{ "data": { "locale": { "posts": { "postsCount": 51, "data": [ { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin analysts see ‘further upside,’ and identify next price levels to watch", "leadText": "Traders say Bitcoin has room to rally higher, but the upside could be capped at BTC’s active supply cost basis near $78,000.", "author": { "slug": "nancy-lubale" }, "bodyText": "

Market analysts said Bitcoin’s (BTC) latest rally to $76,000 was a “clear momentum shift,” confirming a short-term uptrend for BTC price. 

Bitcoin’s short-term holder (STH) supply in profit, a measure of the share of recently acquired coins currently held at an unrealized gain, suggests that BTC/USD has not exhausted its bear market rally, data from Glassnode shows.

Local tops in bear market rallies have historically formed when this metric approaches its statistical mean of 54.2%, a threshold where the concentration of profitable STHs becomes sufficient to trigger meaningful distribution.

Currently at 43.2%, the STH supply in profit remains “meaningfully below that threshold, suggesting the present rally has not yet reached the zone of typical exhaustion,” Glassnode said in its latest Week Onchain newsletter, adding:

“This leaves slight room for further upside toward the True Market Mean, while also providing a quantitative level to monitor as price advances.”
Bitcoin: Short-term holder supply in profit. Source: Glassnode

Meanwhile, Bitcoin has remained in “deep under extension territory” relative to its 50-week simple moving average (SMA), currently at $96,800, analyst McKenna said in a recent post on X.

Related: Bitcoin traders cash out 63K BTC profit as price rallied above $76K: Will the market rebound?

When markets deviate either to the upside or downside, they usually revert back to their mean.

Combined with “clear momentum shifts and bullish trending signals firing then I would be inclined to be directionally bullish here, the analyst said, adding:

“BTC breaking above $74K and holding this level on a HTF is the final trigger I want to see to be confident in mid to high 80s over the coming weeks.”
BTC/USD price vs. 50-weekly SMA. Source: X/McKenna

Fellow analyst Bitcoin Archive focused on the falling US dollar index, saying that it provides a “massive tailwind for the next leg up” for Bitcoin. 

US dollar index. Source: X/Bitcoin Archive

As Cointelegraph reported, several metrics support Bitcoin’s potential to rise higher, including increasing network activity and a strengthening technical setup. 

Onchain data reveals key Bitcoin price levels to watch

Bitcoin’s 41% drawdown from its $126,000 all-time high has seen the BTC/USD pair drop below key pricing levels, including the active realized price at $85,100, the STH cost basis at $80,950 and the true market mean currently at $78,140.

At $74,000, Bitcoin is 5.2% below the true market mean, a metric tracking the cost basis of active BTC supply. 

While the price is yet to “test and stabilize above this key threshold, the probability of a spike toward and potentially above it remains considerable in the mid-term,” Glassnode added.

Bitcoin risk indicator. Source: Glassnode

The importance of this resistance level is reinforced by cost basis distribution. The heatmap below shows that over 200,000 BTC were acquired for around $78,000.

Bitcoin cost basis distribution heatmap. Source: Glassnode

On the downside, the first major support is at $72,000, where the 20-day and 50-day exponential moving averages (EMAs) appear to converge. It is also where investors bought approximately 220,000 BTC.

Lower than that, the $65,000-$70,000 demand zone is a key area to watch. This price band has historically served as a vital support level, as seen between October and November 2024, providing a launching pad for the October 2024-January 2025 rally.

As Cointelegraph reported, a drop below the $70,000 would suggest the bears are back in control, increasing the prospects of a drop toward $60,000.


", "description": "Bitcoin has rallied 25% from its $60,000 bottom, and new data points to an extended run toward $78,000 in the short term.", "published": "2026-04-16T19:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-analysts-see-further-upside-and-identify-next-price-levels-to-watch", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "262172" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "With no bipartisan leadership, CFTC won't ‘slow down‘ on rulemaking", "leadText": "Democratic lawmakers called out Michael Selig for unilaterally advancing policies at the regulator that's normally led by a bipartisan group of five commissioners.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "

The chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Michael Selig, said he would not wait for the appointment of additional commissioners to lead the regulatory agency before moving ahead on rulemaking potentially related to digital assets and prediction markets.

In a Thursday hearing of the House Agriculture Committee, Selig responded to questions from ranking member Angie Craig, who called out the lack of leadership at the CFTC, which normally has a bipartisan panel of five commissioners. The Minnesota representative asked the chair to commit to not finalizing regulations while he is the only commissioner.

“In the interim, we cannot, for the sake of the American people, slow down in our rulemaking,” said Selig. “It’s very important that we get investor protections, consumer protections and safeguards for our markets. And so, I cannot, unfortunately, commit to not do my job that I was appointed to do by the president.”

\"Government,
CFTC Chair Michael Selig speaking on Thursday. Source: US House Committee on Agriculture

Selig, who has served as the CFTC’s sole commissioner and chair since December, has come under scrutiny from many lawmakers for unilaterally leading the agency on rules favoring crypto and prediction markets with no bipartisan group of commissioners. As of Thursday, President Donald Trump had not publicly announced any nominations to staff the agency nor signaled he intended to do so.

“We’re going to do more through rulemaking,” said Selig in response to a question on the CFTC’s leadership from Representative Don Davis. “We can’t have the staff deciding on discretion what the rules are.”

Related: CFTC probes oil futures trades tied to Trump's moves in Iran: Report

The CFTC chair proposed rulemaking in March that could amend or issue new regulations over event contracts on prediction markets. Selig has been outspoken about claiming that the agency has “exclusive jurisdiction” over prediction markets as the companies behind some platforms face state-level lawsuits related to sports betting laws and proposed legislation to crack down on insider trading.

CFTC’s legal fight over prediction market continues

Gaming authorities in several US states have filed lawsuits against prediction market companies like Kalshi and Polymarket, alleging the platforms offered sports betting in violation of state laws.

New Mexico Representative Gabe Vasquez questioned Selig at Thursday’s hearing with a visual aid showing that bets on event contracts and through state-level gaming “aren’t much of a difference, yet they are regulated completely differently.” He accused the CFTC of using “loopholes” to bypass state laws and requirements for prediction markets, causing some jurisdictions to miss out on revenue.

“The CFTC was not created or intended to regulate sports gambling,” said Vasquez, adding:

“Are we regulating real economic risk, or are we allowing prediction markets to steal billions of dollars in an unregulated free-for-all, with no consumer protection as Congress and the CFTC turns a blind eye?”

Companies like Kalshi have argued that they are under the sole jurisdiction of the CFTC. This argument led the company to court wins in Arizona and New Jersey, where this month judges blocked state officials from taking action against Kalshi.

Magazine: Should users be allowed to bet on war and death in prediction markets?

", "description": "CFTC Chair Michael Selig face questioning from lawmakers in the House Agriculture Committee on prediction markets and the agency's leadership.", "published": "2026-04-16T18:52:47+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "cftc" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "commodities-investment" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "cftc-chair-rulemaking-bipartisan-leadership", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262182" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Charles Schwab to roll out spot Bitcoin, Ether trading for retail clients", "leadText": "Schwab will introduce direct trading in the two biggest cryptos through a dedicated account, its first move into spot trading as it expands its digital asset offerings.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "

Charles Schwab, one of the largest US brokerage firms, will roll out spot cryptocurrency trading for retail clients in the coming weeks, starting with Bitcoin and Ether through a dedicated account linked to its brokerage platform.

According to Thursday’s announcement, the offering will allow clients to trade and view crypto alongside stocks and other assets across Schwab’s web, mobile and Thinkorswim platforms, with custody held by its banking unit and execution handled through a partnership with Paxos, a federally regulated trust company.

Schwab reported $12.22 trillion in total client assets as of February 2026, according to its latest filings, and operates as a brokerage providing trading, banking and wealth management services.

At launch, the service will support trading in the two biggest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), at a fee of 75 basis points per transaction, with plans to add more cryptocurrencies and enable deposits and withdrawals over time.

At 75 bps, or 0.75%, Schwab’s fee places it above exchanges such as Kraken, where fees start around 0.25% to 0.40% and decline with volume, while broadly in line with Coinbase, where fees start at about 0.40% to 0.60% for lower-volume traders, according to information on those exchanges’ websites.

Clients will access the service through a separate crypto account, with assets held by Schwab’s banking subsidiary under a custodial model. The rollout will begin in phases over the coming weeks, initially limited to eligible US retail clients except residents of New York and Louisiana.

Schwab said the move expands its existing crypto offerings, which include exchange-traded products, futures and funds tied to digital assets. The company said its clients currently hold about 20% of spot crypto exchange-traded products, based on internal estimates.

Related: Binance adds spot trading guardrails to limit abnormal executions

Traditional financial firms expand crypto offerings

Traditional financial companies are expanding their crypto offerings across trading, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and structured products.

On April 8, Morgan Stanley launched a spot Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) that recorded $30.6 million in inflows on its first day of NYSE Arca trading, marking its entry into the market for regulated crypto investment products. The fund website showed total net assets at $87.6 million as of April 15.

Also in April, Goldman Sachs filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a Bitcoin-linked ETF designed to generate income through options strategies, offering indirect exposure to Bitcoin while aiming to limit volatility.

As traditional financial firms expand into crypto, crypto-native companies are moving in the opposite direction, pushing into traditional markets through tokenized equities.

In December, Coinbase introduced trading for equities and ETFs, while in February Kraken launched tokenized equity perpetual futures, offering leveraged exposure to US stocks, indexes and commodities.

Magazine: Forget stablecoin yield, how does the CLARITY Act treat DeFi?

", "description": "Charles Schwab plans to launch spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for retail clients, expanding into direct crypto access alongside its existing investment offerings.", "published": "2026-04-16T18:18:01+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "kraken" }, { "slug": "goldman-sachs" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "morgan-stanley" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "charles-schwab-to-roll-out-spot-bitcoin-ether-trading-for-retail-clients", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262167" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin bull run ‘still too early’ to call as demand lags exiting capital: Analyst", "leadText": "Bitcoin trades below the profitability threshold for active holders, with early signs of BTC demand offering limited price support for now.", "author": { "slug": "biraajmaan-tamuly" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin (BTC) hit range highs above $76,000 on Wednesday, but Glassnode analysts say data suggest that calling for the start of a new bull market is premature. 

New capital inflows have stayed weak, with Bitcoin’s growth rate remaining negative across all 105 trading days in 2026, highlighting a gap between stable price action and limited new demand.

Bitcoin profitability signal remains unresolved

Glassnode analyst CryptoViz.art uses the true market mean (TMM) to estimate the average cost basis of active BTC investors. The metric divides investor capitalization by liveliness-adjusted circulating supply, filtering out inactive coins and the lost supply.

Bitcoin crossed below this level on Jan. 31 and has stayed there for 75 days. The move placed the average active holder in a loss position, with a peak drawdown of 20% and a current gap of about 5% below the entry level.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
Bitcoin's true market mean. Source: Glassnode/X

Historical comparisons show 10 similar breaks since 2016, with durations ranging from two days to over 11 months. The deepest drawdowns reached 57% during the 2018–2019 and 2022–2023 cycles, while the March 2020 event saw a 40% decline over 49 days. The analyst added, 

“That said, 75 days is still early. The 2018 and 2022 episodes didn't bottom until months 5-9. The signal isn't \"all clear\" — it's watch closely.”

Reclaiming the TMM, currently at $78,013, is key for active investors to return to profit, and it has aligned with momentum resets in earlier cycles.

Related: Adam Back says Bitcoin’s post-quantum shift may reveal true Satoshi stash

BTC capital outflows shape the price ceiling

Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. points to a steady outflow of capital from the BTC market. The 365-day growth rate of market cap relative to realized cap has remained negative for all 105 trading days in 2026, with the latest reading at -0.000652.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
Bitcoin growth rate. Source: Axel Adler Jr.

In simple terms, the market is not attracting enough new money to support higher prices.

The 30-day realized cap change shows the same trend. Only seven days saw positive inflows this year, all during a brief period in mid-January. Since Jan. 23, the metric has stayed negative, though it has improved slightly to -0.32% from early April lows near -0.54%.

Realized cap has also dropped to $1.08 trillion from $1.12 trillion since the start of the year, a 3.23% decline.

Adler Jr. said the recent improvement signals a slowdown in BTC outflows, not a bullish reversal. A meaningful shift would require both metrics to turn positive and hold above zero for a sustained period.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
Bitcoin realized cap change. Source: Axel Adler Jr.

Related: Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin fund overtakes WisdomTree after 6 trading days

", "description": "Bitcoin trades below active investors' cost basis amid persistent capital outflows. Can bulls keep the market in their grip?", "published": "2026-04-16T17:55:36+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-analysis" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-bull-run-still-too-early-to-call-as-demand-lags-exiting-capital-analyst", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "262162" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin rebounds near $74.5K as US stocks chase after new all-time highs", "leadText": "Bitcoin attempted to recover the $75,000 level as US stocks chase after a second day of fresh all-time highs. Is the bull market back on?", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin (BTC) treaded water at Thursday’s Wall Street open as the S&P 500 reached new all-time highs.

Key points:

BTC price tripped after fresh highs from the S&P 500

Data from TradingView showed $74,000 continuing to form an intraday BTC price focus.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


US jobless claims came in marginally below expectations at 207,000 versus 213,000, pointing to the labor market withstanding current geopolitical and inflation pressures.

These followed a new record for the S&P 500, which crossed 7,000 points for the first time in history after Bitcoin hit two-month highs.

Commenting, trading resource Mosaic Asset Company noted that the S&P had advanced by nearly 11% in the past 11 trading sessions.

“It ranks as the fifth quickest recovery to record highs following a deep pullback,” it wrote in its latest “Mosaic Chart Alerts” update. 

“The S&P closed firmly above the 7,000 level for the first time in history despite the ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East that sparked a 9% drawdown in the index into late March.”
S&P 500 one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


Gold dipped to intraday lows and WTI crude oil eyed $94 per barrel as markets awaited further cues over the US-Iran war.

QCP, meanwhile, warned that seasonal trends could still end the stock rally as the US entered midterm elections. The S&P 500, it noted, “tends to find its peak about now ahead of mid-term elections, and then recovering during the final quarter of the year.”

“I would not base any investment decision or outlook based on seasonals alone, which is why I’m also watching confirmation from breadth,” it cautioned.

S&P 500 seasonality data. Source: Mosaic Asset Company

Trader sees “opportunity” in Bitcoin versus Nasdaq

With BTC price action finding resistance near its range highs, market participants eyed exchange order-book liquidity for clues as to where the next showdown could come.

Related: Bitcoin can grow 'probably a lot bigger' than $30T+ gold market — Analysis

“The price bucket at $72.2K - 72.4K has a large amount of open interest that has slowly accumulated,” Shubh Varma, CEO of crypto data platform Hyblock, told Cointelegraph on the day.

“We've seen this level where traders are often active, entering and exiting. Most recently, about $100 million longs and shorts opened here, bringing the total close to $400 million at that price bucket, over the last seven days (on Binance stablecoin perps).”

Varma added that this could form “an area to watch as potential support if price revisits it, as many of these longs and shorts may exit at breakeven ‘psychological’ level.\"

BTC/USDT perpetual contract open interest data. Source: Hyblock


Continuing the stocks theme, crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe flagged Bitcoin’s relationship with the Nasdaq-100 index as a cause for optimism going forward.

“Bitcoin is about to follow Nasdaq,” he told X followers. 

“The reason for this is quite simple: the correlation has been significantly strong most of the time. This period? The weakest correlation in the past 10 years.”
BTC/USD vs. Nasdaq 100 futures one-week chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X


Van de Poppe eyed a “tremendous opportunity” for Bitcoin buyers, having recently seen a similar bullish setup in Bitcoin versus gold.

", "description": "Bitcoin's correlation with stocks is back in the spotlight after new record highs for the S&P 500. Can BTC recapture $75,000 and continue to trek higher?", "published": "2026-04-16T17:17:04+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-rebounds-near-dollar74-5k-as-us-stocks-chase-after-new-all-time-highs", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "262157" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Zonda exchange says 4.5K BTC wallet inaccessible amid withdrawal crisis", "leadText": "The CEO of the troubled Zonda exchange has disclosed a Bitcoin wallet holding around 4,500 BTC, but said the private keys were never transferred during a company handover.", "author": { "slug": "helen-partz" }, "bodyText": "

Crypto exchange Zonda said a cold wallet holding around 4,500 Bitcoin is currently inaccessible as the platform faces concerns over delayed withdrawals.

Zonda CEO Przemysław Kral posted a video statement on Thursday disclosing the exchange’s wallet address, saying the private keys to the wallet were never handed over.

In the statement, Kral denied accusations of misappropriating funds, saying the private keys were intended to be handed over by Zonda founder and former CEO Sylwester Suszek, who has been missing since 2022.

“So for all those who claim that I had anything to do with Sylwester's disappearance, this is the prime argument that I care the most about Sylwester being found,” Kral said.

The disclosure follows weeks of controversy around the exchange after local reports suggested a probe into Zonda by Polish authorities, followed by an analysis by blockchain platform Recoveris, which alleged Zonda could have been insolvent based on a sharp drop in the exchange's hot wallet balances.

Last recorded transaction dates to November 2025

Kral’s public disclosure of the wallet marks the first time that Zonda has disclosed the address amid the controversy.

The address cited by the CEO holds 4,503 Bitcoin (BTC) currently worth about $334 million, with the last transaction recorded in November 2025 as of the time of publication.

Source: Blockchain.com

The CEO previously denied insolvency claims following the hot wallet investigation by Recoveris on April 6, insisting that Zonda remained fully solvent with more than 4,500 BTC in holdings.

CEO plans legal action, says Zonda will meet customer obligations

In the video, Kral said that much of Zonda’s recent withdrawal pressure was driven by an abnormal spike in withdrawal requests, which he linked to negative media coverage.

He said Zonda normally processed around 100,000 withdrawal requests per year but saw more than 25,000 requests within hours and days around April 6.

Kral said the company plans to take legal action over what he described as false claims surrounding the exchange and promised to fulfill obligations to customers amid withdrawal concerns.

Source: Przemysław Kral

Polish lawmaker Tomasz Mentzen said on X that Zonda may have lost access to its cold wallet following the disappearance of former CEO Suszek. Kral did not explicitly say the funds were lost, but said the private keys to the wallet were never transferred during the company handover.

Suszek has reportedly been missing since March 2022, with reporting referencing alleged criminal ties among certain shareholders of Zonda, formerly BitBay.

Related: French minister says new measures are coming after crypto kidnappings

The exchange was founded in Poland in 2014 and rebranded as Zonda in 2021. Kral told Cointelegraph in February that the company registered in Estonia amid regulatory uncertainty in Poland, citing delays in implementing the European Union-wide Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

The issue has drawn the exchange into a broader political debate, adding pressure on regulators and increasing scrutiny of Poland’s crypto sector.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026


", "description": "Zonda CEO Przemysław Kral revealed a Bitcoin wallet address holding 4,503 Bitcoin while saying private keys were never transferred from a former CEO.", "published": "2026-04-16T16:48:12+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "bankruptcy" }, { "slug": "poland" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "estonia" }, { "slug": "crimes" } ], "slug": "zonda-crypto-4500-btc-wallet-inaccessible-withdrawal-crisis", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262147" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Tether announces $150M recovery program for Drift Protocol", "leadText": "The Drift Protocol will use the $150 million to relaunch and restore user funds following a $280 million exploit earlier in April.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "

Stablecoin issuer Tether, the company behind USDt (USDT), said Thursday it will back a $150 million recovery program for the Drift Protocol decentralized exchange (DEX) following an exploit of the platform in April.

The recovery plan for the $280 million Drift Protocol exploit includes $127.5 million from Tether, with the rest coming from undisclosed partners, according to Tether’s announcement. Tether said:

“Rather than relying on upfront capital alone, the structure links funding and recovery to ongoing trading activity on the Drift platform, allowing user balances to be restored as the exchange returns to normal operations.”

