TLDR: Ripple opened its new Middle East and Africa regional headquarters inside Dubai’s DIFC on April 30, 2026. The new DIFC office creates capacity to double Ripple’s regional team to meet growing market demand. Ripple became the first blockchain payments provider fully licensed by the DFSA in March 2025. The DFSA approved RLUSD as a [...] The post Ripple Opens Middle East and Africa HQ in Dubai’s DIFC to Double Regional Team appeared first on Blockonomi.

Major cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase set to delist selected crypto assets in May, with Ethereum based stablecoin affected.

The primary competitive edge of the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid in the prediction market sector will be its HYPE token. This view was shared by BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes in an interview with CoinDesk.  According to him, users will not only trade bets on event outcomes but also directly participate in the platform's economy through the native coin. This structurally distinguishes Hyperliquid from Kalshi and Polymarket. “HIP-4 will take the lead due to the platform's user base, low fees, and solid technical foundation. Holders of the native token will directly benefit from its activity,” the expert explained. On Kalshi, a trader does not gain a share in the platform's economy — they simply buy and sell contracts. The platform is regulated by the CFTC and remains without a tokenized incentive layer.  Polymarket is preparing to launch its own token. In the Gate pre-market, perpetual contracts for POLY trade around $14 — this corresponds to an FDV of approximately $14 billion. For comparison, HYPE's current figure exceeds $38 billion.  Source: CoinGecko.  Hyperliquid enters the market with a ready mechanism for redistributing value within its ecosystem, Hayes emphasized.  Geography Hayes also cited regulatory asymmetry as an additional factor. Kalshi operates in the US under the supervision of the CFTC — for it, compliance is more important than tokenomics. Polymarket, after registering in the US, is tightening its legal framework and facing restrictions in Asia: the service is blocked or partially restricted in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan. Hyperliquid faces no such barriers. Its audience is initially skewed towards Asian traders — where retail and semi-institutional event betting has long been a significant part of the market. Active Testing  In March, the leading perp-DEX deployed the HIP-4 protocol with prediction markets in the testnet. Betting on event outcomes will become an additional layer within the already existing Hyperliquid ecosystem. Users will be able to open positions on event outcomes just as they currently trade perpetual contracts. For now, during testing, clients have access to binary options on HyperCore's base prices.  The new feature will be based on so-called outcome tokens. In April, the platform introduced a fee structure for these assets: opening a position will be free, with fees charged only upon closing or settling a trade. Back in April, a group of scholars from the London Business School and Yale University analyzed transactions on Polymarket from 2023 to 2025. The authors concluded that the platform's prediction accuracy is ensured by an “informed minority,” rather than the “wisdom of the crowd.”

Marketers have become adept at luring users onto prediction venues like Polymarket or Kalshi with tales of the “wisdom of crowds”, to which anyone might belong. But is that really so? ForkLog examined just two recent episodes on Polymarket in which whales secured the outcomes they wanted against objective reality and the events on which hefty wagers had been placed. The wisdom of insider crowds Backers of prediction markets often point out that such platforms neatly illustrate the “wisdom of crowds”. The notion was popularised by the American journalist James Surowiecki in the eponymous bestseller of 2004, though some version of it has existed for centuries. In 1906 Francis Galton, an English polymath who founded differential psychology (and, alas, eugenics), ran an experiment novel for its time. At a fair, visitors could pay sixpence to guess the weight of an ox. Galton hoped to collect the “votes” of a crowd with disparate knowledge and skills to buttress his hunch about the dangers of universal suffrage. Just as a broker cannot eyeball an animal’s weight, he supposed, neither can a farmer judge politicians’ competence.  The results said otherwise. Aggregating 787 entries and taking the median, Galton found, to his surprise, that the “average voter” missed by a single pound—remarkably accurate, given the ox weighed 1,198 pounds. The claim that, in forecasting, the uninformed majority can outperform individual experts is enticing to democrats—and, as specialists in behavioral economics know, flatters consumers of all political stripes. But does “wisdom of crowds” apply to modern prediction markets? This was questioned by researchers at London Business School and Yale. Analysing Polymarket transactions from 2023 to 2025, they reached a deflating conclusion for most: 3.14% of participants capture 30% of profits.   “Prediction markets are remarkably accurate, but the source of this accuracy is not the ‘crowd’. […] Information aggregation in prediction markets operates differently than traditional ‘wisdom of crowds’ narratives assume. Rather than many participants each contributing partial information, prices appear to be set by a small number of informed and skilled traders whose trades move markets toward final outcomes. Other participants provide liquidity and volume, but have little influence on price formation,” the authors conclude. They point not only to speculative behaviour by traders, but also to numerous signs of insider dealing.  Such accusations are routinely levelled at Polymarket and Kalshi, for which Donald Trump Jr., the elder son of the sitting US president, serves as a strategic adviser. After a scandal over bets on a military operation in Venezuela, Congress began debating a ban on prediction markets that touch on matters of public importance. Kalshi has already responded to possible regulation and began blocking accounts, for instance those of politicians wagering on their own campaigns.      Incidents of another sort attract far less attention. Seemingly minor, they are increasingly ensnaring ordinary users.  Beirut’s 3D chess In early March the radical Shia group Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel. In response the IDF resumed a ground operation in southern Lebanon while striking Beirut and Tyre from the air.  As American diplomacy joined efforts to calm the conflict, Polymarket opened a prediction market inviting users to bet on the date of an officially declared ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.  On 16 April US President Donald Trump announced a truce to take effect at midnight on 17 April. Soon after, the market—having amassed more than $112m—was closed early at the request of a user who had bet on “Yes” before 18 April.  Source: Polymarket.  The decision angered those who had forecast that no ceasefire would be reached by the stated date. First, the ceasefire was largely formal: within hours of its supposed start, official Beirut accused the IDF of fresh strikes on its territory. Second, Lebanon is not an active party to the current conflict, and Hezbollah said it would not join talks until Israel withdrew its troops and freed the group’s imprisoned supporters.  Those unhappy with the closure, as the rules allow, tried to contest it via UMA’s oracle platform. They failed there, too: 86.6% of votes, weighted by delegates’ token holdings, backed Polymarket’s decision and just 1.48% opposed it. “Yes” amassed ~14.5m tokens. On 16–17 April UMA traded around $0.45.  Voting on the disputed market. Source: UMA. That sparked another wave of comments on the closed market. Angry users accuse Polymarket and UMA of collusion, criticise the oracle’s model for letting whales sway outcomes, complain about the admins’ silence and demand compensation.  “If Polymarket cannot reverse a final on-chain result, it should still consider refunds or compensation in cases where a disputed market failed to provide adequate protection against contested rule interpretation. This is a matter of market integrity, not just trader displeasure,” one user notes.  A $50m “crime” At the same time, a similar incident unfolded, also tied to the Middle East. Yuri Yatsenko, co-founder of a Web3 start-up, posted on X: “Right now, a $50m crime is happening on Polymarket.”  The trigger was a market on a ceasefire between the US–Israeli coalition and Iran. Under the rules, a positive resolution would be counted if the parties observed a ceasefire for 14 days, or 336 hours. Polymarket’s admins held that they had. Yet, Yatsenko notes, on 7 April—the day the market was resolved in favour of “Yes”—rocket attacks continued for 20 of the 24 hours. Source: Polymarket. “The disputed resolutions were sent to a vote in UMA; 50 new wallets open large ‘Yes’ positions before results are announced; one wallet turned roughly $72,000 into roughly $200,000 within hours,” Yatsenko concludes. Experience suggests such disputes rarely end well for prediction-market punters who feel cheated. In March 2025 Polymarket refused to compensate users harmed by the premature, incorrect resolution of a market on a US–Ukraine minerals deal.  Researchers found that three large UMA tokenholders, accounting for 25% of votes, pushed through the unjust outcome. Polymarket acknowledged a governance attack, calling it “unprecedented”.  “This is not part of the future we want to build. We will create systems, monitoring and more to ensure it does not happen again,” the platform said at the time. Back in August 2024 Vitalik Buterin wrote that “to classify Polymarket as gambling is to misunderstand what prediction markets are.” In that, the Ethereum co-founder—himself well-versed in how such venues work—was quite right.  By 2026, prediction markets had indeed shifted from advanced bookmakers into yet another piece of infrastructure in which ordinary users are merely liquidity for big players. ForkLog contacted Polymarket on 23 and 28 April to request comment on these developments. We have yet to receive a reply.

