THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS

The Bitcoin price is bouncing back strongly amid growing hopes for a potential shift in the standoff between the US and Iran. So far, BTC has gained roughly 10% in the weekly time frame. This pushed the asset back toward the $76,000 area and briefly marked a nearly one-month high.  The move appears to have been driven by improving sentiment around the conflict, even as tensions remain very real and the US simultaneously took action in the region. Regulatory Clarity Before A Bigger Push? The Bitcoin price rally followed claims by President Donald Trump that Iran had reached out to his administration about possible peace talks. At the same time, the US began a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.  Related Reading: XRP Could Face Big Moves Based On CLARITY Act Outcomes – 3 Key Price Scenarios Damien Loh, chief investment officer at Ericsenz Capital, told Bloomberg that Bitcoin is behaving like other risk assets during the move. In his view, the market interpreted Trump’s comments as a sign that the timeline for a deal may be getting extended and that another round of discussions is being pursued.  Loh also added an important nuance: the Bitcoin price has been trading better than broader risk assets, but he suggested it may take additional regulatory clarity before the next leg up can truly take hold.  Specifically, he pointed to the possibility that the Bitcoin price could remain range-bound until the US passes the long-awaited CLARITY Act, the industry’s market structure framework.  Bitcoin Price Breakout Is Just Getting Started Market analyst Ali Martinez, citing data from his latest analysis, argued that the current push higher is not finished. Martinez said BTC has finally broken above a descending trendline on its 12-hour chart after roughly two months of consolidation inside a symmetrical triangle.  He described this as a structural change—essentially signaling that the “coiling” phase is over. If the breakout holds, Martinez expects the Bitcoin price could move toward $80,000, which would mark the highest point since January 31 of this year. Martinez also pointed out that the bullish momentum is happening for more reasons than just the Iran–US news. He said Bitcoin miners have paused forced selling and have been hoarding more than $330 million in BTC over the past few weeks.  Related Reading: Three-Way Bitcoin Outlook Tied To US–Iran War—Which Case Is Most Realistic? On the demand side, the analyst said there’s a noticeable increase in interest from US-based institutions. He referenced the Coinbase Premium metric as one piece of evidence, noting that it has flipped positive.  In his framing, a positive Coinbase Premium suggests that regulated capital may be positioning aggressively ahead of what could be the next upward move. Even after the Bitcoin price initially surged toward $76,000, it later retraced slightly. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price was trading around $75,163, still close to a key level Martinez has highlighted.  He set a target of $75,300, explaining that reaching this price point would liquidate roughly $80 million in short positions. Martinez said this could trigger what he described as a “cascading effect,” where forced buying from liquidations catches bearish traders off guard and allows BTC to continue moving higher. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The US Justice Department (DOJ) has announced a compensation process for victims of the OneCoin fraud. The funds are expected to come from property forfeited in the case, money traced back to the people behind the scheme, including co-founders Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood.  The DOJ said in a Monday statement that more than $40 million in forfeited assets are currently available for victim compensation. OneCoin Proceeds To Compensate Victims  OneCoin was an international cryptocurrency investment scheme that ran from 2014 to 2019 and relied on deception to draw in investors around the world. Prosecutors say Ignatova and Greenwood, along with others, orchestrated the scheme.  Ignatova, dubbed “the CryptoQueen,” disappeared on October 25, 2017. Since then, she has been presumed to be on the run from various international law enforcement agencies. Greenwood, on the other hand, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2023 for his participation in the scheme.  Related Reading: XRP Could Face Big Moves Based On CLARITY Act Outcomes – 3 Key Price Scenarios The DOJ describes OneCoin as a fraudulent cryptocurrency that was marketed and sold through a “global multi-level marketing network.” Although OneCoin began operations in Bulgaria, the scheme reached beyond Europe and targeted victims globally through promises that officials say were false. The DOJ stated that the scheme resulted in losses that totaled more than $4 billion worldwide. In the agency’s description, investors were misled about the nature and legitimacy of OneCoin, and many put money into what the DOJ characterizes as “a lie disguised as cryptocurrency.” At the same time, prosecutors sought criminal forfeiture of property linked to proceeds from the fraud scheme. The DOJ explained that once a final order of forfeiture is issued, net proceeds from those forfeited assets would be used to compensate victims through the remission process. DOJ Details Remission Rules And Deadline While the announcement focuses on the compensation pathway, DOJ officials also framed the forfeiture effort as a way to both remove illegal gains and redirect them toward harm prevention.  Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said in the statement that victims are central to the department’s work. He said the DOJ pursues forfeiture to “take the profit out of crime” and then use that money to compensate victims where possible. ‘ Related Reading: Three-Way Bitcoin Outlook Tied To US–Iran War—Which Case Is Most Realistic? Under the DOJ’s description, the remission process is intended for victims who purchased OneCoin cryptocurrency between 2014 and 2019.  The DOJ’s announcement explained that eligible victims may be able to seek compensation through this process, which relies on a petition submission to be considered. The agency clarified that submissions must be mailed, emailed, or submitted online along with supporting documentation by the deadline of Tuesday, June 30, 2026.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin (BTC) is trying to steady itself after a shaky start to the week. After dipping briefly toward the key $70,000 support level on Sunday, BTC has since bounced back and is now trading above $72,000 on Monday.  However, the next move may depend less on internal crypto dynamics and more on the escalating geopolitical backdrop of tensions between the United States and Iran, and the events that unfold in the days ahead. $100,000 Bitcoin By Year-End In a new report, market analyst Sam Daodu argues that Bitcoin’s direction is closely tied to how the conflict unfolds. Rather than pointing to a single likely outcome, Daodu lays out three scenarios, each with a different implication for oil prices, investor sentiment, and ultimately BTC price action.  Related Reading: Retail Crypto Activity Hits 9-Year Low As Big Money Steps In In Daodu’s bullish scenario, a full peace deal would shift the outlook for both geopolitics and commodities. He suggests oil prices would retreat back toward pre-war levels, roughly in the $65 to $70 per barrel range.  Daodu says that if that happens, Bitcoin could push toward $100,000 by year-end, which would translate to a 39% price increase from current trading levels. April 15 Agreement Expectations The base case is more cautious and revolves around what could happen around April 15. Daodu’s view is that if the talks scheduled for that period lead to a new agreement, oil prices might drop below $95 again, similar to what happened after the first ceasefire was announced last week.  