The Drift Protocol platform will “contribute directly” to the ongoing recovery of user funds as the platform resumes normal trading activity. 

The top 10 crypto assets stolen from the Drift Protocol in the exploit. Source: Quill Audits

Drift will also transition its settlement asset from Circle's USDC (USDC) dollar-pegged stablecoin to Tether’s USDt as part of the platform’s relaunch. 

Cointelegraph reached out to Tether but did not receive a response by the time of publication. 

The recovery program highlights a growing trend of crypto industry companies collaborating to restore user funds and help platforms resume normal operations after major hacks or cybersecurity attacks that cause hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

Related: Drift sends onchain message to wallets tied to $280M exploit

Circle comes under fire for not freezing funds after Drift Protocol attack

Crypto industry executives, cybersecurity researchers and blockchain security firms criticized Circle for not freezing the USDC wallets linked to the Drift Protocol exploiter, despite having a window of several hours to intervene.

The exploiter used Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), a native bridge that allows tokens to be transferred to other blockchain networks, to transfer over $232 million USDC from the Solana network to the Ethereum network, according to onchain sleuth ZachXBT.

\"Cybercrime,
Source: ZachXBT

The funds were transferred in more than 100 transactions, he said, adding, “Despite the attacker laundering funds over six consecutive hours across Circle's own native bridge, no USDC was frozen. The attacker has been linked to North Korea by Elliptic.” 

Circle’s stock sank by about 10% on April 9, following criticism over the company’s failure to freeze the funds from the hack and downgraded forecasts from market analysts. The NYSE-traded shares have since clawed back that decline, increasing about 20% as of yesterday’s close, according to Yahoo Finance data.

Magazine: Are DeFi devs liable for the illegal activity of others on their platforms?

", "description": "Stablecoin issuer Tether has announced that it will lead a $150 million recovery program for the Drift Protocol, which suffered a $280 million exploit.", "published": "2026-04-16T16:20:03+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "tether" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "tether-150m-recovery-drift-protocol", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262137" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "UAE investors buy AI dip, keep crypto exposure despite conflict", "leadText": "UAE investors are buying the AI and tech dip, keeping exposure to software, chips and crypto as the Iran conflict stress-tests the Gulf’s bid to be a global tech hub.", "author": { "slug": "christina-comben" }, "bodyText": "

United Arab Emirates investors are leaning into the artificial intelligence sell-off rather than running from it, despite the regional conflict testing the Gulf’s ambitions to become a global hub for AI and digital assets. 

New eToro data shared with Cointelegraph on Wednesday show users in the UAE boosted holdings of software and AI infrastructure names whose share prices fell sharply in the first quarter, suggesting they used the downturn to “buy the dip” rather than broadly de-risk.

The pattern suggests UAE investors are staying exposed to long-term AI and digital-infrastructure themes even as the conflict raises fresh risks for data centers, logistics and cross-border technology build-outs in the Gulf. An April 13 report from Deutsche Bank said the shock is more likely to sharpen rather than derail demand for AI, cybersecurity and sovereign digital infrastructure in the region.

Related: Bitcoin falls to lower support as analysts say markets are ignoring key Iran issue

Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro, told Cointelegraph that UAE investors became more selective over where they took risk in Q1, and investor behavior was driven by long-term themes rather than a risk-off mindset. 

He said the clearest signal was across AI infrastructure and software names, pointing to ServiceNow (+125%), Super Micro Computer (+65%), Adobe (+54%) and Oracle (+38%), which all saw significant increases despite market pressure.

What UAE investors bought in Q1, 2026. Source: eToro

On the crypto side, he said that Strategy Inc. remained the eighth-most-held stock, indicating continued exposure to crypto-linked equities.

War puts Gulf AI ambitions under pressure

The resilience comes as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran has exposed new risks for Gulf tech infrastructure. Deutsche Bank cited reported strikes on Amazon Web Services data centers in the UAE and Bahrain and threats against the planned 1GW Stargate campus in Abu Dhabi. 

Gilbert said the conflict was driving volatility, with sharp oil price swings that can ultimately affect tech valuations. Maintaining core exposure to diversified mega-cap tech while rotating within the sector suggests a more nuanced, risk-aware approach, he said.

Why is the Gulf so well-suited for AI? Source: Deutsche Bank

Deutsche also highlighted that the Gulf, and the UAE in particular, is unlikely to abandon the AI race. The region benefits from cheap energy, an unusually dense pipeline of data center projects, and sovereign wealth funds that control about $5 trillion worldwide in 2025, with Abu Dhabi vehicles among the most aggressive backers of global AI deals, the report said.

Crypto companies stay open as conflict remains

On the ground in Dubai, crypto players say the conflict has slowed but not derailed the city’s hub ambitions. HashKey MENA’s managing director, Ben El-Baz, told Cointelegraph that operations remained “broadly functional,” helped by cloud-based trading and custody systems less dependent on a physical location, even though remote work and travel disruptions were unavoidable.

Related: BTC recovery fragile, Iran war fallout to ‘dominate’ markets in 2026: Analyst

Other companies, including Binance, also continued normal operations, despite reports to the contrary. A Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph employees were given the option of temporary relocation as a precautionary measure, but the “vast majority” chose to remain, while major conferences such as Token2049 were postponed.

Dubai-based investment firm, Ento Capital, says the conflict is “refining” rather than derailing the GCC story. Senior executive officer Hayssam El Masri told Cointelegraph that investors have shifted from “confidence-driven to risk aware,” but are generally not exiting the region. War-tested resilience and ongoing investment in AI, cloud and crypto infrastructure may ultimately strengthen the GCC’s long-term positioning, he said.

Regulators bet clear rules will anchor capital

Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has continued to roll out its activity-based framework throughout the turmoil, including detailed guidance on token issuance and formal rules for crypto derivatives.

Sean McHugh, VARA’s head of market assurance, told Cointelegraph that in periods of stress, serious market participants do not seek “the lightest-touch jurisdiction, they look for the clearest one,” adding that Dubai’s combination of transparent licensing, visible supervision and active enforcement is meant to persuade institutions to treat the emirate as a strategic base rather than an opportunistic punt.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt


", "description": "UAE investors are buying the AI and tech sell-off, rotating into software, chips and crypto, as the Iran conflict tests the Gulf’s bid to be a global AI hub.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:59:12+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "uae" }, { "slug": "iran" }, { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "shares" }, { "slug": "deutsche-bank" }, { "slug": "dubai" }, { "slug": "etoro" }, { "slug": "oil-and-gas" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "uae-investors-double-down-on-ai-digital-assets", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262122" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Here’s what happened in crypto today", "leadText": "Need to know what happened in crypto today? Here is the latest news on daily trends and events impacting Bitcoin price, blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, Web3 and crypto regulation.", "author": { "slug": "cointelegraph" }, "bodyText": "

Today in crypto, Jean-Didier Berger said at Paris Blockchain Week that France is preparing new steps to protect crypto holders as wrench attacks and kidnappings keep mounting in the country, World Liberty copped wide backlash over its plan to lock up early investor tokens for years, and crypto money is flowing into US state elections as PACs build on their 2024 successes.

French minister says new measures coming after crypto kidnappings

Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the interior minister of France, said authorities are taking measures to protect cryptocurrency investors from the growing threat of crypto kidnappings and wrench attacks in the country.

Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Berger said his office has taken “preventative measures” against crypto wrench attacks, including launching a prevention platform that has drawn thousands of sign-ups. He added that he was working with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on what he described as a more serious plan in the coming weeks.

His comments come days after another reported crypto-linked abduction in France this week, where a mother and her 11-year-old child were reportedly kidnapped in Burgundy on Monday by four suspects who demanded a 400,000 euro ($471,000) ransom from the father, a crypto entrepreneur. Authorities caught the suspects and freed the victims on Tuesday morning, reported news outlet France24, citing the Paris prosecutor’s office.

France has become one of the most prominent centers for so-called wrench attacks, in which victims are threatened or assaulted to force the transfer of digital assets, and the government is now under growing pressure to respond.

Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the Minister of the Interior in France, speaking at Paris Blockchain Week in 2026. Source: Cointelegraph

World Liberty under fire for token unlock plan

The Trump family’s World Liberty Financial faced widespread backlash over its proposal released on Wednesday that would lock up the tokens purchased by early investors for up to four years, or in some cases, indefinitely.

The plan outlined that early investors would have their World Liberty Financial (WLFI) tokens locked for a further two years before their tokens would be released in batches over the following two years, while tokenholders who did not accept the new unlock schedule would “continue to have their tokens locked indefinitely.”

The proposal saw wide opposition, most notably from World Liberty adviser and its biggest investor, Justin Sun, who called the plan “one of the most absurd governance scams I have ever seen.” Moonrock Capital founder Simon Dedic claimed that WLFI investors “who thought they were sitting on solid profits just got rugged.”

Source: Justin Sun

World Liberty Financial did not respond to questions about the backlash. Spokesman David Wachsman told Cointelegraph in an emailed statement that the proposal “was designed to further align all the participants in the WLFI ecosystem for the long run.”

US midterm election mirrors 2024 as crypto PACs move into Ohio races

Another political action committee (PAC) aligned with the cryptocurrency industry announced its endorsement for a candidate in Ohio’s Senate race, signaling a move that could mirror the 2024 US election.

In a Wednesday notice, Sentinel Action Fund, a group that claims to be the “only conservative Super PAC advancing pro-crypto candidates and supporting pro-crypto innovation,” said it would be supporting Republican Jon Husted in this year’s race to represent Ohio in the US Senate. 

Husted was appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in January 2025 to replace JD Vance, who was elected vice president alongside US President Donald Trump in his 2024 election win. He still faces a field of Republican candidates ahead of a May 5 primary in Ohio, where former Senator Sherrod Brown will also face off in the Democratic primary against Ron Kincaid.  

Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson specifically cited Brown as having “stood in the way of pro-innovation policies when it comes to digital assets” in the PAC’s endorsement of Husted. 

\"Denmark,
Total raised by Sentinel Action Fund Super PAC, as of March 31. Source: FEC
", "description": "Today in crypto, France is working on new measures to fight rising crypto ransom attacks, World Liberty is facing backlash over its token unlock plan, and crypto PACs channel cash into Ohio elections.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:38:46+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "france" }, { "slug": "elections" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "what-happened-in-crypto-today", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "110589" }, { "category": { "slug": "features" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "OneCoin’s fallout lingers as US victims get a shot at recovery", "leadText": "Investors in the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme OneCoin may finally get some relief through a Department of Justice program, some 12 years after the project launched.", "author": { "slug": "aaron-wood" }, "bodyText": "

In the United States, victims of the $4 billion crypto Ponzi scam OneCoin are finally receiving compensation. 

On April 13, the US Department of Justice said that $40 million in assets are available to anyone who purchased OneCoin between 2014 and 2019 and experienced a net loss.

This program marks a milestone for OneCoin victims, most of whom had no recourse to get back what they lost, until now. Victims in the UK attempted a class action suit in 2024, but it fell apart when litigation funding was terminated.

Few crypto schemes were as prominent as OneCoin, in terms of scale and the international intrigue that followed. Founders and associates have been imprisoned or killed, while the ringleader is still on the lam.

The Wild West of early crypto was often defined by schemes and eccentric characters, the effects of which, in the case of OneCoin, are still felt today. 

OneCoin’s founding and legal troubles

In 2014, cryptocurrency was still a niche internet phenomenon. The Bitcoin white paper was only six years old, and general knowledge of cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech was limited. Still, interest in the new asset class was rising among retail investors.

From August to December 2014, Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood founded OneCoin. Initial promotions began in Europe, and soon entities popped up in Bulgaria, Dubai and Belize. 

OneCoin’s structure was convoluted. Investors needed to buy packages of tokens that would allow them to “mine” OneCoin. There were several different price entry points for packages, with almost no upper limit. The most expensive, according to CoinMarketCap, was 225,000 euros.

“Trader packages” for OneCoin. Source: CoinMarketCap

Promoters, meanwhile, could earn commissions by bringing new investors into the program. This allowed the project to expand rapidly.

While marketed as a cryptocurrency, it was not decentralized. The coin itself was hosted on the centralized servers of OneCoin Ltd. The coins were not available for public trading and owners could only trade nominal amounts in a closed system. 

The project seemed fairly suspect from the outset, but fear of missing out, as well as the massive audiences drawn by Ignatova at seemingly above-board conferences, were enough to convince many.


Throughout 2015, the project grew across the globe in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Repeating the familiar MLM playbook, promoters emphasized urgency, and the immediacy of an impending explosion in value and crypto adoption. 

Regulators began to catch on by late 2015. Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission issued a warning about OneCoin, after which the company ceased all operations in the country. 

By 2016, several other national financial regulators also had OneCoin on their lists. By year’s end, Norway, Bulgaria, Finland, Sweden and Latvia were all investigating the project. The Hungarian central bank called it a pyramid scheme.

In December, Italian authorities defined OneCoin as an illegal pyramid scheme and demanded it cease activities in the country. China began investigating the project and even arrested some investors. 

Regulation efforts ramped up again in 2017. Germany, Thailand, Belize and Vietnam all issued cease-and-desist orders or declared OneCoin illegal. In India, undercover police arrested 18 organizers of a OneCoin event that attempted to bring in new investors. Indian authorities went so far as to charge Ignatova herself in July.

By the year’s end, things had reached a breaking point. Investors were concerned about delays in a supposed exchange that would allow them to cash out their coins. This was supposedly going to be addressed at an October meeting of OneCoin organizers in Lisbon, Portugal. 

But Ignatova didn’t show. According to a BBC investigation, she boarded a Ryanair flight from Sofia to Athens, Greece on Oct. 25, 2017. No one has seen her since. 

Arrests, murders and Crypto Queen on the run

In early 2018, investigators moved in on the project. At the request of prosecutors in Germany, Bulgarian police raided the OneCoin offices in Sofia. The raid, which according to the Sofia Globe also included German police and Europol, seized servers and material evidence. 

In July, co-founder Greenwood was arrested on charges of money laundering and fraud in Thailand, where he would await extradition back to the United States.

Ignatova’s own lawyer, Mark S. Scott, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit bank fraud due to his connections and activities at OneCoin. He would be disbarred a few years later. 

OneCoin stayed in the headlines for the next couple of years as developments continued to unfold. In July 2020, two project promoters, Oscar Brito Ibarra and Ignacio Ibarra, were kidnapped and murdered in Mexico. Local media reported that local cartels, which were increasingly becoming interested in cryptocurrencies, could have been involved. 

In 2020, entertainment media in Hollywood reported that Kate Winslet would star in a movie about OneCoin. To date, it hasn’t started production. 

While Greenwood’s case proceeded in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation put Ignatova on its Ten Most Wanted fugitives list in June 2023. 

Source: FBI

In September, Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay $300 million in damages. He pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and money laundering. His sentence was a marked reduction from the initial 60 years sought by the prosecution. 

In 2024, the DoJ arrested and charged William Morro for bank fraud in connection with OneCoin. Morro moved some $35 million in OneCoin funds between banks in China and Hong Kong, and $6 million between Hong Kong and the US. Morro surrendered himself to authorities and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

In the latest news, the DoJ announced on Monday that $40 million in assets are available to compensate investors who bought OneCoin between 2014 and 2019 and recorded a net loss. 

By the time everything was said and done, some 3.5 million people had lost money to the crypto scheme. Authorities estimate that organizers ultimately made away with $4 billion in user funds. 

Ignatova remains at large and on the Ten Most Wanted list. The FBI is offering a $5 million reward for info leading to her arrest and/or conviction. 

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt


", "description": "Some 10 years after its collapse, the effects of crypto Ponzi scheme OneCoin are still being felt as the DoJ opens a compensation claims program.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:28:01+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bulgaria" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "crimes" }, { "slug": "scams" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "features" } ], "slug": "onecoin-fallout-lingers-us-victims-recovery", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Analysis" } ] }, "id": "262117" }, { "category": { "slug": "analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Why Australia’s $17B crypto opportunity depends on regulation", "leadText": "Australia’s A$24B digital asset opportunity hinges on regulation. Clear rules could drive tokenized markets, faster payments and institutional investment.", "author": { "slug": "dilip-kumar-patairya" }, "bodyText": "

Key takeaways

Australia is widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced financial markets in the Asia-Pacific region. However, in the area of digital assets and tokenized finance, the country faces a critical choice.

The Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) and the Digital Economy Council of Australia published a report titled “Unlocking Australia’s $24b Digital Finance Opportunity.” It warns that the country will capture only a small portion of these gains unless its regulatory framework is updated swiftly.

The report emphasizes that tokenized markets and digital finance could deliver around A$24 billion (approximately US$17 billion) in annual economic benefits for Australia, provided lawmakers move forward with regulation.

The scale of Australia’s digital finance opportunity

The DFCRC analysis indicates that tokenization and digital asset infrastructure could significantly improve several parts of Australia’s financial system. These improvements are expected to create economic value by making markets more efficient, increasing liquidity and allowing more investors to participate.

The report highlights three main sources of value that together represent an estimated A$24 billion opportunity.

Improved financial markets

Tokenized financial markets are likely to deliver significant economic benefits. By recording traditional securities such as shares or bonds on blockchain-based systems, markets can automate settlement processes, lower operational costs and open participation to a wider range of investors.

Tokenized infrastructure can also bring greater transparency and efficiency to assets including:

Improved liquidity and easier access for investors can lead to higher trading volumes and less friction throughout the financial system.

Improved payments

Tokenized forms of money such as stablecoins, bank deposit tokens and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could make both domestic and international payments faster and cheaper.

At present, many cross-border payments depend on correspondent banking networks, which are often slow and costly. Tokenized payment systems could enable near-instant transfers between institutions, shortening settlement times and reducing fees.

Better use of digital assets

Tokenization allows financial assets to become more programmable and easier to use in digital financial services. Smart contracts can automatically manage tasks such as margin calls, collateral handling and settlement, which are currently manual and time-intensive processes.

According to the DFCRC report, almost half of the gains related to assets could come from enabling new activities on tokenized infrastructure, including collateralized lending, repo markets and invoice financing.

Did you know? Australia was among the earliest countries to explore blockchain for financial market infrastructure. In 2017, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) began a project to replace its decades-old clearing system with blockchain technology before later reconsidering the plan.

Why regulation is the primary obstacle

While digital asset markets show great promise, the DFCRC report identifies regulatory uncertainty as the main factor holding back growth in Australia.

Large financial institutions generally avoid investing significant capital in new technologies until clear legal frameworks are established. Without specific rules on licensing, asset custody and compliance, many firms are hesitant to launch major tokenized products.

Key structural challenges include:

These issues hinder progress even when the necessary technology is already available. Institutional investors need a well-defined regulatory foundation to enter the market with confidence.

The high cost of regulatory inaction

Continued delays in modernizing Australia’s regulatory framework could severely erode the country’s potential gains from digital finance.

If policy stagnation persists, Australia may capture only around A$1 billion (approximately US$710 million) from digital assets and tokenized finance by 2030. This figure represents only a small fraction of the A$24 billion in potential benefits that could be realized under a more supportive and predictable regulatory environment.

This massive shortfall highlights how regulatory hurdles can alter the future path of financial innovation. In the absence of clear, enabling policy settings, several damaging consequences could follow:

Ultimately, prolonged regulatory uncertainty does not merely slow progress but may actively divert economic value and opportunity to other countries that have established favorable frameworks for digital finance.

Did you know? Australia hosts one of the densest networks of crypto ATMs in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also one of the largest markets for crypto kiosks outside North America.

What the industry is asking for in regulation

Australia has made initial strides toward establishing a regulatory framework for digital assets. However, industry stakeholders stress that more needs to be done to unlock meaningful institutional participation:

When addressed together, these regulatory building blocks would provide the clarity financial institutions need before committing significant capital and infrastructure to tokenized finance in Australia.

Why regulatory sandboxes are important

The DFCRC report recommends creating regulatory sandboxes tailored specifically for tokenized financial markets.

