Coinbase's AFSL approval in Australia could accelerate crypto adoption, enhance regulatory compliance, and broaden financial product offerings.

The post Coinbase gains AFSL licence to bring ‘Everything Exchange’ to Australia appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The initiative could significantly bolster Switzerland's digital currency landscape, enhancing financial innovation and operational efficiency.

The post UBS joins major banks to test Swiss franc stablecoin in sandbox appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin rose above $72K as Trump proposed an Iran ceasefire, lifting crypto and stock futures while oil prices tumbled.

The post Bitcoin jumps above $72K after Trump signals pause on Iran strikes appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Anthropic launched Mythos and Project Glasswing days after a Claude Code leak exposed source files and caused a GitHub takedown mess.

The post Anthropic unveils Mythos cybersecurity model weeks after Claude Code leak exposed security lapse appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Morgan Stanleys Bitcoin ETF is set to debut after SEC effectiveness cleared the way for MSBT to begin trading on NYSE Arca.

The post Morgan Stanley Bitcoin ETF set to begin trading tomorrow under MSBT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Pumps Above $72,500 as Trump, Iran Announce Ceasefire 

Bitcoin price surged late Tuesday, climbing roughly 5% from a day-long range near $67,000–$68,000 to an intraday high of $72,753, as geopolitical tensions eased following a surprise ceasefire announcement tied to U.S.-Iran negotiations.

The rally came after Donald Trump said he would suspend further military escalation against Iran for two weeks, provided Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global oil shipments. The announcement marked a sharp shift from earlier rhetoric, when Trump had threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure if a deal was not reached by an 8 p.m. ET deadline.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the development as a “double sided CEASEFIRE,” saying the U.S. had “met and exceeded all Military objectives” and was now close to a broader agreement aimed at securing long-term peace in the Middle East. He added that a 10-point proposal from Iran had been received and could serve as a “workable basis” for negotiations, with most major points of contention already resolved.

Bitcoin price pumps 5%

Markets reacted almost immediately. Bitcoin price, which had traded sideways for most of the day amid uncertainty, broke higher within minutes of the announcement. The move coincided with a broader shift in global risk sentiment, as traders priced in a reduced likelihood of further escalation in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz has been at the center of the conflict, with Iran’s effective blockade driving oil prices sharply higher in recent weeks and raising fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Any indication that shipping lanes could reopen — even temporarily — has significant implications for global markets, from energy to equities to digital assets.

The ceasefire proposal was reportedly facilitated in part by Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif playing a key role in urging a delay to U.S. military action to allow diplomacy to proceed. Iranian officials signaled conditional support, stating that safe passage through the strait could resume if attacks cease.

For Bitcoin price, the action underscores its continued sensitivity to macro and geopolitical developments. While often framed as a hedge against instability, the asset has increasingly traded in line with broader risk assets during periods of acute uncertainty — falling when tensions rise and rallying when they ease.

Tuesday’s move reflects that dynamic. Earlier in the day, Bitcoin price drifted lower as traders weighed the nearness of imminent strikes. Once the ceasefire framework emerged, sentiment flipped, triggering a sharp upside move as risk appetite returned.

Still, analysts caution that the rally may depend on whether the ceasefire holds and negotiations progress. The two-week window leaves significant uncertainty, and any breakdown in talks could quickly reintroduce volatility across markets.

For now, however, the combination of easing geopolitical risk and renewed optimism around diplomacy has given Bitcoin a clear boost — pushing it back above key psychological levels and reinforcing its role as a fast-moving barometer of global sentiment.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin price is right below $72,000.

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 Bitcoin Price Pumps Above $72,500 as Trump, Iran Announce Ceasefire  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

FDIC Advances Stablecoin Oversight Framework Under GENIUS Act With New Prudential Rule Proposal

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has advanced a new regulatory framework that begins to define how U.S. banks and their subsidiaries may issue and manage stablecoins under the GENIUS Act, marking a significant step in the federal oversight of dollar-pegged digital assets.

In a proposed rule approved on April 7, the FDIC outlined requirements for “permitted payment stablecoin issuers” (PPSIs), which are expected to operate as subsidiaries of FDIC-supervised institutions. The framework sets standards for reserves, redemption practices, capital, liquidity, cybersecurity, and risk management, and is now open to a 60-day public comment period.

The proposal implements provisions of the GENIUS Act, formally known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, which directs federal banking regulators to create a unified system for regulating stablecoin issuance in the United States.

Under the FDIC’s framework, issuers would be required to maintain full backing of stablecoins on a 1:1 basis with eligible reserve assets. These reserves must be monitored daily and held separately from other business activities. Eligible assets include U.S. currency, balances held at Federal Reserve Banks, insured bank deposits, short-term U.S. Treasury securities, and certain overnight repurchase agreements.

The proposal also sets concentration limits on reserve holdings and restricts exposure to counterparties. The FDIC said eligible reserve assets must remain highly liquid and low risk to ensure redemption capacity during periods of stress.

Redemption standards form a central component of the rule. Issuers would be required to publish clear redemption policies and generally process redemption requests within two business days. In cases where large withdrawals exceed 10% of outstanding issuance within a 24-hour period, issuers must notify regulators and may request extensions.

FDIC’s capital liquidity cybersecurity framework

FDIC Chair Travis Hill said in prepared remarks that the framework is intended to address operational risk and financial stability concerns as stablecoin usage expands in payments infrastructure.

The proposal also introduces capital requirements for issuers. New PPSIs would be required to hold a minimum of $5 million in capital for their first three years of operation, with additional requirements possible based on supervisory assessment. Ongoing capital must consist primarily of common equity tier 1 and additional tier 1 instruments.

In addition, issuers would need to maintain a separate liquidity buffer equal to 12 months of operating expenses. The FDIC described this buffer as distinct from reserve requirements backing issued stablecoins.

The rule addresses cybersecurity and operational resilience, requiring issuers to maintain systems covering private-key management, blockchain monitoring, incident response, and independent audits. Annual compliance certifications related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing programs are also required.

The FDIC clarified that stablecoins issued under this framework would not receive deposit insurance protections under the standard $250,000 coverage limit. Reserves held at insured institutions would be treated as corporate deposits of the issuer, not individual stablecoin holders.

However, the proposal states that tokenized deposits that meet the legal definition of a bank deposit would receive standard deposit insurance treatment regardless of the technological format used.

The FDIC’s action follows earlier implementation efforts tied to the GENIUS Act and comes alongside parallel rulemaking from other banking regulators, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The proposal is expected to be revised following the public comment process before final adoption. The GENIUS Act sets a statutory deadline for implementation by mid-2026, placing pressure on regulators to finalize a unified stablecoin framework in the coming months.

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 FDIC Advances Stablecoin Oversight Framework Under GENIUS Act With New Prudential Rule Proposal first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Demand for Crypto Pay Surges, but Payroll Systems Fall Behind: Research

A growing share of workers are open to receiving part of their paycheck in crypto, even as most employers have yet to offer it. New survey data from Oobit shows a gap between employee demand and workplace adoption, pointing to a shift in how compensation could evolve.

The study, based on responses from 1,004 full-time employees, found that 43% of workers are interested in receiving some portion of their pay in digital assets. Among those who already own digital assets, interest rises to 57%, suggesting familiarity plays a central role in adoption.

Still, crypto payroll remains rare. Only 7% of respondents said their employer currently offers a crypto payment option. At the same time, 20% said they wish it did, underscoring a mismatch between worker preferences and company policies.

That gap may not hold. Nearly one-third of employees, 32%, said they would opt in if their employer introduced crypto payroll tomorrow. For many, the appeal lies in flexibility rather than a full shift away from traditional pay. On average, workers who expressed interest said they would want 27% of their paycheck in cryptocurrency, while keeping the rest in U.S. dollars.

Gen Z leads the crypto adoption curve

The data also shows that interest in crypto compensation skews younger but is not limited to one generation. Gen Z workers led with 46% expressing interest, followed by millennials at 45% and Gen X at 35%. Experience with crypto appears to deepen that interest. Active traders or investors were more than three times as likely to favor digital asset pay compared to those with no exposure.

When asked which digital assets they would prefer, Bitcoin ranked first at 46%. Stablecoins followed at 11%, with Ethereum only at 5%. A notable share of respondents said they had no strong preference, which may reflect limited familiarity with the broader market.

Beyond preference, some workers appear willing to make trade-offs. Eleven percent of respondents said they would accept a pay cut of 1% to 5% in exchange for receiving part of their salary in cryptocurrency. Among active digital asset users, that figure rises to 26%. The finding suggests that for a subset of workers, access to digital assets carries value beyond immediate income.

This kind of compensation is not only theoretical. One in five employees, or 20%, reported having already been paid in crypto for some form of work. These payments tend to occur outside traditional payroll systems. Side hustles accounted for 45% of cases, followed by freelance work at 44%. Full-time roles made up 21%, with smaller shares across gig, part-time, and one-time jobs.

Satisfaction among those who have received crypto pay is high. Seventy-eight percent said they were satisfied with the experience. Still, how workers handle those payments varies. Some convert funds to dollars right away, while others hold or transfer them to different wallets. A portion treat crypto earnings as a long-term investment rather than income for immediate use.

Price volatility and value fluctuations 

Despite rising interest and early adoption, barriers remain. Half of respondents cited price volatility as the main reason they would hesitate to accept crypto pay. In total, 88% said they are at least somewhat concerned about fluctuations in value.

Other concerns include a preference for traditional currency, difficulty using crypto for everyday purchases, and a lack of trust. Tax complexity and security risks also ranked among the top issues. These concerns point to structural challenges that go beyond employer adoption.

Workers identified several factors that could make crypto compensation more appealing. Clear regulation ranked first, followed by employer incentives such as matching contributions or bonuses. Access to simple conversion tools, which allow workers to switch digital assets into dollars with one step, also emerged as a priority.

This post Demand for Crypto Pay Surges, but Payroll Systems Fall Behind: Research first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Paolo Ardoino Confirmed as a Bitcoin 2026 Speaker

Paolo Ardoino has been officially confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026. As CEO of Tether (the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin) and CTO of Bitfinex, Ardoino sits at the center of two of the most influential companies in the Bitcoin ecosystem and arrives in Las Vegas with one of the most expansive views of where Bitcoin is headed.

Ardoino graduated from the University of Genoa’s Computer Science program in 2008 and began his career as a researcher on a military project focused on high-availability, self-recovering networks and cryptography. He joined Bitfinex as a senior software developer in 2014 and became CTO in 2016. In 2017, he also became CTO of Tether. He was named CEO of Tether in December 2023. Following the passage of the GENIUS Act, Ardoino was a guest at the White House to witness the signing of the landmark stablecoin legislation into law.

Under his leadership, Tether has grown well beyond its origins as a stablecoin issuer. At the 2025 Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Ardoino announced that Tether holds more than 100,000 Bitcoin as a company, alongside more than 50 tons of gold. Tether has also launched an open-source Bitcoin mining operating system, built on a self-hosted peer-to-peer architecture, designed to scale from small home installations to industrial-grade deployments managing hundreds of thousands of machines. Tether is also a majority backer of Twenty One Capital (NYSE: XXI), the Bitcoin-native public company led by Jack Mallers, also a confirmed Bitcoin 2026 speaker.