Daodu also points to a specific positioning factor: there are reportedly about $6 billion in short positions between $72,200 and $73,500 right now. If oil prices fall quickly and risk sentiment improves fast, those short positions could unwind, triggering a squeeze. That could help drive Bitcoin higher between $75,000 to $80,000. Bear Path For BTC The bearish scenario centers on the ceasefire failing—either because it breaks apart completely or because it expires without a workable outcome.  Daodu notes that the two-week ceasefire is already under strain. With talks having collapsed and a blockade being announced, the agreement is described as “hanging by a thread.”  Related Reading: Ethereum About To Turn? Death Cross Says Bottom Is Closer Than You Think If negotiations fail and oil prices rise above $110 to $120, Daodu says Bitcoin would likely lose the $70,000 support level. From there, the downside path could accelerate, with BTC potentially sliding toward $65,000. If the crisis drags on, he adds that prices could fall further toward $55,000 to $60,000. Even with these three paths laid out, Daodu’s conclusion is that the base prediction is the most realistic outcome at the moment. In his assessment, Bitcoin is likely to remain range-bound until the next round of talks produces something tangible.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The current price range of Bitcoin may not relay much, but a change in ownership structure is taking place under the surface.  Related Reading: Forget XRP Forecasts: The ‘Delusional’ Crowd Could Have The Last Laugh On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows that one cohort of market participants is stepping back from exchange activity at a pace not seen in nearly a year, while another is quietly rebuilding at a scale that demands attention.  Whale Inflows On Binance Fall To Multi-Month Lows The 30-day sum of whale inflows to Binance has fallen massively in recent days, falling to $2.96 billion as of the latest CryptoQuant data, the first reading below $3 billion since June 2025.  The drop in exchange inflow is a departure from the elevated inflow levels that characterized the entire period between February and early March, when the same metric was consistently tracking above $6 billion and briefly touched $8 billion. That detail matters because exchange inflows from whales are an intent to sell or reposition. When these flows begin to dry up, it shows that large players are no longer rushing to offload their supply. BTC- Binance Whale To Exchange Flow   At the same time, long-term holders are rebuilding exposure at scale. This exposure can be seen through the 30-day realized cap change for this group. This metric captures the value of coins being absorbed into long-term storage, and its reading reached as high as $49 billion on April 9.  That contrast is clearly visible in the behavior of short-term holders, whose realized cap change has dropped to -$54 billion. This is the third time since early March that short-term holders have registered losses exceeding $50 billion on a 30-day basis.  This data shows that reactive participants are exiting positions under pressure, while longer-term investors are buying more into that weakness and tightening supply. BTC: STH LTH Net Position Realized Cap The Setup For A Squeeze Is Building Speaking of tightening supply, data from the derivatives market is showing a signal as to how there might be an incoming short squeeze. The impression across derivatives and spot metrics is a market where bearish sentiment has become heavily concentrated in leveraged positions, while physical supply is migrating off crypto exchanges. Funding rates across all major exchanges came in at -0.0118% on April 10 and -0.0101% on April 11, two consecutive sessions of strongly negative readings. Negative funding has become the dominant regime since late March, and throughout April the metric has remained in negative territory without a single positive flip. Bitcoin Funding Rates  The negative funding means short positions are paying longs to maintain their bearish exposure, and short positions are becoming overcrowded. At the same time, open interest climbed from around $21.87 billion on April 6 to $24.37 billion by April 10. Rising open interest alongside persistently negative funding is a characteristic signature of leveraged short accumulation. Meanwhile, spot supply continues to tighten up. Many coins are being moved off crypto exchanges, and exchange netflows recorded about 7,900 BTC in outflows over April 9 and 10 combined. Related Reading: XRP Eyes $17 After Massive Breakout—Is A 1,100% Surge Next? Off-exchange, the 30-day change in OTC desk balances has turned negative, which is a sign that institutions or large buyers are absorbing supply outside of visible market infrastructure. Bitcoin Total OTC Desk Balance Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Back in 2016 and 2017, when XRP was worth less than a penny, Ripple’s then-CTO David Schwartz laid out a rough roadmap of what the token could fetch if things went right. Related Reading: Bessent Presses Congress On Crypto Rules As Senate Clock Ticks Down Matching Bitcoin’s market share, he said, could push the price to around $2. Capturing a slice of global payments might justify $20. And if adoption grew beyond that, $120 was not out of the question. At the time, even reaching $1 seemed far-fetched. XRP has since crossed that threshold several times over. Validator Backs The Believers That history is now being used by XRP supporters to defend price targets that critics call absurd. An XRP Ledger validator who goes by the name Vet posted on social media this week that the people routinely mocked for their bold price predictions will likely come out ahead. “Being a dreamer is just too powerful,” Vet wrote, adding that those labeled delusional would win in the end. XRP price predictions aside. I may not like this observation. But i do think the delusional people will win at the end. Somehow, being a dreamer is just too powerful. — Vet (@Vet_X0) April 10, 2026 The post drew broad support from within the XRP community. One commenter, known online as X Finance Bull, said strong conviction carries people further regardless of the numbers. Another user argued there is only a thin line between being delusional and being early, with patience and timing ultimately determining who is right. $1,000 XRP Would Require A Market Cap Larger Than The US Economy The targets being floated are not modest. Reports indicate that XRP holders have been projecting prices anywhere from $100 to $1,000 and beyond, even as the token sits around $1.30 after nearly nine months of declining prices. Two commentators argued in a recent podcast that $1,000 per XRP is achievable within four to five years. Their reasoning pointed to Bitcoin’s track record of exceeding expectations, and the role that narrative and mass adoption play in crypto pricing. Critics, though, have been quick to flag the math. A $1,000 price tag for XRP would push the asset’s total market capitalization to somewhere between $50 trillion and $100 trillion — a figure that dwarfs the entire US stock market. XRP bulls typically counter that market cap is not a reliable ceiling for crypto assets. Related Reading: XRP Eyes $17 After Massive Breakout—Is A 1,100% Surge Next? The Dreamer Argument Has Historical Legs What makes the current debate harder to dismiss outright is how often crypto skeptics have been proven wrong. Schwartz’s own 2016 Reddit comments were recently surfaced by community members to show how dramatically market expectations can shift. What seemed mathematically impossible has, in several cases, happened anyway. Whether $1,000 XRP belongs in the same category remains an open question — one the market alone will eventually settle. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s weekly chart is showing an uncomfortable comparison to one of the most brutal sell-offs in its history, and at least one analyst believes the worst may still be ahead.  This technical outlook is looking at the current price action as a mirror of the 2022 macro fractal sequence that sent Bitcoin from $69,000 to a cycle low near $15,500, implying that the current cycle could see a similar drop. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETF Hype Hits Ceiling, Sharp Drop Risk Emerges: Analyst A 2022 Repeat? The Fractal That Raises Concerns Crypto analyst philarekt posted a warning on X this week, identifying what he described as “the most dangerous macro fractal” currently playing out in Bitcoin’s price structure. The technical case rests on a side-by-side comparison of two weekly Bitcoin charts: the 2021 to 2023 cycle on the left and the current cycle on the right. In the 2021 chart, Bitcoin reached a peak price above $69,000 and proceeded to form a 3-tap structure, which are three distinct lower highs arranged within a descending channel, each bounce rejected before a final capitulation leg lower. The price ultimately fell 34% from the final tap to the absolute cycle bottom in a move that caught many market participants off-guard. The current chart, with a cycle peak at $126,000 in October 2025, shows the same architecture forming in almost identical proportion. Both the 2022 and 2026 panels show Bitcoin respecting a slanted resistance line at the top while gradually falling within a downward channel. Each bounce fails to break out, and eventually the price has created successive lower lows. Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: @philarekt On X What Happens If The Fractal Completes? The weekly RSI, which tracks momentum, is following the same pattern observed in 2022. Lastly, there’s a moving average death cross on the Bitcoin price chart, where the short-term average has crossed below a long-term average.  This death cross appeared in early March when the 50 Simple Moving Average (SMA) crossed below the 200 Simple Moving Average (SMA). An equivalent 50/200 SMA death cross appeared in 2022 after Bitcoin was already down 58% from its high, and the cryptocurrency then declined a further 46% before finding a bottom. If the sequence continues to play out as outlined, Bitcoin could be heading to a final capitulation move into the range between $40,000 and $50,000. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $72,756, up by 1.7% in the past 24 hours. The projected decline is taken directly from the 2022 template: a 34% decline from the current price zone would place the Bitcoin price within that range. Related Reading: Cardano In Danger Zone? Trader Drops ‘Time Bomb’ Claim However, the outlook is not entirely bearish after that scenario. The same fractal that points to a breakdown also points to what comes next. The capitulation in 2022 led the transition into accumulation that built the foundation for the next bull cycle. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token fell sharply on Friday, dropping about 13% over the past 24 hours to new all-time lows of $0.080. The selloff comes as online reports have focused on the company’s leverage and collateral use, raising new liquidation fears. WLFI Backlash Grows  According to the concerns circulating on social media platform X, World Liberty Financial allegedly posted a large WLFI collateral amount—reports claim 5 billion WLFI tokens—and took on borrowing of roughly $75 million in stablecoins through decentralized lender Dolomite.  Those reports also said that more than $40 million connected to the borrowing was sent to Coinbase Prime. Additional commentary around the incident suggested that some portion of the debt had already been partially repaid, while still emphasizing that the overall structure was expected to remain heavily overcollateralized. Related Reading: Bitcoin, XRP, And DOGE In Focus: Expert Points To Key Price Reversal In Crypto Market Another factor mentioned by skeptics is that users in the venture’s USD1 stablecoin pools faced withdrawal pressure, and that WLFI’s presence—allegedly dominating more than 50% of Dolomite liquidity—could amplify market stress when prices move quickly.  In this framework, a falling WLFI price reduces collateral safety, which can raise the chance of forced actions later, even if the original plan was designed to avoid straightforward token dumping. Governance Plans Announced World Liberty Financial responded to the growing backlash with a fresh statement on Friday, asserting it is “one of the largest suppliers and borrowers on WLFI Markets,” confirming that WLFI was supplied as collateral and stablecoins were borrowed, but insisting it is “nowhere near liquidation.”  The statement further claimed that even if markets moved “dramatically” against the company’s position, the response would be to supply more collateral—arguing this is not treated as a risk in the normal operating model, but rather how the system is designed to work when leverage strategies are employed. In its defense, World Liberty Financial framed the borrowing position as part of a broader strategy: serving as an anchor borrower to generate yield that, in turn, helps make WLFI Markets attractive to others in the ecosystem.  Related Reading: Expert Forecasts Bitcoin Surge To $80,000 Amid US-Iran Ceasefire And Oil Price Drop For early token holders, World Liberty said it plans a governance process. The company stated that a governance proposal to unlock locked tokens will be posted to the forum next week for community input, and that it will proceed to a formal vote shortly after.  Additionally, World Liberty said USD1 includes compliance-grade controls, describing enhanced fund safety tools for frozen funds designed for the regulatory environment ahead. Finally, it claimed the upgrade is seamless, with balances, approvals, and integrations carried over intact—no migration and no disruption. World Liberty Financial also aimed at what it described as the “FUD crowd” framing, arguing that critics are looking at the wrong piece of the story and that the project is focused on compounding outcomes over time. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

Market expert Sam Daodu has released a new April outlook for Bitcoin (BTC), flagging geopolitical developments and macroeconomic forces as the decisive factors for where prices may go next.  Daodu’s note comes after Bitcoin ran into resistance just above roughly $72,000 and amid a market environment that has produced the asset’s first consecutive quarterly losses since 2022. Bitcoin Faces Unusual April Daodu pointed to Bitcoin’s historical tendency to finish April in the black: since 2013, the token has closed the month higher nine times out of 13, a 69% win rate.  On paper, April looks generous — the average return sits at 10.7% — but that mean is skewed by a handful of outsized years (2013, 2018, 2019, and 2020), each with gains above 28%. Strip out those extreme outliers, and the average April return falls to a subdued 0.7%.  More representative measures show Bitcoin’s median April gain at 7.1%, with the best April on record in 2013 (+36.8%) and the worst in 2022 (−17.2%). These historical ranges, Daodu says, demonstrate how much April outcomes depend on the broader macro backdrop. Related Reading: Adam Back Denies Being Bitcoin Creator In Response To NYT: ‘I Am Not Satoshi’ What makes April 2026 unusual, Daodu argues, is the dominance of external macro and geopolitical drivers that were largely absent in prior years. The ongoing US–Iran conflict has kept oil prices elevated — above $100 since early March — and the Federal Reserve (Fed) has revised its 2026 inflation forecast upward to 2.7%.  