BNB price rebounded from its recent drop to an intraday high of $636 on Tuesday amid a broader market recovery. According to data from crypto.news, BNB (BNB) price rose over 2% on Tuesday to $636, bringing its market cap to…

The IRGC's increased control suggests a more entrenched regime, reducing the likelihood of significant political change in Iran. The post Iran’s Revolutionary Guard sidelines president, strengthens regime control appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The popular fund manager believes that most investors are clueless, which could be the catalyst for serious monetary losses.

• #bitcoin

MARISKS warned that scammers posed as Iranian authorities and demanded bitcoin or USDT from ships stranded near the Strait of Hormuz.

Hours after the Arbitrum Security Council froze 30,766 ether tied to the KelpDAO exploit, the attacker moved all 75,701 ETH, roughly $175 million, to the Ethereum mainnet and began bridging the funds to bitcoin. Key Takeaways: After Arbitrum froze 30,766 ETH ($71M), the KelpDAO exploiter moved 75,701 ETH ($175M) to the Ethereum mainnet. Peckshield confirmed […]

• #bitcoin

The absence of Iran's delegation may delay US-Iran talks, impacting diplomatic relations and market speculation on potential agreements. The post Iranian delegation absence in Islamabad clouds US-Iran peace talks timeline appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The uncertainty of Iran's participation in peace talks highlights the fragile nature of diplomatic negotiations and market volatility. The post Iran’s participation in US peace talks uncertain, impacting April 22 contract appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The large-scale deleveraging highlights potential vulnerabilities in Ethereum's market resilience, despite current trader confidence. The post $140M aETHWETH moved on Ethereum, market stability questioned appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The potential diplomatic freeze could heighten regional tensions and impact global markets, pending official confirmations or mediator actions. The post Iranian MP declares US-Iran talks “off the table,” signaling potential freeze appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

TLDR: Starknet v0.14.2 introduces SNIP-36, enabling native in-protocol STARK proof verification on mainnet. STRK20 allows any ERC-20 token on Starknet to operate with encrypted balances and shielded transfers. strkBTC lets bitcoin holders access DeFi on Starknet without exposing their full wallet transaction history. SNIP-37 rebalances network economics by raising storage costs while lowering base L2 [...] The post Starknet v0.14.2 Brings Native Privacy Infrastructure to Mainnet appeared first on Blockonomi.

Building on its US success, crypto exchange Coinbase has rolled out crypto-backed USDC loans for UK residents, using Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as collateral. This expands the exchange’s growing suite of financial services in the region. Related Reading: Ripple CTO Emeritus Warns RLUSD Review Exposed A DeFi Security Red Flag Crypto-Backed Loans Cross The […]

Stalled US-Iran talks risk escalating tensions, impacting global oil markets and regional stability, with potential diplomatic shifts crucial. The post US-Iran talks stall over uranium, Hormuz access, $20B sanctions relief appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The operation's intensity may escalate geopolitical tensions, potentially involving more countries and impacting global markets. The post Mossad agent killed in joint US-Israel operation targeting Iran appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Heightened geopolitical tensions could lead to prolonged oil supply disruptions, impacting global markets and economic stability. The post Oil prices surge 6% after US seizes Iranian ship near Hormuz appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The UK's strategy to attract expats highlights shifting geopolitical dynamics and potential economic impacts on the UAE's stability. The post UK aims to attract expats from UAE amid Iranian strikes on Dubai appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The call for US-Iran talks in Islamabad highlights potential shifts in diplomatic strategies, impacting geopolitical stability and market dynamics. The post German minister urges US-Iran talks in Islamabad to ease tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin's rise amid geopolitical tensions highlights its potential as a hedge against traditional market risks, attracting diverse investors. The post Bitcoin surges to $76,000 amid Iran-US negotiation tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

• #bitcoin

Solana's scalability and stablecoin lending are reshaping the DeFi landscape amid rising investor demand for yields. The post Marius Ciubotariu: Investor appetite is driving demand for higher yields in DeFi, Solana’s architecture supports scalability, and the shift towards stablecoin-based lending is reshaping the landscape | Bell Curve appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Promoters of flagged platforms may face fines of up to 5 million Philippine pesos ($89,000) or up to 21 years in prison under Philippine securities law.

