Crypto exchange Coinbase has announced it will suspend trading of the Movement Network token (MOVE), the native cryptocurrency of the Movement layer-2 blockchain protocol, developed by Movement Labs, effective May 15.The decision was shared in a May 1 X post, with Coinbase citing the token’s failure to meet its listing standards. The price of the MOVE token also declined by approximately 14.5% in the last 24 hours. Coinbase specified the details of the suspension in an announcement:"Trading for MOVE will be suspended on Coinbase, Simple and Advanced Trade, Coinbase Exchange, and Coinbase Prime. We have moved our MOVE order books to limit-only mode. Limit orders can be placed and canceled, and matches may occur."The suspension of the token follows a recently announced third-party review orchestrated by the Movement Network Foundation into an agreement allegedly signed by Movement Labs and a market-making firm, which is said to be behind the downfall of the MOVE token price in December 2024.Source: Coinbase AssetsA Movement Network Foundation spokesperson recently confirmed to Cointelegraph that the third-party investigation, which commenced on April 21, is ongoing. The investigation is being conducted by Groom Lake, an independent cybersecurity and intelligence firm, and has cast a cloud over the MOVE token's price.Related: Binance to purge 14 tokens following ‘vote to delist’ processInvestigation launched into Movement Labs dealThe details of the ongoing investigation, reported by CoinDesk on April 30, revealed an agreement between Movement Labs and Web3Port, a market maker to help distribute the Move token at launch.According to the report, a company called “Rentech” helped to broker the agreement between the two firms, appearing on both sides of the deal — as a Web3Port subsidiary and as an agent of the Movement Foundation.The deal reportedly gave Rentech control of over 66 million MOVE tokens that it sold-off after the token launch in early December 2024, triggering $38 million in downward price pressure.The price action for the MOVE token. Source: TradingViewThe MOVE token has been in a downtrend ever since early January 2025 and is trading at around $0.20 at the time of this writing.Magazine: Arbitrum co-founder skeptical of move to based and native rollups: Steven Goldfeder

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, addressed criticism over the company's decision not to seek registration under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, arguing that the regulations were risky for stablecoins.Speaking to Cointelegraph at the Token2049 conference in Dubai, Ardoino reiterated that Tether had no plans to apply for its US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDt — the largest by market capitalization — to be compliant under MiCA in European countries, potentially forcing exchanges to delist the stablecoin. He added that though crypto firms had to follow regulations, there was a “fear of compliance” among companies in the EU.“[...] MiCA license is very dangerous when it comes to stablecoins, and I believe that is even more dangerous for the small, medium banking system in Europe,” said the Tether CEO, adding that banks in the region could “go belly up” in the next few years thanks to MiCA's requirements, such as keeping 60% of stablecoins reserves in insured cash deposits in European banks. Ardoino added:“I decided to not apply to the MiCA license because I need to protect the 400 million+ users that we have around the world. They are not as lucky as Europeans. I love Europe, but I think that unfortunately European Central Bank is more interested [in pushing] the digital euro as a way to control people and control how they spend their money.”Related: Paolo Ardoino: Competitors and politicians intend to ‘kill Tether’After years of planning and research, EU officials began to implement requirements under MiCA in December 2024. Tether, which is regulated and headquartered in El Salvador, is required to comply with MiCA regulatory requirements if offering products or services in EU member states.Since the regulations went into effect, many crypto exchanges acted to ensure their platforms listed MiCA-compliant tokens. Kraken delisted 5 stablecoins, including USDt, and Crypto.com announced plans to delist 10 stablecoins as of January. On nations establishing crypto reservesSpeaking on its intentions for operating in the United States, Ardoino said the country “would require a different type of product,” given the competition with local stablecoin issuers. He added that the US’s and other countries’ efforts to establish a Bitcoin (BTC) stockpile were “just inevitable.”“In the medium to long term, the more Bitcoin education, the more companies will set the example […] then everyone else will follow,” said the Tether CEO. “It’s never too late to buy Bitcoin.”Ardoino’s statements came the same day that Tether announced roughly $120 billion in exposure to US Treasurys as of the first quarter of 2025. As of May 1, USDt had a market capitalization of roughly $149 billion.Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

Cryptocurrency can accelerate artificial intelligence adoption by helping AI startups onboard users, according to Polygon's co-founder Sandeep Nailwal. “You can use crypto incentives and disincentives to onboard users to onboard the ecosystem players,” Nailwal said during a panel discussion at the LONGITUDE by Cointelegraph event. He added that projects with effective onchain incentive structures might even “build a better AI because you have this incentive engine that brings in developers,” Nailwal said on May 1. Cointelegraph’s LONGITUDE is an event series that brings together leaders and innovators from the blockchain and Web3 space for exclusive discussions. Joining the panel, Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of the Near Protocol, expanded on crypto's long-term synergy with AI, forecasting that crypto-native AI agents could replace traditional web application front-ends as the primary user interfaces for Web3."We don’t need applications or websites anymore. Your AI becomes the interface to computing and the internet,” Polosukhin said.Sandeep Nailwal and Illia Polosukhin speaking at Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE in Dubai. Source: CointelegraphRelated: AI memecoins will become utility tokensHowever, Nailwal cautioned that the rise of AI-related tokens onchain has also attracted a wave of opportunistic scams. “We know that 99% of those projects are literally token scams, but very few projects are actually trying to have some meaningful AI project,” he said. The era of Web3 AI agentsAI agents are expected to take on a more prominent role within decentralized communities, J.D. Seraphine, co-founder of Web3 developer Raiinmaker, recently told Cointelegraph. According to a report by VanEck, over 1 million AI agents could enter the market in 2025, with many of them tied to decentralized finance applications. Such agents are already reshaping the digital economy, building decentralized applications, launching tokens, and interacting with humans autonomously. AI token cumulative market cap. Source: CoinGecko“AI is an extremely centralizing force. A few companies could become the warlords of the world,” Nailwal said. “That’s why crypto-native, peer-to-peer AI solutions are so important—they enable privacy-preserving innovation,” Polosukhin said.Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

Key takeaways:Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by August or September of this year if BTC breaks above the parabolic slope pattern. Bitcoin (BTC) price jumped to new quarterly highs at $96,700 on May 1, a day after the US GDP contracted -0.3% for the first time since Q2 2022. Amid heightened economic concerns, the probability of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut rose to 62.8% for the June 18 Federal Reserve meeting. Over the past 24 hours, short position liquidations exceeded $137 million, with Alphractal founder Joao Wedson observing that BTC's price momentum continues to favor bullish trends.Bitcoin aggregated liquidation heatmap. Source: X.comPeter Brandt predicts a $150K Bitcoin top by Q3In a recent post on X, veteran trader Peter Brandt forecasted a Bitcoin price rally, potentially reaching $125,000 to $150,000 by August or September 2025. The trader predicted a parabolic arc pattern in Bitcoin’s price chart—a technical formation often signaling rapid rises followed by sharp corrections, as seen in the 2017 Bitcoin surge. Bitcoin 1-week analysis by Peter Brandt. Source: X.comBrandt noted that Bitcoin must reclaim its broken parabolic slope to achieve the above target. However, he cautioned that a 50%+ correction could follow the peak, reflecting the pattern’s characteristic volatility. From an onchain perspective, Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. pointed out that Bitcoin is on the cusp of a “start” rally zone. The analyst underlined three scenarios, with the optimistic (bull) case outlining a price target above $150,000. Adler Jr. added, “If the Ratio breaks through 1.0 and holds above it, the NUPL/MVRV metrics will show a new impulse, and the price could reach $150-175K, repeating the cycle logic of 2017 and 2021.”Bitcoin Composite Index. Source: CryptoQuantIn a baseline scenario, BTC's price may consolidate within a $90,000 to $110,000 range if new capital inflows remain limited and existing investors do not increase their positions.Lastly, a bearish case could unfold if further profit-taking from short-term holders takes place, leading to a correction down to $85,000-$70,000. Over the past two weeks, Bitcoin has displayed a consistent breakout pattern, surging 13% before entering sideways consolidation, then breaking out again to reach $93,000–$96,000. BTC is currently breaking out of its existing resistance range. Still, as shown in the chart below, a significant volume cluster between $96,000 and $99,000 suggests a phase of consolidation before Bitcoin can test the $100,000 mark. Bitcoin 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRelated: Bitcoin price about to ‘blast’ higher as Fed rate cut odds jump to 60%This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

• #bitcoin

Retail investors are running out of time to accumulate Bitcoin as institutional adoption accelerates, according to Sergej Kunz, co-founder of exchange aggregator 1inch. Bitcoin (BTC) is evolving into an alternative reserve currency, propelling institutional demand and potentially pricing out retail investors, Kunz said during Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE event in Dubai. "Every retail user should be thinking about getting at least one Bitcoin — very soon they won’t be able to afford it,” Kunz said. If the United States starts buying Bitcoin for a strategic reserve, even smaller countries may soon struggle to acquire the cryptocurrency, he added. "I’m pretty sure we’ll soon see countries battling over who owns more Bitcoin. The US will start.”Bitcoin demand has accelerated since US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on US imports in April, setting off a global trade war. “The only thing that still acts as a true hedge — across borders, against inflation — is Bitcoin,” Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu said during the panel. Yat Siu and Sergej Kunz at Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE. Source: CointelegraphRelated: US President Donald Trump issues 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffsGlobal reserve asset?During the week of April 21-25, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) attracted more than $3 billion in inflows as institutions sought safety in “digital gold” amid mounting macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts say demand from financial institutions could push Bitcoin’s price as high as $200,000 per coin this year. By 2029, institutional Bitcoin adoption could propel the cryptocurrency’s price past $1 million, Bitwise’s head of European research, André Dragosch, said.Asset managers still prefer gold for hedging against macro risk. Source: Binance ResearchFor Bitcoin, “[t]he silver lining is that economic uncertainty has historically accelerated institutional interest in digital assets as a diversification strategy,” David Siemer, co-founder and CEO of Wave Digital Assets, told Cointelegraph.As of May 1, Bitcoin ETFs and other institutional funds hold upward of $128 billion worth of BTC, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Corporate treasuries hold another roughly $73 billion, the data shows. Sovereign states — including the US, China, and the United Kingdom — collectively hold more than $130 billion worth of BTC. However, much of those holdings are from crypto assets seized by law enforcement, not outright Bitcoin buys. Magazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 Gamer

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A Texas member of the US House of Representatives has proposed that government officials consider installing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings across the country.In a May 1 letter to Stephen Ehikian, the acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) — the entity responsible for managing the US government’s properties — Rep. Lance Gooden claimed that introducing crypto ATMs to federal buildings would serve as an “educational resource” and reflect advances in financial technology. He requested that the GSA begin exploring the necessary guidelines and regulations needed to install such ATMs in government-controlled properties across the US, citing alignment with President Donald Trump’s goals.May 1 letter pitching crypto ATMs to GSA. Source: Rep. Lance GoodenAccording to financial disclosure reports filed with the US House of Representatives, Gooden had held no investments in cryptocurrency or ATM companies since taking office in 2019. He had not yet filed any financial disclosures with the government for 2025 investments.The GSA website stated it may provide space to ATMs from federal credit unions, but it was unclear whether the acting administrator had the authority to expand the regulations to include digital asset ATMs tied to private companies like Bitcoin Depot or CoinFlip. Cointelegraph reached out to Gooden’s office for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.Related: Eric Trump: USD1 will be used for $2B MGX investment in BinanceGooden, a Republican and Trump supporter, made the proposal as lawmakers in the US Senate consider legislation to crack down on fraud through crypto ATMs. In February, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, aimed at placing “common sense guardrails” against fraud affecting many senior citizens.Who would ultimately make the decision?It’s unclear whether Ehikian, a Trump appointee, would have the authority to unilaterally — or even with the president’s approval — install the crypto ATMs without an act of Congress to authorize funding. Cointelegraph reached out to the GSA for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.Trump has significant exposure to cryptocurrencies and digital asset firms through his personal holdings, presidential campaign funds, family-backed businesses, and the TRUMP memecoin. In April, the president announced a dinner in DC for top holders of his memecoin. Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

Michael Saylot's tech firm Strategy has earned shareholders a Bitcoin yield of 13.7% in the year-to-date, the company said in its May 1 earnings report.That equates to a Bitcoin gain of more than 61,000 Bitcoin (BTC), worth approximately $5.8 billion, according to the company. Bitcoin yield and Bitcoin gain are unofficial accounting metrics that Strategy uses to benchmark the success of its BTC buying strategy. Bitcoin yield measures the ratio of Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings to the number of outstanding shares of its stock, MSTR. Bitcoin gain quantifies that figure in terms of accrued Bitcoin, Strategy said in February. “We are increasing our 2025 ‘BTC Yield’ target to 25% and our 2025 ‘BTC $ Gain’ target to $15 billion,” Andrew Kang, Strategy’s chief financial officer, said in a statement.Strategy generated a Bitcoin yield of 11% and a Bitcoin gain of nearly 50,000 BTC in the first quarter of 2025, it added. The company also announced plans to offer an additional $21 billion worth of stock to finance future Bitcoin buys.Strategy’s earnings call highlights. Source: StrategyRelated: Bitcoin, showing 'signs of resilience', beats stocks, gold as equities fold — BinanceBitcoin buying spreeShares of MSTR are up more than 27% in the year-to-date to around $381 on May 1, according to data from Google Finance. The stock is still trading below November highs of more than $470 per share. Since starting its Bitcoin buying spree in 2020, Strategy has accumulated a total of more than 550,000 BTC, costing the company nearly $38 billion, according to its earnings report. The purchases equate to an average price of approximately $68,500 per Bitcoin. As of May 1, Strategy’s treasury is worth more than $53 billion. Industry executives say institutional Bitcoin buying — including from corporate buyers such as Strategy — could eventually price retail investors out of the market. As of May 1, public companies hold upward of $73 billion worth of Bitcoin in aggregate, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Bitcoin ETFs and other institutional funds hold another roughly $128 billion, the data shows.Magazine: Pokémon on Sui rumors, Polymarket bets on Filipino Pope: Asia Express

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Avraham Eisenberg was sentenced to more than four years in prison on child sexual abuse material charges, unrelated to his role in the 2022 exploit that drained the decentralized exchange Mango Markets of roughly $100 million.According to reporting from Inner City Press, a judge sentenced Eisenberg to 52 months in prison at a May 1 hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was filed in April 2024 after Eisenberg’s 2023 indictment on fraud for the Mango Markets exploit.Eisenberg was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July 2024 following his guilty plea on the child porn charge. In May 2024, the judge suggested the sentencing for both cases would occur simultaneously in a consolidated proceeding. However, as of May 1, the fraud sentencing remains pending. The prosecution in the Mango Markets case reflects the growing probability of apprehension for hackers and cybersecurity exploiters plaguing the crypto industry with malicious attacks on platforms and users.Related: SafeMoon boss cites DOJ’s nixed crypto unit in latest bid to toss suitThe case of Avraham EisenbergMango Markets, a former decentralized crypto exchange, was exploited in October 2022 through a price oracle manipulation, losing $100 million in user funds as a result.The exchange’s native token, Mango (MNGO), also plummeted immediately following the hack, shedding 52% of its value within 24 hours and leading the Mango Markets team to suspend deposits.Eisenberg defended the exploit, arguing that the $100 million heist was done through “legal open-market actions” and claimed that he negotiated a settlement for the return of user funds after the exchange’s insurance fund failed to cover the shortfall.In December 2022, US federal law enforcement authorities arrested Eisenberg in Puerto Rico. FBI officials charged the hacker with one count of commodities fraud and one count of commodities manipulation.A jury found Eisenberg guilty of wire fraud, commodities fraud, and commodities manipulation in April 2024. The defense argued that the exploit was not a cybercrime and represented a “successful and legal trading strategy.”Following the conviction, the Mango Markets exploiter’s attorneys filed a motion for acquittal in September 2024, which was heavily opposed by US prosecutors, who argued that Eisenberg was correctly convicted through careful evaluation of a “mountain of evidence.”Magazine: Influencers shilling memecoin scams face severe legal consequences

