Finding a top-quality crypto casino that features a strong lineup of Pragmatic Play titles can be a challenge. With so many platforms popping up, it’s hard to know which ones actually deliver a premium experience. That’s exactly why we put together this guide. We’ve gone through dozens of crypto casinos to find the ones that [...] The post 20+ Best New Bitcoin & Crypto Casinos With Pragmatic Play Games appeared first on Blockonomi.

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The denial signals a firm US stance, diminishing prospects for diplomatic breakthroughs and impacting market confidence in a nuclear deal. The post US Treasury denies $14B Iran sanctions relief claim, nuclear deal odds fall appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The surge in SK Hynix profits underscores the growing influence of AI demand on tech supply chains, potentially reshaping market dynamics. The post SK Hynix profits soar five-fold on AI demand, boosting Nvidia supply chain appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The activity spike on XRP network is certainly unexpected and could become a foundation for a proper recovery.

After a few days of pressure, KelpDAO has published an extensive community update on its state of play to fix problems brought about by the rsETH vulnerability incident. The Kelp team described the previous period as “relentless,” adding dialogues with partners, allies and ecosystem participants are now moving forward in a constructive manner. Community Update The past few days have been relentless. With the support of our partners, allies and community, discussions are moving in the right direction. We want to address our community directly. We are actively progressing towards a suitable resolution. Kelp was built… — Kelp (@KelpDAO) April The post KelpDAO Crisis Triggers Massive Aave Outflows As RsETH Vulnerability Sparks Industry Wide Response And Recovery Efforts appeared first on The Merkle News.

Blockchain Capital pursues $700M across two funds targeting early-stage and growth crypto companies as average deal sizes climb despite market contraction. The post Blockchain Capital Launches $700 Million Dual-Fund Fundraising Initiative appeared first on Blockonomi.

The U.S. military is testing a Bitcoin node for cybersecurity, with Admiral Paparo saying the effort does not involve mining BTC right now.

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Crypto prices retreated on Thursday as concerns over the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire weighed on market sentiment. Bitcoin (BTC) price fell 2% to $77,593 on Thursday as it gave up most of its gains from Wednesday when it hit above $79,000…

PI has found a bottom. Can bulls push it back up? PI Network (PI) Price Predictions: Analysis Key support levels: $0.16 Key resistance levels: $0.20, $0.28 PI Moves Sideways After weeks of downtrend, PI has finally found a bottom around $0.16 where buyers made a brief attempt at higher levels before sellers stopped them. Nevertheless, […]

Crypto investigator ZachXBT has revealed he helped freeze approximately $800,000 in ransom funds after French streamer TeufeurS paid $2 million following the kidnapping of his father in Sarthe, France, in 2023. Key Takeaways: ZachXBT and Binance Security froze $800,000 of a $2 million crypto ransom paid after a 2023 kidnapping in France. The father of […]

Honeywell's sale and SpaceX's market projection highlight strategic shifts, impacting industrial focus and potential IPO valuations. The post Honeywell sells unit for $1.4B; SpaceX projects $28.5T market in S-1 filing appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Institutional demand driving Binance's trading volume surge highlights growing market stability, yet macroeconomic factors may limit Bitcoin's rise. The post Binance trading volume surpasses $1.0T in 2026 amid institutional demand appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Solana's PropAMM surpassing centralized exchanges signals a shift towards decentralized trading, potentially increasing market volatility. The post Solana’s PropAMM hits $19.8B March volume, outpaces centralized exchanges appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The deadlock risks escalating tensions, potentially destabilizing the region and affecting U.S. aid and Gulf investments in Lebanon. The post US-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks face Hezbollah disarmament deadlock appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Graham's hint at expanding the U.S. blockade on Iran could hinder diplomatic efforts, increasing geopolitical tensions and market volatility. The post Lindsey Graham hints at possible global expansion of US blockade on Iran appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The establishment of a military zone in Lebanon could destabilize the ceasefire, impacting regional security and market confidence. The post Israel establishes military zone in southern Lebanon amid ceasefire appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

On April 23, crypto exchange Phemex launched prediction markets built on Polymarket infrastructure — one of the largest platforms in the segment. Users can trade outcomes of real-world events spanning macroeconomics, geopolitics, technology, sports, and culture directly from their exchange account, according to a press release. The integration sits inside the standard exchange environment: no separate wallet is required, and trades execute through a regular account in USDT and USDC. The format feels native to existing exchange users. "We lean on Polymarket's established liquidity: this gives traders deeper markets, tighter spreads, and a steady flow of new events without fragmented pools," Phemex stated. Campaign for Traders Alongside the launch, Phemex is running a four-week campaign with a prize pool, bonuses and first-trade rebate. Traders will compete in weekly leaderboards ranked by PnL and ROI, with rankings resetting each week. The first 500 users will receive opening trade protection: if the initial position closes at a loss, the exchange will compensate up to $10 USDT. The Rise of Prediction Markets Prediction markets let traders take positions on real-world event outcomes at market-determined prices, which update continuously as new information emerges. The segment is growing rapidly. Since the beginning of 2026, trading volumes across sector leaders Kalshi and Polymarket have already surpassed $60 billion. Bernstein analysts expect the figure to reach $240 billion by December, and $1 trillion by 2030. Sports remains the dominant category, accounting for 61% of all bets. Bernstein sees the sector's long-term potential in contracts tied to crypto assets, macroeconomic indicators, and politics. As of April 21, Kalshi holds 45.1% of the market, while Polymarket accounts for 38.7%. Source: Dune. On February 2, US-based exchange Coinbase launched a prediction platform in partnership with Kalshi. In March, Kalshi raised $1 billion at a $22 billion valuation — double its December round. “The integration of Prediction Markets, built in partnership with Polymarket, marks a meaningful step toward our goal of becoming a unified financial execution platform. By enabling users to take positions on global events within an institutional-grade environment, Phemex is extending the scope of the platform beyond traditional trading and opening up new ways to express views on future outcomes.” commented Phemex CEO Federico Variola. Earlier, ForkLog published a Phemex review covering the platform's fees, security, and trading tools.