Those developments have knocked back expectations for near‑term rate cuts and left markets braced for higher rates into the second quarter. Taken together, tighter liquidity and heightened geopolitical risk create a tougher environment for risk assets, including BTC. Under these conditions, Daodu warns, the usual early‑April dip and subsequent rebound are no longer assured. Rather, three key elements will determine Bitcoin’s future.  Whether oil drops below $90 per barrel, whether monetary expectations ease, and whether the US-Iran ceasefire persists and leads to a lasting deal.  Three Possible Paths Daodu lays out three price scenarios to quantify how those outcomes could play out. In his bullish case, a genuine ceasefire coupled with oil prices falling below $90 would significantly relieve macro pressure. That relief, he says, could allow Bitcoin to clear resistance above $75,000 and propel a run toward $80,000. Progress on the CLARITY Act — legislative movement expected to be marked up in late April — would add fuel to that rally by improving regulatory clarity for digital assets. Related Reading: JPMorgan CEO Says Bank Must Build Its Own Blockchain To Counter Crypto Threats His base case envisions a more muted month. Persistent tax‑related selling in early April could cap gains and keep BTC trading between about $68,000 and $76,000. Without a clear catalyst, such as an end to the conflict, Bitcoin would likely consolidate in that band. The bearish scenario involves a breakdown of the ceasefire and renewed escalation. In that event, Daodu says Bitcoin could lose its nearby support around $69,000, trigger liquidations of leveraged positions, and see short‑term holders exit.  That pressure could send BTC toward $65,000 or lower; the expert notes that Standard Chartered has warned of a deeper slump toward $50,000 if macro conditions deteriorate substantially. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Crypto markets are showing early signs that the worst may be over, following a prolonged decline that began with the industry’s sharp sell-off back in October of last year.   In a new report shared on social media, technical analyst Ali Martinez says the market is now starting to form what he calls a structural floor. Next Cycle Setup For Crypto Leaders Martinez’s view is rooted in the idea that seven months of heavy volatility may also be creating a rare opportunity. For those focused on the longer-term picture, he argues, the current turbulence can act as a reset period before the next multi-year cycle.  Rather than treating the current sell-off as purely negative, Martinez suggests it may be setting up the conditions for a new upward phase once the market stops bleeding. Related Reading: Adam Back Denies Being Bitcoin Creator In Response To NYT: ‘I Am Not Satoshi’ When looking at the “big picture” for broader crypto market structure, Martinez points to a metric he says helps define the floor: the CVDD Channel, which stands for Cumulative Value Days Destroyed.  According to his analysis, Bitcoin’s “Golden Zone” is currently near $49,330. He claims that historically, entries into this area have tended to show up before bull market runs, and he outlines upside targets for what could follow—potentially reaching $178,478, and in an even more extended scenario, $273,158. The analyst then turns to Ethereum (ETH). Martinez says he is watching whether ETH is moving within a parallel channel pattern, and if that interpretation holds, he believes the zone between current levels and $1,070 could offer a high-conviction entry point.  From there, he highlights an ecosystem-wide rally scenario with a macro target around $8,670 as the next major objective, framing it as a move that would emerge as the broader crypto ecosystem matures. Outlook For XRP, SOL, And DOGE For XRP, Martinez focuses on a specific support level as the key to determining whether the crypto market can stabilize. He says that if XRP can hold support near $0.80, it could create a strong “buy the dip” setup, potentially giving traders a chance before a later retest of XRP’s all-time high near $3.30 and beyond.  Solana (SOL) is next, and Martinez suggests SOL may need a broader “generational” reset to complete the bottoming process. He argues that the possible low area ranges from $74 to $50, describing that band as a total reset of speculative “froth.”  Martinez characterizes that kind of clearance as a major launchpad for the next upward move, implying that the more aggressive the washout, the more room there may be for the following leg higher. Related Reading: JPMorgan CEO Says Bank Must Build Its Own Blockchain To Counter Crypto Threats Finally, Martinez discusses Dogecoin (DOGE) using what he calls fractal signals. He says the memecoin’s chart structure indicates a coiling phase that often appears before the next parabolic move.  In that context, Martinez points to a zone he believes is where larger, more informed buyers could begin accumulating. His range for that buildup is between $0.090 and $0.060, which he describes as the area where accumulation could start to intensify ahead of a potential upside surge. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

JPMorgan CEO, Jamie Dimon, warned investors in his latest annual letter that the bank must accelerate its efforts in blockchain technology to meet mounting competition from the crypto sector.  Dimon told shareholders that a “whole new set of competitors” has emerged around blockchain-based products — including stablecoins, smart contracts, and broader tokenization — and that the bank needs to “roll out our own blockchain technology” to defend its market position. JPMorgan Doubles Down On Crypto The call to action comes as the US regulatory landscape for crypto undergoes notable shifts and traditional financial institutions increasingly adopt decentralized technology.  JPMorgan is not starting from scratch: the firm introduced JPM Coin on a permissioned blockchain in 2019 and has continued to build capabilities through its Kinexys blockchain unit, which focuses on tokenization and payments.  The bank has also been involved in experiments on permissionless chains; executives from JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Banking units recently pointed to the bank’s role in a 2025 US commercial paper issuance on Solana (SOL) for Galaxy Digital Holdings as a sign of broader exploration. Related Reading: Ethereum (ETH) Outlook: $2,500 Break Could Trigger Major Rally — Expert’s Price Scenarios Dimon’s stance toward crypto has evolved visibly over the past year. Once a vocal skeptic, he publicly acknowledged last year that he has become “a believer in stablecoins,” and later reiterated that “blockchain is real,” predicting it would displace elements of the traditional financial system.  JPMorgan has already ramped up its internal crypto activity. In a separate investor note, the co‑CEOs of the bank’s Commercial and Investment Banking division reported that transactions on JPMorgan’s blockchain-based products have expanded roughly thirtyfold since 2023.  At the same time, JPMorgan and other major banks have been active in shaping regulatory outcomes. The banking industry has pressed to alter provisions of the GENIUS Act and the anticipated CLARITY Act, seeking to prevent what they call a regulatory “loophole” that might allow stablecoin issuers to offer yield.  