These sandboxes allow companies to test new financial technologies under close regulatory oversight before obtaining a full license. This approach lets regulators see how the innovations perform in practice while keeping risks under control.

Australia already has an Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox (ERS) managed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). It permits eligible firms to trial certain financial services for a limited period without holding a full financial services license.

However, industry groups argue that more specialized sandboxes would speed up testing and development in key areas such as tokenized securities and digital settlement systems.

Targeted sandboxes would also improve dialogue between regulators and the industry, enabling policymakers to shape better rules based on actual testing outcomes.

The role of tokenized government bonds and CBDCs

The DFCRC report proposes that tokenized government bonds and a central bank digital currency (CBDC) could form essential infrastructure for digital financial markets.

Government bonds are already widely used as collateral in financial markets. Tokenizing them would allow for automated collateral management, faster settlement and improved transparency.

A CBDC designed for use by financial institutions rather than the general public could provide secure final settlement for tokenized assets. Together with stablecoins and bank deposit tokens, it would help build a flexible and efficient system for digital financial transactions.

These tools would create the reliable settlement infrastructure institutional markets need to operate at scale.

Did you know? Australia’s central bank was among the first to experiment with central bank digital currency trials. Earlier projects explored how a wholesale CBDC could help automate bond settlement and other complex financial transactions between institutions.

Project Acacia and Australia’s experimentation with digital money

Australia is already exploring these concepts through initiatives such as Project Acacia. This collaboration examines how digital money could work in tokenized wholesale markets.

The project tests how different forms of digital settlement, including CBDCs and stablecoins, can support financial market infrastructure.

Pilot programs like these can play an important role. They allow policymakers and financial institutions to test technical designs, operational risks and regulatory issues before moving to large-scale systems.

Real-world experimentation helps regulators create rules based on practical experience rather than theory alone.

Technological ability alone is not enough

A central finding of the DFCRC report is that technology alone is not enough to create new financial markets.

For institutions to adopt tokenized finance, the following are required:

Together, these elements build the trust financial institutions need to commit to new technologies.

Without that trust, tokenized finance is likely to remain confined to small pilot projects rather than becoming part of mainstream financial systems.

Australia’s competitive challenge

The global competition to develop digital asset infrastructure is accelerating. Many jurisdictions are already building regulatory frameworks for tokenized securities, stablecoins and digital payment systems.

If Australia delays, it risks losing talent, investment and innovation to countries that provide regulatory clarity sooner.

In this sense, digital asset regulation is not just a financial policy issue. It is also a question of competitiveness for Australia’s broader economy.

Countries that put credible frameworks for digital finance in place are better positioned to attract capital and technology firms seeking stable regulatory settings.

", "description": "Australia could unlock an A$24B crypto and tokenization opportunity, but only if clear regulations, licensing rules and digital finance infrastructure are put in place.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:26:21+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "australia" }, { "slug": "economics" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "digital-currency" }, { "slug": "economy" }, { "slug": "digital" }, { "slug": "commonwealth-bank-of-australia" }, { "slug": "digital-asset-holdings" }, { "slug": "national-australia-bank" }, { "slug": "digital-asset" }, { "slug": "digital-asset-management" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "how-to" } ], "slug": "australia-tokenized-finance-regulatory-framework", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "How to" } ] }, "id": "262112" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Naver-Dunamu filing sets IPO committee, listing timeline for fintech group", "leadText": "The corrected filing details timeline, caveats and conditions tied to a potential Naver Financial IPO after the Dunamu share swap deal.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "

South Korean tech company Naver and Upbit operator Dunamu said in a corrected filing that their planned share swap includes forming an initial public offering (IPO) committee for Naver Financial within one year of closing, outlining a path toward a future listing. 

The disclosure, outlined in the corrected filing on Wednesday, said the companies would pursue a listing within five years, with a possible two-year extension. Naver said it plans to secure voting rights in Naver Financial so the fintech unit remains a consolidated subsidiary after the deal.

The filing suggests the deal goes beyond a simple ownership change, outlining a structure that could eventually bring Upbit’s parent under a listed fintech group. The move indicates Naver and Dunamu are positioning any future South Korea listing at the fintech-parent level rather than through a standalone listing of Upbit’s parent.

However, Dunamu said no specific decisions have been made on whether to proceed with the IPO or on its timing or structure. It added that the deal remains subject to regulatory approvals that could still delay or derail the transaction. 

Naver Financial’s plans to acquire Dunamu were first reported in September 2025 by local outlets including Yonhap and Chosun, which said the company was preparing a share swap to bring the Upbit operator under its umbrella. Naver later confirmed the transaction in a November regulatory filing, outlining a roughly $10.3 billion all-stock deal.

Investor agreement sets IPO framework, control terms

The filing said Naver, Dunamu and related parties entered into an investor agreement tied to the share swap, under which they agreed to use their “best efforts” to pursue a future listing of Naver Financial after the transaction closes.

The agreement forms the basis for post-deal restructuring, including preparations for a potential IPO. 

Related: South Korea orders crypto exchanges to verify holdings every 5 minutes

The filing described the listing plan as conditional, noting that key elements, including timing, structure and execution, will depend on market conditions and regulatory developments. It added that more detailed plans would be disclosed if and when formal decisions are made. 

The updated disclosure follows a roughly three-month delay to the Naver and Dunamu share swap deal timeline.

It also comes as Dunamu reported weaker operating performance in 2025, with revenue falling about 10% year-on-year to 1.56 trillion won ($1.2 billion) and operating profit dropping 26.7% to 869.3 billion won, which the company attributed to reduced crypto trading volumes during a broader market slowdown.

Magazine: Singapore isn’t a ‘crypto hub’ — it’s something better: StraitsX CEO


", "description": "The investor agreement outlines post-deal structure, with NAVER retaining control of Naver Financial despite potential listing plans.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:25:40+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "south-korea" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "ipo" }, { "slug": "upbit" } ], "slug": "naver-dunamu-filing-ipo-committee-listing-window", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262107" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Ukraine arrests FBI-wanted cybercrime suspect, seizes $11M in assets", "leadText": "Ukrainian authorities detained a suspect linked to a $100 million cybercrime network targeting the US and Europe, seizing $11 million in assets, of which $3 million was in cryptocurrency.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "

Ukrainian authorities have arrested a member of an international cybercrime network wanted by the FBI over allegations of fraud and money laundering tied to losses exceeding $100 million across the United States and Europe.

The suspect was arrested in the Transcarpathia region during a joint operation involving the National Police of Ukraine and other internal security units, Ukraine police said on Thursday. Officials said the man had been wanted internationally for some time and was eventually found in Uzhhorod, where he was living under a fake identity using forged documents.

“He issued fictitious documents about his own death and continued to live in Ukraine as a “new” person, using false documents,” prosecutors said, adding that he laundered illicit proceeds through property acquisitions, often using relatives as intermediaries to disguise ownership and financial flows.

The suspect was part of a wider cyber syndicate that deployed malicious software to harvest personal data and corporate records, later using that information to extort victims by demanding payments in exchange for silence or the return of stolen material, per the announcement. The scheme targeted individuals and institutions in both the US and Europe.

Related: Paying Iran in crypto could put shippers at sanctions risk: Chainalysis

Ukraine seizes $3 million in crypto

During the investigation, authorities seized assets worth approximately $11 million, including cash, real estate, vehicles and cryptocurrency valued at around $3 million.

Ukrainian police seize crypto. Source: Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko

Officials also flagged discrepancies between declared income and assets held by the suspect associates, pointing to tens of millions of Ukrainian hryvnias in unexplained wealth accumulation. Investigators say the financial trail helped reconstruct parts of the laundering network and confirm the scale of the operation. They also identified two additional accomplices linked to the laundering operation.

The suspect faces charges under Ukrainian criminal code provisions covering document forgery and money laundering. His alleged accomplices have also been charged and remain in custody.

Related: Ukraine blocks Polymarket, classifies prediction markets as gambling

Ukraine uncovers more hacker groups

Earlier this year, Ukraine, the United States and Germany uncovered another transnational hacking group responsible for blocking the systems of at least 11 American corporations and demanding ransom payments in cryptocurrency. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said the attacks caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage, with the group consisting of more than 20 members, including seven based in Ukraine.

Authorities carried out searches at the homes of two Ukrainian suspects, seizing computers, phones, cash and documents. One suspect was also linked to the spread of BlackBasta malware.

Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘biggest bull catalyst’ would be Saylor’s liquidation — Santiment founder

", "description": "Ukraine arrests a suspect in a $100 million cybercrime ring targeting the US and Europe, seizing $11 million in assets including $3 million in cryptocurrency.", "published": "2026-04-16T14:00:51+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "ukraine" }, { "slug": "europe" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "hacks" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" } ], "slug": "ukraine-arrests-suspect-100m-cybercrime-ring-11m-seized-crypto", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262097" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "AllUnity takes MiCA-regulated euro stablecoin EURAU further into DeFi", "leadText": "AllUnity says it is expanding EURAU stablecoin liquidity pools across major DEXs such as Uniswap and Raydium, with trading pairs against USDT and USDT0.", "author": { "slug": "helen-partz" }, "bodyText": "

AllUnity, a regulated European stablecoin issuer, is expanding its euro-pegged stablecoin, EURAU, across major decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

The company announced Thursday that its EURAU stablecoin is entering liquidity pools across major DEXs, including Uniswap, currently the largest decentralized exchange by trading volumes.

The rollout includes two EURAU trading pairs, one against Tether USDt (USDT) on Ethereum, and another against USDT0 — an omnichain version of USDT — on the Tempo blockchain. It also includes the EURAU/USDT pair on Solana via the Raydium DEX.

Source: AllUnity

AllUnity’s DEX push comes as uncertainty persists over how far decentralized finance (DeFi) falls within the scope of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) regime.

While DeFi is generally considered outside the scope of the framework, the European Central Bank last month questioned whether decentralized autonomous organizations are decentralized enough to remain outside MiCA’s regulatory perimeter.

AllUnity built EURAU under BaFin licence

AllUnity operates as a MiCA-compliant stablecoin issuer after obtaining an Electronic Money Institution license from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in July 2025.

AllUnity launched EURAU on July 31, 2025. The token remains small by market capitalization compared with the largest euro stablecoins.

Market capitalization of euro-pegged stablecoins and the top three stablecoins by market cap. Source: CoinGecko

AllUnity has been expanding the presence of its EURAU stablecoin across exchanges, with listings on centralized exchanges (CEXs) such as Bullish as well as decentralized ones like Aerodrome. Aerodrome became the first DEX integration for EURAU in December 2025.

Dollar stablecoins still dominate

The MiCA framework, which entered into full force in late 2024, has often been seen as a tool to address the dominance of stablecoins pegged to the US dollar.

Some major issuers, including Tether, have openly criticized the framework and declined to seek compliance in the EU, citing concerns over its requirements, which led to some compliant exchanges delisting its USDT stablecoin.

Some banking officials have since said MiCA may not be sufficient to address the dominance of US dollar-pegged stablecoins, which still account for 97% of the $316 billion market globally, according to CoinGecko.

Related: Bank of France calls for tougher MiCA limits on stablecoin payments

As AllUnity’s DEX push also involves major US dollar stablecoins, it remains unclear how regulators will respond to these developments.

“Expanding EURAU liquidity across DEXs is an important step in building a robust and accessible euro liquidity layer,” AllUnity’s executive Rupertus Rothenhäuser said, adding:

“We’re enabling seamless euro — dollar trading, empowering institutions and liquidity providers to participate in deep, efficient markets.”

Cointelegraph contacted AllUnity for comment regarding potential conflicts with the EU regulation but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

", "description": "AllUnity is expanding its MiCA-compliant EURAU stablecoin into liquidity pools on DEXs such as Uniswap and Raydium amid ongoing regulatory uncertainty over DeFi.", "published": "2026-04-16T13:47:29+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "euro" }, { "slug": "tether" }, { "slug": "decentralized-exchange" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "uniswap" }, { "slug": "dex" }, { "slug": "mica" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "allunity-mica-regulated-euro-stablecoin-eurau-defi", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262092" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Adam Back says Bitcoin’s post-quantum shift may reveal true Satoshi stash", "leadText": "Back said at Paris Blockchain Week that Bitcoin’s post-quantum shift may reveal the true size of the stash held by Satoshi Nakamoto, estimated at between 500,000 and 1 million BTC.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "

Blockstream CEO Adam Back said Thursday that a future post-quantum migration of Bitcoin could help clarify how many coins linked to Satoshi Nakamoto remain accessible, because any owner wanting to protect vulnerable holdings would need to move them to a new address format.

Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Back said such a migration would likely give users ample time to move funds and argued that coins left unmoved after that process could reasonably be treated as lost.

“This migration to post-quantum address format may tell us how many of those coins [Satoshi] still has,” said Back, adding that the pseudonymous creator has an estimated 500,000 to 1 million Bitcoin (BTC).

Satoshi’s Bitcoin stash has ignited heated debate among Bitcoin holders concerned by the quantum computing threat. On Wednesday, Jameson Lopp and five co-authors published a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal aimed at restricting the future movement of coins held in quantum-vulnerable address formats, including older coins whose public keys have already been exposed.

Adam Back, keynote speech at Paris Blockchain Week in 2026. Source: Cointelegraph

Blockchain data platform Arkham estimates that Nakamoto-linked wallets hold 1.09 million Bitcoin, currently valued at $81.6 billion.

Related: Bernstein says Bitcoin market already priced in quantum risk

Back sees long runway on quantum

Back said Bitcoin developers and holders still have substantial time to prepare, arguing that a quantum breakthrough capable of threatening Bitcoin signatures is at least 20 years away.

He argued that today’s quantum computers are “less powerful than a $5 calculator” and that some of their issues become more pressing as these systems scale, such as their energy consumption.

Back said that runway should give developers and users ample time to develop a post-quantum path and migrate to a new quantum-resistant standard underpinned by hash-based signatures.

Hash-based signature schemes for Bitcoin, research paper. Source: Blockstream Research

In December 2025, Back’s Blockstream Research released a paper proposing a hash-based signature scheme that offers a “promising path for securing Bitcoin in a post-quantum world,” as a quantum-safe replacement for the ECDSA and Schnorr signatures. Under the proposal, security would rely solely on hash function assumptions, similar to the ones currently used in Bitcoin’s network design.

The Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) uses elliptic-curve cryptography to verify the authenticity and integrity of a message. Schnorr signatures are another signature scheme praised for enhancing privacy and reducing data size, due to their ability to combine multiple signatures into one.

Magazine: Bitcoin vs. the quantum computer threat — Timeline and solutions (2025–2035)

", "description": "Bitcoin’s migration to post-quantum wallet standards may reveal the true size of the mysterious stash held by Satoshi Nakamoto, according to Adam Back.", "published": "2026-04-16T13:23:08+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "satoshi-nakamoto" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-wallet" }, { "slug": "developers" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-adoption" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-post-quantum-migration-reveal-satoshi-coins-adam-back", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262087" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Europe’s Bitcoin treasury playbook won’t be a copy of Strategy: PBW 2026", "leadText": "Executives at Paris Blockchain Week said European firms interested in Bitcoin treasury strategies are working around shallower capital markets and tighter constraints than in the US.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "

European companies exploring Bitcoin treasury strategies are unlikely to replicate the playbook pioneered by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, according to industry executives, who pointed to structural differences between US and European capital markets.

Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Thomas Vogel, a partner in the Paris and Frankfurt offices of Latham & Watkins, said the constraints on issuing financial instruments in Europe differ significantly from those in the US, making a direct replication of the model difficult.

“If you issue convertibles in the US, the constraints are not the same as when you issue them out of a French balance sheet or a balance sheet in Europe,” Vogel said, pointing to differences in market depth, regulation and investor behavior.

Alexandre Laizet, who leads Bitcoin (BTC) strategy at France-based treasury firm Capital B, said European firms are instead looking to local market infrastructure, including French public markets and Luxembourg-based structures, to raise capital tied to Bitcoin exposure.

The remarks suggest Europe’s Bitcoin treasury model is likely to evolve as a local adaptation rather than a direct copy of Strategy’s US playbook.

Panel discussion on the Bitcoin treasury model in Paris. Source: Paris Blockchain Week

Europe’s listed holders remain small

A growing number of European public companies now hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, but the market remains fragmented across small and mid-cap names.

According to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net, Germany-based Bitcoin Group SE held 3,605 BTC worth about $268 million at the time of writing, though it has not disclosed its average cost or profit and loss.

Related: EU adviser says ‘MiCA 2’ is likely as crypto market matures: PBW 2026

Capital B held 2,925 BTC at an average cost of $99,932 per Bitcoin, reflecting a roughly 25.6% unrealized loss. In contrast, Sequans Communications, also based in France, held 2,139 BTC, with cost and performance data not disclosed.

Other European names show similar pressure from recent price moves. Netherlands-based Treasury held 1,111 BTC at an average cost of $111,857, representing about a 33.5% unrealized loss, while Sweden’s H100 Group held 1,051 BTC at an average cost of $114,615, with an unrealized loss of around 35.1%

The gap in scale remains significant compared with the US. On Monday, Strategy acquired 13,927 Bitcoin for about $1 billion in a single week, bringing its total holdings to 780,897 BTC.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "At Paris Blockchain Week, executives pointed to French markets and Luxembourg structures as alternatives to US-style Bitcoin funding models.", "published": "2026-04-16T12:55:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "europe" }, { "slug": "paris" }, { "slug": "community" }, { "slug": "microstrategy" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "europe-bitcoin-treasury-model-not-copy-strategy-pbw", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262082" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Circle CEO sees ‘tremendous opportunity’ for yuan stablecoin despite China curbs", "leadText": "Circle’s Jeremy Allaire sees “tremendous” room for a yuan stablecoin, despite China banning most private yuan tokens and pushing its CBDC to challenge US dollar stablecoins.", "author": { "slug": "christina-comben" }, "bodyText": "

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire says there is “tremendous opportunity” for a yuan-backed stablecoin, despite Beijing’s formal moves against most private renminbi-linked stablecoins and commitment to its own digital yuan. 

Speaking to Reuters in Hong Kong on Thursday, Allaire framed stablecoins as a way for China to “export” its currency by making global payments easier, as digital money becomes more tightly woven into trade and finance, and said the country could roll out a yuan-backed stablecoin within three to five years. 

Geopolitical rivalry over money is increasingly being waged in code as much as in central bank policy, and Allaire’s comments sharpen a deeper question: Can governments that clamp down on private digital currencies afford to shun them if they want to compete globally?

China’s crackdown contrasts with growing demand for stablecoins as cross-border payment tools, raising questions about how the yuan will evolve in a tokenized financial system.

In February, the People’s Bank of China and seven other agencies said unauthorized offshore issuance of yuan-pegged stablecoins would be treated as illegal financial activity and said tokenization of domestic real-world assets would face stricter vetting.

Officials framed the move as necessary to protect financial stability, curb capital flight and safeguard monetary sovereignty as Beijing pushes its central bank digital currency, the e-CNY. The decision slams the door on most offshore RMB stablecoins just months after reports that China was studying yuan-backed tokens as a way to boost global usage of its currency.

Related: China’s interest-bearing digital yuan piles pressure on US stablecoin rules

Digital dollars still dominate stablecoins

Allaire’s remarks come as stablecoins are pulled deeper into geopolitics. Circle’s US dollar-backed USDC grew 72% year-on-year in circulation to $75.3 billion by the end of 2025. Allaire told Reuters that “several billion dollars” in additional USDC transactions followed the outbreak of the US-Iran war as users sought portable digital dollars in a crisis. 

Circle’s 2025 fiscal year results. Source: Circle

Outlier Ventures said in a 2025 market report that US dollar-backed stablecoins accounted for 99.8% of all fiat-denominated stablecoins, underlining how heavily the market still relies on digital dollars rather than other national currency-pegged tokens.

