Block plans to relaunch a Bitcoin faucet on April 6 via btc.day, reviving the early BTC giveaway model introduced by Gavin Andresen in 2010.

• #bitcoin

Shiba Inu (SHIB) traders are facing a wave of uncertainty as recent technical signals show conflicting momentum in the short term.

It has been another week of uncertain movements for the Bitcoin price, with the global financial markets moving to the whims of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The premier cryptocurrency has struggled to stay afloat after hitting a roadblock at the $69,000 resistance level earlier in the week. The latest on-chain data has […]

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Santiment said Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, USDC, Pippin and Chainlink drew the most trader attention as markets neared the weekend.

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Bitcoin is poised for a reversal if ETF demand returns or a ceasefire occurs, potentially crushing short sellers in a massive price squeeze.

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Prediction markets are expanding into Asia’s largest economies, but unclear legal definitions and strict gambling laws may limit how far they can go.

TLDR: Metaplanet added 5,075 BTC to permanent holdings in Q1 through a structured options income rotation system. The firm generated $18.63 million in options income, reducing its net Bitcoin cost to roughly $76,227 per coin. MicroStrategy acquired 89,599 BTC at $80,929 average, while Metaplanet’s net cost came in nearly $4,700 lower. Metaplanet separates Bitcoin into [...] The post Metaplanet Outperforms MicroStrategy in Q1 Bitcoin Acquisition Using Options-Based Treasury Strategy appeared first on Blockonomi.

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TLDR: LayerZero has integrated 165+ chains and processed over $200B in volume, creating deep operational lock-in for builders. Canton Network processes $8T in monthly RWAs and $350B daily in Treasury repo, with LayerZero as its only live interoperability rail. On-chain data shows coordinated ZRO accumulation between $1.30–$2.00, with sizing patterns inconsistent with typical retail behavior. [...] The post LayerZero, Canton, and Zero Blockchain Are Building the Rails for Institutional Cross-Chain Value appeared first on Blockonomi.

At 8 a.m. Eastern time on April 4, 2026, bitcoin traded at $67,109, with a market cap of $1.32 trillion and a 24-hour volume of $45.26 billion. The session saw price fluctuate between $65,934 and $69,074, reflecting continued volatility within a broader consolidation phase. Key Takeaways: Bitcoin held steady around $67K on April 4, 2026; […]

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Will BTC start to move in the opposite direction of what the crowd expects soon?

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This week in “Deconstruction”: Russia’s mining ban, Google’s quantum calculations, Iranian strikes on Amazon servers, a historic lunar flight and the grim truth about brain–computer interfaces. A five-year mining ban Russia’s government has banned cryptocurrency mining in Buryatia and Zabaikalsky for five years — until spring 2031. Officials cite energy shortages and a bid to stop illegal operators burning subsidised electricity by the hundreds of millions of kilowatt-hours. Matters are compounded by a draft law introducing criminal liability for illegal mining, which could take effect as soon as 1 July. Offenders face fines of up to two million roubles and jail terms of up to five years. Grounds for criminal charges would include major damage to power grids or extracting windfall profits from cryptocurrencies. The rationale for such severity is dire legalisation statistics: of 50,000 miners, only about 3% have entered the tax register. The industry fears registering equipment imported via “grey” channels, as the amnesty promised by the state has yet to be designed. Against this backdrop, the recently approved bill to legalise cryptocurrencies is seen by the community more as a punitive tool. A 10-minute quantum break-in Google researchers said that breaking Bitcoin and Ethereum with a quantum computer would require fewer than 500,000 qubits, 20 times less than earlier forecasts. At that scale, key recovery would take around ten minutes, neatly within the time to produce a Bitcoin block. Industry experts now put at least a 10% chance on such a machine appearing by 2032, urging a swift change of algorithms. Ethereum is even more exposed because of its architecture and data-handling. Once a wallet sends a transaction, its public key remains on-chain forever, making it an ideal target. By Google’s calculations, the thousand largest Ethereum wallets, holding millions of dollars, could be cracked in under nine days. The main advice for Bitcoin holders right now is not to move coins from old wallets unless strictly necessary. The network’s design reveals your vulnerable public key only when you spend; until then only its safe hash is stored. If you simply keep coins at an address without sending, quantum hackers will not reach you. War hits Amazon Escalation in the Middle East has morphed into a global economic shock owing to disrupted logistics in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil flows. Markets are pricing in a real physical shortfall, lifting Brent above $110 and sending war-risk insurance for tankers up by tens of times. A chain reaction follows: costlier petrol in the US, logistics, European gas and all energy‑intensive industries. More alarming is that the war has spilled beyond oil into the world’s digital infrastructure. A strike on Amazon’s computing centre in Bahrain, a key cloud node for the region, has been recorded. That poses a direct risk of large‑scale outages in banking services, air travel and AI operations. For the first time in modern history, physical computing has come under attack as foundational infrastructure on a par with factories. Investors are bracing for a protracted spell of expensive energy and high inflation, complicating life for central banks. A new lunar race begins NASA has successfully launched the historic Artemis II mission, sending the crewed Orion spacecraft to the Moon. It is the first crewed fly-by of Earth’s satellite this decade, using a safe free‑return trajectory powered by lunar gravity. The main goal is to test life-support systems ahead of a full landing, absent for more than half a century. The launch has jolted a renewed global race beyond Earth orbit. China, India and the European Space Agency are now rushing to advance their lunar ambitions. The Moon is seen as a vast industrial site and a staging post for Mars. Beyond mining, proposals include placing gigantic data centres there to exploit space’s cold for natural cooling. That could be a breakthrough for the IT industry, whose servers on Earth are overheating amid the rise of neural networks. Chips boiled a human brain The brain–computer interface industry has moved from fiction to a multibillion-dollar technology race. Elon Musk’s Neuralink is only one player, while dozens of companies such as Synchron and Chinese developers are actively dividing up the market. The technology already works in practice: paralysed people control computers by thought, move prostheses and even compose music. Mass deployment has, however, run into an unexpected biological wall: brain overheating. For fast, powerful interfaces, energy demands are high, and there are no coolers inside a skull. Warming brain tissue by just one degree Celsius locally kills neurons, leaving engineers stumped. A second, global problem is the near-total loss of privacy, even within one’s own head. Algorithms are learning to decode inner speech and visual imagery, creating the risk of direct mind‑reading. To sidestep the hazards of surgery and implant rejection, researchers are now focusing on advanced non‑invasive headsets and wearables. This is a shortened version of the podcast. Watch the full video: Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Deezer Yandex Music YouTube Music