Banks’ Push To Bar Stablecoin Rewards Banks argue that yield-bearing stablecoins could serve as substitutes for deposit accounts, posing a risk to their deposit bases and potentially destabilizing lending. Yet, those concerns were challenged on Wednesday by a new analysis from the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Using a model calibrated to current market conditions, the report found that banning stablecoin yields would have only a marginal effect on deposit flight from banks.  Specifically, it estimated that eliminating stablecoin yield would raise bank lending by roughly $2.1 billion — about 0.02% of total loans — while imposing an estimated $800 million net welfare loss on consumers, suggesting the costs could outweigh any systemic benefits.  Related Reading: FDIC Advances Rulemaking For GENIUS Act: New Framework For Stablecoin Issuers The study also tested a worst‑case scenario in which stablecoins pose a much larger threat to lending, but that outcome required assumptions — such as zero excess reserves and a major shift in Federal Reserve policy — that do not reflect present conditions. It remains uncertain whether the White House analysis will shift negotiations between banks and the crypto industry over whether yield and rewards should be permitted on stablecoins.  Those involved in the talks have largely remained silent over the past two weeks amid Congress’s Easter recess. However, two sources familiar with the discussions told Crypto In America that they remain cautiously optimistic that the talks are progressing. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has moved to translate the country’s first crypto bill for stablecoins, the GENIUS Act, into concrete regulatory guidance for banks and their fintech subsidiaries that wish to use or issue stablecoins.  In a notice of proposed rulemaking approved by the FDIC Board, the agency lays out “a prudential framework” for FDIC‑supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) and for insured depository institutions (IDIs) that provide custodial or safekeeping services tied to payment stablecoins. FDIC Issues GENIUS Act Rules The proposal addresses several core areas required under the GENIUS Act, including the composition and treatment of reserve assets, redemption mechanics, capital considerations, and enterprise‑level risk management expectations.  It also clarifies how deposit insurance will apply to funds held as reserves backing payment stablecoins: the FDIC would make clear whether pass‑through insurance applies in those circumstances.  Related Reading: Ethereum Ascending Channel Puts Price At $5,700, Analyst Reveals When To Sell In addition, the rule states that tokenized deposits that meet the statutory definition of “deposit” will be treated under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act the same as any other deposits, removing uncertainty about whether digital‑native forms of deposits would face different treatment. The FDIC’s rulemaking is narrowly focused on entities subject to its supervision: subsidiaries of insured State nonmember banks and state savings associations, collectively described as FDIC‑supervised IDIs, that receive approval to issue stablecoins through a subsidiary.  Last December, the agency published a prior notice of proposed rulemaking under section 5 of the GENIUS Act to establish application procedures for such IDIs seeking approval to issue payment stablecoins. AML Certification For Stablecoin Issuers On capital, the FDIC is not yet prescribing a specific minimum capital amount, ratio, or an objective framework for minimum capital requirements. Instead, the agency is soliciting feedback on whether to create such a framework in future regulations.  The proposed rule would also require a permitted payment stablecoin issuer to certify that it has implemented anti‑money‑laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance programs reasonably designed to prevent the issuer from facilitating money laundering or the financing of terrorism.  Related Reading: Forget XRP Price Weakness, Investors Are Still Pouring In, And Wallet Figures Just Hit An Impressive Target The 197-page proposal further addresses technical and supervisory questions that have been a source of concern among stablecoin issuers, while leaving open some of the more complex calibration issues, like minimum capital quantification, for further consideration through the public comment process. By proposing this package of rules, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is advancing the statutory mandate under the GENIUS Act to build a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.  The act requires the FDIC, alongside the other primary federal payment stablecoin regulators and the Department of the Treasury, to promulgate regulations establishing prudential standards for supervised entities that issue or materially support payment stablecoins. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Bitcoin (BTC) surged Tuesday evening after President Donald Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran, a move that sent the largest cryptocurrency higher and sparked a broader market repricing. Following Trump’s announcement, Bitcoin jumped nearly 5% and traded around $72,174 at the time of writing. Crypto market capitalization climbed from roughly $2.3 trillion to about $2.43 trillion as investors poured back into risk assets, while oil prices tumbled on the de‑escalation in the Middle East. Ceasefire Sparks Bitcoin Demand In his post, Trump said he had agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, conditional on Tehran’s commitment to “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”  The President added that he made the decision after conversations with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who asked him to hold off on military action. Related Reading: Bitcoin Rainbow Chart Says Price Is Ranging Above $60,000 For A Reason, Here’s Why Market experts also pointed to additional, proximate drivers of the rally beyond the geopolitical news. On social media platform X, DeFi Tracer identified large buys by major exchanges and market-makers immediately after the ceasefire was announced.  According to the expert, Binance purchased 29,344 BTC, Coinbase bought 20,756 BTC, Kraken acquired 8,611 BTC, Wintermute bought 7,188 BTC, and Bybit picked up 5,191 BTC — transactions that together totaled about $4.5 billion in Bitcoin.  Can BTC Clear $74,000? Despite the recovery, similar to those witnessed last month, a sustained breakout that could propel Bitcoin prices to 2025 levels is not assured. Investors should now focus on the $74,000 level, as it has acted as a significant resistance barrier over the past two months.  Related Reading: Can An Altcoin Season Come Again? Why Bitcoin Price Can’t Fall Below $40,000 BTC’s short-term direction will depend on its ability to clear and maintain above that price. The current gains might not last long if the $74,000 barrier proves to be resilient and buying demand wanes. However, a clear break above it would strengthen the bullish outlook. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Bitcoin is entering the new week under a cloud of doubt, with social sentiment tilting to fear just as price action continues to stall below $66,800. Data from Santiment shows a noticeable change in crowd behavior, hinting that the market’s mood may be reaching an inflection point. Sentiment extremes have often corresponded with turning points in previous cycles, but the current backdrop of price action is somewhat confusing. Related Reading: XRP Eyes $8.30 Target As Rare Chart Pattern Emerges From Prolonged Decline FUD Returns With Bitcoin Stalling At $66,800 On-chain analytics platform Santiment pointed out a notable change in crowd psychology on Saturday, reporting that bearish discussions across X, Reddit, Telegram, and other major platforms have increased to their highest ratio relative to bullish commentary since February 28th.  