On April 23, the cryptocurrency exchange Phemex launched prediction markets using Polymarket's infrastructure—one of the largest platforms in the sector. Users can trade outcomes of real-world events in macroeconomics, geopolitics, technology, sports, and culture directly from their exchange account, according to a press release. The integration is executed within the standard exchange environment: no separate wallet is needed, and transactions are conducted through a regular account in USDT and USDC. The format is familiar to existing traders. “We rely on Polymarket's liquidity: this ensures deep markets, tight spreads, and a constant flow of new events without isolated pools,” stated Phemex. Campaign for Traders Simultaneously with the launch, Phemex is conducting a four-week campaign with a prize pool, bonuses, and a rebate for the first trade. Traders will compete in weekly leaderboards based on PnL and ROI—rankings reset each week. The first 500 users will receive protection for their initial trade: if the starting position closes at a loss, the exchange will cover losses up to $10 USDT. Growth of Prediction Markets Prediction markets allow traders to take positions on the outcomes of real-world events at market prices, which update in real-time as new information becomes available. The segment is experiencing rapid growth. Since the beginning of 2026, the turnover of sector leaders—Kalshi and Polymarket—has already surpassed $60 billion. Analysts at Bernstein anticipate that by December, this figure could rise to $240 billion, and by 2030—to $1 trillion. Sports remain the dominant area, accounting for 61% of all bets. Bernstein sees the long-term potential of the sector in contracts on crypto assets, macroeconomic indicators, and politics. As of April 21, Kalshi holds 45.1% of the market, while Polymarket accounts for 38.7%. Source: Dune. On February 2, the American exchange Coinbase launched a prediction platform in partnership with Kalshi. In March, the latter raised $1 billion at a valuation of $22 billion—twice the December round. “Launching prediction markets in partnership with Polymarket is a significant step towards our goal of becoming a unified platform for financial execution. Users can take positions on global events in an institutional environment. This opens up new opportunities to express views on future outcomes beyond traditional trading,” commented Phemex CEO Federico Variola. Previously, ForkLog published an overview of Phemex, examining the platform's fees, security, and trading tools.

TLDR: 84.7% of 2025 token launches trade below TGE price, with a median FDV decline of 71% across all launches. Over $500M was drained from DeFi protocols in two weeks, triggering $6.2B in Aave withdrawals alone. VC deal count dropped 60% YoY, with just 11 deals capturing roughly 85% of all Q4 2025 crypto funding. [...] The post Crypto Market Structure Breaks Down as Token Failures and DeFi Exploits Drain Billions in 2026 appeared first on Blockonomi.

Lam Research (LRCX) shares climb after crushing Q3 estimates with $1.47 EPS and $5.84B revenue. BofA raises price target to $330 on AI-driven demand. The post Lam Research (LRCX) Stock Surges on Strong Q3 Beat and Optimistic Outlook appeared first on Blockonomi.

XRP turns $1.4 into support. Can it break $1.6 next? Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions: Analysis Key support levels: $1.4 Key resistance levels: $1.6, $2 Key Support Reclaimed XRP had a good week after it managed to reclaim $1.4 and turn it into support. With this level secured, buyers can now look up to the next […]

The Senate's decision may escalate US-Iran tensions, reducing chances for diplomatic resolutions and increasing market volatility. The post US Senate rejects resolution to limit Trump’s war powers on Iran appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

SoFi's XRP trading launch highlights the need for regulatory clarity to drive significant market shifts and investor confidence. The post SoFi adds XRP trading amid stagnant market odds for price surge appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

China's cautious monetary policy may prioritize stability over growth, potentially increasing downside risks for future GDP projections. The post China considers slower lending rate cuts amid economic stability focus appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's toll system in the Strait of Hormuz complicates diplomatic resolutions, increasing geopolitical tensions and economic control. The post Iran collects first revenue from Strait of Hormuz tolls, deterring ships appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Extended mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt global shipping and trade, impacting oil prices and economic stability. The post Pentagon: Mine clearance in Strait of Hormuz may take six months appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

American Bitcoin (ABTC) stock jumped 12% after activating 11,298 new miners at its Alberta facility, bringing total hashrate to 28.1 EH/s. The post American Bitcoin (ABTC) Stock Jumps 12% Following Major Mining Rig Deployment appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Tom Lee backed a report projecting Ethereum at $250,000, citing staking yield, network utility, and Proof-of-Stake security.