Despite reports in February suggesting that 2 million pro-crypto voters could decide the outcome of this week’s Australian Federal Election, crypto has barely rated a mention during the campaign.“I think it’s a missed opportunity,” Independent Reserve founder Adrian Przelozny told Cointelegraph. “Neither side has made crypto a headline issue because they’re wary of polarizing voters or sounding too niche.”But the good news is that after more than a decade of inaction, both the ruling Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the opposition Liberal Party are promising to enact crypto regulations developed in consultation with the industry. In April, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor promised to release draft crypto regulations within the first 100 days after taking office, while the Treasury itself has draft bills on “regulating digital asset platforms” and “payments system modernization” scheduled for release this quarter.Amy-Rose Goodey, CEO of the Digital Economy Council of Australia, said that both parties “are equally invested in getting this draft legislation across the line.” “Irrespective of who gets in, we’re in a better position than we were about a year ago.”Pro-crypto voters have choices in the Senate, too, with the Libertarian Party issuing a 23-page Bitcoin policy in March — calling for the creation of a national Bitcoin (BTC) Reserve and the acceptance of Bitcoin as legal tender. The minor party is fielding five Senate candidates in different states, including former Liberal MP Craig Kelly, but doesn’t currently have anyone in the Senate. The progressive left-wing Greens party has not outlined a position on crypto, while the conservative right-wing One Nation party has campaigned against debanking and CBDCs.The Libertarian Party’s Bitcoin Policy Whitepaper. Source: The LibertariansMore than a decade of inaction on cryptoAustralia’s first parliamentary inquiry into digital assets was held back in 2014, but there’s been more than a decade of regulatory inaction since. The industry says this has led to stagnation and a brain drain of talent to jurisdictions like Singapore and the UAE.The former Liberal Government was considering the landmark Digital Services Act, based on the 2021 Senate Committee’s crypto recommendations, when it lost office in 2022. Despite ongoing consultations since, the ALP government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, hasn’t put forward any legislation to parliament.But there has definitely been a vibe shift from the ALP recently, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers telling Cointelegraph that digital assets “represent big opportunities for our economy.””We want to seize these opportunities and encourage innovation at the same time as making sure Australians can use and invest in digital assets safely and securely with appropriate regulation.”His office said exposure draft legislation would be released “in 2025” for consultation, introduced into Parliament “once that feedback has been considered” with the subsequent reforms “phased in over time to minimize disruptions to existing businesses.”The shadow assistant treasurer, Luke Howarth, said the ALP has been slow to act because it didn’t have a blockchain policy when it was elected.“It wasn’t until the FTX collapse that they acknowledged the need for regulation,” he told Cointelegraph. “The Albanese government initially promised it would put in place regulation by 2023 but have failed to draft legislation or give a clear time-frame for action. After three years, all that was offered to industry was a six-page placeholder document.”He’s referring to Treasury’s March statement “on developing an innovative Australian digital asset industry.” It provides for the licensing of Digital Asset Platforms (DAPS), a framework for payment stablecoins and a review of Australia’s Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox.Related: A guide to crypto trading bots: Analyzing strategies and performanceWhile short on detail, those aims are broadly similar to the crypto regulation priorities that Howarth outlines to Cointelegraph — the big difference being that the opposition has committed to a faster time frame. Przelozny praised the 100-day promise as “exactly the kind of urgency we need.”If elected, the Liberal Party’s legislation is expected to take some of its cues from Senator Andrew Bragg’s private members bill in 2023 and some from the more recent work done by the Treasury.Shadow Assistant Treasurer Luke Howarth. Source: Luke HowarthThe government steps up effortsThe Treasury has been quietly drafting legislation this year, which Goodey understands is “almost complete.”“There’s been prioritization within Treasury, and I know that their team has almost doubled — the digital asset team — for writing that draft legislation. So, there has been an investment in that over the past six months.”Przelozny characterizes the ALP’s approach as “cautious and methodical, but it’s been slow,” prioritizing consumer protection and risk management. BTC Markets CEO Caroline Bowler said the election of a pro-crypto Trump administration and the UK’s draft regulations (released this week) likely forced both sides of politics to finally get serious. ”Australia has ground to make up, and I would anticipate this also being a factor in the savvy move by both parties,” she said. Sydney is the 10th most crypto-friendly city according to a recent poll.Stand With Crypto campaign and ASICThe Stand With Crypto campaign is active in Australia but has been fairly low-key during the campaign, with a focus on debanking.Coinbase managing director for APAC John O’Loghlen called on whoever wins the election to launch a “Crypto-Asset Taskforce (CATF) within the first 100 days.” This would include industry and consumer representatives to finally get crypto regulations over the line.“If Australia doesn’t move now, we risk falling even further behind,” he told Cointelegraph. “The next government must move beyond consultation and into legislation.”The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the local equivalent of the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). It released its own crypto regulatory proposals in December. Related: Trump’s first 100 days ‘worst in history’ despite crypto promisesJoy Lam, Binance’s head of global regulatory and APAC legal, told Cointelegraph she doesn’t expect ASIC to suddenly change direction if a new government comes in, as the SEC did.“ASIC doesn’t make the law,” she said. “I don’t expect a complete kind of 180 because ASIC, it is independent, and it does have its own mandate, but it obviously operates within the legislative framework that the government is going to be setting.”April 20 poll. Source: YouGovWho should single-issue crypto voters back?In February, a poll by YouGov and Swyftx found that 59% of crypto users would vote for a pro-crypto candidate in the federal election above all other issues. That equates to around 2 million Australians and would be enough to determine the outcome of the election one way.But the similarities between the major parties on crypto regulation are much greater than the differences. Goodey said both sides of politics have genuinely engaged with the industry about its concerns and priorities.“You can see in some of the language with their media releases that they both released in March, April this year, that they are in agreement on what the industry issues are,” she said. Owing to Senator Bragg’s campaigning on crypto, the industry sees the Liberal Party as more enthusiastic about digital assets, but after three years in government, the ALP looks to have arrived at roughly the same place. Recent YouGov and Resolve polls suggest the government is likely to be reelected.While internal Liberal polling suggests an ALP minority government is a genuine possibility, the major parties would have enough votes between them to pass bipartisan crypto legislation. Whatever happens, 2025 looks like the year Australia will finally provide the crypto industry with the certainty it needs.“For industry, the timing is really quite critical now because obviously it’s something that has been discussed and kicked around for quite a few years,” Lam said. “I would say that we are cautiously optimistic.”Magazine: ZK-proofs are bringing smart contracts to Bitcoin — BitcoinOS and Starknet

Animoca Brands is looking at trends in real-world tokenized assets, AI projects, and the gaming sector to invest in and develop, according to Omar Elissar, the company's managing director for the Middle East and the head of Global Strategic Partnerships.In an interview with Cointelegraph's Sam Bourgi at Token2049, Elissar said that stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, the intersection between AI and crypto, alternative use cases such as decentralized science, and Web3 gaming were all niches the company is exploring.Gaming is "part of our DNA," the executive said before reflecting on the current state of the Web3 gaming industry:"It's gone quiet for some time in terms of less PR, but there's been building in the background. Recently, there have been a few games that have come out that have been truly fun to play, which I think has been one of the main negative sentiments about Web3 gaming."Animoca Brands is one of the foremost crypto-native venture capital firms in the space and can serve as a barometer of hot or emerging market trends for crypto investors.Related: VC Roundup: Funding surge targets confidentiality, tokenization and Web3 infrastructureAnimoca Brands inks stablecoin, blockchain dealsIn February 2025, Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) signed a deal to develop a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin that will be overcollateralized and pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a 1:1 ratio.The stablecoin must first be approved by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) before it begins trading. Hong Kong's financial authorities are currently working on establishing comprehensive stablecoin regulations.On March 27, Animoca Brands inked a deal with Soneium, a layer-1 blockchain network developed by Japanese tech company Sony, to develop a digital identification system that features pictures of anime characters that can be assigned to an onchain user to signify identity.Animoca releases financial assets and token reserves for 2024 as part of its overall financial report for the company’s 2024 fiscal year. Source: Animoca BrandsAnimoca reported that it recorded 12% year-over-year growth during the 2024 fiscal year in "bookings" — a figure that accounts for the sum of all revenue plus revenue that has been booked but not yet received by the company.Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC

Bitcoin Magazine Strategy Reports $5.8 Billion Year-to-Date Bitcoin Gain, Doubles Capital Plan to $84 Billion Today, Strategy delivered its Q1 2025 earnings report, announcing a 13.7% year-to-date “BTC Yield” and a $5.8 billion “BTC $ Gain.” The company now holds 553,555 bitcoins at a total cost of $37.9 billion—an average of $68,459 per coin—making it the undisputed leader in corporate Bitcoin reserves.  The company also announced it is doubling its […] This post Strategy Reports $5.8 Billion Year-to-Date Bitcoin Gain, Doubles Capital Plan to $84 Billion first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

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Despite reports in February suggesting that 2 million pro-crypto voters could decide the outcome of this week’s Australian Federal Election, crypto has barely rated a mention during the campaign.“I think it’s a missed opportunity,” Independent Reserve founder Adrian Przelozny told Cointelegraph. “Neither side has made crypto a headline issue because they’re wary of polarizing voters or sounding too niche.”But the good news is that after more than a decade of inaction, both the ruling Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the opposition Liberal Party are promising to enact crypto regulations developed in consultation with the industry. In April, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor promised to release draft crypto regulations within the first 100 days after taking office, while the Treasury itself has draft bills on “regulating digital asset platforms” and “payments system modernization” scheduled for release this quarter.Amy-Rose Goodey, CEO of the Digital Economy Council of Australia, said that both parties “are equally invested in getting this draft legislation across the line.” “Irrespective of who gets in, we’re in a better position than we were about a year ago.”Pro-crypto voters have choices in the Senate, too, with the Libertarian Party issuing a 23-page Bitcoin policy in March — calling for the creation of a national Bitcoin (BTC) Reserve and the acceptance of Bitcoin as legal tender. The minor party is fielding five Senate candidates in different states, including former Liberal MP Craig Kelly, but doesn’t currently have anyone in the Senate. The progressive left-wing Greens party has not outlined a position on crypto, while the conservative right-wing One Nation party has campaigned against debanking and CBDCs.The Libertarian Party’s Bitcoin Policy Whitepaper. Source: The LibertariansMore than a decade of inaction on cryptoAustralia’s first parliamentary inquiry into digital assets was held back in 2014, but there’s been more than a decade of regulatory inaction since. The industry says this has led to stagnation and a brain drain of talent to jurisdictions like Singapore and the UAE.The former Liberal Government was considering the landmark Digital Services Act, based on the 2021 Senate Committee’s crypto recommendations, when it lost office in 2022. Despite ongoing consultations since, the ALP government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, hasn’t put forward any legislation to parliament.But there has definitely been a vibe shift from the ALP recently, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers telling Cointelegraph that digital assets “represent big opportunities for our economy.””We want to seize these opportunities and encourage innovation at the same time as making sure Australians can use and invest in digital assets safely and securely with appropriate regulation.”His office said exposure draft legislation would be released “in 2025” for consultation, introduced into Parliament “once that feedback has been considered” with the subsequent reforms “phased in over time to minimize disruptions to existing businesses.”The shadow assistant treasurer, Luke Howarth, said the ALP has been slow to act because it didn’t have a blockchain policy when it was elected.“It wasn’t until the FTX collapse that they acknowledged the need for regulation,” he told Cointelegraph. “The Albanese government initially promised it would put in place regulation by 2023 but have failed to draft legislation or give a clear time-frame for action. After three years, all that was offered to industry was a six-page placeholder document.”He’s referring to Treasury’s March statement “on developing an innovative Australian digital asset industry.” It provides for the licensing of Digital Asset Platforms (DAPS), a framework for payment stablecoins and a review of Australia’s Enhanced Regulatory Sandbox.Related: A guide to crypto trading bots: Analyzing strategies and performanceWhile short on detail, those aims are broadly similar to the crypto regulation priorities that Howarth outlines to Cointelegraph — the big difference being that the opposition has committed to a faster time frame. Przelozny praised the 100-day promise as “exactly the kind of urgency we need.”If elected, the Liberal Party’s legislation is expected to take some of its cues from Senator Andrew Bragg’s private members bill in 2023 and some from the more recent work done by the Treasury.Shadow Assistant Treasurer Luke Howarth. Source: Luke HowarthThe government steps up effortsThe Treasury has been quietly drafting legislation this year, which Goodey understands is “almost complete.”“There’s been prioritization within Treasury, and I know that their team has almost doubled — the digital asset team — for writing that draft legislation. So, there has been an investment in that over the past six months.”Przelozny characterizes the ALP’s approach as “cautious and methodical, but it’s been slow,” prioritizing consumer protection and risk management. BTC Markets CEO Caroline Bowler said the election of a pro-crypto Trump administration and the UK’s draft regulations (released this week) likely forced both sides of politics to finally get serious. ”Australia has ground to make up, and I would anticipate this also being a factor in the savvy move by both parties,” she said. Sydney is the 10th most crypto-friendly city according to a recent poll.Stand With Crypto campaign and ASICThe Stand With Crypto campaign is active in Australia but has been fairly low-key during the campaign, with a focus on debanking.Coinbase managing director for APAC John O’Loghlen called on whoever wins the election to launch a “Crypto-Asset Taskforce (CATF) within the first 100 days.” This would include industry and consumer representatives to finally get crypto regulations over the line.“If Australia doesn’t move now, we risk falling even further behind,” he told Cointelegraph. “The next government must move beyond consultation and into legislation.”The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is the local equivalent of the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). It released its own crypto regulatory proposals in December. Related: Trump’s first 100 days ‘worst in history’ despite crypto promisesJoy Lam, Binance’s head of global regulatory and APAC legal, told Cointelegraph she doesn’t expect ASIC to suddenly change direction if a new government comes in, as the SEC did.“ASIC doesn’t make the law,” she said. “I don’t expect a complete kind of 180 because ASIC, it is independent, and it does have its own mandate, but it obviously operates within the legislative framework that the government is going to be setting.”April 20 poll. Source: YouGovWho should single-issue crypto voters back?In February, a poll by YouGov and Swyftx found that 59% of crypto users would vote for a pro-crypto candidate in the federal election above all other issues. That equates to around 2 million Australians and would be enough to determine the outcome of the election one way.But the similarities between the major parties on crypto regulation are much greater than the differences. Goodey said both sides of politics have genuinely engaged with the industry about its concerns and priorities.“You can see in some of the language with their media releases that they both released in March, April this year, that they are in agreement on what the industry issues are,” she said. Owing to Senator Bragg’s campaigning on crypto, the industry sees the Liberal Party as more enthusiastic about digital assets, but after three years in government, the ALP looks to have arrived at roughly the same place. Recent YouGov and Resolve polls suggest the government is likely to be reelected.While internal Liberal polling suggests an ALP minority government is a genuine possibility, the major parties would have enough votes between them to pass bipartisan crypto legislation. Whatever happens, 2025 looks like the year Australia will finally provide the crypto industry with the certainty it needs.“For industry, the timing is really quite critical now because obviously it’s something that has been discussed and kicked around for quite a few years,” Lam said. “I would say that we are cautiously optimistic.”Magazine: ZK-proofs are bringing smart contracts to Bitcoin — BitcoinOS and Starknet

Animoca Brands is looking at trends in real-world tokenized assets, AI projects, and the gaming sector to invest in and develop, according to Omar Elissar, the company's managing director for the Middle East and the head of Global Strategic Partnerships.In an interview with Cointelegraph's Sam Bourgi at Token2049, Elissar said that stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, the intersection between AI and crypto, alternative use cases such as decentralized science, and Web3 gaming were all niches the company is exploring.Gaming is "part of our DNA," the executive said before reflecting on the current state of the Web3 gaming industry:"It's gone quiet for some time in terms of less PR, but there's been building in the background. Recently, there have been a few games that have come out that have been truly fun to play, which I think has been one of the main negative sentiments about Web3 gaming."Animoca Brands is one of the foremost crypto-native venture capital firms in the space and can serve as a barometer of hot or emerging market trends for crypto investors.Related: VC Roundup: Funding surge targets confidentiality, tokenization and Web3 infrastructureAnimoca Brands inks stablecoin, blockchain dealsIn February 2025, Animoca Brands, Standard Chartered Bank, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) signed a deal to develop a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin that will be overcollateralized and pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a 1:1 ratio.The stablecoin must first be approved by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) before it begins trading. Hong Kong's financial authorities are currently working on establishing comprehensive stablecoin regulations.On March 27, Animoca Brands inked a deal with Soneium, a layer-1 blockchain network developed by Japanese tech company Sony, to develop a digital identification system that features pictures of anime characters that can be assigned to an onchain user to signify identity.Animoca releases financial assets and token reserves for 2024 as part of its overall financial report for the company’s 2024 fiscal year. Source: Animoca BrandsAnimoca reported that it recorded 12% year-over-year growth during the 2024 fiscal year in "bookings" — a figure that accounts for the sum of all revenue plus revenue that has been booked but not yet received by the company.Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC

XRP bulls return as funding rate turns positive

Bitcoin Magazine Blockstream Announces Major Growth & Expansion Plans for 2025 Following $210M Raise Blockstream, a leader in Bitcoin-powered financial infrastructure, has shared a new update detailing its growth plans for 2025. Following a successful $210 million raise in October 2024 led by Fulgur Ventures, the company is accelerating its development across infrastructure, software, mining, and institutional investment offerings. “We are at a pivotal moment for Bitcoin’s growth,” stated […] This post Blockstream Announces Major Growth & Expansion Plans for 2025 Following $210M Raise first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

A Londoner’s years-long quest for an $800 million Bitcoin-containing hard drive hidden somewhere in a Welsh landfill has now been licensed into a cross-platform documentary series. Entertainment company LEBUL announced this week that it has secured exclusive rights to tell the story of James Howells, the British engineer known for losing access to 8,000 Bitcoin […]

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Bitcoin demand momentum fell to -480k BTC, showing heavier selling from STHs than LTHs. Short-term selling activity weighed on Bitcoin, slowing the ongoing price rally. Over the past week, BThe post 26K Bitcoin floods exchanges in 24 hours – But one concern arises appeared first on AMBCrypto.