China, by contrast, is pursuing a CBDC-first strategy. Authorities have repeatedly reaffirmed their 2021 ban on crypto trading and mining. In November 2025, the central bank warned it would intensify its crackdown on stablecoins, leading to February’s notice banning RMB-linked stablecoin issuance and most RWA tokenization without prior approval, as Beijing promotes the e-CNY as its preferred model for digital yuan adoption.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire says there is “tremendous opportunity” for a yuan‑backed stablecoin within five years, even as China curbs most private yuan stablecoins.", "published": "2026-04-16T12:22:05+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "hong-kong" }, { "slug": "china" }, { "slug": "circle" }, { "slug": "yuan" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "cbdc" }, { "slug": "usd-coin" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "circle-allaire-sees-tremendous-opportunity-yuan-stablecoin", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262067" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "French minister says new measures are coming after crypto kidnappings", "leadText": "Jean-Didier Berger said at Paris Blockchain Week that France is preparing new steps to protect crypto holders as wrench attacks and kidnappings keep mounting.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "

Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the interior minister of France, said authorities are taking measures to protect cryptocurrency investors from the growing threat of crypto kidnappings and wrench attacks in the country.

Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Berger said his office has taken “preventative measures” against crypto wrench attacks, including launching a prevention platform that has drawn thousands of sign-ups. He added that he was working with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on what he described as a more serious plan in the coming weeks.

His comments come days after another reported crypto-linked abduction in France this week, where a mother and her 11-year-old child were reportedly kidnapped in Burgundy on Monday by four suspects who demanded a 400,000 euro ($471,000) ransom from the father, a crypto entrepreneur. Authorities caught the suspects and freed the victims on Tuesday morning, reported news outlet France24, citing the Paris prosecutor’s office.

France has become one of the most prominent centers for so-called wrench attacks, in which victims are threatened or assaulted to force the transfer of digital assets, and the government is now under growing pressure to respond.

Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the Minister of the Interior in France, speaking at Paris Blockchain Week in 2026. Source: Cointelegraph

Wrench attacks see alarming surge in France

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 41 reported crypto-related kidnappings in France, meaning that on average, a similar attack occurred once every 2.5 days in 2026, reported local news outlet RTL on Wednesday.

Wrench attacks increased by 75% in 2025 to 72 verified cases worldwide, according to cybersecurity platform CertiK. France saw the most incidents during 2025, with 19 confirmed wrench attacks, while Europe accounted for roughly 40% of global incidents.

Wrench attacks in 2025, key statistics. Source: CertiK

In another incident, a French couple in their late 50s was robbed of $1 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) by criminals posing as police officers, Cointelegraph reported on March 10.

Related: Suspected insider wallets rack up $1.2M betting on ZachXBT’s Axiom exposé

A month earlier, in February, French police arrested six people over the kidnapping of a magistrate and her mother in a crypto-linked ransom attack targeting the magistrate’s partner, a crypto entrepreneur.

Magazine: Coinbase hack shows the law probably won’t protect you — Here’s why

", "description": "French authorities are working to implement new measures to fight the rise of crypto ransom attacks and kidnappings after 41 reported cases in the country in 2026.", "published": "2026-04-16T11:53:04+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "france" }, { "slug": "cybercrime" }, { "slug": "crimes" }, { "slug": "ransom" }, { "slug": "scams-and-cybercrime" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "french-minister-measures-crypto-wrench-attacks-kidnappings", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262057" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Study finds almost no crypto protocols disclose market-maker terms", "leadText": "A review of over 150 crypto protocols finds fewer than 1% disclose market-making arrangements, revealing a major transparency gap in token trading structures.", "author": { "slug": "amin-haqshanas" }, "bodyText": "

A review of more than 150 major crypto protocols shows that disclosure of market-making arrangements is almost nonexistent, despite their central role in token trading.

The research, conducted by crypto advisory company Novora, found that fewer than 1% of protocols disclose any terms related to market makers. Across the full dataset, only one protocol, decentralized liquidity platform Meteora, was found to have publicly disclosed details of its market-making arrangements, citing the project’s 2025 Annual Token Holder Report.

The study covered leading sectors, including decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, perpetual futures, layer-1 and layer-2 networks, bridges and centralized exchange tokens, with protocols ranging in size from roughly $40 million to $45 billion in fully diluted valuation.

Novora said the protocols were assessed using a binary transparency framework covering disclosure practices and third-party data coverage, with checks against public sources including Artemis, Token Terminal, Dune, DefiLlama and Blockworks Research.

“This is the single most consequential transparency gap in the industry,” Novora founder Connor King wrote on X, saying that such material agreements are routinely disclosed in traditional markets. “In crypto, every market participant operates without this information,” he added.

Disclosure metrics assessed across 150+ protocols. Source: Novora

Related: Polymarket expands into equities and commodities with Pyth price feeds

Crypto’s investor reporting gap

The finding points to a broader investor relations (IR) gap in crypto. Novora said 91% of the protocols it reviewed generated trackable revenue, but only 18% published quarterly updates and just 8% issued token holder reports, suggesting the data exists but is rarely packaged into structured investor communication.

At the same time, third-party analytics infrastructure has matured, with coverage rates exceeding 85% across major platforms, suggesting the underlying data is widely accessible but rarely formalized in reporting.

The state of crypto IR. Source: Novora

Sector-level breakdowns show uneven transparency. Perpetual futures protocols and decentralized exchanges tend to lead on disclosure and value accrual mechanisms, while L1 and infrastructure projects lag despite larger market capitalizations.

Related: US crypto wash trading case reaches court as 3 extradited, 10 charged

Market-maker deals draw scrutiny

Opaque market-maker arrangements have long fueled scrutiny in crypto, especially around token loan structures that critics say can create incentives to dump borrowed tokens into the market. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has even previously charged so-called crypto market makers with price manipulation.

As Cointelegraph reported, some market-maker arrangements are poorly structured and can quickly turn harmful. One widely used arrangement, the “loan option model,” involves projects lending tokens to market makers who then deploy them for liquidity provision and trading activity, often tied to listing agreements.

In practice, critics say this structure can create strong incentives to sell borrowed tokens into the market, triggering price declines that benefit the market maker while leaving early-stage projects with weakened liquidity and damaged token performance.

Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘biggest bull catalyst’ would be Saylor’s liquidation — Santiment founder

", "description": "A Novora study of 150 crypto protocols shows less than 1% disclose market-maker terms, with Meteora as the only exception, underscoring a major transparency gap in token markets.", "published": "2026-04-16T10:58:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "transparency" }, { "slug": "tokens" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "layer2" } ], "slug": "crypto-market-maker-disclosure-study-novora-report", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262037" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "South Korea to pilot tokenized deposits for government spending", "leadText": "The sandbox will test preset spending limits, timing controls and category restrictions for public sector expense payments.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "

South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) is preparing to test blockchain-based payments for certain government expenses under a regulatory sandbox exploring distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based financial infrastructure.

The ministry said on Thursday that it selected a pilot project that will use tokenized deposits to execute government operational spending, with a full rollout targeting the fourth quarter of 2026. The program will initially launch in Sejong City and will test predefined spending conditions, including limits on timing and usage categories. 

Tokenized deposits are digital representations of traditional bank deposits on blockchain or other DLT infrastructure. Unlike many stablecoins, they remain bank liabilities and are designed to operate within the existing financial system.

The pilot would move South Korea’s deposit-token experiment beyond subsidies and into day-to-day public spending, offering an early test of whether programmable bank-backed money can make government payments more traceable and harder to misuse.

Sandbox to define scope, test limits of tokenized payments

As part of the sandbox, the ministry will work with participating institutions to define the scope of the trial, with plans to expand the model and consider related legal and regulatory changes based on the results, according to the MOEF announcement. 

The initiative will focus on government operational expenses, which are currently processed through government-issued credit and debit cards managed through post-use reporting, the ministry said. 

Related: South Korea says API crypto trading now makes up 30% of market: Report

Under the pilot, spending parameters such as time windows and permitted categories will be predefined, allowing authorities to test whether tokenized deposits can improve oversight and reduce misuse of funds. 

The sandbox approval also enables the use of tokenized deposits for fund execution despite existing rules that require such expenses to be processed through government cards.

According to the ministry, the trial will serve as a basis for evaluating new payment and settlement methods, with potential implications for broader fiscal operations if the model proves viable. 

Related: Bank of Korea floats crypto ‘circuit breakers’ after Bithumb blunder

The move follows South Korea’s earlier decision to use tokenized deposits for electric vehicle charging infrastructure subsidies, a pilot announced on March 19 with the Environment Ministry and Bank of Korea. 

At the time, MOEF said it aimed to convert one-quarter of treasury fund execution to digital currency by 2030, suggesting the new operational-spending pilot is part of a broader effort to expand tokenized payment rails in public finance.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "South Korea plans a Sejong pilot in Q4 2026 as officials weigh broader legal changes tied to tokenized public fund disbursement.", "published": "2026-04-16T09:50:58+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "asia" }, { "slug": "government" }, { "slug": "south-korea" }, { "slug": "tokens" }, { "slug": "tokenization" }, { "slug": "rwa-tokenization" } ], "slug": "south-korea-pilot-tokenized-deposits-government-spending", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "262007" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "US should scrap crypto capital gains tax to fuel currency competition: Cato", "leadText": "Crypto users in the US are required to pay capital gains taxes on cryptocurrencies, stifling their usefulness as a currency, argued a Washington DC-based think tank.", "author": { "slug": "stephen-katte" }, "bodyText": "

Cato Institute, a US-based think tank, argued that the government should remove capital gains taxes on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to open the door for more currency competition.

The capital gains tax (CGT) is discouraging the use of alternative currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) as it incentivizes long-term holding and adds extra burdens to reporting requirements, Nicholas Anthony, a policy scholar and research fellow at the Cato Institute, said in a report on Wednesday.

He said the simplest option is to end capital gains taxes completely; however, another option could be removing them on crypto and foreign currency use to “take the government’s thumb off the scale and let competition be the true decider of the best money.”

“Bitcoiners know the frustration of tax season all too well. It’s never been easier to use Bitcoin as money,” he said. “Yet, at the same time, the tax code puts an incredible burden on law-abiding citizens. Something as simple as buying a cup of coffee every day with Bitcoin can result in more than 100 pages of tax filings.”  

The Cato Institute is a US public policy think tank that tries to influence policy through research and reports. Its members have testified before lawmakers advocating for crypto in the past.

Imagine every swipe of your card turning into a tax form.

That’s what happens when spending Bitcoin.

If you buy a coffee with Bitcoin, the government makes you pay capital gains taxes on top of sales taxes.

Spending Bitcoin daily can turn into 70 pages in tax filings. pic.twitter.com/4At19JCFey

— Nick Anthony (@EconWithNick) April 15, 2026
\n\n\n

No capital gains tax could create a more competitive economy

Using crypto to pay for goods and services can trigger a taxable event in some cases because it falls into the same broad category as stocks, real estate, and other capital assets, according to investment management firm VanEck.

Anthony argued another solution could be to remove CGT just for purchases of goods or services, but also warns it “risks creating its own compliance nightmare if people are required to prove the transactions. That’s better than being taxed, but the process would still be taxing.”

He also pointed to a de minimis tax as another possible avenue, where CGT is not triggered unless a specific threshold is met.

Related: Iran conflict hints Bitcoin’s addressable market could exceed gold: Bitwise

“The only thing worse than getting robbed would be having the robber demand endless forms about the money they are taking from you. Taxes are no different,” Anthony said.

“Congress should simplify the tax code so the average American can do what’s required with ease. Doing so would go a long way toward easing Americans’ stress each tax season and creating a more competitive economy.”

A 2025 National Cryptocurrency Association survey found that 39% of US crypto holders reported using crypto to purchase goods and services.

Meanwhile, the academic publishing company Springer Nature identified about 11,000 merchants worldwide using BTC Map data that currently accept Bitcoin as payment.

Magazine: Bitcoin quantum-safe without upgrade? CZ’s 2031 crypto vision: Hodler’s Digest

", "description": "A Cato Institute scholar says the US should eliminate capital gains taxes on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to encourage currency competition and foster a more competitive economy.", "published": "2026-04-16T07:30:37+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "taxes" }, { "slug": "business" }, { "slug": "adoption" }, { "slug": "united-states" } ], "slug": "congress-remove-bitcoin-capital-gains-tax-currency-competition-cato", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261992" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Trump’s World Liberty under fire for ‘absurd’ token unlock plan", "leadText": "Major World Liberty Financial investor Justin Sun called a plan to lock tokens for up to four years “the most absurd governance scams I have ever seen.”", "author": { "slug": "jesse-coghlan" }, "bodyText": "

The Trump family’s crypto platform, World Liberty Financial, is facing backlash over a new proposal to lock up tokens purchased by early investors for up to four years, or in some cases, indefinitely.

World Liberty posted the proposal to its governance forum on Wednesday, which outlined that early investors would have their World Liberty Financial (WLFI) tokens locked for a further two years before their tokens would be released in batches over the following two years.

According to the proposal, tokenholders who do not accept the new unlock schedule would “continue to have their tokens locked indefinitely.”

The proposal saw wide opposition, with crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, one of the platform’s advisers and its biggest investor, posting to X on Wednesday that the plan was “one of the most absurd governance scams I have ever seen.”

Source: Justin Sun

Sun, who said he holds a 4% stake in World Liberty that is currently frozen, has recently made a series of public criticisms against the platform, taking issue with a separate proposal and accusing it of having controls to blacklist wallets, which World Liberty denied.

Other critics of the proposal included Simon Dedic, the founder of venture firm Moonrock Capital, who posted to X that early WLFI investors “who thought they were sitting on solid profits just got rugged.”

“This essentially gives them another shot at squeezing the same lemon they’ve been inflating with hot air for the past two years. Which, what a surprise, lines up perfectly with the remainder of [Donald Trump’s] term,” he added.

World Liberty Financial did not respond to questions about the backlash, but spokesman David Wachsman told Cointelegraph in an emailed statement that the proposal “was designed to further align all the participants in the WLFI ecosystem for the long run.”

Related: WLFI may drop 20% as World Liberty Financial faces 'LUNA 2.0' allegations

Sun’s specific criticisms centered on the plan to indefinitely lock the tokens of those who disagreed with the proposal, accusing the platform of “coercion.”

He also took issue with being “forced out of this voting process” due to World Liberty’s freeze of his tokens and claimed that a “large number of holders with significant voting rights are in the same position.”

Wachsman added that voting on the proposal would begin soon and would run for a week.

The price of the WLFI token has traded flat at 8 cents over the past 24 hours but is down by more than 40% so far this year, alongside a wider retraction in the crypto and share markets.

WLFI has fallen more than 75% since its all-time high of 33 cents on Sept. 1, the token's first day of public trading after holders voted to allow trading on the originally non-tradable token.

Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

", "description": "Investors in the Trump-founded World Liberty Financial have criticized the platform over a proposal to lock up early investor tokens for up to an additional four years.", "published": "2026-04-16T07:04:51+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "donald-trump" }, { "slug": "tokens" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "trump-world-liberty-under-fire-token-unlock-plan", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261987" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin fund overtakes WisdomTree after 6 trading days", "leadText": "The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust is also within striking distance of overtaking three other US spot Bitcoin ETFs that launched in January 2024.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "

Morgan Stanley’s new spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund has just surpassed the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (WBTC) in total net inflows, despite launching just over a week ago. 

The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) added $19.3 million of investor inflows on Wednesday, bringing its total net inflow to $103 million.

The figure has now passed WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund’s (WBTC) total net inflow of $86 million, which it had been accumulating since launching in January 2024, Farside Investors data shows. 

More asset managers are looking to push into the growing Bitcoin ETF space. On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs, a former crypto critic, filed with the SEC to launch its own Bitcoin-linked ETF. 

Flow data for the US spot Bitcoin ETFs since March 30. Source: Farside Investors

The Morgan Stanley spot Bitcoin ETF product launched on April 8 at a market-low fee of 0.14%, undercutting the Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) by one basis point. 

It joined 11 other spot Bitcoin ETFs, including BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) — the current market leader with $64.3 billion in net inflows and the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund at $10.9 billion.

MSBT’s other competitors include Bitcoin ETFs issued by Bitwise, ARK 21Shares and Grayscale.

Continuing momentum could also see Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF surpass Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO), Valkyrie Bitcoin ETF (BRRR) and the Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC), which have accumulated net inflows of $245 million, $326 million and $375 million, respectively. 

The average lifespan of ETFs is shrinking

A Bloomberg report from April 2 found that the average lifespan of ETFs fell from 4.66 years in 2024 to about 3.5 years in 2025.

Over 40 ETFs have also been liquidated in the first two months of 2026, though none of those include any notable crypto ETFs. 

Related: Bitcoin ETFs could eventually be larger than gold ETFs: Analyst

The ETFs that were liquidated across the first two months of 2026 had an average lifespan of 21 months, half that of the ETFs that were liquidated in 2025.

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart predicted in December that many crypto exchange-traded products would be liquidated by the end of 2027 due to a lack of demand.

At the time, over 126 ETP applications were awaiting an outcome from the SEC.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust’s inflow of $19.3 million on Thursday pushed it past the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund by total net flows despite launching just six trading days ago.", "published": "2026-04-16T07:02:21+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bloomberg" }, { "slug": "morgan-stanley" }, { "slug": "data" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-etf" }, { "slug": "etf" } ], "slug": "morgan-stanley-bitcoin-etf-sees-sixth-straight-inflow", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261982" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "China already has compute to train its own Mythos-like AI: Nvidia CEO", "leadText": "The amount of capacity and the type of compute it was trained on is “abundantly available in China,” said the Nvidia CEO.", "author": { "slug": "martin-young" }, "bodyText": "

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned that China already has the computing power and data center capacity necessary to train an AI model at the same level as Anthropic’s AI model Claude Mythos, which could threaten global cybersecurity.

Huang was asked in an interview on the Dwarkesh Patel podcast on Wednesday whether the Chinese government’s access to chips to train a model like Claude Mythos — which has cyberoffensive capabilities — could be a threat to US national security.

Mythos was trained on a “fairly mundane capacity,” Huang said. 

“The amount of capacity and the type of compute it was trained on is abundantly available in China, so you just have to first realize that chips exist in China.”

Anthropic limited access to its new AI model in April after it identified thousands of software vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers, raising concerns about potential misuse in cyberattacks. A Chinese-made AI model with the same capability could wreak havoc if misused. 

Huang said that the amount of compute China has is “enormous.” 

“They have datacenters that are sitting completely empty, fully powered. You know, they have ghost cities, they have ghost datacenters too. They have so much infrastructure capacity. If they wanted to, they [could] just gang up more chips.”
Jensen Huang speaking on China’s AI capacity. Source: Dwarkesh Patel

A call for dialogue, not conflict

Huang added that China manufactures 60% of the world’s mainstream chips, has some of the best computer scientists, has 50% of the world’s AI researchers and an abundance of energy. 

“Victimizing them, turning them into an enemy, likely isn’t the best answer,” he said. “They are an adversary.”

“We want the United States to win. But I think having a dialogue and having research dialogue is probably the safest thing to do.”

Related: Anthropic limits access to AI model over cyberattack concerns

On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed Mythos as a revolutionary step that will keep America ahead of China in the AI race. “This Anthropic Mythos model was a step function change in abilities, learning capabilities,” he said, according to Bloomberg. 

Claude Mythos poses a real threat 

Anthropic released findings on Claude Mythos Preview on April 7, sparking concern that the model could be used in cyberattacks due to its ability to discover and potentially exploit zero-day vulnerabilities. The company also claimed that 99% of the vulnerabilities the model discovered have not been patched yet.

Meanwhile, the AI Security Institute (AISI) evaluated Mythos on Monday, finding that the AI model could  “execute multi-stage attacks on vulnerable networks and discover and exploit vulnerabilities autonomously,” tasks that would take human professionals days of work.

AI-boosted hacks with Mythos could also have dire consequences for banks, which often use decades-old software, Reuters reported on Tuesday. 

Last year, Anthropic reported in November that a “Chinese state-sponsored group” manipulated its Claude Code tool in an attempt to infiltrate about 30 global targets and succeeded in a small number of cases.

