The shipping reroute highlights global trade vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for diversified routes and resilient supply chains.

The post Iran conflict reroutes shipping, Panama Canal lane prices soar 10x appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising tensions and stalled talks could further destabilize regional security, impacting global markets and diplomatic relations.

The post Iran claims US breaches stalling talks as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's stance complicates diplomatic efforts, impacting market confidence and necessitating strategic shifts in US-Iran relations.

The post Iran refuses to reopen Hormuz as US blockade persists appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The attack underscores the fragility of peace efforts and may destabilize market confidence in a near-term Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.

The post France mourns soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack in Lebanon appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The IRGC's actions heighten geopolitical tensions, impacting global shipping and market stability, with potential for rapid market shifts.

The post Iran’s IRGC seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

FBI Director Kash Patel To Speak at Bitcoin 2026 Conference About “Ending the War on Bitcoin”

A panel titled “Code Is Free Speech: Ending The War On Bitcoin” has been announced for Bitcoin 2026, bringing together three figures from law, government, and the Bitcoin industry.

The panel features FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal.

Kash Patel was confirmed as FBI Director by the Senate in February 2025 and has disclosed personal holdings in Bitcoin ETFs and Bitcoin miner Core Scientific. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directed the Department of Justice to end targeting of crypto mixers in April 2025, signaling a shift in how the DOJ approaches digital asset enforcement. Paul Grewal has served as Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer since 2020, previously serving as a U.S. federal magistrate judge for the Northern District of California and as Deputy General Counsel at Facebook, and has been engaged in discussions with regulators around legal frameworks for the digital asset industry.

Bitcoin 2026 attendees can look forward to a conversation on where federal policy and Bitcoin development intersect covering topics including developer rights, privacy tools, and the evolving enforcement landscape.

Bitcoin 2026 is Returning to Las Vegas

Bitcoin 2026 will take place April 27–29 at The Venetian, Las Vegas, and is expected to be the biggest Bitcoin event of the year.

Focused on the future of money, Bitcoin 2026 will bring together Bitcoin builders, investors, miners, policymakers, technologists, and newcomers from around the world. The event will feature a wide range of pass types, including general admission passes designed specifically for those new to Bitcoin, alongside premium passes for professionals, enterprises, and institutions.

With multiple stages, immersive experiences, technical workshops, and headline keynotes, Bitcoin 2026 is designed to serve both first-time attendees and long-time Bitcoiners shaping the next era of global adoption.

Past Bitcoin Conferences in the U.S.

Bitcoin’s flagship conference has scaled dramatically over the past five years:

• 2021 – Miami: 11,000 attendees
• 2022 – Miami: 26,000 attendees
• 2023 – Miami: 15,000 attendees
• 2024 – Nashville: 22,000 attendees
• 2025 – Las Vegas: 35,000 attendees

Get Your Bitcoin 2026 Pass

Bitcoin Magazine readers can save 10% on Bitcoin 2026 tickets using code ‘ARTICLE10‘ at checkout.

Stay at The official hotel of Bitcoin 2026, The Venetian, and get a guaranteed low rate plus 15% off your pass. Be in the middle of where the fun is all happening, and where the networking never ends.

And don’t forget:

Volunteer at Bitcoin 2026 and get Pro Pass access plus exclusive perks.

All students ages 13+ can apply for a Student Pass and get free general admission access to Bitcoin 2026.

Location: The Venetian, Las Vegas
Dates: April 27–29, 2026

For more information and exclusive offers, visit the Bitcoin Conference on X here.

Why Attend Bitcoin 2026?

Bitcoin 2026 is the definitive gathering for anyone serious about the future of money. With 500+ speakers, multiple world-class stages, and programming spanning Bitcoin fundamentals, open-source development, enterprise adoption, mining, energy, AI, policy, and culture, the conference brings every corner of the Bitcoin ecosystem together under one roof.

From headline keynotes on the Nakamoto Stage to deep technical sessions for builders, institutional strategy discussions for enterprises, and beginner-friendly Bitcoin 101 education, Bitcoin 2026 is designed for everyone—from first-time attendees to the leaders shaping Bitcoin’s global adoption.

Whether you’re looking to learn, build, invest, network, or influence, Bitcoin 2026 is where Bitcoin’s next chapter is written.

Bitcoin 2026 Pass Types: Something for Everyone

Bitcoin 2026 offers a range of pass options designed to meet the needs of newcomers, professionals, enterprises, and high-net-worth Bitcoiners alike.

Bitcoin 2026 General Admission Pass

Ideal for newcomers and those looking to experience the heart of the conference.

• Limited access on Days 2 & 3
• Entry to Main Stage
• Access to Genesis Stage
• Full access to the Expo Hall

Bitcoin 2026 Pro Pass

Designed for professionals, operators, and serious Bitcoin participants.

Includes all General Admission features, plus:

• Full 3-day access, including Pro Day
• Entry to the Pro Pass Reception
• Access to Enterprise Hall, Enterprise Stage, and Networking Lounge
• Conference App networking features
• Access to the Bitcoin For Corporations Symposium
• Entry to Compute Village and Energy Stage
• Complimentary lunch, coffee, tea, and snacks
• Dedicated registration and check-in
• Reserved seating at Main Stage
• Huge savings when you bundle your hotel and Pro Pass

Bitcoin 2026 Whale Pass

The all-inclusive, premium Bitcoin 2026 experience.

Includes all Pro Pass features, plus:

• Reserved seating at Main Stage
• All-inclusive gourmet food and beverages
• Entry to Whale Night and Whale Reception
• Access to all official after-parties
• Networking app access to connect with other Whales
• Premium access to The Deep — an exclusive networking lounge with intimate speaker sessions
• Complimentary stay at The Venetian when you bundle your whale pass and hotel (use promo code ‘WHALEHOTEL’ here)

This is the most immersive way to experience Bitcoin 2026.

Bitcoin 2026 After Hours Pass

Your ticket to the night.

Most deals are done with a drink in your hand. Get exclusive access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties across Las Vegas — each with a 2-hour open bar — where the real conversations happen and the best connections are made.

• Access to 3 official Bitcoin 2026 after-parties
• 2-hour open bar at each event
• Evening events across Las Vegas, April 27–29
• Network with Bitcoiners, builders, and industry leaders after hours

More headline speaker announcements are coming soon.

Don’t miss Bitcoin 2026.

This post FBI Director Kash Patel To Speak at Bitcoin 2026 Conference About “Ending the War on Bitcoin” first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

Bitcoin Magazine

The U.S. Military Is Running a Bitcoin Node, Admiral Paparo Reveals

The United States military has an active node on the Bitcoin network, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). The disclosure, made at a House Services committee hearing, marks the first known confirmation that a U.S. military combatant command is directly participating in the Bitcoin peer-to-peer network.

“We have a node on the Bitcoin network,” Paparo wrote. “We’re doing a number of operational tests to secure and protect networks using the Bitcoin protocol.”

The statement landed one day after Paparo made waves in Congress with testimony that framed Bitcoin as a tool of American power.

What Paparo said yesterday

On April 21, Paparo testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a FY2027 defense authorization hearing. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) asked Paparo whether U.S. leadership in Bitcoin could give the country an edge against China in the Indo-Pacific theater.

Paparo did not deflect. He told the committee that INDOPACOM’s research centers on Bitcoin as a computer science tool — not as a financial asset.

“Our research into Bitcoin is as a computer science tool,” Paparo said. “It’s the combination of cryptography, a blockchain, and a proof of work. And Bitcoin shows incredible potential as a computer science tool that through the proof-of-work protocols, actually imposes more cost than just the algorithmic securing of networks and our ability to operate.”

He described Bitcoin as “a peer-to-peer, zero-trust transfer of value” and said that “anything that supports all instruments of national power for the United States of America is to the good.”

The testimony was notable for what Paparo did not say. He did not describe Bitcoin as a reserve asset, a payment system, or a speculative instrument. He framed it as a computer science system with direct military relevance — a distinction that set his remarks apart from most official government commentary on crypto.

What running a Bitcoin node means

A Bitcoin node is a computer that runs the Bitcoin software, maintains a full copy of the blockchain, and independently validates every transaction and block against the network’s consensus rules. Nodes do not mine Bitcoin. They enforce the rules of the protocol and relay data across the peer-to-peer network.

Running a node gives an operator direct, trustless access to the Bitcoin network without relying on any third party. The operator’s computer connects to other nodes worldwide, verifies incoming transactions and blocks, and rejects anything that violates Bitcoin’s protocol rules.

For INDOPACOM, operating a node positions the command as a first-hand participant in the Bitcoin network, not an observer.

The disclosure that the military is conducting “operational tests to secure and protect networks using the Bitcoin protocol” suggests the command is moving beyond theoretical research and into active experimentation with Bitcoin’s cryptographic architecture as a defensive tool.

As of early 2026, there are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 publicly reachable full nodes on the Bitcoin network, though the actual number is likely higher since many nodes operate behind firewalls and are not publicly visible.

Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.

This post The U.S. Military Is Running a Bitcoin Node, Admiral Paparo Reveals first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

“Bitcoin as Everyday Money” Event to Rally Industry Behind De Minimis Tax Framework at Bitcoin 2026

Bitcoin for Financial Services will host “Bitcoin as Everyday Money,” a live event and livestream, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT at The Venetian’s Satoshi Social Room (Rooms 2002–2004) during Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas. 

Capped at 100 in-person attendees and streamed globally via TFTC, the event invites policy leaders, industry executives, and business owners around a single objective: “getting a Bitcoin de minimis tax exemption passed in this Congress”, according to a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine.

The event is headlined by Janessa Lopez, Head of Digital Assets Policy at Block, and David Zell, President of the Bitcoin Policy Institute. Lopez and Zell will open with a fireside chat on the state of play in Washington, sharing what they’ve seen behind closed doors on the Hill and the real probability of legislation passing in 2026. 

Lopez will follow with a live “BTC is Money” demonstration, showing how a small business can accept Bitcoin at the point of sale through Square — and what that experience looks like for a customer spending Bitcoin on a cup of coffee or paying a plumber. An audience Q&A and networking reception will close the program, which runs from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PT. The event is hosted by Wyatt O’Rourke and Jordan Guess of Bitcoin for Financial Services.

De Minimis Tax Framework at Bitcoin 2026

The event builds on a January 12, 2026, coalition letter sent to Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, co-signed by the Bitcoin Policy Institute, Block, Bitcoin Voter Project, Crypto Council for Innovation, The Digital Chamber, MoonPay, and River. 

The letter lays out a three-pillar framework for digital asset tax policy: 

• (1) cash-like treatment for GENIUS-compliant payment stablecoins with no transaction or annual limits.
• (2) de minimis relief extended to “qualifying network digital assets” on blockchains with a trailing six-month average market capitalization above $25 billion — a threshold designed to capture Bitcoin while excluding thinly traded or speculative assets. 
• (3) a value-based threshold of $600 per transaction and $20,000 per year, rather than a gain-based test that would require taxpayers to track cost basis on every coffee purchase.

“That framework responds directly to pending Washington proposals that would limit de minimis relief to stablecoins only” said the press release — an approach the coalition argues would leave the underlying compliance burden “largely unmitigated”, because every stablecoin payment still requires a taxable Bitcoin or Ethereum fee transaction to move on-chain.

The debate has spilled into public view, most notably in a March 2026 exchange between Block CEO Jack Dorsey and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong over whether Bitcoin was being actively excluded from de minimis discussions. Dorsey has been clear about what he believes is at stake, telling the Presidio Bitcoin podcast last year: “I think it has to be payments for it to be relevant on the everyday… if it doesn’t transition to payments and find that everyday use case, it just gets increasingly irrelevant. And that’s failure to me.”

“We see it with our clients all the time where they would love to spend their Bitcoin to further a circular Bitcoin economy, but the tax reporting requirements in place make this overburdensome for the masses, and therefore they still tend to only spend dollars,” said Jordan Guess, co-founder of Bitcoin for Financial Services. He added that, “We would like to see a free market decide what money they deem best to spend, without having the government favor one currency over another with the burden of self-tracking and reporting transactions on a decentralized Bitcoin ledger.”