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Strategy, the corporate bitcoin treasury firm formerly known as Microstrategy, revealed plans for a $21 billion at-the-market (ATM) common stock offering to acquire additional bitcoin ( BTC), even as it reported a first-quarter net loss of $4.2 billion, or $16.49 per diluted share. Strategy Wants More Bitcoin The company’s net loss included a $5.9 billion […]

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Kuwait initiated a major crackdown on crypto mining, citing growing strains on the electric grid.

Strategy posted a $4.2B Q1 loss but plans to raise $21B through equity to keep expanding its Bitcoin holdings. The post Strategy reports $4.2B loss but aims to raise $21B to buy more Bitcoin appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Avraham Eisenberg was sentenced to more than four years in prison on child pornography charges, unrelated to his role in the 2022 exploit that drained the decentralized exchange Mango Markets of roughly $100 million.According to reporting from Inner City Press, a judge sentenced Eisenberg to 52 months in prison at a May 1 hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was filed in April 2024 after Eisenberg’s 2023 indictment on fraud for the Mango Markets exploit.Eisenberg was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July 2024 following his guilty plea on the child porn charge. In May 2024, the judge suggested the sentencing for both cases would occur simultaneously in a consolidated proceeding. However, as of May 1, the fraud sentencing remains pending. The prosecution in the Mango Markets case reflects the growing probability of apprehension for hackers and cybersecurity exploiters plaguing the crypto industry with malicious attacks on platforms and users.Related: SafeMoon boss cites DOJ’s nixed crypto unit in latest bid to toss suitThe case of Avraham EisenbergMango Markets, a former decentralized crypto exchange, was exploited in October 2022 through a price oracle manipulation, losing $100 million in user funds as a result.The exchange’s native token, Mango (MNGO), also plummeted immediately following the hack, shedding 52% of its value within 24 hours and leading the Mango Markets team to suspend deposits.Eisenberg defended the exploit, arguing that the $100 million heist was done through “legal open-market actions” and claimed that he negotiated a settlement for the return of user funds after the exchange’s insurance fund failed to cover the shortfall.In December 2022, US federal law enforcement authorities arrested Eisenberg in Puerto Rico. FBI officials charged the hacker with one count of commodities fraud and one count of commodities manipulation.A jury found Eisenberg guilty of wire fraud, commodities fraud, and commodities manipulation in April 2024. The defense argued that the exploit was not a cybercrime and represented a “successful and legal trading strategy.”Following the conviction, the Mango Markets exploiter’s attorneys filed a motion for acquittal in September 2024, which was heavily opposed by US prosecutors, who argued that Eisenberg was correctly convicted through careful evaluation of a “mountain of evidence.”Magazine: Influencers shilling memecoin scams face severe legal consequences

Dogecoin emerges as one of the top gainers for today

The bitcoin development community is divided over a proposal to remove certain guardrails designed to deter the use of its blockchain for storing arbitrary data (or ‘spam’). Some developers argue that this change will impact the future of bitcoin, while others assert that it is already happening. ‘Spam’ Drama Grows: Is Bitcoin Destined to Save […]

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Michael Saylot's tech firm Strategy has earned shareholders a Bitcoin yield of 13.7% in the year-to-date, the company said in its May 1 earnings report.That equates to a Bitcoin gain of more than 61,000 Bitcoin (BTC), worth approximately $5.8 billion, according to the company. Bitcoin yield and Bitcoin gain are unofficial accounting metrics that Strategy uses to benchmark the success of its BTC buying strategy. Bitcoin yield measures the ratio of Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings to the number of outstanding shares of its stock, MSTR. Bitcoin gain quantifies that figure in terms of accrued Bitcoin, Strategy said in February. “We are increasing our 2025 ‘BTC Yield’ target to 25% and our 2025 ‘BTC $ Gain’ target to $15 billion,” Andrew Kang, Strategy’s chief financial officer, said in a statement.Strategy generated a Bitcoin yield of 11% and a Bitcoin gain of nearly 50,000 BTC in the first quarter of 2025, it added. The company also announced plans to offer an additional $21 billion worth of stock to finance future Bitcoin buys.Strategy’s earnings call highlights. Source: StrategyRelated: Bitcoin, showing 'signs of resilience', beats stocks, gold as equities fold — BinanceBitcoin buying spreeShares of MSTR are up more than 27% in the year-to-date to around $381 on May 1, according to data from Google Finance. The stock is still trading below November highs of more than $470 per share. Since starting its Bitcoin buying spree in 2020, Strategy has accumulated a total of more than 550,000 BTC, costing the company nearly $38 billion, according to its earnings report. The purchases equate to an average price of approximately $68,500 per Bitcoin. As of May 1, Strategy’s treasury is worth more than $53 billion. Industry executives say institutional Bitcoin buying — including from corporate buyers such as Strategy — could eventually price retail investors out of the market. As of May 1, public companies hold upward of $73 billion worth of Bitcoin in aggregate, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Bitcoin ETFs and other institutional funds hold another roughly $128 billion, the data shows.Magazine: Pokémon on Sui rumors, Polymarket bets on Filipino Pope: Asia Express

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Missed out on BNB at $0.15? Don’t kick yourself too hard—another chance just showed up, and it’s already making serious waves. In a crypto world full of copycats and hype coins, one presale is standing out in 2025 like BNB did back in the day. It’s called Qubetics, and folks lucky (or smart) enough to [...] The post Missed BNB? Qubetics Might Be the Best Crypto Presale to Join in 2025 for the Next 7000% Moonshot appeared first on Blockonomi.

MicroStrategy posts $5.8B Bitcoin gain, boosts 2025 yield and investment targets

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A Texas member of the US House of Representatives has proposed that government officials consider installing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings across the country.In a May 1 letter to Stephen Ehikian, the acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) — the entity responsible for managing the US government’s properties — Rep. Lance Gooden claimed that introducing crypto ATMs to federal buildings would serve as an “educational resource” and reflect advances in financial technology. He requested that the GSA begin exploring the necessary guidelines and regulations needed to install such ATMs in government-controlled properties across the US, citing alignment with President Donald Trump’s goals.May 1 letter pitching crypto ATMs to GSA. Source: Rep. Lance GoodenAccording to financial disclosure reports filed with the US House of Representatives, Gooden had held no investments in cryptocurrency or ATM companies since taking office in 2019. He had not yet filed any financial disclosures with the government for 2025 investments.The GSA website stated it may provide space to ATMs from federal credit unions, but it was unclear whether the acting administrator had the authority to expand the regulations to include digital asset ATMs tied to private companies like Bitcoin Depot or CoinFlip. Cointelegraph reached out to Gooden’s office for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.Related: Eric Trump: USD1 will be used for $2B MGX investment in BinanceGooden, a Republican and Trump supporter, made the proposal as lawmakers in the US Senate consider legislation to crack down on fraud through crypto ATMs. In February, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, aimed at placing “common sense guardrails” against fraud affecting many senior citizens.Who would ultimately make the decision?It’s unclear whether Ehikian, a Trump appointee, would have the authority to unilaterally — or even with the president’s approval — install the crypto ATMs without an act of Congress to authorize funding. Cointelegraph reached out to the GSA for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.Trump has significant exposure to cryptocurrencies and digital asset firms through his personal holdings, presidential campaign funds, family-backed businesses, and the TRUMP memecoin. In April, the president announced a dinner in DC for top holders of his memecoin. Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

Bitcoin Magazine Relai Launches Bitcoin-Backed Loans in Partnership with Sygnum Bank Swiss Bitcoin app Relai teams up with Sygnum Bank to offer Bitcoin-backed loans to high-net-worth clients, unlocking cash flow without having to sell Bitcoin. This post Relai Launches Bitcoin-Backed Loans in Partnership with Sygnum Bank first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Jenna Montgomery.

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Anthony Pompliano’s blank-check firm, Procap Acquisition Corp., has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise $200 million in an initial public offering (IPO). Pompliano-Led ProCap to Hunt for Fintech Targets With $200M War Chest Procap Acquisition Corp., incorporated in the Cayman Islands and led by Anthony Pompliano as chief executive officer, […]

With Cardano making strides in innovation, including the Lace wallet’s integration of Bitcoin and significant accumulation of ADA by whale investors, attention in the blockchain community is at an all-time high. While Cardano continues to expand its horizons, Ruvi AI presents a forward-thinking investment opportunity that combines cutting-edge technology with real-world applications. About Ruvi AI [...] The post Cardano (ADA) Expands its Ecosystem While Ruvi AI (RUVI) Offers 3,500% Potential to Early Investors appeared first on Blockonomi.

• #Cardano

Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist has cautioned that ETH’s base layer could slip into irrelevance within a decade unless the community embraces a far more aggressive roadmap for on-chain scaling and protocol overhaul. Writing in a post on the Ethereum Magicians forum, Feist introduces a draft EIP that would pre-commit the network to a multi-year […]

A cycle bottom-catching metric suggested that Solana was at or near its market bottom. The rising transaction activity in 2024 was a major boost to the network, despite the Q1 2025 setback. The post Solana: Why $100-$120 could be the sweet spot for buyers appeared first on AMBCrypto.

XRP’s April rebound signals bullish outlook for the cryptocurrency

XRP’s Momentum Builds as ETF Wave Reshapes Outlook XRP continues to attract renewed attention after jumping over 40% in April, closing the month near $2.36. The rollout of futures-based ETFs — alongside the conclusion of the SEC case — has reshaped how institutions perceive the asset. With major players showing interest and the potential for [...] The post XRP Price Ready for a $9.75 Explosion? Analysts Say MAGACOIN FINANCE and Sei (SEI) Could Outperform in Q2 2025 appeared first on Blockonomi.

What if you had the chance to get into the next big crypto project before the world catches on? That’s exactly what the Nexchain 2025 Presale offers. It is more than just a new token.  Nexchain is a powerful, AI-driven Layer-1 blockchain designed for speed, low fees, eco-friendly transactions, and real-world use. With a presale [...] The post This Hidden Gem Crypto Could Dominate Presales In 2025 — Introducing Nexchain appeared first on Blockonomi.

Retail investors are running out of time to accumulate Bitcoin as institutional adoption accelerates, according to Sergej Kunz, co-founder of exchange aggregator 1inch. Bitcoin (BTC) is evolving into an alternative reserve currency, propelling institutional demand and potentially pricing out retail investors, Kunz said during Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE event in Dubai. "Every retail user should be thinking about getting at least one Bitcoin — very soon they won’t be able to afford it,” Kunz said. If the United States starts buying Bitcoin for a strategic reserve, even smaller countries may soon struggle to acquire the cryptocurrency, he added. "I’m pretty sure we’ll soon see countries battling over who owns more Bitcoin. The US will start.”Bitcoin demand has accelerated since US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on US imports in April, setting off a global trade war. “The only thing that still acts as a true hedge — across borders, against inflation — is Bitcoin,” Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu said during the panel. Yat Siu and Sergej Kunz at Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE. Source: CointelegraphRelated: US President Donald Trump issues 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffsGlobal reserve asset?During the week of April 21-25, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) attracted more than $3 billion in inflows as institutions sought safety in “digital gold” amid mounting macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts say demand from financial institutions could push Bitcoin’s price as high as $200,000 per coin this year. By 2029, institutional Bitcoin adoption could propel the cryptocurrency’s price past $1 million, Bitwise’s head of European research, André Dragosch, said.Asset managers still prefer gold for hedging against macro risk. Source: Binance ResearchFor Bitcoin, “[t]he silver lining is that economic uncertainty has historically accelerated institutional interest in digital assets as a diversification strategy,” David Siemer, co-founder and CEO of Wave Digital Assets, told Cointelegraph.As of May 1, Bitcoin ETFs and other institutional funds hold upward of $128 billion worth of BTC, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Corporate treasuries hold another roughly $73 billion, the data shows. Sovereign states — including the US, China, and the United Kingdom — collectively hold more than $130 billion worth of BTC. However, much of those holdings are from crypto assets seized by law enforcement, not outright Bitcoin buys. Magazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 Gamer

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Forget about $1 million Bitcoin price predictions. One of the most prominent venture capitalists thinks BTC is heading to infinity

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U.S. stocks climbed on Thursday, led by the Nasdaq, as upbeat earnings from Microsoft and Meta reassured investors who were wary of the economic impact of President Trump’s escalating trade war with China. The Nasdaq Composite index closed near session…

Bitcoin miners brought in $40 million less in revenue during April than they did in March, marking the fourth straight month of dwindling returns since December as the sector continued its downward earnings trend. April Wrecks Bitcoin Miners Again—Revenue Slides for Fourth Month in a Row Though the dip wasn’t dramatic, it was nonetheless a […]

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Bitcoin &#40;BTC&#41; is trading above its recent high and current support as it targets the $100,000 psychological price level.<br />

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BTC consolidated tightly around $95K ahead of Friday’s U.S. Jobs report.  Ripple's offer to acquire Circle for $5 billion was reportedly rejected as ‘too low.’ Bitcoin [BTC] extended The post Here’s what happened in crypto today - Ripple’s bid for Circle, BTC, & more appeared first on AMBCrypto.