TLDR: Visa stablecoin settlement volume grew 50% quarter over quarter, reaching a $7 billion annualized run rate. Five new chains including Base, Polygon, Arc, Tempo, and Canton now support Visa’s multi-chain settlement layer. Visa operates over 130 stablecoin-linked card programs across more than 50 countries worldwide. Visa serves as a design partner for Arc and [...] The post Visa Expands Stablecoin Settlement Pilot to Nine Blockchains as Volume Hits $7B Annualized Rate appeared first on Blockonomi.

Meta (META) stock dropped 8% after announcing higher capex guidance of $125B-$145B for 2026, despite crushing Q1 earnings and revenue expectations. The post Meta (META) Shares Plunge 8% Despite Earnings Win on AI Spending Surge appeared first on Blockonomi.

Qualcomm (QCOM) stock jumped 13% after Q2 earnings topped estimates. CEO announced data-center chip shipments begin in December with major cloud provider. The post Qualcomm (QCOM) Stock Soars 13% on Strong Q2 Earnings and Data-Center Expansion Plans appeared first on Blockonomi.

The crypto market fell 2.6% to $2.60 trillion on Thursday as concerns over a prolonged blockade at the Strait of Hormuz and the Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance on rate cuts weighed on investor sentiment. Bitcoin (BTC) price dropped 3.5% to…

Bitcoin faces selling pressure as Binance’s whale ratio hits an ATH, while BTC trades below the $79,300 short-term holder level.

• #bitcoin

[PRESS RELEASE – San Francisco, United States, April 30th, 2026] Kite today announced the launch of its mainnet and the Kite Agent Passport, an identity and payment infrastructure built specifically for autonomous AI agents. The launch marks Kite’s transition from testnet to production, introducing a payments and settlement layer purpose-built for agent-driven transactions. The infrastructure […]

Amazon (AMZN) stock rose 4% after Q1 earnings beat, AWS grew 28%, and the company revealed $225B in AI chip commitments from CEO Andy Jassy. The post Amazon (AMZN) Stock Surges 4% on Strong AWS Performance and $225B AI Chip Backlog appeared first on Blockonomi.

XRP funding rates on Binance hit their highest level since February as whales bought 1.15B tokens during the latest price pullback.

Microsoft (MSFT) exceeds Q3 projections with 40% Azure growth and strong Copilot adoption, but capex surges 49% while free cash flow declines 22%. The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock: Cloud Platform Surge Drives Q3 Beat Despite Soaring AI Investments appeared first on Blockonomi.

Alphabet (GOOGL) stock rises 7% after Q1 EPS of $5.11 beats estimates by 94%. Google Cloud revenue jumps 63% with a $462B backlog driving growth. The post Alphabet (GOOGL) Stock Soars 7% on Stellar Q1 Results and Cloud Revenue Surge appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR: Ethereum taker buy volume surpassed $1B on Binance within one hour after ETH dropped below $2,300. OKX recorded nearly $20M in ETH buying flows in the same one-hour window following the price decline. The Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged at 3.5%–3.75% and flagged rising short-term inflation risks. ETH was trading at $2,256.46, reflecting [...] The post Ethereum Pulls $1B in Buy Volume on Binance as ETH Drops Below $2,300 Amid Fed Rate Hold appeared first on Blockonomi.

