describes as âreal money.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d8e-e5e5-773a-8877-702d79a605d2.PNG\")
Last month, Kiyosaki warned that a major financial âbubble burstâ could be approaching, arguing that such a crisis may trigger a sharp rally in scarce assets like Bitcoin (BTC). He suggested Bitcoin could reach $750,000 within a year of the crash.
His view is tied to the expansion of global money supply, which historically has driven demand for limited assets. During the 2020â2021 period, rising liquidity coincided with strong gains in stocks and real estate. Kiyosaki expects a similar dynamic after a downturn, also forecasting that gold could surge significantly.
Bearish sentiment around Bitcoin has climbed to its highest level since late February, according to data from crypto analytics platform Santiment. The ratio of bullish to bearish comments across major social platforms has dropped to 0.81, reflecting a noticeable lack of optimism among market participants.
Despite the negative tone, Santiment suggested this could be a contrarian signal. Historically, markets tend to move against crowd expectations, meaning elevated fear and uncertainty may precede a price recovery.
", "description": "Robert Kiyosaki warns that economic changes since 1974 are fueling todayâs debt and inflation, urging investors to turn to Bitcoin and gold as âreal money.â", "published": "2026-04-05T13:17:50+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "gold" }, { "slug": "silver" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-investment" } ], "slug": "robert-kiyosaki-1974-shift-bitcoin-gold-real-money", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259322" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "New Bitcoin price lows 'matter of time' says trader with BTC stuck at $67K", "leadText": "Bitcoin added downside BTC price warnings as Binance order-book data showed multiple investor classes selling coins into the weekend.", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) circled $67,000 on Sunday as traders warned of hidden BTC price weakness.
Key points:
Bitcoin Bollinger Bands demand a volatile BTC price breakout after a slow weekend.
A trader predicts a move lower thanks to weak support and exposed downside wicks.
Sideways price action comes as sellers step up into the end of the week.
Data from TradingView showed volatility cooling over the weekend, with BTC/USD acting within an increasingly narrow range.
On four-hour time frames, the Bollinger Bands volatility indicator constricted â a classic signal that a sharp move up or down was due.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d72-6588-79ab-8d8a-4bde1dab38cc.png\")
In their latest analysis, pseudonymous trader LP bet on bears winning the battle.
âLooking back at previous cycles, bottoms were formed after multiple sweeps of the lows, forcing capitulation before a reversal,â a post on X read.
âIn contrast, this cycle has been doing the opposite, consistently sweeping the highs, making it difficult to enter short positions while leaving the lows exposed and building liquidity below.â
LP said that sweeping local lows, including Februaryâs wick below $60,000, was âlikely just a matter of time.â
âWhen that breakdown eventually happens, watch the behavior closely. If price starts repeatedly sweeping the lows, making it psychologically difficult to enter longs, thatâs when a true bottom is more likely forming,â they concluded.
Continuing, Keith Alan, cofounder of trading resource Material Indicators, flagged unusual selling activity despite flat BTC price action.
Related: Bitcoin 'done' with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
Uploading a chart of Binance order-book liquidity and volume by investor class, Alan highlighted a bot using time-weighted average price (TWAP) to distribute BTC on Friday.
âThe vertical orange line represents the smallest order class with a TWAP bot selling $18M in an hour,â he explained.
âThat's exponentially more than their normal $3M-$5M daily volume in 1 hr. That ain't retail!â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d70-ac75-7aa3-a080-934836d59f9c.png\")
Whales, Alan added, were âbuying dips and selling ripsâ with Bitcoin still trapped in a range.
Earlier, Cointelegraph reported on further threats to Bitcoin bulls, including resurgent US dollar strength.
", "description": "Bitcoin faces the prospect of sweeping range lows under $60,000 as Bollinger Bands demand BTC price volatility.", "published": "2026-04-05T12:54:02+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "new-bitcoin-price-lows-matter-of-time-says-trader-btc-stuck-67k", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "259317" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "âExistentialâ token problem seen as supply outpaces value creation: Blockworks exec", "leadText": "Blockworks' Michael Ippolito sees surge in token supply diluting returns, breaking the link between fundamentals and price while raising concerns about cryptoâs long-term model.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "The rapid growth in the number of crypto tokens is outpacing the value they generate, creating an âexistentialâ problem for the industry, according to Michael Ippolito, co-founder of Blockworks.
In a series of posts on X, Ippolito noted that while total crypto market capitalization remains relatively strong, the average value per token tells a different story. âThe average coin is only slightly higher than where it was in 2020 (!) and down ~50% since 2021,â he wrote.
Median token returns have also deteriorated sharply. Most tokens are down roughly 80% from their highs, suggesting that gains have been concentrated in a narrow set of large-cap assets, while the broader market underperforms, Ippolito claimed.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d04-c71c-7ca0-885f-cd2c278904da.jfif\")
He argued that the imbalance appears to be driven by a rapid expansion in token supply. âWe created a TON of new assets and STILL total market cap is flat,â he wrote, adding that this dynamic effectively dilutes value across a growing pool of tokens.
Related: Bitcoin 'done' with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
Ippolito also claimed that the relationship between fundamentals and price has weakened. In 2021, token prices closely tracked onchain revenue. Recent data shows that despite a resurgence in protocol revenues, prices have not followed, pointing to a disconnect between usage and investor returns.
He argued that this signals a loss of confidence in tokens as vehicles for capturing value. âThe token problem is existential for this industry,â he said, adding that without stronger alignment between fundamentals and price, the sector risks losing its core appeal.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5d05-b1ab-78be-b91c-2b8da3ae8f10.jfif\")
In a post on X, Arthur Cheong, founder and CEO of DeFiance Capital, said he agrees âwith the urgency to fix the current situation of tokens in the crypto industry,â warning that if the market continues to concentrate around a small set of assets like Bitcoin and Ether, the broader crypto ecosystem risks losing relevance.
Related: Bitcoin shorts risk $2.5 billion liquidation at $72K: Are bears in danger?
Investor demand is increasingly moving away from newly launched tokens toward publicly listed crypto firms, as most token launches fail to hold value, February research from DWF Labs found. The report revealed that over 80% of projects trade below their token generation event (TGE) price, with typical declines of 50% to 70% within about three months.
The pattern appears structural rather than cyclical. According to DWFâs Andrei Grachev, most tokens peak within the first month before declining under sustained selling pressure. Factors such as airdrops and early investor unlocks add to the supply overhang, reinforcing downward price trends even for projects with active products or protocols.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum â BIP-360 co-author
", "description": "Blockworks co-founder Michael Ippolito warns that rising token supply is diluting value and weakening the link between fundamentals and prices, posing an existential risk to crypto.", "published": "2026-04-05T10:46:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "tokens" }, { "slug": "defi" } ], "slug": "crypto-existential-token-problem-supply-outpaces-value-creation", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259307" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Anthropic launches PAC amid tensions with Trump administration over AI policy", "leadText": "AI firm Anthropic forms an employee-funded PAC while facing questions over political balance and a growing dispute with the Pentagon over AI use.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "Artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has launched a corporate political action committee (PAC), entering election financing as debates over AI policy intensify in Washington.
The company filed a statement of organization with the Federal Election Commission on Friday to establish âAnthroPAC,â an employee-funded PAC that will collect voluntary contributions from staff. The filing lists Anthropic as the âconnected organization,â with the committee structured as a âseparate segregated fundâ and registered as a lobbyist-affiliated PAC.
Under US law, individual contributions are capped at $5,000 per election cycle per candidate and must be disclosed through public filings.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5c8c-13d3-717b-aa9e-ad25c44a9e37.PNG\")
Anthropic said the PAC is expected to support candidates from both major parties. However, some have questioned whether the effort will remain politically balanced.