The mechanisms of the lending DeFi protocol Aave version V3 have prevented the formation of bad debts, though this has resulted in significant losses for borrowers. This conclusion was reached by analysts at the Bank of Canada. According to a study, from January 27, 2023, to May 6, 2025, Aave V3 did not record a single case of loan default. This was made possible by the model of over-collateralization and automatic liquidations. Typically, smart contracts close positions before the collateral value falls below the debt amount. This protects lenders from losses. Risk Shifted to Borrowers However, this architecture has a downside. Bank analysts noted that the system effectively shifts risks onto borrowers, who bear the brunt of losses during market downturns. During periods of high volatility, liquidations occur rapidly and often at unfavourable prices. Experts estimate that users in such cases lose an average of 5–10% of the liquidated position amount in fees. Considering the opportunity cost from subsequent price recovery, this figure reaches 10–30%. Moreover, liquidations occur unevenly—in waves, increasing market pressure. About 90% of closed positions involve a set of four tokens, which are “wrapped” versions of Ethereum and Bitcoin. This leads to risk concentration and the protocol's dependence on the dynamics of the two largest crypto-assets. Ethereum dynamics and major liquidation waves on Aave V3. Source: Bank of Canada. Role of Leverage An additional risk factor is the widespread use of so-called recursive lending. This mechanism allows collateral assets to be reused multiple times to increase the loan amount. This form of leverage accounted for more than 20% of the total borrowing volume in 2024. However, leverage increases users' vulnerability when collateral prices fall—the model heightens the system's sensitivity to market shocks and accelerates cascading liquidations. Potential of DeFi Lending Following their analysis of Aave V3, Bank of Canada experts noted that DeFi lending is already capable of operating without intermediaries—smart contracts efficiently allocate liquidity and maintain system stability. “Lending without traditional intermediaries is viable in a technical and operational sense,” they acknowledged. However, the model has several key limitations. Firstly, some capital remains underutilized due to pool fragmentation, reducing overall efficiency. Secondly, over-collateralization makes loans expensive and limits DeFi's application outside the crypto market. The system does not eliminate risks but redistributes them—primarily to borrowers. Analysts consider the lack of clear regulation in the field and traditional lending rules, such as capital requirements, leverage limits, or liquidity thresholds, to be significant issues. In March, developers launched version V4 of the protocol on the Ethereum mainnet.

Mining Bitcoin in 2026 is not what it used to be. The last halving cut block rewards in half, network difficulty keeps climbing, and the electricity costs alone are enough to make most retail investors walk away before they even start. Industrial operations with cheap power and purpose-built facilities have essentially taken over. For the […]

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Dogecoin's breakout is likely as Bollinger Bands hint at a potential uptick.