Griff Green, a member of the Arbitrum Security Council, has accused Circle of failing to block hackers' funds, unlike its competitor Tether. He argues that the leadership of USDC prioritizes profit over security. Arbitrum Security Council Member: Circle Is Clearly Not Full of Good MenArbitrum Security Council member Griff Green @griffgreen states that Tether actively freezes hacker funds, while Circle does nothing. He believes Tether consists of traditional crypto natives who value… pic.twitter.com/H74or5U0Lk— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 29, 2026 Green noted that Tether actively freezes assets linked to North Korean hackers and has already recovered over $70 million. He attributed this to the company's roots, stating it was founded by "crypto-oriented" individuals who share the industry's values. He described Circle as an entity akin to Goldman Sachs, suggesting that the company is solely interested in financial metrics and ignores thefts unless countering them yields obvious benefits. "If you have the ability to solve a problem, you are responsible for it. Circle does nothing, while Tether blocks North Korean accounts left and right," he stated. As a form of pressure, Green urged users to sell USDC. He believes only market signals can compel the company to seriously combat hackers who "destroy investors' portfolios and the entire world." In April, investors of Drift Protocol filed a class-action lawsuit against Circle. The plaintiffs accused the company of aiding hackers and negligence.

goodPayments is a non-custodial crypto payment processor for accepting USDT and TRX on the TRON network. The service forwards funds directly to the merchant's wallet and charges a flat fee of 6.5/13 TRX ($2.15/$4.30) with no percentage of turnover. Here's how the product works — and at what turnover the flat-rate model pays off. Benefits of Crypto Processing According to Chainalysis, the adjusted on-chain settlement volume in stablecoins reached $28 trillion in 2025. By 2035, the figure could grow to $1.5 quadrillion — exceeding the entire current cross-border payments market. A large share of that volume flows through TRON, which as of April 2026 holds 45% of the total USDT supply. According to CoinDesk Data, the network processed $2 trillion in USDT transfers during Q1 alone. At the same time, businesses face high traditional acquiring costs. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per online transaction; PayPal — 3.49% + $0.49. For industries that banks classify as high-risk, rates reach 6.5% + $0.20–0.35. On top of that, providers withhold a 5–15% rolling reserve: these funds remain frozen for 3–6 months. Until that period expires, the merchant cannot access the withheld money. Crypto payment services typically cost less: fees run 0.5–1% or a flat amount unrelated to the payment size. Chargebacks are another cost burden. A customer disputes a purchase through their bank, and the funds are debited from the merchant along with a provider penalty. According to a Mastercard report, 261 million chargebacks totaling $33.79 billion were filed in 2025. By 2028, the volume could reach 324 million at $41.69 billion. About 45% of chargebacks are fraud-related: either someone used a stolen card or the buyer deliberately disputed a legitimate payment. On-chain payments eliminate this entirely — a finalized blockchain transaction is irreversible. "Crypto processing has long moved past the experimental stage and become a fully functional business tool. This is especially visible in segments where traditional acquiring is either too expensive or risks asset freezes at any moment," goodPayments representatives comment. Processing Architecture goodPayments operates exclusively on TRON with USDT (TRC-20) and the native TRX token. The team currently focuses on this blockchain because it remains one of the most popular networks in the CIS and Eastern Europe for transferring the largest stablecoin by market cap. The developers plan to add four more networks and expand the list of supported tokens in 2026. A merchant creates an invoice through the dashboard or API: specifying the amount, accepted currencies, expiration time, and payment description. Optionally, they can add a callback URL for payment status notifications and a redirect page for after the payment. The service generates a payment window with a QR code and a unique address. Two address types are supported: temporary — single-use, active only for the invoice duration (30 minutes by default). Monitoring stops after payment or expiration; static — a permanent address that accepts an unlimited number of incoming payments. Once funds arrive, the next step kicks in. If the merchant has AML checks enabled, the transaction is validated against the configured risk threshold. If it passes, the service automatically forwards the funds to the merchant's primary wallet, set in the dashboard. According to the team, the path from deposit to the merchant's wallet takes 10–15 seconds. "For each invoice, the system generates a unique wallet and monitors it for incoming funds. After payment, the transaction goes through an AML check — this is optional, the merchant can toggle it on or off. Then the funds move to the primary wallet configured in the dashboard," goodPayments explains. The private keys to the primary wallet belong to the merchant. The service has no access to them and technically cannot delay withdrawals, impose internal freezes, or close the account. This sets goodPayments apart from custodial processors, where funds first land in the provider's shared hot wallet, and the merchant sees them as an entry in an internal ledger. Dashboard Registration on goodPayments is not automatic: after filling out the form, the application goes to an admin for manual approval, and only after confirmation does the merchant receive a password by email. The team says the process takes up to three hours. This approach filters out bots and mass signups. The interface is built around four sections: Dashboard, Balance, Invoices, and Mass Payouts. Working wallet balances appear in the sidebar and remain visible on every screen. The dashboard displays active payment addresses and a summary of transactions and balance usage over the past 24 hours. Source: goodPayments. A key structural feature is the two separate working wallets in TRX: Forwarding — the primary balance that covers the service fee (6.5 or 13 TRX) for forwarding funds from the deposit address to the merchant's wallet. Funds are not stored here — the balance is spent on fee payments; Activations — a separate balance for activating temporary addresses generated for invoices. A new TRON address is inactive by default — it cannot send outgoing transactions. If the payer sends TRX, the network activates the address automatically at no extra cost. With USDT this doesn't happen, so the system sends a technical transaction (0.000001 TRX) from the merchant's activation balance, costing 1.1 TRX (TRON network fee). The Invoices section offers filters across eight parameters: invoice ID, receiving address, transaction hash, comment tag, date range, cryptocurrency, network, payment status, and address type — temporary or static. The table supports sorting by time, amount, status, and full-text search. This matters for bookkeeping reconciliation and for exchange services that need to quickly locate a specific transaction by hash or tag. The transaction history for both wallets is available in the Balance section with filters by period, operation type, and account. Flat Fee The service's main advantage is the absence of a turnover percentage. goodPayments charges a fixed amount per processed payment: 6.5 TRX — if payment arrives in TRX; or if the invoice is in USDT and the merchant's primary wallet (where all deposits go) already holds USDT; 13 TRX — if payment is in USDT and the merchant's primary wallet has no stablecoins. After the first USDT deposit, all subsequent transactions are processed for 6.5 TRX. At a TRX price of roughly $0.33 as of April 2026, that's $2.15 or $4.30 per transaction. The figures match the cost of a USDT transfer on TRON — goodPayments adds no markup to its rate. The fee is not deducted from the payment amount — it's charged to the merchant's balance. If the "Include fees in invoice amount" flag is enabled, the fee is added on top and passed to the payer. When the balance hits zero, invoice processing pauses until it's topped up. The flat-rate model's economics improve as the average ticket grows. The table below compares goodPayments with traditional acquiring (Stripe) and a typical crypto processor charging 1% plus a $2.15 network fee for forwarding: TicketgoodPayments ($2.15)Stripe (2.9% + $0.30)Crypto processor (1% + $2.15 network fee)$10$2.15 (21.5%)$0.59 (5.9%)$2.25 (22.5%)$50$2.15 (4.3%)$1.75 (3.5%)$2.65 (5.3%)$100$2.15 (2.2%)$3.20 (3.2%)$3.15 (3.2%)$200$2.15 (1.1%)$6.10 (3.1%)$4.15 (2.1%)$500$2.15 (0.4%)$14.80 (3.0%)$7.15 (1.4%)$1,000$2.15 (0.2%)$29.30 (2.9%)$12.15 (1.2%)$10,000$2.15 (0.02%)$290.30 (2.9%)$102.15 (1.0%) The break-even point with traditional acquiring is a $64 ticket: from that amount onward, goodPayments is cheaper than Stripe (2.9% + $0.30). Against a crypto processor charging 1% + network fee, goodPayments wins at any ticket size. Both services pay the same $2.15 TRON network fee for forwarding, but the percentage-based processor adds 1% on top — goodPayments does not. For merchants averaging $100+ per transaction, the savings add up. The baseline case cited by the goodPayments team is $100,000/month in turnover with 1,000 transactions at $100: "A client had been using a crypto processor charging 1% of turnover plus network fees. They processed $100,000 per month, with payments averaging $100. Total: 6.5 x 1,000 = 6,500 TRX, roughly $2,080 in network fees, plus $1,000 in turnover commission. On goodPayments they pay only $2,080 — saving more than 30%." For the high-risk segment, the gap widens dramatically. At $500,000/month in turnover with 3,333 transactions at $150, a processor charging 6% would cost $30,000 plus a 5–15% rolling reserve. The same volume through goodPayments — $7,165. The difference: roughly $22,800 per month, not counting the frozen reserve. AML Checks: Configurable Risk Threshold The AML module in goodPayments is optional. When activated, every incoming transaction is validated against a risk threshold set by the merchant (0–100%). If the risk score exceeds the threshold, the funds are returned to the sender; if below — the transaction proceeds to the merchant's wallet. Each check costs $1, deducted in TRX at the current exchange rate from the primary balance. The fee applies regardless of the result — both on pass and on rejection. The check history with transaction hashes, risk scores, and PDF reports is stored in the dashboard. According to the team, the module's primary clients are exchange services, where screening incoming funds has become routine: "If a merchant skips AML and aggregates all deposits into one wallet, a tainted transaction will flag the entire address. We enable merchants to accept payments to temporary addresses, screen them, and only then forward to the primary wallet. If contamination exceeds the threshold, the transaction is automatically returned to the sender," goodPayments explains. POS Terminal for Offline Businesses Beyond online processing, goodPayments is developing a POS solution for brick-and-mortar locations. According to the team, the cashier enters the amount, the POS generates a QR code, the customer pays from any compatible wallet, and confirmation arrives within 10–20 seconds. Source: goodPayments. The service offers auto-conversion from USDT to Russian rubles, US dollars, or euros with settlement to a bank account. Three modes are available: crypto-only, auto-conversion to fiat, or a combined option. "Conversion is handled through an external partner — a licensed exchange service. The merchant signs an agreement with the partner and receives a deposit address. This address is passed to us, and we configure automatic forwarding of all deposits to the partner's wallet, where conversion takes place. Settlement terms are set individually: some merchants choose daily payouts, others — weekly or monthly. The fee depends on the currency and country. For example, one of our clients converts funds to dirhams at a 2% fee," goodPayments explains. Setup takes one business day; staff training — about 30 minutes. Target industries include restaurants, hotels, retail, tourism, and healthcare. Mass Payouts and Referral Program In April 2026, goodPayments announced two updates expanding the dashboard functionality. Mass payouts. The tool sends TRX or USDT (TRC-20) to hundreds of addresses in a single operation. Recipients can be added manually or uploaded as an XLSX, CSV, or TXT file (up to 5 MB). The process follows three steps: The merchant selects a currency and uploads a list of addresses with amounts. They see a summary: number of transactions, total payout amount, goodPayments fee in TRX, and the separate cost of activating new addresses (if the recipient has never held USDT). The service generates a temporary address. Once funds arrive, the payout starts automatically. Progress displays in real time. If the temporary address holds insufficient funds, the service shows the shortfall. Payout history is stored in the Invoices section filtered by the "Mass Payouts" address type. Source: goodPayments. Referral program. Every merchant gets a personal referral link in their dashboard. A new merchant who signs up through it is automatically assigned to the referrer. The bonus is 5% on every top-up of the referred partner's forwarding wallet balance. The amount is instantly credited to the referrer's forwarding balance — it can be used to pay fees, fund mass payouts, or be withdrawn. Top-ups of the activation wallet, invoice payments, and other operations are not counted. The referral page displays stats: the total TRX bonuses earned and the number of referred partners. Source: goodPayments. Who Is goodPayments For goodPayments is a non-custodial processor for the TRON + USDT stack with a flat-fee model equal to the network fee. The service charges no percentage of turnover and does not hold user funds. The product suits merchants with an average ticket of $65 or more. At $100–200, the savings versus Stripe and PayPal reach $1–4 per transaction; at $1,000+, savings hit tens of dollars. For micropayments, the flat fee loses to traditional acquiring — at small amounts, Stripe's commission is lower. Against crypto processors with percentage-based fees, goodPayments is cheaper at any ticket size. Strengths: direct forwarding to the merchant's wallet in 10–15 seconds, configurable AML with automatic refund of tainted funds, mass payouts via XLSX/CSV, and a 5% referral program. Weaknesses: limited to the TRON network and reliance on an external partner for fiat off-ramps. Product updates and new network announcements are available in the Telegram channel. For setup and POS inquiries, contact the manager. FAQ What is goodPayments? goodPayments is a non-custodial crypto payment processor for accepting payments on the TRON network: USDT (TRC-20) and TRX. Funds go directly to the merchant's wallet — the service does not hold them. What fees does goodPayments charge? The service fee for forwarding funds to the merchant's wallet: 6.5 TRX if payment is in TRX or if the merchant's primary wallet already holds USDT; 13 TRX if payment is in USDT and the merchant's primary wallet has no USDT. At April 2026 rates, that's $2.15 or $4.30 per transaction. Separately, 1.1 TRX is charged from the activation balance for activating a temporary address upon receiving USDT. AML checks are optional at $1 per address. No other fees apply. What cryptocurrencies and networks does the service support? As of April 2026, only USDT (TRC-20) and TRX on the TRON network. The team plans to add at least four new networks and expand the token list in 2026. Is it safe to accept payments through goodPayments? The service uses a non-custodial model: private keys are held by the merchant. The optional AML module returns tainted transactions to the sender before they reach the primary wallet. Risk threshold settings range from 0 to 100%.