Bitcoin was trading at $66,800 at the time of the data snapshot, within what Santiment’s sentiment model designates as the FUD Zone. This is a threshold where negative commentary structurally overwhelms positive discourse. The ratio stood at just 0.81 bullish comments for every 1.00 bearish comment, marking the most pessimistic social reading in five weeks. A review of Santiment’s chart shows the spread between bullish and bearish commentary widening materially through the final days of March and into the first weekend of April. Bitcoin Sentiment Chart. Source: @santimentfeed On X Santiment attributed the deteriorating sentiment in part to an extended period of stagnancy across the broader cryptocurrency market throughout 2026, a year that has so far frustrated bulls who anticipated a reversal of 2025’s year-end bearish momentum.  Bitcoin spent much of the first quarter trading bearish, and the lack of a meaningful breakout appears to be wearing on retail participants. Furthermore, Bitcoin ended Q1 2026 with a negative 22.1% close. Peak FUD Could Be The Setup Bulls Are Waiting For This sentiment deterioration has been characterized by the Bitcoin price action relatively compressed below $70,000, with repeated attempts to reclaim higher levels in late March and early April being met with rejection.  However, the very depth of current pessimism is being read by Santiment as a constructive signal. The firm’s commentary leaned contrarian, noting that markets have historically tended to move in the opposite direction of prevailing crowd expectations. According to the on-chain analytics platform, a high level of FUD like this is a good sign that things can turn positive sooner rather than later. There are also external uncertainties playing a role in how the sentiment surrounding Bitcoin has turned out. Geopolitical tensions and regulatory discussions, including those surrounding the proposed CLARITY Act, are causing hesitation among participants.  Related Reading: Standard Chartered Sees Bitcoin Exploding To $500K By 2030 These factors are feeding into the broader what-if environment, and they are limiting the ability of Bitcoin’s investors to keep their optimism. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $66,650, down by 0.5% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

New reports reveal that XRP’s supply on Coinbase has crashed to historical lows as investors and community members appear to be boycotting the exchange following the recent delay in the CLARITY Act. On the one hand, the recent movement shows joint unity among XRP holders as they collectively exit exchanges in protest. On the other hand, analysts suggest that the surge in withdrawals could trigger a supply crunch for XRP, potentially impacting its price.  Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Gaining Ground, Could Soon Surpass Gold—Analyst XRP Supply Falls To Historic Lows On Coinbase XRP advocate Diana has taken to X to explain the recent collapse in Coinbase’s XRP reserves. She reported that, as of late March 2026, the exchange’s balance had fallen to about 101.86 million XRP following a wave of withdrawals by holders. Some estimates suggest that Coinbase’s supply has dropped by nearly 90% in just a few months, marking a record low.  The recent boycott stems from widespread frustration over Coinbase’s pushback against the CLARITY Act. The company has expressed “significant concerns” with the latest Senate compromise, particularly the wording that would ban passive yield on stablecoins.  Notably, in 2025, Coinbase and partner Circle generated roughly $2.75 billion in gross interest income from USDC reserves. Of this, Coinbase is estimated to have received about $1.35 billion, nearly 19% of its total revenue. Given the scale of these profits, many in the XRP community believe that Coinbase’s opposition to the revised bill is not to protect crypto users but to prevent restrictions on one of its major revenue streams. In addition, leaked claims that the exchange had requested that Ripple pay millions of dollars to list XRP in 2019 have also fueled anger within the community. Consequently, Diana reported that recent 30-day snapshots show net outflows on Coinbase ranging from 21 million to 95 million XRP, indicating that holders are moving coins to self-custody or other exchanges.  If this trend continues, Coinbase could soon become the exchange with one of the lowest XRP reserves in years. Recent actions by XRP holders also highlight the community’s unity and willingness to push back against perceived unfairness. Amid these developments, Diana has warned that the declining reserves could spark a potential supply crunch if market demand returns.   Why A Supply Crunch Could Be Good For XRP Price A reduced XRP balance on a major exchange like Coinbase can create a possible supply shock. When fewer tokens are available for trading and buying interest rises, prices can also increase.  Related Reading: Standard Chartered Sees Bitcoin Exploding To $500K By 2030 Typically, a tight supply combined with active demand can induce scarcity, which is historically known to trigger an upward momentum. For XRP, the recent outflow trend could position it for potential gains if buying pressure returns. Although the decline in Coinbase may seem negative initially, it could benefit holders in the long run.  Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

An interesting technical outlook frames the current Ethereum price action as a range-bound environment on the higher timeframe, where patience is going to dictate the next move.  The Ethereum price action is now at a sensitive zone, and according to crypto analyst Minga, the path to a genuine cycle bottom requires one more leg down, and the levels that need to be wiped out before a macro bottom are defined. Related Reading: Standard Chartered Sees Bitcoin Exploding To $500K By 2030 ETH Trading In A Multi-Year Range Technical analysis of the weekly candlestick timeframe chart shows that Ethereum is consolidating within a broad macro range whose boundaries are defined by two extremes: the 2021 all-time high at $4,877 on the upper end and the 2022 bear market low at $878 on the lower end. According to crypto analyst Minga, the way to trade such a range-bound market is as easy as can be: trade level to level. Interestingly, the ETH has followed a predictable sequence while trading within this range. The price swept the 2021 all-time high, rejected a little bit above to create a new all-time high of $4,946, and has been in a downtrend since. The most recent move saw the Ethereum price fall into an untapped monthly low around $1,750 in February, where buyers stepped in and pushed ETH back upward. That bounce, however, lacked follow-through.  The rally stalled in the $2,300 range in March, and it subsequently retraced and printed acceptance below $2,151. As it stands, Ethereum is now back to trading around $2,000, which is an important psychological level. This, in turn, places the Ethereum price in what can only be described as the no man’s land of the range, where the next directional move can go either up or down. Ethereum Price Chart. Source: @Mingarithm On X A Brief Rebound Or A Direct Move Lower? The analyst identified the $2,151 price level as a major pivot point. Price action recently attempted to reclaim this level but failed, showing clear rejection. That rejection keeps bearish continuation on the table for now.  