AVAX price is currently in the neutral zone, showing no major movements. The market is in the consolidation…

Bitcoin traded near $66,800 as Santiment data showed bearish commentary hit its highest level since February 28 in 2026.

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Elon Musk’s X is rolling out a security feature that will automatically lock any account that mentions cryptocurrency for the first time — requiring additional verification before posting resumes — a direct response to a wave of account hijacking campaigns…

The market sentiment surrounding Bitcoin has become extremely bearish as fear returns to the market amid persisting price volatility.

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Really Means President Trump shared upbeat news on Truth Social over Good Friday. He highlighted 186,000 new private sector jobs added in March. The trade deficit also dropped by 52%. He called it “an enormously powerful engine of Economic Growth.” […] The post Trump’s Jobs Rally Faces Bitcoin’s 9-Year Retail Low: Diverging Economic Signals appeared first on Blockmanity.

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Meanwhile, one analyst warned that ETH investors should "expect wicks" this weekend.

The new study reveals that human error, not hacking, is the biggest threat to crypto wealth, with 35% of holders losing access to wallets or accounts. Forgotten passwords, lost seed phrases, and failed 2FA were the main causes, while platform bankruptcies added to losses. The Primary Causes of Asset Loss A new study by Oobit […]

XRPL core developers are working to rebuild the fundamentals of the XRP Ledger repository.

Bitcoin traded near $67,150 as spot volume fell, leverage rose, and exchange reserves dropped, showing a split BTC market stance.

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Chainlink moved 19M LINK in a quarterly unlock, sending 14.375M to Binance as LINK traded near $8.63 while RSI stayed below 50 as of Apr. 4.

The diminishing ceasefire odds highlight escalating regional tensions and skepticism about achieving peace in the near term. The post Ceasefire odds drop as Iran faces attacks, April 7 now at 1.1% YES appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Escalating US-Iran tensions and military actions undermine diplomatic efforts, increasing market volatility and reducing ceasefire prospects. The post Ceasefire odds drop sharply amid escalating US-Iran tensions and military strikes: FT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act’s compromise language on stablecoin yield has circulated among crypto and banking industry stakeholders in closed-door Capitol Hill sessions, with a Senate Banking Committee markup now targeted for the second half of April — though…

The US Bitcoin Spot ETFs are credited as a major bullish driver in the concluding market cycle, for heralding a heavy wave of institutional investment in the premier cryptocurrency. Interestingly, on-chain data shows these funds are transforming into key structural components of the Bitcoin market, moving beyond just investment vehicles. Related Reading: Bitcoin Cannot Rally […]

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A Cardano DRep has defended the Midnight vision as the market eyes a new privacy-driven era.

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The Zcash price is now showing resilience amid a broader privacy coin market slowdown. The current stability is…

Another analyst said the last bitcoin summer of the ongoing cycle is "behind us." Here's what it means.

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Is It Time to for Solana? The Ultimate Crypto Switch Guide Ethereum has been a giant in the crypto world for years. Since it started in 2015, its price has soared over 68,000%. But now, things look different. Ethereum is […] The post Is It Time to Ditch Ethereum for Solana? The Ultimate Crypto Switch Guide appeared first on Blockmanity.

CEVA’s Bold Move: Joining IBM-Maersk to Supercharge The shipping world is full of delays, paperwork, and trust issues. But a new partnership is changing that. CEVA Logistics has teamed up with IBM and Maersk’s platform. This blockchain tool promises to […] The post CEVA’s Bold Move: Joining IBM-Maersk TradeLens to Supercharge Blockchain in Logistics appeared first on Blockmanity.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced Army Chief of Staff General Randy George into immediate retirement on Thursday — the latest in a pattern of senior military dismissals tied to a deepening conflict between Hegseth and uniformed leaders over diversity-linked promotion…

Polymarket removed a market on a missing US service member after backlash, saying the listing failed internal integrity standards on Friday.

TLDR: Binance ETH reserve fell to 3.3M ETH, breaking below both the February and August 2024 historical lows. Bitcoin reserves on Binance declined from 670,000 BTC in early February to 636,000 BTC by early April 2025. USDT reserves on Binance grew from $35 billion on March 12 to $38 billion by April 2, reflecting rising [...] The post Binance ETH Reserve Hits Lowest Level Since 2024 as Stablecoin Balances Surge appeared first on Blockonomi.