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Key takeaways:Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by August or September of this year if BTC breaks above the parabolic slope pattern. Bitcoin (BTC) price jumped to new quarterly highs at $96,700 on May 1, a day after the US GDP contracted -0.3% for the first time since Q2 2022. Amid heightened economic concerns, the probability of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut rose to 62.8% for the June 18 Federal Reserve meeting. Over the past 24 hours, short position liquidations exceeded $137 million, with Alphractal founder Joao Wedson observing that BTC's price momentum continues to favor bullish trends.Bitcoin aggregated liquidation heatmap. Source: X.comPeter Brandt predicts a $150K Bitcoin top by Q3In a recent post on X, veteran trader Peter Brandt forecasted a Bitcoin price rally, potentially reaching $125,000 to $150,000 by August or September 2025. The trader predicted a parabolic arc pattern in Bitcoin’s price chart—a technical formation often signaling rapid rises followed by sharp corrections, as seen in the 2017 Bitcoin surge. Bitcoin 1-week analysis by Peter Brandt. Source: X.comBrandt noted that Bitcoin must reclaim its broken parabolic slope to achieve the above target. However, he cautioned that a 50%+ correction could follow the peak, reflecting the pattern’s characteristic volatility. From an onchain perspective, Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. pointed out that Bitcoin is on the cusp of a “start” rally zone. The analyst underlined three scenarios, with the optimistic (bull) case outlining a price target above $150,000. Adler Jr. added, “If the Ratio breaks through 1.0 and holds above it, the NUPL/MVRV metrics will show a new impulse, and the price could reach $150-175K, repeating the cycle logic of 2017 and 2021.”Bitcoin Composite Index. Source: CryptoQuantIn a baseline scenario, BTC's price may consolidate within a $90,000 to $110,000 range if new capital inflows remain limited and existing investors do not increase their positions.Lastly, a bearish case could unfold if further profit-taking from short-term holders takes place, leading to a correction down to $85,000-$70,000. Over the past two weeks, Bitcoin has displayed a consistent breakout pattern, surging 13% before entering sideways consolidation, then breaking out again to reach $93,000–$96,000. BTC is currently breaking out of its existing resistance range. Still, as shown in the chart below, a significant volume cluster between $96,000 and $99,000 suggests a phase of consolidation before Bitcoin can test the $100,000 mark. Bitcoin 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRelated: Bitcoin price about to ‘blast’ higher as Fed rate cut odds jump to 60%This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Cryptocurrency can accelerate artificial intelligence adoption by helping AI startups onboard users, according to Polygon's co-founder Sandeep Nailwal. “You can use crypto incentives and disincentives to onboard users to onboard the ecosystem players,” Nailwal said during a panel discussion at the LONGITUDE by Cointelegraph event. He added that projects with effective onchain incentive structures might even “build a better AI because you have this incentive engine that brings in developers,” Nailwal said on May 1. Cointelegraph’s LONGITUDE is an event series that brings together leaders and innovators from the blockchain and Web3 space for exclusive discussions. Joining the panel, Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of the Near Protocol, expanded on crypto's long-term synergy with AI, forecasting that crypto-native AI agents could replace traditional web application front-ends as the primary user interfaces for Web3."We don’t need applications or websites anymore. Your AI becomes the interface to computing and the internet,” Polosukhin said.Sandeep Nailwal and Illia Polosukhin speaking at Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE in Dubai. Source: CointelegraphRelated: AI memecoins will become utility tokensHowever, Nailwal cautioned that the rise of AI-related tokens onchain has also attracted a wave of opportunistic scams. “We know that 99% of those projects are literally token scams, but very few projects are actually trying to have some meaningful AI project,” he said. The era of Web3 AI agentsAI agents are expected to take on a more prominent role within decentralized communities, J.D. Seraphine, co-founder of Web3 developer Raiinmaker, recently told Cointelegraph. According to a report by VanEck, over 1 million AI agents could enter the market in 2025, with many of them tied to decentralized finance applications. Such agents are already reshaping the digital economy, building decentralized applications, launching tokens, and interacting with humans autonomously. AI token cumulative market cap. Source: CoinGecko“AI is an extremely centralizing force. A few companies could become the warlords of the world,” Nailwal said. “That’s why crypto-native, peer-to-peer AI solutions are so important—they enable privacy-preserving innovation,” Polosukhin said.Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

Bitcoin has surged on the back of a textbook short squeeze, but now finds itself at a decisive resistance zone. Will it break out or roll over? Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent price action has caught many off guard, with a powerful…

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Although April brought modest gains to the broader crypto economy, data reveals a continued descent in non-fungible token (NFT) sales, which contracted by 39.62% over the past 30 days. Ethereum retained its status as the leading blockchain by NFT sales volume, yet its figures receded by 44.86% compared with the previous month. NFT Sector Pummeled: […]

Certik, a leading blockchain security firm, reported on April 30, 2025, that the crypto industry lost approximately $364 million to exploits, hacks, and scams in April, with $18.2 million returned, resulting in a net loss of $345.8 million. The firm highlighted that $337 million of the total losses stemmed from phishing attacks, underscoring the persistent […]

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, addressed criticism over the company's decision not to seek registration under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, arguing that the regulations were risky for stablecoins.Speaking to Cointelegraph at the Token2049 conference in Dubai, Ardoino reiterated that Tether had no plans to apply for its US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDt — the largest by market capitalization — to be compliant under MiCA in European countries, potentially forcing exchanges to delist the stablecoin. He added that though crypto firms had to follow regulations, there was a “fear of compliance” among companies in the EU.“[...] MiCA license is very dangerous when it comes to stablecoins, and I believe that is even more dangerous for the small, medium banking system in Europe,” said the Tether CEO, adding that banks in the region could “go belly up” in the next few years thanks to MiCA's requirements, such as keeping 60% of stablecoins reserves in insured cash deposits in European banks. Ardoino added:“I decided to not apply to the MiCA license because I need to protect the 400 million+ users that we have around the world. They are not as lucky as Europeans. I love Europe, but I think that unfortunately European Central Bank is more interested [in pushing] the digital euro as a way to control people and control how they spend their money.”Related: Paolo Ardoino: Competitors and politicians intend to ‘kill Tether’After years of planning and research, EU officials began to implement requirements under MiCA in December 2024. Tether, which is regulated and headquartered in El Salvador, is required to comply with MiCA regulatory requirements if offering products or services in EU member states.Since the regulations went into effect, many crypto exchanges acted to ensure their platforms listed MiCA-compliant tokens. Kraken delisted 5 stablecoins, including USDt, and Crypto.com announced plans to delist 10 stablecoins as of January. On nations establishing crypto reservesSpeaking on its intentions for operating in the United States, Ardoino said the country “would require a different type of product,” given the competition with local stablecoin issuers. He added that the US’s and other countries’ efforts to establish a Bitcoin (BTC) stockpile were “just inevitable.”“In the medium to long term, the more Bitcoin education, the more companies will set the example […] then everyone else will follow,” said the Tether CEO. “It’s never too late to buy Bitcoin.”Ardoino’s statements came the same day that Tether announced roughly $120 billion in exposure to US Treasurys as of the first quarter of 2025. As of May 1, USDt had a market capitalization of roughly $149 billion.Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

Dogecoin is  sparking renewed enthusiasm in the cryptocurrency market while Ruvi AI is emerging as a standout investment opportunity. While Dogecoin’s community anticipates the possibility of hitting a $1 trillion market cap, Ruvi AI combines innovative technology and real-world applications to attract discerning investors who seek more than just speculative gains. About Ruvi AI Ruvi [...] The post Dogecoin (DOGE) Could Rise Again Thanks to Community Supports, But Ruvi AI (RUVI) Is Expected to 100x in 2025 appeared first on Blockonomi.

Bitcoin and most altcoins started the month well, with the total market cap of all coins jumping to over $3 trillion.  JasmyCoin (JASMY) price jumped by 6.2%, while Chainlink (LINK), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Pi Network (PI) were up by over…

• #litecoin

Sonic broke out of a triple bottom pattern, signaling a potential trend reversal. Daily transactions surged from about 240K to about 600K in 10 days. Sonic's [S] price action suggested a potThe post Can Sonic [S] rise 130% after 360K surge in transactions? appeared first on AMBCrypto.

PopCat has shown consistent strength in its market structure, forming higher highs and higher lows since bouncing from the $0.13 region. However, its ability to hold key support will determine what comes next. The meme coin PopCat (POPCAT) has recently…

Enso has partnered with Stargate and LayerZero to create a one-click liquidity migration solution for Unichain, setting the stage for up to $3.5b liquidity inflow. As Web3 advances, smooth movement across networks becomes more essential. Until now, transferring liquidity to…

Ethereum wiped out nearly half its value in 2025, price dropped over 46% year-to-date as ETFs failed to attract capital inflows and the largest altcoin lost revenue. After months of debate on the future of the Ethereum foundation and Vitalik Buterin’s new proposal for higher scalability, Ethereum eyes a comeback, likely the biggest one of the year.

Bitcoin Magazine How Bitcoin Mining Can Energize Real Estate Mining could potentially be used as a way to mitigate costs associated with real estate ownership through proper energy management. This post How Bitcoin Mining Can Energize Real Estate first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Leon Wankum.

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After more than a week of uninterrupted gains, both bitcoin and ether ETFs saw net outflows on Wednesday, April 30. Bitcoin ETFs lost $56 million, while ether ETFs gave back $2.36 million, pausing the recent bullish streak. Bitcoin ETFs See $56M Outflow, Snapping 8-Day Inflow Streak As Ether ETFs Slip Too The inflow party took […]

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The delisting of MOVE token by Coinbase highlights the critical need for transparency and robust governance in blockchain projects. The post Coinbase to delist Movement’s MOVE token amid market-making controversy appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Adam Back is certain that Hal Finney is not Satoshi

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Coinbase announced on Thursday that it will suspend trading of the Movement token on May 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET, citing routine asset reviews to ensure that listing standards are met.  The exchange said MOVE (MOVE) order books have already…

In a conversation with podcast host Anthony Pompliano, Michael Ellis—recently sworn in as Deputy Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)—offered an unusually forthright assessment of Bitcoin’s role inside the national-security apparatus. Why The CIA Is Excited About Bitcoin Ellis began by acknowledging the myth that Bitcoin is fully anonymous. “People may have thought […]

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After an 11-day consolidation beneath $19.2, HYPE managed to flip the level to support. This breakout was accompanied by a bearish momentum divergence. Hyperliquid [HYPE] surpassed the fees The post Hyperliquid breaks $19.2 amidst bearish signals - Is $22 possible? appeared first on AMBCrypto.

Jobless claims surged at the end of April according to fresh data from the Department of Labor, but both traditional and crypto markets still rallied Thursday morning. Markets Rally: Bitcoin Hits $97K Even as Jobs Data Disappoints The number of unemployed Americans filing for jobless benefits swelled to a seasonally adjusted 241,000 for the week […]

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Solana ($SOL) has recently captured the crypto community’s attention, fueled by a bullish Cup and Handle pattern that analysts believe could signal a rally to $450. But while Solana continues to make headlines, a lesser-known but remarkably promising project is quietly captivating savvy investors. Ruvi AI (RUVI), an innovative blockchain initiative powered by artificial intelligence, [...] The post Solana (SOL) Could Surprise Again During Altcoin Season, but Experts Think Ruvi AI (RUVI) Will Generate 19,900% Profits to Early Investors appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Pipe Network is launching rewards for node operators that help build the decentralized version of the internet.

Bitcoin Magazine SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: BRYAN JOHNSON CONFIRMED FOR BITCOIN CONFERENCE 2025 Bryan Johnson joins Bitcoin 2025—bringing his message of longevity, self-sovereignty, and life beyond fiat to the stage in Las Vegas. This post SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: BRYAN JOHNSON CONFIRMED FOR BITCOIN CONFERENCE 2025 first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Conor Mulcahy.

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World App has introduced a large retail rollout of decentralized finance tools, giving over 25 million users access to lending, borrowing, and yield-generating products directly within the app. The integration, powered by Morpho—a decentralized lending platform with over $4.5 billion…

As Uniswap's native blockchain kicks off, three innovators will facilitate migration

DeFi Development Corp. announced Thursday it has secured $24 million through a private investment in public equity (PIPE) deal to scale its Solana accumulation strategy. The round attracted prominent investors including Galaxy Digital, Arrington Capital, Republic Digital, Borderless Capital, and…

BNB holds $600, SHIB breaks resistance, and BlockDAG stuns with $0.0019 pricing, 50m daily Buyer Battles, and a $223m presale ahead of its $0.05 launch. #partnercontent

Dogecoin, like the rest of the crypto market, has been struggling recently despite the market recovery. This has been due to the stall in the rally as investors wait for the next move from Bitcoin. During this time, bearish sentiment has begun to take hold once again. However, this makes it a time for investors […]

Daily transactions and fees soared in April, highlighting real usage behind Solana’s price rally. Rising Open Interest and steady revenue growth pointed to strong investor cThe post Solana's 62.7% transaction surge in April: Is the stage set for $146? appeared first on AMBCrypto.

TBG's ambitious Bitcoin accumulation could significantly influence market dynamics and corporate treasury strategies, impacting Bitcoin's valuation. The post Adam Back-backed Bitcoin treasury firm plans to amass up to 260K BTC by 2034 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Crypto exchange Coinbase has announced it will suspend trading of Movement Labs’ native token effective May 15.The decision was shared in a May 1 post on X, with Coinbase citing the token’s failure to meet its listing standards. According to CoinMarketCap, the MOVE token declined by 13.6% in the last 24 hours. Coinbase announced:"Trading for MOVE will be suspended on Coinbase(Simple and Advanced Trade), Coinbase Exchange, and Coinbase Prime. We have moved our MOVE order books to limit-only mode. Limit orders can be placed and canceled, and matches may occur."The trading suspension follows an ongoing investigation into Movement Labs over an agreement that allegedly influenced the MOVE token price.Source: CoinbaseThis is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.

Aztec Network, the Ethereum layer-2 protocol focused on programmable privacy, has officially launched its public testnet. According to a May 1 press release shared with crypto.news, the launch marks a key milestone in Aztec’s eight-year journey to bring stronger data…

Uniswap price crashed to a crucial support level and did not participate in the recent crypto market bull run.  Uniswap (UNI) has been hovering around $5.30 over the past four weeks, a price that’s down 72% from its December highs. However,…

PI Network may be setting up for a bullish move as key signals hint at a trend reversal. A classic divergence, strong support, and a defined trading channel are shaping the next move. PI Network’s (PI) price action is starting…

Coinspeaker Morgan Stanley Plans to Introduce Crypto Trading on E*Trade: Bloomberg Morgan Stanley is set to introduce crypto trading on E*Trade in 2026, offering mainstream access to digital assets. Morgan Stanley Plans to Introduce Crypto Trading on E*Trade: Bloomberg

Coinspeaker Sui Network to Drive Bitcoin DeFi Growth With Stacks Integration Sui Network is set to boost Bitcoin DeFi by integrating sBTC, enabling secure and scalable BTC use in decentralized finance. Sui Network to Drive Bitcoin DeFi Growth With Stacks Integration

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Coinspeaker Malaysian Police Raid Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operation Malaysian police raided two illegal Bitcoin mining farms, seizing equipment worth over $52,000 and citing monthly electricity theft of $8,342. Malaysian Police Raid Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operation

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Ethena Labs will bring its USDe synthetic dollar and its staking counterpart, tsUSDe, to The Open Network (TON) blockchain, unlocking access to dollar-denominated savings for Telegram’s 1 billion users through self-custodial wallets starting in May 2025. TON Ecosystem to Support Ethena’s USDe for Dollar Savings and Staking Through a collaboration with the TON Foundation, USDe […]