Ardoino has led Tether to invest in renewable energy and sustainable Bitcoin mining in Uruguay, and the company has expanded into AI infrastructure, telecommunications, and peer-to-peer communications platforms. His appearance at Bitcoin 2026 comes as Tether’s footprint across the Bitcoin ecosystem continues to grow across nearly every layer from stablecoin infrastructure and mining to capital markets and education. Bitcoin 2026 takes place April 27–29 at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

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 Paolo Ardoino Confirmed as a Bitcoin 2026 Speaker first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

Bitcoin Magazine

American Crypto Fraud Topped $11 Billion in 2025, Shattering Records: FBI

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center released its 2025 annual report earlier today, revealing that cryptocurrency-related fraud drained more than $11.3 billion from American victims last year — a figure that now accounts for more than half of all reported cybercrime losses nationwide.

The report, covering data gathered from the FBI’s IC3 platform, logged a total of 1,008,597 complaints with $20.877 billion in combined losses — a 26% jump from 2024 . 

Within that staggering total, the cryptocurrency descriptor alone generated 181,565 complaints and $11.366 billion in losses, making digital assets the single most loss-heavy category tracked in the report.

For context, cryptocurrency fraud losses sat at roughly $27 million in 2017. By 2025, that number had multiplied more than 400 times .

Crypto investment scams are the top threat

At the center of the crisis is cryptocurrency investment fraud — a breed of long-con scheme the FBI describes as using “psychological manipulation, the appearance of legitimacy, and exploitation of cryptocurrencies to deceive victims into investing large sums of money”.

These scams generated $7.2 billion in reported losses in 2025, making them the single greatest source of financial harm to Americans for the year .

The mechanics follow a recognizable pattern. Criminals initiate contact through text messages, social media platforms, dating apps, or digital advertisements. Victims are drawn into what appear to be exclusive investment groups led by knowledgeable insiders, then directed to send cryptocurrency to fraudulent platforms that display fabricated profits and offer loans to encourage deeper investment.

When victims attempt withdrawals, scammers demand taxes and fees before vanishing with all deposited funds.

The FBI identifies the source of these operations as organized criminal enterprises in Southeast Asia — particularly in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma — that use victims of human trafficking as forced labor to operate the scam centers .

Crypto as a payment tool for fraud

The report does not limit cryptocurrency’s role to investment scams. Across the board, digital assets were the dominant payment method in fraud, with cryptocurrency used in 72% of investment fraud transactions, 43% of tech support scam transactions, and 40% of government impersonation scheme payments. The data makes clear that scammers across multiple crime categories have standardized on crypto as the preferred method for extracting and moving money.

Investment fraud as a broader crime category reached $8.648 billion in losses, with the cryptocurrency component accounting for the largest share. Tech support scams that involved digital assets produced $1.226 billion in losses on their own.

Seniors bear the heaviest burden

Among all demographic groups, Americans aged 60 and older were hit the hardest. This group filed 44,555 cryptocurrency-related complaints and suffered $4.43 billion in losses, more than any other age bracket . Within the crypto investment fraud subcategory, the 60-and-older group reported $2.76 billion in losses, compared with $1.38 billion for those aged 50 to 59.

Crypto ATM and kiosk scams — a subset where criminals direct victims to physical machines using QR codes — produced 13,460 complaints and $389 million in losses, a 58% loss increase from 2024.

Seniors filed 6,188 of those complaints and absorbed $257.5 million of those losses, or roughly 66% of the total .

Recovery scams, in which fraudsters target prior crypto victims with promises to reclaim lost funds, generated another 10,516 complaints and $1.4 billion in losses . The 60-plus group again led with $540.5 million in recovery scam losses alone.

The Bureau has not been passive. Operation Level Up, launched in January 2024, uses IC3 complaint data to identify and notify victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud while they are still being scammed . In 2025 alone, the operation notified 3,780 victims and saved an estimated $225.8 million — 78% of those notified had no idea they were targets of a scam . In one case, agents stopped a victim from liquidating $750,000 from his 401(k) to send to fraudsters; in another, a woman was prevented from selling her home to fund a $500,000 “investment.”

A separate initiative — the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Columbia Scam Center Strike Force — combines the DOJ, FBI, Secret Service, State Department, and Treasury’s OFAC to pursue and dismantle Southeast Asian scam compound operations . The Strike Force targets Chinese organized crime affiliates running operations across the region and works to cut off U.S.-based internet infrastructure the compounds exploit.

Since Operation Level Up launched, the FBI reports more than $500 million in total savings across all notified victims — a number the agency views as a floor, not a ceiling, given how many victims never report.

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 American Crypto Fraud Topped $11 Billion in 2025, Shattering Records: FBI first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin, SPY, and crude oil tracked a single overnight pivot as Trump moved from existential rhetoric to a two-week Iran ceasefire

Markets spent the night repricing a single geopolitical variable rather than growth, inflation, or crypto-specific risk.

After using unprecedented and combustible language earlier in the day, once Donald Trump signaled a two-week Iran ceasefire window, the war premium embedded across crude, equities, and Bitcoin unwound in near real time, turning what had looked like a fragmented macro session into a synchronized cross-asset reversal.

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Bitcoin clings to $68,000 as Trump’s final Iran deadline expires at 8 PM EST and oil screams higher

With shipping chokepoints in play, the next escalation could turn this “stable” range into a sudden cliff move.

Apr 7, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Escalation rhetoric and infrastructure risk set the afternoon market structure

The path from Tuesday morning in London to Wednesday morning ran through a narrow set of political signals, and markets responded with unusual clarity once that sequence resolved.

Through the first half of 7 April, investors were still carrying a war premium tied to the Strait of Hormuz, the risk of further strikes on energy infrastructure, and Donald Trump’s own deadline for Iran to reverse course.

By late evening in the UK, that premium started to erode. Around 23:30 BST, Trump used Truth Social to declare a two-week ceasefire, roughly 90 minutes before the 01:00 BST deadline.

From there, the cross-asset move accelerated, crude collapsed, SPY surged in after-hours trading, and Bitcoin broke sharply higher.

The chronology is important because the price moves only make sense when the political sequence is placed in order. A BBC live blog snapshot captured most of the daytime progression on 7 April.

Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” came about an hour before the blog’s 14:40 BST entry around 13:40 BST. Such a statement had never been delivered so directly and publicly by a sitting US President in the country's history. Threatening to wipe out a “whole civilization” alludes to a form of warfare the world has spent over 70 years trying to avoid.

However, the calming factor for most tracking the night's event was that markets were moving in the opposite direction to catastrophic escalation.

The crisis window then deepened when the BBC reported at 14:28 BST that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had struck a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail region. Those two developments, existential rhetoric from the White House and a direct signal against Gulf energy infrastructure, were unusually muted within the afternoon market response.

Thirty-minute pricing across Bitcoin, SPY, and crude showed merely modest caution. Around the 13:30 to 14:30 BST window, BTC/USD slipped from $68,376 to $68,227, SPY moved from 656 to 654, and crude rose from $105 to $106.

Still, the next hour reinforced that sentiment. From 14:00 to 15:00 BST, Bitcoin fell about 0.5%, SPY lost about 0.3%, and crude gained about 1.0%.

The market was assigning a higher probability to elevated energy disruption and a lower probability to an orderly diplomatic exit. Crude oil served as the clearest expression of regional war risk, while SPY and Bitcoin absorbed the broader risk-off spillover.

Even then, the move remained one of repricing probability rather than locking in a terminal outcome. Investors were trading a ladder of scenarios: direct escalation into the deadline, a delay engineered through intermediaries, or a last-minute political retreat from Washington.

That ladder helps explain why the evening session became more nuanced before the ceasefire was made public. The same BBC coverage tracked growing focus on diplomatic pressure from Pakistan and on whether Trump was actually prepared to carry his rhetoric through the deadline.

By UK evening, price action had already started to lean toward a softening of the deadline path. From roughly 17:30 to 20:30 BST, Bitcoin rose from $68,220 to $69,002, SPY advanced from 656 to 659, and crude eased from $106 to $103.

That was still a modest move relative to what followed overnight, though it carried weight because it signaled a market beginning to shade down immediate war risk before the final announcement arrived.

Trump’s ceasefire post triggered the sharpest cross-asset repricing of the sequence

Crude was giving back part of the afternoon spike, equities were recovering, and Bitcoin was rebuilding altitude into the close. Those moves suggested investors were picking up signs that the deadline could slip, or that diplomatic channels were achieving enough traction to cap the escalation path.

The decisive shift arrived late in the UK evening. Trump decided to suspend attacks, agreeing to pause military action about 90 minutes before his self-imposed deadline.

The ceasefire announcement came at 23:30 BST on Tuesday night. Sky News’ live coverage of the Iran ceasefire described it as an eleventh-hour intervention and traced the mediation through Pakistan, which had been pressing for more time.

Once the post landed, the market response was immediate and far larger than anything seen earlier in the day.

Between 23:00 and 00:00 UK, the three assets moved in a near-textbook fashion, culminating in a sudden collapse in the near-term war premium. Bitcoin jumped from $70,416 to $72,714, SPY climbed from 664 to 674, and crude dropped from $100 to $89.

Crude’s move was the most violent. The single largest half-hour down bar in the entire window hit around 23:30, with a drop of roughly 7.2%, before losses extended into the next bar.

That move only makes sense in a framework where supply disruption through Hormuz had been carrying substantial weight in prices and then lost that weight all at once. SPY’s after-hours surge fit the same structure from the equity side.

The index rallied about 1.4% over the hour as investors repriced the probability of a broader regional conflict and, therefore, macro spillovers into growth, inflation, and central bank assumptions. Bitcoin’s breakout deserves separate emphasis because crypto traded alongside global risk rather than simply as a geopolitical hedge.

Once immediate escalation probabilities fell, Bitcoin joined the relief move with greater magnitude than SPY and greater persistence than crude’s first rebound.

The political sequence after the Truth Social post helped stabilize that first wave of repricing. Sky reported that Tehran said it would permit “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, with coordination involving its armed forces, and that Iran had presented a ten-point plan through Pakistan.

In market terms, that additional language shifted the ceasefire from a unilateral Trump declaration into something closer to an operational arrangement with implications for shipping and energy flows.

Once safe passage through Hormuz entered the public domain, the overnight move became harder to fade.

That was visible in the next set of bars. Bitcoin held above $72,000 through the 00:00 bar and only modestly retraced from its peak.

SPY kept the after-hours gap intact. Crude rebounded from the first shock low, though it stayed near $90 to $91, far below the $100-plus levels that prevailed before the ceasefire post.

This was a transition from panic premium to partial normalization. Energy traders removed the immediate blockade and supply-shock assumptions, though they did not restore pricing to a pre-crisis state because the military and political structure was still unstable.

By Wednesday morning, markets had isolated the main conclusion even as the ceasefire remained partial

Equity traders embraced the drop in tail risk. Bitcoin traders priced lower the immediate conflict risk and a broader recovery in global risk appetite.