Input Output Global (IOG), the company behind Cardano’s core blockchain development, shared new details on Wednesday about how it plans to steer the network through the rest of the year.  The update lays out key proposals and a broader 2030-focused roadmap aimed at scaling Cardano’s transaction capacity from roughly 800,000 transactions per month today to […]

• #Cardano

The closure heightens geopolitical tensions, disrupts global oil supply, and diminishes prospects for US-Iran diplomatic engagement. The post Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over ceasefire breaches, complicating US talks appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

BE Semiconductor (BESI) stock climbed 3% after Q1 orders doubled and profit surged 64%. Strong AI demand drives optimistic Q2 guidance for the chipmaker. The post BE Semiconductor (BESI) Stock Surges 3% on Strong Q1 Results and Doubled Orders appeared first on Blockonomi.

The blockade's impact on oil prices could strain global economic policies, influencing inflation and geopolitical strategies significantly. The post Iran halts oil exports as Strait of Hormuz blockade impacts prices appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Access to capital in trading and investing has never been evenly distributed. Traditional systems tend to favor people with strong credit or large deposits, which leaves many capable traders stuck on the sidelines. That gap is exactly what digital finance has started to close. DeFi lets you borrow or earn with crypto without dealing with [...] The post From DeFi to Funded Trading: How Capital Access Models Are Evolving in Digital Finance appeared first on Blockonomi.

SoftBank pursues a $10 billion margin loan using OpenAI shares as collateral, supplementing its existing $40 billion bridge financing arrangement. The post SoftBank Plans $10B Loan Against OpenAI Stake Amid Growing AI Investment appeared first on Blockonomi.

Microsoft (MSFT) stock gains 2% on $18B Australia investment to expand Azure cloud and AI capacity 140% by 2029. Q3 earnings expected April 29. The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Climbs on Massive $18B Australia AI Investment Announcement appeared first on Blockonomi.

World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff has come under renewed scrutiny after body camera footage from a 2022 drug-related arrest resurfaced. According to recently surfaced footage on X, Witkoff was detained on New Year’s Day 2022 outside the E11EVEN nightclub…

Even without surpassing the $80,000 level, BTC still managed to increase its dominance over the altcoins.

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Uzbekistan has established a specialized district designed to regulate and expand the nation’s cryptocurrency mining industry. Key Takeaways: On April 17, 2026, the Uzbekistan President signed decree PQ-143 to launch the Besqala Mining Valley in Karakalpakstan. NAPP will streamline licensing as companies pay a 1% revenue fee to support the 2035 regional budget goals. Mining […]

Hezbollah's conditional ceasefire commitment could stabilize regional tensions, fostering potential diplomatic progress if Israel complies. The post Hezbollah commits to ceasefire if Israel complies, diplomatic talks possible appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The lack of urgency in negotiations may prolong tensions, reducing the likelihood of a timely resolution and impacting regional stability. The post Trump says no time pressure on Iran ceasefire talks as peace deal odds drop appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The US-mediated talks could stabilize regional tensions, but any ceasefire breakdown risks escalating conflict and market volatility. The post US hosts talks as Lebanon seeks ceasefire extension with Israel appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's hardline stance may hinder diplomatic progress, impacting regional stability and increasing geopolitical tensions with the US. The post Iran halts US talks unless Washington admits defeat, says deputy speaker appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Oil prices surged above $105/barrel as Iran attacked ships in Strait of Hormuz and US-Iran peace negotiations stalled, pushing Brent crude past $100. The post Crude Oil Climbs Above $105 Amid Strait of Hormuz Attacks and Diplomatic Deadlock appeared first on Blockonomi.

Russia has advanced a key crypto bill on its first reading, as part of its efforts to establish a framework and fully bring the digital assets market out of the shadows in the next few months. Related Reading: No Stablecoin Mention: Bank Of Korea’s New Governor Signals CBDC Push Russia Moves To Regulate Crypto Market […]

Rising tensions in Hormuz could hinder diplomatic efforts, impacting global markets and increasing geopolitical instability. The post Iran seizes ships in Hormuz, Trump demands talks within days appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Pi Network is advancing smart contract tools, targeting an April 27 Protocol 22 deadline and preparing for Consensus 2026 in Miami.