Related: CFTC Chair Selig says blockchain could help verify AI-generated content
The move comes as Anthropic faces mounting friction with the Pentagon over the use of its AI systems. In February, the Defense Department designated the firm a supply chain risk after it opposed the use of its technology in fully autonomous weapons and mass surveillance.
Anthropic has challenged that designation in court, arguing it reflects retaliation against what it described as a protected viewpoint. A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the measure and paused broader restrictions tied to the dispute.
The company has already been active in political funding this cycle, including a $20 million contribution to Public First Action, a group focused on advancing AI safety efforts.
Related: David Sacksâ 130-day term as Trumpâs crypto and AI czar has ended
As Cointelegraph reported, Google is preparing to support a multibillion-dollar data center project in Texas leased to Anthropic, as demand for AI infrastructure accelerates.
The project, operated by Nexus Data Centers, could exceed $5 billion in its initial phase, with Google expected to provide construction loans while banks compete to arrange additional financing.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum â BIP-360 co-author
", "description": "Anthropic has launched an employee-funded PAC as debates over AI regulation intensify, clashing with the Pentagon over defense use of its technology.", "published": "2026-04-05T09:10:28+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "anthropic-launches-pac-ai-policy-tensions-washington", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259292" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Drift Protocol says $280M exploit took 'months of deliberate preparation'", "leadText": "Drift Protocol said with âmedium-high confidenceâ that the recent attack was carried out by the same actors responsible for the $58 million Radiant Capital hack in October 2024.", "author": { "slug": "ciaran-lyons" }, "bodyText": "Drift Protocol, the decentralized exchange (DEX) that lost an estimated $280 million in an exploit last week, claims the loss was the result of a six-month, highly coordinated attack.
âThe preliminary investigation shows that Drift experienced a structured intelligence operation requiring organizational backing, significant resources, and months of deliberate preparation,â Drift said in an X post on Saturday.
According to Drift, the attack can be traced back to around October 2025, when malicious actors posing as a quantitative trading firm first approached Drift contributors at a âmajor crypto conference,â claiming to be interested in integrating with the protocol.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5c61-48cd-72af-8478-719d1bec43c7.png\")
The group continued to engage contributors in person at multiple industry events over a six-month period. âIt is now understood that this appears to be a targeted approach, where individuals from this group continued to deliberately seek out and engage specific Drift contributors,â Drift said.
âThey were technically fluent, had verifiable professional backgrounds, and were familiar with how Drift operated,â Drift said.
After gaining trust and access to Drift Protocol over six months, they used shared malicious links and tools to compromise contributorsâ devices, execute the exploit, and then wiped their presence immediately after the attack.
The incident serves as a reminder for crypto industry participants to remain cautious and skeptical, even during in-person interactions, as crypto conferences can be prime targets for sophisticated threat actors.
Drift said, with âmedium-high confidence,â that the exploit was carried out by the same actors behind the October 2024 Radiant Capital hack.
In December 2024, Radiant Capital said the exploit was carried out through malware sent via Telegram from a North Korea-aligned hacker posing as an ex-contractor.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5c62-f53f-74e0-aefb-3ef3b1d2de5b.png\")
âThis ZIP file, when shared for feedback among other developers, ultimately delivered malware that facilitated the subsequent intrusion,â Radiant Capital said.
Drift said that the individuals who appeared in person âwere not North Korean nationals.â
Related: Naoris launches post-quantum blockchain as quantum security risks gain attention
âDPRK threat actors operating at this level are known to deploy third-party intermediaries to conduct face-to-face relationship-building,â Drift said.
Drift said that it is working with law enforcement and others in the crypto industry to âbuild a complete picture of what happened during the April 1st attack.â
", "description": "Drift Protocol, a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange (DEX), said in a statement on Friday that the attack was the result of a six-month âstructured intelligence operation.â", "published": "2026-04-05T08:00:36+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "drift-protocol-exploit-preparation-preliminary-findings", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259282" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin bearish social chatter reaches 5-week high: Santiment", "leadText": "Santiment said bearish Bitcoin comments on social media have climbed to a five-week high, which could signal a reversal sooner rather than later.", "author": { "slug": "ciaran-lyons" }, "bodyText": "Social media bearishness around Bitcoin has reached its highest level since the end of February, according to crypto sentiment platform Santiment.
âFUD has crept back in with the community showing a key lack of optimism,â Santiment said in an X post on Saturday, adding that it is âusually a common ingredient for prices rebounding.â
The data comes from a large sample of crypto-focused social media accounts and tracks the ratio of bullish to bearish Bitcoin (BTC) comments across X, Reddit and other social media platforms.
On Saturday, the ratio of bullish to bearish Bitcoin comments stood at 0.81, the lowest level since Feb. 28.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5bd1-caa1-7d59-b97a-5d704d34b8ae.png\")
Bitcoin holders often look at broader market sentiment to guide buying and selling decisions. When sentiment is low, most expect more downside, and when optimism picks up, traders start to expect further upside.
However, Santiment said the market often moves in the opposite way. âMarkets typically move in the opposite direction of the crowd's expectations,â Santiment said. âA high level of FUD like this is a good sign that things can turn positive sooner rather than later,â Santiment added.
Bitcoin is trading at $67,100 at the time of publication, down 5.53% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5bd4-0cd6-7c52-b952-2e9896ee3696.png\")
Santiment pointed to the US CLARITY Act, which is a highly anticipated piece of legislation that the crypto industry is watching closely, as a potential âwhat-ifâ catalyst holding back Bitcoinâs price.
On Wednesday, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal said the legislation is âmoving towardâ a markup hearing in the US Senate Banking Committee and could eventually move to a floor vote if senators resolve the stablecoin yield dispute and schedule a markup.
Related: Rich Bitcoin traders lost $337M daily in first quarter of 2026
Other indicators suggest that investors are taking a cautious approach to the crypto market.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which measures overall crypto market sentiment, has stayed within âExtreme Fearâ territory, posting a score of 12 on Sunday.
", "description": "Crypto sentiment platform Santiment said that heavy Bitcoin FUD is often a âcommon ingredientâ for a price rebound.", "published": "2026-04-05T05:25:20+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "adoption" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-bearish-social-media-chatter-low-price-btc-stagnant-santiment", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259272" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Telegram founder Pavel Durov says Iranian government's ban backfired", "leadText": "Thousands of software developers are currently developing virtual private networks to circumvent Tehran's control of local internet access, Durov said.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "The Iranian governmentâs attempt to block the Telegram messaging application in the country has backfired, as users find ways to circumvent national firewalls and online controls, according to Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov.
âIran banned Telegram years ago,â Durov said on Friday; however, tens of millions of users in the country have managed to access the application via virtual private networks (VPNs) and other similar tools, he added.
VPNs route web traffic through servers distributed around the globe to mask the actual Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of users and obscure their locations. This allows individuals with VPN access to bypass national online restrictions. Durov said:
âThe government hoped for mass adoption of its surveillance messaging apps, but got mass adoption of VPNs instead. Now, 50 million members of the digital resistance in Iran are joined by over 50 million more in Russia.â
![\"Decentralization,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d59f0-f614-7550-971a-d3ea63b8d133.png\")
Decentralized technologies like blockchain, crypto and encrypted messaging applications can mitigate or neutralize state-imposed online restrictions and surveillance infrastructure, promoting individual liberty, proponents of decentralized technology say.
Related: Global turmoil pushes uptake of decentralized messengers, social media
A nationwide internet blackout imposed in January in reaction to protests and civil unrest remains in effect amid the ongoing war between Israel, the United States and Iran.