The sequencing also clarifies why the afternoon escalation phase and the late-night relief phase were so asymmetric. During the day, investors were dealing with rhetoric, strikes, deadlines, and probabilities.

Late at night, they received a discrete policy signal, then a functional shipping signal, then reinforcement from multiple outlets covering the same de-escalation path. Once that cluster formed, the cross-asset alignment became unusually sharp.

Crude no longer needed to hold a high-end disruption premium. SPY no longer needed to handicap a fresh jump in energy prices and a worsening geopolitical drag. Bitcoin no longer needed to trade under the shadow of an open-ended regional escalation.

The overnight market reaction, therefore, reflected the removal of one specific scenario, direct movement into the deadline with no diplomatic release valve.

The next question is whether the ceasefire would hold across the whole regional theatre. Here, the answer becomes more complex.

Sky News reported overnight that Israel said Lebanon was excluded from the ceasefire, contradicting an earlier Pakistani claim. The same live coverage, citing Reuters, said Hezbollah halted attacks after Trump’s announcement, while the Israel Defense Forces continued operations in Lebanon and carried out a final wave on Iran before pausing.

The military picture by dawn was still fragmented. The ceasefire reduced the probability of a direct U.S.-Iranian escalation and restored expectations for passage through Hormuz, though it did not resolve the broader regional conflict map.

That distinction is central to the morning market posture. Bitcoin held most of its gains through the early UK hours, trading around $71,400 to $71,800 after peaking above $72,700.

Crude stabilized in the low 90s after the overnight washout. SPY, which has a data gap between 00:30 and 09:00 UK due to the session structure in the file, resumed at 675 by 09:00 BST, preserving the after-hours step higher.

Those levels show that the market had already isolated the main macro judgment. The bigger issue was whether the immediate U.S.-Iran confrontation and the associated Hormuz risk had been downgraded.

By the London morning, the answer embedded in prices was yes.

Trump’s own language to Sky News in his morning remarks reinforced that interpretation. Sky quoted him describing events as a “complete victory” and saying the United States had done everything it wanted to do militarily.

Tehran, for its part, also claimed victory in separate comments carried by the same outlet. Those victory claims point to the political fragility of the arrangement because mutually declared wins can sustain a pause for a time, though they rarely resolve the underlying dispute.

For markets, the immediate function is simpler. Competing victory narratives created political cover for de-escalation.

That cover was enough to support the overnight repricing and defend it into the next session.

The sequence over the last 24 hours reduces to a clear analytical structure. During the UK afternoon, Trump’s “civilization” rhetoric and the reported strike on Saudi petrochemical infrastructure widened the energy risk premium and pushed broader risk assets lower, but markets did not believe Trump's veiled apocalyptic threat.

During the evening, diplomacy, led visibly through Pakistan, chipped away at the probability of movement into the deadline. Around 23:30 BST, Trump’s Truth Social ceasefire post removed the highest-risk branch of the scenario tree.

Iran’s subsequent language on safe passage through Hormuz gave the move operational credibility. By dawn in London, even with Lebanon carve-outs and continued localized military action, the market had already made its main judgment.

Crude no longer needed to price a near-term choke point through Hormuz at the same intensity, SPY no longer needed to carry the same tail-risk discount, and Bitcoin had regained its footing as a higher-beta expression of relief.

That leaves the next market test in a narrow zone. Investors will be watching whether the ceasefire terms around Hormuz remain intact, whether any direct U.S.-Iran threats re-enter the public domain, and whether the Lebanon exclusion expands the conflict back into a shape that can reprice energy risk materially higher.

Prices have already narrowed the main conclusion. The overnight pivot was immense. The biggest premium had come out of crude, the strongest relief had run through after-hours equities and Bitcoin, and the burden of proof had shifted back onto anyone arguing for an immediate return to the pre-escalation ceasefire path.

The post Hour by Hour: How Oil fell below $100 a barrel as Bitcoin broke $71k in surreal night of after hours trading appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Cardano community has officially approved the first tranche of the Orion Fund, a venture-style initiative designed to bridge Bitcoin liquidity into its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

The governance vote unlocks 50 million ADA from the network's treasury, marking a pivotal shift in how Cardano funds its long-term economic expansion.

The approval, which cleared required thresholds from both delegated representatives (DReps) and the Constitutional Committee, takes effect at epoch 624.

It initiates a $15 million deployment, which is the first phase of an $80 million total target, managed by blockchain venture firm Draper Dragon, with Draper University acting as an acceleration partner.

Unlike the network's existing Project Catalyst, which relies on a grant-based model, the Orion Fund represents Cardano’s first foray into taking direct equity and token positions in ecosystem startups.

Bridging a $3 billion gap

The fund is the centerpiece of Cardano’s ambitious roadmap to cultivate a $3 billion on-chain economy by 2030.

With the network's total value locked (TVL) at around $137 million, the blockchain network developers and community members have acknowledged that purely organic, internal growth is no longer sufficient.

Instead, the strategy pivots to “scale asymmetry” by targeting the largest pool of dormant capital in the digital asset space: Bitcoin.

A March 2025 report from Binance Research estimated that only about 0.79% of Bitcoin is currently utilized in DeFi applications.

Yet, the addressable market for “BTCFi” is massive, potentially reaching $31.9 billion if adoption mirrors the historical trajectory of wrapped assets. So, even a single-digit penetration rate of Bitcoin’s idle supply could drive billions in inflows.

For Cardano, capturing just 0.01% of Bitcoin’s total market value would roughly equal the network's entire current TVL. The Orion Fund is structured to hunt for this specific slice of liquidity by backing revenue-capable projects across real-world assets (RWAs), payments, stablecoins, and institutional DeFi.

A key advantage in this cross-chain pitch is technical alignment. Both Bitcoin and Cardano utilize the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) accounting model.

Orion aims to leverage this shared architecture to convince self-custodied Bitcoin holders, who might be wary of account-based blockchains like Ethereum, that Cardano is a secure, familiar environment for generating yield and utilizing sophisticated financial applications.

The rails are starting to take shape

For a 2030 target to remain credible, the foundational market infrastructure must be established well in advance. Recent weeks have shown material progress on this front, according to network data.

In late February, the stablecoin USDCx went live on the Cardano mainnet, utilizing Circle’s xReserve model. Input Output, a major development firm behind Cardano, reported that more than 15 million USDCx was minted within the first seven days.

During that stretch, Cardano's TVL rose from $127 million to $142 million, with liquidity rapidly appearing on decentralized exchanges such as Liqwid, Minswap and SundaeSwap.

The successful deployment of a dollar-pegged stablecoin is a crucial prerequisite. Analysts note that a blockchain unable to retain dollar liquidity is highly unlikely to become a credible home for Bitcoin collateral or cross-chain trading.

Meanwhile, interoperability has also seen a recent overhaul. Cardano’s integration with LayerZero, described in the materials as the broadest cross-chain connectivity expansion in the network’s history, now links Cardano to more than 150 other blockchains.

While connectivity does not guarantee immediate capital deposits, it dramatically expands the addressable market for potential capital flows.

A more specific proof-of-concept for the Bitcoin strategy arrived on March 26. The Cardano Foundation highlighted that the platform FluidTokens completed the first native Bitcoin-Cardano atomic swap on the mainnet.

The transaction exchanged native Bitcoin for native ADA, Cardano's cryptocurrency, without relying on third-party custodians, vulnerable cross-chain bridges or wrapped assets.

Furthermore, institutional market infrastructure is taking shape. In February, CME Group launched Cardano futures and recorded its first trades shortly after, establishing a clearer path for institutional pricing and hedging support.

Will Cardano win?

The ultimate test for Cardano is turning these new infrastructural building blocks into durable, repeatable on-chain usage.

The near-term challenge will likely involve securing sticky dollar liquidity before attempting to attract sticky Bitcoin.

If the network can push its stablecoin liquidity materially above the current baseline, retain the TVL gains made post-launch, and demonstrate visible, sustained Bitcoin-specific usage through atomic swaps and collateral, the Orion thesis will gain significant credibility.

However, if it fails to generate real-world traction, the Orion Fund risks being seen as evidence that Cardano’s current DeFi economy remains too small to support the ambitions it advertises.

The $80 million initiative is an acknowledgment that internal ecosystem spending is no longer sufficient.

By pivoting to the massive liquidity pools of Bitcoin and giving itself a multi-year runway to 2030, Cardano has laid out an ambitious roadmap. The execution of that roadmap will dictate whether the network can evolve into a $3 billion financial hub by the end of the decade.

The post Cardano targets Bitcoin liquidity with $80 million fund to meet $3 billion DeFi goal by 2030 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin continued to hold near $68,000, a key long-term support level, this morning as traders waited for President Donald Trump’s latest deadline for Iran.

The tension built after Trump said on Truth Social that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as his 8 P.M. Eastern deadline for a deal with Iran approached.

The warning came alongside reports of strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, sharpening fears that the confrontation could move from deadline politics to a more disruptive energy shock.

These tensions have left the market suspended between a crypto structure that has so far resisted a deeper breakdown and a macro backdrop growing more difficult by the hour.

Throughout the trading day, Bitcoin has shown some optimism, with prices touching $69,000 before retreating to around $68,500 as traders struggle to decipher Trump's latest threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

Oil is the transmission engine

Oil has become the main channel through which the US-Iran confrontation is feeding into crypto markets.

Since the US-Iran conflict began, oil prices have soared above $100, thanks in large part to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping channel that typically carries about 20% of the world’s oil on a given day.

With Trump’s latest deadline approaching, US crude climbed above $116 a barrel, extending a rally that had already pushed prices toward multi-year highs.

The risks widened further after reports that Iran had threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a route that accounts for roughly 12% of global seaborne trade and has become even more important since the shutdown of Hormuz.

The Kobeissi Letter said that any disruption there could place another major shipping route under pressure and raise the prospect of oil reaching $150 a barrel.

That is where the market threat becomes more serious for Bitcoin.

Once crude moves into that range, the concern extends beyond war headlines or day-to-day swings in risk appetite. Sustained strength in energy prices can reinforce inflation fears, support the dollar, and reduce the room for central banks to ease policy.

That combination tends to create a harder backdrop for speculative and high-volatility assets, including crypto.

Negative funding points to real buying underneath

One reason Bitcoin has held up is visible in derivatives positioning.

Data from CryptoQuant showed the flagship digital asset's recent rebound occurred while aggregate funding rates across exchanges remained negative.

This suggests the move has not been driven by traders piling into leveraged bullish bets. Instead, short sellers are still paying to keep bearish positions open even as the price stabilizes and edges higher.

That is usually a healthier setup than a rally fueled by aggressive leverage.

When Bitcoin rises while funding stays negative, it suggests spot buyers are absorbing selling pressure rather than momentum traders chasing the market higher. A rebound built on leveraged longs can fade quickly when sentiment turns.

However, a rebound supported by real buying can keep moving even while the broader market remains skeptical.