Increased geopolitical tensions may impact global oil markets, but current trading suggests limited immediate effect on oil prices. The post US intercepts Iranian oil supertankers, escalating Strait of Hormuz tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The Iran conflict accelerates Europe's shift to solar, impacting global commodity markets and highlighting vulnerabilities in energy supply chains. The post Iran war boosts European solar demand, pressures silver, oil prices appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The incident exacerbates US-Iran tensions, reducing chances for diplomatic breakthroughs and impacting global oil and nuclear negotiations. The post Trump reveals ‘gift from China’ on seized Iranian tanker amid US-Iran tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Following the Kelp hack, deposits in the leading lending protocol Aave dropped by 35% — from $45.8 billion to $29.6 billion. This was noted by on-chain analyst EmberCN. Aave 上的总存款量已经跌破 $300 亿。从 rsETH 事件前的 $458 亿到现在的 $296 亿，流出 $162 亿。 https://t.co/kxalj1cZ4y pic.twitter.com/8QoI2tl8S8— 余烬 (@EmberCN) April 23, 2026 The platform's TVL continues to decline. At the time of writing, it stands at $15.1 billion, although it exceeded $26 billion on April 18. Source: DefiLlama. The native token Aave remains in a downward trend. Over the past week, AAVE quotes have fallen by 13.8%. At the time of writing, the asset is trading around $91.4. Hourly chart of AAVE/USDT on Binance. Source: TradingView. The Kelp hacker continues to launder funds. According to EmberCN, in a day and a half, the hacker almost completely converted the stolen 75,700 ETH ($175 million) into Bitcoin via THORChain. 用时一天半，KelpDAO 黑客的 75,700 枚 ETH ($1.75 亿) 现在已经基本上都换成 BTC 了。黑客把 ETH 跨链兑换成 BTC 主要走的协议是 THORChain，黑客的使用也为 THORChain 带去了 $8 亿的交易量以及 $91 万的平台手续费收入。—————————————————-#Bitget VIP… https://t.co/YHNjV4jTGy pic.twitter.com/QMsFhsjWFx— 余烬 (@EmberCN) April 23, 2026 Thanks to this activity, the platform's trading volume exceeded $800 million, and commission income reached $910,000, the expert noted. Addressing the Issue To stabilize liquidity and halt the outflow of funds from Aave, the Fluid project launched an aWETH redemption mechanism. The aWETH Redemption Protocol is now live on @Arbitrum and @Base.After processing $400M+ in redemptions on Aave Ethereum, we're expanding to L2s.This time, we’ll be opening up for all loopers to unwind while ETH lenders exit to LSTs.How it works 🧵 https://t.co/lMhmsl8vAL pic.twitter.com/JmxdxUZnHP— Fluid 🌊 (@0xfluid) April 22, 2026 In 48 hours, 166,772 aETH (about $400 million) passed through it: users converted frozen assets into wstETH or weETH. The tool is based on the Lite Vault Fluid repository, which holds wstETH and weETH as collateral for ETH debt on Aave. This allows for direct closure of counter positions. Redemption occurred at a discount of about 2.2%. For comparison, aWETH traded at a discount of up to 23% on the secondary market, according to Castle Labs. Meanwhile, Circle's Chief Economist Gordon Liao proposed raising the rate on USDC on Aave v3. A proposal on AAVE USDC market and liquidity parameters from Circle's Chief Economist @gordonliao https://t.co/7wX3TWIHop— Jeremy Allaire — jerallaire.arc (@jerallaire) April 22, 2026 The stablecoin pool on the platform has been fully loaded for four consecutive days: available liquidity fell below $3 million, decreasing by $60 million in a day. The variable loan rate is fixed at a "ceiling" of about 14% and does not "clear" the market. Following the Kelp hack, about $300 million in new borrowings appeared in Aave. Some borrowers barely react to the rate: 14% per annum is a small price to exit a position. But liquidity providers, seeing the pool empty, demand a higher premium. Liao proposed making the rate progressive: the more funds are borrowed, the higher it is. At 95% load — 37%, at 100% — 53%. This would force borrowers to repay debts and attract new liquidity. Community members criticized the idea. Avant protocol founder Rhett Shipp stated that raising rates will not stop the outflow of funds from Aave. You need to fire your chief economist. This will accelerate capital flight from both aave and usdc.If you want Morpho and usdt to win, this is a great idea.— Rhett Shipp (@RhettShipp) April 22, 2026 On April 21, the Arbitrum security council took "emergency measures" and blocked 30,766 ETH (~$71.2 million) stolen from Kelp.

Google has unveiled a suite of tools designed to aid companies in automating tasks through AI agents. Concurrently, a $750 million fund was launched alongside the announcement of new AI processors. Have a great #GoogleCloudNext!Watch select sessions and your favorite moments from the opening keynote on demand → https://t.co/Ss9VorZkOvhttps://t.co/VnbGXrIjvi— Google Cloud (@googlecloud) April 22, 2026 AI Agent Software At its annual conference in Las Vegas, the company's cloud division showcased a toolkit for creating AI agents and managing their operations within companies. Among the innovations is a dedicated mailbox where virtual assistants send reports on completed tasks. The Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform will feature two new modules: Memory Bank and Memory Profile, enabling agents to retain interaction histories with users. Agent Simulation will allow developers to thoroughly test tools before deployment. Google introduced updates for the Workspace application suite and described a scenario where AI agents radically transform the daily life of an ordinary worker. The corporation stated that employees could use Gemini Enterprise to create virtual assistants without coding. The company also announced Projects—a collaborative platform designed for interaction among workers or with support operators. The tool integrates information from various sources such as Workspace, Microsoft's OneDrive, and corporate chats, allowing work to be conducted with the necessary context. New Fund Google Cloud announced a $750 million fund aimed at assisting consulting firms like McKinsey, Accenture, and Deloitte in implementing agent AI for clients. DeepMind will provide select firms with early access to Gemini AI models before their official release. The capital will be directed towards training engineers, developing AI agents through the corporate platform, and co-funding projects and pre-sales activities. “Consulting firms are at the heart of some of the largest transformations occurring with clients. They understand the situation and bring unique expertise in specific industries and knowledge of business processes,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, head of Google Cloud's global partner ecosystem. New Chips Google Cloud has introduced a new generation of its proprietary tensor processing units (TPUs), designed to accelerate and reduce the cost of AI computations. The lineup includes two versions: TPU 8t — designed for AI development; TPU 8i — better suited for inference. Google holds a strong position among AI chip manufacturers, competing with Nvidia. In recent months, TPUs have seen increased demand in Silicon Valley. The new processors store more information, reducing response latency. “It's about ensuring the lowest possible response latency at the lowest possible cost per operation,” noted Mark Lohmeyer, Google's vice president of compute infrastructure. AI services are created and launched using systems capable of rapidly processing large data sets—identifying connections and patterns that are then expressed mathematically. Calculations, program launches, and services are executed on processors with large amounts of built-in memory. This approach allows AI responses to be almost instantaneous, as the component does not need to retrieve data from external sources. TPU 8t units can be clustered in groups of 9600. At such scales, energy consumption becomes a key factor. The new chips offer 124% greater performance per watt compared to the previous generation. TPU 8i offers 117%. Back in April, Google discussed with the U.S. Department of Defense the possibility of integrating Gemini into Pentagon systems across all information access categories—from open to top-secret.