Ripple has expanded its presence in the UAE by opening a new Middle East and Africa headquarters in Dubai, increasing its capacity to grow its regional operations. According to Ripple, the office is based in the Dubai International Financial Centre…

PI was brutally rejected at $0.20.

Meteora reported a $1.5M OTC scam loss during MET buybacks, while Q1 cash flow reached $18.3M and treasury closed at $32.8M.

Mezo has launched an institutional-grade product designed to help corporate treasuries earn yield and access lending on their bitcoin holdings. Key Takeaways: Mezo and Anchorage Digital Bank launched Mezo Prime to provide bitcoin yield to corporate treasuries. Over 1,000,000 bitcoin currently sitting idle in custody can now access protocol yield without commingling. Bullish has deployed […]

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Meta now pays creators in USDC stablecoin via Solana and Polygon networks in Colombia and Philippines, with plans to expand to 160+ markets worldwide. The post Meta Rolls Out Cryptocurrency Payments to Content Creators Using USDC Stablecoin appeared first on Blockonomi.

Senator Thom Tillis pushes for a May markup hearing on the CLARITY Act crypto bill as disputes over stablecoin yields and ethics provisions threaten passage. The post Senator Tillis Demands May Vote on CLARITY Act as Crypto Bill Faces Critical Deadline appeared first on Blockonomi.

Jerome Powell announces he'll stay on the Federal Reserve board beyond his May term end, citing legal and political pressures that leave him 'no choice.' The post Jerome Powell Vows to Stay at Federal Reserve — ‘I Have No Choice,’ He Says appeared first on Blockonomi.

Veteran commodities trader Peter Brandt is reigniting his long-standing feud with the XRP community.

• #vechain

WLFI token drops 14% to $0.064 as governance vote on 62B token vesting proposal sparks backlash from Justin Sun and early investors. Vote runs until May 7. The post World Liberty Financial (WLFI) Token Plummets 14% Amid Contentious 62B Token Vesting Vote appeared first on Blockonomi.

Shinhan Card has entered a partnership with the Solana Foundation to develop and test stablecoin-based payment systems on blockchain infrastructure. According to a press release from Shinhan Card, the company has begun an advanced proof-of-concept this year to simulate real-world…

South Korea’s tax authority has begun preparations to implement its 20-22% tax on crypto income starting next year, fast-tracking the development of a tax base and tracking system to end years of delays for the Income Tax Act. Related Reading: Japan Regulators Target Crypto Deals In Real Estate With New Guidance NTS Begins 2027 Crypto […]

Arthur Hayes predicts Bitcoin (BTC) will reach $125K by end of 2026, citing global liquidity expansion as key driver. BTC trades near $75,820 resistance. The post Bitcoin (BTC) Forecast: BitMEX Founder Arthur Hayes Eyes $125K Target by Late 2026 appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Twenty One Capital (XXI) stock jumped 6% after hours following Tether's proposal to merge the company with Strike and Elektron Energy into one Bitcoin platform. The post Twenty One Capital (XXI) Stock Rallies on Tether’s Proposed Three-Company Merger Plan appeared first on Blockonomi.

Dogecoin's breakout was just a fluke, at least for now: the rally continues.

Solana (SOL) trades at $84.63 inside a descending triangle apex. Analysts project a 10% move toward $93 or $76 as quantum defense layer activates. The post Solana (SOL) Price: Descending Triangle Apex Signals Imminent 10% Breakout appeared first on Blockonomi.