The event is produced in partnership with Block, the Bitcoin Policy Institute, and BTC Inc., with sponsorship from Satoshi Pacioli Accounting, Bitcoin Well, and Falcon Rappaport & Berkman. TFTC will livestream the full program on its YouTube channel at youtube.com/@TFTC. Attendees will leave with a concrete call to action — including a unified script for contacting their representatives and a pointer to btcismoney.xyz as the organizing hub for the broader effort.

Registration for in-person attendance is open at luma.com/sy4ghp9o. Remote viewers can tune in via TFTC on YouTube at 10:00 AM PT on April 28. With the 2026 legislative window narrowing and Congress turning its attention to the midterms, the coalition’s message is urgent: “the path to Bitcoin functioning as everyday money in the United States runs through de minimis tax reform, and it runs through this Congress.”

This post “Bitcoin as Everyday Money” Event to Rally Industry Behind De Minimis Tax Framework at Bitcoin 2026 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Bitcoin Magazine

U.S. Treasury Secretary Presses Senate to Pass Crypto Market Structure Legislation

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a Senate panel Wednesday that passing comprehensive crypto legislation is essential to securing U.S. financial leadership and protecting the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency, using an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government to amplify a push for legislation that has stalled on Capitol Hill for months.

Bessent testified at a hearing reviewing President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the Department of the Treasury. During the session, a senator on the Agriculture Committee raised Bessent’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed on crypto policy, noting support for the market structure bill that cleared the Agriculture panel in January.

“When the United States leads in best practices, safety and soundness in the financial world — whether it’s our banking system, our securities, or now digital assets — it’s important for the U.S. to lead,” Bessent said. 

He framed U.S. leadership in digital assets as both an economic and national security imperative, arguing it would reinforce the primacy of the dollar as the global reserve currency and bring cryptocurrency activity under domestic anti-money laundering and know-your-customer frameworks.

Bessent also characterized digital assets as a critical payments technology, calling blockchain a “payment rail” where American dominance is achievable and necessary. “We are the technological leader in the world. We should be the payments leader in the world,” he said during the hearing.

Where current crypto legislation stands

The road to a comprehensive crypto market structure law remains fractured. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act — commonly known as the CLARITY Act — passed the House in July 2025 by a 294-134 vote and was referred to the Senate Banking Committee that September. 

Meanwhile, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its own version, the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, in a party-line vote of 12-11 in January 2026. That bill would expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authority to regulate digital commodity spot markets.

The two chambers’ versions must ultimately be reconciled before a final bill can reach the president’s desk. The Senate Banking Committee has not yet scheduled its markup, having delayed action while focused on housing legislation. The senator in the hearing acknowledged ongoing work to ensure the CFTC is fully constituted and adequately resourced before a final deal is reached.

In his April 8 Wall Street Journal opinion piece — referenced in the hearing exchange — Bessent warned that regulatory uncertainty has pushed crypto development to jurisdictions with clear rules, citing Abu Dhabi and Singapore as examples. “A growing share of crypto development has relocated to places with clear rules,” Bessent wrote, adding that “the benefits of domiciling in the U.S. rarely outweighed the risks”.

Wednesday’s testimony reflects a broader strategy by the Trump administration to build on momentum from the GENIUS Act, the stablecoin regulation law signed into law in July 2025. 

Bipartisan support remains a central challenge. The Senate Agriculture Committee’s January vote advanced along party lines after months of negotiations between Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) and ranking Democrat Cory Booker (D-N.J.) failed to produce a deal.

 Bessent, in the hearing, said he believed outstanding issues — including CFTC staffing and resources — could be resolved to produce bipartisan agreement, calling that outcome “very, very important.”

This post U.S. Treasury Secretary Presses Senate to Pass Crypto Market Structure Legislation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Russia’s Sberbank Ready to Enter Crypto Trading as Russia Moves Toward Regulation

Sberbank will provide access to crypto trading once regulation and organized exchange trading begin, Senior Vice President and Head of Wealth Management Ruslan Vesterovsky said at the Moscow Exchange forum, according to Russia’s TASS.

The Bank of Russia maintains a view of cryptocurrencies as a high-risk instrument under its policy framework.

In December 2025, the Bank of Russia published a concept for domestic cryptocurrency regulation that allows qualified and non-qualified investors to buy crypto assets. The concept defines digital currencies and stablecoins as currency assets permitted for sale and purchase, while domestic payments with them remain prohibited.

Under the proposal, non-qualified investors may access the most liquid cryptocurrencies after passing a test and within an annual limit of 300,000 rubles through a single intermediary.

Sberbank stated it will be prepared to provide clients access once regulation is enacted and exchange trading starts, in coordination with other market participants and regulators.

In 2025, Sberbank expanded digital financial asset issuance to 408 billion rubles, a level that exceeds 2024 output by a wide margin and reflects strong growth from 2023.

The bank issued a pilot crypto-backed loan to Intelion Data in December 2025, secured by mined bitcoin, and used a proprietary custody system for collateral storage. 

Authorities expect completion of legislation governing digital assets by July 1, 2026.

Russia’s crypto legislation bill

Earlier today, Russia’s State Duma advanced a sweeping crypto regulation bill in its first reading, with 327 of 340 deputies voting in favor. The proposed law, introduced by the government of Russia, establishes a comprehensive framework for issuing, trading, and storing digital currencies under licensed intermediaries supervised by the Bank of Russia.

It classifies cryptocurrency as property—allowing its use in legal disputes—while maintaining a ban on domestic payments but permitting cross-border transactions. 

The bill also introduces investor tiers, stricter controls on peer-to-peer activity, and a regulated custody system, alongside requirements for mining operations to use domestic infrastructure. 

Lawmakers still need to pass two additional readings, with some officials calling for revisions over concerns about market restrictions and asset protections.

Editorial Disclaimer: We leverage AI as part of our editorial workflow, including to support research, image generation, and quality assurance processes. All content is directed, reviewed, and approved by our editorial team, who are accountable for accuracy and integrity. AI-generated images use only tools trained on properly license material. In Bitcoin, as in media: Don’t trust. Verify.

This post Russia’s Sberbank Ready to Enter Crypto Trading as Russia Moves Toward Regulation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin is accelerating toward the $80,000 threshold as market participants navigate a complex intersection of Middle Eastern geopolitics, shifting monetary policy regimes, and a heavily skewed derivatives market.

Data from CryptoSlate shows that the digital asset's surge from recent lows was driven by the temporary diplomatic relief between the US and Iran.

However, the underlying structural data suggests the current price action is as much about forced liquidations as it is about macroeconomic optimism.

Ceasefire relief lifts Bitcoin, but Hormuz risk stays in play

The immediate catalyst for the market’s recovery was President Donald Trump’s Tuesday announcement extending the United States ceasefire with Iran by two weeks.

Framing the government in Tehran as heavily fractured, the Trump administration granted additional time for diplomats to present a unified proposal to halt the broader conflict.

This diplomatic pause previously triggered a substantial relief rally across digital assets. Since the initial announcement last week, Bitcoin has aggressively surged 7% to trade as high as $79,470 as of press time. It has slightly retraced to $78,200 as of press time.

The price performance has helped subdue the immediate panic that gripped markets after Iran initially rejected a second round of peace talks.

However, Iran's continued objections show that the underlying macroeconomic threat is still very much alive.

MasoudPezeshkian, the President of Iran, claimed that “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations.”

He added:

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains operationally impaired following its closure on April 18, and the US blockade on Iranian ports remains strictly enforced.

For digital assets, this structural overhang of a geopolitical escalation continues to cap risk appetites.

Fed handover becomes the next market variable

As geopolitical anxieties continue to rise, the imminent regime change at the Federal Reserve is rapidly becoming the next critical variable for risk assets.

With current Chair Jerome Powell’s term ending soon, markets are actively studying what a post-Powell central bank could look like under the leadership of nominee Kevin Warsh.

Following his Tuesday confirmation hearings, institutional desks are not simply labeling Warsh as “dovish”; rather, they are analyzing a fundamental restructuring of the central bank's operating mechanics.

During his testimony, Warsh argued for a significantly different inflation framework. He dismissed the rigidity of a 2% spreadsheet target in favor of assessing how inflation impacts consumers at the “dinner table,” suggesting an overhaul of data collection methods.

Furthermore, Warsh explicitly criticized the practice of forward guidance, arguing that telegraphing rate moves handcuffs the Fed from reacting dynamically to changing economic realities.

He also outlined a clear preference for utilizing interest rates as the primary policy tool over balance-sheet activism, noting that asset purchases disproportionately benefit wealthier investors.

Consequently, traders are beginning to price in the possibility of a more agile, forward-looking Federal Reserve. Thomas Perfumo, Kraken's Chief Economist, said:

“Warsh laid the foundation for a more agile, less bureaucratic Fed — one that could move on rate cuts sooner than expected. While this wasn't a back-the-truck moment for risk assets, I think it was a positive signal on balance.”

So, even if an immediate rate cut is not guaranteed at the upcoming April 28 meeting, the prospect of a less bureaucratic institution that responds quickly to shifting economic data is being interpreted as a net positive for liquidity-dependent assets like Bitcoin.

Negative funding and tighter supply are setting up a squeeze

While macroeconomic and geographical variables provide the backdrop, the internal mechanics of the cryptocurrency market explain how Bitcoin can move higher even without clean macroeconomic confirmation.

The current rally is being heavily subsidized by a severely offside derivatives market.

According to data from Alphractal, Bitcoin funding rates have plunged to their most negative levels since 2023, with the seven-day moving average hitting -0.005%. The prevailing sentiment among retail participants is dominated by short bias, fear, and disbelief.

Historically, such extreme positioning, seen previously during the March 2020 crash and the post-FTX collapse, has reliably signaled a local bottom as the market runs out of willing sellers.

Related Reading

Bitcoin only 21 days away from real bull market rally? Shorts pile in just as spot demand starts pushing back

Bitcoin funding is extremely negative even as spot ETFs quietly pour hundreds of millions back into BTC.

Apr 22, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Simultaneously, BTC's exchange supply is tightening at an aggressive pace. Exchange reserves have plummeted to a seven-year low, and global net flows are registering a deep deficit.

Data from CryptoQuant indicates that a “Squeeze Risk Oscillator” tracking major exchanges has reached 0.7925, sitting virtually at the exhaustion alert level.

This combination of extreme short bias and an accelerated drought in exchange inventories has created a volatile powder keg.

Over the past 24 hours, approximately $300 million in short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass data.

As BTC prices rise, traders holding leveraged short positions are forced to buy back their contracts to cover their losses, generating artificial demand. This forced repositioning is currently the primary engine driving Bitcoin toward the $80,000 mark.

The real test sits above $80,000

Despite the momentum generated by forced liquidations, the market's ultimate trajectory depends on how it interacts with massive overhead supply.

CryptoQuant data shows the real test for Bitcoin sits firmly above the $80,000 threshold, where behavioral economics and historical cost bases will dictate the next directional move.

Two of the most influential marginal buyer cohorts are currently testing their break-even points. As of this week, the realized price for Bitcoin exchange-traded fund investors stands at approximately $76,400.

Similarly, short-term whales, which are entities holding substantial volume acquired in recent months, have a realized price hovering near $79,600. Both cohorts have been deeply underwater for months, carrying billions of dollars in unrealized losses.

Because of this, $80,000 acts as the first major decision point. When trapped capital finally reaches equilibrium, distribution pressure typically emerges as investors rush to exit positions without taking a loss.

However, an even larger structural wall looms slightly higher. The realized price for the broader cohort of all short-term holders is currently pinned at $83,055.60.