A large ethereum whale sold 10,829 ether worth $24.91 million three days ago and has now re-entered the market, purchasing 7,448 ether worth $17.5 million at $2,350, according to data shared by Lookonchain. Key Takeaways: Wallet 0x65B4 bought back 7,448 ETH worth $17.5M at $2,350, days after selling 10,829 ETH at $2,300. The reentry at […]

Rising tensions could destabilize regional security, impact global markets, and alter diplomatic relations, necessitating close monitoring. The post State Department urges Americans to exit Middle East amid Iran tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Looting incidents risk escalating tensions, potentially destabilizing the fragile truce and impacting diplomatic and market dynamics. The post Israeli soldiers looting homes in Lebanon could strain ceasefire efforts appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The airstrike exacerbates geopolitical instability, potentially influencing Netanyahu's political future and escalating regional conflicts. The post Israeli airstrike in Gaza kills five civilians, raises regional tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The IRGC's actions in the Strait of Hormuz could escalate tensions, impacting global trade routes and prompting potential military responses. The post IRGC Navy seizes container ship in Strait of Hormuz, contradicts Trump claims appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

QuantumScape (QS) stock surged 4.87% after reporting Q1 2026 EPS of -$0.16, beating estimates of -$0.18, with Eagle Line production now underway. The post QuantumScape (QS) Stock Jumps Nearly 5% on Better-Than-Expected Q1 2026 Results appeared first on Blockonomi.