Two U.S. military aircraft were shot down in separate incidents during combat operations over Iran on April 3 — an F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 Thunderbolt II — with a search-and-rescue operation still ongoing for one missing crew member…

Leap Wallet will shut down its products by May 28 while users retain asset access through recovery phrases or private keys in other wallets.

President Donald Trump submitted a $1.5 trillion defense spending request for fiscal year 2027 on Friday — the largest military budget proposal in U.S. history, a roughly 40% increase over current funding levels, arriving in the fifth week of the…

TLDR: Leap Wallet will sunset all products, including extensions and mobile apps, on May 28, 2026, across iOS and Android. Users can migrate safely using their recovery phrase, as Leap is non-custodial and assets remain on the blockchain at all times. ATOM delegators staking with Leap’s Cosmos Hub validator must redelegate early due to network [...] The post Leap Wallet to Shut Down All Products on May 28, 2026 appeared first on Blockonomi.

Polymarket cited “integrity standards” for removing the market but did not specify which rule was broken, drawing scrutiny from users who questioned how its policies are applied.

Picture a crypto exchange registered in an EU Member State, operating normally in early April 2026. The registration is valid. The compliance team has July 1 circled in red. The founder believes the situation is under control: there are still 90 days to sort out the licensing. The business is legal today, and the deadline […]

TLDR: Cambodia’s parliament passed its first cybercrime law on April 3, 2026, targeting online scam centres directly. Convictions carry prison terms of up to 10 years and fines reaching $250,000 for gang-related scam operations. Cambodia extradited two high-profile figures to China amid a broader crackdown on senior scam network leaders. Britain sanctioned Cambodia’s largest fraud [...] The post Cambodia Passes First Cybercrime Law to Shut Down Scam Centers for Good appeared first on Blockonomi.

HypurrFi warned users not to access its domain or app after a suspected hijack, saying social channels stay secure for now.

Institutional interest in Bitcoin ETFs grows, but market skepticism and volatility hinder significant price breakthroughs without clear catalysts. The post Bitcoin ETFs see $69.6M inflows in April 2026, but $100K target remains at 0% YES appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Iran's threats and military actions highlight regional tensions, impacting market perceptions of regime stability and geopolitical risks. The post Iran threatens Zionist embassies amid rising regime fall odds to 13.5% by June 30 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's threats and military actions underscore regional instability, impacting global markets and highlighting regime cohesion amid leadership scrutiny. The post Iran threatens to target Zionist embassies amid Operation True Promise 4 footage appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin traded near $67,000 over the weekend as major altcoins stayed flat, while Pi Network’s PI token stabilized above $0.17 this weekend.

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Naoris Protocol has gone live with its quantum-resistant blockchain mainnet, becoming the first Layer 1 network built entirely on post-quantum cryptography approved by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology — a milestone arriving as researchers shorten timelines for…

The escalation risks prolonged instability in the region, impacting global oil markets and complicating diplomatic resolutions. The post Israel escalates conflict with Iran, targeting oil facilities and reducing global flows appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The military escalation significantly diminishes near-term peace prospects, impacting diplomatic efforts and market confidence. The post Ceasefire odds drop sharply amid Israel-Iran military escalation appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

TLDR: Block confirms its Bitcoin faucet launches April 6, allowing users to collect free satoshis online. The original Bitcoin faucet, created in 2010, distributed roughly 19,700 BTC before closing in 2012. Block cut 40% of its workforce to refocus on Bitcoin, using AI-driven workflows to sustain operations. Block’s product line now includes Cash App, Bitkey [...] The post Bitcoin Faucet Revival: Block Confirms April 6 Launch Date appeared first on Blockonomi.

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HASH has lost the most value over the past 24 hours, while VET has re-entered the top 100 alts after a 9% increase.

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The $500 billion valuation would put Tether ahead of every US bank except JPMorgan Chase, surpassing Bank of America and placing it among the world’s largest financial firms.

Bitcoin whales and sharks have locked in $30.9 billion in BTC losses this year, resembling the 2022 bear market, as onchain data points to continued downside risk.

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? In a recent public statement, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon dropped a bombshell on the crypto world. He called crypto tokens, including Bitcoin, “decentralized Ponzi schemes.” This harsh criticism from one of the biggest names in traditional banking […] The post Jamie Dimon’s Explosive Rant: Are Crypto Tokens Like Bitcoin Just ‘Decentralized Ponzi Schemes’? appeared first on Blockmanity.