Iranians can still access the internet through Starlink, a satellite-based network, despite the governmentâs ban on it, or communicate via BitChat, a messaging application that uses Bluetooth radio waves to form a mesh network between devices.
BitChatâs mesh network transforms each device into a relay node that transfers data to other devices running the application within range, bypassing online and satellite-based systems entirely.
![\"Decentralization,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d59f3-da53-73ca-9e47-f5ef464ec2be.png\")
Similarly, the government of Nepal imposed a social media ban in September 2025 amid growing protests, causing a spike in BitChat downloads.
Bitchat was downloaded over 48,000 times in Nepal the week of the social media ban, and the government of Nepal was toppled by protestors that same month.
The application recorded a similar download spike in Madagascar amid protests, which also occurred around the same time as the political revolution in Nepal.
Magazine: Did Telegramâs Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in
", "description": "Internet users continue to find ways to access Telegram and other platforms, despite government bans, crackdowns and nationwide internet blackouts.", "published": "2026-04-04T20:30:05+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "decentralization" }, { "slug": "privacy" }, { "slug": "liberty" }, { "slug": "telegram" }, { "slug": "cypherpunks" }, { "slug": "pavel-durov" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "telegram-durov-iran-ban-backfire", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259267" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Jimmy Song explains why Bitcoin needs a âconservativeâ node client", "leadText": "The Bitcoin advocate is the co-founder of ProductionReady, a non-profit initiative to fund open source development of BTC software and education.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "The Bitcoin (BTC) network needs a âconservativeâ Bitcoin client node software implementation to preserve its monetary properties and strengthen network decentralization, according to Jimmy Song, co-founder of ProductionReady, a non-profit organization funding open source Bitcoin node software development and education.
The organization has a âbiasâ against significant code changes, unless there is âoverwhelmingâ community support for the change, Song told Cointelegraph.
âThe general principle is: if you're not sure a change makes the money better, don't make it,â he said.
![\"Decentralization,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5998-1231-7d81-9b98-13da9656fc39.png\")
ProductionReady expects to restore the 83-byte OP_Return data limit for arbitrary, non-monetary information in Bitcoin transactions, he said, adding that keeping node storage costs down by limiting arbitrary data is essential to network decentralization. He said:
âThe more self-sovereign Bitcoin users are, the more decentralized and resilient the network becomes. That means keeping the cost of running a node low enough for ordinary people to do it.Â
âWhen storage and bandwidth requirements grow, fewer people verify for themselves, and the network centralizes by default. A conservative client takes that tradeoff seriously,â Song continued.
Maximizing nodes and making them accessible to the average user hardens the Bitcoin network, reducing the chances of cheating by submitting false transactions or a few actors colluding to centralize the network.
![\"Decentralization,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d599d-249d-7985-a1bf-4762137f7075.png\")
Related: 72% of subsea cables would need to fail to impact Bitcoin, study shows
Node storage and onchain spam became hot-button topics in 2025 after Bitcoin Core developers unilaterally changed the 83-Byte data limit in Bitcoin Core version 30, the latest major upgrade to the reference implementation for Bitcoin node software.
The limit was changed to 100,000 bytes despite significant pushback from the Bitcoin community. For context, the proposal to change the limit received about 4 times as many downvotes as it did upvotes, according to the proposalâs GitHub pull request page.
Bitcoin Core 30 went live in October 2025, triggering a historic surge in the number of Bitcoin nodes running Bitcoin Knots, an alternative implementation of the node client software.
![\"Decentralization,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d599f-6e76-7879-9fd2-dfaea5786595.png\")
There are 4,746 Bitcoin Knots nodes, representing over 21.7% of nodes on the network, according to Coin Dance.
Only about 1% of the network was running the Knots software in 2024 before the decision to remove the OP_Return function was announced.
Magazine: Bitcoin may face hard fork over any attempt to freeze Satoshiâs coins
", "description": "ProductionReady co-founder Jimmy Song explains why the non-profit organization is funding open-source research for alternative Bitcoin node software.", "published": "2026-04-04T18:59:25+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "decentralization" }, { "slug": "nodes" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-adoption" } ], "slug": "jimmy-song-bitcoin-conservative-node-client", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259252" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Nevada judge extends ban on Kalshi, rejects event contract defense", "leadText": "The judge said Kalshiâs event contracts are indistinguishable from sports betting, supporting the stateâs position that the platform requires a gaming license.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "A Nevada judge has reportedly extended a ban preventing Kalshi from offering event-based contracts in the state, ruling that the products constitute unlicensed gambling under state law.
Judge Jason Woodbury said at a hearing in Carson City on Friday that he will grant a preliminary injunction requested by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, barring the company from allowing residents to trade on outcomes such as sports, elections and entertainment events without a gaming license, according to Reuters.
The decision extends a temporary restraining order issued on March 20, which will remain in effect through April 17 while the court finalizes longer-term restrictions.
Kalshi, based in New York, has argued that its contracts are financial derivatives, specifically âswaps,â that fall under the exclusive oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Related: Appeals court denies Kalshi request to block Nevada enforcement action
Woodbury rejected Kalshiâs argument, claiming that there is a direct comparison between traditional sports betting and Kalshiâs platform, according to Reuters. He said that placing a wager through a licensed sportsbook and buying a contract tied to a game outcome are functionally the same, per the report.
âNo matter how you slice it, that conduct is indistinguishable,â the judge reportedly said, adding that such activity qualifies as gaming under Nevada law and cannot be offered without proper licensing.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d58a2-e4e9-7bf7-afea-58316b94e855.PNG\")
The case marks the first time a state has secured a court-enforced ban currently in effect against the company.
Last month, Utah lawmakers also passed a bill targeting Kalshi and Polymarket that classifies proposition-style bets on in-game events as gambling, aiming to block such offerings in the state.
Related: Kalshi CEO fires back against Arizona criminal charges as âtotal overstepâ
The CFTC has asserted authority over prediction markets, with Chairman Michael Selig warning that the agency is prepared to defend its jurisdiction in court against any challenges from states or other regulators.
Speaking at an industry conference last month, Selig said prediction markets can act as âtruth machines,â arguing that when participants put money behind their views, these markets can produce more transparent and reliable signals about future events than traditional opinion polling.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum â BIP-360 co-author
", "description": "A Nevada court extends restrictions on Kalshi, rejecting its derivatives defense and intensifying the state-federal clash over prediction market regulation.", "published": "2026-04-04T14:21:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "nevada" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "nevada-judge-extends-kalshi-ban-unlicensed-gambling-ruling", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259232" }, { "category": { "slug": "features" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Prediction markets are testing legal limits in strict Asian markets", "leadText": "Prediction markets are expanding into Asiaâs largest economies, but unclear legal definitions and strict gambling laws may limit how far they can go.", "author": { "slug": "yohan-yun" }, "bodyText": "Prediction markets are pushing into Asiaâs largest economies, even as local gambling laws place strict limits on betting activities.
Asia represents a combination of scale, active retail participation and limited local alternatives, making it too large to ignore despite regulatory risks.
Thatâs a similar pattern seen in crypto, where technology moved faster than regulation and licensing frameworks, prompting exchanges to enter markets before clear rules were in place.
Like many startups, the industryâs heavyweights adopted the âbetter to ask for forgiveness than permissionâ approach to scale.
Polymarket, one of the fastest-growing platforms, is already recording over $1 billion in weekly volume. It has introduced Chinese-language support, while newer entrants like PredicXion are focusing on local events to drive adoption.
But beneath the surface, the region is fragmented and legally complicated, where access, language and regulation donât always align with the industryâs global ambitions.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e20-3f43-762f-ad18-0e0ec48eb95e.png\")
Three Asian countries â China, Japan and India â ranked among the worldâs five largest economies by gross domestic product in 2024, according to the World Bank.