South Korea-based crypto venture firm Hashed has secured regulatory approval to operate from Abu Dhabi Global Market, expanding its presence into the Middle East’s regulated financial zone. According to a company announcement, Hashed’s group entity, Hashed Global Management Limited, has…

The price of the leading cryptocurrency has encountered resistance around the $80,000 mark. According to Bloomberg, the growth is being held back by market participants' positions on the Deribit exchange. At levels near $80,000, call options expiring in May and June amount to $1.5 billion. In this scenario, market makers are forced to sell the asset as the price rises to hedge risks. Additional pressure on the rate was exerted by profit-taking and a slowdown in demand on the spot market. At the time of writing, digital gold is trading at $75,785 (-1.7% for the day). Hourly chart of BTC/USDT on Binance. Source: TradingView. Five Years with Bitcoin: Return Statistics Analysts at Delphi Digital examined the historical returns of the first cryptocurrency. They calculated the outcome for all possible five-year holding periods from May 2016. The worst possible 5 Year Bitcoin Entry was down just 13%.Return comparisons can look very different when the start date is a cycle top.Our analyst @yeak__ looked at every possible 5 year holding period for BTC, ETH, and SOL using daily prices since May 2016. ETH and SOL… pic.twitter.com/YY1z9iZOYq— Delphi Digital (@Delphi_Digital) April 29, 2026 The worst time to enter Bitcoin was buying at the cycle peak in December 2017. Selling five years later—near the lows of 2022—resulted in a 13% loss. This is the worst scenario in the history of observations. The median five-year return of the digital coin exceeded 800%. For comparison, Ethereum's figure was 1200%. Over long horizons, crypto assets have delivered high returns almost regardless of the entry point. Sensitivity to the purchase price remains only over short time frames. As reported on April 29, Bitcoin and many other crypto assets declined following the US Federal Reserve's decision to maintain the interest rate at its current level.

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Bitcoin drops 2.1% to $75,633 as oil hits 4-year high on Iran concerns. Mixed tech earnings from Meta, Amazon, Alphabet impact markets. Fed holds rates steady. The post Bitcoin (BTC) Drops to $75K as Crude Oil Soars and Tech Giants Deliver Mixed Results appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Republican Senator Thom Tillis says the Senate’s version of the CLARITY Act has “made a lot of progress,” and it was time for lawmakers to vote on advancing the bill.

The latest stablecoin move comes years after Meta first dipped its toes into stablecoins through Libra in 2019, before scrapping the plans in 2022 due to regulatory pushback.

Dogecoin (DOGE) jumped 14% to $0.112 with open interest hitting $1.74B. Analysts identify 2023 fractal pattern pointing to potential $0.33 target. The post Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Surges 14% as Technical Patterns Signal Potential Run to $0.33 appeared first on Blockonomi.

FBI and international partners arrest 276 suspects in global crypto pig butchering scam operation, shutting down fraud centers and recovering millions. The post Global Law Enforcement Takes Down 276 Suspects in Massive Crypto Romance Scam Operation appeared first on Blockonomi.

Why Are Set to Transform Web3 In the fast-evolving world of blockchain and crypto, a major shift is coming. Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, shares a clear vision: will soon become . These smart digital helpers will handle tasks, […] The post Yat Siu’s Bold Prediction: AI Agents to Rule as Web3’s Core Users While Animoca Builds Identity and Payments Backbone appeared first on Blockmanity.

At the end of April, ForkLog magazine compiled its traditional calendar of significant events for the upcoming month. May 3 — Anniversary of the Sui mainnet launch; May 8-10 — ETHPrague conference in Prague, Czech Republic; May 12 — Release of the US Consumer Price Index and inflation data; May 13 — Launch of the Azul update on the Base mainnet; May 22 — Bitcoin Pizza Day; May 26 — Anniversary of the Polkadot project launch; May 29 — Commencement of 24/7 trading of cryptocurrency futures and options on the CME; May — Release of the stablecoin USDPT on Solana by Western Union.

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Eric Trump says Bitcoin is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by bank adoption, custody services, and record ETF launches at Bitcoin 2026 conference. The post Bitcoin Enters Historic Era as Traditional Finance Embraces Digital Assets, Says Eric Trump appeared first on Blockonomi.

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XRP holds $1.40 with April ETF inflows at $83.9M and Rakuten Points integration live. Technical analysis targets $2.15 breakout or $0.98 downside risk. The post Ripple (XRP) Holds $1.40 as ETF Inflows Surge and Rakuten Launches Point Conversion appeared first on Blockonomi.

XRP sentiment rose after Rakuten Wallet enabled points conversion, spot trading and payments across millions of merchants in Japan.

The AI boom has increased demand exponentially, requiring cutting-edge infrastructure and high-efficiency technology to support grid resilience, ultimately reshaping how the digital future is built. This article first appeared in The Energy Mag. The original article can be viewed here. The Energy Mag (formerly The Miner Mag) provides news, data, and insights on the energy–compute–markets […]

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Ethereum (ETH) drops below $2,300 after Fed holds rates. 226K ETH moved to exchanges, $149.7M liquidated. Key support now at $2,220. The post Ethereum (ETH) Faces $2,220 Test as Federal Reserve Maintains Hawkish Stance appeared first on Blockonomi.

FBI-coordinated international operation arrests 276 suspects in global cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme, shutting down nine scam centers worldwide. The post International Law Enforcement Operation Leads to 276 Arrests in Crypto Romance Scam Takedown appeared first on Blockonomi.

Fed holds rates at 3.50%–3.75% for fourth meeting. Powell's term ends May 15 as Warsh clears committee. Bitcoin falls below $76K, Nasdaq drops 0.35%. The post Fed Maintains Interest Rates as Powell’s Final Meeting Approaches and Bitcoin Retreats appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Meta Corporation has initiated payments to content creators in the stablecoin USDC via wallets on the Polygon and Solana networks. The payment provider is the fintech company Stripe. Initially, this new service is available to users in Colombia and the Philippines. “Since settlements in ‘stablecoins’ are linked to digital assets, Stripe will provide you with specialized reports on cryptocurrency transactions. For tax reporting, we recommend keeping the entire transaction history,” noted Meta. Media outlets reported on Meta's plans to enter the stablecoin market in February 2026. In addition to connecting a third-party provider for dollar token settlements, the tech giant intends to introduce a new wallet. In 2019, Meta (then Facebook) attempted to launch the “stable global cryptocurrency” Libra and the asset storage tool Calibra. However, due to regulatory pressure, the projects had to be abandoned. Visa and Stablecoins The payment system Visa announced the expansion of its pilot stablecoin project to five new networks: Arc, Base, Canton, Polygon, and Tempo. Previously, only Avalanche, Ethereum, Solana, and Stellar were supported, according to a press release. The company's volume of settlements in “stablecoins” increased by 50% compared to the previous quarter — reaching $7 billion. The integration of additional blockchains is part of Visa's strategy to standardize payments within a unified infrastructure, company representatives emphasized. Stablecoin testing has been underway for several years. Pilots are operating in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In November 2025, Visa launched USDC payments through American banks. On April 28, the payment giant announced a partnership with WeFi — a company founded by former Tether CEO Reeve Collins. Together, they will develop cryptocurrency payments. Earlier in April, Chainalysis analysts forecasted that the volume of stablecoin transactions would grow to $1.5 quadrillion by 2035.