Magazine: How AI just dramatically sped up the quantum risk for Bitcoin

", "description": "Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says China has the computing power and empty data centers needed to build AI models like Anthropic’s Claude Mythos.", "published": "2026-04-16T06:53:02+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "nvidia" }, { "slug": "china" }, { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "cybersecurity" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "china-has-compute-train-its-own-mythos-ai-nvidia-ceo", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261977" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Tech stocks push Nasdaq, S&P 500 to record highs as Bitcoin taps $75K ", "leadText": "Tech stocks helped drive the Nasdaq to 24,016 and the S&P 500 to 7,022 as Bitcoin climbed nearly 10% over the past two weeks. ", "author": { "slug": "brian-quarmby" }, "bodyText": "

US equities and tech stocks gained on Wednesday as investors looked optimistically to a de-escalation of the US-Iran war, while the price of Bitcoin tapped $75,000 amid broader positive momentum across the crypto market.

According to data from Yahoo Finance, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite hit a new all-time high of 24,016.02 on Wednesday, closing the trading day with a 1.59% gain, while the S&P 500 tagged its own record high of 7,022.95 after notching a slight gain of 0.8%.

The indexes' performance on the day was led by a 2.08% gain in tech stocks overall. Meanwhile, Bitcoin hit $75,229 on Wednesday, rising 1.07% over the past 24 hours and continuing recent positive momentum that has seen BTC climb nearly 10% over the past two weeks.

The tech and crypto gains come amid suggestions from the White House that US-Iran conflict may be coming to an end. President Donald Trump told Fox Business on Wednesday that he views the war as \"very close to being over.\"

BTC’s 24-hour price performance. Source: TradingView 

Trump, however, indicated that this still depends on whether a deal can be struck between the two nations.

\"If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we're not finished,\" he said, adding, \"We'll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly.\"

Related: Ether open interest sees 26% increase as markets rally: Are traders into ETH again?

Commenting on the S&P 500’s recent gains, Fundstrat's chief investment officer, Tom Lee, said there's more room for growth in the near term, arguing that some investors remain parked on the sidelines as they wait to see how the conflict develops.

Speaking with CNBC's \"Closing Bell\" on Wednesday, Lee argued that the US stock market and economy have been performing well enough despite the Middle East conflict, and added in a post on X that \"stocks bottom on bad news,” not good news.

However, Lee said he expects the next leg of the rally to be led by crypto assets such as Bitcoin and Ether, along with the Magnificent Seven tech stocks and the broader software sector.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "The Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed at record highs on Wednesday as tech stocks rallied, while Bitcoin climbed above $75,200 as the White House signaled the US-Iran conflict may be ending.", "published": "2026-04-16T05:54:52+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "us-government" }, { "slug": "stocks" }, { "slug": "donald-trump" } ], "slug": "tech-stocks-push-nasdaq-sp500-record-highs-as-bitcoin-taps-75k", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261967" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "CFTC probes oil futures trades tied to Trump's moves in Iran: Report", "leadText": "The CFTC is investigating trades that took place before the US delayed strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure on March 23 and agreed to a ceasefire with Iran on April 7.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is reportedly investigating suspicious oil trades that were placed ahead of certain announcements made by the Trump administration relating to the Iran war.

According to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday, the CFTC’s probe focuses on trading activity on CME Group’s NYMEX and the Intercontinental Exchange’s futures platforms. 

The regulator is also requesting “Tag 50” identity data from exchanges to assist with the investigation. Tag 50 data is widely used for auditing and regulatory compliance checks.

The investigation into the futures trading platforms comes in parallel with the rising scrutiny of insider trading in prediction markets. 

Bloomberg said the CFTC is reviewing at least two instances over a two-week period in which oil trading volumes surged shortly before the Trump administration made announcements related to the Iran war.

The first of those occurred on March 23, when billions of dollars in futures traded about 15 minutes before US President Donald Trump postponed plans to strike Iranian energy infrastructure.

The second instance occurred around two weeks later, on April 7, when Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on Iran, Bloomberg said.

The trading spikes contributed to falling oil prices and rising equity prices.

“There’s enormous appetite to pursue cases like this,” said Brian Young, a partner at law firm Jones Day who previously served as director of the CFTC’s enforcement division.

“After all, prices at the pump closely correlate to oil futures contracts, so we’re talking about American pocketbooks at stake here.”

Action to stop insiders in prediction markets

On March 31, the CFTC’s current enforcement director, David Miller, warned that they are keeping a close eye on prediction market insider traders and that they will face action when caught.

“There’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insider trading doesn’t apply in the prediction markets … That is wrong.”

Related: Kalshi to create ‘portal for parents‘ on prediction markets: Report 

Mounting pressure from Democratic lawmakers on prediction markets has also seen both Kalshi and Polymarket introducing new rules to stamp out insider trading.

The Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 was also introduced in late March to curb insider trading by government officials.

Magazine: Should users be allowed to bet on war and death in prediction markets?

", "description": "The US commodities regulator is investigating suspicious oil futures trades that were made ahead of two US announcements regarding the war in Iran.", "published": "2026-04-16T05:38:03+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cftc" }, { "slug": "futures" }, { "slug": "trading" }, { "slug": "oil-and-gas" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "polymarket" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "cftc-probes-oil-futures-trades-ahead-trump-iran-moves", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261962" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "BitMEX pitches ‘canary fund’ alternative to Bitcoin quantum coin freeze", "leadText": "It may be appropriate to attempt to mitigate the extent of the freeze as much as possible, even at the cost of greater complexity, said BitMEX.", "author": { "slug": "martin-young" }, "bodyText": "

BitMEX Research has proposed an alternative to freezing quantum-vulnerable dormant Bitcoins, advocating a wait-and-see approach and a “canary fund” with a quantum bounty instead. 

BitMEX Research proposed a soft fork on Thursday that would only activate a full freeze of vulnerable coins if it is “proven that a quantum computer capable of stealing Bitcoins actually exists.”

The system uses a “canary approach,” creating a special Bitcoin (BTC) address using a “Nothing-Up-My-Sleeve Number” (NUMS). This is a cryptographic proof in which the private key is unknown, but it is a valid address that could theoretically be spent by a powerful enough quantum computer.

Users can donate BTC to this address as a bounty, incentivizing any quantum-capable actor to “ring the alarm” by spending from it. Only if someone spends from this canary address does the freeze automatically activate, as it proves the quantum threat is real. 

The solution provides an alternative mechanism to the BIP-361 proposal on Tuesday that suggested freezing dormant, quantum-vulnerable Bitcoin to prevent it from being stolen by bad actors in the future. 

BIP-361 drew significant community pushback, with some comments calling it “authoritarian” and “confiscatory.”

Canary watch state prevents automatic freeze

BitMEX’s proposed “canary watch state” would still allow old coins to be spent, provided malicious actors using quantum computers do not attempt to steal from the “canary fund.” 

Investors participating in the canary fund can use multisignatures and withdraw their BTC at any time, it explained. 

There is also a safety window where quantum-vulnerable transactions could still be allowed after the five-year mark proposed in BIP-361, but with outputs locked for a period. 

Related: Bitcoiners propose freezing quantum-vulnerable coins in BIP-361

“While this approach adds complexity and risk, given how controversial any coin freeze is, mitigating the impact of the freeze using this type of system may be worth consideration.”

BIP-361 is a rough idea for a contingency plan

Meanwhile, BIP-361 co-author Jameson Lopp has said his Bitcoin improvement proposal was more of a “rough idea for a contingency plan” than something ready to be proposed for activation. 

“I know folks don’t like it. I don’t like it myself. I wrote it because I like the alternative even less,” he wrote on X on Wednesday. 

He told Cointelegraph that it was a “rough sketch” to approach the issue of a “looming circulating supply shock” if quantum computing advances to the point that a post-quantum signature scheme achieves consensus for being added to Bitcoin.

Proposed three-phase solution in BIP-361. Source: GitHub

Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum-secure cryptography will even work

", "description": "BitMEX Research proposed a quantum canary fund for Bitcoin that triggers a coin freeze only if a quantum threat is proven real.", "published": "2026-04-16T04:56:48+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitmex" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" } ], "slug": "bitmex-pitches-bitcoin-canary-fund-instead-of-quantum-coin-freeze", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261952" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin hits ‘near-term selling pressure’ after rally to $76K: CryptoQuant", "leadText": "CryptoQuant says Bitcoin could be reaching a temporary ceiling after hitting a multi-month top of $76,000 on Wednesday, with investors moving Bitcoin in bulk to exchanges.", "author": { "slug": "jesse-coghlan" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin deposits to crypto exchanges surged on Tuesday as it rallied above $76,000, suggesting it is hitting “near-term selling pressure” as investors move their coins into a position for sale, according to CryptoQuant.

In a report on Wednesday, CryptoQuant said the size and rate of Bitcoin (BTC) inflows to exchanges have increased since the rally, with hourly inflows spiking to 11,000 BTC, the highest since December.

CryptoQuant said it is a “historically reliable warning signal of near-term selling pressure, as holders move coins to exchanges in preparation for potential distribution at key resistance zones.”

It added that the average deposit size also increased to 2.25 BTC, the highest since July 2024, and similar to January, when average deposits peaked at 2 BTC before the price nearly halved from $100,000 to $60,000.

Crypto investors have been hoping for a Bitcoin rally as the war in Iran appears to be de-escalating. However, a large shift of Bitcoin into crypto exchanges could suggest any rally would be short-lived. 

TradingView shows Bitcoin hit $76,052 on Coinbase on Tuesday, securing its highest price since early February. 

However, CryptoQuant said that as Bitcoin nears its $76,800 realized price, it will act “as a ceiling for relief rallies,” and traders who are nearing breakeven on their holdings will be “incentivized to sell, capping further upside.”

It added that Bitcoin’s rally in January was capped as it hit its realized price at the time, which caused prices to reverse, and “the same dynamic may repeat if selling pressure builds from current levels.”

Bitcoin is nearing its realized price (purple line), with a lower band at $67,600 serving as near-term support. Source: CryptoQuant

Related: Ether open interest sees 26% increase as markets rally: Are traders into ETH again?

However, CryptoQuant said that profit-taking is “still in its early stages” as daily realized profits hover at $500 million, below the threshold of $1 billion that has “historically coincided with, or slightly preceded, local price tops.”

Daily realized profits could move above the $1 billion mark if Bitcoin rallies above $76,000 or moves toward the $76,800 realized price, CryptoQuant said, adding that could bring greater selling pressure and increase the likelihood of a stall or reversal.

Magazine: Bitcoin may take 7 years to upgrade to post-quantum — BIP-360 co-author

", "description": "Bitcoin could soon meet resistance as inflows to exchanges surge while Bitcoin hit a multi-month high of $76,000.", "published": "2026-04-16T04:42:37+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-near-term-selling-pressure-after-rally-76k-cryptoquant", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261947" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin should prepare now, even if quantum is 'lab experiment,’ Adam Back says", "leadText": "Back said the safest approach is to build optional upgrades that would allow Bitcoin to migrate to quantum-resistant cryptography once it's needed.", "author": { "slug": "brayden-lindrea" }, "bodyText": "

Blockstream CEO Adam Back, an early pioneer of the crypto movement, said Bitcoiners should be looking at building quantum-resistant solutions now, even if the threat is still decades away. 

“Quantum computing still has a lot to prove. Current systems are essentially lab experiments. I’ve followed the field for over 25 years, and progress has been incremental,” Back said at Paris Blockchain Week on Tuesday.

“That said, Bitcoin should prepare,” Back said, adding that the “safest approach” is to build optional upgrades that allow migration to quantum-resistant cryptography if needed.

Concerns that quantum computers could eventually break blockchain cryptography have fueled industry-wide fear that bad actors could use it to break into crypto wallets, plunging the market into chaos. 

Source: Cointelegraph

Back said in November that the quantum threat is still 20 to 40 years away, while explaining to Bloomberg earlier this month that today’s quantum computers are slower than calculators.

Despite this, his Bitcoin development company, Blockstream, has a dedicated quantum team researching potential threat vectors to the Bitcoin network.

Part of that work has involved implementing hash-based signatures on Blockstream’s Bitcoin layer-2 Liquid Network, Back said at Paris Blockchain Week. 

“Preparation is key. Making changes in a controlled way is far safer than reacting in a crisis.”

He added that the Taproot protocol could also support alternative signature schemes on the Bitcoin network without affecting current users. 

Quantum computing threat may be closer than it appears

Still, last month, Google and California Institute of Technology researchers said functional quantum computers could come sooner than expected and that far less computing power is needed to break cryptography than previously thought.

Google went as far as to say that quantum computers could potentially break Bitcoin’s cryptography as quickly as nine minutes, allowing hackers to perform an “on-spend” attack.

Asked what would happen if the quantum threat arrives sooner than anticipated, Back said Bitcoin developers would “act quickly.”

“We’ve seen that before — bugs have been identified and fixed within hours. When something becomes urgent, it focuses attention and drives consensus.”

Quantum proposal to freeze old Bitcoin met with backlash

On Tuesday, Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp and five other crypto security researchers introduced a proposal to freeze quantum-vulnerable Bitcoin — including Satoshi Nakamoto’s $81.9 billion stash — to prevent them from being stolen once quantum computers become functional.

Related: Bitcoiners propose freezing quantum-vulnerable coins in BIP-361

The proposal drew sharp criticism from several members of the Bitcoin community, including developer and researcher Mark Erhardt, who described it as “authoritarian and confiscatory.”

Phil Geiger, head of business development at Metaplanet, said: “We have to steal people’s money to prevent their money from being stolen.”

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "Bitcoin OG Adam Back says quantum computing has a “lot to prove” before becoming a legitimate threat to Bitcoin, though Bitcoiners should still prepare for it now.", "published": "2026-04-16T02:14:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "conference" }, { "slug": "adam-back" }, { "slug": "quantum-computing" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "bitcoiners-should-prepare-quantum-now-adam-back", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261942" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Ether open interest sees 26% increase as markets rally: Are traders into ETH again?", "leadText": "Institutional investors are buying Ether again, but a handful of factors could slow market momentum and negatively impact ETH’s rally.", "author": { "slug": "marcel-pechman" }, "bodyText": "

Key takeaways:

Ether (ETH) price managed to sustain above $2,300 on Wednesday, distancing itself from the $1,940 lows seen on March 29. The recent rally has caused ETH futures open interest to reach $25.4 billion, indicating increased demand for leveraged positions. The movement suggests a potential turn in momentum for ETH bulls after 10 weeks of failed attempts to reclaim the $2,400 level.

ETH futures aggregate open interest, USD. Source: CoinGlass

To determine whether the shift in positioning is driven by bulls, one must assess the ETH futures funding rate. The ETH perpetual futures funding rate has failed to hold above 5% since Friday, indicating a lack of confidence among bulls. 

ETH perpetual futures annualized funding rate. Source: Laevitas

The metric has dipped below 0% multiple times, indicating excess demand for bearish leveraged positions. Under neutral conditions, the indicator should range between 5% and 10% to compensate for the cost of capital.

Still, one could argue that such data reinforces that Ether’s recent rally to $2,350 has been sustained by spot demand.

ETH spot ETF daily net flows, USD. Source: SoSoValue

US-listed Ether spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accumulated $248 million in net inflows over the past 10 days, validating the thesis of healthy spot-driven Ether bullish momentum. In parallel, the digital asset treasury company Bitmine Immersion (BMNR US) announced the acquisition of $312 million worth of ETH. Bitmine now holds 4.87 million ETH, equivalent to $11.46 billion.

While institutional accumulation is generally a positive sign, Bitmine’s ETH holdings are trading 13% below their acquisition cost, according to CoinGecko data. Similarly, US-listed Ether ETF assets under management stood at $13.7 billion on Wednesday, down from $20.5 billion three months prior. Ether’s failure to reclaim $2,400 also happened as the S&P 500 index jumped to a new all-time high on Wednesday.

Weak Ethereum network activity, increased competition 

Part of investors’ reduced appetite for cryptocurrencies can be pinned to the declining activity in decentralized applications (DApps). Almost every corner of the cryptocurrency industry has been negatively impacted by the 2026 bear market, including memecoin token launch platforms, synthetic derivatives trading, collateralized lending, digital collectibles, decentralized exchanges and cross chain bridges.

The few positive highlights, including prediction markets and real-world assets, had no impact on Ethereum network activity. Investors are starting to question whether ETH is well-positioned to capture an eventual surge in demand for DApps, given the emergence of competing blockchains focused on solving specific issues, such as Hyperliquid and Plasma.

Ethereum weekly DApps revenue, USD. Source: DefiLlama

Related: ETH/BTC ratio hits 10-week high as Ether outpaces Bitcoin–Are new price highs next?

Ethereum’s weekly DApps revenue has plummeted to $11 million per week, down from $24 million in early February. The primary reason for investors to accumulate ETH is the expectation of higher onchain processing demand and the subsequent burn mechanism, which creates incentives for long-term holding. 

Despite the increased demand for ETH futures, derivatives metrics failed to flip bullish. Among the potential causes are the losses in Ethereum strategic reserve companies and increased competition in the DApps industry.


", "description": "ETH’s rally may stall if network activity fails to increase, but bulls’ return to the futures market is the first step in a longer-term price recovery.", "published": "2026-04-15T23:15:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "funding" }, { "slug": "dapps" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "leverage" }, { "slug": "tom-lee" }, { "slug": "futures" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "ether-open-interest-sees-26percent-increase-as-markets-rally-are-traders-into-eth-again", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "261932" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Crypto PAC Fellowship discloses $11M from Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital", "leadText": "The committee, led by Tether’s head of government affairs, reported spending $3 million on advertising through a company co-founded by Tether US CEO Bo Hines.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "

The latest filing by the crypto-aligned political action committee (PAC) headed by stablecoin issuer Tether’s head of government affairs shows $11 million in contributions from financial institutions.

In a Wednesday filing with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC), the Fellowship PAC revealed it had received $10 million from financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and $1 million from Anchor Labs, the company behind the crypto bank Anchorage Digital. The January 2026 contributions came amid $3 million in spending by the PAC for “issue advocacy advertising” with the Nxum Group, a marketing company co-founded by former White House crypto adviser and Tether US CEO Bo Hines.

Source: FEC

Despite the significant contributions from Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage, Fellowship initially claimed to have “over $100 million” from undisclosed backers aligned with the crypto industry at its launch in September. FEC filings showed no receipts over $200 between Aug. 7, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025, but did not necessarily include any contributions after March 31.

The 2024 US election season saw crypto-backed PACs spend hundreds of millions of dollars on media to support candidates they considered “pro-crypto” and to oppose those marked as “anti-crypto” by many in the industry. With party control of the US Congress hanging in the balance this year, PAC spending like Fellowship’s signals that the crypto industry could try to repeat their successes of 2024.

Related: US midterm election mirrors 2024 as crypto PACs move into Ohio races

In addition to its $3 million in advertising costs, the PAC reported in April that it had spent $1.5 million in media buys supporting Republican candidates in Georgia's 14th Congressional District and candidates in US Senate races in Nebraska and Kentucky. Those three US states are scheduled to hold party primaries in May.

PAC’s ties to the crypto industry

Mitchell Nobel, listed as the PAC’s treasurer, has also been Cantor Fitzgerald's director of digital asset strategy and policy since August 2025, roughly the same time Fellowship filed its statement of organization with the FEC.

Anchorage announced in March that it would be joining Chainlink to support the launch of the Blockchain Leadership Fund, a hybrid PAC that allows contributions directly to candidates as well as independent expenditures. An Anchorage spokesperson told Cointelegraph at the time that the company would make a “meaningful contribution” to be disclosed with the FEC, but no filing was public as of Wednesday.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "The PAC that claimed to have “over $100 million” at its launch in September disclosed $11 million in combined contributions from Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital.", "published": "2026-04-15T22:52:26+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "politics" }, { "slug": "banks" }, { "slug": "funding" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "elections" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "crypto-pac-fellowship-discloses-11m-from-cantor-fitzgerald-and-anchorage-digital", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261937" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin traders cash out 63K BTC profit as price rallied above $76K: Will the market rebound?", "leadText": "Short-term Bitcoin traders took profit on 63,000 BTC over the past 24-hours. Will profit-taking continue to stall the rally?", "author": { "slug": "biraajmaan-tamuly" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin’s (BTC) rally stalled above $76,000 stalled on Tuesday after short-term profit-taking by traders reached its highest level in 2026. 