For years cyberweapons for espionage were thought to be the preserve of a narrow circle of intelligence services. But a US government investigation into Operation Zero has exposed the scale of the zero-day trade. Two markets now surround exploits: one with brokers, price lists and suppliers; and a second where hackerware ends up after leaks or deliberate dumps. What skimping on intelligence can cost, how much states will pay to crack a smartphone, and how to trust researchers who surface bugs decades on—the answers are in ForkLog’s new report. The players  A zero-day vulnerability is a critical flaw in software or hardware used by hackers before the developer learns of it and ships a fix (a patch). The name hints that creators have zero days to eliminate the threat. Demand centres not on the bug itself but on the “window of opportunity”—the guaranteed period of covert access before detection. The 0-day market features three sets of participants: The cybersecurity researcher. An individual or team that finds a vulnerability. The broker. Intermediary firms that buy exploits and refine them into ready-to-use commercial products (infection chains) for resale. The customer. Intelligence and military agencies that want turnkey spying tools—cheaper and safer than recruiting human agents on the ground. On the edge of legality This market long sat in a grey zone, but recent events have shed light on its true scale. In February 2026 the US Treasury and State Department imposed sanctions on the Russian firm “Matrica” (the Operation Zero brand) and its founder, Sergey Zelenyuk.  The organisation openly styled itself as a cyberweapons broker. According to materials from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Operation Zero’s cardinal rule was to sell tools to clients outside NATO, in particular to state intelligence bodies.  The case hinged on an Operation Zero supplier who stole accesses from a US defence contractor (reportedly L3Harris). From 2022 to 2025 the Australian freelancer Peter Williams pilfered eight 0-day exploits built for intelligence use. He sold them for $1.3m in cryptocurrency. This was not the first deployment of cyberweapons against US citizens, but it broke the market’s unwritten rules. While others tried to balance in the grey zone of “national security”, Operation Zero chose open confrontation with NATO. Previously, OFAC’s sanctions list tended to catch malware developers only after high-profile scandals: 2021 — restrictions hit Israel’s NSO Group, creator of Pegasus, which was used to spy on diplomats, journalists and dissidents; 2024 — for aiding repression and surveillance, sanctions were imposed on the makers of the Predator spyware, Intellexa and Cytrox (Europe, Middle East). Defining a cyberweapons seller’s legality is slippery. The market of official or semi-official (grey) outfits is fiercely competitive, with clear leaders such as the UAE’s Crowdfense. That firm has managed to avoid OFAC lists for several reasons: jurisdiction and export control. Crowdfense is registered in a country with partner ties to the US and its allies. Its leadership says it adheres to strict export-control and compliance rules. The transfer of cyberweapons is regulated much like the trade in conventional arms; choice of customers. Clients include the Five Eyes, as well as allied governments and law-enforcement bodies. For the US, Crowdfense is a lawful contractor supplying weaponry; legalisation. Crowdfense presents itself as a national-security instrument. When buying a vulnerability, it signs an NDA with the hacker and passes the exploit, say, to security services for tracking terrorists. Legally, that is procurement of special equipment. Yet this “white zone” is conditional. In practice, a legal player’s status lasts only until its tools are swept up in a public scandal—especially if they enable surveillance of journalists or politicians in Western countries. The price list Disclaimer This section is for information of public interest only. The ForkLog editorial team condemns cybercrime and all forms of violence. Zerodium was the first to haul zero-day trading out of the dark web into the open—formally lawful—arena. Founded in 2015 by cybersecurity researcher Chaouki Bekrar, the firm began publishing public price lists for buying exploits. The company then refined the purchased accesses and resold them to a small circle of vetted clients—chiefly state intelligence services and law-enforcement agencies in NATO countries. By the mid-2020s, however, that model had lost its edge. Pressure rose from two directions. On one side came new entrants with substantially deeper pockets, notably Dubai-based Crowdfense. On the other came faster update cycles at Apple and Google: exploit shelf lives shrank and broker risks grew. Against this backdrop Zerodium’s top payout—about $2.5m—ceased to look attractive. The market quickly shifted to more aggressive pricing. Crowdfense effectively set a new marker: complex exploitation chains neared $10m, and in 2024 the company allocated $30m to an exploit-acquisition programme. Today the hottest commodity remains a trace-free, zero-click smartphone compromise. At the time of writing the broker offers up to $7m for iOS and up to $5m for Android. Price list. Source: Crowdfense. Intermediaries do not notify the vendor, preserving usability for the buyer. That exclusivity lets them write cheques far beyond classic bug bounties from leading software and gadget makers. In all of 2025 Google’s total bug-bounty payouts reached about $17m. In 2022 the tech giant set a record: $605,000 went to a five-bug Android exploit chain.  Google’s Android-focused bug-bounty rates. Source: Google. In such conditions, security researchers must choose: accept a princely sum knowing an exploit may become a cyberweapon, or work within responsible disclosure. The biggest name among the “white hats” in this niche is Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). It buys details of vulnerabilities and passes them to Microsoft, Apple or Google, demanding a fix within a set deadline. ZDI offers up to $1m only for exceptional, highly complex attack vectors during the public Pwn2Own competitions. Day to day, the white broker’s catalogue pays from $500 to $150,000.  Beyond direct payouts, ZDI runs an incentives system ($1 = 1 point). As points accrue over a calendar year, a researcher gains status and a matching bonus. Cumulative rewards. Source: ZDI. Thus the 0-day market is bifurcating: high-margin but opaque versus legal yet far less lucrative. The gap is widening. When weapons migrate to hackers The market’s central problem is the impossibility of keeping exploits contained. When intelligence officers deploy 0-days, their code can be intercepted, analysed and copied. The tool loses exclusivity and becomes available to groups pursuing simpler, mass attacks. In spring 2026 two headline cases showed this migration: Coruna and DarkSword. In March Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) observed use of the Coruna framework, which packed 23 exploits and five full zero-day chains for iOS from versions 13.0 to 17.2.1.  Researchers found that Coruna has direct links to Operation Triangulation, a spying campaign in 2023. The source code was most likely written by a US Department of Defense contractor and later resold via brokers on the secondary market. Coruna’s subsequent path: The framework was used by the hacktivist group UNC6353 (Star Blizzard) for targeted espionage and attacks on Ukrainian users. The tool fell into the hands of China-based hackers UNC6691. They planted government-grade cyberweapons on fake cryptocurrency and financial sites. Visiting via Safari silently loaded the PLASMAGRID stealer, opening access to device data, including crypto wallets. The other case was DarkSword. Attacks ran via malicious websites: visiting them triggered an infection chain on iPhones, granting full device access without the user’s knowledge.  DarkSword’s distribution proved similar: initially it was used by the same UNC6353 group to implant spyware. The framework was later modified with the GHOSTBLADE, GHOSTKNIFE and GHOSTSABER infostealers, geared to pilfer financial data, including crypto wallets. DarkSword’s lifecycle ended with its leak to GitHub in March 2026. Experts believe the developer firm may have gone bankrupt and tried to monetise leftover code on the grey market, leaving a tool at the level of the NSA in the open for common cybercriminals. A Bitcoin bug: flaw or feature? Amid the exploit trade, a natural question arises: is a discovered breach a programmer’s mistake or a deliberately planted backdoor? Cybersecurity has a concept of “plausible deniability”. It is the guiding principle for professional backdoors. The ideal planted entry point should look like a trivial flaw— a typo, faulty memory handling or a classic buffer overflow. If a researcher finds such a “hole”, the vendor can call it an accident, ship a patch and preserve its reputation. Proving malicious intent in millions of lines of code is nearly impossible. There are, however, markers that can raise suspicions of a backdoor: non-standard cryptography. The use of little-known or weakened cryptographic constants vulnerable to mathematical attacks; anomalous logic. Needlessly complex data paths where architecture does not require them; obfuscation. Deliberate tangling of code in open-source projects, or supply-chain compromise, when malicious code is injected via third-party libraries. Closed or partly closed systems such as iOS or Android are often thought to be more vulnerable because of limited transparency. Open-source blockchain projects are sometimes held up as a counterexample. In practice, they offer no guarantees either. In April 2026 researcher Loïc Morel discovered a computational flaw in Bitcoin’s mechanism. Under the protocol, the mining difficulty of digital gold is adjusted every 2016 blocks to keep block time near ten minutes. But because of a bug, the timestamp of the last block in the previous period is omitted from the next calculation (it compares 2015 blocks, not 2016). This gap made a “time-warp” attack possible. If a miner or pool with overwhelming hashrate exploited the flaw, it could trick the algorithm. The system would conclude that mining took longer than it did and dramatically cut difficulty, enabling bitcoin to be mined at an anomalously high pace—up to six blocks per second. Recent incidents have prompted a rethink of the role of independent security researchers, for whom financial temptation has become a severe test of professionalism and ethics. Systems are made by humans, so errors are inevitable. While they persist, there will be a market for those who monetise, conceal or even create them.