The potential US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad could significantly reduce geopolitical tensions and foster regional stability. The post US-Iran peace talks likely in Islamabad as US delegation visits Pakistan appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

BOJ's steady rate signals caution amid uncertain economic data and geopolitical tensions, impacting future monetary policy expectations. The post Bank of Japan to hold rate next week: Nikkei appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple has unveiled a multi-phase roadmap to prepare the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for a post-quantum future, aiming to achieve full readiness by 2028.  The announcement comes as advances in quantum computing raise concerns that the cryptography used by many blockchains today could eventually be undermined—potentially putting long-term users and high-value accounts at risk. XRPL Faces […]

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree to establish the Besqala Mining Valley, a special zone for cryptocurrency mining, in Karakalpakstan. The project encompasses the entire territory of the republic. The initiative aims to develop mining based on "green" energy and attract investment to the region. Participants are permitted to use the general power grid and alternative sources, including hydrogen stations. Excess heat from the farms can be redirected by residents to heat greenhouses. Miners have been granted the right to sell cryptocurrency on local and foreign exchanges or through direct transactions. Revenue can be credited to accounts in Uzbek banks. Until January 1, 2035, the income of Besqala Mining Valley participants is exempt from taxes. Instead, residents will pay a monthly fee of 1% of revenue to the zone's administration. The electricity tariff for miners is set at 1800 soms per kWh (a double coefficient for Group II consumers). Exceptions are provided for projects with investments exceeding $100 million. Only companies registered in Karakalpakstan can become residents. Applicants must have suitable premises and functional electrical networks. Leaders and founders are prohibited from having convictions for economic crimes. To commence operations, a legal entity must obtain resident status and permission from the National Agency for Perspective Projects. Earlier in January, Uzbekistan introduced a special legal regime under which stablecoins became an official means of payment.

Programming code is a form of free speech that should be protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to Peter Van Valkenburgh and Lisandro Piper of Coin Center. Big new Coin Center report on the First Amendment.Highly recommend reading if you, for example, happen to work at the SDNY and find yourself up at night wondering if the Supreme Court treats "functional" software as less worthy of strict constitutional protections.Spoiler, it… https://t.co/wxlD7SXTEx— Peter Van Valkenburgh (@valkenburgh) April 20, 2026 "Developers are authors and inventors, not agents, custodians, or fiduciaries. Requiring them to register or obtain licenses in advance ignores the historical logic of financial oversight and imposes a classic prior restraint on activities that are essentially self-expression. This is unconstitutional," they stated. According to the experts, writing and publishing code is no different from writing a book or publishing a recipe. The First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, essentially provides strict constitutional protection for developers who merely publish and maintain software. When a Developer Becomes an Intermediary Van Valkenburgh and Piper stated that their report aims to help courts and regulatory bodies distinguish between the publication of code and the professional activities of a software creator. A developer falls under regulation when they control user assets, conduct transactions on their behalf, or make decisions for them. "Lower courts confuse execution with expression, which undermines the First Amendment protection of code," noted Coin Center specialists. They added that some judges consider code closer to execution than expression because it can be run to achieve real-world results. However, the experts insist that such activity is pure self-expression. They argue that this is confirmed by U.S. Supreme Court practice, despite errors by lower courts. Van Valkenburgh and Piper referred to the 1985 case of Lowe v. SEC. The high court then ruled that a publisher who does not hold client funds or conduct transactions on their behalf is protected by free speech, is not considered a professional market participant, and is not subject to corresponding regulation. Programmers Should Not Be Scapegoats Cryptocurrency protocols have eliminated some traditional intermediaries. With self-custody and P2P transfers, there is no need for a central authority to control transactions. Traditional financial structures acting on behalf of users are subject to state regulation and must obtain licenses. According to Van Valkenburgh and Piper, the complexity of regulating new technologies does not justify attempts to make software developers intermediaries "for convenience." "Blockchain-based projects do not require the invention of new legal doctrines or exceptions. They require the good faith application of established First Amendment principles to a new technological context," they added. In the computer age, where software is the main means of expressing ideas and organizing economic life, "these principles are more important than ever." Writing and publishing code is speech that cannot be silenced by licensing in a free society, Coin Center experts concluded. Context Crypto developers have been seeking legal protection from criminal prosecution for the code they write for several years. In 2025, a court issued guilty verdicts to several programmers based on how third parties used their software. A notable example is the trial of one of the founders of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash, Roman Storm. Authorities found him guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business. Many experts disagreed with the decision. Samson Enzer, a partner at the law firm CahillNXT, stated that the government lacks evidence to prove Storm's intentional assistance to criminals. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin also spoke in his defense. The defense seeks to dismiss the case, citing the Supreme Court's decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment. Lawyers argue that Storm had no intention of participating in the crimes he is accused of. In August, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's criminal division, Matthew Galeotti, announced that the department would stop prosecuting DeFi application developers under the statute for operating an unlicensed money transmission business. However, Van Valkenburgh noted that the official's words do not carry binding legal force.