The market is now entering a critical proving ground. If Bitcoin can successfully absorb the anticipated selling pressure from these cohorts and hold above the $83,000 level, the current rally will look increasingly durable, signaling that heavy overhead resistance has flipped to structural support.

Conversely, if the price rejects violently at these thresholds, the entire move will start to look like a temporary relief squeeze into supply, exposing the asset to a deeper, drawn-out capitulation.

The post Bitcoin’s uptrend towards $80,000 is increasingly attracting bears – but they keep losing appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Top prediction market platforms, including Kalshi and Polymarket, are rushing to offer highly leveraged crypto derivatives at the exact moment state and federal authorities are clashing in court over whether the industry’s core products constitute illegal betting or legitimate financial instruments.

Over the past year, these companies have gained national prominence by facilitating wagers on discrete, real-world occurrences, ranging from political races to macroeconomic data releases.

Now, by preparing to list perpetual futures, which are complex contracts that never expire and allow traders to multiply their market exposure using borrowed funds, these platforms are blurring the line between niche forecasting hubs and full-service digital asset exchanges.

Against this backdrop, this shift drastically expands their potential customer base, but it also amplifies the legal risks associated with the platforms.

Perpetuals push prediction venues toward full-time trading

Historically, platforms like Kalshi operated on a cyclical, event-driven basis, with traffic and trading volume spiking around major catalysts such as a presidential debate or a championship sporting event and then plummeting once the outcome was settled.

In this kind of market, a user purchased a binary “Yes” or “No” share, and the contract expired upon the event's resolution.

Perpetual futures fundamentally alter that business model. Because these derivatives lack an expiration date, participants can maintain their market positions indefinitely, provided they meet ongoing margin requirements.

The instruments frequently allow users to leverage their bets up to 50 times their initial capital, attracting aggressive speculators seeking rapid returns from minute price fluctuations.

By rolling out these derivatives, Polymarket and Kalshi are abandoning their siloed event-contract operations to compete directly with centralized exchanges and retail brokerages. The underlying strategy for both platforms is to convert occasional political bettors into daily, high-frequency traders.

While Kalshi has explicitly stated its intention to enter the perpetuals arena, Polymarket’s exact roadmap remains guarded, including which specific assets it will cover and whether it will restrict access for US customers.

Why perps, why now?

The motivation to embrace this new feature comes down to basic market structure.

Traditional crypto spot trading, which is the simple buying and holding of digital assets, has decelerated from the frenzied peaks of previous market cycles, logging $18.6 trillion in volume last year.

Meanwhile, perpetual futures generated more than three times that amount. Data from CryptoQuant show that the global trading volume for crypto perpetual futures hit $61.7 trillion last year.

That volume disparity dictates corporate strategy. Platforms recognize that to maintain engagement during periods of low volatility, they must offer instruments that allow users to short the market, hedge portfolios, and employ leverage.

While prediction markets currently command significant capital, with all-time notional volume surpassing $150 billion, the episodic nature of event contracts cannot match the continuous, around-the-clock fee generation of a highly active derivatives order book.

Moreover, the broader financial technology sector is experiencing a rapid collapse of operational boundaries, with centralized platforms like Robinhood, Coinbase, and Gemini all embracing event-based offerings.

Mo Shaikh, co-founder of the Aptos blockchain network, noted that financial applications have historically trended toward consolidation, citing the expansions of legacy platforms like PayPal. However, he warned that forcing disparate user bases into a single application rarely succeeds seamlessly.

“The trader, the bettor, the long-term investor, the payments user, they show up for different reasons,” Shaikh said, adding that true value lies in controlling the underlying infrastructure. “Clearing, liquidity, identity, settlement, data, those layers can unify even if the frontends remain fragmented.”

Meanwhile, the shift among prediction market players is partially defensive.

Offshore decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, a dominant force in perpetual futures, recently encroached on the prediction sector by revealing plans to list its own event contracts.

As a result, the market is split on who holds the strategic advantage in the ensuing turf war.

Jiani Chen, a growth officer with the Solana Foundation, noted the technical disparities, arguing that decentralized derivatives exchanges have a much easier time adding prediction markets to their backend than prediction platforms do spinning up complex futures trading engines.

However, Kyle Samani, chairman of Forward Industries, dismissed the technical hurdles, arguing that customer acquisition is the true bottleneck for digital asset platforms. He said:

“It's way harder to bootstrap liquidity and acquire normie users for prediction markets. Kalshi perps are going to crush.”

The legal fight is still about who gets to call it gambling

The aggressive product expansion coincides with an existential legal threat as state regulators are launching coordinated efforts to classify the prediction platforms as unlicensed casinos, rejecting the premise that event contracts are sophisticated financial tools.

On April 21, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed sweeping lawsuits against digital asset firms Coinbase and Gemini, demanding $3.4 billion in combined penalties and restitution.

James alleged the companies bypass state taxes and consumer protection laws by offering prediction markets to retail users, including minors.

State officials pointed to research by the National Institutes of Health linking early exposure to mobile betting with heightened risks of anxiety and financial distress, while noting American Psychological Association data showing severe mental health risks associated with gambling disorders.

James said:

“Gambling by another name is still gambling, and it is not exempt from regulation under our state laws and Constitution.”

The industry firmly rejects the gambling label, countering that the contracts are vital instruments for hedging geopolitical and economic risks.

The CFTC has backed this interpretation by asserting exclusive federal jurisdiction over the sector. In a bid to block state-level interference, the federal agency recently filed lawsuits against authorities in Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois.

The judiciary is already untangling the overlapping claims. A federal appeals court in Philadelphia ruled against New Jersey gaming regulators earlier this year, determining the CFTC held sole regulatory authority over Kalshi's election and sports-related contracts.

This sequence of litigation reflects a deeply fractured regulatory perimeter that companies must navigate as they deploy new derivative products.

A bigger market, and a bigger regulatory target

The move into perpetual futures would further position prediction markets as part of mainstream financial infrastructure rather than a niche corner of online speculation.

That shift is already drawing attention from traditional finance. The Intercontinental Exchange, parent of the New York Stock Exchange, recently invested $2 billion in Polymarket, a sign that major market operators see commercial value in platforms built around event-driven pricing.

Supporters of the model argue that prediction markets are proving useful as both forecasting tools and trading venues.

In high-liquidity markets, Brier scores, a standard measure of probabilistic accuracy, have fallen as low as 0.0247 shortly before resolution, suggesting pricing errors narrow sharply as capital and participation deepen. Industry estimates also show that about 10% of proprietary trading firms are already active in event contracts, using them in part to hedge macro and policy risk.

That combination of data value and trading activity helps explain why platforms are racing to broaden their product mix.

Rob Hadick, managing partner at Dragonfly, framed the commercial logic bluntly:

“Owning your customer will be the only way to have longevity in this new world of broad financialization.”

However, not everyone sees perpetual futures as the natural next step.

Alex Momot, chief executive and co-founder of Peanut Trade, told CryptoSlate that the current push looks more like a response to tightening legal pressure than a durable product strategy.

He noted that regulators and some jurisdictions are moving against prediction markets, and as a result, these operators appear to be shifting closer to the crypto-exchange model, where the rules are clearer, and the risk of being classified as gambling is lower.

Momot argued that strategy may offer only limited relief. In his view, the deeper problem is liquidity. Without more depth, many of the sector’s most promising use cases, including hedging and insurance against real-world event risk, remain too small to scale.

He said the stronger long-term path may lie in index-style products, market aggregation, and pooled liquidity across events, structures that could make prediction markets look more like traditional derivatives or synthetic exposures.

That viewpoint points to a broader tension now shaping the industry. One camp sees perpetual futures as the fastest way to capture more trading volume and keep users active between headline-driven events. Another sees them as a tactical detour from the harder task of building deeper, more resilient liquidity.

Either way, the legal risk is rising. Dyma Budorin, founder and chief executive of CORE3, said the merging of prediction and derivatives markets is likely to draw closer scrutiny from regulators already struggling to define the sector.

He said:

“What we’re really seeing is a convergence toward perp-like behavior without the corresponding risk controls. If this trend continues, regulators won’t treat prediction markets as harmless forecasting tools, they’ll treat them as derivatives platforms operating outside the rules. And historically, that doesn’t end quietly.”

The New York litigation has already ensured that the fight over jurisdiction will remain central to the industry’s future. That battle could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court or force Congress to step in with a clearer statutory framework.

Until then, prediction-market operators appear willing to keep expanding through the uncertainty, betting that the commercial upside of perpetual futures is worth the legal exposure.

The post New York demands $3.4B in crypto fines: Inside the fight to turn prediction apps into nonstop leverage casinos appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin is approaching a point where the market may have to choose between two very different outcomes. Traders are still paying to stay short, yet price, ETF flows, and market leadership are no longer behaving as if the market were stuck in a collapse.

In a recent X post, Alphractal analysts argued that Bitcoin funding rates had reached their most negative level since 2023 and said its proprietary models were pointing to a possible local bottom.

Using its ‘Market Capitulation Oscillator and Tactical Bull-Bear Sentiment Index', they argued that it had dropped into the same extreme zone that had previously appeared near major Bitcoin lows.

In the chart below, the sentiment index falls into deep troughs around earlier cycle washouts, including the 2015 bear-market bottom, the late-2018 capitulation, and the 2022 low.

The latest reading shows the indicator back in that same lower band, which supports the broader argument that market positioning has again reached an unusually stressed level.

Thus, Bitcoin seems to be trading in a zone that has previously coincided with capitulation and eventual reversal. Other market data tells a similar story.

Crypto.com said the seven-day average funding rate fell to roughly -0.008% on April 18, the weakest reading since 2023, while Glassnode said negative funding persisted even as Bitcoin stabilized and spot conditions improved.

That leaves the market in an unusual state. Bitcoin may be emerging from a positioning washout that can support a tradable rebound, or the same macro pressures that drove the drawdown may still be strong enough to force one more deeper leg lower.

CryptoSlate's Bitcoin price page shows BTC at $78,951 on April 22, up 12.37% over 30 days, with 60.1% market dominance. The market is not showing the conditions of a broad speculative breakout, but it is showing an asset regaining leadership while conviction elsewhere remains thin.

That distinction is central to the real question. Bitcoin can be closer to a durable low while the rest of crypto remains unready for a full bull-market expansion.

Why the bottoming case has become harder to dismiss

The bullish argument is gaining support from the way spot demand has held up while derivatives positioning remains defensive.

Glassnode described a market where perpetual-futures funding stayed negative even as Bitcoin tried to recover from its drawdown. Sustained negative funding can become fuel for upside when shorts grow crowded, and price starts moving against them, though it also shows that leveraged conviction remains cautious.

The signal gets more interesting because the price has stopped following the same bearish script. Bitcoin is trading less like an asset trapped in one-way liquidation and more like one that has found buyers willing to absorb macro fear.

Those buyers are showing up in one of the cycle's most important channels, the ETF complex. According to Farside Investors, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $411.4 million on April 14, $663.9 million on April 17, and another $238.4 million on April 20.

That flow pattern shows that larger allocators did not vanish when the market turned tense.

The rebound also looks more credible because it follows a real institutional reset. By the start of March, spot Bitcoin ETFs had already experienced a five-week outflow streak totaling roughly $3.8 billion, before flows began to recover in early March.

That earlier washout helps define the current setup. Institutions appear to have de-risked and are now re-engaging more selectively.

If that process continues while funding stays negative or only gradually normalizes, the short side becomes more vulnerable to a squeeze than the current mood implies. That is the strongest version of the bottoming case, and it does not require declaring that a full-cycle bull market has already begun.

Why macro and policy still cap the upside

The market will now decide whether a tactical rebound can turn into something broader and more durable. That is where the constraints become harder to ignore.

The IMF's April 2026 World Economic Outlook warned that a longer or broader conflict, worsening geopolitical fragmentation, and renewed trade tensions could significantly weaken growth and destabilize financial markets. That warning lands directly on top of Bitcoin's current recovery attempt.