Meanwhile, this leaves short sellers vulnerable. Bearish positions opened below current levels can become fuel for a sharper move higher if Bitcoin continues to recover and forced liquidations begin to build.

That dynamic helps explain why Bitcoin has not followed the geopolitical backdrop lower in a more decisive way. The market is still leaning bearish, but price action has not yet confirmed that view.

Still, that support has limits. If the recovery loses momentum before enough short positions are cleared out, the downside can reopen quickly because the market has less leveraged long support beneath it.

A narrow range is making the next move more fragile

At the same time, BTC is trading inside a structure that leaves little room for error.

Glassnode data showed the token in a tight negative gamma pocket between roughly $65,000 and $70,000, an area where dealer hedging can intensify short-term moves in either direction.

According to the firm, resistance is building near $72,000, while support below current levels is thinner if momentum fades. The result is a market that can appear stable for stretches and then move abruptly once a catalyst arrives.

The trigger here is coming from Washington, not from within crypto. Traders are not positioning around an earnings release, a network upgrade, or ETF flows. Instead, they are positioning around a deadline that could move oil, shift inflation expectations, and reprice risk assets in the same session.

As long as Bitcoin stays stuck in that $65,000 to $70,000 range, each new signal on whether diplomacy is holding or breaking down could send the market sharply in either direction.

Markets are weighing another delay against a deeper shock

Part of the restraint in price action reflects pattern recognition.

QCP Capital said markets have spent weeks absorbing weekend escalation rhetoric followed by early-week de-escalation signals, leaving stocks broadly stable and crypto more resilient than the headlines alone would suggest.

The pattern has made traders less willing to fully price in each new threat. At the same time, it has not removed the risk. Each new strike, each new warning, and each new threat to energy infrastructure raises the cost of assuming that this episode will also end in another delay.

Trump has left room for the deadline to move again if talks make progress and something tangible emerges. At the same time, Iran appeared to have halted diplomatic discussions amid the latest threats. That has kept conviction low and volatility close to the surface.

For now, Bitcoin is holding its ground without escaping the pressure around it. Buyers have defended a major support area, and negative funding suggests bearish positioning has not produced the breakdown many expected.

But the market remains stuck in a tight range while oil surges and policy risk dominates trading. A softer turn from Washington could force short sellers to cover, lifting Bitcoin back toward $70,000 and then $72,000.

However, a deeper escalation would shift attention immediately back to inflation, financial conditions, and whether crypto can withstand a broader move out of risk.

Until then, Bitcoin remains tied to the next signal from the White House.

The post Bitcoin clings to $68,000 as Trump’s final Iran deadline expires at 8 PM EST and oil screams higher appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Polymarket’s plan to roll out its own collateral token sounds, at first glance, like the kind of move that should eat into Circle's USDC. A platform swaps out USDC.e, introduces Polymarket USD, and the obvious retail question follows almost immediately: Does that mean less demand for USDC?

The short answer is no. Polymarket USD is being introduced as a token backed 1:1 by native USDC, while the platform is phasing out USDC.e, the bridged version of USDC it previously used on Polygon. The wrapper is changing, and the user experience is changing, but the underlying reserve asset still points back to Circle’s own stablecoin.

That means the move, by itself, doesn't pull dollars out of USDC circulation or mechanically shrink USDC’s market cap.

It's important to make that distinction because USDC is now so large that any kind of imprecise language can obscure more than it explains. CryptoSlate data currently places its market capitalization at roughly $77.9 billion, making it the second-largest stablecoin after Tether's USDT and the sixth-largest cryptocurrency.

Circle says USDC is fully backed by highly liquid cash and cash-equivalent assets and redeemable 1:1 for dollars, with reserve holdings disclosed weekly and tested through monthly third-party assurance reports.

To understand Polymarket's move, you need to separate three things that often get blurred together: native issuance, bridged representation, and platform-specific collateral.

Native USDC is the token that Circle issues and redeems. Bridged USDC, in this case USDC.e, is a version that represents USDC locked elsewhere. Circle’s own description of bridged USDC says it's backed by USDC on another blockchain locked in a smart contract, while native USDC is Circle-issued, fully reserved, and directly redeemable.

Polymarket USD enters as a third layer: a platform asset designed for use inside Polymarket, backed 1:1 by native USDC rather than by a separate reserve system.

A user deposits USDC, that USDC sits as backing, and Polymarket issues an equivalent amount of Polymarket USD for use on the platform. When the user exits, the platform token is redeemed, and the underlying USDC is released. The economic exposure stays anchored to the same reserve asset throughout the loop, while the visible asset label and settlement rail inside the app change.

That's one of the reasons why the usual fear of dilution misses the mark here.

Related Reading

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Apr 5, 2026 · Gino Matos

The market cap for USDC tracks the value of all outstanding USDC. If native USDC is sitting underneath Polymarket USD as reserve collateral, that USDC still exists and still counts toward total supply.

For USDC’s market cap to fall, the backing would need to be redeemed for fiat or exchanged for another stable asset. A relabeling of claims can't and won't accomplish that on its own.

What Polymarket’s stablecoin actually changes for users and market structure

What Polymarket is changing, and what makes this more interesting than the initial FAQ, is its usage.

Users who previously interacted with USDC.e will now interact with Polymarket USD. That gives the platform tighter control over collateral design, product architecture, and, potentially, yield economics for idle balances. It also reduces reliance on a bridged asset that carried its own user-friction problem, since bridged tokens tend to raise questions about issuer support, upgrade paths, and redemption assumptions.

Circle’s own documentation draws a bright line here: bridged USDC is created by a third party and backed by USDC locked elsewhere, while native USDC is the official form issued by Circle and interoperable across supported chains through its own infrastructure.

The stablecoin market has grown so large and important that it has become the foundation for the growth of the entire crypto industry. Aside from serving as liquidity, they have also become a type of reserve asset that sits beneath app-level money.

A user who thinks he's holding a certain platform's dollar, like in this case, Polygon's USD, is actually holding Circle's dollar. At the next level down, Circle’s reserve system is holding cash, Treasury exposure, and repo-linked liquidity for the benefit of token holders.

The visible coin and the economic foundation can now be two steps apart, creating more room for confusion when people try to infer demand from surface-level branding.

Related Reading

Circle under fire as $230M in stolen USDC flows unblocked days after freezing legitimate accounts

The Drift exploit exposes a growing contradiction in how stablecoin issuers enforce control during crises.

Apr 3, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

The structural risks behind Polymarket USD’s USDC backing

There's a real risk conversation here, and it mostly comes from structural issues rather than market cap.

Wrappers and platform-issued collateral introduce another dependency. Users now rely on the platform’s redemption design, operational controls, and smart contract implementation in addition to the reserve asset beneath it.

Circle’s documentation states that bridged forms of USDC carry risks and are not issued by Circle, which is one reason the industry has been pushing toward cleaner, more direct forms of stablecoin settlement where possible.

The easy mistake is to hear that there's a “new stablecoin” and assume it means “new money.” Sometimes that conclusion fits, but it's not the case here.

Another mistake is to assume indirect demand does not count. If Polymarket USD adoption rises and every unit is backed by native USDC, then demand for the platform token can still feed demand for USDC underneath. It just shows up one layer deeper in the stack.

Polymarket’s move is a small case study of where stablecoins are going. USDC looks more like base-layer reserve collateral for more specialized products, and app-specific dollars are now the interface users actually see. The result is a stablecoin economy that's becoming more layered, more embedded, and a little harder to read from the top line alone.

The post What will happen to USDC now Polymarket is launching its own stablecoin? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

XRP’s recent price struggles is starting to look less like routine underperformance and more like capitulation as long-term holders who bought above $2 over the past year are now realizing millions in losses.

Data from Glassnode shows that this cohort has been realizing losses at roughly $20 million to $110 million a day amid the digital asset's 55% decline over the past six months to roughly $1.30.

This shift suggests that XRP's current selling pressure is driven by investors cutting risk on weakness rather than taking profits on strength.

As a result, the market is crowded with late buyers under pressure, even as earlier entrants from the sub-$1 accumulation phase still have room to trim positions.

That has left XRP in its longest losing streak since 2014 and given the market a top-heavy structure, where any price rebounds struggle to hold.

Selling pressure is coming from the wrong part of the market

What makes the latest stretch more significant than an ordinary drawdown is the source of the selling.

In earlier cycles, XRP holders typically sold into strength as prices rose and profits became harder to ignore. This time, the selling is arriving as the market weakens.

Market observers have characterized the shift as “distribution into weakness,” a pattern that points to fading confidence in the token’s near-term direction.

That helps explain why the decline has become harder to arrest. Recent buyers are now sitting on losses, while earlier holders remain in profit and can still reduce exposure in rallies.

A market in that condition tends to struggle on the way up because every bounce gives one group a chance to cut losses and another an opportunity to realize gains. The result is a more fragile setup than the headline price decline alone would suggest.

Santiment data reinforce that picture. According to the blockchain analytics firm, wallets active on the XRP Ledger over the past year have averaged a 41% decline in their positions, the weakest mean-to-realized value reading for XRP since the FTX collapse in November 2022.

This effectively shows how deeply the selloff has affected recent positioning and why the market has struggled to build a durable recovery.

Meanwhile, the broader crypto market backdrop has not helped the situation. The XRP downturn has unfolded during a wider risk-off period across digital assets, with Bitcoin retreating from above $126,000 to around $66,000.

In that environment, traders have shown less willingness to chase assets without a clear near-term trigger, especially when holder behavior is already deteriorating.

Spot buyers are still present, but futures traders are not buying the turn

Meanwhile, the XRP market is not uniformly bearish.

CryptoQuant data show spot cumulative volume delta on Binance has climbed to about $520.2 million, indicating that buyers are still stepping into the market.

At the same time, the perpetual cumulative volume delta remains negative by about $261 million, indicating that leveraged traders have not meaningfully shifted their stance.

This shows that XRP is still attracting cash-market demand, but the derivatives market is not yet confirming that interest with the sort of aggressive repositioning that often accompanies a stronger move.

That split helps explain why XRP can appear supported yet remain weak. Spot demand can cushion price and reduce the pace of the decline, but if futures traders continue to lean defensively, rallies tend to lack follow-through.

While the market can stabilize in that state, it often needs a fresh catalyst to break into a more decisive trend.

Whale behavior points in a similar direction. CryptoQuant stated that daily whale inflows into Binance have dropped to about 12.6 million XRP, while the 30-day cumulative flow has fallen to around 1.44 billion XRP, down from roughly 2.6 billion XRP in March.

Large holders are therefore sending less supply to exchanges, which reduces one source of near-term selling pressure.

However, the lower inflows do not automatically create demand. They simply leave XRP in a market with less aggressive supply and still insufficient conviction.

That is why XRP still looks like an asset in suspension. The pressure from large holders has eased. Real buyers remain active in spot markets.

Yet the token remains pinned by defensive leverage and by a broader market that has not fully turned back toward risk.

Ripple keeps building, but the token is still being priced like a stressed asset

The market’s hesitation stands out because Ripple’s broader operating backdrop has improved.