As long as ETH remains below $2,151, the path of least resistance appears tilted to the downside. A successful reclaim, however, would change the short-term outlook. Minga pointed to a move to $2,395 if that happens, where there is a fair value gap. Minga’s downside expectation is to play out in two stages. The first stop is $1,537, where there is a cluster of weekly equal lows (labeled “EQLs” on the chart above), creating an obvious liquidity target. Minga expects this level to be taken, though $1,537 will not be where Ethereum’s macro bottom forms. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Gaining Ground, Could Soon Surpass Gold—Analyst The true bottom target is much deeper. For a legitimate cycle bottom, Minga is watching for a sweep of $1,384, the previous structural low. Even more notably, Minga highlights the $1,190 to $1,148 zone as the most likely region for a macro bottom to form. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Senator Richard Blumenthal has escalated his scrutiny of Binance, sending a follow‑up letter on April 1 to co‑CEO Richard Teng that presses the crypto exchange to explain apparent discrepancies between its testimony to the Senate and subsequent media reporting about transactions tied to Iran.  The New Haven Democrat said he is concerned that Binance may have provided “misrepresentations or misleading information to the Subcommittee and to the public,” and he demanded documents and records the company relied on in preparing its earlier responses. Senate Probe Seeks Wallets, Transactions, And Answers Blumenthal’s letter comes after reporting by Fortune and The New York Times that traced roughly $1.7 billion in flows from Binance‑linked accounts to entities with ties to Iran, a far larger sum than the $110,000 figure Binance cited last year for direct transactions with four major Iranian exchanges.  The senator said that gap, together with Binance’s partial or delayed production of materials requested by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), raised “further alarms about its candor and compliance with Congressional oversight.” Related Reading: New Bitcoin Crash Ahead? Bloomberg Strategist Forecasts Return To $10,000 – Here’s Why Blumenthal’s letter lays out a long list of specific questions and records requests. He asked Binance to disclose whether any accounts sent or received funds to or from a set of Iran‑linked wallets referenced in the reporting, and to provide the wallet addresses. He demanded a full, year‑over‑year accounting of transactions between Binance and known Iranian exchanges, and asked to explain the methodology it used to calculate the $110,000 figure, including whether it counted transfers that were later associated with Iranian exchanges. Blumenthal also pressed the crypto exchange on internal compliance practices. He asked whether Binance has removed, weakened, or relaxed any detection, screening, freezing, or reporting mechanisms since January 1, 2025, including tools designed to spot illicit indirect transfers.  He sought clarity on whether Binance has ever declined to investigate, suspend, or remove accounts tied to individuals inside Iran — including those using VPNs or “drop accounts” (KYC‑verified accounts that are bought, shared, or stolen).  Relatedly, he asked whether Binance had ever disciplined compliance staff who raised concerns internally or provided information to law enforcement or external partners, noting reports that Binance had dismissed personnel for “unauthorized disclosure.” Binance Given April 14 Deadline  The senator further criticized what he characterized as delayed or inadequate action by Binance in response to law enforcement warnings. He said Binance took two months to respond to law enforcement regarding alleged terrorist financing by entities such as Hexa Whale and another two months to remove an implicated shell entity.  He also alleged it took at least five months for Binance to remove Blessed Trust as a vendor after being warned about its role in suspected terrorist financing.  Blumenthal wrote that Binance appeared, in some cases, to have labeled certain accounts with internal tags like “Don’t block. Internal accounts,” which he said should have signaled the need for heightened scrutiny rather than protection from enforcement. Related Reading: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Conditional Nod For Coinbase National Trust Bank Charter He asked for exact dates showing when the companies and people involved opened Binance accounts, started sending funds to Iranian intermediaries, were reported to US law enforcement, and when they were suspended or removed.  The Senator also demanded explanations for any delays between being notified and taking action. Blumenthal invoked Senate rules and gave Binance until April 14 of this year to turn over records.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Bitcoin (BTC) faces a stark downside risk that could send prices below the previous bear market lows, according to a new analysis from blockchain data firm CryptoQuant.  The firm warns that a confluence of geopolitical shocks, macroeconomic repricing, and fragile derivatives positioning could push the largest cryptocurrency as low as $10,000 in a worst‑case scenario — far beneath the last bear‑market trough near $15,000. Political Shock From Trump Speech CryptoQuant’s note comes against the backdrop of a substantial pullback from Bitcoin’s record highs. After peaking at roughly $126,000 last October, Bitcoin has retraced about 45% and has entered a months‑long consolidation range between $66,000 and $70,000.  Related Reading: New Bitcoin Crash Ahead? Bloomberg Strategist Forecasts Return To $10,000 – Here’s Why The firm highlights recent political developments as an immediate catalyst for the downside potential. CryptoQuant points to President Donald Trump’s April 1 speech on Iran as a market‑moving event that abruptly reset expectations.  By signaling the possibility of intensified military action within the coming weeks, the speech undermined hopes for de‑escalation and prompted a broad risk‑off reaction.  In CryptoQuant’s view, this was not merely a geopolitical scare — it forced a repricing of macro conditions that matter to risk assets like Bitcoin.  As oil prices rise, inflationary pressures can return; a firmer dollar tightens dollar liquidity globally. CryptoQuant notes rising volatility — with the VIX near 25 — and widening Treasury spreads, both of which are symptomatic of deteriorating liquidity. Three Possible Bitcoin Outcomes  CryptoQuant lays out a range of possible outcomes. In a moderate stress event, the firm estimates Bitcoin could fall from the $70,000 area to roughly $50,000 — a 25–30% decline.  If Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows continue and spot demand remains soft, the medium‑term downside expands substantially, with prices potentially sliding into the $30,000–$20,000 range, representing declines of 60–70% from current levels.  Related Reading: ICBA Opposes OCC’s Conditional Nod For Coinbase National Trust Bank Charter In the extreme scenario — for example, a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz or a sustained major conflict — global liquidity could seize up more completely.  CryptoQuant suggests that in such circumstances, equities could plunge more than 30% and oil could spike to $150–$200 per barrel, conditions that could drive Bitcoin toward the $10,000 mark, an 85% drop from current trading prices. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted Coinbase (COIN) a conditional approval for a national trust bank charter, a move that would place the crypto exchange among a small group of five digital-asset firms — including Ripple, Circle (CRCL) — that have received similar tentative sign-offs from the agency.  