A market can squeeze higher on positioning stress. Sustaining a broad bull phase is harder if the global macro backdrop continues to deteriorate.

The rates picture reinforces that ceiling. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's March 18 meeting showed the committee kept the federal funds target range at 3.5% to 3.75% and remained focused on incoming data and the balance of risks.

That is still far from the kind of aggressive easing cycle that has historically helped high-beta assets reprice higher with conviction. Coinbase Research reached a similar conclusion in its April outlook, arguing that near-term crypto price action was being driven more by macro headlines than by crypto-native catalysts.

That leaves Bitcoin in a narrow but important window. It looks more resilient than the derivatives market expected, but it does not yet look insulated from the wider economy.

If conflict risk worsens, if energy prices tighten financial conditions further, or if rate expectations move in a more restrictive direction, the recovery can still lose altitude quickly.

Why the next bull phase may start narrow

The structure of the broader crypto market also argues against calling an immediate full-spectrum bull market. Bitcoin's dominance above 60%, according to CryptoSlate's market data, suggests that leadership remains concentrated in the market's most liquid asset.

That usually happens when investors are favoring liquidity and perceived quality over broader risk. It fits the current environment and the policy backdrop.

The SEC's crypto task force page shows a regulatory process that is active, public, but still incomplete. In Europe, the MiCA transition period expires on July 1, 2026, after which firms serving EU clients without authorization will be in breach of EU law.

That is a more formal setting than the looser regulatory periods that powered earlier crypto rallies. The market is maturing, but under closer supervision.

At the same time, money within crypto continues to flow through the industry's plumbing. Stablecoin supply has climbed to a record $320 billion, with USDT and USDC dominating liquidity even as Washington continued to wrestle with market-structure legislation.

That proves the current crypto zeitgeist is still centered on Bitcoin, stablecoins, and regulated rails rather than on broad speculative breadth.

If a larger bull phase eventually develops, it may begin from that narrower base instead of arriving all at once across the risk curve.

For now, Bitcoin looks closer to a tradable bottom than the derivatives crowd expected, but the market has not yet earned a full bull-market verdict.

Alphractal's chart shows its sentiment Index plunging to extreme lows near several major Bitcoin troughs, indicating sentiment and positioning appear to be back in a historical capitulation zone rather than at an ordinary dip.

Still, a static chart can support the pattern qualitatively, but it is not precise enough on its own to verify the timing language for local bottoms forming within 21 days.

The next test is clear. If ETF inflows continue to build, if funding remains negative or only slowly normalizes, and if macro stress stabilizes, the case for a durable bottom strengthens.

If inflows fade or geopolitical and rate pressure intensify again, the current rebound will look more like a squeeze than the first leg of a new bull market.

The post Bitcoin only 21 days away from real bull market rally? Shorts pile in just as spot demand starts pushing back appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Kalshi is reportedly preparing to offer US crypto perpetual futures, while Polymarket announced today that perpetual contracts are coming to its platform and opened early access sign-ups.

Hyperliquid's docs support outcome token trading alongside its mainnet-deployed perpetuals via the Hyperliquid Improvement Proposal 4 (HIP-4).

Pump.fun has evolved over the past few years into a social trading environment where users can browse coins, follow creators, watch livestreams, and swap tokens without leaving the app.

The common denominator across all four platforms is a logic of keeping users in a continuous speculative loop, capturing every stage of their risk appetite, and making the exit cost high enough that they never need to go elsewhere.

The economics driving the convergence

Hyperliquid currently posts roughly $191 billion in 30-day perp volume, $61 million in 30-day fees, and about $7.35 billion in open interest, equivalent to an implied gross fee rate of around 3.1 basis points.

For event markets, Clear Street estimates 2026 volumes of $96 billion for Kalshi and $84 billion for Polymarket, with take rates of approximately 2% and 0.5%, respectively.

At those rates, Kalshi-style event flow generates roughly 64 times as much revenue per notional dollar as Hyperliquid's perp flow, and Polymarket-style flow comes in at about 16 times richer.

A perp exchange adding event contracts seeks to attract higher-margin flow from the same users it already has, while a prediction market platform moving into perpetuals adds a continuous-revenue layer to a business that otherwise earns only when discrete events resolve.

The Financial Times reported in March that 5-minute and 15-minute crypto bets on Polymarket and Kalshi were generating roughly $70 million in daily trading volume and accounted for more than half of total trading on those platforms.

Short-duration contracts now account for the majority of trading activity on both platforms, and their dominance helps explain why Hyperliquid's testnet docs include a recurring HYPE price binary with a 3-minute settlement period.

The direction of travel across every major venue runs toward shorter, more repeatable, more monetizable cycles.

The convergence moment

Hyperliquid built its identity on permissionless perpetuals and the deepest on-chain order book in crypto. Its mainnet HIP-3 protocol lets builders deploy custom perp contracts without approval.

Its testnet now documents outcome token trading with fee structures that charge only on closing or settlement, an architecture that makes event contracts cheap to open and costly to walk away from.

Mainnet deployment of outcome contracts sits one decision away, since the fee structure, settlement logic, and contract architecture are already documented.

Kalshi built its position through regulated event contracts under CFTC oversight, running crypto predictions across weekly and monthly horizons, and winning a federal legal fight when the Third Circuit ruled that federal derivatives law preempts New Jersey's attempt to block its sports event contracts.

Kalshi is now reportedly preparing to add crypto perpetual futures, importing the always-on leveraged product that made crypto venues sticky.

Polymarket completed the picture with its announcement, stating that users can now “lever” the future, while entering perpetual futures and opening early access sign-ups.

The platform already runs 5-minute and 15-minute Bitcoin directional markets alongside longer-horizon political and macro questions, conditioning its user base toward short-duration, high-frequency speculation.

Perpetuals extend that behavior into a continuous loop, as two of the largest prediction market platforms now explicitly target the same product stack that made crypto perp venues dominant.

Pump.fun closes the loop from the issuance side. Its Android app packages coin creation, creator following, livestream discovery, and memecoin trading into a single interface. Its own disclosures describe memecoins as “for entertainment purposes only.”

That language functions as a positioning statement about what the platform actually sells.

The regulatory fault line

The regulatory environment beneath this convergence is an active collision between two frameworks with incompatible premises.

On Mar. 12, the CFTC opened an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on prediction markets and asserted exclusive federal jurisdiction over them.

On Apr. 6, the Third Circuit sided with Kalshi on jurisdictional grounds, though the dissenting judge wrote that Kalshi's offerings were virtually indistinguishable from sportsbook gambling.

On Apr. 21, New York's attorney general sued Coinbase and Gemini, arguing that their prediction market products constitute illegal gambling under state law and are accessible to users aged 18 to 20.

CME's Terry Duffy has publicly called for clearer rules distinguishing event contracts from gambling, even as CME launched an event contract platform with FanDuel.

Federal derivatives logic treats these instruments as market infrastructure, while state gambling logic treats them as wagering products requiring casino-style licensing.

As more features get bundled into fewer platforms, every new product launch becomes a jurisdictional question.

Polymarket's announcement sharpens that problem considerably. Its existing short-duration crypto markets already sit in regulatory ambiguity, and layering perpetuals onto a product set that state attorneys general are actively framing as gambling only deepens the exposure.

The roads ahead

If the CFTC's rulemaking produces workable definitions and preemptive clarity, the onshore super app model accelerates. Kalshi adds perpetuals, Hyperliquid extends its outcome infrastructure to mainnet, and Polymarket's perp launch deepens a product stack already used by millions for short-horizon bets.

Distribution partnerships normalize prediction markets as a standard brokerage feature, such as Plus500 distributing Kalshi contracts, and Fox is integrating Kalshi data. In that environment, the venue that bundles perps, event contracts, and asset creation into one interface captures a dominant share of retail speculative attention.

Bitcoin functions as the bridge asset, serving simultaneously as a perpetual underlying and a prediction market feed.

The bear case runs through the states. If New York's lawsuit succeeds or inspires coordinated enforcement by other attorneys general, Polymarket's perp expansion becomes an immediate target.

Separating high-risk prediction products from core trading to satisfy different regulatory regimes simultaneously becomes the only viable path.

The venues that built compliance moats early would hold structural advantages. At the same time, those that relied on regulatory ambiguity would face hard choices about which license to choose and which products to cut.

Bitcoin sits at the center of this race because it is the most liquid asset across all of these platforms.

Every new user who understands directional Bitcoin price movement can immediately engage with a 15-minute contract on Polymarket, a Bitcoin perp on Hyperliquid, or a “How high will Bitcoin get this month?” contract on Kalshi.

The post Crypto is leading the race to build the ultimate gambling super-app appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Apple is heading into its biggest leadership transition in years, just as scrutiny is mounting over the security of its App Store and the rise of crypto theft on iPhones.

On April 20, the company revealed that John Ternus, its senior vice president of hardware engineering, will succeed Tim Cook as chief executive officer by Sept. 1.

Following Ternus' ascension, Cook will be moving into the role of executive chairman.

Ternus will be stepping into the new role with deep experience inside Apple’s product organization.

Since joining the company, he has helped lead development across the iPad, AirPods, iPhone, and Mac. He also played a central role in Apple’s shift to its own silicon for the Mac and recently led the public unveiling of the iPhone Air.

Cook described Ternus as a leader whose contributions have shaped Apple’s product lineup over the past quarter-century. He stated:

“John Ternus has the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor. He is a visionary whose contributions to Apple over 25 years are already too numerous to count, and he is without question the right person to lead Apple into the future.”

However, the impending transition comes at a time when the company is balancing several pressures, including competition in artificial intelligence, slowing hardware growth, and a more immediate security challenge within one of its most closely guarded businesses.

Fraudulent wallet apps slip into Apple’s ecosystem

Apple has long presented the App Store as a tightly managed marketplace, with software screened before it reaches users.

That reputation is now facing fresh scrutiny after cybersecurity researchers uncovered a wave of fraudulent crypto wallet apps that have moved through Apple’s ecosystem, exposing users to significant losses.

Kaspersky Threat Research said it identified at least 26 applications impersonating major crypto brands, including MetaMask, Ledger, Trust Wallet, and Coinbase. Some of the apps have already been removed, while others were still circulating when the firm published its findings.

Kaspersky linked the operation to a malware campaign it calls SparkKitty, which it said has been active since late 2025.

The researchers reported that the scam starts with apps that appear harmless enough to avoid early detection. They are presented as simple tools such as calculators, games, or task managers, allowing them to pass through Apple’s initial review process.

Once installed, the apps direct users to webpages designed to look like official App Store listings.

Sergey Puzan, a mobile malware expert at Kaspersky, said:

“While the apps that kick off the attack chain are not inherently malicious, they lead to the user installing a trojan in the end. By paying a fee and setting up a developer account, the attackers can target any iOS device if the user succumbs to the phishing tactic.”

From there, victims are guided toward downloading what appears to be a legitimate crypto wallet. The scheme relies on social engineering and custom developer profiles, which allow software to be installed outside the standard App Store channel.

After a user approves the profile, a compromised version of the wallet is loaded onto the device.

Notably, some of these fake apps have already caused substantial financial damage.

Related Reading

Apple App Store scam sees users losing $1.6 million in Bitcoin

The desire to store Bitcoin has turned expensive for some Apple users in the US in the past few months as scams became savvier.

Mar 31, 2021 · Shaurya Malwa

Earlier this month, American musician G. Love revealed that he lost 5.9 Bitcoin, worth about $436,000, after downloading what he believed was a legitimate Ledger app from Apple’s App Store.

He said the software prompted him to enter his seed phrase, and the funds disappeared almost immediately.

Against this backdrop, the malicious campaign has raised broader questions about the level of protection users actually receive when a scam is routed through software that appears to come from within Apple’s own ecosystem.

For crypto users in particular, an app’s presence in the App Store can carry an assumption of legitimacy, especially when it closely copies the identity and branding of established wallet providers.