TLDR: Dragonfly Managing Partner Haseeb Qureshi says Aave holds sufficient capital to absorb any bad debt it may face.  DeFi has survived major crises including Terra’s collapse, the 2022 stETH depeg, and 2020 liquidation failures.  Qureshi compares DeFi’s recovery process to how traditional finance evolved through historical banking crises.  Active governance debates within DeFi communities [...] The post Dragonfly’s Haseeb Qureshi: Aave Has the Capital to Absorb Bad Debt Amid DeFi Risk Concerns appeared first on Blockonomi.

Apple named John Ternus CEO effective Sept. 1, 2026, while Tim Cook will move to executive chairman after summer.

Reabold Resources is considering a plan to use gas from its Yorkshire site to power a small Bitcoin mining operation. However, the company says it is more of an early-stage test rather than a pivot away from energy production. According…

• #bitcoin

The collaboration between 0G Foundation and Alibaba Cloud marks a significant shift in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, enabling autonomous AI agents to access the Qwen large language model family directly onchain. Key Takeaways: 0G Foundation and Alibaba Cloud launched onchain access to Qwen LLMs for AI agents on April 21, 2026. The move shifts AI […]

Vance's leadership in US-Iran talks may prevent conflict, but uncertainty and skepticism persist, impacting market confidence and peace prospects. The post Vance to lead US-Iran talks in Islamabad as ceasefire deadline looms appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The BoJ's warning highlights potential volatility in global markets, underscoring the fragility of financial systems amid thin liquidity. The post Bank of Japan warns of hedge fund risks to bond market stability appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The expiration of the US-Iran ceasefire without new talks raises the risk of conflict escalation and impacts related markets significantly. The post US-Iran ceasefire expires today with no new talks scheduled appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The incident underscores regional maritime tensions, potentially affecting oil trade dynamics and challenging US enforcement strategies. The post Iranian tanker enters territorial waters amid US naval warnings appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The EU's measures could influence global energy markets, potentially affecting economic policies and geopolitical stability in Europe. The post EU prepares measures to limit Iran war’s impact on aircraft fuel supplies appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Exploitive cobalt mining in the DRC reveals ethical challenges within the global clean energy supply chain. The post Nicolas Niarchos: Cobalt mining in the DRC resembles modern-day slavery, Chinese companies dominate the supply chain, and ethical sourcing is crucial for clean energy | Jordan Harbinger appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple routes 75 million XRP worth $108 million to Coinbase amid surge in spot ETF inflows. Is this a 'North Star' exit or a liquidity play for ODL corridors?

The United States National Security Agency (NSA) is employing the much-discussed Mythos model from Anthropic, despite the startup's conflict with the Pentagon. This was reported by Axios, citing sources. Previously, disagreements arose between Anthropic and the Pentagon due to the company's reluctance to allow the use of AI models for mass surveillance of U.S. citizens and the development of autonomous weapons. Consequently, President Donald Trump instructed all federal agencies to completely cease using the AI firm's technologies within six months. In April, Anthropic developed a new model, Claude Mythos, but refrained from releasing it publicly due to high security risks. During several weeks of testing, the neural network identified thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers. Instead of a public release, the company launched Project Glasswing—an initiative involving AWS, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, and others to test the tool in secure environments. Axios discovered that the NSA is among the undisclosed recipients of the technology. It is unknown how the agency utilizes the startup's artificial intelligence, but others use it to scan their own environments for vulnerabilities. “Currently, the military is expanding the use of Anthropic's tools while simultaneously claiming in court that their application threatens U.S. national security,” the journalists noted. Relations between Anthropic and the authorities seem to have warmed. On April 18, the company's CEO, Dario Amodei, discussed potential collaboration opportunities with administration representatives. The meeting was attended by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Earlier in April, Anthropic released an environment for running complex and long-term agent tasks—Claude Managed Agents.

Starlink's rapid revenue growth boosts SpaceX's IPO prospects, but investor concerns over Musk's control could impact market reception. The post SpaceX IPO filing reveals Starlink revenue soared 842% to $4.4B in two years appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

GLP-1 medicines are set to revolutionize public health with over $100 billion in annual revenue potential. The post Alex Karnal: GLP-1 medicines could exceed $100 billion in revenue, a trillion-dollar public health revolution is imminent, and managing glucose levels is key to reducing cardiovascular risks | Invest Like the Best appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Oil prices dropped Tuesday as Iran agreed to send representatives to US talks in Pakistan, though the ceasefire expires Wednesday and Hormuz remains blocked. The post Crude Prices Dip as Tehran Confirms Delegation for Pakistan Peace Talks appeared first on Blockonomi.

Micron (MU) stock has surged 500% in a year. Analysts set $600 targets as HBM demand soars, Q3 revenue guidance reaches $33.5B, and 2026 supply sells out. The post Micron (MU) Stock Soars 500% in 12 Months — Analysts See More Gains Ahead appeared first on Blockonomi.