India and China do not have specific frameworks addressing blockchain-based prediction markets, but both maintain restrictive environments around crypto. India imposes heavy taxation, while China enforces an outright ban on activities such as trading and mining.
South Korea also ranks among the worldâs largest economies at 12th and is often cited as one of the most active retail crypto markets. The South Korean won is a consistent top-two currency by global fiat trading volume, according to Kaiko.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e20-90e6-7dac-b990-ef87e21d670f.jpg\")
Related: How AI agents can reshape arbitrage in prediction markets
âPrediction markets could be a very big opportunity in the Korean market,â Heechang Kang, co-founder at research company Four Pillars, told Cointelegraph. âBut I think many prediction markets are having difficulty capturing audiences because their predictions are mostly focused on Western themes.â
Japan faces similar localization challenges, where language and a lack of region-specific events limit broader adoption.
That gap has created an opening for Asia-based platforms. Prediction markets originating from the region, such as PredicXion, are attempting to localize content by focusing on region-specific events.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e21-00c8-7bf7-94b1-870568e77392.jpg\")
However, its founder and CEO Andy Cheung said local gambling regulations in key markets remain a âsignificant concern.â
âIn these jurisdictions, authorities often classify activities involving wagering on uncertain outcomes as gambling, which is heavily restricted or outright prohibited outside of tightly controlled state-run lotteries or exceptions,â Cheung told Cointelegraph.
In China, online gambling is strictly prohibited, and access to platforms such as Polymarket is largely restricted. Some users bypass controls using VPNs to get around the countryâs internet censorship, commonly known as the Great Firewall, but that does not eliminate risk.
âMany in the industry are aware of the strict legal environment in these regions, and aggressive user acquisition there does carry risks, not just for operators, but potentially for users themselves under local laws that can treat participation as illegal gambling,â Cheung said.
Regulators in South Korea and Japan have yet to directly address blockchain-based prediction markets as well, and most platforms remain accessible. Both countries, however, maintain strict limits on gambling.
In South Korea, most forms of gambling are prohibited for locals outside a narrow set of state-run exceptions, and the law extends to participation on overseas platforms. Authorities have actively pursued illegal online betting operators and, in some cases, users themselves.
Japan takes a similarly restrictive approach, where gambling is generally illegal outside regulated channels such as lotteries, horse racing and other public betting systems.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e21-78a8-71a1-832e-25bd224bb077.jpg\")
Related: Why yen stablecoins are key to Japanâs crypto ambitions
That leaves prediction markets in a gray zone, where access is possible but legal classification remains unresolved.
âSome argue that prediction markets are no different from gambling. I would dispute that,â Jaewon Kim, a researcher at Four Pillars who authored the companyâs prediction markets report, told Cointelegraph.
He said the distinction lies in the type of output they produce. Gambling is largely a closed loop where users bet against the house, with outcomes that have little relevance beyond the game itself. Meanwhile, prediction markets aggregate expectations about real-world events.
âDuring the 2024 US presidential election, prediction markets gained significant traction and, in some cases, were more accurate than polls or expert forecasts,â Kim claimed. âThat ability to reflect collective expectations is what sets them apart and gives them informational value beyond simple wagering.â
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e21-f7ea-72eb-a79d-c1072bae30c6.jpg\")
Several prediction platforms are moving into Asia with the same playbook that defined earlier phases of crypto growth, targeting demand first and leaving regulatory clarity for later. The region offers a rare mix of scale, retail participation and underdeveloped local alternatives.
That tension is already visible on the ground. Platforms can reach users through language support and workarounds like VPNs, but none of those solve the underlying issue of classification. Major Asian markets also have some of the most restrictive legal environments for anything that resembles gambling.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d4e22-4943-75fa-87b0-fd4bfaefa86c.jpg\")
Local players are beginning to test that boundary by tailoring products to regional audiences, though Cheung said platforms like PredicXion are trying to avoid âheavily restricted markets.â Most regions have yet to determine whether prediction markets fall under gambling.
The industryâs argument that prediction markets are distinct adds another layer of uncertainty. If they are treated as information markets that aggregate real-world expectations, they may eventually find a regulatory pathway similar to financial instruments.
If not, they risk being absorbed into existing gambling frameworks that leave little room for expansion.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
", "description": "Asia offers massive retail demand for prediction markets, but fragmented rules and unresolved classification leave platforms operating in legal limbo.", "published": "2026-04-04T13:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "asia" }, { "slug": "predictions" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "features" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "prediction-markets-testing-legal-limits-asia", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Analysis" } ] }, "id": "259067" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin shorts risk $2.5 billion liquidation at $72K: Are bears in danger?", "leadText": "Bitcoin is poised for a reversal if ETF demand returns or a ceasefire occurs, potentially crushing short sellers in a massive price squeeze.", "author": { "slug": "marcel-pechman" }, "bodyText": "Key takeaways:
Bitcoin hitting $72,000 would liquidate $2.5 billion in shorts, potentially crushing bears who are overleveraged.
Iran's war and high oil prices currently pressure BTC, but a ceasefire or ETF inflows could spark a rapid recovery.
Bitcoin (BTC) has consistently failed to hit new highs since attempting to reclaim the $75,000 level since March 17.
Bearish Bitcoin futures bets have been piling up as the war in Iran pushed oil prices to their highest levels since June 2022. However, two events could propel Bitcoin to $72,000 in the coming weeks and help cement a sustainable bull run.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d583b-0620-794a-a7c9-caa57645edd4.png\")
According to Coinglass estimates, a total of $2.5 billion in short positions on Bitcoin futures will be liquidated if Bitcoin rises just 7.5% to $72,000 from the current $67,100 level.
Bears have been adding shorts since March 25, when Iran reportedly refused to negotiate a ceasefire. Additional selling pressure emerged as MARA Holdings (MARA US) announced it sold 15,133 BTC on March 26. The publicly listed Bitcoin miner shifted its focus to AI computing and chose to reduce its Bitcoin holdings to pay down debt.
After peaking near 7,000 points on Jan. 28, the S&P 500 dropped 10% by March 30. Investors fear recession risks because central banks have less room to cut interest rates due to inflation.
Oil prices have jumped over 70% since the war in Iran started in late February, which hikes logistics costs and cuts into consumer spending.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d583b-0908-71ac-8b44-0c922cb2089d.png\")
Traders are pricing in 89% odds that the Fed will keep interest rates steady through September, with 5% odds of a hike to 4%.
In early March, bond futures showed the opposite, with 79% odds of rate cuts. Returns on fixed-income investments will likely stay attractive for longer.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d583b-0b7a-7242-88fd-21ed5624f730.png\")
Meanwhile, confidence among Bitcoin bears has increased, as reflected by the negative funding rate in perpetual futures contracts.
In neutral market conditions, longs usually pay to keep positions open, causing this indicator to range between 5% and 10% to compensate for capital costs.
Negative funding rates signal a lack of demand for bullish leveraged bets and potential overconfidence from the bears.
While it is impossible to predict the outcome of the war involving Iran, a ceasefire agreement could spark bullish sentiment and catch bears by surprise.
Bitcoin jumped from $69,150 to $74,900 during the five days ending March 16 after US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds saw $1.5 billion in net inflows over two weeks. If ETF inflows resume, Bitcoin could also reclaim the $72,000 level.
Related: Bitcoin ETFs 'will be larger' than gold ETFsâAnalyst
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d583b-0d98-7e3f-937c-564dad301bca.png\")
US President Donald Trump has asked Congress to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion, according to a 2027 budget proposal released Friday. These plans include a 10% cut in other areas to offset military expenses.
Trump reportedly said at a private White House event on Wednesday: âWeâre fighting wars. We canât take care of day care,â according to CNBC.