Apple’s crypto opening adds new pressure

Apple has never been an aggressive corporate participant in the crypto space.  The iPhone maker does not hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet and does not natively accept cryptocurrency for purchases on the App Store.

At the same time, the firm is not entirely outside the crypto sector’s infrastructure.

Its software tools, including Apple CryptoKit, support secure cryptographic functions on devices. Apple Pay is also integrated into parts of the crypto economy through third-party services that help users move between digital assets and traditional payments.

Over the past year, Apple has also eased some of its restrictions around crypto-related apps. It removed earlier limitations that had constrained certain in-app transactions involving digital assets and dropped its 30% commission on those specific purchases.

That policy shift helped open the platform to a wider range of crypto products by giving DeFi apps and NFT marketplaces more room to operate on iOS.

However, it also expanded the surface area for fraud, especially as interest in self-custody wallets and token-based applications spread beyond specialist users.

Nonetheless, Apple has continued to point to the scale of its enforcement efforts. Last year, the company said it had blocked more than $9 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions between 2020 and 2024.

In 2024 alone, it said it rejected 2 million app submissions due to privacy and security concerns and terminated nearly 300,000 developer customer accounts over fraud risks.

A new chief executive inherits a new kind of security test

For Ternus, the timing is difficult.

He arrives at the top of Apple with a reputation built on hardware execution, product development, and operational discipline.

However, the immediate challenge before him extends to a different part of the company, where trust in the App Store sits alongside broader concerns about platform governance and user safety.

Apple’s reputation has long rested in part on the idea that its walled garden offers cleaner, safer software distribution than rival ecosystems.

Crypto scams delivered through App Store-adjacent experiences threaten that image because they target the very users most likely to rely on Apple’s screening as a first line of defense.

Ternus will begin his tenure with investors watching not only how Apple handles its product roadmap and AI strategy, but also how firmly it responds to the growing use of its platform by organized crypto thieves.

The post Will new Apple CEO combat fake crypto apps littering the “walled garden” App Store? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

FTX is back in the headlines, not because of a token collapse or a court update, but because of a brutal what-if story tied to artificial intelligence. Bankruptcy filings previously showed that Alameda had invested just $200,000 in Anysphere, the company behind Cursor, before that stake was later sold for the same amount. Now, SpaceX says it has secured an option to acquire Cursor for $60 billion later this year, or instead pay $10 billion for a strategic partnership.

That instantly raises the question: did FTX just miss out on billions?

What Happened to the FTX Cursor Stake?

According to reporting on FTX bankruptcy filings, Alameda invested $200,000 in Anysphere through Clifton Bay Investments, an entity formerly known as Alameda Research. The stake was later sold in 2023 for the same $200,000, meaning the FTX estate exited the company long before the latest explosion in Cursor’s value.

At the time, this looked like a small and largely irrelevant venture position. Today, it looks very different.

Why Cursor Suddenly Matters So Much

Cursor has become one of the most talked-about AI coding platforms in the market, benefiting from the broader boom in AI developer tools. Reuters reported this week that SpaceX wants deeper exposure to this sector and disclosed an option to buy Cursor for $60 billion, with the alternative of a $10 billion strategic partnership. Reuters said the move is meant to strengthen SpaceX’s AI ambitions, especially around xAI’s position in code automation.

That is what turns an old FTX portfolio line into a huge missed-opportunity story.

Did FTX Really Miss Out on $3 Billion?

That number comes from a simple calculation. If Alameda’s old stake had remained at around 5%, then a $60 billion valuation would imply a stake worth roughly $3 billion. That is why social media is framing this as one of the biggest missed bets linked to the FTX collapse. This is an inference based on the reported historical stake size and Reuters’ reported option value.

But that figure should be treated carefully.

Startup stakes usually get diluted across later funding rounds unless investors continue participating. So while the headline “FTX missed $3 billion” is powerful, the real upside lost could have been materially lower depending on how much the position would have been diluted over time. Reuters did not state the exact retained ownership because FTX had already exited, and the bankruptcy filing coverage only confirms the original investment and sale amount.

Why This Story Matters for Crypto

This is not a direct Bitcoin or Ethereum market catalyst, but it is still a strong crypto story because it captures the long shadow of the FTX collapse. The exchange’s bankruptcy did not just destroy customer assets and confidence across the industry. It also forced the liquidation of positions that, in some cases, may have become extremely valuable later. The Cursor case is a reminder that distressed selling during crisis periods can lock in losses just before major upside appears elsewhere. That is an inference based on the reported sale timing and the much higher value implied by SpaceX’s option today.

It also feeds a broader narrative: while crypto firms were imploding, some of the venture-style bets around them were still touching major technology trends like AI.

What Traders and Readers Should Take From It

The real lesson is not just that FTX sold too early. It is that bankruptcy, forced unwinds, and bad timing can destroy optionality. Alameda’s Anysphere position may have looked minor in 2023, but in 2026 it has become the kind of asset people point to when discussing how much value was lost in the chaos surrounding FTX.

For crypto readers, the story works because it combines all the elements that drive attention: FTX, AI, Elon Musk, SpaceX, and a possible multi-billion-dollar missed payoff.

Conclusion

FTX sold its Anysphere stake for just $200,000. Now SpaceX says it has an option to acquire Cursor for $60 billion. Whether the old Alameda stake would really have been worth the full $3 billion implied by social media depends on dilution and cap table changes, so that number should be treated as a headline estimate rather than a certainty. But the bigger point remains unchanged: FTX may have exited one of the most valuable AI bets tied to its old portfolio just before the asset became a giant.

Bitcoin Reclaims $78,000: Macro Tailwind and Institutional Power

The Bitcoin price has successfully breached the $78,000 psychological barrier, marking a significant structural shift in the 2026 market cycle. This surge is primarily driven by a "risk-on" sentiment following President Trump’s extension of the US-Iran ceasefire and massive institutional accumulation.

As of today, April 22, 2026, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $78,053, showing a weekly gain of over 5.73%. The move follows a disclosure by MicroStrategy (MSTR) regarding a $2.5 billion BTC acquisition, further cementing the floor for the current uptrend.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Breaking Down the Weekly Chart

The above weekly BTC/USD chart reveals a critical recovery phase after a volatile start to 2026. After finding a local bottom near the $60,000 support zone in early February, Bitcoin has established a series of higher lows.

Key Price Levels to Watch:

• Immediate Resistance: The first major hurdle sits at $84,000. A weekly close above this level would invalidate the bearish sequence from late 2025 and open the path to the all-time high territory near $94,490.
• Support Zones: On the downside, the previous resistance at $76,086 has now flipped into immediate support. Below that, the $65,581 level remains a fortress for long-term holders.
• RSI Indicator: The Weekly RSI is currently at 46.69, recovering from oversold conditions. This suggests that the current rally is not yet "overheated," leaving significant room for an upside move toward the $85,000 "200-day moving average" equivalent.

Why the $78,000 Breakout Matters

The breach of $78,000 isn't just about price; it’s about market structure. Earlier in 2026, analysts at major financial institutions were concerned about a prolonged post-halving correction. However, the current momentum suggests that the 2024 halving's supply shock is finally interacting with fresh institutional demand.-

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Lower and Higher Targets

If Bitcoin maintains its position above the $76,000 flip zone, the bullish trajectory remains intact.

• Bullish Target: A sustained move could see BTC targeting $86,000 by May 2026.
• Bearish Scenario: If geopolitical tensions resurface and BTC fails to hold $72,000, a retest of the $60,000 psychological support is possible.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions within the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, Justin Sun, the founder of TRON and a high-profile crypto entrepreneur, has officially filed a lawsuit against World Liberty Financial (WLF). The legal action, filed in a California federal court, marks a significant rift between Sun and the crypto project closely associated with U.S. President Donald Trump and his family.

Sun alleges that the project team has acted in bad faith by freezing his holdings of the $WLFI token, stripping him of governance rights, and threatening a permanent "burn" of his assets. Despite the legal battle, Sun emphasized his continued support for the Trump administration’s broader pro-crypto stance, clarifying that his dispute lies solely with the individuals managing the WLF protocol.

Justin Sun vs. World Liberty Financial: What Happened?

The core of the dispute centers on Sun’s status as a major early investor in World Liberty Financial. According to Sun’s public statement on X, certain members of the WLF team implemented a "blacklist" or freeze function within the WLFI token smart contracts.

Sun claims this was done without justification, effectively locking his tokens and preventing him from participating in critical governance votes. The situation reached a breaking point following a new governance proposal introduced on April 15, 2026, which Sun argues is detrimental to the community and early backers.

The April 15 Governance Proposal

The proposal in question introduces a "tax on commitment" and a revised vesting schedule:

• Mandatory Burn: Requires 10% of all advisor tokens to be permanently destroyed (burned).
• Vesting Cliff: Imposes a two-year cliff followed by a two-year vesting schedule for early purchaser tokens.
• Indefinite Lock: Token holders who do not "affirmatively accept" these new terms risk having their tokens locked indefinitely.

Sun argues that because his tokens are currently frozen, he is being denied the right to vote against these changes, which he views as a violation of the principles of decentralization and transparency.

Legal Grounds and Claims

The lawsuit filed in California seeks to restore Sun’s rights as a token holder. Sun maintains that he is simply asking to be treated with the same fairness as any other early investor.

Critics of World Liberty Financial have previously raised concerns about the project's centralized control. Reports from The Guardian suggest that the protocol may contain "backdoor" functions allowing administrators to freeze accounts—a feature Sun claims was used specifically to target him after he attempted to move significant amounts of liquidity.

Impact on the Crypto Market

The legal battle comes at a sensitive time for World Liberty Financial. The project, which launched with the aim of promoting a USD-pegged stablecoin and a decentralized lending platform, has faced scrutiny over its tokenomics.

If Sun’s lawsuit succeeds, it could set a precedent for investor rights in DeFi projects that market themselves as decentralized but retain significant administrative overrides. Traders and investors are closely watching the WLFI price and the outcome of the April 15 proposal, as the locking of 62.2 billion tokens could significantly impact market supply.

As we approach the end of 2023, Bitcoin (BTC) has shown a remarkable recovery, marking a significant turnaround from its previous lows. This year, BTC’s value has surged by 120% from its starting price, showcasing a strong performance despite the challenges faced in the crypto market. The current price of Bitcoin stands at around $37,600, a notable increase from its value at the beginning of the year.

Bitcoin Current Market Price

The current market situation for Bitcoin reveals a price of $37,642.07, with a recent 24-hour change of -14.72 (-0.04%). The highest and lowest prices in this period were $37,888.00 and $37,620.00, respectively, indicating a modest level of volatility. Bitcoin’s trading volume in the last 24 hours reached 9,777.78 BTC and $369,051,924.95 in USDT. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 62, suggesting a moderately strong market momentum without extreme overbought conditions.

Predictions for the End of 2023

Analysts are closely watching Bitcoin’s price movements as the year draws to a close. Based on recent trends and market analysis, there’s a possibility that Bitcoin’s price could fluctuate between a low of $30,000 and a high of $40,000 by the end of 2023. This prediction takes into account various factors, including market sentiment, investor behavior, and global economic conditions.

Factors Influencing Bitcoin’s Price

Several key elements are influencing Bitcoin’s price trajectory:

1. Market Sentiment: The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index, a tool used to gauge investor sentiment, currently indicates a state of ‘Greed’ at a score of 74. This shift from ‘Fear’ earlier in the year suggests increased investor confidence in Bitcoin.
2. Economic and Global Events: The crypto market, including Bitcoin, has been impacted by various global events such as inflation rates, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory changes. These factors play a significant role in shaping investor decisions and market trends.
3. Technological and Regulatory Developments: Developments in blockchain technology, regulatory clarity, and the adoption of Bitcoin in mainstream finance (like the potential approval of Bitcoin ETFs) are also crucial in determining Bitcoin’s price.

Looking Beyond 2023

As we look towards the future, predictions become more varied. By the end of 2025, Bitcoin’s price is expected to rise significantly, potentially reaching around $80,000. This projection is based on the anticipated market dynamics and technological advancements in the crypto space.

Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin has shown a strong recovery in 2023, with significant price increases.
• By the end of 2023, Bitcoin’s price is predicted to range between $30,000 and $40,000.
• Investor sentiment, global economic conditions, and technological developments are key factors influencing Bitcoin’s price.
• Looking ahead, Bitcoin’s value is expected to continue its upward trajectory, with potential significant gains by 2025.

Will Bitcoin Go Back Up to $60,000?

Bitcoin is now valued at $37,600. This year, it bounced back impressively, going up by 120%. Experts think by the end of the year, it could be between $30,000 and $40,000. The price is influenced by how people feel about it and what’s happening in the world economy. Technology and rules about Bitcoin also affect its value. People believe it might go up a lot more by 2025, maybe hitting $80,000. The current $37,600 is a crucial point for investors to watch, helping them understand if Bitcoin stays stable or changes.

Conclusion

While these predictions provide a glimpse into Bitcoin’s potential future, it’s important to remember that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and unpredictable. Investors should always conduct thorough research and consider their risk tolerance before making investment decisions in the crypto market.

Bitcoin is entering another dangerous macro moment. On one side, President Trump is increasing pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. On the other, Iran-related tensions and Strait of Hormuz headlines are keeping global markets alert. For Bitcoin, this creates a difficult mix. Lower rate expectations can support risk assets, but geopolitical fear can quickly trigger volatility across stocks, oil, gold, and crypto.

Trump’s Fed pressure could become a bullish trigger for Bitcoin

Bitcoin usually reacts strongly when markets start expecting easier monetary policy. If traders believe the Fed could move toward rate cuts sooner, that often supports liquidity-sensitive assets, including crypto.

That is why Trump’s latest pressure on the Fed matters. It is not just a political headline. It feeds directly into one of the most important drivers for Bitcoin right now: liquidity expectations. Trump said he would be disappointed if a future Fed chair did not cut rates quickly, while Kevin Warsh separately signaled that monetary policy should remain independent from politics. That combination matters because it keeps rate-cut hopes alive, but also reminds markets that policy may not shift just because political pressure rises.

If rate-cut hopes strengthen again, Bitcoin could benefit. But the market still needs more than rhetoric alone. Traders will want to see whether those comments actually change expectations in bonds, the dollar, and broader risk sentiment.

Iran risks could cancel out the bullish Fed story

At the same time, Bitcoin is not trading in a clean risk-on environment. Iran-related tensions remain a major threat because they can affect oil prices, inflation fears, and overall market confidence. Reports this month showed that fears around disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil sharply higher and forced traders to rethink how quickly the Fed might ease.

That is the real problem for Bitcoin. If oil rises again, the Fed may have less room to cut quickly. In other words, the same geopolitical story that increases fear in markets can also weaken the bullish case for easier monetary policy.

For Bitcoin, that creates a direct conflict. Rate-cut hopes are supportive. But war-related macro pressure can push investors into a more defensive mood.

Bitcoin is caught between liquidity hopes and macro fear

This is why BTC still looks stuck between breakout and hesitation. The market wants a reason to move higher, but it is also aware that one strong geopolitical headline could reverse sentiment fast.

If Iran tensions cool and oil stays under control, Bitcoin could regain strength as traders focus again on liquidity and rate-cut expectations. Broader markets have already shown that when oil eases and fears around Hormuz fade, risk appetite can recover quickly.

But if tensions rise again, crypto may struggle alongside other risk assets, especially if inflation concerns return.

This is also why Bitcoin’s next move may not come from crypto-specific news alone. It may come from the bond market, the oil market, and the next major geopolitical headline.

What Bitcoin traders should watch now

There are three things to monitor closely.

First, watch whether Trump’s Fed comments actually shift market expectations on rates. If traders begin pricing easier policy more aggressively, that could support BTC.

Second, watch oil and the Strait of Hormuz story. Any renewed disruption there could quickly change inflation expectations and risk appetite across all markets. Reuters reported recently that concern over Hormuz disruptions helped lift oil prices significantly and altered the expected timing of future rate cuts.

Third, watch whether Bitcoin reacts more like a risk asset or starts showing relative strength. That will say a lot about whether the market is preparing for a breakout or bracing for another rejection.

Bitcoin outlook: macro headlines are in control

Bitcoin is still trading in a market where macro matters more than narratives. Trump’s pressure on the Fed may sound bullish for liquidity. Iran risks may sound bearish for sentiment. Both are now colliding at the same time.

That is why the next BTC move could be sharp. If markets lean toward lower rates and reduced geopolitical stress, Bitcoin could push higher. But if Iran tensions escalate and inflation fears return, crypto could face another wave of pressure. For now, Bitcoin is not getting one clean signal. It is getting two competing ones, and that is exactly why traders should expect volatility.

$BTC, $Bitcoin

The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said the military is investigating Bitcoin’s ability to “secure and protect networks.”

Codex-powered tools automate reports, code, Slack replies, and other workplace tasks.

Moran, a candidate running for U.S. Senate in Virginia, previously described self-wagers as “free advertising.”

Five weeks after MiMo-V2-Pro stunned the AI world, Xiaomi is back with a model that adds eyes and ears—at half the price.

AngelList's new USVC fund allows non-accredited retail investors to gain exposure to major private firms like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Strategy and Coinbase CEOs react to the Finney-Sassaman theory about Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, marking the end of the 'Black Swan' that haunted the digital assets market for 17 years.

MetaMask co-founder and Web3 pioneer Dan Finlay has officially stepped down from Consensys after a decade of building the ubiquitous cryptocurrency wallet.

Wall Street permabull Thomas Lee of Fundstrat Global Advisors has endorsed a staggering $250,000 price target for Ethereum.

Multiple assets on the market are far from entering proper recovery cycles, especially at levels we are witnessing now.

Crypto news digest: Ripple hits Coinbase with $108 million XRP transfer; SHIB sees April's biggest bullish sign yet; Strategy scoops $3.6 billion BTC gains in April.

Key Takeaways

• Wall Street anticipates Q1 adjusted earnings per share of $0.02, a significant decline from $0.13 in the prior-year period, with revenues near $12.4 billion
• The foundry division is expected to record a $2.4 billion operating deficit for Q1, currently serving only Intel as a client
• Shares of INTC have skyrocketed 235% year-over-year, recently touching a fresh peak of $70.33, with a forward P/E ratio of 92x
• Intel’s position in the data center market has contracted dramatically from 71% in 2021 to merely 7% in 2024, as Nvidia captured dominant share
• Strategic partnerships with Nvidia, Google, Elon Musk’s Terafab project, and a plant stake repurchase from Apollo are transforming investor sentiment

Intel is scheduled to release its first-quarter financial results Thursday following market close. While the headline figures matter, investors are primarily focused on CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s commentary regarding the company’s progress in securing third-party customers for its foundry operations.

Intel Corporation, INTC

Analysts are projecting Q1 adjusted earnings of $0.02 per share, representing a steep drop from the $0.13 reported during the comparable quarter last year. Revenues are anticipated to reach approximately $12.4 billion, marking a modest 2% year-over-year contraction.

The semiconductor giant’s shares have experienced an extraordinary rally. From bottoming at $17.67 twelve months ago, INTC has climbed 235%, touching a record high of $70.33 in recent sessions. The stock currently commands a forward earnings multiple of 92 — dramatically higher than the S&P 500’s roughly 21x ratio.

This premium valuation isn’t justified by current profitability metrics. Instead, it reflects investor optimism around strategic initiatives and favorable political positioning.

Tan orchestrated a sale of a 9% ownership stake to the U.S. government, securing strong support from the Trump administration. He also forged a strategic alliance with Nvidia that included the AI chipmaker acquiring a 4.5% position in Intel. Subsequently, Intel announced a collaboration with Elon Musk’s ventures to construct the Terafab manufacturing complex in Texas, which will produce semiconductors for SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla.

Additionally, Intel secured a multi-year agreement with Google to deliver AI and inference computing capabilities on Google Cloud utilizing its Xeon processor lineup. In a significant financial maneuver, the company agreed to repurchase a 49% interest in a fabrication facility previously sold to Apollo Global Management in 2024 — paying $14.2 billion for assets it divested for $11.2 billion.

Foundry Operations Remain a Critical Hurdle

The foundry business continues to represent Intel’s primary strategic challenge. Currently, it serves a single client: Intel’s own chip design divisions. Wall Street projects a $2.4 billion operating loss for this segment in Q1.

Tan has emphasized that funding the next-generation manufacturing capabilities will require revenue from external clients. Without third-party customers, the financial model becomes unsustainable.

Intel’s production technology has trailed Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing for an extended period, and this technological disadvantage has hindered efforts to attract the major fabless semiconductor companies that constitute TSMC’s customer base. Narrowing this technology gap — or persuading customers to commit despite it — represents the fundamental challenge ahead.

PC Market Softness Creates Additional Headwinds

The Client Computing division, responsible for PC processors, accounts for approximately 57% of estimated Q1 revenues. This business faces headwinds from a worldwide memory component shortage that’s driving up PC prices and suppressing consumer demand.

International Data Corporation forecasts global PC unit shipments will decline 11.3% in 2026, though elevated average selling prices should maintain relatively stable revenue levels. Intel anticipates Client Computing revenues of approximately $7.1 billion for Q1, representing a 7% year-over-year decrease.

On a more positive note, Intel’s Data Center and AI division is projected to generate $4.41 billion in Q1, reflecting 6.8% year-over-year growth. The company identified supply bottlenecks for its data center processors in Q4 but indicated these constraints should diminish following Q1.

The emergence of AI agents — which depend substantially on CPUs for operations including web navigation and data manipulation — is creating renewed demand for Intel’s traditional processor lineup within AI infrastructure deployments.

Intel reported experiencing supply limitations on data center chips during Q4 2025 and anticipates gradual improvement throughout 2026.

The post Intel (INTC) Stock: Q1 Earnings Report and What Wall Street Is Watching appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• GSR debuts BESO, its inaugural exchange-traded fund on the Nasdaq exchange
• The ETF provides combined exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through active management
• Weekly portfolio adjustments driven by proprietary research signals
• Annual management fee of 1%, reflecting its active strategy approach
• Framework Digital Advisors appointed as investment adviser for the fund

Cryptocurrency market maker GSR has entered the exchange-traded fund arena with the debut of its GSR Crypto Core3 ETF. The new offering, which carries the ticker symbol BESO, began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The investment vehicle provides consolidated access to three leading digital currencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Unlike passive index-tracking funds, BESO operates as an actively managed product where portfolio managers determine the weighting of each cryptocurrency holding.

According to GSR, the fund undergoes weekly portfolio rebalancing. These allocation adjustments rely on what the company describes as “research-driven signals,” though specific criteria and methodologies remain undisclosed to the public.

BESO charges investors a 1% yearly management fee. This fee structure aligns with actively managed investment products rather than the lower-cost passive alternatives that constitute the majority of today’s ETF landscape.

A notable characteristic of the fund is its capability to generate staking rewards. By participating in proof-of-stake networks, the ETF can earn additional returns on qualified holdings. This functionality has emerged in select cryptocurrency ETFs, including BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.

Framework Digital Advisors has been designated as the fund’s investment adviser, collaborating with GSR on product management.

According to GSR CEO Xin Song, the company is leveraging its market-making expertise to create broader investor access. “GSR has spent over a decade building efficient crypto markets, and with Core3, we are extending that expertise into a product accessible to a broader range of investors,” he said.

The Rationale Behind the Three-Asset Selection

GSR explained that these three cryptocurrencies represent distinct investment narratives within digital asset markets. Bitcoin functions as a macro-level store of value, drawing comparisons to precious metals like gold. Meanwhile, Ethereum and Solana serve as foundational blockchain infrastructures powering practical applications including stablecoins and asset tokenization.