Key takeaways:Galaxy Digital plans to begin trading on the Nasdaq on May 16, pending shareholder and Nasdaq approval.Nasdaq-listed crypto firms posted strong gains in April after a period of macroeconomic uncertainty.Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz says the listing will broaden the company’s investor base and US presence.The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listed crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital is set to move to the US-based Nasdaq on May 16, pending stakeholder approval at its upcoming shareholders meeting.Galaxy’s planned move comes as several Nasdaq-listed crypto firms saw substantial gains in April, following a turbulent few months of macroeconomic uncertainty.Galaxy founder and CEO Mike Novogratz said on April 30 that the listing would be a milestone “that would position us to advance our vision of building a gateway for investors to safely and efficiently access every corner of the digital asset and artificial intelligence ecosystems.”Nasdaq listing will widen Galaxy’s investor baseA special Galaxy shareholders' meeting is scheduled for May 9 to seek final approval for the move, with Nasdaq also needing to offer its approval before listing the crypto firm.The company plans to use the ticker symbol GLXY on the Nasdaq, and if it goes ahead with the listing, will enter a transition period during which it will continue to trade on the TSX, on which it first listed in July 2020.Galaxy is down 12.28% on the TSX so far this year amid a broader market downturn, according to Google Finance data.GLXY is down 12.28% since Jan. 1 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Source: Google FinanceMeanwhile, the Nasdaq 100 is down 7.33% so far in 2025, according to TradingView data. However, it held steady in April, with some commentators downplaying the recent bearish sentiment.Novogratz is widely known as a pro-crypto advocate and Bitcoin (BTC) bull. It was reported on April 17 that Galaxy Ventures Fund I LP is expected to raise around $175 million to $180 million by the end of June to build a portfolio of 30 crypto and blockchain startups.Crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano said in an April 30 X post that “the Nasdaq 100 ended April up more than 1%, and people are still talking about the Great Depression.” “Insane,” Pompliano added.Related: Bitcoin ‘aging’ chart projects sixfold BTC price rally above $350KSeveral crypto-related firms listed on the Nasdaq have posted gains over the past month, following broader market turbulence due to macroeconomic uncertainty stemming from Trump’s tariffs.Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) is up 17.80%, Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR) is up 31.86%, and Bitcoin mining firm CleanSpark (CLSK) is up 21.58%, according to Google Finance data.Magazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 GamerThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

North Carolina’s House of Representatives has passed a bill allowing the state’s treasurer to invest public funds in approved cryptocurrencies, which will now head to the Senate.The House passed the Digital Assets Investment Act, or House Bill 92, on its third reading on April 30 by a vote of 71 to 44.Republican House Speaker Destin Hall introduced the bill in February, which would allow the treasurer to allocate 5% of the state’s investments into designated digital assets.The investments can only be made after obtaining an independent third-party assessment confirming that the crypto holdings are maintained with a secure custody solution and risk oversight and regulatory compliance standards are met. New amendments allow the treasurer to examine the feasibility of allowing members of retirement and deferred compensation plans to elect to invest in digital assets held as exchange-traded products (ETPs).The House also passed a related bill, the State Investment Modernization Act, or HB 506, with little discussion on April 30, in a 110 to 3 vote.The bill aims to create the North Carolina Investment Authority (NCIA) to take over investment management from the treasurer.If passed into law, the authority to invest in digital assets would transfer from the treasurer to NICA, and approval would be required from its board of directors based on third-party assessments to make crypto investments.Local news outlet NC Newsline reported that Treasurer Brad Briner supports both bills.Crypto legislation race. Source: Bitcoin LawsArizona leads the crypto bill raceNorth Carolina is second to Arizona in the state-level race to approve legislation allowing local governments to invest in cryptocurrencies. Related: New Hampshire Bitcoin reserve bill heads to full Senate voteOn April 28, Arizona’s House approved two bills, SB 1025 and SB 1373, proposing different methods for the state to establish a crypto reserve.Arizona is the only state whose House and Senate have passed crypto-related bills, which are both awaiting Governor Katie Hobbs’ decision.Magazine: ZK-proofs unlock trillions in Bitcoin for DeFi — BitcoinOS and Starknet

The first decentralized finance (DeFi) company to launch a user-friendly suite of products on Bitcoin will “win the entire market” of the blockchain’s 300 million users, one crypto founder says.Alexei Zamyatin, the co-founder of the Bitcoin layer 2 Build on Bitcoin, told Cointelegraph at Token2049 in Dubai that “the advantage of Bitcoin DeFi is that the market is much bigger, you have a much bigger retail user base that you can tap into.”“It’s not easy to convert it, but if you manage to win in Bitcoin DeFi, you win the entire market.”Zamyatin said the 300 million Bitcoin users would mean DeFi services on the blockchain would “outgrow everything we've seen so far in Ethereum and Solana.” Build on Bitcoin is one of the firms looking to win market share, offering a hybrid layer 2 solution that combines Bitcoin’s security with Ethereum DeFi capabilities via BitVM, a platform that processes Turing-complete Bitcoin contracts.Zamyatin argued that Bitcoin-native bridges are necessary for DeFi on Bitcoin as the blockchain’s security is strong, but it lacks the human talent, tools and network effects of Ethereum. Alexei Zamyatin speaking with Cointelegraph’s Ezra Reguerra at Token2049. Source: CointelegraphZamyatin said Bitcoin (BTC) yield and stablecoin products are driving strong demand for Bitcoin-based DeFi.“A lot of institutions that are buying Bitcoin now usually have to find yield on the assets they hold. So Bitcoin yield is becoming a very hot and highly sought-after thing.”Demand for Bitcoin-backed stablecoins is also skyrocketing because Bitcoin is the “best collateral,” Zamyatin added.What if we tokenized the Bitcoin ETF so institutions could get access to DeFi yields? pic.twitter.com/2HCpwbCZDS— alexei (@alexeiZamyatin) April 10, 2025Bitcoin staking has become the main DeFi use case outside of payments, which involves Bitcoin holders locking their coins in self-custodial vaults or extractable one-time signatures to earn staking rewards on proof-of-stake blockchains like Ethereum.The Babylon Protocol is currently leading this market with $4.64 billion worth of value locked, representing nearly 80% of all value locked on Bitcoin, DefiLlama data shows.Bitcoin’s DeFi TVL is still a fraction of the $54.6 billion worth of value locked on Ethereum.Bridging solutions a controversial topicZamyatin acknowledged the numerous hacks on blockchain bridges, but argued most of those incidents resulted from teams failing to manage their private keys, rather than from smart contract vulnerabilities.While competition in the retail market is wide open, Zamyatin noted that many institutions still hesitate to use bridges that allow users to move value between incompatible blockchains.Related: Bitcoin NFTs, layer-2 and restaking hype ‘completely gone’Zamyatin noted that efforts have been made to increase the number of bridge signers from five to 50 in some cases.However, institutions have been reluctant to adopt these solutions because they often don’t know who’s signing the transactions.For example, the Ren Protocol’s RenBTC operates via a decentralized network of nodes called Darknodes, which sign transactions to lock BTC and mint RenBTC to use on other chains. However, institutions continue to avoid these protocols due to the degree of anonymity involved and instead opt to use trusted custodians like BitGo and Coinbase Custody for such activities.Magazine: ZK-proofs unlock trillions in Bitcoin for DeFi — BitcoinOS and StarknetAdditional reporting by Ezra Reguerra.

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Crypto losses spiked by 1,163% over April, with the lion’s share of lost crypto coming from a single heist of an elderly US individual’s wallet, says blockchain security firm CertiK.CertiK said in an April 30 X post that a total of $364 million was lost to exploits, hacks and scams in April, jumping from the $28.8 million recorded by CertiK in March. The firm added that white hat exploiters had returned around $18.2 million from exploits on the crypto protocols KiloEx, Loopscale and ZKsync, which brought down the month’s total.The largest hack in April, and the fifth largest to date, involved an elderly US individual who lost 3,520 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $330.7 million. The Bitcoin was stolen from their wallet after a hacker used advanced social engineering tactics to gain access on April 30.Excluding that attack, April’s crypto losses were $34 million, a 21% jump from March.CertiK said phishing scams, bolstered by the Bitcoin heist, were the main culprits for losses, while social engineering, access control hacks and price manipulation exploits rounded out the top four types of attacks that stole the most value.Crypto losses in April spiked to $364 million, a 1,163% increase compared to last month. Source: CertiKFebruary accounts for the most significant number of crypto losses of the year so far, with $1.53 billion. Most of that was from the $1.4 billion Bybit hack by North Korea’s Lazarus Group, which also holds the crown for the largest crypto hack ever.Hackers return some fundsOver $18 million was returned for the month. Decentralized exchange KiloEx suspended platform operations after suffering a $7.5 million exploit; however, on April 15, the exploiter returned all the stolen funds, only four days after the attack.The ZKsync Association also recovered $5 million worth of stolen tokens from an April 15 security incident involving its airdrop distribution contract.Related: Crypto hackers hit DeFi for $92M in April as attacks double from MarchMeanwhile, DeFi protocol Loopscale recovered half of the funds stolen during a major exploit on April 26, when manipulating its RateX PT token pricing functions led to the theft of $5.7 million in USDC (USDC) and 1,200 Solana (SOL).Losses to crypto scams, exploits and hacks were declining in the final days of 2024, with December registering the smallest amount stolen at $28.6 million, compared to $63.8 million in November and $115.8 million in October.Magazine: DeFi’s billion-dollar secret: The insiders responsible for hacks

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s crypto-tied digital identity project World, formerly Worldcoin, has made its US debut in six cities. The project, which aims to verify humans in the age of artificial intelligence, is initially coming to what it calls the “key innovation hubs” of Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco, according to an April 30 announcement.World offers a crypto token, Worldcoin (WLD), to those who verify their identity with its spherical device called an Orb, which scans a user’s face and eyes. The firm had previously skirted launching in the US due to regulatory concerns over offering a token, fears now seemingly allayed with the crypto-friendly Trump administration.The data from World’s Orb scan can be used to make a World ID on the company’s platform that aims to verify that a user is human and can be used to verify that with other platforms, including Minecraft, Reddit, Telegram, Shopify and Discord.The company has faced scrutiny from regulators and many jurisdictions have probed World over privacy concerns. Some countries, including Spain and Portugal, have suspended World’s activities over its data collection practices.Source: WorldIn addition to World’s US rollout, the company said at an event in San Francisco on April 30 that it would partner with Visa for a “World Visa card” to launch later this year for those who have scanned their eyeballs, which allows for payments using WLD tokens and other cryptocurrencies. Matchmaking with verified IDThe online dating giant Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge, Match.com and Plenty of Fish, will also begin a pilot program testing out World ID for its apps.The firm said that the project aims to provide dating app users with the means of verifying that the profiles they interact with represent real people seeking real connections.Related: World competitor Billions Network launches non-biometric digital IDWorld has established separate partnerships with prediction market startup Kalshi and decentralized lending platform Morpho. Altman co-founded the project in 2019, when it was known as Worldcoin, to create a global identity verification system using the blockchain to combat fraud and bots. It rebranded to World in 2024 and currently has 26 million users globally, with 12 million of them verified through Orb scans. WLD prices initially jumped around 15% following the announcement. However, those gains have since been lost, with the token down more than 5% over the past 24 hours, trading at just over $1 at the time of writing. WLD is down more than 90% from its March 2024 all-time high of $11.74, according to CoinGecko. Magazine: ZK-proofs unlock trillions in Bitcoin for DeFi — BitcoinOS and Starknet

Key takeaways:Strategy’s stock rose 32% in April, its biggest monthly gain since November.Speculation is building that Strategy will announce a major capital raise during its Q1 earnings call on May 1 as it continues to grow its Bitcoin holdings.Analysts expect a 1% year-on-year revenue bump to $116.6 million, following the firm’s $120.7 million revenues for Q4 2024.Michael Saylor’s Strategy closed April with its highest monthly gain since November, ahead of the firm’s highly anticipated earnings call on May 1.Strategy (MSTR), formerly known as MicroStrategy, closed April 30 trading at $380.11, a 32% increase from its closing price of $288 on March 31, according to Google Finance data.Speculation mounts on “huge capital raise” It’s Strategy's highest monthly gain in five months, following a 59% rise over November as the value of its vast Bitcoin (BTC) holdings swelled amid a price rally that saw BTC reach $100,000 for the first time on Dec. 5, which was kicked off by Donald Trump’s Nov. 5 election win.Source: Mark HarveyThe recent surge in Strategy’s stock price comes as the firm prepares to announce its first-quarter 2025 results after the US markets close on May 1. Saylor will host a webinar to discuss the results shortly after, at 9 pm UTC.According to Seeking Alpha, analysts expect Strategy to report revenue of $116.6 million, reflecting a 1% year-on-year increase. The analytics firm also said that Strategy has beaten revenue estimates 25% of the time over the past two years.The estimate represents a 3.40% decline compared to the previous quarter. The firm reported $120.7 million in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 3% year-on-year fall that missed analyst estimates by about $2 million.Strategy reported a net loss of $670.8 million in Q4 2024 as the firm stacked an additional 218,887 Bitcoin.Apollo Sat's founder Thomas Fahrer said in an April 30 X post, that “MSTR will announce a huge capital raise in their earnings call tomorrow. $100B is in play.”Related: Strategy added 15,355 Bitcoin for $1.42B as the price surged above $90KOn March 10, Strategy announced that it had entered into a new sales agreement that would allow the firm to issue and sell shares of its 8% Series A perpetual strike preferred stock to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including potential Bitcoin acquisitions.At the time of publication, Strategy is holding 553,555 Bitcoin, worth approximately $52.57 billion, according to Saylor Tracker data.Meanwhile, Syz Capital partner Richard Byworth recently mulled over the idea that Strategy should take a more aggressive approach to buying Bitcoin by acquiring companies to use their cash holdings to fund purchases and do away with over-the-counter buys.“Should Saylor buy Bitcoin really carelessly? As in, not try and buy it through OTC desks…and actually just buy it with the intention of massively ramping the price,” Byworth said.Magazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 GamerThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has lashed out at The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), calling the publication’s latest report “an EXTREMELY BAD BREACH OF ETHICS,” after it claimed the Tesla board was actively seeking his replacement as CEO.The report, published on April 30, alleged that the board had approached recruitment firms due to concerns over Musk’s political activity and split focus across multiple ventures.Musk took to X to denounce the article, stating that the WSJ deliberately published false information while knowingly excluding an “unequivocal denial” from Tesla’s board.Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm also issued a strong rebuttal early Thursday morning, posting on Tesla’s official X account that the board had not contacted recruiters.“This is absolutely false,” she said. “The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead.”Musk and Tesla board dismissing WSJ report. Source: Elon MuskRelated: WSJ debacle fueled US lawmakers’ ill-informed crusade against cryptoMusk under scrutiny for role in DOGEThe WSJ’s report comes amid growing scrutiny of Musk’s political involvement, particularly his advisory role in US President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).Critics argue that his involvement with the Trump administration has hurt Tesla’s brand, especially in international markets. Tesla’s first-quarter profit plunged 71%, and its market value has declined by over $800 billion since the start of the year.The automaker’s Q1 results released show revenues hit $19.34 billion, missing Wall Street estimates by 7.85% and marking a 9.2% fall from the same period last year.However, the firm held onto its Bitcoin during the first quarter of 2025. Tesla’s digital asset holdings dropped 11.61% in value from $1.076 billion to $951 million in Q1, alongside Bitcoin’s 11.56% price fall to $82,514 over the same time.Musk, who also runs SpaceX, Neuralink, and the recently merged X and xAI, has agreed to shift more of his time back to Tesla in response to shareholder pressure. According to reports, he is now advising DOGE remotely and has scaled back his physical presence in Washington.Related: Elon Musk’s sale of X to xAI just made fraud lawsuit ’a lot spicer’Crypto executives lash out at WSJMusk’s backlash against the WSJ adds to a growing chorus of criticism from crypto executives who have recently accused the outlet of misleading coverage and bias against the digital asset industry.On April 12, Binance’s former CEO Changpeng Zhao dismissed a WSJ report that claimed he has agreed to provide evidence against Tron founder Justin Sun as part of a plea deal with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).“WSJ is really TRYING here. They seem to have forgotten who went to prison and who didn’t,” Zhao wrote in an April 12 X post. “People who become gov witnesses don’t go to prison. They are protected. I heard someone paid WSJ employees to smear me.”Soruce: CZIn March 2023, Tether also rejected a WSJ report alleging it used fake documents and shell companies to maintain banking access, calling the claims “stale,” “inaccurate,” and “misleading.”Magazine: Binance hits back at WSJ, Hong Kong crypto ETF’s take ‘$50B equivalent’: Asia Express