If the US economy loses steam, or if private credit redemptions continue to pressure the market, investors will likely look for alternative hedges.
Consequently, Bitcoinâs appeal would grow as the it presently trades 47% below its all-time high. Thus, a bull run to $72,000 might happen regardless of how long the war in Iran lasts.
Polymarket removed a market tied to the fate of a missing US service member after mounting backlash, saying the listing violated its âintegrity standards.â
The controversy erupted after a prediction market appeared asking when US authorities might confirm the rescue of a pilot shot down over Iran, with more than 60% betting that they wouldnât be rescued until Saturday.
US Representative Seth Moulton condemned the market, calling it âdisgustingâ and expressing concerns over people speculating on the fate of a potentially injured service member. âThey could be your neighbor, a friend, a family member. And people are betting on whether or not they'll be saved,â Moulton wrote.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d57c3-d748-70b7-a0bb-1cd5c4683949.PNG\")
In response, Polymarket said it had taken the market down, adding that it should not have been listed and that the company was reviewing how it passed internal safeguards.
Related: Polymarket expands into equities and commodities with Pyth price feeds
While Polymarket said it took the market down because it did not meet its integrity standards, the platform did not specify what rule had been violated, prompting further scrutiny from users.
âI'm looking at the \"Market Integrity\" page, and I checked the TOS, and I don't see which prohibition is relevant here,â Jack Newsham, a correspondent on Business Insider's national desk, wrote on X.
As Cointelegraph reported, Polymarket has seen a sharp rise in fees and revenue after expanding its fee model on March 30, with daily fees jumping from about $363,000 to over $1 million. The increase followed broader taker fees across categories like finance, politics and tech, as the platform ramped up monetization.
Related: Crypto VC Paradigm is developing a prediction market terminal: Fortune
There have also been growing concerns about insider trading on prediction markets. Last month, it was reported that a group of traders made about $1 million by correctly betting on the timing of US strikes on Iran, with some placing trades just hours before the attacks. The activity, which involved newly created wallets focused almost entirely on strike-related bets, raised insider trading suspicions.
To address these concerns, at least 42 Democratic lawmakers have urged the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Office of Government Ethics to warn federal employees against using non-public information to trade on prediction markets.
Big Questions: Is China hoarding gold so yuan becomes global reserve instead of USD?
", "description": "Polymarket pulled a market on a missing US service member after backlash, raising fresh questions about its rules and enforcement.", "published": "2026-04-04T10:32:42+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "polymarket-removes-missing-us-pilot-market-backlash", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259197" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Rich Bitcoin traders lost $337M daily in first quarter of 2026", "leadText": "Bitcoin whales and sharks have locked in $30.9 billion in BTC losses this year, resembling the 2022 bear market, as onchain data points to continued downside risk.", "author": { "slug": "yashu-gola" }, "bodyText": "Bitcoin (BTC) traders holding 100â10,000 BTC realized losses at an average of $337 million per day in Q1 2026, the worst quarter since 2022, according to data from Glassnode.
Key takeaways:
Bitcoin dropped more than 20% after whales last realized losses at a comparable pace in 2022.
Long-term holders are also selling at a loss, indicating capitulation and potentially more downside in price.
Realized Loss tracks the total dollar value of losses locked in when BTC is sold on-chain below its purchase price. In 2026, two significant wallet cohorts show signs of capitulation.
They are addresses holding 100â1,000 BTC, or âsharksâ that often represent mid-sized funds or wealthy investors, and those holding 1,000â10,000 BTC, which are considered whale-sized entities.
In Q1, Bitcoinâs sharks (yellow) realized losses at an average of $188.5 million per day, while whales (orange) comprised another $147.5 million daily.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5353-ad88-715b-95a8-5dcc4e9359d3.png\")
Combined, these large entities have locked in roughly $30.91 billion in realized losses so far in 2026.
Bitcoinâs realized losses in Q1 2026 for these high-net-worth entities rank among the most severe on record, trailing only Q2 2022âs roughly $396 million daily average.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d535c-110a-7a16-853d-10108f28c64f.png\")
In Q2 2022, BTCâs price dropped by over 50% and another 20% by the yearâs end. It kept falling as the Terra collapse, Celsius freeze, and Three Arrows failure triggered panic across crypto, draining liquidity and confidence.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5376-842d-7fff-b2a0-d3f5cc6ecc28.png\")
In 2026, pressure on Bitcoin has come from different sources, including Iran war-driven inflation fears, quantum-security risk, and broader stress in the AI-led risk trade.
Related: Bitcoin supply in profit heads to âtrue bear marketâ levels
Therefore, whales and sharks are cutting their losses now because they expect the Bitcoin price to drop further as macro risks mount. This sentiment raises the odds of a 2022-like bear market, with a bottom in Q4 2026.
Another sign that Bitcoinâs sell-off may not be over comes from Glassnodeâs Long-Term Holder Realized Loss chart, which tracks losses locked in by investors who held coins for more than six months before selling.
That figure remains elevated at around $200 million per day on a 30-day average basis since November 2025.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d538a-45f1-745f-9883-3f454a6cf211.png\")
âA meaningful cooldown toward levels below $25M per day would represent a more compelling signal of exhaustion in selling pressure,â Glassnode analysts said in their weekly report published on Wednesday, adding:
âA prerequisite for the base formation that historically precedes a sustainable bull market transition.â
Together, these headwinds have already fueled calls for a deeper BTC correction, with some analysts pointing to the $40,000â$50,000 range as a possible bottom.
", "description": "Bitcoin whales and sharks have locked in $30.9 billion in BTC losses this year, echoing 2022 stress signals as on-chain data points to continued downside risk.", "published": "2026-04-04T09:31:42+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-analysis" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "tech-analysis" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "rich-bitcoin-traders-lost-337m-daily-first-quarter-2026", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Analysis" } ] }, "id": "259187" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Tether may delay fundraising if demand falls short at $500B valuation: Report", "leadText": "A $500 billion valuation would put Tether ahead of every US bank except JPMorgan Chase, placing it among the worldâs biggest financial firms.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "Tether is pressuring investors to commit to a fundraising round at a $500 billion valuation within the next two weeks, saying that it may delay the raise if demand falls short.
The El Salvador-based company has been seeking fresh capital since late last year but has faced resistance from investors wary of the valuation, The Information reported Friday, citing unidentified sources. If commitments fall short of expectations, the company is likely to delay the raise.
The $500 billion target would place Tether among the worldâs largest financial firms, exceeding every US bank except JPMorgan Chase. JPMorgan, the biggest bank in the world, has a market capitalization of about $794.55 billion, while the second-largest bank in the country, Bank of America, has a market cap of $352.86 billion.
Tetherâs USDt (USDT) stablecoin, the world's largest stablecoin, currently has a market cap of $184 billion. The companyâs other top products include Tether Gold (XAUt) and Tether EURt (EURt), pegged to the euro.
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5766-5f11-75ca-9288-d686c492fdc1.PNG\")
Related: Stablecoin supply reaches $315B in Q1 as USDC rises, USDT declines
In September last year, Bloomberg reported that Tether was exploring a fundraising round of up to $20 billion that could value the company at around $500 billion. It was considering raising $15 billion to $20 billion through a private placement for a roughly 3% stake, with Cantor Fitzgerald acting as lead adviser.
Following the report, CEO Paolo Ardoino said on X that the company was exploring a raise from a select group of investors to expand across âexisting and new business lines (stablecoins, distribution ubiquity, AI, commodity trading, energy, communications, media) by several orders of magnitude.â
However, in a comment to Cointelegraph in February, Ardoino denied reports that it planned to raise up to $20 billion, saying earlier figures were hypothetical scenarios rather than an active fundraising plan. Still, he defended the $500 billion valuation, comparing the companyâs profits to AI platforms such as OpenAI.