The activity coincided with continued accumulation by long-term holders, and this opposing interaction between the two cohorts may continue to impact Bitcoin’s attempts to break into the $80,000 range.

Bitcoin profit-taking meets whale demand

New Bitcoin short-term holders moved their holdings as BTC in profit sent to exchanges reached 63,000 BTC on April 14, the highest level in 2026, since the 44,800 spike on Jan. 14.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
BTC short-term holder P&L to exchanges in 24-hours. Source: CryptoQuant

Onchain data shows that the one-day-to-one-week cohort moved nearly 2,000 BTC back to Binance during the same time. This implied that freshly acquired coins are rotating into sell-side liquidity as BTC traded near $76,000.

Crypto analyst Amr Taha flagged this as the first clear wave of profit-taking after the retest of the monthly highs. The activity aligns with cautious distribution, in which newer participants seek to secure gains at key resistance levels during a bear market.

Taha noted that this indicates a natural cooling phase in momentum.

Meanwhile, BTC whale behavior shows a different pattern. Market analyst CW noted a single-day inflow of over 71,000 BTC into accumulation addresses, the largest bullish inflow since early 2022. The large holders appear to be absorbing available supply from the short-term sellers. 

\"Cryptocurrencies,
BTC inflows to accumulation addresses. Source: CryptoQuant

The relationship between these flows points to a transfer of coins from weaker hands to stronger ones, which may stabilize the price while limiting an immediate rally.

Related: Bitcoin ETFs post $412M in inflows as Goldman Sachs files for BTC ETF

Bitcoin liquidity cluster may lead to a small dip

After forming equal highs near $76,000, BTC’s price rejected near the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA), marking the first test of this trend since Jan. 14. The momentum slowed after the rejection, with price slipping to $73,500.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
BTC/USDT on the one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

However, on the lower time frame, the bullish trend remains intact. 

On the one-hour chart, internal liquidity levels are resting around $73,000 and $72,000. These zones may attract bid orders that may get filled before a trend continuation.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
BTC/USDT on the one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The liquidation heatmap provides additional context, with $1.4 billion in cumulative long liquidations clustered around $73,000. That figure rises to $3.5 billion in long positions at risk near $70,500.

At the opposite end, a move toward $80,000 would expose $2 billion in leveraged short positions. The spread between the long and short liquidation zones suggests BTC may retest the $72,000 to $70,000 range before moving higher. 

\"Cryptocurrencies,
Bitcoin exchange liquidation map. Source: CoinGlass

Related: Bitcoin shows ‘bull market behavior’ as chart pattern targets $90K

", "description": "Bitcoin briefly reversed course at $76,000 as short-term holders closed their in-the-money positions. As the market absorbs the supply, data predicts a quick rebound.", "published": "2026-04-15T22:17:06+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "binance" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "whale" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-traders-cash-out-63k-btc-profits-as-price-rallied-above-dollar76k", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Price Analysis" } ] }, "id": "261927" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitnomial launches Injective futures in US, with eyes on ETF eligibility", "leadText": "The contracts mark Injective’s first entry into US-regulated derivatives markets and could help support a spot ETF following a filing from Canary Capital.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "

Chicago-based crypto exchange Bitnomial has launched monthly futures contracts tied to Injective, marking the first US-regulated derivatives product for the Web3 financial ecosystem’s native token.

According to Wednesday’s announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the contracts settle in INJ (INJ) with monthly expiries, allowing traders to gain price exposure without holding the underlying asset, and can be margined in crypto or US dollars through Bitnomial’s clearinghouse.

The listing also starts a six-month track record that could support a spot exchange-traded fund under US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) listing rules. In July, Canary Capital filed for a staked INJ ETF, with Cboe BZX Exchange submitting a corresponding rule change to the SEC.

Institutional clients can access the futures immediately, with retail trading expected to follow via Bitnomial’s Botanical platform in the coming weeks. The company said it also plans to add perpetual futures and options tied to INJ.

\"Coinbase,
Source: Injective

Injective runs on a Layer 1 blockchain built for financial applications, with an onchain order book and cross-chain connectivity to networks including Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).

Bitnomial is a derivatives exchange that operates a trading venue, clearinghouse and brokerage for crypto futures and options that is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In January, the exchange launched monthly futures contracts tied to Aptos (APT) marking the first US-regulated derivatives product for the alt coin. 

Related: Injective community passes governance vote to slash INJ token supply

Exchanges push to expand US crypto futures offerings

US-regulated crypto futures remain largely concentrated in major assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), with Bitnomial among the few venues listing derivatives tied to altcoins. Expanding those offerings has required navigating a shifting and often uncertain regulatory environment.

In August 2024, Bitnomial moved to list XRP (XRP) futures through CFTC self-certification, but the SEC challenged the plan, arguing the contracts could require securities exchange registration. 

After filing a lawsuit in October 2025, Bitnomial dropped the case in March and later that month launched regulated XRP futures for US users, citing evolving SEC policy.

Other platforms have taken a more gradual approach. Coinbase launched CFTC-regulated futures tied to Bitcoin and Ether for institutional clients in June 2023, later expanding access with retail-sized contracts in May 2025 and introducing 24/7 trading to provide round-the-clock market access for US participants.

Also in May, Kraken acquired futures platform NinjaTrader for about $1.5 billion, gaining a CFTC-registered Futures Commission Merchant and expanding its reach into regulated derivatives markets.

Magazine: Should users be allowed to bet on war and death in prediction markets?

", "description": "Bitnomial launches US-regulated Injective futures, starting a six-month track record that could support a spot ETF as altcoin derivatives expand.", "published": "2026-04-15T22:13:03+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "kraken" }, { "slug": "derivatives" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-futures" }, { "slug": "injective" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "injective-futures-go-live-on-cftc-regulated-us-exchange-opening-etf-pathway", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261922" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Kalshi to create ‘portal for parents‘ on prediction markets: Report", "leadText": "CEO Tarek Mansour said in an interview that Kalshi would prevent kids from using a parent’s ID to skirt its age restrictions by launching a parent portal and AI verification.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "

Kalshi co-founder and CEO Tarek Mansour reportedly announced a new strategy for the prediction markets platform to crack down on minors illegally using its services.

According to a Wednesday Semafor report, Mansour said that Kalshi was launching a “portal for parents” to submit their identification to check whether their children were using the platforms under their names. There have been incidents in which minors have been able to bypass Kalshi’s age requirements — a US-based user must be 18 years old — by using one of their parent’s IDs for verification.

“We are also adding selfies to accounts, where you can basically look at the face of a person, and it can tell you obviously if this person is not the actual parent that’s 50 years old,” said Mansour, according to Semafor.

The CEO’s comments came as prediction market platforms come under scrutiny in the US, both by state-level gaming authorities for the companies’ event contracts related to sports and at the federal level for controversial bets on military actions.

Crypto exchanges have also been challenging Kalshi’s dominance in the market, with Binance integrating prediction market features in its wallet app last week, followed by Crypto.com partnering with High Roller Technologies in a similar move.

Related: Polymarket bets removed from Google News after brief appearance: Report

Central to Kalshi’s arguments in court is the claim that the company is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal commodities regulator, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Michael Selig, who chairs the CFTC, has backed this position in an amicus brief in support of Crypto.com in its dispute with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Court battles continue over sports and election event contracts

As of Wednesday, many of the cases against Kalshi were ongoing at the state level.

A federal judge in Arizona blocked state officials from enforcing the state’s gambling laws as applied to Kalshi’s event contracts last week. The decision followed a similar outcome in New Jersey, where a federal appellate court sided with the company’s argument claiming that the Commodity Exchange Act — under the CFTC — preempted the state’s law on sports gambling.

Magazine: Should users be allowed to bet on war and death in prediction markets?

", "description": "The co-founder and CEO of Kalshi announced new measures to crack down on minors using the prediction markets platform, despite having a minimum age requirement of 18 years old.", "published": "2026-04-15T21:44:41+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "security" }, { "slug": "sport" }, { "slug": "industry" }, { "slug": "kalshi" }, { "slug": "prediction-markets" } ], "slug": "kalshi-parents-monitoring-minors-prediction-markets", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261917" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitwise debuts Avalanche ETP offering AVAX exposure and yield", "leadText": "The product is designed to generate yield by participating in network validation, adding an income component to passive exposure.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "

Bitwise Asset Management has launched a spot Avalanche exchange-traded product, giving investors exposure to the Avalanche token while staking a portion of its holdings to generate yield.

Bitwise plans to stake roughly 70% of its AVAX holdings through its in-house infrastructure, while maintaining a liquidity reserve of about 30% to meet redemptions and operational needs.

The fund began trading Wednesday on the NYSE under the ticker BAVA, closing up about 1.5%, to $25.50 per share, according to Yahoo Finance. The Avalanche token (AVAX) was last trading at $9.52, up 1.8%, according to CoinMarketCap.

According to Wednesday’s announcement, the product carries a sponsor fee of 0.34%, with a temporary waiver to 0% for the first month on the first $500 million in assets, and is structured to distribute net investment income, including staking rewards, to shareholders periodically.

The fund holds AVAX directly and uses an in-house staking unit, Bitwise Onchain Solutions, to participate in network validation and earn rewards, which are paid in additional tokens. Avalanche staking rewards were about 5.4% as of mid-April, according to the announcement.

Avalanche is a Layer-1 blockchain built for high throughput and low latency. It is used across tokenization and enterprise pilots, including initiatives tied to FIFA, state-level stablecoin efforts in Wyoming, and projects from companies such as Toyota and asset managers including BlackRock.

The new fund is the latest Avalanche fund development in recent weeks. Nasdaq last week filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list shares of the VanEck Avalanche Trust, a proposed ETF designed to provide exposure to AVAX under rules governing commodity-based trust shares.

Related: CME Group expands crypto futures with Avalanche and Sui contracts

Bitcoin ETFs and DATs hold an increasing amount of Bitcoin

The launch of Bitwise’s Avalanche ETF comes as exchange-traded crypto products and publicly traded companies continue to accumulate a growing share of Bitcoin’s (BTC) circulating supply.

According to data from BitBO.io, Bitcoin ETFs hold more than 1.29 million BTC, or just over 6% of circulating supply. Public companies hold an additional 1.17 million BTC on their balance sheets, based on figures from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Combined, ETFs and corporate holders now account for around 12% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply.

Among ETFs, accumulation is led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which holds about 791,000 BTC, or roughly 3.8% of total supply, followed by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust with around 153,600 BTC, or about 0.7%.

Bitcoin ETFs: BitBO.io

Beyond asset managers, banks are also entering the market. Earlier this month, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT), the first spot Bitcoin ETF offered by a US bank, recorded $30.6 million in inflows on its trading debut and generated about $34 million in first-day volume.

On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs filed with the SEC to launch a Bitcoin-linked exchange-traded fund designed to generate income while limiting exposure to the cryptocurrency’s volatility. The proposed fund would invest in Bitcoin ETPs and sell call options to generate income while limiting exposure to price swings.

Among public companies, Strategy, the first Bitcoin treasury company, chaired by Michael Saylor, holds 780,897 Bitcoin, or around 4% of the total supply. 

Governments also collectively hold around 3% of circulating Bitcoin, with around 649,870 BTC on their balance sheets. The United States is the largest holder with about 328,000 BTC, followed by China with roughly 190,000 BTC and the United Kingdom with more than 61,000 BTC.

Bitcoin’s price has fallen from its high of around $126,000 in October, and is trading around $75,100, per CoinGecko data.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "Bitwise has launched an Avalanche ETF offering exposure to AVAX and additional returns through staking, expanding institutional access to the network.", "published": "2026-04-15T21:07:42+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "avalanche" }, { "slug": "microstrategy" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-etf" }, { "slug": "blackrock" }, { "slug": "etf" }, { "slug": "vaneck" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "bitwise-launches-avalanche-etp-with-staking-feature", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261912" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "CoreWeave signs $6B deal with Jane Street to provide AI compute power", "leadText": "Jane Street said it needs GPU-based computing power to keep its trading and research operations competitive amid growing adoption of AI.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "

CoreWeave, a publicly traded AI cloud infrastructure company, revealed on Wednesday a $6 billion deal with quantitative trading company Jane Street, in which it will use CoreWeave’s AI cloud computing infrastructure to power its trading and research operations.

Under the agreement, CoreWeave will provide Jane Street with compute from multiple data center facilities, the company's announcement said.

Jane Street also purchased $1 billion in CoreWeave Class A Common stock at $109 per share, according to CoreWeave.

Shares of CoreWeave (CRWV) rose by 1.5% on Wednesday, climbing to about $119.04 at the time of publication, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

\"AI,
Shares of CRWV rose modestly on Wednesday after the $6 billion Jane Street deal was announced. Source: Yahoo Finance

The deal comes about one week after CoreWeave revealed an agreement with Anthropic, in which the AI developer will use CoreWeave’s compute infrastructure to power its Claude AI large language models. 

CoreWeave’s pivot to AI predates the crypto mining industry’s shift by years, and highlights how miners can repurpose their infrastructure to power high-performance computing and shore up declining revenues amid a challenging economic environment.

Related: CoreWeave’s $8.5B loan shows how AI is replacing crypto mining finance

CoreWeave dominates “neocloud” computing sector

CoreWeave was founded as a crypto mining company called Atlantic Crypto in 2017, before beginning a pivot to AI cloud computing infrastructure in 2019.

The company’s shift to AI infrastructure years ahead of the crypto mining industry’s rush into the sector helped establish CoreWeave as a leading “neocloud” company, according to analysts from asset management and investment research company Bernstein.

\"AI,
Quarterly revenues of CoreWeave, IREN and Nebius compared. Source: Bernstein

“Neocloud” service providers are cloud computing companies built around graphics processing units (GPUs), which power artificial intelligence workloads. 

Traditional cloud service providers power their operations with basic computer processing units (CPUs) suitable for running websites, Web2 platforms, video games, media streaming and applications.

The analysts compared CoreWeave with IREN and Nebius, and concluded that “relative to its neocloud peers, CRWV has by far the strongest commercial machine.” 

CoreWeave benefits from a mix of contractual agreements and on-demand revenue-generating activities, while also commanding a diverse customer base, Bernstein said.

“Nine of the leading 10 AI model providers now leverage CoreWeave’s platform,” spokespeople for CoreWeave said following the Anthropic deal in April.

Magazine: Would Bitcoin really be at $200K if not for Jane Street? Trade Secrets

", "description": "CoreWeave has announced a $6 billion deal with trading firm Jane Street to provide the firm with AI computing power for its trading strategy.", "published": "2026-04-15T20:30:52+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "ai" }, { "slug": "data-center" }, { "slug": "ai-and-hi-tech" } ], "slug": "coreweave-6b-deal-jane-street-ai-compute", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261897" }, { "category": { "slug": "top-10-cryptocurrencies" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Price predictions 4/15: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, LINK", "leadText": "A Bitcoin daily candlestick close above $76,000 would complete a bullish trend reversal and shift the bulls’ short-term price target to $84,000. Will altcoins follow the rally?", "author": { "slug": "rakesh-upadhyay" }, "bodyText": "

Key points:

Bitcoin (BTC) pulled back after crossing the $76,000 level on Tuesday, but a positive sign is that bulls have not let the price dip below $73,500. That suggests the bulls are holding their positions as they expect the overhead resistance to be broken.

Another encouraging indication for the bulls is that BTC’s move toward $76,000 has been supported by $411.5 million in inflows into US spot BTC exchange-traded funds on Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data. That pushes the total net flows for 2026 into the positive territory at roughly $245 million.

Crypto market data daily view. Source: TradingView

While some analysts believe the bottom has been reached at $60,000, others remain skeptical. They anticipate BTC to collapse below $60,000 to as low as $50,000 before finally bottoming out.

Trend reversals could be tricky, but traders should be nimble when they spot one. Maintaining a negative view when the charts are screaming bullish is a recipe for disaster. 

Could BTC and select major altcoins break above their overhead resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC turned up from the 20-day exponential moving average ($71,116) on Monday and reached the $76,000 resistance on Tuesday.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers are expected to protect the $76,000 level with all their might, as a close above it will complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern. That clears the path for a rally to the $84,000 level.

Conversely, any pullback is expected to find support at the 20-day EMA. If the BTC price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with force, it suggests a positive sentiment. That enhances the prospects of a break above the $76,000 resistance. Sellers will be back in control on a close below the support line of the triangle.

Ether price prediction

Ether (ETH) is facing resistance at $2,415, but a positive sign is that the bulls have not ceded much ground to the bears.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The prospects of a break above the $2,415 level increase if the ETH price turns up from the current level or the 20-day EMA ($2,198). The ETH/USDT pair may then surge to $2,800 and then to $3,050.

Sellers have an uphill task ahead of them. They will have to quickly pull the price below the moving averages to weaken the bullish momentum. The pair may then decline to the $1,916 support.

XRP price prediction

Buyers are struggling to drive XRP (XRP) above the 50-day simple moving average ($1.37), indicating that the bears are active at higher levels.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price turns down and dips below the 20-day EMA ($1.35), it may signal that the XRP/USDT pair consolidates between the 50-day SMA and $1.27 support for a few days. A break and close below the $1.27 level tilts the advantage in favor of the bears. 

Contrarily, a close above the 50-day SMA signals the start of a sustained recovery toward the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern. Buyers will be back in the driver’s seat on a close above the downtrend line.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) reached the 50-day SMA ($626) on Tuesday, where the bears are posing a strong challenge. 

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If bulls do not give up much ground from the current level, the possibility of a break above the 50-day SMA increases. The BNB/USDT pair may then rally to the $687 overhead resistance. Buyers will have to overcome the $687 barrier to clear the path for a rally to $730, then to $790.

On the downside, a close below the $570 support signals that the bears have seized control. The pair may then start the next leg of the downtrend toward $500.

Solana price prediction

Solana’s (SOL) failure to rise above the 50-day SMA ($85) suggests that the bears are fiercely guarding the level.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flattish moving averages and the relative strength index (RSI) near the midpoint do not provide a clear advantage to either the bulls or the bears. That suggests the SOL/USDT pair may continue consolidating within the $76 to $98 range for a while.

The next trending move is expected to begin on a close above $98 or below $76. If the SOL price turns down and breaks below $76, it indicates an advantage to bears. The pair may then drop to $67. On the upside, a close above $98 opens the doors for a rally to $117.

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) broke above the moving averages on Tuesday, but the long wick on the candlestick shows selling on rallies.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price dips below the moving averages, the bears will attempt to sink the DOGE/USDT pair below the $0.09 support. If they succeed, the DOGE price may resume its downtrend toward $0.08 and then $0.06.

Instead, if the price moves above the 20-day EMA ($0.09) and breaks above $0.10, it suggests the bears are losing their grip. The pair may then rally to $0.11 and eventually to $0.12.

Hyperliquid price prediction

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears at the breakout level of $43.76.

HYPE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the HYPE price rallies from the current level and breaks above $45.30, it suggests that the bulls have turned the $43.76 level into support. That increases the likelihood of a move to the $50 level.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down and breaks below the 20-day EMA ($40), it suggests that the break above the $43.76 level may have been a bull trap. The HYPE/USDT pair may then plunge to the 50-day SMA ($36.77).

Related: Tom Lee says ‘mini crypto winter’ is over, sees Ether above $60K

Cardano price prediction

Cardano (ADA) has been swinging between the 50-day SMA ($0.26) and the $0.23 support for the past few days.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-day EMA ($0.25) has started to turn down gradually, and the RSI is in the negative zone, signaling a slight edge to the bears. If the price turns down and breaks below $0.23, the ADA/USDT pair may plummet toward the support line of the descending channel pattern. There is support at $0.22, but it is likely to be broken.