Fragmentation and complicated user experience remain two of the most significant obstacles to cryptocurrency’s mainstream adoption, according to a new industry report. Most users now use at least two wallets to manage their cryptocurrency investments.The lack of interoperability across blockchains means users need to create multiple wallets to interact with different networks, with users having at least two wallets rising by 16% over the past year. According to a research report published by onchain user experience platform Reown and crypto intelligence firm Nansen, 62% of crypto users reported using at least two wallets over the past three months, up from 45% in 2024.More than 18% of respondents said security was their top concern related to wallet use, while 10.6% cited poor user experience as the biggest issue.Wallet usage over the past 3 months. Source: Nansen, ReownRelated: Bitcoin volatility lowest in 563 days, Hayes predicts $1M BTC by 2028AI integration may be next “breakthrough” for crypto wallets“We’re at a pivotal moment in the evolution of wallet UX,” according to Eowyn Chen, the CEO at Trust Wallet. “The next wave of users, especially those coming from traditional Web2 or emerging markets, are bringing new expectations that challenge how we design tools and interfaces.”Chen said wallets are shifting from asset storage tools to becoming the primary gateway to Web3 services, including digital identity, financial products, governance and gaming.“That’s why we see wallets evolving into intelligent, personal companions — tools that not only hold your assets, but understand your behaviour, preferences, and needs,” she said.Chen added that integrating artificial intelligence agents could help users navigate Web3 as easily as they shop online, while also reducing risks from scams such as phishing attacks. These scams typically involve tricking victims into sending assets to fake wallet addresses.The need for more robust wallets became more apparent after an unknown attacker stole $330 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) in a social engineering scam from an elderly US citizen, Cointelegraph reported on April 28.Related: Crypto hackers hit DeFi for $92M in April as attacks double from MarchMobile wallets dominate, hardware wallet usage on the riseOut of the 1,000 surveyed participants, 51% of users preferred using a mobile wallet, down from 54.8% in 2024.Mobile vs hardware wallet usage. Source: Nansen, ReownOnly 10% of the respondents preferred using a hardware wallet, up from just 7% a year ago, signaling that hardware wallets are slowly gaining traction among more advanced crypto users. However, only 3% of new investors reported using a hardware wallet.Social wallets, which are connected to a user’s email or other social account and require no seed phrase, have “transformed onboarding,” and are at the “forefront of UX innovation, quickly adopting technologies like passkey signers and gas abstraction,” according to Derek Rein, chief technical officer at Reown. He added:“Crucially, they prioritize simple, easy design, users shouldn’t need to understand gas tokens or chain switching just to transact.”Sentiment around social wallets. Source: Nansen, Reown However, users are still hesitant, with 39% of surveyed respondents saying that improved security and trust would help them adopt social wallets.Magazine: Ethereum is destroying the competition in the $16.1T TradFi tokenization race

Why do Ethereum upgrades matter? Ethereum upgrades are essential to scale, secure and evolve the network without compromising its decentralized foundation.Ethereum still stands as the heavyweight of smart contract platforms, but staying on top means relentless reinvention. Every upgrade isn’t just a technical tweak; it’s a high-stakes move to crack the toughest problems in crypto: clogged scalability, soaring gas fees, clunky onboarding and the constant creep of centralization.In a race where rivals are slashing transaction times and polishing user experiences, standing still isn’t an option. To hold its ground at the center of decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and Web3 as a whole, Ethereum must keep sharpening both its execution and consensus engines.The Ethereum development roadmap — from the upcoming Pectra upgrade to Fusaka and the Glamsterdam Ethereum update — is more than a technical checklist. It’s a balancing act: scaling to meet global demand while fiercely defending the decentralized ideals it was built on. In many ways, these upgrades aren’t just upgrades — they’re Ethereum’s ultimate stress test for the future.Did you know? Since 2015, Ethereum has completed 16 major upgrades — from the historic shift to proof-of-stake (PoS) in the Merge (2022) to early sharding steps with Altair (2021). Vitalik Buterin’s new focus for Ethereum Vitalik Buterin’s Ethereum vision has shifted entirely to long-term research, opening new frontiers in scalability, privacy and decentralization.In 2024, a leadership shakeup at the Ethereum Foundation opened a new chapter. Vitalik Buterin stepped away from day-to-day operations and returned to his core strength: charting Ethereum’s deepest future. Now free from managerial duties, Buterin is diving into the hard problems: scaling Ethereum for billions, embedding privacy at the protocol level and protecting decentralization in a rapidly centralizing world.Buterin’s major research areas include:Ethereum scalability roadmap: Exploring new execution models to make Ethereum faster and cheaper without sacrificing security.Privacy enhancements: Developing native features like stealth addresses and private transactions to protect users by default.Consensus and execution redesign: Rethinking how nodes validate and process transactions to prepare for an ultra-scalable, decentralized Ethereum.Buterin outlines a vision for an ecosystem that remains open, trustless and adaptable to a much larger, more complex global landscape.Did you know? Vitalik first proposed Ethereum in 2013 — when he was just 19 years old — after feeling Bitcoin needed a more programmable architecture. From Merge to Splurge: Ethereum’s six-phase vision Ethereum’s evolution is structured across six conceptual phases — each solving a different foundational challenge in blockchain design.The Merge: Replaced proof-of-work (PoW) with PoS, setting the stage for long-term sustainability and validator-based security.The Surge: Focuses on scaling the network through rollups, data availability, like Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4844, and technologies like PeerDAS (peer data availability sampling) — targeting 100,000 transactions per second.The Scourge: Aims to neutralize miner/maximal extractable value (MEV) and decentralize staking, exploring tools like inclusion lists and enshrined proposer-builder separation (ePBS).The Verge: Introduces Verkle Trees and SNARK-based light clients, making Ethereum state access radically more efficient and enabling stateless block verification.The Purge: Simplifies the protocol by pruning historical data (via EIP-4444), eliminating technical debt and reducing node hardware requirements.The Splurge: A catch-all for everything else, from Ethereum Object Format (EOF) to deep cryptography experiments, polishing Ethereum’s architecture with long-term improvements. The Ethereum Pectra upgrade, explained The Ethereum Pectra upgrade, expected in May 2025, merges two prior upgrade tracks and sets a technical foundation for Ethereum’s next decade.Pectra merges two parallel upgrade tracks: Prague (execution layer) and Electra (consensus layer), bringing over a dozen EIPs into a single milestone release. It lays the groundwork for Ethereum’s next phase — safer smart contracts, more powerful wallets and a smoother staking experience.Key EIPs and features:EIP-2537: BLS12-381 precompiles — crucial for zero-knowledge rollups and cryptographic proofs.EIP-7002: Triggerable exits — allowing validators to withdraw via execution layer triggers.EIP-7702: Account abstraction — letting externally owned accounts (EOAs) act more like smart contracts.EIP-7840: Blob schedule — preparing for increased data throughput and rollup scaling.EIP-6110, EIP-7685, EIP-7549, among others: Further execution and consensus refinements.These changes collectively introduce the EOF, a modular contract structure that simplifies audits and brings native account abstraction closer to reality, enabling smart accounts, gasless transactions and better UX for mainstream adoption.The Pectra Ethereum release date is officially scheduled for May 2025, though rollout could adjust based on final testnet outcomes.Did you know? At peak times, Ethereum has handled over 1 million transactions in a single day — and future upgrades aim to multiply that capacity. What comes after Pectra: Fusaka and Glamsterdam Fusaka and Glamsterdam represent the next phases in the Ethereum development roadmap, bringing scalability and efficiency improvements needed for mass adoption.Following Pectra, the Ethereum roadmap 2025 continues with two ambitious upgrades:Fusaka (Osaka-Fulu): Introduces PeerDAS, a breakthrough that will allow Ethereum to handle massive amounts of data without bloating the blockchain. By sampling small pieces of data instead of downloading full blocks, Fusaka will enable much lighter nodes and higher transaction throughput.Glamsterdam (Amsterdam–G-Star): Still in its early design stages, the Glamsterdam Ethereum update focuses on gas optimizations and protocol-level efficiency improvements. It’s essentially about making Ethereum faster and cheaper to use, especially for complex applications like layer-2 rollups and zero-knowledge (ZK) technology.While Fusaka directly tackles scaling, Glamsterdam ensures the network can operate efficiently under heavier loads without compromising decentralization. Together, they mark Ethereum’s transition from early layer-2 scaling experiments to a full-fledged, high-throughput, global settlement layer. Buterin’s research directions beyond the upgrade roadmap Buterin’s crypto future vision pushes Ethereum into experimental territory, exploring radical new architectures for execution, consensus and privacy.Outside of the immediate upgrade timeline, Vitalik’s research is tackling larger structural questions:Post-EVM architecture: Considering modular virtual machines like RISC-V to replace or evolve the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), improving performance and flexibility.Decentralized scaling: Deepening Ethereum’s layer-2 future with advances in rollup-centric scaling and light client verification.Crypto future plans 2025: Exploring the balance between innovation and decentralization in an environment of increasing regulatory pressure and technological complexity.These research threads could shape Ethereum’s next-generation upgrades beyond Glamsterdam — redefining what a decentralized smart contract platform can become before 2030.Did you know? Buterin’s latest research explores RISC-V, an open hardware standard, as a potential future replacement for the EVM to make Ethereum more modular and globally verifiable.  Ethereum’s next phase: Scaling globally while defending decentralization Ethereum’s next phase is about defending decentralization while scaling to global usage, a balance that few other chains have achieved.The Ethereum consensus upgrades coming through Pectra, Fusaka and Glamsterdam are critical for a few reasons:Global usability: Lower fees and faster confirmation times are essential for Ethereum to serve millions of users across DeFi, NFTs, gaming and new industries.Layer-2 synergy: A more scalable layer 1 makes layer-2 rollups cheaper, faster and more secure, fueling Ethereum’s ecosystem growth.Long-term resilience: Upgrading the execution layer, consensus and privacy protections now ensures Ethereum remains resistant to centralization pressures in the future.Ultimately, the Ethereum scalability roadmap isn’t just about bigger numbers — it’s about protecting what makes Ethereum different in a world moving toward centralized alternatives.So, what should you keep an eye out for?Buterin’s vision for Ethereum points to a future of radical flexibility, deeper privacy and unstoppable decentralization.With the Pectra Ethereum release date approaching (scheduled for May 7) and the Glamsterdam Ethereum update on the horizon, Ethereum’s innovation engine is running at full speed. As Buterin’s crypto future vision unfolds, the Ethereum blockchain is not just preparing to survive the next wave of competition — it’s positioning to thrive.The journey from the Merge to a fully modular, massively scalable network is only just beginning.

Decentralized stablecoin platform Ethena has partnered with The Open Network (TON) to make its stablecoins available to Telegram’s user base of over one billion people.The partnership, announced on May 1 at Token2049 in Dubai, will see the deployment of Ethena’s USDe (USDE) and Ethena Staked USDe (sUSDe) natively within the TON blockchain.The sUSDe variant will be integrated under the name tsUSDe, enabling Telegram users to access US dollar-denominated savings directly within Telegram.Source: Kirill MalevThe deployment involves two major Ethena integrations, including one in the custodial Wallet in Telegram and the second in the TON Space wallet, a self-custodial wallet integrated in the messenger.One of Ethena’s “most meaningful launches”Announcing the news on X, Ethena described its TON integration as “one of Ethena’s most meaningful launches to date.”“Telegram has truly global distribution across its billion users, with presence in emerging economies in regions like Asia, Africa and Latin America,” it added.Source: EthenaAccording to Ethena, the integration will be progressively rolled out in stages in May, as the deployment involves three major product lines, including support by Wallet in Telegram, non-custodial wallets like TON Space and TON Keeper, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on TON.USDe is coming to TON via LayerZeroThe partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Ethena and the TON Foundation, with future plans potentially targeting Ethena-enabled neobanking, peer-to-peer payments and DeFi lending and trading.While Ethena’s sUSDe has been redeveloped entirely to be TON native smart contracts, in a new asset called tsUSDe, the native USDe stablecoin is planned to be introduced on TON via the LayerZero interoperability protocol.Source: EthenaAdditionally, eligible tsUSDe holders within major TON wallets will receive a 10% annual percentage yield in TON, along with Ethena rewards on balances of up to 10,000 tsUSDe per wallet.Ethena is the fourth-largest stablecoin on marketThe announcement comes amid Ethena’s USDe stablecoin ranking the fourth-largest stablecoin by market value, following Sky’s (formerly Maker) USDS (USDS), Circle’s USDC (USDC), and the world’s largest stablecoin, Tether’s USDt (USDT).At the time of writing, USDE had a market capitalization of $4.7 billion, 39% down from USDC’s market cap and just a tiny 3% of USDT’s market cap, according to CoinGecko.Top five stablecoins by market capitalization. Source: CoinGeckoThe TON Foundation has been closely collaborating with Tether, as well, connecting TON to Tether’s USDt ecosystem with LayerZero in February 2024.As part of its ambitious scaling plans, TON expects to connect its ecosystem to at least 100 chains, including Ethereum, Tron and Solana.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26

Metaplanet — a Japanese company focused on accumulating Bitcoin — announced it will launch a United States-based subsidiary.In a May 1 X post, Metaplanet announced that the firm is launching a wholly owned subsidiary in Florida. Furthermore, the new subsidiary is expected to raise up to $250 million of capital to fuel its Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation strategy and tap US institutional investors.In a separate announcement, Metaplanet cites Miami as the city that will host the new subsidiary’s headquarters. The firm points to Florida as a particularly favorable environment:“Florida, a rapidly emerging hub for Bitcoin focused companies and financial innovation, recognized for its business-friendly policies and rising status as a global center of capital and technology.”The company explained that it decided to go to Florida due to its pro-Bitcoin environment, which purportedly led to Bitcoin corporate adoption and financial liberalization. The new subsidiary is also expected to expand the company’s operations into a new timezone.Related: Eric Trump joins Metaplanet’s strategic board of advisersFlorida: a crypto strongholdMetaplanet’s commentary follows Florida's progress in becoming one of the most Bitcoin-friendly US states. In April, Florida’s House Insurance and Banking Committee approved a bill that would allow the State Treasury to invest in Bitcoin — the bill was proposed in early February.The cryptocurrency industry has a strong foothold in Florida and is also intertwined with its political landscape. Two Republicans who received a combined $1.5 million from the crypto-backed political action committee (PAC) Fairshake will enter the US House after winning special elections in Florida.Mid-February analysis also showed that the Florida Retirement System's State Board of Administration fund held 160,470 Strategy shares worth $46 million at the time. Strategy — previously known as MicroStrategy — is Metaplanet’s bigger brother: a company entirely focused on accumulating Bitcoin and its top corporate holder.That report followed Florida chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis suggesting that the agency that manages the state’s retirement funds to consider investing in Bitcoin. He shared his ideas with the Florida State Board of Administration’s executive director, Chris Spencer, in a letter sent in late October 2024.Related: Metaplanet repays 2B yen bonds early, CEO comments on BTC ‘down days’Metaplanet continues to growAccording to Metplanet’s website, the firm currently holds exactly 5,000 Bitcoin worth $474.7 million at the time of writing. While this is a far cry from Strategy’s holdings, which exceed 2% of all Bitcoin that will ever be mined, it is a 184% increase from the firm’s holdings of 1,762 BTC on the first day of 2025.Metaplanet's Bitcoin holdings chart. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NETAt the beginning of April, Metaplanet announced its acquisition of 696 BTC for 10.2 billion yen ($67 million). Later that same month, the firm acquired 330 Bitcoin for $28.2 million at an average price of $85,605 per BTC, bringing its total holdings to 4,855. Then, toward the end of the month, the firm bought an additional 145 BTC for 1.9 billion Japanese yen (around $13.4 million), boosting its total holdings to 5,000 BTC.Magazine: Rise of MicroStrategy clones, Asia dominates crypto adoption: Asia Express 2024 review