Alibaba's AI model release disrupts market confidence, prompting traders to reassess Anthropic's top-three ranking prospects by April 2026. The post Alibaba’s Qwen 3.6-Max-Preview challenges Anthropic’s top-three AI ranking appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ternus's leadership will be pivotal in navigating Apple's supply chain challenges amid US-China tensions, impacting future market dynamics. The post John Ternus named Apple CEO, Polymarket contract resolved appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The conflict exacerbates global energy instability, heightening economic vulnerabilities and complicating diplomatic resolutions. The post US-Israel war on Iran triggers worst-ever energy crisis: IEA appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

New Bank of Korea governor Shin Hyun-song supported CBDCs and deposit tokens in his first address, while stablecoins were notably absent from his remarks.

Memecoin hype is always fun, until big players join and (most of the times) ruin it.

Twelve European banks chose Fireblocks for a MiCA-compliant euro stablecoin targeting launch in the second half of 2026.

Most of the top 100 cryptocurrencies have charted some gains over the last day, yet Pi Network (PI) is once again among the losers.

• #bitcoin

The Supreme Court's decision may ease U.S.-China tensions, reduce EU trade conflicts, and influence global economic strategies. The post US Supreme Court ends tariffs, triggering $166B refund process in 2026 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz highlights global energy vulnerability, potentially triggering economic instability and geopolitical tensions. The post Iran war closes Strait of Hormuz, disrupting 12M barrels per day appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The Signal leak undermines diplomatic efforts, increasing uncertainty and reducing the likelihood of a US-Iran ceasefire extension. The post Mike Waltz’s Signal use raises doubts on US-Iran ceasefire extension appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

A 12-bank European consortium led by Qivalis is partnering with Fireblocks to develop a regulated euro stablecoin under MiCA, targeting launch in the second half of 2026.

STRC's dropped below its $100 par value, indicating that Strategy will likely pause Bitcoin buying this week, which could help the bears pull price down to $70,000.

• #bitcoin

The first cryptocurrency is expected to reach a new all-time high within 12 months. Michaël van de Poppe, founder of MN Trading, noted that after deep corrections, the asset's price typically increases by 30-60% over six months. Statistically, after such a correction of #Bitcoin, a new ATH is made within 12 months. Within 3-6 months, on every occasion of such an outlier, Bitcoin was trading 30-60% higher than the low.That would put $100K on the map in Q3 of 2026.— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) April 20, 2026 According to him, if this trend continues, the rate will reach $100,000 in the third quarter of 2026. At the time of writing, digital gold is trading at $76,256 (+1.3% for the day). Hourly chart of BTC/USDT on Binance. Source: TradingView. Dynamics of Profitable and Unprofitable Bitcoin Addresses Joao Wedson, founder of the analytical platform Alphractal, observed an unusual dynamic in profitable and unprofitable bitcoin assets. Supply in Profit vs. Supply in Loss in Bitcoin shows an incredible dynamic.1. In each cycle, Supply in Profit tends to be higher, indicating that being a Long-Term Holder has been a good strategy. There is also a mysterious trendline here.2. Supply in Loss shows that since… pic.twitter.com/C2y6hh7ifo— Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) April 20, 2026 The data shows that in each new cycle, the volume of "profitable" supply increases. According to the expert, this confirms the effectiveness of a long-term holding strategy for cryptocurrency. Wedson also noted a persistent trendline on the chart, which he described as "mysterious." Meanwhile, the volume of assets in loss is steadily decreasing. This trend began after the market downturn in 2018. With each cycle, the share of coins purchased at higher prices diminishes. The analyst emphasized that no other global asset demonstrates such symmetrical and consistent behavior. In his view, this supply structure makes bitcoin a unique financial instrument. At the same time, Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, recorded a sharp inflow of bitcoins to exchanges. Bitcoin exchange inflows have spiked in the last few hours.Most of that went to Coinbase. pic.twitter.com/70Mq007qb7— Julio Moreno (@jjcmoreno) April 20, 2026 The majority of the coins were sent to the Coinbase platform. An increase in exchange deposits is often associated with investors preparing to sell coins. On April 20, the price of the first cryptocurrency held at $75,000 following the breakdown of the truce between the US and Iran.

• #bitcoin

Amazon (AMZN) stock jumped 2.7% after revealing a $25B investment in Anthropic, securing a $100B AWS commitment over 10 years in a landmark AI deal. The post Amazon (AMZN) Stock Surges on Massive $125B Anthropic AI Deal appeared first on Blockonomi.