Buyers will have to propel the ADA price above the downtrend line to signal a potential trend change. The pair may then climb toward $0.36.

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Buyers attempted to push Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the 20-day EMA ($444), but the bears held their ground.

BCH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers will strive to strengthen their position by driving the BCH price below $419. If they manage to do that, the BCH/USDT pair may start a downward move toward the $375 level.

This bearish view will be negated in the short term if buyers drive the price above the moving averages. The pair may then rise to the $486 level, where the bears are again likely to pose a strong challenge. 

Chainlink price prediction

Chainlink (LINK) has been trading near the moving averages for the past few days, signaling a balance between supply and demand.

LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flattish moving averages and the RSI just above the midpoint suggest that the LINK/USDT pair may remain inside the $8 to $10 range for some more time.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the $10 resistance. That opens the doors for a rally to $10.94 and later to $11.61. Sellers are expected to defend the $11.61 level, as a close above it indicates that the bulls are back in the game. The bears will have to yank the LINK price below the $8 level to gain the upper hand.


", "description": "Bitcoin and select altcoins are back in the black, but holding on to the fledgling bullish trend reversal hinges on a daily BTC candlestick close above $76,000.", "published": "2026-04-15T19:51:43+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "dogecoin" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "xrp" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-cash" }, { "slug": "cardano" }, { "slug": "price-analysis" }, { "slug": "chainlink" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "solana" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-etf" }, { "slug": "etf" }, { "slug": "bnb" } ], "slug": "price-predictions-4-15-btc-eth-xrp-bnb-sol-doge-hype-ada-bch-link", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Price Analysis" } ] }, "id": "261877" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "US midterm election mirrors 2024 as crypto PACs move into Ohio races", "leadText": "Potential conflicts of interest in the state’s gubernatorial race and a pro-crypto Super PAC endorsing a Republican candidate for Senate could cloud the 2026 race.", "author": { "slug": "turner-wright" }, "bodyText": "

Another political action committee (PAC) aligned with the cryptocurrency industry announced its endorsement for a candidate in Ohio’s Senate race, signaling a move that could mirror the 2024 US election.

In a Wednesday notice, Sentinel Action Fund, a group that claims to be the “only conservative Super PAC advancing pro-crypto candidates and supporting pro-crypto innovation,” said it would be supporting Republican Jon Husted in this year’s race to represent Ohio in the US Senate. 

Husted was appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in January 2025 to replace JD Vance, who was elected vice president alongside US President Donald Trump in his 2024 election win. He still faces a field of Republican candidates ahead of a May 5 primary in Ohio, where former Senator Sherrod Brown will also face off in the Democratic primary against Ron Kincaid.  

Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson specifically cited Brown as having “stood in the way of pro-innovation policies when it comes to digital assets” in the PAC’s endorsement of Husted. 

Although filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as of Tuesday showed no disbursements supporting Husted in 2026, the PAC and its sister organization, Right Vote, pledged to spend more than $8 million in the Buckeye state. The Sentinel Action Fund reported about $9 million raised from January 2025 through March 2026, including $750,000 in contributions from the digital asset advocacy organization Solana Policy Institute and $250,000 from crypto investment company Multicoin Capital.

\"Cryptocurrencies,
Total raised by Sentinel Action Fund Super PAC as of March 31. Source: FEC

The PAC’s move into the Ohio race could serve as a bellwether for how money from crypto-aligned interest groups will respond to the upcoming US elections. In 2024, crypto-backed PACs spent more than $40 million in the US State to support Republican Bernie Moreno’s run to unseat Brown, who had made many public statements criticizing crypto.

Related: Coinbase-backed crypto advocacy group unveils 2026 election plan

Despite having lost his seat, Brown announced in August that he would run again for Senate. Moreno’s seat won’t be up for grabs until 2030.

Ohio Senate race isn’t the only one in the state focused on crypto

Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican candidate for US President and one of the backers for Bitcoin (BTC) treasury company Strive, has also thrown his hat into Ohio’s gubernatorial race.

Launching his campaign in February 2025 following his departure from Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Ramaswamy supported efforts to create a strategic BTC reserve in Ohio.

However, many critics have pointed to the Republican candidate’s financial disclosures filed on April 6 as examples of conflicts of interest. 

Ramaswamy reported a 10% stake in Strive and could benefit from the value of the company’s Bitcoin holdings increasing in response to Ohio’s treasury investing in the cryptocurrency, which he would have significant influence over as governor. Strive reported holding about 13,768 Bitcoin as of Wednesday, worth more than $1 billion.

Disclosure: A member of the immediate family of Staff Editor Robert Lakin has contributed to the campaigns of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown in amounts less than $200.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "The Sentinel Action Fund PAC endorsed Republican Jon Husted for the US Senate, while Vivek Ramaswamy’s financial disclosures in the governor’s race signaled conflicts of interest.", "published": "2026-04-15T18:52:37+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "politics" }, { "slug": "funding" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "elections" }, { "slug": "regulation" } ], "slug": "us-election-mirrors-2024-crypto-ohio", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261852" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "L&G brings £50B liquidity funds onchain via Calastone tokenized network", "leadText": "London-based Legal & General Asset Management is the latest global asset manager to expand distribution across blockchain networks and trading models.", "author": { "slug": "nate-kostar" }, "bodyText": "

London-based Legal & General Asset Management has made its liquidity funds available in tokenized form through Calastone’s blockchain-based distribution network, enabling investors to access and transfer fund shares via digital infrastructure as an alternative to traditional settlement systems.

According to Wednesday’s announcement, the tokenized share classes are issued with permissioned access, allowing authorized users to buy, hold and transfer them within a regulated environment, while traditional share classes remain available through existing distribution channels.

The funds, denominated in US dollars, euros and British pound sterling, manage more than £50 billion in assets and are designed for capital preservation and same-day liquidity. They invest in high-quality, short-term money market instruments, including government bonds, bank deposits and corporate debt.

Calastone’s network, part of SS&C Technologies, provides infrastructure for token creation, order routing, trade aggregation, reconciliation and onchain settlement, integrated with existing transfer agent and fund administration systems.

Tokenized versions of the funds will initially be issued on Ethereum and other EVM-compatible networks.

Legal & General Asset Management manages about £1.2 trillion in assets across public and private markets, according to the company, while Calastone said its network connects more than 4,500 financial institutions globally.

The move comes as UK regulators work toward a broader crypto framework, with the Financial Conduct Authority consulting on rules covering areas such as custody and trading ahead of a planned 2027 regulatory rollout. 

Related: Ripple teams with Kyobo on South Korea tokenized bond settlement

Tokenized money market funds grow as asset managers expand distribution

Tokenized money market funds are growing as asset managers expand distribution across blockchain networks and trading models.

According to RWA.xyz data, tokenized US Treasury products, including money market funds, have grown to more than $13 billion at the time of writing, up from about $8.9 billion at the start of the year. 

Leading the way is BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) with roughly $2.47 billion in assets, followed by Franklin Templeton’s OnChain US Government Money Fund at about $993 million and WisdomTree’s Government Money Market Digital Fund at approximately $864 million.

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Tokenized US Treasuries. Source: RWA.xyz

In recent months, asset managers have expanded these products across blockchain networks and trading models. 

In November, Franklin Templeton integrated its Benji platform with the Canton Network, extending distribution of its tokenized money market fund to an institutional blockchain environment, while BlackRock expanded BUIDL to the Solana (SOL) blockchain in March.

In February, WisdomTree enabled 24/7 trading and instant settlement for its tokenized money market fund within a regulated framework.

However, as these products expand, they also introduce new challenges. The Bank for International Settlements has warned that mismatches between instant token transfers and slower underlying asset settlement could create liquidity and contagion risks.

Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter Brandt

", "description": "Legal & General Asset Management brings £50 billion in liquidity funds onto Calastone’s blockchain-based network as tokenized money market funds expand across markets.", "published": "2026-04-15T18:32:53+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "london" }, { "slug": "europe" }, { "slug": "blackrock" }, { "slug": "tokenization" }, { "slug": "rwa-tokenization" }, { "slug": "industry" } ], "slug": "london-based-legal-general-asset-management-has-made-its-liquidity-funds-available-in-tokenized-form-through-calastone-s-blockchain-based-distribution-network-enabling-investors-to-access-and-transfer-fund-shares-via-digital-infrastructure-rather-than", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261847" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "ETH/BTC ratio hits 10-week high as Ether outpaces Bitcoin: Are new price highs next?", "leadText": "Ether looks poised to gain a price advantage over BTC as the ETH/BTC ratio soars to a 10-week high.", "author": { "slug": "biraajmaan-tamuly" }, "bodyText": "

The ETH/BTC ratio has climbed to a 10-week high, suggesting that Ether (ETH) is gaining momentum against Bitcoin (BTC) in the charts. 

Ether’s footing has improved as clearer DeFi regulations from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) were applauded by the crypto community. At the same time, Bitmine added 71,524 ETH to its Ether treasury on Monday. 

The ETH/BTC ratio broke through a descending trendline resistance that had been in place since August 2025. A daily close above this trend line marks the first breakout in months.

The pair trades above the 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages at 0.0310, both of which are now acting as dynamic support. The compression between these averages points to a possible bullish crossover if the trend continues. 

\"Cryptocurrencies,
ETH/BTC on the one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

XWIN Research noted that a stronger underlying shift in Ether is driven by a Monday SEC staff statement that explained how DeFi front-ends and wallet interfaces can operate without broker-dealer registration under defined conditions, such as no custody and neutral fee structures. XWIN Research added,

“On-chain data supports this shift. Active addresses are trending upward, indicating renewed network usage. Meanwhile, the Coinbase Premium Gap is improving, suggesting a recovery in U.S.-driven demand, often linked to institutional flows.”

As the ETH/BTC pair shows strength, corporate-level accumulation continues to accelerate. Bitmine now holds 4.87 million ETH, accounting for over 4% of the circulating supply, after adding 279,296 ETH over the past 30 days. 

Related: Tom Lee says ‘mini crypto winter’ is over, sees Ether above $60K

Will an Ether bull market resume?

Crypto analyst GugaOnChain noted a sharp divide in ETH futures positioning. The global open interest reached $16.37 billion on Tuesday, sitting well above its 14-day average. Funding rates across exchanges remain negative at -0.0013%, indicating a short positioning against the rally.

However, open interest climbed to $6.04 billion, a 10.47% daily increase on Binance. Funding rates on the exchange turned positive at 0.015%, signaling rising long positioning.

This creates a split between global shorts and Binance-based longs. The analyst added, 

“We face an extreme imbalance. With 40% of global ETH Open Interest on Binance, the fuel for a violent move is ready.”
\"Cryptocurrencies,
Ether: open interest on all exchanges. Source: CryptQuant

Related: Ether holders back in profit as ETH price aims for rally to $3K

", "description": "Ether price showed strength in its USD and BTC pairs after the SEC issued new guidance on DeFi regulation and institutional investors ramped up their ETH purchases.", "published": "2026-04-15T18:30:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "coinbase" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "altcoin" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "cryptocurrency-exchange" }, { "slug": "binance" }, { "slug": "futures" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "ethereum-price" } ], "slug": "ethbtc-ratio-hits-10-week-high-as-ether-outpaces-bitcoin-are-new-price-highs-next", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "261827" }, { "category": { "slug": "markets" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin can grow 'probably a lot bigger' than $30T+ gold market — Analysis", "leadText": "New Bitcoin macro analysis found its \"addressable market\" surpassed the $38 trillion gold market cap, driven by geopolitical instability and financial sanctions.", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin (BTC) has a target market that is “probably a lot bigger” than gold’s $30 trillion market cap, says a crypto industry executive.

Key points:

Bitcoin “probably” beats gold target market

In an X article on Tuesday, Matt Hougan, chief investment officer of crypto asset manager Bitwise, saw geopolitical conflict fueling BTC price gains in future.

“Bitcoin has performed well since the start of the Iran conflict,” he noted. 

“Since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes began on February 28, bitcoin is up 12% while the S&P 500 is down 1% and gold has fallen 10%.”
Macro asset comparison. Source: Matt Hougan/X


Bitcoin rallied to $76,000 this week, hitting two-month highs on a combination of US-Iran war relief and cooler US inflation numbers, per data from TradingView.

“This has caught many off guard. Bitcoin is a risk asset, and many assumed it would fall during a risk-off geopolitical shock,” Hougan commented.

“Pundits have grasped for explanations: Some have argued that geopolitics is irrelevant for bitcoin, while others have pointed out that war often leads to money printing, which tends to boost bitcoin in the long term. Both arguments are wrong.”
BTC/USD one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


For Hougan, the nature of recent conflicts — notably Russia being shut out from the SWIFT network in 2022 — has bolstered Bitcoin’s status as an “apolitical alternative.”

“I mused at the time that the weaponization of SWIFT might one day open up space for bitcoin: If countries grew reluctant to deal in dollars, it stood to reason that they might prefer an apolitical alternative at some point,” he continued.

Now, with Iran under both financial sanctions and an oil blockade, collecting crypto tolls for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, that “weaponization” trend is strengthening.

“This framing tells you two important things about bitcoin's future,” the post summarized. 

“First, it tells you that bitcoin is likely to rise during future geopolitical conflicts -— particularly if they occur in regions trapped between the US and Chinese systems.  And second, it tells you that bitcoin's total addressable market is probably a lot bigger than the $38 trillion gold market alone.”

Bitcoin vs. gold sparks $90,000 BTC price target

In gold terms, Bitcoin is currently recovering from a trip to its lowest levels since mid-2023.

Related: Oil price surges 8% on Iran tensions: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week

BTC/XAU one-week chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


The rebound has been slow, even as Hougan predicts the end of the current “crypto winter.” For some, however, the writing is on the wall when it comes to a meaningful bullish trend change.

In an X post of his own, crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe predicted that “mean reversion” for Bitcoin was just a matter of time.

“The recent correction of $BTC vs. Gold is the heaviest in the history of Bitcoin,” he noted. 

“Comparing this to historical events, the average return after 12 months was 350-450% from this point. That means, from here an increase from $60,000 to $275,000. In 3 months time, it's very likely that we'll be trading at $87,500-90,000.”
BTC/USD vs. gold one-week chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X


Comparing behavior after other drawdowns, Van de Poppe said that the “moral of the story” was to “buy the dip” on BTC.

“This is the general moment every cycle that you'd want to get allocated into an asset,” he argued.


", "description": "New analysis says that Bitcoin could challenge gold's $38 trillion \"addressable market\" due to future geopolitical instability.", "published": "2026-04-15T17:16:54+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "gold" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-can-grow-probably-a-lot-bigger-than-30t-gold-market-analysis", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Markets News" } ] }, "id": "261822" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Senator Elizabeth Warren questions Elon Musk about X Money", "leadText": "The Massachusetts Democrat has been critical of private companies, including non-bank entities, issuing their own dollar-pegged stablecoins.", "author": { "slug": "vince-quill" }, "bodyText": "

US Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked Elon Musk for information on X Money, a payments feature that is expected to be integrated into the X social media platform in the near future.

Warren, who is a longtime critic of Musk and the cryptocurrency industry, wrote in a letter on Tuesday that X Money’s potential stablecoin and crypto integrations could pose risks to the financial system and US national security.

She questioned whether the platform would also issue its own stablecoin, under a legal “carveout” in the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which allows private companies to issue their own stablecoins. 

\"Twitter,
Senator Elizabeth Warren’s letter seeking information about the upcoming X Money launch. Source: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

Warren said X Money’s limited beta preview suggests it will offer 6% interest on deposits and partner with Cross River Bank, which was subject to enforcement action by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), a banking regulator. She said:

“It is unclear what risky investments, intrusive data monetization activities or gimmicks either X Money or Cross River may intend to engage in to pay that yield when the target Federal Funds Rate is 3.5-3.75%.”

Warren’s letter could signal pushback from US lawmakers against private companies issuing stablecoins under the GENIUS stablecoin regulatory framework, which opens the door for the tech sector and non-banks to issue US dollar-pegged tokens.

Related: X rolls out smart cashtags in US, Canada in step toward ‘everything app’

Questions on FDIC insurance for stablecoin deposits

Warren asked whether potential X Money customers were aware that FDIC insurance would not protect them if the platform failed.

\"Twitter,
A list of questions from the letter sent to Elon Musk by Senator Elizabeth Warren. Source: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

In March, FDIC Chair Travis Hill said that stablecoin user deposits are not protected by FDIC insurance under the GENIUS Act.

“The GENIUS Act makes clear that payment stablecoins are not ‘subject to deposit insurance’ or guaranteed by the US government,” Hill said.

However, the legislation did not expressly prohibit stablecoin deposits from receiving pass-through insurance, which extends FDIC insurance to each customer of an eligible financial institution up to $250,000 in the event of a company failure, he added.

Hill said that even though the GENIUS Act lacks a hard prohibition on stablecoin companies extending pass-through FDIC insurance to end users, allowing this would be “inconsistent” with the broader points of the regulatory framework.

Magazine: Elon Musk’s plan to run government on blockchain faces uphill battle


", "description": "Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to Elon Musk asking for more details about the upcoming X Money financial platform, which may launch in April.", "published": "2026-04-15T17:16:35+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "twitter" }, { "slug": "senate" }, { "slug": "us-government" }, { "slug": "united-states" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "elon-musk" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "companies" }, { "slug": "genius-act" } ], "slug": "elizabeth-warren-question-musk-x-money", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261817" }, { "category": { "slug": "market-analysis" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Bitcoin falls to lower support as analysts say markets are ignoring key Iran issue", "leadText": "Bitcoin paused its rally toward new range highs while the S&P 500 came within an inch of a fresh year-to-date high, leading analysts to warn that traders are overconfident.", "author": { "slug": "william-suberg" }, "bodyText": "

Bitcoin (BTC) circled $74,000 at Wednesday’s Wall Street open as US stocks edged higher on news that the US and Iran may be open to another round of ceasefire negotiations.

Key points:

Iran conflict lacks “genuine resolution”

Data from TradingView showed declining BTC price volatility after a trip to two-month highs the day prior.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


Stocks continued a recovery on the day as US President Donald Trump said that China had opted not to send weapons to Iran.

“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also - And the World,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. 

“This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran.”
Source: Truth Social


President Trump referenced the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil gateway, as WTI crude dropped below $90 to a new April low on the day.

Commenting, trading company QCP Capital was cautious about discounting the ongoing impact of the US-Iran war.

“Equities recovered, oil sold off, and crypto caught a bid. But the more important signal was what failed to confirm the move,” it wrote in its latest “Market Color” update. 

“Long-end yields barely budged, gold held its levels, and the bond market, which should be front-running an inflation relief trade more aggressively, did not follow through. When oil drops and the 10-year barely twitches, rates are telling you this is a reduction in headline risk, not a genuine resolution.”
CFDs on WTI crude oil one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


QCP pointed to Iran’s uranium enrichment as a sticking point in the process of diffusing geopolitical tensions.

“The reason is enrichment. Iran is at 60% enriched uranium, while the US wants levels below 20%. That gap does not close with a framework headline. It closes with a concession Tehran has not signalled it is prepared to make,” it continued. 

“Previous ceasefires have lasted weeks, while the enrichment issue has remained unresolved since 2015. Markets are trading the former, but the latter still sits at the core of the risk.”
S&P 500 one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView


On Monday, the S&P 500 reclaimed its yearly open level, going on to hit local highs of 6,988 on the day, coming within 15 points of new all-time highs.


BTC price “decision time” due

Bitcoin traders preserved earlier skepticism over market strength.

Related: Oil price surges 8% on Iran tensions: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week

Trader Jelle described the latest trip to $76,000 as an “equal high” that “barely went above” February’s peak.

Liquidity games still in play.$BTC technically tagged those previous highs - but I'm viewing this as an equal high rather than a sweep, barely went above it.