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Google's quantum research threatens Bitcoin security. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong pledges personal involvement to make BTC quantum-resistant before it's too late. The post Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Pledges Direct Involvement in Bitcoin’s Quantum Defense Strategy appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has publicly accused Circle of failing to freeze stolen USDC as it moved through the company’s own cross-chain infrastructure during the $285 million Drift Protocol exploit on April 1, 2026 — raising pointed questions about when and…

The crypto market is yet to have an altcoin season the likes of what was seen back in 2021, despite the Bitcoin price hitting new all-time highs over the last two years. This has alluded to the fact that the Bitcoin dominance over the market remains very high, thus not leaving any room for altcoins […]

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The pushback highlights growing tensions between traditional banks and crypto firms, potentially impacting regulatory frameworks and consumer safety. The post Banking group pushes back on Coinbase trust charter approval over consumer risks appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

JPMorgan has observed a sharp decline in capital inflows into crypto assets in the first quarter of 2026, contrary to earlier growth expectations. This was reported by The Block. According to estimates by the bank's analysts, led by Managing Director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, total flows into digital assets over the three-month period amounted to approximately $11 billion. This is about three times less than the figure for the same period last year. If the current trend continues, the inflows for the full 12 months will amount to around $44 billion, significantly lower than the ~$130 billion in 2025. Source: The Block. Shift in Demand Structure and Miner Pressure The main volume of inflow in the first quarter was driven by corporate purchases of bitcoin and venture investments. Meanwhile, activity in the DAT segment was mixed. While a small group of players led by Strategy continued to increase positions, some smaller companies sold their assets to meet obligations and buy back shares. Analysts noted that the market is increasingly dependent on a limited number of large participants, rather than broad demand from institutional and retail investors. Additional signs of cooling during the first quarter included: outflows from spot ETFs based on bitcoin and Ethereum; reduced positions in CME futures; institutional demand turning negative. However, analysts noted a partial recovery of inflows into exchange-traded BTC funds in March. A significant factor pressuring capital inflows into cryptocurrencies was that mining companies were net sellers of bitcoin in the first quarter. JPMorgan explained this by the tightening of financing conditions for cryptocurrency miners and the need to maintain liquidity. In some cases, asset sales were related to diversification costs into AI services. The volume of venture financing in the first quarter remained high, with growth rates surpassing those of the previous two years. However, the number of deals and participants decreased, with investor interest focusing on fewer large rounds, bank specialists noted. In March, retail bitcoin investor activity dropped to its lowest since 2017, reported an analyst under the pseudonym Darkfost.

A fraudulent social media account falsely announced the death of Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise, while soliciting crypto donations, fooling major outlets. The post 194-Year-Old Jonathan the Tortoise Becomes Target of Elaborate Cryptocurrency Scam appeared first on Blockonomi.

Tether may delay fundraising if investor demand falls short of its reported $500 billion valuation target, according to Friday press report.

The platform is expected to launch in Q2 this year.

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Charles Schwab has confirmed it remains on track to launch direct spot trading for Bitcoin and Ether in the first half of 2026, opening one of the largest pools of investor capital in the world to direct crypto access for…

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Cambodia’s Senate approved a bill imposing prison terms and fines for crypto scam crimes, pending the king’s approval before it becomes law.

Elon Musk is requiring banks, law firms, and auditors competing for roles on SpaceX’s upcoming IPO to purchase subscriptions to Grok, his artificial intelligence chatbot — a mandate the New York Times reported Friday that some Wall Street firms have…

XRP price sits at $1.31 with massive spot buying versus short positions. Record network activity and a descending wedge pattern signal potential breakout. The post XRP Faces Tug-of-War: $451M Spot Buying Counters Massive Short Positions appeared first on Blockonomi.

Ethereum (ETH) holds at $2,050 as the Foundation stakes 69,500 ETH and ETF outflows reach $42M. Technical analysis shows critical support levels ahead. The post Ethereum (ETH) Weathers $1B Selloff as Foundation Nears Staking Milestone appeared first on Blockonomi.

Kalshi hired Stephanie Cutter as policy adviser as lawsuits, CFTC disputes, and congressional scrutiny around prediction markets continued.

SpaceX has submitted a confidential draft registration to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation and a raise of up to $75 billion — what would be the largest initial public offering in financial history. The…

Circle faces backlash after declining to freeze $285M stolen in Drift hack. ZachXBT alleges Circle ignored $420M in illicit USDC across 15 cases since 2022. The post Why Circle Refused to Freeze $285M in Stolen USDC During the Drift Protocol Hack appeared first on Blockonomi.