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Opinion by: Amitej Gajjala, co-founder and CEO of Kernel DAOThe restaking narrative has moved fast — from side conversations in validator circles to the forefront of DeFi infrastructure discussions.It’s not hard to see why. DefiLlama states that major liquid restaking protocols now hold over $12 billion in total value locked (TVL), with dozens of middleware services aligning their security with Ethereum’s economic base layer. What started as an idea to increase capital efficiency for validators has evolved into a serious attempt to redefine how security is provisioned across decentralized systems.While restaking is gaining momentum among crypto-native participants, institutions — the kind with multi-year horizons and regulatory constraints — still keep DeFi at arm’s length.Not because the rewards aren’t attractive. Risk is still poorly understood, isolated and mitigated.Restaking can change that.Adding friction — where it’s needed mostRestaking isn’t about reducing risk to zero; it’s about introducing friction, which deters bad actors without killing protocol composability.Enabling validators to opt into securing new protocols using already-staked assets, restaking creates a second validation layer. This strengthens middleware like oracles, bridges and data availability layers without bootstrapping entirely new trust networks.Unlike traditional validator sets, restaking aligns existing economic incentives with broader infrastructure needs. Instead of competing for security, protocols can now share it — with customizable slashing conditions, service-specific operator sets and dynamic risk parameters.Recent: Unlocking the potential of dormant Bitcoin in DeFiFor institutions, this is meaningful; it signals the beginning of a modular security stack, where exposure can be configured and audited per protocol.Slashing becomes a risk class — not a red flagOne of the main blockers for institutional staking has been slashing: the risk that validator misbehavior (or simply technical error) could lead to capital loss.Restaking introduces slashing segmentation. On all major platforms, operators choose which services they secure. Slashing, therefore, is scoped to the context of misbehavior — not the entire validator lifecycle.This distinction matters. It transforms slashing from an unpredictable liability into a quantifiable, bounded risk, similar to how fixed-income traders model default risk.It also opens the door to restaking insurance markets, actuarial modeling and structured risk products.Risk offloading through exposure diversificationDeFi’s volatility isn’t going away. Price swings, gas spikes and liquidation cascades are part of the terrain. But restaking enables cross-protocol exposure less correlated than holding multiple tokens.A validator restaking into a curated mix of oracle, bridge and data availability layer services fundamentally builds a portfolio of security commitments — each with different risk and reward profiles. That’s diversification in the validator economy, not just in the asset layer.It also makes network-level attacks harder. Restaking dilutes attack vectors by spreading economic security across a web of services, making DeFi’s attack surface less monolithic and more modular.Oracles get more credibleA single point of failure in many DeFi protocols? Oracle feeds. And it’s not just flash loans — even minor price feed delays can be exploited.ScienceDirect research shows that staking-based oracle models significantly reduce manipulation risks, especially when tied to performance-based incentives and slashing conditions.Restaking supports this by allowing oracle operators to secure feeds with economic weight, aligning truthfulness with profit. When misreporting can cost you slashed Ether (ETH), the game theory changes.This creates stronger guarantees for protocols relying on price data — a prerequisite for serious capital to flow in.Restaking as the institutional wedgeInstitutions won’t enter DeFi because of vibes or community incentives. They’ll enter when infrastructure risk can be scoped, quantified and mitigated when the stack looks more like a layered security model than a black box of smart contracts.Restaking isn’t the whole answer. But it is one of the first scalable primitives to make DeFi security modular, composable and economically aligned.As regulation matures and tokenized finance becomes more interoperable with TradFi, restaking may be the layer that bridges trust between networks and entire financial systems.We’re not there yet. But the path looks a lot clearer than it did a year ago.Opinion by: Amitej Gajjala, co-founder and CEO of Kernel DAO.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Key points:Bitcoin traders wait for signals of US economic policy loosening as data forces the Federal Reserve into a corner.Recession is more likely than not, sources say, amid rising unemployment and resurgent inflation.Bitcoin and risk assets should ultimately gain from a recession shock.Bitcoin (BTC) stands to gain as a US recession becomes the “base case scenario.”Fresh analysis from sources including trading resource The Kobeissi Letter makes grim predictions for the US economy and Federal Reserve.Fed’s “worst nightmare” gets realUS economic health is due to take a hit on the back of trade tariffs and the resurgent inflation, which may accompany them.The latest macroeconomic data, which includes Q1 GDP and the Fed’s “preferred” inflation gauge, puts officials in a tight spot, Kobeissi says.GDP came in markedly below expectations, turning negative against a forecast 0.3% gain.US quarterly GDP growth (screenshot). Source: The Kobeissi Letter/X“Effectively, the Fed must pick between containing either inflation or unemployment,” it summarized, calling the situation the Fed’s “worst nightmare.”A key issue is the extent and timing of any interest rate cuts — something that crypto and risk-asset traders are keenly eyeing thanks to the positive knock-on effect for markets.“Not reducing interest rates will further weaken US GDP and likely increase unemployment. However, if interest rates are cut immediately, we would expect to see another rebound in inflation,” Kobeissi continued.Thus in a “lose-lose” situation, the Fed faces the threat of both stagflation — rising inflation with rising unemployment — and a full-on recession.“A recession in the US has become our base case scenario,” Kobeissi added, linking to rising odds on prediction service Kalshi.Source: KalshiBitcoin analyst sees recession silver liningThe latest data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool underscores market expectations for Fed policy, which has remained conservative through 2025 despite the insistence of US President Donald Trump that rates head lower.Related: Bitcoin 'hot supply' nears $40B as new investors flood in at $95KThe June meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is currently the event that should spark the next 0.25% cut, consensus suggests. The May meeting, however, now has just 3% odds of such an outcome.Fed target rate probabilities (screenshot). Source: CME GroupMeanwhile, crypto market participants are weighing the possible Fed course as conditions become increasingly hard to navigate.“Yesterday, the market was pricing 57% probability of 25bps cut for June 18th FOMC. Today it's 63%,” popular trader Skew commented on the FedWatch data.“Push coming to shove in terms of economic data & rate cuts. Fed will still be concerned about price pressures but more so about weakness within the economy, especially if policy isn't corrected in time.”Fed target rate probabilities for June FOMC meeting. Source: CME GroupCrypto trader, analyst and entrepreneur Michaël van de Poppe predicted that recession alone would cause the Fed to rethink its stance.“The rumours for a potential recession is increasing, which should strengthen the thesis for the FED to loosen up the policy,” he wrote in part of an X reaction to Q1 GDP data. “That will likely be a low on the markets, liquidity to be added and risk-on to thrive.”This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Crypto exchange MEXC has announced a $300 million ecosystem development fund aimed at supporting Web3 projects over the next five years.The initiative, unveiled at Token2049 in Dubai, is designed to support early-stage blockchain technologies, public chains, wallets, and decentralized tools critical to shaping the future of crypto infrastructure, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph.Selection criteria for projects looking to participate in the initiative will be announced soon.“We are committed to strategic investment, focusing not just on exciting ideas and talented developers, but on initiatives with clear long-term potential,” MEXC chief operating officer Tracy Jin said.She added that the priority is to back projects capable of achieving AAA status within three to five years.Related: Binance rolls out Fund Accounts for asset managers, bridging crypto-TradFi gapMEXC fund to invest $60 million annuallyJin explained that the exchange aims to invest approximately $50 to $60 million annually, depending on the availability of suitable projects and partners and the company’s strategic focus at the time.“We may accelerate the investment pace if a project aligns well with our current business priorities. Otherwise, we will proceed steadily according to the original plan.”She added that MEXC is actively exploring early-stage projects focused on blockchain networks, decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure, and stablecoins. She said these areas are essential for advancing crypto adoption.During a fireside chat at the Token2049 conference in Dubai on April 30, Jin emphasized that stablecoins are a key priority for MEXC due to their essential role in enabling stable pricing and trade across crypto markets.In February 2025, MEXC invested $20 million in USDe, a DeFi-native synthetic dollar from Ethena Labs, alongside a $16 million direct investment in Ethena itself.Related: Binance, KuCoin, MEXC report service issues due to AWS network interruptionProjects need to prove their worthThe exchange also clarified that its $300 million fund will not operate through open applications but will instead adopt a selective, invitation-only approach.According to the company, the traditional “submit a form and get funded” model no longer works in 2025. “A project that can’t make itself known or find a way to present to MEXC’s investment team is unlikely to earn our attention,” Jin said.MEXC is one of the largest crypto exchanges in terms of trading volume. Over the past 24 hours, it has ranked as the seventh largest cryptocurrency exchange by spot trading volume, processing over $3.2 billion in trades, according to data from CoinMarketCap.Source: CoinMarketCapMagazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 Gamer

Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX will use a stablecoin linked to US President Donald Trump’s family to settle a $2 billion investment in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.The World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) US dollar-pegged stablecoin was launched by the Trump-associated crypto platform World Liberty Financial (WLFI) in March 2025.MGX will use the USD1 stablecoin for its $2 billion investment in the Binance exchange, according to an announcement by Eric Trump during a panel discussion at Token2049 in Dubai. Trump, the son of the president, serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organization.Source: CointelegraphMGX announced its investment in Binance on March 12, marking the first institutional investment in the exchange and one of the biggest funding deals in the entire Web3 industry.At the time, Binance declined Cointelegraph’s request to disclose what stablecoin was used in the transaction.  This marks the Abu Dhabi-based investment firm’s first venture into the cryptocurrency space.Related: Trump turned crypto from ‘oppressed industry’ to ‘centerpiece’ of US strategyBanks, financial system is “a joke,” says Eric TrumpDuring the panel discussion, Eric Trump criticized the inefficiencies and limited operating hours of the traditional financial system:“The US is seeing that the financial world has to progress. It’s a joke. Why do banks run nine to five, Monday to Friday, with an hour and a half of lunch break? It doesn’t make sense.”Sending money internationally through SWIFT is slow, costly, and complex. Crypto makes banks redundant,” he added.Related: Stablecoins, tokenized assets gain as Trump tariffs loomThe average transaction time on the SWIFT payment network is 20 hours and seven minutes, according to analysis published by Statrys. However, 75% of SWIFT transactions involve one or two intermediary banks, meaning that these average 1 day and 11 hours to settle.In contrast, a USDt (USDT) or USDC (USDC) stablecoin transaction on Ethereum will settle within two to five minutes.“We’re at the dialogue phase of the crypto revolution right now, and the people who are going to make it big are the people who see it today, not in five years,” Eric Trump added.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution based in Dubai, has signed a landmark $3 billion real-world asset (RWA) tokenization agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based real estate giant MAG and blockchain infrastructure provider Mavryk.The deal represents the largest RWA tokenization initiative globally to date and highlights the upcoming launch of MultiBank’s native utility token, MBG, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph.The partnership will bring MAG’s ultra-luxury real estate projects — including The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Dubai, Creekside and the Keturah Reserve — onto the blockchain via MultiBank.io’s regulated RWA marketplace.Once tokenized, these assets will be available to global investors and will generate daily yield for holders directly on the platform.“$3B worth of MAG’s real estate will be tokenized as individual RWA tokens on MultiBank’s platform, each represented on the Mavryk blockchain, as the underlying layer-1 infrastructure,” Talal Moafaq Al Gaddah, senior executive vice chairman of MAG, told Cointelegraph.Al Gaddah added that “$MBG token provides ecosystem utility, including trading discounts, early access to properties, and a deflationary buyback-and-burn model.”Related: BlackRock, five others account for 88% of all tokenized treasury issuanceMultiBank tokenizes MAG real estateMAG, one of the UAE’s most prominent developers, will contribute its premium real estate portfolio for tokenization.Mavryk will handle blockchain issuance and DeFi integrations, while MultiBank Group will manage regulatory compliance, liquidity and governance, with the MBG token at the core of the system.“Tokenized assets issued by MultiBank will have dual utility. Within the MultiBank Group, they can be used as collateral for derivatives, creating a seamless bridge between traditional finance and tokenized assets,” Al Gaddah said.He said that these tokens are fully interoperable with the broader Mavryk DeFi ecosystem.The tokenized treasuries market is rising. Source: RWA.xyzMBG token adds platform utilityThe MBG token will power staking, fee payments, VIP tiers and user rewards. It also features a buyback-and-burn mechanism tied to platform revenues, creating long-term value for both institutional and retail participants.The platform aims to scale beyond the initial $3 billion to as much as $10 billion in tokenized assets.“The goal is to tokenize high-value, income-generating real estate assets that have traditionally been difficult to access or trade.” The announcement comes amid renewed interest in RWA tokenization.On April 30, BlackRock filed to create digital ledger technology shares from one of the firm’s money market funds, which will leverage blockchain technology to maintain a mirror record of share ownership for investors.The DLT shares will track BlackRock’s BLF Treasury Trust Fund (TTTXX), which may only be purchased from BlackRock Advisors and The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY).The money market fund holds over $150 million worth of assets, invested almost entirely in US Treasury bills and cash.Magazine: TV hit Peaky Blinders to launch crypto game, FIFA Rivals on Polkadot: Web3 Gamer

Key takeaways:Bitcoin holds $95,000 as Fed rate cut odds rise to 60% for June 18 and the US economy slumps.Breaking $95,000 could push BTC’s price toward $100,000, while dropping below $93,000 may bring the $84,000 back into the picture.Key Bitcoin levels to watch remain around the long-term holders’ cost basis. Bitcoin (BTC) is once again attempting to break above $95,000 on May 1 as markets price in the possibility of the US Federal Reserve cutting rates sooner than expected.BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewFed rate cut will drive BTC’s price higherData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed Bitcoin edging higher hours after dipping below $93,000 following US GDP data that reflected a shrinking economy. A contracting economy will likely prompt the Fed to lower rates to stimulate activity sooner rather than later. This reduces yields on traditional assets like bonds, pushing investors toward Bitcoin and risk-on assets.The odds of a Fed interest rate cut at the June 18 Federal Open Market Committee meeting have increased over the last week, from 57% on April 30 to 60% on May 1. Fed target rate probabilities for the June 18 Fed meeting. Source: CME FedWatchRate cut expectations have historically been a bullish catalyst for risk-on assets and Bitcoin. For example, Bitcoin rallied more than 20% ahead of the last Fed rate cut on Dec. 18, 2024.“Bitcoin surges back toward $95K, rebounding from bearish US GDP data,” said pseudonymous Bitcoin analyst BTCmoonmath in a May 1 post on X, adding:“Traders anticipate a Federal Reserve’s easing and rate cuts in the future, despite a shrinking economy and low consumer confidence.” Focus now shifts to how the May 2 jobs report, which reveals how many jobs were added to the US economy in April, will impact the crypto market and, in turn, Bitcoin’s price.Related: Bitcoin ‘aging’ chart projects sixfold BTC price rally above $350KWhat’s next for Bitcoin’s price?Currently, $95,000 is the key level traders are watching, and many analysts believe that a sustained push through the resistance zone above this area opens the door for a swift move higher.“The price has recently surged above both key technical levels and is now attempting to consolidate within this zone,” Glassnode said in its latest “Week Onchain” report.The market intelligence firm referred to the 111-day simple moving average (SMA) at $91,300 and the short-term holder (STH) cost basis at $93,200. Bitcoin reclaimed these levels in the recent upward swing, highlighting the degree of strength behind the move.“These are levels that must be broken and held for further price appreciation, as a rejection of this level would push the price back into bearish territory, and return many investors to a state of meaningful unrealized loss.”BTC/USD chart showing STH cost basis and 111-day SMA. Source: Glassnode“Bitcoin is ready to blast through $96,000,” popular analyst AlphaBTC said in his latest analysis on X. According to the analyst, a decisive break above $95,000 could see BTC move out of consolidation, with the next logical move being toward the $100,000 psychological level.“This is what I would like to see if Bitcoin can follow through today. A nice big squeeze into the low 100Ks.”BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: AlphaBTCConversely, the analyst said that a drop below April 30 lows at $93,000 could see BTC/USD sink deeper toward the $84,000 and $88,000 range as shown in the chart above.Fellow crypto analyst Daan Crypto Trades added that if price consolidates without rejection and keeps grinding upward, then that should position BTC for a move higher toward the $100,000 region, he explained to his followers on X. BTC/USD hourly chart. Source: Daan Crypto TradesThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Banking giant Morgan Stanley reportedly plans to list cryptocurrencies on its E*Trade investment brokerage and trading platform.According to a May 1 Bloomberg report, the firm intends to list crypto assets on E*Trade in 2026. The plan is still in early development, and the bank is said to be exploring partnerships with established crypto firms to power the service. Internal discussions about cryptocurrency support reportedly began in late 2024.E*Trade homepage. Source: E*TradeThis would not be Morgan Stanley’s first exposure to digital assets. The bank’s wealthiest clients have had access to crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and futures for some time, with the firm’s advisers allowed to pitch Bitcoin ETFs since August 2024.Related: Morgan Stanley to explore crypto offerings for clients — CEORegulatory tailwinds push crypto forwardThe news follows previous reports that Morgan Stanley was considering adding cryptocurrency trading to its E*Trade online brokerage platform in early January. The reports at the time cited the expectations of a friendlier crypto regulatory environment.The move comes amid an increasingly favorable regulatory environment in the United States following the election of President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a pro-crypto platform and is personally involved in several blockchain ventures. Morgan Stanley did not respond to Cointelegraph’s inquiry by publication.Related: Morgan Stanley discloses $188M in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF holdingsThe first 30 days of the Trump administration brought significant changes to the local crypto industry. More recently, US crypto proponents have shown optimism following the swearing-in of pro-crypto Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins.The SEC had significantly changed its stance even before Atkins took office. In late February, the agency had already paused multiple cryptocurrency enforcement cases with imminent deadlines.Trump’s own involvement with the crypto industry, paired with his pro-crypto stance, has raised concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren recently called on government officials to address questions related to Trump’s memecoin and his media company.Senator Jon Ossoff recently expressed support for impeaching Trump over his meeting of the top holders of his Trump Official (TRUMP) memecoin. He said that “he is granting audiences to people who buy his memecoin,” adding:“When the sitting president of the United States is selling access for what are effectively payments directly to him. There is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense.”Magazine: ZK-proofs are bringing smart contracts to Bitcoin — BitcoinOS and Starknet