Keep an eye out for a real sweep above there; that'll likely catch a lot of traders off guard. pic.twitter.com/dxO9cgDRY3

— Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) April 15, 2026
\n\n\n

“Bias remains down, but doubt shorts get a free ride from here,” he added in another of his latest posts on X.

Daan Crypto Trades, meanwhile, predicted that BTC/USD would soon face “decision time.”

“Price tapped the $76K high from March and is consolidating in this area currently. Low timeframe grind higher since the start of April which has been making some marginally higher highs and lows,” he summarized to X followers.

BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X


QCP also noted price action “grinding higher,” while warning that options markets were “not confirming a clean breakout.”

“The broader regime has not changed. The Fed is still boxed in, sitting near zero net cuts for the year after the oil shock repriced the easing path, while liquidity conditions remain tight,” it concluded. 

“This is a geopolitical relief rally, not a macro regime shift. Last week’s trade was to fade the blockade. This week’s question is whether investors should fade the relief.”


", "description": "Bitcoin consolidates its latest gains while concerns mount over markets discounting the true situation in the war in Iran.", "published": "2026-04-15T16:20:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "bitcoin" }, { "slug": "bitcoin-price" }, { "slug": "markets" }, { "slug": "market-analysis" } ], "slug": "bitcoin-falls-to-lower-support-as-analysts-say-markets-are-ignoring-key-iran-issue", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Market Update" } ] }, "id": "261807" }, { "category": { "slug": "research" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "EIP-8105: A new design for Ethereum’s encrypted mempool", "leadText": "EIP-8105 proposes a scheme-agnostic encrypted mempool for Ethereum, designed to hide transaction payloads until after inclusion and reduce harmful MEV.", "author": { "slug": "gleb-k" }, "bodyText": "

Sandwich attacks cost Ethereum users an estimated $60 million per year. Transactions broadcast to the public mempool are publicly visible before inclusion, which gives MEV bots the ability to affect the order of transactions and insert their own for profit. This problem has persisted on some level in spite of years of discussion and various out-of-protocol mitigation attempts.

Encrypting mempool transactions would be one of the most compelling solutions to prevent MEV. While this idea has been actively discussed for years, it has not yet been implemented at the protocol level. In our earlier research, we examined several proposals based on threshold-encryption, including Shutter, Batched Threshold Encryption, and Flash Freezing Flash Boys. In this article, we turn to a meta proposal titled “Universal Enshrined Encrypted Mempool (EIP-8105)“.

How EIP-8105 approaches mempool encryption

Universal Enshrined Encrypted Mempool, also known as EIP-8105, is a scheme-agnostic encrypted mempool design, which means it can support a wide range of encryption methods, including threshold encryption, MPC committees, TEEs, delay encryption, and fully homomorphic encryption. A new system contract on the execution layer, called the key provider registry, is planned to facilitate this flexible design. It would allow any account to register as a key provider that holds and reveals decryption keys using their own preferred encryption technology. 

How transactions are executed in Universal Enshrined Encrypted Mempool

Universal Enshrined Encrypted Mempool introduces two new transaction types under the EIP-2718 framework: 0x05 for encrypted transactions and 0x06 for decrypted transactions. An encrypted transaction is an envelope with an encrypted payload and a public payload, which contains the envelope nonce, gas amount, gas price parameters, key provider ID, key ID, and a signature. This structure is required to associate the transaction with the chosen key provider, assign a nonce and ensure gas fees for the blockspace are covered.

EIP-8105 follows a two-step execution flow. In the first step, the encrypted transaction envelope is included in a block even though the payload itself remains hidden. Key providers monitor transactions with encrypted payloads, collect the relevant transaction key IDs, and publish either the corresponding decryption keys or a withhold notice once the block builder publishes the data. 

Once the block builder has published the execution payload, the relevant key provider reveals either the decryption key or a withhold notice. A Payload Timeliness Committee (PTC) monitors whether the decryption keys referenced by encrypted transactions are published on time, validates them, and attests to whether a valid key was present or missing. If the key is available and decryption succeeds, the resulting decrypted transaction is executed in the following block. If the key is missing, withheld, or decryption fails, the decrypted payload is skipped, while the envelope remains included, and the transaction fee is still paid.

The EIP also enforces a block structure that prevents MEV-extracting transactions from being inserted in the window between decryption and execution. Decrypted transactions must appear at the beginning of a block, plaintext transactions remain in the middle, and encrypted transactions are placed at the end. This ordering allows encrypted payloads to be revealed and executed only after inclusion, while preventing secondary MEV. 

While EIP-8105 significantly limits MEV exposure, earlier providers in the block retain a limited ability to extract MEV from later transactions by selectively revealing or withholding their decryption keys. The proposal attempts to mitigate this by letting key providers designate other trusted providers and ordering transactions according to the resulting key provider trust graph.

Encrypted Mempools and Ethereum’s Roadmap

Encrypted mempools are becoming an increasingly important part of Ethereum’s roadmap, as the ecosystem looks for protocol-level ways to reduce harmful MEV. While EIP-8105 is no longer being positioned as one of the headliners for the first 2027 hard fork, it remains an open draft, and its ideas continue to inform the broader effort to prepare a leading encrypted-mempool proposal for the upgrade.

", "description": "Ethereum users lose over $60 million annually to malicious MEV. Learn how EIP-8105 aims to address it with an encrypted mempool on the protocol level.", "published": "2026-04-15T16:00:00+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "blockchain" }, { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "encryption" }, { "slug": "cryptography" }, { "slug": "mempool" }, { "slug": "defi" }, { "slug": "research-articles" } ], "slug": "eip-8105-a-new-design-for-ethereums-encrypted-mempool", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "Research" } ] }, "id": "261677" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "UK FCA seeks feedback on guidance for crypto rules ahead of 2027 rollout", "leadText": "The UK financial regulator has launched a consultation on crypto rules covering stablecoins, trading and staking ahead of a broader UK crypto regime expected to take effect in 2027.", "author": { "slug": "helen-partz" }, "bodyText": "

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said Wednesday it is consulting on guidance for the country’s future crypto regime, in the latest step toward a broader framework that is expected to take effect on Oct. 25, 2027.

In a statement, the FCA said it is seeking industry feedback on the guidance to help companies understand how they might be affected by the regime. The full consultation text is available on the FCA website, with the feedback window closing on June 3, 2026.

The regulator said the guidance will clarify requirements for areas such as stablecoin issuance, crypto trading, custody and staking. “We want to develop a competitive and sustainable cryptoasset sector where UK consumers are served by authorised cryptoasset firms and can make informed decisions,” the FCA said.

The guidance consultation follows a run of FCA rule consultations published since late 2025 covering trading platforms, intermediaries, prudential standards, admissions and disclosures, market abuse, and how the FCA Handbook will apply to crypto companies. Until the regime comes into force, crypto in the UK remains only partially regulated, mainly restricted to areas such as financial promotions and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.

Related: UK regulator takes High Court action against HTX over crypto promotions

Authorization window opens later this year

According to the FCA, the broader crypto regime is expected to come into force in October 2027, but companies will be able to start applying for authorization as early as September 2026.

That aligns with the authority’s timeline published in January, when it said the license application period would open in September. According to the FCA, the application period is expected to end in February 2027.

The FCA crypto roadmap. Source: FCA

The FCA previously said that the authorization under the upcoming crypto regime will not be automatically granted to companies that have already been registered under existing Money Laundering Regulations (MLRs) and payment-related frameworks.

According to the plan, all companies providing regulated crypto asset services in the UK will need to be authorized under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA).

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026


", "description": "UK financial regulator FCA seeks public feedback on crypto regime guidance until June 2026 ahead of planned regulatory framework rollout in 2027.", "published": "2026-04-15T15:37:33+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "cryptocurrencies" }, { "slug": "law" }, { "slug": "united-kingdom" }, { "slug": "stablecoin" }, { "slug": "staking" }, { "slug": "regulation" }, { "slug": "policy" } ], "slug": "uk-fca-crypto-guidance-consultation-2027-rollout", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261792" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "Tom Lee says ‘mini crypto winter’ is over, sees Ether above $60K", "leadText": "Bitmine chairman Tom Lee told Paris Blockchain Week that the recent crypto slump was a “mini crypto winter” and said Ether could climb above $60,000 over the next few years.", "author": { "slug": "zoltan-vardai" }, "bodyText": "

Bitmine Immersion Technologies chairman Tom Lee said Wednesday that the recent crypto slump was a “mini crypto winter” that may already be ending, in comments that came shortly after the company disclosed a multibillion-dollar quarterly loss tied largely to unrealized markdowns on the company’s Ether holdings.

During a keynote speech at Paris Blockchain Week 2026, Lee said that equity markets have bottomed due to the US-Israel war with Iran, and that Ether (ETH) will emerge from its “massive consolidation,” driven by tokenization and agentic artificial intelligence initiatives tied to the smart contract network.

Lee argued that equities have reached their bottom, leading to a recovery from what he called an “unusual” crypto market downturn, which didn’t coincide with a wider bear market in stocks for the first time. “Equity markets bottom on bad news. And we’ve had a lot of bad news,” said Lee, citing historical examples of stock markets bottoming out after the outbreak of wars.

Lee also said ETH is “probably on its way to 60,000” if his market thesis is correct and later described $62,000 as a fair-value scenario over the next few years, based on Ethereum reaching roughly one-quarter of Bitcoin’s (BTC) long-term value.

His comments come amid a wider crypto market downturn that has seen Ether’s price fall 43% since October 2025 to trade around $2,327 at the time of writing, significantly below Bitmine’s average cost basis of $3,660, according to data from Bitminetracker.

Thomas Lee, the co-founder, keynote speech at Paris Blockchain Week 2026. Source: Cointelegraph

Bitmine posts $3.8 billion quarterly loss on Ether holdings

Lee’s comments also follow Bitmine’s posting of a $3.82 billion loss on its Ether holdings during the first quarter of the year, according to a Tuesday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bitmine form 10-q filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: sec.gov

The figure was mainly driven by the company’s over $3.78 billion in unrealized losses on its crypto holdings. Bitmine also reported $11 million in revenue, including $10.2 million from ETH staking.

Related: Ether treasuries need liquid staking edge to beat ETFs, says Lido exec

Despite the mounting losses, Bitmine announced a purchase of 71,524 Ether on Monday, with the company now holding roughly 4.04% of the total Ether supply. The latest acquisitions came shortly after Bitmine debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on April 9, uplisting from NYSE American.

Bitmine and Exodus Movement are the only two Ether treasury companies to publicly disclose Ether investments over the past 30 days.

The top 10 largest corporate Ether holders. Source: StrategicEthReserve

Bitmine is the largest corporate Ether holder with 4.6 million ETH currently valued at over $10 billion, while SharpLink Gaming is second, with 863,000 Ether worth $1.89 billion, data from StrategicEthReserve shows.

Magazine: Sharplink exec shocked by level of BTC and ETH ETF hodling — Joseph Chalom

", "description": "Lee argued that equities and cryptocurrencies are poised to recover following geopolitical concerns, putting the ETH price on track to $62,500.", "published": "2026-04-15T15:18:39+01:00" }, "tags": [ { "slug": "ethereum" }, { "slug": "investments" }, { "slug": "stocks" }, { "slug": "predictions" }, { "slug": "digital-asset-holdings" }, { "slug": "paris-blockchain-week" } ], "slug": "tom-lee-says-mini-crypto-winter-over-sees-ether-above-60k", "postBadge": { "postBadgeTranslates": [ { "title": "News" } ] }, "id": "261782" }, { "category": { "slug": "latest-news" }, "postTranslate": { "title": "WLFI proposes unlock plan for 62 billion tokens with long lockups and burns", "leadText": "The new proposal outlines multi-year lockups and opt-in token burn, as the Trump-linked DeFi platform responds to pressure over delayed liquidity access.", "author": { "slug": "ezra-reguerra" }, "bodyText": "

Decentralized finance (DeFi) platform World Liberty Financial on Wednesday posted a governance proposal that would place 62.28 billion locked WLFI tokens under new multiyear vesting schedules and introduce a potential burn for founder, team, adviser and partner allocations. 

Under the proposal, early supporters’ locked tokens would face a two-year cliff followed by a two-year linear vest. Founder, team, adviser and partner allocations would face a two-year cliff followed by a three-year linear vest if those holders opt in to the new terms.

The plan also provides for a burn of up to 4.52 billion WLFI tokens, or 10% of the founder, team, adviser and partner allocation. Holders who do not accept the new vesting terms would remain locked indefinitely.

The move formalizes a phased unlock approach previously signaled by the project, offering a structured release of tokens while avoiding a near-term increase in supply. It comes as the Trump-linked platform faces growing pressure from holders and broader scrutiny of its governance.

Source: World Liberty Financial 

WLFI proposal follows backlash, governance scrutiny

The proposal follows mounting criticism from early WLFI buyers over prolonged lockups and limited liquidity. On April 10, the project said it would introduce the proposal after some holders threatened legal action. 

Additional scrutiny emerged around the platform’s governance structure and decision-making process.

On Monday, Tron founder Justin Sun, who previously invested $30 million in WLFI, criticized the platform over transparency concerns, alleging that prior governance votes were dominated by a small number of wallets and lacked meaningful participation. In response, WLFI threatened to file a lawsuit against Sun.

Related: Trump faces renewed backlash as Trump-linked crypto tokens hit lows

On the same day, Sun urged WLFI to disclose who controls key wallets tied to its smart contracts, warning that the setup could allow significant control, including the ability to freeze tokens. 

The proposal also follows recent concerns around WLFI’s treasury activity and market performance. On Saturday, WLFI fell to a new all-time low, just days after wallets linked to the project used billions of tokens as collateral to borrow about $75 million in stablecoins. 

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Only 4% of Danish citizens own cryptocurrencies, a figure that has remained unchanged since 2023 despite the global growth of the sector across Europe and other jurisdictions, according to a new staff paper from the country’s central bank published Wednesday.

The Danmarks Nationalbank staff paper, based on a survey conducted by Epinion, revealed that among those who do hold crypto, most maintain relatively small positions. The majority reported holdings below 10,000 Danish kroner (around $1,570), with total national holdings estimated between $317 million and $847 million.

The survey is based on responses from 3,013 citizens aged 15 and above. The data was gathered between October and November 2025 through Denmark’s Digital Post system, with options to respond online or by phone. The sample was weighted to reflect national demographics.

The findings show that Denmark sits at the lower end of crypto adoption compared to other European countries, where ownership rates are higher. Countries such as Norway, Finland and the United Kingdom report over 10% of their populations hold crypto assets.

Denmark has lower rate of crypto adoption compared to other countries. Source: Danmarks Nationalbank

Danmarks Nationalbank said Danish banks have historically taken a cautious approach to crypto assets, with most previously not allowing customers to buy them through bank platforms and often discouraging such investments as high risk. The paper also pointed to earlier asymmetric tax treatment as another factor weighing on adoption.

Related: EU adviser says ‘MiCA 2’ is likely as crypto market matures: PBW 2026

Crypto ownership in Denmark skews young and wealthy

Crypto ownership in Denmark is concentrated among younger and higher-income individuals, with participation dropping sharply among those over 60, the survey found.

The survey also revealed that crypto is primarily viewed as an investment rather than a means of payment. Actual usage for transactions remains rare, and only a small share of holders report using digital assets to pay for goods or services.

Source: Danmarks Nationalbank

The survey shows that 70%-75% of users store their assets with crypto asset service providers, while only about 20%-30% use self-hosted wallets for self-custody.

Indirect exposure through crypto-linked stocks and exchange-traded products has increased since 2023 but remains limited at around $211 million, or roughly 0.4% of total equity holdings.

Related: No, Denmark did not propose banning self-custody wallets

Danske Bank opens door to crypto investments

Earlier this year, Danske Bank, Denmark’s largest bank, began allowing customers to invest in crypto through exchange-traded products tied to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).

At the time, the bank said more clients are seeking crypto exposure as part of their portfolios, adding that stronger regulatory frameworks, particularly the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, have made it feasible to offer such investments.

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Update April 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m. UTC: This article has been updated to include a comment from a Fireblocks spokesperson.

Enterprise digital asset infrastructure platform Fireblocks said Wednesday it launched Earn, a feature that lets institutional clients route stablecoin balances into onchain lending strategies through Aave and Morpho-powered products.

The product launches with a Sentora-curated vault on Morpho and direct access to Aave’s stablecoin lending markets, according to Fireblocks. The company said Earn is available now in Early Access for Fireblocks customers.

Fireblocks said the feature is aimed at clients sitting on large idle stablecoin balances between settlement windows and deployment cycles. The company said it processed $6 trillion in stablecoin transfer volume in 2025 across more than 2,400 institutional clients, up 300% from a year earlier.

Fireblocks is the latest platform launching an institutional gateway product for decentralized lending, seeking to make idle stablecoin holdings more productive for institutions. Competing solutions for institutional stablecoin lending include Aave Horizon, Coinbase Prime, Anchorage Digital, Nexo Institutional and Spark Institutional Lending.

Fireblocks did not disclose a target yield. The company said any returns would be generated by the underlying protocols and would be variable, not guaranteed, and could be zero.

A spokesperson for Fireblocks told Cointelegraph that the platform saw “strong institutional demand” for curated stablecoin lending strategies and that institutions see lending as a “stepping stone toward broader onchain exposure,” including tokenized assets.

Top decentralized lending protocols. Source: DeFiLlama

Aave is the largest decentralized lending protocol with $25.9 billion in total value locked (TVL), followed by Morpho with $7.67 billion in TVL, according to DeFiLlama data.

Fireblocks targets idle stablecoin balances

Fireblocks said most institutional capital sits idle between deployment cycles and settlement windows, which inspired the new Earn product, according to Michael Shaulov, CEO and co-founder of Fireblocks.

“For the first time, institutions can put those balances to work through onchain lending strategies curated by established institutional names, inside the same platform, under the same controls they already run,” he said.

Related: Deutsche Börse invests $200 million in Kraken parent Payward

Fireblocks has been expanding its institutional services beyond just lending.

In October 2025, Fireblocks Trust Company teamed up with Galaxy, Bakkt, and others to launch a crypto custody framework operating under the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to meet soaring institutional demand, Cointelegraph reported.

On Jan. 7, 2026, Fireblocks acquired crypto accounting platform TRES for $130 million, tapping the company for its tax compliance infrastructure to support institutions.

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The US state of Virginia has approved changes to its unclaimed property framework, bringing digital assets under state custody rules while limiting how soon those assets can be sold.

On Monday, Governor Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 798 into law. The measure amends the state’s Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, requiring custodians of unclaimed crypto to transfer those assets in-kind, meaning in their original form, rather than liquidating them into cash.

The law also imposes a minimum one-year holding period before any sale. “The administrator may subsequently direct such holder of unclaimed digital assets to liquidate the reported but unremitted digital assets not less than one year following the filing of a report,” the bill reads.

By holding crypto in-kind, the state reduces the risk of forced sales at unfavorable prices or during downturns, offering potential upside for owners who later reclaim their assets.

With the measure, Virginia joins a growing group of states that have included digital assets within unclaimed property laws. In May last year, Katie Hobbs signed a law allowing Arizona to take ownership of unclaimed crypto after three years and place it into a state-managed reserve fund. California has also passed a bill bringing crypto under the state’s unclaimed property laws.

Source: Virginia Gov

Related: Alabama becomes second US state to grant DAOs legal status under DUNA

Virginia sets five-year clock for abandoned crypto accounts

The bill further clarifies when crypto accounts are deemed abandoned, setting a five-year inactivity period unless the owner shows signs of engagement, such as logging in or conducting transactions.

“Some good news out of Virginia,” Paul Grewal, chief legal officer of Coinbase, wrote on X, adding that the law “updates the state’s unclaimed property statute to cover digital assets and ensures they are escheated in-kind.”

Related: West Virginia lawmaker introduces bill to allow state crypto investments

Virginia Blockchain Council previously called the bill “an important step,” claiming that it “helps modernize Virginia’s financial laws and signals the Commonwealth’s continued engagement with emerging technologies.”

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