With the rapid development of financial technology, quantitative trading, as an efficient and intelligent trading method, is gaining increasing popularity among investors. However, for many ordinary investors, the technical threshold for quantitative trading is high; complex programming knowledge and high tool costs often become obstacles to entry. To address this issue, BSStrategy has launched a free intraday [...] The post BSStrategy Launches Free Intraday Trading Robot, Ushering in a New Era of Fully Automated Quantitative Trading appeared first on Blockonomi.

MoonPay acquires crypto security company Sodot for approximately $100M, launching institutional division led by ex-CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham. The post MoonPay Expands Into Institutional Crypto with $100M Sodot Acquisition appeared first on Blockonomi.

Shinhan Card collaborates with Solana Foundation to develop stablecoin payment systems, testing real-world transactions and DeFi integration on blockchain. The post Shinhan Card Collaborates With Solana Foundation for Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure appeared first on Blockonomi.

Crypto exchange OKX has launched an open protocol designed to let AI agents carry out full business transactions, extending machine payments into end-to-end commercial activity. According to OKX, the Agent Payments Protocol enables AI systems to handle not only payments…

The company said the region has become one of its most important in the past several years.

Alex Mashinsky, the founder of the crypto lender Celsius, has settled with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The high-profile case stems from allegations that Mashinsky and Celsius violated multiple areas of federal law, including claims tied to securities and commodities rules. Celsius Founder’s New Limits Under the terms described in the FTC’s latest filing, […]

Enterprise blockchain firm Ripple is significantly expanding its Middle East and Africa (MEA) operations by launching a new regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Bitcoin (BTC) slips below $76,000 after Fed keeps rates unchanged at 3.5-3.75% and Trump rejects Iran's Strait of Hormuz deal. Can BTC reclaim $79K? The post Bitcoin (BTC) Slides Under $76K Amid Fed Rate Decision and Trump’s Iran Rejection appeared first on Blockonomi.

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Meta has begun offering select creators the option to receive payouts in USDC, expanding its payments model into blockchain-based transfers. According to a support page published by Meta Platforms, eligible creators can receive USDC directly into crypto wallets operating on…

Stable Sea added WisdomTree’s WTGXX fund, giving firms access to tokenized Treasury yield for idle cash management.

An FBI-led global enforcement effort targeting crypto pig butchering schemes has led to the arrest of 276 suspects and the disruption of nine crypto scam centers tied to investment fraud operations. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the operation…

Ripple's expansion in Dubai underscores the Middle East's growing influence in the blockchain sector, potentially reshaping global finance dynamics. The post Ripple expands headquarters in Dubai’s financial hub as regional demand accelerates appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The proposal to unlock more than 62 billion WLFI tokens over four to five years has 99.95% approval but is still facing backlash on X. 

Twenty One Capital holds 43,514 Bitcoin worth roughly $3.3 billion — and its CEO wants the world to know why. Related Reading: Bitcoin Transparency Gets A Boost As Dorsey’s Block Unveils Reserve Proof A Direct Attack On Card Networks Jack Mallers took the stage at the Bitcoin 2026 Conference with one clear message: the payment […]

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Regulated B2B sportsbook supplier Kambi reported Q1 2026 EBITDA up 63.5% on the year. CEO Werner Bercher repeated his assertion that the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup will be priced and risk-managed by its AI trading system, with a new data point supporting his statement – Q1 bet automation is already at 60% across the […]

Rakuten Wallet has officially launched XRP spot trading and real-world payment functionalities.

A Major Win in the Fight Against Illicit Finance The world of cryptocurrency just got a big reality check. In a stunning announcement, revealed that the United States has seized roughly . This action targets funds linked to Iran’s efforts […] The post US Treasury’s $500 Million Iranian Crypto Seizure: Scott Bessent’s Bold Move on Sanctions appeared first on Blockmanity.

U.S. Army Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke pleaded not guilty Tuesday to five federal charges over a series of Polymarket bets that turned $33,000 into more than $404,000, in what prosecutors describe as the first insider-trading case ever filed against a prediction-markets trader. Key Takeaways: Van Dyke pleads not guilty to five federal charges […]

OKX's protocol could revolutionize AI-driven commerce by enabling autonomous transactions, potentially reducing human intervention in business operations. The post OKX publishes open protocol enabling AI agents to quote, escrow and settle autonomously appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tether proposed that Elektron founder and CEO Raphael Zagury serve as president of the proposed merged company, while Strike's Jack Mallers would also serve in an executive role.

Twenty One Capital rose after hours as Tether backed proposed mergers with Strike and Elektron to expand its Bitcoin-focused platform.