What is a Google subpoena scam? The Google subpoena scam is a type of phishing attack where fraudsters impersonate Google to create a false sense of urgency and fear. Typically, you will receive an email that appears to come from no-reply@google.com, claiming to inform you of a subpoena, a formal legal request. The email will often have a subject line like “Security Alert” or “Notice of Subpoena,” making it seem urgent and legitimate. These scammers prey on your natural concern about legal matters and data privacy, hoping to trigger a reaction.Inside the email, the scammers falsely claim that Google has been served with a subpoena requiring the company to turn over your account data, such as emails, documents or search history. The email will then urge you to click on a link to view your “case materials.” This link typically leads to a fraudulent website, often hosted on Google Sites, which is designed to look like a genuine Google support page. This added layer of legitimacy can easily trick users into believing the request is real.The most concerning part of this scam is that attackers are skilled at spoofing Google’s email addresses and mimicking the company’s official content. By doing so, they can bypass common security checks, such as DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM), which normally verifies the authenticity of an email. With this approach, the scam appears convincingly legitimate, making it easy for unsuspecting users to act impulsively — potentially exposing sensitive data or inadvertently installing malware.Did you know? DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an email security standard that verifies whether a message really comes from the domain it claims to be from. It uses cryptographic signatures to protect against email spoofing and phishing attacks — making your inbox just a little safer every day. How the Google subpoena scam works Software firm EasyDMARC explained that attackers exploited legitimate Google services to bypass traditional spam filters. They used “OAuth” applications combined with DKIM workarounds to create emails that could fool even careful users.A DKIM replay attack exploits the way email authentication works, specifically using DomainKeys Identified Mail, which adds a digital signature to an email to verify its authenticity.Steps of the attack:Attacker receives a legitimate Google email: The attacker intercepts a legitimate email from Google that has a valid DKIM signature, which proves it came from Google.Preparing the replay: The attacker saves this email, keeping the DKIM signature intact, and replays it. Since DKIM checks only the email headers and body (if unchanged), the attacker can forward the exact email with its signature intact without modification.Sending the spoofed email: The attacker then sends this saved email from a different account (e.g., Outlook), making it look like it’s from the original sender (Google).Relaying through other servers: The email goes through multiple servers, each adding their own DKIM signature, but the original Google DKIM signature remains untouched and valid.Final delivery: The email reaches the victim’s inbox, appearing legitimate. Despite being relayed through several servers, the email passes SPF, DKIM and DMARC checks, which makes it look like a valid Google email.The result: The victim is tricked into thinking it’s a legitimate message, potentially leading to harmful actions like clicking malicious links or providing sensitive information. This type of attack plays on the trust people place in email authentication methods and shows how attackers can exploit them.Here’s how fake Google emails and DKIM replay attacks trick you:Spoofed Google support pages: Clicking the link in the email takes you to a fake Google support page, often hosted on Google Sites, adding another layer of false credibility. The website will urge you to log in to view your “case materials.”Phishing for credentials: If you proceed, you’re asked to enter your Google username and password. Once entered, the attackers can gain full access to your account.Psychological tricks: Scammers use fear-based tactics — mentioning lawsuits, law enforcement involvement or threats of account suspension. The urgency they create is designed to make you bypass your usual caution.Did you know? Google Sites lets anyone with a Google account create websites under the trusted “sites.google.com” domain. Attackers exploit this by crafting fake login pages and phishing forms, using Google’s SSL and brand reputation to deceive users into revealing sensitive information. Key signs you’re facing a Google subpoena scam Even though the Google subpoena scam is highly sophisticated, there are still clear red flags you can look for if you know what to watch out for. By recognizing these signs, you can protect yourself from falling victim to phishing attacks:Fake or spoofed sender addresses: The first thing you should do is examine the sender’s email address carefully. Even though these scams may appear to come from a legitimate Google address, small differences in the sender’s domain or name can indicate that the email is a spoof. For instance, a Google email may have slight alterations, such as “goog1e.com” instead of “google.com,” which are often overlooked by unsuspecting users.Urgent language and threats: Scammers will often try to pressure you into acting quickly by using urgent language and threats of legal action. They may claim that your account is at risk of being suspended or that you must act immediately to avoid severe consequences. Google does not use scare tactics like this in emails.Requests for sensitive information: One of the biggest signs of a phishing attempt is a request for sensitive information, such as your Google account password, two-factor authentication (2FA) code or personal financial details. Google will never ask for this information via email.Poor grammar or formatting: While scammers have gotten better at mimicking official communication, many still make mistakes. Look for inconsistent wording, odd phrasing or formatting errors. These can often reveal a scam.Suspicious links: Before clicking any link in an email, hover over it with your mouse to preview the URL. If the link looks suspicious or unfamiliar, don’t click on it. Often, scammers use disguised URLs that lead to fake websites.Lack of proper legal process: Real subpoenas are issued through proper legal channels. They are never delivered via an email that asks for personal information or a quick action. Received a Google subpoena email? Here’s how to stay safe If you receive an email that claims to be from Google about a legal subpoena or any other suspicious notification, it’s important to remain calm and avoid reacting hastily. Phishing attacks, like the Google subpoena scam, often rely on creating a sense of urgency to trick users into making mistakes. Here’s what you should do immediately to protect your personal information and accounts:Do not click any links: Avoid interacting with the email. Don’t open attachments, click links or reply.Verify the request: Visit Google’s support site directly (not through any link in the email) and check if there are any notifications related to your account.Report the scam: In the UK, forward the suspicious email to report@phishing.gov.uk or Google’s own reporting channels, and in the US, notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov or forward to spam@uce.gov.Update your security settings: Immediately change your Google account password and enable 2FA or passkeys for an extra layer of protection.Contact your bank: If you shared any financial details (e.g., credit card numbers, bank account information or payment credentials), act quickly. Call your bank or financial institution using the official number on the back of your card or its verified website. Inform them of the potential scam and any compromised information. Request to monitor your account for suspicious activity, freeze or cancel affected cards, or issue new ones if necessary. Review recent transactions for unauthorized charges and dispute any fraudulent activity promptly.Report to authorities: If you believe you have fallen victim, report the incident to Action Fraud or call 101 if you’re based in the UK. File a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint or report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov if you are based in the US. How Google notifies users about legal requests When it comes to legal requests such as subpoenas, court orders or search warrants, Google takes privacy and security seriously. The company has a strict procedure in place to ensure that requests for user data are valid, lawful and processed through proper channels. Unlike the tactics employed by scammers, Google’s approach is both transparent and secure. Here’s how the real process works when it comes to legal requests for your data:Google checks the request carefully: If law enforcement (e.g., police or court) requests your data, Google thoroughly reviews the request to ensure it’s valid and lawful.Google may notify you: Unless they’re not allowed (e.g., due to a court order), Google will let you know before sharing your information. This notice won’t come in a random email asking for your password.Official notifications only: If there’s a real legal issue, you’ll see a message in your Google Account dashboard (like in the “Security” section when you log in) or through an official Google email from a verified address, not a suspicious or random one.Did you know? Government agencies worldwide request user data from Google, but each request is carefully reviewed to ensure it complies with the law. Google shares details of these requests in its Transparency Report, and how they respond depends on whether your service provider is Google LLC (US) or Google Ireland Limited (Ireland). How to avoid falling victim to Google subpoena scams To avoid falling victim to Google subpoena scams, stay calm, avoid clicking any links or attachments, and verify any legal claims directly through Google’s official support channels.Phishing scams are constantly evolving, but you can significantly reduce your risk by following some best practices, including:Stay skeptical: Always question unexpected emails, especially those involving legal action or urgent threats.Inspect carefully: Click the dropdown next to the sender’s name to see the full email address and domain.Hover before clicking: Hover your cursor over any links to preview the URL without actually clicking.Enable 2FA: Adding an extra layer of security to your Google account can stop scammers even if they steal your password.Use advanced spam filters: Tools like spam blockers, domain verification tools (like Who.is) and secure email gateways can help flag suspicious emails.Regular security audits: Periodically review your Google Account’s security settings and connected third-party apps.Stay updated: Subscribe to trusted cybersecurity newsletters or Google’s security updates to stay informed about new threats.Educate yourself and others: Sharing knowledge about scams with friends, family and coworkers can help build a collective defense.

Amid the intensifying global race to tokenize real-world assets, the market is still too nascent for institutional adoption, according to Chris Yin, the co-founder and CEO of Galaxy-backed RWA platform Plume.Institutional capital is yet to enter the RWA market, and it will take some time for institutions to see its value, Yin told Cointelegraph on the sidelines of Token2049 in Dubai.“These things move incredibly slowly, you have to show value, you have to show adoption first,” Yin said, comparing RWA’s currently developing stages with the early days of Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins.“Only now, 10 years later, are they beginning to think about using the stablecoin. The same thing is going to happen in tokenized assets or tokenization,” Yin said.Tokenized RWAs are far smaller than $21 billionYin questioned the accuracy of existing market estimates, which suggest the RWA sector is worth more than $21 billion.“I tend to think that one, all the data is wrong, and two, the perspective that most people have is wrong with this, which is I take this $21 billion in assets,” Yin said.According to the exec, the real RWA market cap figure is “more like” $10 billion, mostly including Treasury bills and gold, and just a “bit of private credit.”Total RWA market chart and main components as of April 27, 2025. Source: RWA.xyzRWA.xyz suggests that the total market capitalization of the RWA market amounted to roughly $17.4 billion as of April 27, with private credit accounting for almost 60% of all RWAs, while Treasury’s and commodities share was 27% and 8%, respectively.Private credit is not the main driver for RWAsEstimating the size of the global RWA market is extremely difficult, especially on the private side, where data is “fragmented and often inaccessible,” Stobox co-founder Ross Shemeliak told Cointelegraph.According to Stobox’s estimations, tokenized Treasurys and bonds must account for the majority of RWAs today, or between 60–65%.“Crucially, 99.9% of all companies in the world are private, and nearly all of them are untapped candidates for tokenization,” Shemeliak said, adding that such companies typically struggle with access to capital and liquidity.“Tokenization provides an entirely new mechanism for fundraising, investor engagement, and cap table transparency,” he noted.Institutions are here for the moneyPlume CEO Yin highlighted the nature of institutional capital, which tends to move in while markets reach a bigger scale in order to make some money.“I think people tend to forget what's going on with institutions and the real world,” Yin said. “So the reason why tokenized assets are interesting to them is because they are looking for an angle to make more money, not to save money, not to do efficiency.”Plume CEO Chris Yin at Token2049 in Dubai. Source: Plume“Nobody cares about that, especially Larry Fink, who runs a $12 trillion asset manager,” Yin said, adding that BlackRock’s money market fund has been successful, but its $2.5 billion assets are tiny given the company’s net assets.Related: Deloitte predicts $4T tokenized real estate on blockchain by 2035With the current modest size of the RWA market, the industry should currently rely more on the native community, Yin said, adding:“There are zero institutions putting money onchain. They are trying to actually suck money out of the ecosystem. Their products try to sell new things to crypto. Not putting money here.”“Yes, RWA tokenization is small today, just like Bitcoin was in 2013,” Stobox’s Shemeliak admitted.However, tokenized assets are “fundamentally institutional from day one” as they provide regulated securities, yield-bearing instruments, and financial contracts that require legal compliance and governance.“Tokenizing RWAs without institutional involvement is like trying to build a stock exchange without regulators, custodians or settlement layers,” he said, adding:“The innovation may start with startups and Web3 protocols, but for serious volume, you need institutions, fund managers, underwriters, legal advisors, and regulated platforms.”Magazine: Ethereum is destroying the competition in the $16.1T TradFi tokenization race

Major European cryptocurrency investment firm 21Shares has filed for a spot Sui exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States, marking another step in its expansion to the US market.21Shares on April 30 submitted the Form S-1 registration for a spot Sui (SUI) ETF to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Called the 21Shares Sui ETF, the proposed ETF will issue common shares of beneficial interest by seeking to track the performance of SUI held by 21Shares’ US subsidiary.The US filing comes a year after 21Shares started trading the 21Shares Sui Staking exchange-traded product in Europe in July 2024, with its first listings on Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam.No ticker or planned exchange yetThe 128-page filing does not specify on which US exchange the new SUI ETF is expected to debut trading. The ETF also doesn’t have a ticker symbol yet.“There is no certainty that there will be liquidity available on the exchange or that the market price will be in line with the NAV [net asset value] or the principal market NAV at any given time,” it states.An excerpt from the S-1 Form for 21Shares Sui ETF. Source: SECThe filing highlighted that the ETF aims to provide exposure to SUI by holding the tokens directly, without utilizing leverage, derivatives or engaging in speculative trading.Canary Capital was the first to file for Sui ETF21Shares is not the first company to file for a Sui ETF in the US. Canary Capital, a US-based crypto investment firm, filed a Form S-1 registration for a spot Sui ETF on March 17.Subsequently, Cboe BZX Exchange asked US regulators for clearance to list Canary’s Sui ETF in early April.Sui-based ETPs have already been trading in Europe, with some of such products including 21Shares Sui staking ETP and VanEck Sui ETP.Related: More than 70 US crypto ETFs await SEC decision this year — BloombergAccording to the latest CoinShares update, Sui-based ETPs had $400 million in assets under management as of April 25.Sui (SUI) ETP products had $400 million in AUM as of April 25, 2025. Source: CoinSharesYear-to-date, Sui ETPs have seen $72 million of inflows, with a fresh $20.7 million coming in just last week.The latest ETF filing by 21Shares is yet another product joining a massive list of crypto ETFs awaiting the SEC’s decision.Source: Eric BalchunasAccording to Bloomberg ETF analysts Eric Balchunas and James Seyffart, there were at least 72 new crypto ETF filings on the SEC’s table as of May 1.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26