The best crypto to invest in for 2026 has to hold up against a new infrastructure question. Coinbase’s advisory board released a 50 page paper on April 21 concluding that blockchains remain safe today but a fault tolerant quantum computer capable of breaking current encryption is increasingly realistic, and preparation must begin now. Every serious [...] The post Best Crypto to Invest In for 2026 After Coinbase’s Quantum Warning and Pepeto’s Presale Crosses $9.29M With Binance Ahead appeared first on Blockonomi.

Salesforce (CRM) drops 30% in 2025, but Agentforce ARR reaches $800M. Analysts see 38% upside with strong AI-driven growth ahead for the cloud giant. The post Salesforce (CRM) Plunges 30% in 2025: Why Analysts Predict 38% Rally Ahead appeared first on Blockonomi.

AMD stock jumped 6.67% following Stifel's price target increase to $320 and the launch of the $899 Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition CPU. The post Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Stock Climbs 6.67% Following New Ryzen Launch and Price Target Boost appeared first on Blockonomi.

The courtroom chaos amplifies political instability, potentially accelerating Netanyahu's exit amid growing demands for accountability. The post Israel Supreme Court chaos adds pressure on Netanyahu amid inquiry demands appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

SK Hynix's profit surge highlights the critical role of AI chip supply in tech market dynamics, influencing NVIDIA's market position and expansion. The post SK Hynix profit soars five-fold on AI chip demand, eyes US ADR listing appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The launch could heighten market volatility, with institutional interest and regulatory clarity crucial for sustained XRP price momentum. The post GraniteShares launching 3x leveraged XRP ETFs amid $55M inflow appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz underscore global energy vulnerability, potentially impacting geopolitical stability and economic forecasts. The post Oil tops $100 as Iranian boats fire on ships in Strait of Hormuz appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Geopolitical tensions may drive inflation fears, impacting Fed policy expectations and prompting shifts toward safe-haven investments. The post Treasury yields rise amid US-Iran standoff; traders eye April PMI data appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The interception exacerbates US-Iran tensions, diminishing diplomatic resolution prospects and impacting market confidence in peace deals. The post US intercepts Iranian oil tankers, complicating peace deal prospects appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Polymarket faces scrutiny after two traders won $37K on Paris weather bets tied to unusual temperature spikes at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Bitcoin's price is not stabilizing quick enough, which is further aggravated by the piling of short orders..

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Samsung faces unprecedented labor unrest as 40,000 workers rally for better pay, planning an 18-day strike that could disrupt AI chip production. The post Samsung Electronics Faces Major Strike Threat as 40,000 Employees Protest Compensation Disparity appeared first on Blockonomi.

SK Hynix achieves record Q1 net profit of $27.2B, up 400% YoY, with 72% operating margin driven by surging AI memory demand and HBM market dominance. The post SK Hynix Shares Surge Following Historic Q1 Earnings Powered by AI Chip Sales appeared first on Blockonomi.

Kalshi launches Commodities Hub using Pyth Network's 24/7 price data for gold, oil, and lithium markets. PYTH token jumps 6% on the announcement. The post Kalshi Partners with Pyth Network for Round-the-Clock Commodity Betting Markets appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR: Ethereum rose 1.93% to $2,368.14, with daily volume hitting 337K ETH above its 20-day average. Binance ETH inflows surged to 372,534, far exceeding the 7-day SMA of 277,709 ETH on-chain. The global SOPR of 1.0157 confirms retail investors are moving coins to Binance to take profits. Whale cohorts holding 10K–100K ETH show negative MVRV, [...] The post Ethereum Rally Runs into Retail Selling on Binance as Whales Hold Ground appeared first on Blockonomi.