Bitcoin price reclaimed the $76,000 mark on Tuesday as investors await confirmation of a potential peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin (BTC) price rose 2% to an intraday high of $76,483 on Tuesday…

• #bitcoin

The incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in DeFi platforms, suggesting a need for enhanced security measures to prevent future exploits. The post KelpDAO hacker moves $175M after Arbitrum freezes $71M linked to $292M exploit appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Netanyahu's claim may signal political posturing, impacting market perceptions of regional stability and future US-Iran relations. The post Netanyahu claims Israel neutralized Iranian threat amid US-Iran ceasefire appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Apple (AAPL) stock declined after Tim Cook confirmed his September 1 CEO exit. Hardware chief John Ternus will assume leadership of the tech giant. The post Apple (AAPL) Stock Slides After Tim Cook Announces September Departure appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR: TRM Labs assessed with high confidence that Cryptomus and Heleket share the same operators and infrastructure. Heleket’s illicit inflow ratio is nearly five times higher than the payment service provider average in TRM data. Garantex, a sanctioned Russian exchange, served as the primary liquidity source for both Cryptomus and Heleket. Cybercrime actors, including CSAM [...] The post Cryptomus Likely Launched Heleket to Evade FINTRAC’s Record CAD 177M Penalty, TRM Analysis Finds appeared first on Blockonomi.

Escalating drone attacks heighten regional tensions, impacting market predictions and potentially altering Gulf states' defensive strategies. The post Iran-backed militias launch drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, Gulf states appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The blockade's impact on oil prices and market uncertainty highlights the fragility of geopolitical stability and global supply chains. The post US blockade in Strait of Hormuz cuts daily crossings from 36 to 8 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The anticipated Trump-Xi summit could reshape geopolitical dynamics, influencing global markets and diplomatic strategies significantly. The post Trump-Xi summit eyed for mid-May amid Operation Epic Fury developments appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

NATO's limited interest in Iran conflict suggests a preference for diplomacy, impacting market perceptions of potential military action. The post NATO’s interest in Iran conflict ‘very limited,’ says Norwegian minister appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The Arbitrum Security Council froze 30,766 ether held by the KelpDAO exploiter on Arbitrum One, moving the funds to a protocol-controlled address before they could be bridged back to the Ethereum mainnet. Key Takeaways: Arbitrum’s Security Council froze 30,766 ETH worth roughly 70 million from the KelpDAO exploiter on April 21. Peckshield flagged the exploiter […]

Cautious ECB rate approach reflects inflation risks and growth concerns, highlighting the delicate balance central banks must maintain. The post ECB’s De Guindos urges caution on rates ahead of April 2026 meeting appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Coinbase launches Agent.market, an app store for AI agents using x402 protocol. 69K agents completed 165M transactions worth $50M with Bloomberg, AWS support. The post Coinbase Launches Agent.market: The First Marketplace Built for AI Agents appeared first on Blockonomi.

Vanguard's Mid-Cap Value ETF expands Strategy stake to $255M. Strategy buys 34,164 Bitcoin for $2.54B, overtaking BlackRock as largest corporate holder. The post Vanguard Expands Strategy (MSTR) Position to $255M Amid Major Bitcoin Acquisition appeared first on Blockonomi.

• #bitcoin

RaveDAO's RAVE token crashed 90% after surging to $6B market cap. ZachXBT alleges team knows who manipulated the price using linked wallets. The post RaveDAO (RAVE) Token Plunges 90% After Meteoric Rise: ZachXBT Points to Team Knowledge appeared first on Blockonomi.

Tether has acquired an 8.2% stake in Antalpha, a Bitcoin mining lender, following its Nasdaq IPO as part of the stablecoin giant's expansion strategy. The post Tether Secures 8.2% Ownership in Bitcoin Mining Lender Antalpha appeared first on Blockonomi.

• #bitcoin

Senator Tillis asks to delay CLARITY Act markup until May as banking groups and crypto firms dispute stablecoin yield treatment in the legislation. The post CLARITY Act Faces May Postponement Over Stablecoin Yield Controversy appeared first on Blockonomi.