The Brad Garlinghouse-led company’s multiyear fight with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ended in a settlement after a series of favorable rulings, an outcome that helped drive renewed accumulation and gave XRP its strongest run in years.

At the same time, Ripple has also pursued numerous acquisitions and licenses to expand its product reach and global footprint.

Supporters of XRP argue that those developments should eventually matter more for price.

Asheesh Birla, chief executive officer of XRP treasury firm Evernorth, said institutional momentum around XRP is building at a pace not seen 18 months ago and described the financial stack around the asset as still being built.

He pointed to regulatory progress and growing real-world blockchain activity as evidence that the structural backdrop is improving.

The market, though, is not yet rewarding XRP as if that re-rating has arrived.  Data from SoSoValue show that XRP exchange-traded funds recorded their first monthly net outflow of more than $31 million in March.

This breaks a stretch that had fueled a $1.2 billion inflow streak, making them one of the strongest early crypto product launches outside Bitcoin.

That outflow does not negate Ripple’s longer-term progress, but it does show that investors remain cautious about assigning a near-term premium to the token.

That leaves XRP caught between two realities. Ripple’s legal clarity, capital raising, and institutional push offer a more constructive longer-term backdrop.

In the near term, however, XRP is still trading like a crowded and damaged position, weighed down by holders selling into weakness, a large cohort of underwater buyers, and a derivatives market that has yet to confirm a turn.

The post XRP losses are forcing late buyers out, turning every bounce into a new sell zone appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Ethereum (ETH) has outperformed the broader market today, surging past the critical $2,200 resistance to reach a current price of $2,250. This 6.5% gain over the last 24 hours comes as a direct response to President Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, which has significantly lowered the global "risk-off" sentiment.

As geopolitical tensions ease, investors are rotating capital back into high-beta assets. While Bitcoin’s move past $71,000 grabbed headlines, Ethereum’s breakout is arguably more significant for the altcoin market, as it signals a potential shift in the mid-term trend.

Ethereum Price Analysis: Why ETH is Outperforming

The jump to $2,250 was catalyzed by reports that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen for commercial traffic during the truce. According to Bloomberg, the sudden drop in oil prices has lowered global inflation expectations, allowing the Federal Reserve more room to maintain its current interest rate trajectory—a massive win for Ethereum’s ecosystem.

Key market reactions include:

• Ethereum ($ETH) up 6.2% at the time of writing.
• Network Activity: Gas fees have seen a slight uptick as decentralized finance (DeFi) activity increases alongside the price.
• Total Crypto Market Cap: Rose 4% to approximately $2.44 trillion.

Technical Analysis: The $2,200 Support Flip

Looking at the recent price action, Ethereum has finally broken out of a multi-week descending channel. The move above $2,200 is a bullish signal, as this level had acted as a "brick wall" resistance throughout March.

However, the rapid nature of this 6% pump suggests that a short-term cooling period is likely. Technical indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) are approaching overbought territory. A normal market adjustment could see ETH/USD retest the $2,200 to $2,180 zone to confirm it as new support. If this level holds, the next major target for bulls is the $2,400 psychological resistance.

Institutional Interest and Liquidations

The rally was further fueled by a "short squeeze." Data from major exchanges shows that over $150 million in Ethereum short positions were liquidated in the last six hours alone. This forced buying accelerated the move from $2,150 to $2,250.

Bitcoin (BTC) has staged a dramatic comeback, surging past the psychological $71,000 mark during early trading on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The rally comes directly on the heels of an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a temporary two-week ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Iran. This diplomatic shift has immediately injected liquidity and "risk-on" sentiment back into the digital asset markets.

Bitcoin Up: Ceasefire Details Spark Market Optimism

The surge was triggered after President Trump confirmed that the U.S. would suspend military strikes for 14 days, contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports from Al Jazeera, talks to finalize a peace deal are scheduled to begin this Friday in Pakistan.

As geopolitical tensions cooled, the crypto market responded with high volatility:

• Bitcoin ($BTC) jumped nearly 5%, reaching a local high near $72,300.
• Ethereum ($ETH) followed suit, gaining over 6% to trade near $2,250.
• Oil prices plummeted by approximately 12%, easing global inflation fears that had previously weighed on risk assets.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is the Rally Sustainable?

Despite the bullish momentum seen in the attached chart, the rapid ascent suggests a potential short-term "blow-off top." Analyzing the BTC/USD price action, the candle reached a peak of $72,000+ before showing signs of stabilization around the $71,646 level.

Historically, such news-driven pumps often lead to a "sell the news" event or a technical retracement. Investors should watch the $68,000 to $69,000 support zone. A healthy adjustment back to these levels would be a normal market response to consolidate recent gains before attempting a permanent breakout toward the all-time high of $74,000.

Institutional Reaction and ETF Inflows

Market data indicates that institutional players were quick to capitalize on the de-escalation. Major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase reportedly saw massive buy orders totaling over $4.5 billion shortly after the announcement. Furthermore, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their highest inflows in six weeks, suggesting that professional traders are viewing this ceasefire as a window for continued accumulation.

Crypto Market Stalls as Global Tensions Reach a Turning Point

The crypto market is entering a critical phase as geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran intensify. While headlines around oil prices, military developments, and diplomatic talks continue to shift rapidly, Bitcoin and major altcoins remain relatively stable.

This stability is not a sign of strength — it reflects uncertainty.

Bitcoin price is currently holding near key levels, while Ethereum and altcoins are showing mild weakness. Despite major macro developments, the market is not making a decisive move yet.

👉 The reason is simple: markets are waiting for a clear outcome.

Why Bitcoin Is Not Moving (Yet)

Recent developments have created a highly unstable macro environment:

• Oil prices surged above $110 following strikes on Iran-linked infrastructure
• Prices then dropped sharply within minutes after mediation headlines
• Diplomatic talks are now described as “critical” with tight deadlines
• New threats around global trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, are emerging

Under normal conditions, such volatility would trigger large moves in crypto. But instead, Bitcoin is consolidating.

👉 This signals a compression phase, where volatility builds before a major breakout.

Traders are holding back, waiting for confirmation before committing capital. This creates a temporary “calm before the storm” effect.

Crypto Market Prediction: 3 Scenarios That Could Move Bitcoin Next

The current market structure suggests that Bitcoin’s next move will depend heavily on geopolitical outcomes. Three main scenarios are now being priced in:

Scenario 1: De-escalation and Diplomatic Deal

If negotiations between the US and Iran lead to a de-escalation:

• Oil prices are likely to drop
• Global markets could shift back to risk-on
• Investor confidence would return quickly

👉 In this case, Bitcoin could rally toward the $72,000–$75,000 range, with altcoins outperforming.

This would trigger a relief rally across crypto markets.

Scenario 2: Prolonged Uncertainty (No Clear Deal)

If talks continue without a clear resolution:

• Oil remains elevated
• Market uncertainty persists
• Liquidity stays cautious

👉 Bitcoin could trade sideways or gradually decline toward the $64,000–$66,000 zone.

Altcoins may continue to underperform, showing signs of weakness beneath the surface.

Scenario 3: Escalation and Global Risk-Off Event

If tensions escalate further — especially involving critical oil routes:

• Oil could spike toward $120+
• Global equities may drop sharply
• Investors move away from risk assets

👉 Bitcoin could experience a rapid sell-off, potentially testing the $60,000 level or lower.

Altcoins would likely see stronger declines due to higher risk exposure.

Why Altcoins Are Already Showing Weakness

While Bitcoin remains relatively stable, altcoins are quietly declining:

• $SOL and $ADA are down significantly
• $LINK and other majors are under pressure
• Capital is rotating toward Bitcoin

👉 This divergence is an early warning signal.

Historically, when altcoins weaken before Bitcoin, it often indicates a risk-off shift within crypto itself.

Investors are moving into perceived “safer” crypto assets, anticipating potential downside.

Oil Prices and Crypto: A New Market Driver

One of the most important developments in recent days is the increasing correlation between oil and crypto markets.

Oil is no longer just a macro indicator — it has become a real-time trigger for market movements.

• Oil spikes → inflation fears → crypto pressure
• Oil drops → relief → crypto bounce

👉 Crypto is now reacting instantly to geopolitical headlines affecting energy markets.

This marks a shift in how Bitcoin behaves within the global financial system.

What Investors Should Watch Next

The next 24–72 hours are critical.

Key factors to monitor:

• Updates on US-Iran negotiations
• Oil price movements and volatility
• Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz
• Statements from global leaders and central banks

👉 These events will likely determine the next major move in Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

Final Outlook: A Market Waiting for Confirmation

The crypto market is not directionless — it is waiting.

Bitcoin’s current stability reflects a broader pause across global markets as investors assess the next major geopolitical development.

👉 The next move will not be gradual — it will be decisive.

Whether Bitcoin rallies or crashes from here depends on one key factor:
the outcome of the current geopolitical tensions.

Facing an unprecedented blockade from the global SWIFT banking network and a collapsing national currency, Tehran has institutionalized digital assets to facilitate international trade, procure dual-use technology, and fund military operations. Following recent military escalations in early 2026, blockchain data has revealed massive capital movements within the Islamic Republic, proving that digital ledgers are now the "front line" of modern financial warfare.

Is Iran Using Crypto to Bypass Sanctions?

Yes, Iran is actively and systematically using cryptocurrency to bypass US-led economic sanctions. According to the Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report, Iran’s on-chain ecosystem reached a staggering $7.78 billion in 2025. By integrating crypto-mining into its state energy grid and utilizing dollar-pegged stablecoins for cross-border settlements, the Iranian government has created a parallel financial system that operates largely outside the reach of the US Federal Reserve.

The Mechanics of State-Sponsored Evasion

To understand how a nation-state "uses crypto" to evade sanctions, we must define the three primary pillars of Tehran’s strategy:

• State-Sanctioned Mining: Iran utilizes its vast, underpriced energy reserves to mine Bitcoin ($BTC). This "freshly minted" Bitcoin is untainted by previous transaction history, making it highly valuable for international markets where "clean" coins are required.
• The Service Layer Infrastructure: Rather than just using individual wallets, Iran has developed state-backed exchanges like Nobitex (which manages over 11 million users) and international nodes like Zedcex to process billions in volume.
• Stablecoin Settlement: While Bitcoin is used for wealth storage, dollar-pegged stablecoins (like USDT) and the newer ruble-backed A7A5 are the preferred medium for actual trade payments due to their price stability.

The Rise of the IRGC in the Digital Economy

A significant shift occurred throughout 2025: the total dominance of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the Iranian crypto market.

"In Q4 2025, IRGC-linked addresses accounted for over 50% of all value received by Iranian crypto services, moving more than $3 billion to support regional networks and oil sales." — Chainalysis 2026 Report.

This represents a transition from "civilian" crypto use (citizens protecting their savings from a Rial that hit 1.75 million per dollar in 2026) to "state" crypto use. The IRGC uses these funds to:

1. Circumvent oil export bans by accepting crypto payments.
2. Procure hardware and electronics for defense through non-sanctioned intermediaries.
3. Fund proxy groups across the Middle East without leaving a traditional banking trail.