The majority of U.S.-registered cryptocurrency ETFs have concentrated on single-asset exposure, particularly Bitcoin. However, multi-asset basket funds have gained traction in recent months, a category that Core3 now joins.

Andy Baehr, Managing Director of Asset Management at GSR, explained that the product addresses three fundamental investor challenges: asset selection, yield generation during holding periods, and strategic positioning amid market volatility.

GSR’s Strategic Business Development

This ETF introduction represents part of GSR’s broader strategic expansion beyond its traditional trading operations. In March 2026, the company completed acquisitions of Autonomous and Architech, strengthening its capabilities in token advisory services and blockchain project development.

GSR has also made a strategic investment in Libeara, a tokenization infrastructure platform supported by SC Ventures. This investment reflects the firm’s growing focus on blockchain-based financial technology solutions.

The Crypto Core3 ETF is currently available for trading on Nasdaq under ticker symbol BESO.

The post GSR Debuts Multi-Asset Crypto ETF (BESO) Featuring Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Aave witnessed a TVL collapse from approximately $48.5B to $30.7B after the April 18 KelpDAO rsETH bridge security breach
• Bad debt accumulated on the platform ranges between $196M and $280M due to the exploit
• AAVE token trades near $93, reflecting a 7% weekly decline
• Exchange token reserves jumped to 2.39M, indicating potential selling momentum
• Competitor SparkLend absorbed approximately $1.3B in capital as users fled Aave

The leading DeFi lending protocol Aave experienced a staggering $15 billion reduction in total value locked within just four days following a critical security incident tied to KelpDAO that undermined user confidence throughout the decentralized finance ecosystem.

The security breach exploited a vulnerability within KelpDAO’s rsETH bridging infrastructure. The malicious actor leveraged this weakness to create fraudulent collateral tokens, subsequently borrowing legitimate ETH from Aave’s liquidity pools before withdrawing the funds. The resulting bad debt burden facing the protocol is currently estimated at $196 million to $280 million.

Prior to the April 18 security incident, Aave maintained approximately $48.5 billion in aggregate deposits. Within four days, by April 22, that amount had contracted sharply to roughly $30.7 billion. Prominent crypto intelligence account Wu Blockchain highlighted on X that total outflows exceeded $16.2 billion, erasing more than a third of the platform’s deposit base.

Morpho protocol similarly experienced capital flight, with TVL declining from $11.7 billion down to $10.2 billion during the identical timeframe.

SparkLend Emerges as Capital Destination

The exodus from Aave didn’t entirely exit the DeFi sector. SparkLend’s total value locked climbed to $3.2 billion, absorbing roughly $1.3 billion in fresh deposits over the same period. Blockchain analytics indicate users repositioned funds toward platforms perceived as carrying reduced risk exposure.

The AAVE token was changing hands around $93.45 during the analysis period, showing a modest 1.06% gain over 24 hours. Nevertheless, the asset remains down 7.09% across the previous week and approximately 11% throughout the past month.

Technical indicators on the four-hour chart show the MACD histogram turning positive with signs of a potential bullish crossover forming. However, the RSI indicator hovers around 46, positioned just beneath the neutral 50 threshold.

Blockchain Metrics Indicate Distribution Activity

Exchange-held reserves of AAVE tokens surged to nearly 2.39 million units. Historical patterns show that substantial token transfers to centralized exchanges typically precede selling activity.

Active borrowing positions on Aave are stagnating, demand for new loans has weakened, and incoming capital flows have diminished considerably. The divergence between falling TVL and rising exchange inflows creates a pattern that market analysts typically interpret as distribution behavior rather than accumulation.

The token has faced repeated rejections approaching the $100–$105 price zone, establishing this range as immediate overhead resistance. Meanwhile, the $85–$90 corridor represents critical support territory worth monitoring.

Notably, large-wallet addresses have continued accumulating AAVE tokens despite the broader outflow trend. At reporting time, Bitcoin maintained levels above $78,000 while Ethereum held above $2,300, offering a generally supportive macroeconomic environment for crypto assets.

Should buyers successfully breach the $96 level, the subsequent price target becomes $100. A decisive break above $100 would clear the path toward $108. Conversely, failure to maintain $90 support could expose the $88 level, with $84 representing the next significant support zone beneath that.

The post Aave (AAVE) Loses $15B in TVL Following KelpDAO Bridge Exploit and Massive Bad Debt appeared first on Blockonomi.

Quick Summary

• Bitcoin surged past $79,000, marking its highest valuation since the beginning of February
• Cryptocurrency-focused equities rallied significantly, with Strategy gaining 10%, Circle advancing 9%, and Coinbase climbing 6%
• Significant short positions in Bitcoin futures markets may lead to a potential short squeeze scenario
• Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq registered fresh record closes on Wednesday’s trading session
• Tesla declined in after-hours trading following CEO commentary on increasing capital spending requirements

Wednesday witnessed Bitcoin breaking through the $79,000 threshold, establishing its strongest position since the start of February. The digital asset experienced a 4.5% appreciation across a 24-hour period.

Leading alternative cryptocurrencies mirrored Bitcoin’s upward trajectory. Ether, BNB, Solana, and XRP all registered positive movements. The CoinDesk 20 Index, representing broader cryptocurrency market performance, advanced 3.5%.

Equity markets saw substantial gains in blockchain and cryptocurrency-exposed companies. Strategy, holding the largest corporate Bitcoin position globally, surged 10%. Circle, a prominent stablecoin provider, climbed 9%, while cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase appreciated 6%. Mining operations MARA Holdings and Riot Platforms each recorded gains ranging from 6% to 7%.

Traditional equity markets similarly delivered exceptional performance. The S&P 500 advanced 1% while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.6%, with both benchmarks establishing fresh all-time closing records. The Dow Jones Industrial Average contributed a 0.7% gain.

Market momentum intensified following President Donald Trump’s announcement late Tuesday regarding an extension of the Iran ceasefire arrangement, though maintaining naval enforcement in the Strait of Hormuz.

JUST IN: Iran has reportedly attacked multiple commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, hours after President Trump announced a ceasefire extension, per NBC.

The IRGC reportedly fired on at least 3 vessels today.

One container ship sustained heavy damage.

Iran claims it… pic.twitter.com/jnND8aoQVs

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) April 23, 2026

Paul Howard, senior director at Wincent, noted that Bitcoin’s immediate price trajectory “remains highly dependent on macro and geopolitical developments.” He highlighted $72,000 as a critical support threshold, while identifying potential resistance approaching $80,000.

Derivative Markets Signal Potential Short Squeeze

Analysis of derivatives markets strengthens the bullish outlook for Bitcoin. Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33 Research, points out that seven-day funding rates in perpetual swap contracts have dropped to near three-year minimums, indicating substantial short positioning among traders.

Simultaneously, open interest continues expanding, suggesting fresh leveraged positions are being established across the market.

Lunde emphasized that the convergence of increasing leverage alongside deeply negative funding rates indicates shorts are accumulating. He noted this dynamic enhances “both the likelihood and potential magnitude of a short squeeze.”

“We continue to see strong breakout potential for BTC, with concentrated shorts providing ample fuel for a move higher,” Lunde stated.

The $80,000 threshold holds particular significance. This level corresponds with the short-term holder realized price, representing the average entry point for recent Bitcoin investors. These market participants typically demonstrate profit-taking behavior during rallies, making a decisive break above this zone potentially indicative of strengthening market conviction.

Extended Trading Session Introduces Market Volatility

Post-market activity saw Tesla initially rally following better-than-expected earnings, before retreating approximately 2%. CEO Elon Musk disclosed plans for elevated capital expenditure and confirmed that Tesla’s HW3.0 vehicles lack autonomous driving capabilities.

ServiceNow plummeted 11.9% during extended hours despite surpassing earnings projections. IBM declined 6.8% amid decelerating revenue expansion, with market participants expressing concerns about potential competitive threats from Anthropic.

Oil markets advanced despite ceasefire developments. Iran’s naval forces captured two container vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rebounded above the $100 per barrel mark, while West Texas Intermediate maintained levels near $92.

Market participants are now focusing on upcoming earnings releases from American Express, Blackstone, and American Airlines, alongside preliminary April data for S&P Global manufacturing indicators.

The post Market Rally Accelerates: Bitcoin Surges Past $79K While S&P 500 Reaches New Record appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

• The U.S. government runs a Bitcoin node for cybersecurity testing, not for mining or investment.

• Admiral Paparo calls Bitcoin a computer science tool to secure and protect military networks.

• The military views Bitcoin’s blockchain and proof-of-work as assets for projecting defense power.

• Paparo backed the GENIUS Act, saying stablecoin laws help reinforce global U.S. dollar dominance.

The U.S. government is currently operating a Bitcoin node to test its potential in cybersecurity. Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, confirmed this before the House Armed Services Committee.

He stated the military is not mining Bitcoin but is using the node for network monitoring and operational tests. The government views Bitcoin primarily as a cryptographic and blockchain tool rather than a financial asset to hold.

Military Views Bitcoin as a Computer Science Tool

Admiral Paparo addressed the committee on Wednesday, confirming direct government participation in the Bitcoin network.

“We have a node on the Bitcoin network right now,” he told the House Armed Services Committee. He was clear, however, that the government is not involved in Bitcoin mining at this stage. The focus remains entirely on monitoring activity and running security-related operational tests.

The military is currently in an experimentation phase regarding Bitcoin’s practical uses. Paparo framed the interest in technical rather than financial terms during the hearing.

“Our interest in Bitcoin is as a tool of cryptography, a blockchain, and a reusable proof-of-work — as an additional tool to secure networks, and to project power,” he said. This positions Bitcoin as a defense resource, not a reserve asset.

He went further, drawing a clear line between investment and application. “From the military application standpoint, my interest in Bitcoin is as a computer science tool,” Paparo added.

The statement reinforces that the government’s engagement is rooted in functionality. It is not a move toward Bitcoin accumulation or speculative holding.

Bitcoin’s node network spans tens of thousands of locations globally. These nodes collectively maintain the decentralization that keeps Bitcoin secure and tamper-resistant.

No single party can control the network or influence its transaction validation process. The government’s single node, therefore, poses no structural threat to Bitcoin’s independence.

Bitcoin Protocol and the Push for Dollar Dominance

Beyond cybersecurity, Admiral Paparo touched on broader cryptocurrency policy during the same hearing. He acknowledged that maintaining U.S. dollar dominance globally serves the military’s long-term strategic interests.

He pointed to recent stablecoin legislation as a meaningful step toward achieving that goal. This adds another dimension to the government’s growing engagement with digital assets.

Paparo specifically referenced the GENIUS Act, signed by President Donald Trump last summer. The law legalizes the issuance of stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar.

“The GENIUS Act is a great step forward that moves us in that direction,” he said, referring to dollar hegemony. His remarks position stablecoins as a financial instrument for reinforcing U.S. global influence.

The connection between Bitcoin’s blockchain technology and U.S. military strategy is becoming more defined. The military is exploring how Bitcoin’s protocol can add security layers to existing defense systems.

This approach treats Bitcoin not as a rival to traditional finance but as a technical resource. It reflects a pragmatic shift in how governments are beginning to engage with crypto infrastructure.

As the experimentation phase continues, more details may emerge about its full scope and results. The military has not disclosed specifics about the operational tests currently underway.

However, Paparo’s testimony marks a rare public acknowledgment of direct government participation in Bitcoin. It signals a measured but deliberate step into the crypto space by U.S. defense institutions.

The post U.S. Military Confirms It Runs a Bitcoin Node for Cybersecurity Testing appeared first on Blockonomi.

The controversial crypto project has launched numerous features recently, aimed at improving the ecosystem and enhancing the user experience.

The next few weeks are expected to be quite eventful for the entity as the team prepares for another major upgrade and its participation in Consensus 2026. We have yet to see whether these developments can positively impact PI, whose been underperforming lately.