AI-driven search innovations could challenge Google's dominance by altering user engagement with traditional results. The post Elizabeth Reid: AI threatens Google’s search dominance, user engagement is shifting towards AI summaries, and understanding diverse user needs is crucial for adaptation | Odd Lots appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

OCBC's move into tokenized assets on Solana could boost blockchain adoption in finance, signaling regulatory comfort and potential market shifts. The post OCBC launches $526M tokenized gold fund on Solana appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

AI spending could soon outpace traditional salaries, reshaping workforce dynamics and business priorities. The post Dylan Patel: Unbounded demand for AI tools is reshaping budgets, AI spending could exceed salary expenses, and workforce efficiency is drastically changing | Invest Like the Best appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Increased regulatory scrutiny of private credit may heighten market volatility, potentially impacting broader financial stability and equity markets. The post Regulators scrutinize $3T private credit sector, raising S&P 500 risk concerns appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

ServiceNow (NOW) stock dropped 12% after Q1 earnings barely beat estimates. Iran conflict delays and muted EPS outlook disappointed investors. The post ServiceNow (NOW) Stock Plunges 12% Despite AI Momentum: What Spooked Investors appeared first on Blockonomi.

Pornhub's shift to USDC highlights the growing importance of regulatory compliance and stablecoin reliability in digital payment systems. The post Pornhub phases out USDT and adopts USDC as preferred stablecoin appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

IBM stock fell 7% after-hours despite beating Q1 earnings. Investors worried about unchanged 2026 guidance and slowing Red Hat Enterprise Linux growth. The post IBM (IBM) Stock Plunges 7% Despite Beating Q1 Earnings Expectations appeared first on Blockonomi.

The prolonged blockade heightens economic strain on Iran, complicates US-Iran relations, and increases market uncertainty. The post Trump confirms US naval blockade on Iran to persist until deal reached appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The depletion of interceptors may force the U.S. to pivot towards diplomacy, impacting military strategy and market expectations. The post US uses nearly 50% of Patriot interceptors in Iran conflict, munitions strain mounts appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin's resilience amid geopolitical tensions highlights its potential as a stable asset, yet underscores vulnerability to sudden market shifts. The post Bitcoin holds above $68K amid US-Iran tensions ahead of April 24 resolution appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Rising tensions could escalate regional instability, impacting geopolitical alliances and economic conditions in the Middle East. The post Israeli army launches interceptor missile near Lebanon amid Hezbollah operations appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Warsh's nomination and Clarity Act delays heighten crypto market uncertainty, impacting Bitcoin's price trajectory and trader sentiment. The post Kevin Warsh nominated as Fed Chair, Bitcoin traders eye Clarity Act impact appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Best 10 dApp Tokens Dominating April 2026: Must-Know Picks Blockchain goes way beyond Bitcoin. It is a secure system that lets people interact without trusting middlemen. This power drives new apps in finance, games, and more. One big hit is […] The post Best 10 dApp Tokens Dominating April 2026: Must-Know Picks appeared first on Blockmanity.

Intel (INTC) reports Q1 earnings Thursday. Analysts project $0.02 EPS on $12.4B revenue. Foundry losses, Nvidia partnership, and Musk's Terafab deal in focus. The post Intel (INTC) Stock: Q1 Earnings Report and What Wall Street Is Watching appeared first on Blockonomi.

Tesla (TSLA) stock fell 2.5% after-hours despite beating Q1 estimates as Musk tempered expectations on Optimus robots and robotaxi revenue growth. The post Tesla (TSLA) Stock Slides in After-Hours Trading Despite Strong Q1 Earnings Performance appeared first on Blockonomi.

Bitmine, the ethereum treasury firm led by Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, has added 101,627 ether worth approximately $233 million to its holdings via Bitgo. Key Takeaways: Tom Lee’s Bitmine acquired 101,627 ETH worth $233 million from Bitgo, its largest weekly buy of 2026. The purchase brings Bitmine’s total ether holdings to approximately 4.97 million ETH […]

Iran's stance complicates diplomatic efforts, impacting market confidence and necessitating strategic shifts in US-Iran relations. The post Iran refuses to reopen Hormuz as US blockade persists appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising tensions and stalled talks could further destabilize regional security, impacting global markets and diplomatic relations. The post Iran claims US breaches stalling talks as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The shipping reroute highlights global trade vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for diversified routes and resilient supply chains. The post Iran conflict reroutes shipping, Panama Canal lane prices soar 10x appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The IRGC's actions heighten geopolitical tensions, impacting global shipping and market stability, with potential for rapid market shifts. The post Iran’s IRGC seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The attack underscores the fragility of peace efforts and may destabilize market confidence in a near-term Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. The post France mourns soldiers killed in Hezbollah attack in Lebanon appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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

GSR launches BESO ETF on Nasdaq, combining Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana in one actively managed fund with staking rewards and weekly rebalancing. The post GSR Debuts Multi-Asset Crypto ETF (BESO) Featuring Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana appeared first on Blockonomi.

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MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay is leaving Consensys as the wallet rolls out Advanced Permissions for recurring onchain actions.

Rising oil prices due to Middle East tensions could strain UK retail sectors, impacting consumer spending and economic stability. The post Sainsbury’s, WHSmith warn Middle East tensions may impact profits appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The resumption of flights signals reduced regional tensions, potentially stabilizing markets and fostering diplomatic engagement opportunities. The post Qatar Airways resumes flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Damascus amid Iran tensions easing appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The euro area's business contraction pressures the ECB to consider rate cuts, potentially impacting monetary policy and economic stability. The post Euro area business activity contracts, services sector downturn blamed appeared first on Crypto Briefing.