Global Response and the Future of Enforcement

The US government is aggressively countering these moves. In February 2026, the US Treasury stepped up enforcement against platforms found to be functioning as critical nodes for Iranian state-backed finance.

However, the challenge for regulators is the "whack-a-mole" nature of decentralized finance. When one exchange is sanctioned, new liquidity hubs emerge in gray-market jurisdictions. Furthermore, the collaboration between Iran and Russia on the A7A5 stablecoin has created a bilateral corridor that processed over $100 billion in its first year, providing a blueprint for other sanctioned nations.

A New Era of Financial Warfare

Iran’s use of cryptocurrency has evolved from a survival tactic into a strategic weapon. By leveraging the borderless nature of blockchain, Tehran has managed to maintain its military funding and essential imports despite being "disconnected" from the world. For investors following the latest crypto news, this highlights the dual nature of digital assets: a tool for individual financial freedom and a vehicle for state-level geopolitical maneuvering.

As the conflict in West Asia continues, the world is watching to see if digital assets can truly replace the US Dollar as the primary settlement currency for the "sanctioned bloc" of nations.

XRP Stabilizes Above Key Support: A Launchpad for $1.45?

The cryptocurrency market in April 2026 is witnessing a pivotal moment for XRP. After a period of cooling off from earlier yearly highs, the XRP/USD pair has established a formidable defensive line. As of April 7, 2026, technical charts reveal that the $1.30 level is acting as a "line in the sand" for bulls, preventing further downside and setting the stage for a potential trend reversal.

Where is XRP Heading?

Currently, $XRP is trading near $1.315, hovering just above its primary support zone. If the current consolidation phase completes with a bullish breakout, the immediate target is $1.45. Conversely, a failure to hold the $1.28–$1.30 range could see a retracement toward $1.20.

XRP Price Analysis: The $1.30 Support Zone

The recent price action on the 4-hour chart illustrates a clear "floor" forming at the $1.28 - $1.30 horizontal support level (marked by the orange line). Despite multiple tests over the last week, sellers have been unable to push the price decisively below this mark.

Key Technical Indicators:

• Relative Strength Index (RSI): The 14-period RSI is currently sitting at 45.34, which is neutral to slightly oversold. This suggests that the bearish momentum is exhausting, and there is ample "headroom" for a price surge without hitting overbought territory immediately.
• Price Structure: We are seeing a series of "higher lows" starting to form on the shorter timeframes, a classic signal of accumulation.
• Moving Averages: XRP is currently battling to stay above its 100-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA), a successful flip of which would confirm the short-term bullish bias.

Bullish vs. Bearish Targets for April 2026

The market is currently in a state of "compressed volatility." This usually precedes a sharp move in either direction. Based on current market structure, here are the levels to watch:

The Bull Case: Target $1.45

If XRP maintains its position above $1.30, the first major hurdle is the $1.35 resistance. A breakout above this level, backed by increasing volume, would likely trigger a fast move toward the $1.45 yellow resistance line shown on the chart. This represents a potential 10% gain from current levels.

The Bear Case: Target $1.20

Should the broader market—led by Bitcoin—face a sudden downturn, XRP might lose its $1.28 footing. In this scenario, the next structural support lies at the psychological $1.20 level. Traders should keep a close eye on crypto exchanges to ensure they have the best liquidity for tight stop-loss management.

Ripple’s $13 Trillion Play

Beyond the charts, the fundamental backdrop for Ripple remains robust. Recent reports indicate that Ripple’s integration with SWIFT-certified infrastructure—following its major 2025 acquisitions—is now processing significant annual flows. This "utility-driven" valuation is a major reason why XRP is holding higher support levels compared to previous cycles.

Furthermore, with the SEC–CFTC Memorandum of Understanding providing clearer regulatory lanes in 2026, institutional "smart money" appears more comfortable accumulating XRP during these consolidation phases.

The current price action represents a classic "wait and see" period. The tight range between $1.28 and $1.35 is where the next major trend will be decided.

Crypto prices jumped on the announcement of a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—but macro events loom.

A decentralized exchange on Solana urged its users to exit after a former executive was alleged to be a North Korean hacker.

Prosecutors said a recent Supreme Court ruling should have no bearing on Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm’s looming retrial.

Decentralized lending giant Aave's native token fell near a 2-year-low price following news that another ecosystem contributor is leaving.

The FDIC’s proposal establishes federal oversight standards for stablecoin issuers while explicitly excluding tokens from deposit insurance protections.

Is XRP ready for the quantum age? A top XRPL contributor reveals that only 0.03% of the supply is at risk as of April 2026.

XRP is beating assets from the Big Three and even smaller meme coins in ETF flows.

For years, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has stood as one of Wall Street's fiercest and vocal critics of the cryptocurrency industry.

Bitcoin's sudden surge to nearly $73,000 has triggered a $596 million volatility event, completely wiping out over 120,000 traders.

Market is extremely close to a critical point, as multiple assets are rapidly losing key support levels.

TLDR:

• Crypto scams reached a record $11.36B in 2025, marking a 22% rise from the previous year’s total.

• Americans over 60 lost $7.7 billion to cybercrime in 2025, a 37% increase compared to last year.

• AI deepfake and voice cloning scams stole an estimated $893 million from US victims during 2025.

• FBI’s Operation Level Up identified 8,000 victims and blocked over $500 million in further losses.

Crypto scams reached a record $11.36 billion in losses across the United States in 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation released its annual Internet Crime Report, confirming a 22% jump from the previous year.

Total cybercrime losses crossed $20.9 billion, also setting a new record high. The FBI logged over one million total complaints, averaging roughly 3,000 reports per day throughout the year.

Investment Scams and Senior Losses Drive Record Numbers

Crypto investment scams alone accounted for $7.2 billion of the total losses recorded in 2025. That figure represents the single largest share of all cryptocurrency-related fraud documented by the FBI. Overall, 181,565 crypto-related complaints were submitted to the agency during the reporting period.

Senior citizens continued to bear a disproportionate share of the financial damage. Americans over the age of 60 lost a combined $7.7 billion to cybercrime, marking a 37% increase year-over-year.

This age group remains the most frequently targeted demographic across all reported online fraud categories. The steep rise in losses among older Americans points to the growing reach of these criminal networks.

AI-powered fraud also emerged as a rapidly growing threat within the report. Deepfake technology and voice cloning tools were used to steal approximately $893 million from victims last year.

These tools give criminals the ability to impersonate trusted individuals using convincing audio and video. The use of such technology adds a new layer of difficulty for victims trying to detect fraud.

The breadth of these numbers reflects how fraud tactics continue to outpace public awareness in the crypto space. As digital asset adoption expands globally, criminal networks are scaling their operations accordingly.

Authorities continue to stress that reporting fraud promptly through IC3.gov remains a critical step in recovery efforts.

Pig Butchering Operations and the FBI’s Countermeasures

Most crypto investment scams traced back to organized crime groups operating out of Southeast Asia. These groups run large-scale schemes commonly referred to as pig butchering operations. Criminals spend weeks or months building genuine-seeming trust with targets before executing the fraud.

Initial contact is typically made through social media platforms, dating apps, and messaging services like Telegram.

Once a relationship is established, victims are directed to fake investment platforms displaying fabricated profits. When those victims eventually attempt to withdraw their funds, the money has already disappeared.

In response, the FBI launched Operation Level Up to directly address these types of investment scams. The operation has already identified more than 8,000 potential victims and prevented over $500 million in further losses.

This approach represents a more proactive stance from the agency in tackling crypto-related crime.

The FBI urges the public to treat all unsolicited investment messages with caution and skepticism. No legitimate platform or trader asks users to send cryptocurrency to an unverified wallet address. Victims and witnesses of suspected fraud are encouraged to file a report directly at IC3.gov.

The post Crypto Scams Hit Record $11.36 Billion in 2025, FBI Report Reveals appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Elon Musk has revised his legal action against OpenAI, stipulating that any awarded damages should be directed to OpenAI’s nonprofit division rather than to him personally
• The billionaire entrepreneur is pursuing damages exceeding $150 billion from both OpenAI and its primary backer, Microsoft
• The amended complaint calls for Sam Altman’s removal from OpenAI’s nonprofit board and the dismissal of Greg Brockman from his officer position
• The federal trial is scheduled to commence with jury selection on April 27 at the Oakland, California courthouse
• OpenAI has dismissed the legal action as “a harassment campaign driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor”

On Tuesday, Elon Musk submitted a revised version of his legal complaint against OpenAI, specifying that any monetary awards should be channeled to the organization’s charitable division instead of his personal accounts. The updated filing also requests judicial intervention to strip CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman of their leadership positions.

The dispute traces back to Musk’s initial lawsuit filed in 2024. His central allegation contends that OpenAI misled him into contributing $38 million under false pretenses that the organization would maintain its nonprofit status. Since then, OpenAI has undergone a corporate transformation, establishing a nonprofit entity that maintains a 26% ownership interest in its commercial operations.

The origins of the partnership date to 2015, when Musk and Altman were among the founding members of OpenAI. Musk departed the organization in 2018 following an unsuccessful attempt to integrate it with Tesla. By 2023, he had established xAI, a rival artificial intelligence venture that created the Grok conversational AI system.

The financial stakes in Musk’s legal challenge are substantial. He’s now pursuing more than $150 billion in combined damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, the latter being OpenAI’s principal financial supporter. This represents an increase from the $134 billion maximum his legal team requested in documents filed this past January.

Marc Toberoff, representing Musk in the case, emphasized that his client “is not seeking a single dollar for himself.” According to Toberoff, the litigation aims to restore misappropriated assets to their rightful charitable purpose while ensuring accountability for those allegedly responsible.

What Musk Is Asking the Court to Do

The revised legal filing requests that the court compel Altman and Brockman to surrender any equity holdings or monetary gains they’ve accumulated to OpenAI’s charitable entity. Additionally, Musk’s attorneys are asking the court to mandate that OpenAI return to functioning as a legitimate nonprofit organization.

“Removal of a charity’s officers and directors is a common remedy where those individuals fail to protect or carry out the charity’s public mission,” Musk’s legal team wrote in the Tuesday filing.

OpenAI responded swiftly to the amended complaint. Through a statement posted on X, the company characterized the lawsuit as “nothing more than a harassment campaign that is driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor.” When contacted for comment, Microsoft representatives declined to provide a statement.

The Road to Trial

The legal proceedings are moving forward with jury selection scheduled to commence April 27 at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California.

Just one day before Musk’s amended filing, OpenAI dispatched correspondence to the attorneys general of both California and Delaware. The communication accused Musk of deliberately disseminating misleading information designed to undermine OpenAI’s credibility in advance of the upcoming trial. OpenAI further alleged that Musk has been working in concert with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on coordinated efforts targeting the company.

Toberoff called OpenAI’s letter a “desperate deflection,” saying a judge and jury will decide the case.

OpenAI’s market valuation currently stands at $852 billion, with the company preparing for a public offering expected later this year. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI in February—a transaction that valued the merged companies at $1.25 trillion—has been followed by confidential SEC filings that could pave the way for what analysts predict would be a historically significant IPO.