Alibaba has rolled out a preview of its most advanced AI model yet, stepping up its push into the top tier of global AI development. According to an X post from Alibaba’s Qwen team, the new model, Qwen 3.6-Max-Preview, has…

The Security Council of the L2 network Arbitrum has taken “emergency measures” and frozen 30,766 ETH (~$71.2m) stolen from the Kelp protocol.  The Arbitrum Security Council has taken emergency action to freeze the 30,766 ETH being held in the address on Arbitrum One that is connected to the KelpDAO exploit. The Security Council acted with input from law enforcement as to the exploiter’s identity, and, at all times,…— Arbitrum (@arbitrum) April 21, 2026 “The team acted with input from law enforcement regarding the exploiter’s identity and, at all times, took into account its obligations to ensure the community’s security and integrity without affecting users or applications,” the statement said.  The funds were moved to an “interim frozen wallet”. The original address no longer has access—project governance alone can now move the assets. Legitimate owners will receive the coins after approval. Debating decentralisation Freezing crypto is contentious. Critics say it violates the technology’s ethos. Supporters argue that blocking crime-linked funds bolsters a chain’s security and integrity.  Many users criticised Arbitrum’s actions and questioned the network’s decentralisation.  so a council can just freeze 30k eth and we’re still calling this decentralized?— Sandy.ETH (@david_lee2085) April 21, 2026 “So some council can just freeze 30,000 ETH, and we’re still calling this decentralised?” wrote a user going by Sandy.ETH.  The episode also prompted jokes.  is it truly decentralised??? pic.twitter.com/wxHCRP3QWa— Nozomi (@NozomiNetwork) April 21, 2026 Arbitrum Security Council member Griff Green responded to community criticism. He said the decision was not taken lightly: members spent “countless hours” debating the freeze from technical, practical, ethical and political angles.  I'm a member of the Security Council & I can tell you we did not make this decision lightly, there were countless hours of debates, technical, practical, ethical and political.But all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing, so today, we decided to do… https://t.co/tArbmXwZKN— Griff Green — griff.eth (@griffgreen) April 21, 2026 Green stressed that not all council members voted to freeze the assets; nine of 12 backed the measure.  Aave’s bad debt  Among those hit by the Kelp exploit was Aave. Earlier, Lookonchain said the incident left the protocol with a balance “hole” of roughly $195m.  A risk manager at the lending platform LlamaRisk outlined two scenarios for how the bad debt could affect the ecosystem.  Update on rsETH incident:@LlamaRisk has published a report outlining the rsETH incident, the immediate actions taken, its impact on Aave, and potential paths forward.All service providers have been working to assess the two potential bad debt scenarios on the Aave protocol.…— Aave (@aave) April 20, 2026 First scenario: losses are shared across all rsETH holders on Ethereum mainnet and L2s. Then Aave’s shortfall would be about $123.7m, and rsETH could fall 15% against the leading altcoin. LlamaRisk stressed that, in that case, losses would be distributed more evenly across chains. wETH would “absorb most in absolute terms but hardly notice it relative to the depth of its reserves”. Aave has a tool—the Umbrella safety module—to cover losses in wETH. Some 18,922 aWETH (~$43.7m) have completed a cooldown and are ready to be unstaked. Second scenario: the entire deficit falls on L2s (Arbitrum, Mantle). Then bad debt would reach $230.1m. LlamaRisk noted that Aave has about $181m in its treasury—reserves that could be used to cover a potential shortfall. The day before, Kelp said it was continuing to assess the damage from the hack and options to safely restart the protocol. https://t.co/APBgpyA10x— Kelp (@KelpDAO) April 20, 2026 Haseeb Qureshi, a partner at Dragonfly, argued that current risks do not imperil DeFi. In his view, Aave and similar protocols have sufficient capital to cover bad debts. DeFi learns through failures. Whether it's from the collapse of Terra, broken auctions during Black Friday in 2020, or the stETH depeg in 2022, it has failed over and over again—but with every failure, it improves.People talk all sorts of shit about this, but it's no different…— Haseeb ＞|＜ (@hosseeb) April 20, 2026 “DeFi learns through failures. Whether it’s from Terra’s collapse, broken auctions during ‘Black Friday’ in 2020, or the stETH depeg in 2022—with every failure, the ecosystem gets better. […] DeFi is not going anywhere,” he wrote.  LayerZero blamed Kelp’s team also shared initial findings of the hack investigation. The developers laid blame on LayerZero, which earlier claimed the breach was caused by the project using a 1/1 DVN configuration.  “The 1/1 setup is described in LayerZero’s documentation and is the default for any new OFT deployment. We have been running on their infrastructure since January 2024 and have stayed in contact throughout,” Kelp noted.  Representatives of the protocol added that DVN configuration was discussed during the L2 expansion and that the default setup was “approved as meeting requirements”. At the time of writing, LayerZero had not responded to Kelp’s statements.  Justin Sun’s proposal  TRON founder Justin Sun addressed the Kelp hackers and called for talks.  OK — Kelpdao hacker, how much you want? Let’s just talk. With KelpDAO’s help, of course. It’s simply not worth it to sacrifice both Aave and KelpDAO and let them go down over this hack. You can’t spend $300 million anyway.— H.E. Justin Sun 👨‍🚀 🌞 (@justinsuntron) April 19, 2026 “Hacker, how much do you want? Let’s talk. With KelpDAO’s help, of course. It’s simply not worth sacrificing both Aave and KelpDAO and letting them go down over this hack. You can’t spend $300m anyway,” he wrote.  Sun’s motives remain unclear. Addresses linked to his HTX exchange, however, have moved hundreds of millions to Aave. According to Protos, as of December 2025 more than $1.4bn of the platform’s USDT reserves sat in loans on Aave. An on-chain analyst known as EmberCN also noted that wallets affiliated with TRON’s founder actively withdrew USDT from the lending protocol after operations were paused.  另外，他凌晨为了把存在 Aave 上的 1.74 万枚 ETH 取回，通过 Swap 把存款凭证 (aEthWETH) 直接卖成 ETH，损失了 310 枚 ETH ($72 万)。也就是折价了 1.8%。然后把换回的这些 ETH 转存到了 Spark 上。https://t.co/NCZnNhezwYPS：因为 Aave 目前还是暂停 WETH 的提款的，ETH 想从 Aave… https://t.co/HT9JouZ5cS pic.twitter.com/4Q0FO2eAhB— 余烬 (@EmberCN) April 21, 2026 “[…] the wallet executed five transactions, withdrawing a total of $274m in USDT and fully closing its position in stablecoins on the platform,” the analyst noted.  Other large withdrawers from Aave included the MEXC exchange and investment firm Abraxas Capital.  Due to the KelpDAO exploiter borrowing over 82,600 $ETH ($195M) from #Aave using $RSETH as collateral, bad debt has appeared on #Aave.Many whales have withdrawn funds from #Aave, causing its TVL to drop from $26.396B to $20.114B — a decline of $6.28B.Major withdrawals… pic.twitter.com/rhN28AMul9— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) April 19, 2026 In April, hackers also breached the ENS gateway eth.limo and cloud provider Vercel. 