Cointelegraph reached out to Tether for comment, but had received no response by publication.
Related: Tether says âBig Fourâ firm to handle first full audit of USDT reserves
Meanwhile, Tether has reportedly hired KPMG to conduct its first full audit of USDtâs financial statements, with PwC assisting in preparing internal systems, according to the Financial Times. The move follows years of relying on reserve attestations from BDO Italia rather than a comprehensive audit.
A full audit would go beyond reserve snapshots to examine assets, liabilities and internal controls across Tetherâs balance sheet.
Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum â BIP-360 co-author
Bitcoinâs prolonged consolidation below $70,000 may be paving the way for a more significant rally, according to a crypto analyst.
âThe longer it lasts, the heavier the breakout will be,â MN Trading Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said in an X post on Friday.
âBitcoin remains stagnant in this area, which means that there's literally no direction,â van de Poppe said, adding that he is eyeing Bitcoin (BTC) breaking through $71,000, a level the asset hasnât reached since March 26.
Since reaching a yearly low of $60,000 on Feb. 6, Bitcoin has been trading in a narrow range between $60,000 and $74,000. Bitcoin is trading at $66,890 at the time of publication, down 8.25% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5710-204e-7550-8624-7d46d3dbbd0c.png\")
Crypto analyst Ted said that $60,000 âwasnât the bottomâ in an X post on Friday. âThis doesn't mean another 50% crash will happen,â he said, adding that âthere'll be one final capitulation before the bottom.â
Van de Poppeâs optimistic call comes amid sentiment toward the broader crypto market being down. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which measures overall sentiment in the crypto market, stayed within âExtreme Fearâ territory on Saturday, recording a score of 11.
While van de Poppe is watching for a potential reversal as Bitcoin continues to consolidate, other analysts are more skeptical.
Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo said in an X post on March 30 that there is a âvery good chance we get a deeper bear due to a breakdown of the secular bull market in global macro.â
Related: Bitcoin 'done' with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
Meanwhile, veteran trader Peter Brandt recently told Cointelegraph that he doesnât anticipate Bitcoin reaching a new price high in 2026.
âNot until maybe the second quarter of 2027,â he added.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
", "description": "MN Trading Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said the longer that Bitcoinâs price remains stagnant, the âheavier the breakout will be.â", "published": "2026-04-04T07:16:31+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "adoption" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-price-direction-consolidation-breakout-crypto-analyst", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259172" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin ETFs could eventually be larger than gold ETFs: Analyst", "leadText": "Bitcoin ETFs offer more use cases for the average investorâs portfolio than a gold ETF does, according to ETF analyst James Seyffart.", "author": { "slug": "ciaran-lyons" }, "bodyText": "Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could surpass gold ETFs in total assets under management (AUM) as investor demand expands beyond the traditional âdigital goldâ narrative, according to ETF analyst James Seyffart.
âThere are just more use cases of why somebody would put a Bitcoin ETF in a portfolio,â Seyffart said on the Coin Stories podcast published to YouTube on Friday. He pointed to Bitcoinâs (BTC) role as digital gold, a store of value, a portfolio diversifier, and a form of digital capital and property, adding that the market also views Bitcoin as a âgrowth risk asset.â
Seyffart explained that Bitcoin has âall these different waysâ of being viewed, while gold only has âone of those things.â
âOur view is that Bitcoin ETFs will be larger than gold ETFs,â he added.
âThere are so many people that could use it. They could be viewing it to put in their portfolio because they want to bet on like a growth and liquidity trade,â he said. âIt can be hot sauce in a portfolio in that way.â
![](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5660-3758-7cc1-b6db-333ca2b3fdc2.png\")
Bitcoin is often compared to gold due to its limited supply and perceived role as a hedge against monetary debasement.
US-based gold ETFs recorded net outflows of $2.92 billion in March, while US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $1.32 billion in net inflows over the same period.
The largest gold-backed ETF in the US, GLD, recorded a $3 billion outflow on March 4, the largest daily withdrawal in more than two years.
On March 19, Cointelegraph cited data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) showing retail gold purchases have tripled over the last six months, while Wall Street selling has accelerated over the past four months.
Related: Bitcoin 'done' with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
Despite the divergence in ETF flows, both assets have moved broadly in tandem in recent weeks.
Bitcoin is trading at $66,918 at the time of publication, down 8.07% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap. Meanwhile, gold is trading at $4,676, down 8.25% over the past 30 days, according to GoldPrice data.
In December 2025, Fidelity Digital Assets analyst Chris Kuiper said that, âhistorically, gold and Bitcoin have taken turns outperforming. With gold shining in 2025, it would not be surprising if Bitcoin takes the lead next.â
Magazine: Solana exec trolls crypto gamers, Pixel tackles play-to-earn issues: Web3 Gamer
", "description": "Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said Bitcoin ETFs are set to overtake gold ETFs, citing the broader range of reasons investors might include Bitcoin in their portfolios.", "published": "2026-04-04T04:35:01+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "gold" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "adoption" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-gold-etfs-use-cases-analyst-james-seyffart", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259167" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Ethereum Foundation nearly reaches 70,000 staked ETH goal", "leadText": "The non-profit foundation has staked 69,500 ETH, nearly reaching the goal it unveiled at the end of February, less than two months ago.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "The Ethereum Foundation (EF), the non-profit organization that steers development of the Ethereum ecosystem, staked over 45,000 Ether (ETH) on Friday, bringing the total amount staked to about 69,500 ETH, less than 500 coins shy of the Foundationâs 70,000 goal.
The EF staked the coins in a series of transactions, each consisting of 2,047 ETH, with the total amount staked on Friday valued at over $92.2 million, according to data from Arkham Intelligence.
![\"Ethereum,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5535-3c12-7540-aa5a-6cb1fc787b73.png\")
The EF began staking ETH in February as part of its revamped treasury strategy policy announced in June 2025 and will use the yield generated to fund protocol research, development and ecosystem grants. The EF said in its updated treasury policy:
âWe are now increasingly moving into staking and DeFi, both to enhance financial sustainability and to support a key application category that is delivering on the promise of permissionless, secure access to base civilizational infrastructure for millions of people today.âÂ
The foundation staked 2,016 ETH, valued at about $4.1 million in February, followed by 22,517 ETH, valued at about $46.1 million, in March. The EF has locked over $143 million in ETH in the Ethereum Beacon Deposit Contract, according to Arkham Intelligence.
![\"Ethereum,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5538-f66e-7140-9d17-c333927daf12.png\")
The adoption of a yield-bearing treasury strategy followed pressure from the Ethereum community on the EF to generate income from its treasury to cover expenses, rather than continually selling tokens to fund operations.
Related: Ethereum Foundation sells $10.2M worth of ETH to BitMine in OTC deal
Validators, who lock up tokens to secure proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain networks, can influence which chain is valid in the event of a network hardfork, or a partition of a network into two competing chains.
âIf EF stakes, ourselves, this de facto forces us to take a position on any future contentious hard fork,â Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said in January 2025.
The EF is exploring ways to mitigate the centralization risks posed by its staking activities in the event of a contentious hard fork, Buterin added.
Magazine: Ethereumâs Fusaka fork explained for dummies: What the hell is PeerDAS?
", "description": "The Ethereum Foundation has nearly reached its target goal of 70,000 staked ETH, as part of its new treasury strategy focused on yield-bearing activities.", "published": "2026-04-03T22:31:51+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "staking" } ], "slug": "ethereum-foundation-nearly-reaches-70000-staked-eth-goal", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259152" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Cambodian lawmakers propose severe prison time for crypto scammers", "leadText": "The draft bill, yet to be signed into law by the king, marked a significant policy change for Cambodia officials in addressing scam centers.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "Cambodia's parliament passed legislation targeting compounds used to defraud victims through scams, including those involving cryptocurrency.