Charles Schwab is launching direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for its 46 million clients in H1 2026 through new Schwab Crypto accounts. Waitlist now open. The post Schwab’s 46 Million Clients to Gain Direct Bitcoin Access in 2026 appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Google’s whitepaper warns that quantum computers may break current cryptography by 2029. Computer scientist Guy Zyskind says post‑quantum cryptography—particularly lattice‑based schemes and encrypted mempools—is essential to secure blockchains. Reframing the 10-Year Migration Window The recently released Google whitepaper on the quantum threat has ignited intense debate over the technical justifications that led authors to aggressively […]

Bitcoin trades at $66,800 with analysts divided on direction. ETF outflows continue as BTC consolidates in tight range. Is the bottom in or more pain ahead? The post Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis: Experts Split on Whether Bottom Is In or More Pain Ahead appeared first on Blockonomi.

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ZachXBT says Circle failed to freeze $420M in illicit USDC since 2022, citing 15 hack and fraud cases and delayed action.

Taiwanese authorities have approved a new draft of their crucial crypto legislation, introducing severe penalties for unlicensed or fraudulent activities related to stablecoins and other digital assets. Related Reading: Coinbase Secures Conditional OCC Approval For National Trust Charter – Details Taiwan Approves $6M Fines To Combat Crypto Fraud On Friday, local news outlets reported that […]

The longer Bitcoin's price stays flat, the bigger the move up could eventually be, according to a crypto analyst.

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Here are the week’s key cybersecurity developments. Spied, swapped crypto addresses and taunted victims: a prankish trojan found in Russia. C2 addresses for crypto-stealing malware found on Spotify and Chess.com. Hacker charged over $53m theft from the Uranium exchange. Researchers found an updated seed-phrase stealer for Apple and Android. Spied, swapped crypto addresses and taunted victims: prank trojan uncovered in Russia Researchers at Kaspersky Lab identified an active campaign in Russia spreading a new trojan. CrystalX is marketed under a CaaS model via ads on the social platforms Telegram and YouTube. The software acts as both a spy and a stealer, enabling the following: steal browser credentials as well as Steam, Discord and Telegram accounts; silently replace crypto-wallet addresses in the clipboard; covertly record audio and video from the screen and webcam. Its distinguishing feature is real-time mockery of the user. The panel includes a dedicated Rofl section with commands to: download an image from a specified URL and set it as the desktop background; rotate the display by 90°, 180° or 270°; shut down the OS via shutdown.exe; swap left- and right-mouse-button functions; turn off the monitor and lock input; make the cursor jitter at short intervals; hide all desktop icons and disable the taskbar, Task Manager and cmd.exe. The attacker can also send a message to the victim, opening a dialog box for two-way chat. Source: Kaspersky Lab. As Leonid Bezvershenko, a senior Kaspersky GReAT expert, said in a comment to “Kod Durova”, the malware is under active development and support by its creators. He expects victim numbers to rise as the campaign’s geography widens. Experts advise downloading apps only from official stores, installing a reputable antivirus, and enabling file-extension display in Windows to avoid accidentally launching .EXE, .VBS or .SCR files. C2 addresses for crypto-stealing malware found on Spotify and Chess.com Researchers at Solar 4RAYS found that hackers hide the controlling servers for the MaskGram stealer in Spotify and Chess.com profiles.  MaskGram targets the theft of accounts and cryptocurrencies and can fetch additional modules. The malware collects data about the system, running processes and installed applications, and takes screenshots. It harvests information from Chromium-based browsers, crypto wallets, email clients, messengers and VPN apps. Attackers distribute the software via social engineering, posing as cracked versions of paid tools for mass checking of logins and passwords against leaked databases, such as Netflix Hunter Combo Tool, Steam Combo Extractor and Deezer Checker. According to experts, the malware uses the “dead drop” technique, or Dead Drop Resolver (DDR), which allows operators to store C2 information on public services and rotate it quickly. An infected machine reaches out not to a suspicious IP but to Spotify or Chess.com, mimicking ordinary user activity. The “about” field in a Chess.com user profile. Source: Solar 4RAYS. Each platform uses its own markers. For Chess.com, for example, it is the user profile’s about field. The extracted string is decoded into the server domain. In March, Aikido specialists documented the use of the dead-drop technique by the GlassWorm stealer in crypto transactions on the Solana blockchain. Hacker charged over $53m theft from Uranium crypto exchange  US prosecutors charged Jonathan Spalletta with stealing more than $53m from the Uranium Finance crypto exchange and laundering the proceeds. In April 2021, Spalletta (also known as Cthulhon) hacked the BNB Chain-based Uranium decentralized exchange (DEX). The shortfall forced the company to shut down. In February 2025, during a search, law enforcement seized valuables from the suspect’s home and restored access to cryptocurrency worth around $31m. According to authorities, Spalletta laundered the stolen assets through DEXs and the mixer Tornado Cash. He spent the proceeds on collectibles: a Magic: The Gathering “Black Lotus” card — ~$500,000; 18 sealed Alpha Edition Magic: The Gathering boosters — ~$1.5m; a complete first-edition Pokémon base set — ~$750,000; an ancient Roman coin minted to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar — over $601,000. He faces up to ten years in prison on computer-fraud charges and up to 20 years if convicted of money laundering. Researchers find updated seed-phrase stealer targeting Apple and Android Kaspersky Lab researchers found a new variant of the SparkCat cryptocurrency-stealing malware in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, The Hacker News reports. The stealer masquerades as innocuous apps such as corporate messengers and food-delivery services. In the background it scans victims’ photo galleries for crypto-wallet seed phrases. Experts analyzed two tainted apps in the App Store and one in Google Play. They are aimed mainly at crypto users in Asia: iOS variant. Scans crypto-wallet mnemonic phrases in English. This approach makes the iOS version potentially more dangerous globally, as it can affect users regardless of region; Android variant. The updated version adds several layers of code obfuscation compared with earlier builds. It uses code virtualization and cross-platform programming languages to evade analysis. It also looks for keywords in Japanese, Korean and Chinese, underscoring a focus on Asia. Experts believe a Chinese- or Russian-speaking operator is involved. The threat is actively evolving, and those behind it have strong technical skills. European Commission confirms data breach after ShinyHunters attack The European Commission (EC) confirmed a data leak following a cyberattack on the Europa.eu web platform, for which the ShinyHunters extortionists claimed responsibility. The EC said the incident did not disrupt the portal’s operations and was contained. Although the Commission provided no details, the attackers told BleepingComputer they had stolen more than 350GB of data, including several databases. They did not reveal how they compromised AWS accounts but shared screenshots indicating access to some EC staff accounts. The group also posted on its dark-web leak site, claiming more than 90GB of files were taken: mail-server dumps; databases; confidential documents and contracts; other sensitive materials. Source: BleepingComputer.  Also on ForkLog: Solana project Drift Protocol lost $280m. CertiK warned of cryptocurrency-theft risks via OpenClaw. What to read this weekend? Drawing on research teams’ data, corporate reports and the state of play, ForkLog examines how brain–computer interface technologies are evolving.