The Latest Updates

The migration to protocol v20.2, which occurred around the symbolic Pi Day (March 14), was considered a huge milestone since it laid the foundation for smart contract capabilities. It also enables developers to build decentralized applications and automate blockchain-based processes.

Earlier in April, the Core Team disclosed that the first smart contract capability is live directly on the project’s Testnet. According to them, this would foster “real, recurring, utility-driven use cases.”

Just recently, Pi Network unveiled PiRC-2, the second Pi Request for Comment, opening the Testnet for subscription smart contract to technical scrutiny and community input. The announcement left Pioneers somewhat divided. Some welcomed the initiative and emphasized its potential benefits, while others argued that more pressing issues (such as the KYC verification) should be addressed before introducing new features.

What’s Next?

The protocol upgrades have been a key focus for the team over the past several months. In February, it rolled out the migration to version 19.6, whereas v19.9 was completed in early March. Later on was the aforementioned upgrade to v20.2, followed by the release of version 21.

Next on the list is the mandatory protocol 22 upgrade, with a deadline of April 27. “This critical update ensures network stability & paves the way for full smart contract functionality, supporting our 18M+ Pioneers,” one community member claimed.

Besides these updates, Pi Network is expected to gain further popularity due to its participation in the major crypto conference Consensus 2026 in Miami. The event will take place at the beginning of May, with the project serving as one of its partners.

Chengdiao Fan (one of Pi Network’s co-founders) will take the main stage on May 6 and will touch upon trending topics such as AI‑era business models, a globally engaged network that can support utility‑driven products, and, of course, Pi Network’s blockchain infrastructure.

The other co-founder, Nicolas Kokkalis, is scheduled to speak on a panel the following day. The session, titled “How to Prove You’re Human in an AI World (Without Doxing Yourself),” will examine how the Internet’s trust model is eroding as AI systems become capable of generating bots that create profiles and interact convincingly as real users.

PI Price Outlook

The native token of Pi Network has failed to gain momentum following the latest announcements, and we have yet to see whether it will rebound after the upcoming updates.

As of this writing, it trades at roughly $0.17, a 10% decline on a monthly scale and a massive 95% crash from the all-time high of $3 observed more than a year ago. Its market capitalization has slipped to approximately $1.7 billion, making PI the 49th-biggest cryptocurrency.

The post Pi Network (PI) News Today: April 23 appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Greek maritime risk management firm MARISKS has warned shipping companies about fraudulent messages targeting vessels stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz.

In fact, scammers are demanding cryptocurrency payments for “safe passage.”

Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Unknown actors posing as Iranian authorities have contacted shipowners, requesting transit fees in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) in exchange for clearance. MARISKS said the messages are fake and not from Iranian authorities, and called them a scam. The message cited by MARISKS read,

“After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be ⁠paid in ​cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your ​vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time”

Tensions around the Strait continue to disrupt maritime traffic. The United States has maintained restrictions on Iranian ports, while Iran has intermittently closed and reopened the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks amid rising regional tensions and shifting enforcement measures, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade.

Maritime activity in the area has been severely affected. Hundreds of ships, along with around 20,000 seafarers, remain stuck because of security risks, unclear transit rules, and fears of confrontation in the waterway.

On April 18, Iranian authorities briefly allowed some ships to pass after inspections, but the situation remained tense. Several vessels that attempted to move through the strait reported hostile encounters. At least two ships, including a tanker, said they were fired upon by Iranian boats and had to turn back.

MARISKS also said that one vessel linked to a recent incident may have been approached through scam messages demanding cryptocurrency payments in exchange for clearance before transit approval.

Crypto Payments and Sanctions Avoidance

Earlier this month, reports stated that Iran’s IRGC has been charging ships fees to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping companies reportedly cannot transit freely and must first coordinate with an IRGC-linked intermediary. They are asked to provide detailed vessel information such as ownership, flag, cargo, destination, and crew list.

After submitting these details, operators negotiate a transit fee, which reportedly starts at around $1 per barrel of oil and is paid in yuan or stablecoins. In exchange, ships receive a permit code and escorted passage through the strait.

Later, the Financial Times also reported comments from Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, who said tankers must email Iranian authorities with cargo details. Iran would then set a transit toll to be paid in digital currencies, including Bitcoin. He added that payment would need to be made within seconds to avoid sanctions-related risks.

The post Crypto for Safe Passage Through the Strait of Hormuz: The New Scam appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin is trading around $78k, surging higher consistently as a combination of improving technical structure and renewed geopolitical optimism drives fresh buying.

The extension of the US-Iran ceasefire has provided a meaningful risk-on catalyst, removing a key source of macro uncertainty that had been weighing on markets for weeks and giving buyers the fundamental backdrop they needed to push through key resistance levels.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart

The daily chart is telling a different story than it was even a week ago. BTC has finally broken above the descending channel, cleared the 100-day MA around $75k, and is now pushing through the $75k–$80k resistance band, with the RSI also on the rise but not overbought yet. Crucially, what makes this move stand apart from previous attempts is that price is not just tagging resistance and fading. The price is grinding through the supply zone with successive higher closes.

The next major test sits at the $85k–$90k zone, where the declining 200-day MA and a significant supply cluster converge. A weekly close above the $80k psychological level would be a structural development of real importance, as it confirms that the correction’s dominant trend has broken down. On the downside, the former channel boundary and 100-day MA near $75k are now the first support levels to defend on any pullback.

BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart

The ascending channel from the February lows is not producing a clean breakout to the upside. BTC is pushing through the upper boundary near $78k. Unlike the mid-March attempt and last week’s failed breakout, this move has shown genuine follow-through and momentum, which the RSI confirms by trending higher.

The $74k–$76k zone, which includes the former upper channel boundary and a key horizontal level, is now the most important area to hold during any retracement on the 4-hour chart. A successful retest of that zone followed by a rebound would be a textbook continuation setup and would add further conviction to the case that the $80k level, and potentially the $82k-$84k bearish order block, are the next meaningful targets in the coming weeks.

Sentiment Analysis

The Miners’ Position Index (MPI) is currently sitting below zero on the  7-day EMA. It has rebounded from the green zone that has historically marked periods of miner accumulation rather than distribution. Throughout the 2025 bull run, the MPI repeatedly spiked well above zero as miners sold aggressively into price strength. This behavior consistently preceded local tops. The current reading is the opposite, as miners are not rushing to sell into this rally.

The contrast with prior cycle behavior is meaningful. When the price was trading between $110k and $125k, the MPI was consistently elevated. Miners were offloading supply into demand. At $78k, with the index near its most conservative reading in over a year, miners appear to be holding their coins rather than taking profits. This reduces one of the most consistent sources of sell-side pressure in the Bitcoin market, and in a context where exchange reserves are also at multi-year lows, the supply picture heading into a potential push toward $80k looks considerably cleaner than it did at equivalent price levels during the previous rally.

The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Structural Strength Could Push BTC to $85K Soon appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has identified 26 fraudulent cryptocurrency wallet applications on Apple’s App Store that are designed to steal users’ digital assets.

The company’s Threat Research team found that the apps imitate popular crypto wallets, such as MetaMask, Ledger, Trust Wallet, Coinbase, TokenPocket, imToken, and Bitpie, by copying their names and visual branding to appear legitimate. Once opened, these applications redirect users to phishing pages that resemble the App Store interface and prompt them to download a second application, which is actually a trojanized wallet that can drain cryptocurrency funds.

How The Scam Works

Kaspersky said the campaign has been active since at least fall 2025 and, with “moderate confidence,” linked it to the threat actors behind SparkKitty, a previously identified iOS malware strain. Official versions of many of these wallet apps are not available in the Chinese iOS App Store; most of the detected phishing apps were distributed specifically to users in China, though the malicious payload itself does not include regional restrictions. This essentially means that users outside China could also be affected. Kaspersky confirmed it has reported all identified apps to Apple.

According to the findings, the fraudulent apps include basic, unrelated features such as games, calculators, or task managers to create an appearance of legitimacy and pass initial scrutiny. After installation, they guide users through a process that opens a fake App Store webpage and encourages them to download what appears to be the intended wallet application.

This installation process works similarly to SparkKitty, using Apple’s enterprise developer tools for corporate app distribution. Users are prompted to install a developer profile on their device, which allows them to install apps from outside the App Store. Attackers rely on users overlooking this step, enabling the installation of malicious software.

Once installed, the trojanized wallet applications are designed to mimic the behavior of the specific wallet they impersonate. They target both hot and cold wallets.

Kaspersky’s mobile malware expert, Sergey Puzan, stated that while the apps themselves may not contain harmful code, they serve as entry points in a broader attack chain that ultimately leads to malware installation. The researcher further warned,

“By paying a fee and setting up a developer account, the attackers can target any iOS device if the user succumbs to the phishing tactic. Users should be wary of the risks related to managing their crypto wallets even on devices that they consider safe, such as iPhones. We expect there may be more trojanized crypto apps distributed with a similar tactic.”

Counterfeit Ledger Device

The latest report comes days after a counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus device sold through an online marketplace was exposed as part of a sophisticated phishing operation designed to steal crypto wallet credentials by a Brazilian cybersecurity researcher. The device, which was marketed and priced like an official product, initially appeared genuine but failed verification when connected to Ledger Live.

Upon opening the device, the researcher found internal components that did not match legitimate hardware, including a chip with its markings removed and additional WiFi and Bluetooth antennas not present in authentic Ledger wallets. Further examination of the firmware revealed that both PIN codes and seed phrases were stored in plaintext, along with references to external servers, indicating that the device was designed to capture and transmit sensitive data.

The researcher acknowledged that this attack does not involve any flaw in Ledger’s security, but instead uses fake devices, harmful apps, and phishing tricks to target users.

The post iPhone Users Beware: Kaspersky Flags 26 Fake Crypto Wallet Apps That Could Drain Your Funds appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin Positioning Index climbed to 40.1, while its 30-day simple moving average (SMA-30d) rose to 4.5, which represents a four-month high. At the same time, the 30-day change in open interest (OI) increased by 14.5%, one of the strongest readings recorded over the past 120 days.

Both indicators suggest rising risk-taking behavior, as market participants continue adding fresh leveraged positions, crypto analyst Axel Adler Jr. reported in his latest analysis.

Aggressive Risk-On Shift

The Positioning Index, which aggregates directional taker flows, open interest dynamics, funding rates, and exchange-level positioning into a single signal, showed repeated short-term spikes over the past month.

Despite this volatility in the daily readings, the smoothed SMA-30d maintained a steady upward trajectory, rising from 0.4 at the end of March to 4.5 at present. This steady climb indicates that the market is moving beyond short-lived impulses and is instead forming a more stable positional structure.

In February, the SMA-30d dropped to -10.9 as Bitcoin fell below the $63,000 level. Since then, the indicator has rebounded by more than 15 points, suggesting a clear improvement in overall positioning conditions. The additional rise in open interest further validates this trend. The 30-day OI change shows that aggregate futures exposure is expanding at a double-digit pace, and confirms that the current move is not driven by a short squeeze but by fresh capital entering the market.

According to Adler, the combination of a rising SMA-30d and increasing OI is critical for assessing the strength of the signal. While a rising positioning metric alongside declining OI would indicate the unwinding of existing positions, the current alignment of both metrics is moving to new risk accumulation. Data show that 23 of the last 30 days recorded positive changes in open interest, indicating an increase in leveraged market activity.

The current setup also differs from earlier spikes observed in January, when the Positioning Index briefly surged above 20 and 30 but quickly reversed without confirmation from open interest. The present structure, on the other hand, reflects a coordinated move across both indicators, with the smoothed trend rising and OI confirming continued inflows.

Breakdown Signal

The analyst noted that the signal would begin to weaken if the 30-day OI change turns negative, which would imply deleveraging, or if the SMA-30d reverses and falls below zero. Until such conditions emerge, the data suggests that the market is actively building new positions, supported by both improving positioning structure and rising leverage in Bitcoin futures.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin tapped an 11-week high after climbing above $78,000 on Wednesday.

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