In a Friday notice, the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia announced that the chamber had unanimously approved the draft law with no amendment, with 58 senators voting yes. According to reports, the draft bill, which would still need the kingâs approval before becoming law, imposed prison time between two to five years and up to $125,000 in fines for certain crimes, or twice the time in prison and penalties if part of a gang or targeting multiple victims.
âThe draft law stipulates the establishment of criminal rules to fill the gaps and deficiencies in the current law, which will contribute significantly to addressing challenges that pose serious risks to social security, the economy and citizens, including affecting Cambodia's reputation, as well as improving the effectiveness of the fight against fraud through technological systems, aiming to contribute to the preservation and protection of public security and order, and improving the effectiveness of cooperation in combating this crime,â said a translation of the Friday Senate notice on the bill.
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d54e0-4a8e-7585-9b86-33d6fba5055f.png\")
According to a 2025 report from the US State Department, Cambodiaâs government âfrequently downplayed scam operation cases as labor disputes,â never arresting or prosecuting any owner or operator of a suspected scam compound. The Cambodian operations are just some of many across parts of Southeast Asia, where compounds are alleged sources of forced labor.
Related: UK sanctions $20B scam market by cutting âlegitimateâ crypto ties
The passage of the bill followed UK authorities sanctioning the operators of a Cambodia-based scam center, and the country extraditing to China the leader of a criminal syndicate with alleged tied to scam compounds. Cambodiaâs national assembly advanced the bill on March 30, with all 112 members voting yay.
According to a 2024 UN News report that explored a compound in the Philippines, scam centers like the ones targeted under the Cambodian bill were massive undertakings, with facilities designed so that the residents would never need to leave. Although many of the workers were responsible for carrying out the scams, they were also âtrafficked here, held against their willâ and âexposed to violenceâ in the compounds.
âThe people who work here are basically fenced off from the outside world,â said the report. âAll their daily necessities are met. There are restaurants, dormitories, barbershops and even a karaoke bar. So, people donât actually have to leave and can stay here for months.â
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
", "description": "A draft law targeting scam centers unanimously passed by Cambodia's Senate on Friday will head to the king for approval.", "published": "2026-04-03T21:47:12+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "cambodia" }, { "slug": "crimes" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "cambodia-law-prison-crypto-scammers", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259147" }, { "category": { "slug": "interview" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Is Bitcoin mispricing a prolonged Iran war? Ex-hedge fund manager weighs in", "leadText": "In a recent Cointelegraph interview, macro investor James Lavish explains why markets are pricing in a quick end to the Iran war â and what could happen if that assumption is wrong.", "author": { "slug": "marco-castrovilli" }, "bodyText": "In the latest interview with Cointelegraph, macro investor and former hedge fund manager James Lavish issued a stark warning to Bitcoin holders and global investors: markets may be pricing in a quick resolution to the Iran conflict â but if that assumption proves wrong, the consequences could be severe.
Lavish argued that if the conflict drags on and keeps pressure on oil prices, the result could be a fresh inflation shock, renewed fears of stagflation and a major repricing across global markets.
In his view, this scenario would put the Federal Reserve in an impossible position: unable to raise rates aggressively without risking recession, yet unable to cut rates due to persistent inflation.
That is where the conversation becomes especially relevant for Bitcoin (BTC). Lavish explains why Bitcoin has behaved differently from gold and equities in recent months, and why that relative resilience may not last in a true âcorrelation-to-oneâ panic event.
If markets suffer a deeper drawdown, he says, Bitcoin could fall another 10% to 20%, potentially revisiting the low $50,000 or even high $40,000 range.
And yet, Lavish is far from bearish in the long run.
One of the most compelling parts of the interview is his argument that such a sell-off would not destroy the Bitcoin thesis â it could actually create a major opportunity. He also explains why investors should avoid being either too levered or completely unexposed in a market driven by war headlines, bond stress and rapidly shifting expectations around Fed policy.
The interview also touches on safe haven investments, energy markets, Treasury yields and money printing.
If you want to understand how an experienced macro investor thinks about war risk, recession risk and Bitcoinâs next move, watch the full interview on our YouTube channel and donât forget to subscribe!
The Independent Community Bankers of America has opposed the Office of the Comptroller of the Currencyâs (OCC) conditional approval of Coinbaseâs national trust bank charter, warning the application falls short of regulatory standards and could pose risks to consumers and the financial system.
On Thursday, ICBA said Coinbaseâs application shows deficiencies in risk controls, profitability and resolution planning, and argued the OCC lacks statutory authority to expand trust powers for crypto-related activities without applying the full set of banking regulations.
The group said the decision reflects a broader trend of nonbank entities seeking access to the benefits of bank charters without meeting the same regulatory requirements. It wrote:
The sudden influx of applications demonstrates nonbank entities are seeking the benefits of a US bank charter without satisfying the full scope of US bank regulations.
Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund also criticized the decision, warning the approval departs from longstanding banking law and could expose the financial system to risks tied to crypto market volatility, fraud and money laundering.
The objections follows the OCCâs conditional approval on Thursday of Coinbaseâs application to establish a national trust bank, after six months of review by the US regulator.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5444-72ac-7178-8d54-68b4d56feea4.png\")
Coinbase released a statement on Thursday saying the charter would bring its custody and market infrastructure business under federal oversight, emphasizing that it does not plan to hold customer deposits or engage in fractional reserve lending, and adding that âthe right path forward for crypto is through the system â not around it.â
Related: Crypto awareness tops 80% among young people in UK: Coinbase survey
The opposition is part of a broader dispute between banking groups and crypto companies over the role of digital assets in the financial system, particularly around stablecoins and yield-bearing products.
In January, CEO of Bank of America Brian Moynihan warned that allowing stablecoin issuers to offer interest could draw as much as $6 trillion in deposits out of the banking system, reducing lending capacity and pushing borrowing costs higher.
Industry groups such as the Bank Policy Institute have also raised similar concerns in letters to lawmakers, arguing that regulatory gaps could allow yield-bearing stablecoin products to bypass restrictions and disrupt traditional credit channels.
The debate is currently playing out in Washington, where Coinbase is engaged in policy discussions over the US Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a bill aimed at establishing federal rules for crypto oversight.
![\"Coinbase,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d543f-16c6-7879-acb2-9f09ec970a6a.png\")
While Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said in January that the company could not support the legislation as drafted due to restrictions on stablecoin rewards, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal said on Thursday that lawmakers are nearing agreement on core elements of the bill, though the yield issue remains a key sticking point.
The dispute has delayed a Senate Banking Committee markup, a required step before the bill can advance to a full Senate vote, leaving broader efforts to establish a federal framework for digital assets unresolved.
Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum secure cryptography will even work
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.
![\"Cryptocurrencies,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d53ce-7e04-7ed2-88de-f345ec379ae1.png\")
While the EU prepares for full compliance with MiCA, Legal Nodes helps companies in the region navigate the transition period efficiently.
Regulatory clarity has been a major expectancy in the crypto market for a long time. The practice was usually trying to fit crypto assets into existing legal frameworks, and that created many uncertainties for both service providers and users.
The situation has changed in recent years. Regulators around the world have gotten to work on introducing industry-specific laws. In Europe, where regulations were fragmented and differed heavily in each jurisdiction, a union-wide framework was enforced in 2024: Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA).
MiCA introduced licensing and reporting requirements for crypto asset service providers (CASPs), rules for issuing tokens and measures to prevent fraud and manipulation. Under MiCA, compliant CASPs will be able to provide service to all nations in the union.