XRP monthly chart reveals a six-month bearish streak. With the lower Bollinger Band sitting at $0.6161, a 50% correction looms if the $1.30 support fails.

On-chain detective ZachXBT has criticized Circle for its unacceptably slow response to numerous cases of illegal activities involving the stablecoin USDC. 1/ Welcome to the Circle $USDC files.$420M+ in alleged compliance failures since 2022, including fifteen cases of the US-regulated stablecoin issuer taking minimal action against illicit funds. pic.twitter.com/OiWZz5MrVM— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 3, 2026 According to the analyst, the issue involves more than $420 million linked to suspicious or illegal transactions that were not promptly blocked. ZachXBT claims that the stablecoin issuer does not always promptly use the asset freezing mechanism, despite having the technical capability to intervene at the smart contract level. The researcher has compiled 15 such cases since 2022, including the recent hack of the DeFi project Drift Protocol involving $280 million. "The attacker used the CCTP protocol to transfer approximately 232 million USDC from Solana to Ethereum in over 100 transactions over six consecutive hours," noted ZachXBT. The hacker was able to launder funds through Circle's native cross-chain bridge without any USDC being frozen, he emphasized. According to findings by Diverg, TRM Labs, and Elliptic, the attack was attributed to the North Korean group Lazarus. ZachXBT's list includes several incidents to which the stablecoin issuer simply did not respond. For instance, in August 2022, the company had 30-45 minutes to freeze $45 million withdrawn from Nomad Bridge. In January 2026, perpetrators moved $13 million stolen from SwapNet over several hours. Circle ignored requests from on-chain researchers. "On May 22, 2025, the Cetus protocol was hacked for $223 million. The attacker used CCTP to transfer 61 million USDC from Sui to Ethereum in over 60 transactions within an hour and a half," wrote ZachXBT. Despite requests from the Cetus team and private experts to freeze the assets, Circle blacklisted the address only a month after the funds had been converted to ETH, the expert noted. "Circle builds good products, and I myself hold USDC. This post is not about hoping they fail. But the compliance decisions they have made have had serious consequences for real people," concluded ZachXBT. Back in March, ZachXBT accused Circle of mistakenly freezing 16 wallets as part of a civil lawsuit in the United States.