Whales bought 360 million XRP in one week as futures open interest rose and traders watched the $1.55 breakout level.

RippleX researcher Aanchal Malhotra is warning the cryptocurrency industry that the preparation window is rapidly closing.

The trader likened the current altcoin market to penny stocks, except in this case spread across tens of thousands of tokens.

• #litecoin

Iran's condemnation highlights ongoing tensions, complicating prospects for a near-term Israel-Iran peace deal, as skepticism persists. The post Iran condemns Israeli actions in Somalia amid peace deal skepticism appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The absence of Iranian diplomats highlights deep-seated hesitancy, complicating prospects for immediate de-escalation and peace efforts. The post Iranian diplomats absent from US-Iran talks in Pakistan, peace deal doubts grow appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Equity-backed crypto purchases by public companies may stabilize major cryptocurrencies, creating a price floor absent in smaller tokens. The post Strategy, Bitmine buy $2.7B in Bitcoin, Ethereum with equity issuance appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

• #bitcoin

The closure exacerbates global energy insecurity, heightens geopolitical tensions, and disrupts critical maritime trade routes. The post Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, tanker traffic collapses 90% appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The developers of the Coinbase-backed x402 payment standard have launched a marketplace for applications and services aimed at enhancing the utility of AI agents. Introducing Agentic(dot)Market, the homepage of the agent economy.— Monitor agentic commerce trends— Discover services for your agent to buy— Sell your services to agentsThousands of services. Zero API keys. Powered by x402. https://t.co/dgrNV73MAJ pic.twitter.com/0QU9Bpb3kG— nick.base.eth 🛡 (@Nick_Prince12) April 20, 2026 Product lead Nick Prince stated that the idea behind Agentic.market is to provide people and their digital assistants with access to thousands of tools without the need for an API key. Source: Agentic.market. According to the executive, the market serves as a "showcase for discovering, comparing, and utilizing x402 services." It offers access to "a wide range of applications and websites that AI agents can use." Prince added that hundreds of thousands of virtual assistants have conducted transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars, yet users had to rely on "disparate sources and word of mouth" to find compatible tools. Agentic.market features a web interface that allows users to browse and evaluate services. There is also a software layer that provides AI agents with access to the platform for autonomous searching, filtering, and integrating new capabilities during operation without human intervention. The platform provides digital assistants with "skills"—code that describes how to apply a particular service. Additionally, a wallet is issued for buying or selling desired products. Launched in May 2025 by Coinbase, the x402 protocol enables AI agents to make online payments using stablecoins. Back in December last year, the second version of x402 was released.

Kelp DAO's $292M LayerZero bridge hack threatens Aave with up to $230M bad debt. Protocols dispute responsibility as DeFi faces major crisis. The post $292M Kelp DAO Security Breach Leaves Aave Facing Massive Bad Debt Exposure appeared first on Blockonomi.