The post Musk Escalates OpenAI Legal Battle with $150B Claim and Leadership Ouster Demand appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Drone attacks linked to Iran tensions have damaged AWS facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
• AWS CEO Matt Garman stated that dedicated teams are operating around the clock to maintain regional service availability.
• Multiple AWS offerings in both Middle Eastern regions continue to experience disruptions.
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy has publicly stated it struck Amazon’s Bahrain infrastructure.
• Operational challenges are mounting due to increased energy expenses and constrained helium availability.

Amazon (AMZN) shares climbed 3.68%, gaining $7.87 in extended trading, even as investors processed reports of significant disruptions affecting its cloud computing division.

Amazon.com, Inc., AMZN

Amazon Web Services faces a critical challenge maintaining operational continuity in the Middle East following drone attacks that impacted facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. These incidents stem from the intensifying Iran conflict that reached new levels in February.

At Tuesday’s HumanX conference held in San Francisco, AWS CEO Matt Garman spoke candidly about the crisis. “It’s a really difficult situation, and we’re working incredibly hard,” he stated to CNBC. “We have teams, 24/7, working to make sure that we can keep our infrastructure up for our customers in that region.”

Multiple cloud offerings throughout both the Bahrain and UAE locations remain unavailable, as reflected on AWS’s public status dashboard. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy announced last week that it deliberately struck Amazon’s Bahrain data center operations. While AWS refused to address that specific claim, the company referenced a prior statement acknowledging that its Bahrain location “has been disrupted as a result of the ongoing conflict.”

Extended Service Interruptions Affect Two Key Markets

Restoration efforts are proving complex and time-intensive. AWS established its Bahrain presence in 2019 and followed with its UAE location in 2022 — both facilities were designed to meet expanding cloud infrastructure requirements throughout the Middle East, serving government entities and banking institutions alike.

The extensive nature of these outages creates substantial challenges for corporate clients who selected these regions specifically for data sovereignty compliance. Numerous organizations maintain Middle East operations because local laws mandate that data remain within territorial boundaries — redirecting workloads to European or Asian regions often violates regulatory requirements.

The military confrontation is driving up operational expenses. Regional energy costs have surged since hostilities commenced in February. Cloud facilities, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence computing tasks, consume massive amounts of electricity. Helium — an essential component in chip production — has become increasingly scarce. Qatar, positioned adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, supplies over one-third of global helium production, and transportation through the strait faces mounting restrictions.

President Trump issued warnings Monday about potential strikes against civilian targets if Iran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, triggering sharp increases in crude oil valuations.

AWS Maintains Long-Term Regional Commitment

Notwithstanding current difficulties, Garman expressed confidence in the region’s future prospects.

“There’s a fantastic entrepreneurial spirit,” he remarked. “There’s a willingness to invest. And so our and my excitement about investing long term in that region is just as strong as it’s ever been.”

Google, Microsoft, and Oracle maintain existing facilities or are constructing new data centers throughout the Middle East. Each provider confronts identical concerns regarding service reliability when physical assets face military threats.

An AWS representative acknowledged the Bahrain disruption but provided no estimated timeframe for complete service restoration. The company’s operational status dashboard continued displaying numerous unavailable services across both Bahrain and UAE territories as of Tuesday afternoon.

The post Amazon (AMZN) Cloud Operations Under Fire: Drone Attacks Cripple AWS Middle East Infrastructure appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Anthropic unveiled Project Glasswing, collaborating with leading technology and cybersecurity companies to deploy its upcoming Mythos Preview AI model for security defense purposes
• CrowdStrike (CRWD) shares surged 6.2% while Palo Alto Networks (PANW) climbed 4.9% during Tuesday’s session, with both adding approximately 2% in extended trading
• Despite Tuesday’s rally, PANW remains down 7.8% year-to-date while CRWD has declined 9.7% in 2026
• The AI company plans to allocate up to $100 million in platform usage credits and dedicate $4 million to open-source cybersecurity initiatives
• This announcement follows a sharp selloff in cybersecurity equities last month when Anthropic first disclosed Mythos, sparking concerns about AI disruption in the security sector

Cybersecurity investors found reason for optimism Tuesday as Anthropic’s Project Glasswing announcement sent shares of both Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike significantly higher. The artificial intelligence firm revealed plans to provide access to its forthcoming Mythos Preview model specifically for defensive cybersecurity applications.

The collaboration brings together technology industry heavyweights — Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Google, JPMorgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, and Nvidia all join PANW and CRWD as participating partners.

According to Anthropic, Mythos Preview represents an AI system that can match or exceed the abilities of highly skilled security professionals when identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in software systems. The company positions the initiative as a critical effort to ensure these capabilities strengthen defenses rather than enable attacks.

The timing marks a dramatic reversal from recent sentiment. When Fortune broke news on March 27 about Anthropic’s Mythos model development, cybersecurity stocks tumbled as investors worried that advanced AI might erode the need for conventional security solutions.

Tuesday’s partnership reveal seemingly reversed that narrative — at least temporarily.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc., PANW

Palo Alto Networks posted gains approaching 5%, while CrowdStrike advanced 6.2% during regular trading hours. After-hours activity added roughly 2% to both positions. The momentum carried into Wednesday’s pre-market session.

However, the year-to-date performance remains challenging. PANW has surrendered 7.8% since January, and CRWD sits 9.7% lower through 2026. Tuesday’s advance provides some relief but leaves substantial losses intact.

Anthropic’s Financial Commitment

Anthropic has pledged up to $100 million worth of AI platform credits for Project Glasswing participants. Additionally, the company earmarked $4 million for open-source security development efforts.

These substantial allocations suggest Anthropic intends to build a genuine defensive security framework rather than merely announcing a symbolic collaboration.

A Complex Calculation for Security Firms

For both Palo Alto Networks and CrowdStrike, Project Glasswing presents opportunities alongside potential challenges. The initiative confirms AI-enhanced security as an expanding market segment — an area where both companies have established footholds.

Conversely, the same sophisticated AI capabilities being harnessed for protection could eventually automate services that cybersecurity vendors currently monetize. Should AI systems become capable of independently identifying and mitigating threats, demand for certain traditional security products might contract.

This fundamental question remains unresolved. Yet Tuesday and Wednesday’s market response delivered a clear verdict: securing a seat at Anthropic’s table outweighs the alternative.

Both PANW and CRWD sustained their upward momentum in pre-market trading Wednesday morning following Tuesday’s strong close.

The post Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) Surge on Anthropic’s AI Security Partnership appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• SOFI shares have dropped approximately 1% in today’s session and are down 41% year-to-date, despite posting a 70% gain over the trailing twelve months.
• The stock’s recent decline reflects investor skepticism after an aggressive rally fueled by excitement surrounding its Big Business Banking initiative and cryptocurrency expansion.
• Fourth quarter 2025 results were impressive: earnings per share reached $0.13 (surpassing forecasts by 8.3%), while revenue exceeded $1 billion for the first time—a 40% annual increase.
• Valuation metrics are raising eyebrows: SOFI trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.68x, significantly higher than the sector median of 8.27x, with some analysts estimating fair value near $12.49—suggesting a 29% premium.
• Major concerns include concentrated exposure to personal loans (comprising nearly 70% of total loan book), a current ratio of 0.78 indicating liquidity strain, and the absence of dividend payments.

SoFi Technologies has experienced significant volatility recently. Following a powerful upward move sparked by investor optimism about its broadening digital financial services platform, shares are now retreating as market enthusiasm wanes. Today’s decline is relatively minor—roughly 1%—but the bigger picture reveals a more dramatic shift: the stock has plunged 41% since the start of 2025.

SoFi Technologies, Inc., SOFI

The current trading price of $16.11 appears elevated compared to certain fundamental models. Utilizing an excess returns valuation approach, some analysts have calculated an intrinsic value closer to $12.49 per share—suggesting the stock is trading roughly 29% above its fundamental worth. The company’s P/E multiple of 42.68x stands more than five times higher than the consumer finance sector average of 8.27x.

Despite these valuation concerns, the company’s operational performance has been strong. During the fourth quarter of 2025, SoFi achieved a significant milestone by surpassing $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, representing 40% year-over-year growth. Earnings per share of $0.13 exceeded analyst expectations by 8.3% and demonstrated a remarkable 160% improvement. CEO Anthony Noto’s insider purchases earlier in the year initially boosted investor confidence—though market sentiment has since cooled.

Business Drivers and Growth Catalysts

The Galileo technology platform represents one of SoFi’s most compelling strategic assets. An increasing number of financial institutions are licensing this infrastructure, potentially positioning SoFi as a backend technology provider rather than solely a consumer-facing lender. Community banks and smaller financial institutions may find licensing Galileo more cost-effective than developing proprietary digital banking systems.

Macroeconomic conditions have also provided support. The Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting cycle throughout 2025, anticipated to extend into 2026, has reduced borrowing costs and stimulated consumer demand for new loans and refinancing opportunities. For a company heavily focused on lending products, this represents a favorable macroeconomic backdrop.

The $2 billion strategic partnership with Fortress Investment Group aims to transition more revenue toward fee-based income streams—which require less capital and offer greater predictability. Recent credit card product launches and the integration of Nova Credit for enhanced risk assessment represent additional initiatives designed to expand the customer base and improve underwriting precision.

Risk Factors Worth Monitoring

Approximately 70% of SoFi’s loan portfolio consists of personal loans—unsecured debt instruments that inherently carry elevated default risk compared to secured lending products. Should delinquency rates deteriorate, profit margins could face substantial compression.

Liquidity metrics warrant attention as well. As of December 31, 2025, SoFi reported a current ratio of 0.78, falling short of the industry benchmark of 1.2. This sub-1.0 ratio indicates that short-term obligations exceed readily available short-term assets. Additionally, the company does not distribute dividends, meaning shareholders depend exclusively on capital appreciation for returns.

The consensus analyst rating currently stands at Hold (Zacks Rank #3). Optimistic valuation models project fair value as high as $38, while more conservative estimates cluster around $12.37. The prevailing price of $16.11 falls between these extremes, though closer to the more cautious projections.

The post SoFi Technologies (SOFI) Stock Down 41% in 2025 — Should Investors Buy the Dip? appeared first on Blockonomi.

White House economists, part of the Council of Economic Advisers, reported today that banning crypto firms from offering customers yield on stablecoins won’t have a meaningful effect on community banks.

This marks the latest developments in a notable conflict between the banking industry and the crypto industry.

According to the Council:

“The conditions for finding a positive welfare effect from prohibiting yield are simply implausible. […] In sort, a yield prohibition would do very little to protect bank lending, while forgoing the consumer benefits of competitive returns on stablecoin holdings.”

The ongoing debate between both lobbies is expected to be formalized in the Clarity Act. The legislation is to close that perceived loophole by doing one of two things – either banning rewards from third-parties on stablecoins or establishing them as legal.

It’s important to note that the Council of Economic Advisers sits within the White House’s executive office. The current administration is known to have been rather favorable and supportive of the crypto industry, which was a major part of President Trump’s election campaign.