Hong Kong’s financial regulator has warned about fake tokens claiming to be associated with licensed stablecoin issuers HSBC and Anchorpoint. Both Anchorpoint & HSBC Confirm No Official Stablecoin Launch Yet The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has posted a notification on its website warning the public regarding certain stablecoins floating around that claim to be […]

This sponsored press release was provided by TRON DAO and was not written by Bitcoin.com News. Bitcoin.com News does not necessarily endorse the statements made within this announcement. PRESS RELEASE. Los Angeles, California, April 29, 2026 — RealOpen, the leading platform for buying real estate with crypto, today announced the conclusion of its collaborative “Fast […]

A U.S. court sentenced Maximilien de Hoop Cartier to eight years in prison for helping launder more than $470 million through an unlicensed crypto exchange. Prosecutors said the network used U.S. banks, shell companies, and crypto accounts to move criminal proceeds overseas. Key Takeaways: Authorities sentenced a French national to eight years for running a […]

The ongoing blockade heightens geopolitical tensions, potentially driving up oil prices and increasing market volatility amid diplomatic uncertainty. The post Trump rejects Iran proposal, keeps naval blockade amid nuclear deal stalemate appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The incident underscores vulnerabilities in US air defenses, potentially prompting more aggressive military strategies and policy shifts. The post Iranian jet bombs US base in Kuwait, challenges air defense systems appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

"Whoever thinks Cardano is dead has clearly not been through other bear markets," one analyst argued.

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If Strategy keeps buying at its current pace, it could surpass Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto as the largest single holder of the cryptocurrency within two years. Related Reading: Crypto Crackdown Refocused: FBI, DOJ Zero In On Bad Actors, Not Code Creators That projection, from Galaxy Digital research head Alex Thorn, puts into sharp focus […]

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The briefing could significantly impact market sentiment and geopolitical stability, potentially altering Iran's internal dynamics and leadership. The post CENTCOM to brief Trump on unprecedented military options against Iran appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple's partnership with Kbank could significantly enhance institutional crypto adoption in South Korea, influencing regional market dynamics. The post Ripple partners with Kbank to boost XRP institutional demand in South Korea appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Increased U.S. military presence in the Strait of Hormuz could escalate tensions, disrupt oil supply, and maintain market volatility. The post US Army eyes control of Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

In another police action, European police arrested ten people and took down three scam centers, estimated to have stolen over $58 million from victims around the world.

Hong Kong’s central bank warned that fraudulent tokens claiming links to HSBC and licensed issuers are circulating, even though no regulated stablecoins have been issued in the market. Key Takeaways: Hong Kong warned unauthorized tokens are misusing names of licensed stablecoin issuers. HSBC and Anchorpoint denied links to tokens labeled HKDAP and HSBC. Users should […]

The rial's collapse threatens Iran's economic stability, potentially increasing internal unrest and testing regime resilience amid external pressures. The post Iranian rial hits record low amid US naval blockade intercepting oil shipments appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Iran's missile stockpiling heightens geopolitical tensions, influencing market perceptions of potential US-Iran conflict escalation. The post Iran stockpiling missiles to counter US attacks, says Senator Kennedy appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The mergers could create a robust Bitcoin ecosystem, enhancing market stability and potentially driving innovation in cryptocurrency services. The post Twenty One Capital seeks mergers with Strike and Elektron to build premier Bitcoin platform appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Iran's stance heightens geopolitical tensions, impacting global markets and increasing uncertainty in nuclear diplomacy and regional stability. The post Iran refuses to surrender enriched uranium by April 2026 deadline appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

CENTCOM's strategic strikes could destabilize regional security, impacting global oil markets and prompting shifts in international alliances. The post CENTCOM plans targeted strikes on Iran amid military escalation talks appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The Upbit listing could significantly boost MEGA's market cap and influence South Korea's crypto trading landscape. The post Upbit lists MEGA token with KRW, BTC, USDT trading pairs in South Korea appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

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Persistent inflation and geopolitical tensions may prompt tighter monetary policy, impacting economic growth and market stability. The post Bond market sees higher odds of Fed rate hike by year-end amid inflation concerns appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The DOJ's decision may stabilize Powell's tenure, reducing immediate market volatility and delaying potential leadership changes at the Fed. The post DOJ ends Powell probe, reducing urgency for Warsh confirmation appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Persistent inflation and geopolitical tensions may delay economic relief, impacting market stability and investor confidence until year-end. The post BlackRock’s Fawcett sees Fed rate cuts unlikely before December appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple's partnership with Kbank could accelerate institutional adoption of digital assets, influencing market dynamics and XRP's valuation. The post Ripple partners with Kbank to deploy institutional-grade digital asset wallets appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin derivatives highlight traders’ nervous view as the Federal Reserve holds interest rates and BTC struggles to trade above its range highs. Are the bears back?

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The rallies bolster regime stability perceptions, impacting market odds on leadership change, yet internal dissent remains a key watchpoint. The post Mass rallies in Iran show support for leadership on Imam Reza anniversary appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Ripple and OKX announced on April 29 that RLUSD is now live on eligible OKX markets, adding 280+ spot pairs and derivatives collateral support. The rollout includes XRP/RLUSD trading, XRPL deposits and withdrawals, and access to OKX’s unified order book. Key Takeaways: Ripple and OKX launched RLUSD across 280+ eligible spot pairs. Traders gain RLUSD […]

Input Output said it progressed 16 of 18 treasury-funded Cardano commitments across Q4 2025 and Q1 2026, framing the period as a test of whether ecosystem funding can translate into publicly verifiable delivery. Two commitments, Acropolis and tiered pricing, were canceled, with funding returned to the treasury, according to IO’s delivery report. The report positions […]

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Nvidia's valuation surge highlights tech dominance, raising questions about market concentration and potential regulatory scrutiny. The post Nvidia market cap surpasses India’s entire stock market appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

AI's impact on jobs and immigration policy sparks debate over leadership priorities and public trust. The post Marjorie Taylor Greene: Trump’s mass deportation stance resonates with frustrated citizens, AI could eliminate 50% of jobs, and the Republican Party’s foreign commitments may conflict with American interests | Tucker Carlson appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Institutional interest in Ethereum could stabilize market expectations, but significant price shifts may require further institutional actions. The post Bitmine buys 65,000 ETH worth $147M in 24 hours, signals institutional interest appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising oil prices due to geopolitical tensions could strain global economies, increase inflation, and impact energy-dependent industries. The post Iran tensions push oil prices above $120, potential for further increases appeared first on Crypto Briefing.