The XRP price holds $1.42 after spot XRP ETFs pulled $65 million in April alone, lining up the strongest month of 2026 and pushing cumulative flows to a three month high per The Crypto Basic. On any regular week that kind of crypto news would dominate every feed, yet Pepeto just sealed its latest presale [...] The post Crypto News and XRP Price Jump As XRP ETFs Grab the Biggest Monthly Inflow of 2026, And One Presale Might Be The Smartest Crypto Bet appeared first on Blockonomi.

Japan’s clearing arm JSCC has begun testing whether government bonds can function as digital collateral on blockchain infrastructure. According to a Monday announcement from Japan Securities Clearing Corporation, part of Japan Exchange Group, the firm has partnered with Mizuho Financial…

Bitcoin’s dominance hovering around 57% has become a quiet alarm bell for traders watching the broader crypto and altcoin market in general — and for good reason. Related Reading: Ceasefire Drama Escalates—Trump Points Finger At Iran, Bitcoin In Focus Bears And Bulls Divided Over Altcoin Timing Crypto analyst Michael van de Poppe believes a brutal […]

• #litecoin

The IMO's evacuation plan could stabilize regional trade, but hinges on U.S.-Iran cooperation, impacting global shipping dynamics. The post IMO plans evacuation for ships stuck in Persian Gulf amid Hormuz tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's firm stance against US concessions heightens geopolitical tensions, reducing prospects for a swift diplomatic resolution. The post Iran vows no concessions to US, complicating peace deal prospects appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising tensions in Hormuz could destabilize global oil markets, impacting energy prices and geopolitical relations significantly. The post Iran warns of decisive response amid Hormuz blockade tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The scrutiny of Robbins could intensify leadership challenges for Starmer, impacting political stability and market confidence. The post Sir Olly Robbins to face MPs over Mandelson vetting amid Starmer pressure appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

• #vechain

Machado's proposal could redefine Venezuela's economic landscape, challenging US sanctions and potentially influencing global crypto adoption. The post Venezuela’s Machado proposes selling oil for Bitcoin to build national reserve appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

• #bitcoin

The US Navy's actions may heighten regional instability, but traders remain skeptical of immediate Gulf State military escalation against Iran. The post US Navy seizes Iranian ship, escalating Gulf tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Dogecoin (DOGE) analysis: Trading at $0.0954 with record 2.9 PH/s hashrate, $800M volume spike, and key resistance at $0.1028. What's next for DOGE? The post Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Analysis: Short Squeeze Intensifies as Network Hashrate Hits All-Time High appeared first on Blockonomi.

A fake police raid enabled a $1 million Bitcoin robbery, exposing the rise of wrench attacks and the shift from digital hacks to physical crypto threats.

• #bitcoin

Bitcoin surges to $75,733 amid Iran ceasefire developments. Apple CEO Tim Cook steps down. US futures rise as Wednesday deadline approaches. Market analysis. The post Markets on Edge as Iran Ceasefire Deadline Approaches Wednesday appeared first on Blockonomi.

XRP now tradable on WhatsApp via Solana's wXRP as price reaches $1.50. Whales buy 360M tokens while analysts predict 35% rally ahead. The post XRP (XRP) Trading Now Available on WhatsApp as Major Holders Acquire 360M Tokens appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR: The Arbitrum Security Council froze 30,766 ETH on Arbitrum One tied to the KelpDAO exploit. Law enforcement provided direct input on the exploiter’s identity before the council took action. Funds were transferred to an intermediary frozen wallet on April 20 at 11:26 pm ET successfully. Future movement of the frozen ETH requires formal authorization [...] The post Arbitrum Security Council Freezes 30,766 ETH Linked to KelpDAO Exploit appeared first on Blockonomi.

Vance's Islamabad visit could shift market dynamics, influencing US-Iran relations and impacting global oil and geopolitical stability. The post JD Vance heads to Islamabad for US-Iran peace talks as ceasefire deadline looms appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's demand for transparency highlights deep-seated distrust, potentially complicating diplomatic efforts and impacting global oil markets. The post Iran demands US publicly announce Hormuz blockade lift amid distrust appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The attack highlights the fragility of ceasefire agreements and could destabilize regional peace efforts, impacting geopolitical dynamics. The post Israeli reservists wounded by Hezbollah missile despite ceasefire agreement appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could exacerbate global economic vulnerabilities, heightening recession risks worldwide. The post Gunvor warns global recession risk if Strait of Hormuz stays closed three months appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple reveals ambitious plan to fortify XRP Ledger against quantum threats by 2028, implementing four-phase security roadmap with Project Eleven partnership. The post XRP Ledger Set for Quantum-Proof Upgrade as Ripple Unveils 2028 Timeline appeared first on Blockonomi.