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On-chain investigator ZachXBT has published a new report, titled “The Circle USDC Files,” alleging more than $420 million in compliance failures tied to the company’s USDC stablecoin since 2022.  The analysis, released on social media platform X on Friday, chronicles multiple high‑profile decentralized finance (DeFi) exploits in which Circle allegedly failed to use its on‑chain […]

On-chain data shows the Exchange Inflow indicator has shot up for USDC, something that could be relevant for Bitcoin and other digital assets. USDC Exchange Inflow Has Hit The Highest Level In Months As highlighted by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn in a new post on X, the Exchange Inflow recently observed a surge for Circle’s […]

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The increased odds highlight geopolitical tensions and market skepticism, underscoring the complexity of predicting regime stability. The post Odds of Iranian regime falling by June 30 rise to 13.5% amid US-Israeli air campaign appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The increased odds reflect heightened geopolitical tensions, suggesting potential instability but not an immediate regime change. The post Odds of Iranian regime falling by June 30 rise to 14% amid military escalation appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Nous Research’s Hermes Agent has cracked the one flaw Openclaw users complain about most: the artificial intelligence (AI) that forgets you exist by morning. Nous Research Hermes Agent: Open-Source AI With Built-In Self-Improvement Loop The MIT-licensed framework launched in February 2026 and collected 22,000 GitHub stars and 242 contributors within weeks. That pace reflects a […]

Can XRP indeed stage a triple- or quadruple-digit surge in the following 12-15 months?

Investor caution amid geopolitical tensions suggests a shift in capital allocation, impacting market sentiment and Bitcoin's price outlook. The post Bitcoin ETFs see $8.9M inflow as Ethereum leads with $71.1M on April 4: FT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Geopolitical tensions and regulatory uncertainties may hinder Bitcoin's growth, requiring significant catalysts for substantial price increases. The post Bitcoin ETFs see $8.9M inflows amid cautious market sentiment: FT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Rising EU-US trade tensions could disrupt global markets, impacting economic stability and international trade relations significantly. The post EU tariffs on US goods by September 30 loom as Trump escalates trade tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Skepticism about Iranian regime change highlights the regime's resilience and the complexities of geopolitical shifts in volatile regions. The post Market odds for Iranian regime change by June 30 drop to 13.5% as skepticism grows: FT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The explosions highlight escalating tensions that could destabilize Iran, but market skepticism suggests limited belief in imminent regime change. The post Explosions in Tehran boost odds of Iranian regime falling by June 30 to 14% YES appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Increased tensions in Tehran highlight potential for significant geopolitical shifts, impacting regional stability and global market dynamics. The post Explosions in Tehran raise odds of regime change to 14% by June 30 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The entrenched power structures in Iran suggest a stable regime, complicating external efforts for change and impacting market confidence. The post Odds of Iranian regime change by June 30 drop to 13.5% from 20% a week ago appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tokyo-listed investment firm Metaplanet generated close to $19 million in operating revenue during the first quarter of 2026 from a Bitcoin options strategy that runs separately from its main treasury — and that money is being funneled back into buying more of the cryptocurrency. Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Be Taiwan’s Lifeline In Conflict, Think Tank […]

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The Ethereum Foundation is making a noticeable shift in how it manages its ETH holdings, and the market is paying attention. According to on-chain data tracked by Arkham, the Foundation has staked an additional $46.64 million worth of ETH, bringing its total staked position to around $96.59 million. At first glance, it looks like just another treasury move. But when you zoom out a bit, it starts to look like something bigger, a change in direction. For years, one of the recurring concerns around the Foundation has been its periodic ETH sales to fund operations. Those sales, while understandable, often The post Ethereum Foundation Shifts Strategy Toward Staking, Which Signals Stronger Long-Term Confidence appeared first on The Merkle News.

A new report from on-chain investigator ZachXBT is putting Circle under intense scrutiny, alleging more than $420 million in compliance failures tied to its flagship stablecoin, USDC, since 2022. Dubbed the “Circle USDC files,” the report outlines a pattern of delayed or absent intervention in cases involving hacked or illicit funds. While other stablecoin issuers acted swiftly to freeze assets in similar scenarios, Circle is accused of repeatedly failing to act in time, even when given clear signals or direct requests from law enforcement and private investigators. 1/ Welcome to the Circle $USDC files. $420M+ in alleged compliance failures since The post Circle’s $420M Compliance Gap Exposed As USDC Freeze Failures Raise Industry Concerns appeared first on The Merkle News.