Recall that the latest proposal for the Clarity Act was to bar crypto platforms from offering stablecoin rewards to their customers, whether “directly or indirectly,” or in any form that resembles a bank deposit. This would close all potential loopholes in the existing proposal for the legislation and prevent these platforms from introducing anything that is similar to interest-earning stablecoin offerings.

The latest report by the CEA comes in stark contrast to that as the debate heats up and continues.

The post White House Economists Oppose Ban on Stablecoin Yields appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – Belize City, Belize, April 8th, 2026]

BC.GAME has launched BC Engine, a new rewards feature that turns instant $BC earned through gameplay into auto-staked balances generating hourly BCD. With no extra wagering requirement and wallet withdrawals available at any time, the launch introduces a more continuous rewards model built around gameplay rather than one-time bonus payouts.

At the core of BC Engine is a straightforward concept: players earn $BC through regular platform activity, and those rewards do not end at the point of accrual. Instead, the $BC is automatically directed into BC Engine, where it enters an hourly BCD distribution cycle. This structure extends the reward process beyond initial crediting into continued participation.

From Instant $BC to Hourly BCD

Under BC Engine, eligible gameplay generates instant $BC, which is automatically allocated into the system without requiring any separate staking action from the user. Once inside BC Engine, those balances begin generating BCD on an hourly basis.

This is what sets the feature apart from more traditional reward structures. Rather than ending when the reward is issued, the process continues after $BC is earned, creating an additional layer of ongoing distribution tied to gameplay.

What Players Get With BC Engine

BC Engine brings several user-facing features into a single rewards path:

• Instant $BC through normal gameplay
• Automatic allocation into BC Engine
• Hourly BCD distributions
• No extra wagering requirement
• Wallet withdrawals available at any time

Taken together, these features make BC Engine less like a conventional bonus mechanic and more like a continuous reward layer built into everyday platform activity.

A Wider Rewards Update

BC Engine sits at the center of a broader update to BC.GAME’s rewards system. Alongside the new feature, the platform has also updated its wider rewards structure to include daily, weekly and monthly rewards, level-up bonuses and Welcome Shield.

According to the update page, the wider rewards structure is available from day one, with no level requirement and no waiting period to access core benefits.

For new users, Welcome Shield adds first-session protection, including 20% loseback, up to $1,000 returned, and a 0x wagering requirement.

Beyond One-Time Bonuses

The launch of BC Engine reflects a broader shift in how rewards are being structured on the platform. Instead of limiting rewards to one-time bonuses or isolated promotions, BC.GAME is linking gameplay, token accrual and continuing distribution more closely together.

For users, the proposition is straightforward: gameplay generates instant $BC, that $BC enters BC Engine automatically, and BCD is distributed on an hourly basis without additional wagering conditions.

About BC.GAME

BC.GAME is a global crypto gaming platform offering casino games, sports and esports content. The platform supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and continues to expand its rewards system, product features and user experience across markets.

The post BC.GAME Launches BC Engine: Instant $BC, Auto-Staked and Paid Hourly in BCD appeared first on CryptoPotato.

[PRESS RELEASE – BVI, British Virgin Islands, April 8th, 2026]

The free Premier League prediction game launches on April 10 — no deposit, no KYC, no wagering requirements. Players pick one team per week. Last player standing wins.

Toshi.bet, the no KYC instant withdrawal casino and sportsbook, today announced the launch of Last Man Standing — a free to bet football prediction game giving players the chance to win $5,000 every week, $100,000 in a dedicated 2026 World Cup tournament, and an all-expenses-paid World Cup trip automatically entered for every participating player.

The free-to-play football game launches Friday, April 10, 2026, opening with the Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. No deposit. No wagering requirement. No identity verification. Pure football knowledge.

What Is Last Man Standing Football?

Last Man Standing football is one of the most widely played free-to-play football formats in the world — popular in offices, families, and football communities globally for decades. The format is simple and highly competitive.

One Premier League team is chosen to win each week. If the selected team wins, the entry progresses to the next round. A draw or loss results in elimination. One key rule defines the format: the same team cannot be selected more than once in a single tournament.

Anyone can pick Manchester City in round one. Six rounds in — when banker options are gone, and fixtures get harder — the game becomes a true test of football intelligence. Toshi.bet’s Last Man Standing is the Premier League prediction game that is completely free to bet on. No entry fee. No deposit. No wagering requirement. The stake is football knowledge. The prize is real cash — every week.

Three Ways to Win Simultaneously

Weekly EPL Last Man Standing — $5,000 New tournaments open every week throughout the Premier League season. Win and take home $5,000 in full — instantly withdrawable in crypto with zero wagering requirement and zero identity check.

2026 World Cup Last Man Standing — $100,000 A dedicated tournament running alongside the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers $100,000 to the last player standing. The largest prize pool available in any free-to-play football game currently operating on a crypto platform.

All-Expenses World Cup Trip Draw – Every player who participates in any Last Man Standing tournament is automatically entered into a draw to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2026 World Cup in North America — flights, accommodation, and match tickets included. No separate entry required. Simply play.

Free to Bet. Real Prizes. Zero Conditions.

Most free bet on football promotions come loaded with wagering requirements, short expiry windows, and document verification before a single dollar moves. Toshi.bet’s Last Man Standing works completely differently.

Free to bet means genuinely free. Entry is the stake. Football knowledge is the edge. When a win occurs, withdrawal is immediate. No conditions on prize funds. No KYC triggered after winning. No minimum withdrawal. Winnings move from Toshi.bet to a personal crypto wallet in under 10 minutes.

Traditional football prediction games require account verification, bank registration, and restrict access by geography. Toshi.bet’s Last Man Standing is open to football fans worldwide — outside restricted jurisdictions — with registration requiring only an email address. No passport. No proof of address. No waiting for approval. Registration, entry, and the first pick can all be completed in under two minutes

The Draw Card — Strategic Insurance

Even the sharpest football mind gets caught by a 0-0. The Draw Card gives players one-round protection against a draw result that would otherwise end their tournament.

Draw Cards are purchased using LMS Points — earned automatically at one point per $3 wagered on Toshi.bet’s sportsbook and casino. Every bet placed feeds directly into Last Man Standing strategy. Draw Card costs escalate from 50 LMS Points in round one to 20,000 in round 16 and beyond — reflecting the increasing value of survival as fields thin and prize money draws closer.

No KYC Casino — No Paperwork Required

Toshi.bet is a no KYC casino and sportsbook. No identity verification is required at any stage — registration, deposits, gameplay, or withdrawals at any amount. A player winning $5,000 withdraws the full amount immediately — no compliance review, no document upload, no pending period. Funds move to a personal crypto wallet in under 10 minutes.

Instant Withdrawal Casino — Winnings Move Fast

Toshi.bet is built as a genuine instant withdrawal casino on crypto infrastructure. All prize payments are processed through fully automated blockchain systems with no manual review and no withdrawal limits at any account level. USDT on the Tron network confirms in under 60 seconds. Litecoin in two to three minutes. Bitcoin in under 30 minutes. No bank transfer delays. No pending periods.

Expanding Beyond the Premier League

Last Man Standing launches with full Premier League coverage and expands throughout 2026 to include Germany’s Bundesliga, Spain’s La Liga, and Major League Soccer. The dedicated 2026 World Cup tournament — $100,000 prize — gives football fans worldwide the chance to compete in the biggest free to play football game prize pool on any crypto platform during the biggest football event on the planet.

Key Facts

Detail Information

Launch date: Friday April 10, 2026

Opening fixture: West Ham vs Wolves — Premier League

Entry fee: Free — no deposit required

Weekly EPL prize: $5,000

World Cup prize: $100,000

World Cup trip draw: All LMS players automatically entered

KYC requirement: None — ever

Withdrawal speed: Instant — crypto-powered

Wagering requirement: Zero

Leagues at launch:

• Premier League
• Leagues coming
• Bundesliga, La Liga, MLS

About Toshi.bet

Toshi.bet is a crypto-native no KYC casino and sportsbook offering instant withdrawal on all supported cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT, Solana, BNB, Dogecoin, and XRP. The platform operates a permanent no KYC policy — no identity verification required at any stage. Licensed under the Anjouan Gaming Board.

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The post Toshi.bet Launches Free Last Man Standing Football — $5,000 Weekly, $100,000 World Cup Prize appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Lookonchain recently flagged a suspicious cluster of trades, intensifying concerns about insider activity in prediction markets. According to its findings, four wallets collectively made about $663,000 by betting on a US-Iran ceasefire occurring by April 7.

What stood out was not just the profits, but the behavior of the wallets involved.

Uncanny Precision

Most of them were freshly created and funded on the same day the bets were placed, and had no prior transaction history. These accounts entered “YES” positions just hours before the ceasefire materialized, and did so at extremely low implied probabilities, ranging from 2.9% to 10.3%, Lookonchain said in its update. This meant the market largely did not expect such an outcome at the time.

The timing, along with the lack of previous activity and the precision of the wagers, has raised questions about whether these trades were acting on non-public information. The occurrence adds to the already existing pattern of scrutiny around prediction platforms, where users can speculate on geopolitical events, including military actions, long before they are officially confirmed.

Interestingly, these concerns are not isolated. Last month, reports emerged that a trader had accumulated nearly $1 million in profits since 2024 by consistently placing well-timed bets on Polymarket tied to US and Israeli military actions involving Iran. This individual reportedly achieved a 93% success rate on high-value wagers and correctly predicted events that were not publicly announced in advance. The pattern included placing trades just hours before important developments.

An earlier report highlighted a similar case involving a user known as “Magamyman,” who reportedly earned over $553,000 by betting on outcomes tied to Iran and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. These trades were placed shortly before a confirmed Israeli strike on February 28, 2026, which resulted in Khamenei’s death. Many lawmakers and critics had then argued that such platforms may enable individuals with access to sensitive or classified information to monetize geopolitical events.

In February, Israeli authorities charged an IDF reservist and a civilian for allegedly using classified military information to place bets on Polymarket.

Enforcement, Not Elimination

Despite all the scrutiny, prediction markets have become massively popular. Recently, prominent asset manager Bitwise filed for prediction market ETFs. Its CIO, Matt Hougan, said that insider trading “should not be tolerated in any market.”

But he said that the “existence of bad actors in a market is an argument for better enforcement,” not for eliminating it.

The post Mystery Traders Pocket $663K Hours Before Iran Ceasefire; Luck or Leaked Intelligence? appeared first on CryptoPotato.

A total of six banks in Switzerland have partnered to test potential use cases for a Swiss franc stablecoin, Reuters reported, citing banking giant UBS.

Per the announcement, the banks are going to launch a secure digital live environment – also known as a sandbox – to explore ways to connect blockchain-based applications with the Swiss franc.

The institutions, part of the initiative, are UBS, PostFinance, Sygnum, Raiffeisen, ZKB, and BCV.

According to the official press release from UBS,

The new initiative will test potential use cases for a CHF stablecoin in Switzerland. In doing so, the partners are exploring ways to connect blockchain applications with the Swiss franc, aiming to strengthen both the Swiss digital money ecosystem and the competitiveness of Switzerland’s financial center.

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