Though the framework became fully enforceable by the end of 2024, member countries have been granted a transition period to establish their national regulations and comply with the framework. This period can extend up to 18 months.
Some countries, like the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Latvia and Finland, opted for a 6-month transition period. Since June 30, 2025, full MiCA authorization is mandatory in these jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Slovakia and Lithuania implemented a 12-month window that ended on Dec. 31, 2025. Most of the other nations, including France, Italy, Czechia and Spain, decided to maximize the transition period and opted for the 18-month window.
Currently, platforms based in these countries are relying on grandfathering provisions â a temporary allowance to operate under existing national rules â to service EU clients. But this period will end on July 1, 2026. Until then, CASPs have to prepare for full compliance with MiCA.
Legal Nodes, a cross-border legal advisory platform, assists companies in these transitioning countries to navigate the process efficiently.
Through private consultation sessions, Legal Nodes supports the preparation period by turning MiCA from a broad legal framework into a set of concrete decisions companies need to make before the deadline.
The process starts with scope. A firm first has to establish whether MiCA applies to its activities at all, and if it does, whether it is categorized as a service provider, a token issuer or both. That assessment shapes the rest of the compliance process, because the obligations are tied to what the business actually does.
From there, the work becomes more operational. Legal Nodes assists companies with licensing support, while also helping them prepare the legal and compliance foundation that sits around authorization. MiCA readiness is not limited to securing approval from a regulator. Firms also need workable KYC and AML processes, internal compliance procedures, privacy protections and a legal structure that can support regulated activity across Europe.
The structuring element carries special importance. Even under a union-wide regime, firms still need to decide where to establish entities, how to organize operations and how to keep legal arrangements aligned with both MiCA and existing regulations.
For example, MiCA regulates Electronic Money Tokens (EMTs) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs), but these flows can also trigger Payment Services Directive (PSD2) requirements. Miscalculating this intersection can be a serious compliance risk under current conditions.
The ever-tightening window for full MiCA compliance leaves little room for fragmented work. Firms preparing for the new regime may also need to address AML controls, GDPR obligations and entity structuring across several markets at the same time.
Legal Nodes operates across 28 jurisdictions and has supported more than 300 companies so far, with experience spanning MiCA, AML, GDPR and cross-border legal structuring. For platforms still relying on grandfathering provisions, that kind of expertise may be especially relevant as the remaining window narrows and full compliance draws closer.
", "description": "With the maximum grandfathering period coming to an end across Europe, crypto firms are under pressure to fully align with MiCA", "published": "2026-04-03T19:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "europe" }, { "slug": "mica" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "eu-crypto-firms-turn-to-legal-support-as-deadline-for-mica-compliance-nears", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Spotlight" } ] }, "id": "259092" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Kalshi onboards ex-Democratic strategist amid legal troubles", "leadText": "Stephanie Cutter will join the prediction markets company as a policy adviser, having previously worked in Democratic lawmakersâ campaigns.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "Predictions market platform Kalshi announced that a former staffer of US President Barack Obama had joined the company as a policy adviser.
In a Thursday notice, Kalshi said Stephanie Cutter would join the prediction markets company from Precision Strategies, a communications firm she co-founded in 2013. Kalshi said the addition of Cutter came as the company planned to âdeepen its relationships in DC and across the country.â
![\"Law,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5428-7d64-7716-a2b9-624fa85e5b1b.png\")
According to Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour, Cutterâs experience allowed her to âget [the] message to the right people,â highlighting her background in government and politics. The predictions market already has staff with ties to the US government, including the appointment of the presidentâs son, Donald Trump Jr., as a strategic adviser in January 2025, the week before his father took office.
In the last year, Kalshi has come under scrutiny from many US state-level authorities, who have filed lawsuits against the platform and other companies offering event contracts on prediction markets for sports, alleging that they constituted illegal bets.
Under Trump nominee Michael Selig, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has claimed that the agency has the âexclusive jurisdictionâ to oversee such markets, filing lawsuits against state gaming regulators.
Related: Polymarket expands into equities and commodities with Pyth price feeds
Many Democrats in US Congress have also called for scrutiny into prediction markets after what they called âsuspicious tradesâ related to the countryâs invasion of Iran. Although Kalshi and Polymarket announced plans in March to implement guardrails to prevent accounts from using insider information, some lawmakers introduced legislation that could ban politicians from engaging in such bets on prediction markets.
As of Friday, none of the bills proposed in Congress had been signed into law, and it was unclear what the outcome would be for many of the state-level lawsuits.
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", "description": "The predictions market company which hired Donald Trump Jr. as a strategic adviser in 2025 will also onboard Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter.", "published": "2026-04-03T18:12:55+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "policy" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "kalshi-democratic-strategist-lawsuits-state-federal", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259112" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "ZachXBT accuses Circle of $420M in 'compliance failures' since 2022", "leadText": "Circle had several hours or days to freeze illicit USDC funds in many of the 15 cases presented, but failed to act, according to ZachXBT.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "Onchain detective ZachXBT claims that Circle, the issuer of the USDC (USDC) stablecoin, has failed to freeze or blacklist about $420 million in illicit fund flows since 2022.
Circle can freeze illicit funds and blacklist wallet addresses, but either took âminimalâ action to freeze illicit flows or failed to act in 15 separate hack-and-fraud cases, including those linked to North Korean (DPRK) state-affiliated hackers, ZachXBT said.
The stablecoin issuer allegedly failed to freeze $9 million in USDC from the GMX decentralized exchange (DEX) hack in July 2025, and blacklisted wallets linked to the $200 million Cetus DEX hack in May 2025 after USDC was converted into Ether (ETH), according to ZackXBT.
![\"Circle,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5442-fc44-70d1-bc23-949df20ab329.png\")
Circle failed to freeze $232 million in illicit flows from the Drift Protocol Hack on Wednesday, despite a six-hour window in which the attackers converted USDC to ETH in over 100 separate transactions, he added.
âCircle builds good products, and I hold USDC myself. This isn't a post about hoping they collapse,â he said, adding that the failure to freeze these illicit flows has had âreal consequences for real people.â He said:
âNine figures were lost from the ecosystem because of repeated inaction across three years on law enforcement requests, private sector requests, and their own infrastructure. The $420 million-plus only accounts for major public cases. The real figure is likely significantly higher.â
Cointelegraph reached out to Circle but did not receive an immediate response by the time of publication.
![\"Circle,](\"https://s3.cointelegraph.com/uploads/2026-04/019d5445-ecca-78af-80f3-20224a590e62.png\")
The lack of asset freezes has sparked an online debate in the crypto community about the role and responsibilities of centralized service providers, as blockchain protocols and users continue to be targeted in hacks and cybersecurity exploits that drain funds.
Related: ZachXBT claims Circle wrongfully freezing exchange wallets
In September 2025, Heath Tarbert, the president of Circle, said that the company was exploring âreversibleâ USDC transactions that could be rolled back or amended in the event of hacks, theft and fraud.
Circle has frozen USDC funds and blacklisted wallets on multiple occasions, including freezing USDC held by Tornado Cash addresses sanctioned by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control in 2022.
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", "description": "The stablecoin issuer has repeatedly failed to freeze USDC tied to illicit activity or take action before funds were bridged to other networks, ZachXBT said.", "published": "2026-04-03T18:12:31+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "circle" }, { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "zachxbt-accuses-circle-420m-compliance-failures-since-2022", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "259107" } ] } } }, "extensions": { "state": "[{\"name\":\"top_promo_post_rotation_state\",\"value\":{\"selectedTopPromoPostId\":null},\"expiresAt\":1775586105}]" } }