If the charter is finalized, Coinbase would be able to expand beyond custody services to offer payment products and other infrastructure under federal supervision, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, told CNBC. Coinbase Eyes Broader US Payments Suite  During his interview, Grewal said that the approval opens the door for Coinbase to develop a broader range of services in the US, particularly in the area of payments:  Over the long haul we will be able to explore, with the OCC, offering not just custody products but also other infrastructure products, particularly around payments, that we think will expand and extend crypto payments in all sorts of new and interesting and important directions.  Related Reading: National Trust Bank Bid: Citadel Securities-Backed Crypto Exchange Enters The Fray However, the decision has reignited criticism from traditional banking stakeholders. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) responded with a letter opposing the OCC’s conditional approval of Coinbase National Trust Co., the subsidiary named in the application.  ICBA President and CEO Rebeca Romero Rainey called the approval “a grave mistake” that, in the group’s view, would put US consumers at risk.  The ICBA’s letter alleges the application contains significant shortcomings — including inadequate risk controls, unclear profitability prospects, and unresolved resolution risks — and argues that Coinbase’s filing fails to satisfy requirements set by the National Bank Act and the OCC’s own regulations. IBCA Demands OCC Rework National Trust Bank Rule  The trade group warned that the influx of charter applications from non-bank entities suggests firms are seeking the benefits of a federal bank charter without being subject to the full spectrum of bank regulatory safeguards.  That, the Independent Community Bankers of America alleges, could undermine consumer protection and threaten the broader stability of the financial system. Moreover, the ICBA also aimed at the OCC’s final rule on national trust bank chartering.  Related Reading: What April Could Mean For XRP: Past Patterns And Key Price Catalysts To Watch The trade group objects to the OCC’s plan to charter uninsured national trust banks that could carry out non‑fiduciary crypto-related business without being subject to the Bank Holding Company Act or the prudential requirements that apply to FDIC‑insured institutions.  In its letter, ICBA reiterated calls for the OCC to withdraw the rule or reissue a revised proposal that aligns with the agency’s statutory authority and longstanding legal precedent. Despite the OCC’s conditional approval, Coinbase’s stock, which trades under the ticker name COIN, was trading at $171 at the time of writing and had seen little to no change compared to Wednesday’s trading session.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

XRP began April sitting above the key support level at about $1.30, yet the token remains well below where it opened the year. Historically, however, April has been one of altcoin’s strongest months, and a mix of on-chain data and a potentially decisive legislative event this month could result in a new turnaround.  What Past Aprils Say About This Year’s Odds Market analyst Sam Daodu laid out the historical performance in a new report, noting that since 2014 April has produced an average return of 24.8% for XRP. On that metric, a rally of similar size from the current level near $1.34 would lift the price back above $1.60.  But Daodu cautioned that the headline average masks a different reality: the median April return is only 2%. That gap shows that most Aprils see modest movement while a few outsized rallies push the average much higher.  Related Reading: Expert Finds Prime Bitcoin Buy Zone Below $60,000, Supported By This Vital Indicator Notable “big-April years” include the 2021 post‑Halving surge — when XRP jumped from roughly $0.30 to $1.96 — and the 2017–2018 altcoin runs when April gains topped 50% in some cycles. Remove those extreme years, and April’s typical gain falls to single digits. Daodu singled out April 2025 as the most analogous comparison for 2026. In that month, XRP was already sliding when an announcement of sweeping tariffs pushed prices lower on April 2; XRP fell from about $2.00 to $1.60, and the month closed in the red, derailing the historical pattern.  Yet that $1.60 low proved critical — it became the exact pivot for an 82% surge that carried XRP to $3.65 by mid‑July. Daodu points out that even when April fails to produce immediate gains, it can still be the turning point for the rest of the year. Potential Catalysts And Risks For XRP  This April also presents a new potential catalyst not seen in prior years. The Senate returns from its Easter recess on April 13, and the Senate Banking Committee has indicated a window in the latter half of the month for markup on the CLARITY Act.  If the bill advances through committee, it would formally classify XRP as a digital commodity under federal law — a change that, according to the analyst, could remove a major obstacle to institutional capital entering the market.  On-chain data shows a marked increase in Binance outflows since late February, which could further support a new recovery. Daily withdrawals have repeatedly exceeded 4,000 XRP, with some sessions approaching 6,000 — a behaviour that is often seen as a sign of accumulation.  Related Reading: TAO Rockets 70% — Here’s What Fueled Bittensor Move And The Near‑Term Outlook Still, on‑chain strength and a favorable legislative calendar may be insufficient to overcome macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures.  Oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel, the Federal Reserve has held rates steady, and Bitcoin (BTC) is trading around $66,000 — factors that have tended to suppress risk appetite across crypto markets.  Daodu notes that crypto-specific positives this year have repeatedly been overshadowed by broader geopolitical headwinds and inflation data, and warns that an escalation in the Middle East could erase any April gains.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

EDX Markets, the crypto exchange backed by Wall Street giant Citadel Securities, has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter, according to a public filing disclosed Wednesday.  The move comes as US regulators under the current Trump administration have adopted a more receptive posture toward crypto firms seeking to operate under federal banking charters. EDX Seeks OCC Trust Charter To Court Big Banks EDX’s chief executive, Tony Acuña‑Rohter, who is slated to join the proposed trust’s board, told Bloomberg that the exchange expects large banks to drive the next phase of crypto adoption. He said securing an OCC trust charter would give EDX a competitive edge in servicing those institutions.  By operating under a national trust charter, crypto firms can operate across state lines under a single federal regulator, rather than obtaining multiple state money‑transmitter licenses, simplifying custody, settlement, and fiduciary services for digital assets. Related Reading: Expert Finds Prime Bitcoin Buy Zone Below $60,000, Supported By This Vital Indicator EDX’s filing argued that the existing structure of many digital‑asset platforms concentrates multiple functions — brokerage, exchange, market‑making, and custody — within single vertically integrated firms, creating potential conflicts of interest and single points of failure.  The company said moving custody, asset management, and trade settlement into an OCC‑chartered national trust bank would provide customers with the “most secure regulatory structure possible,” and would align digital‑asset market infrastructure more closely with the separation of duties customary in traditional equities and derivatives markets. The application places EDX among several crypto companies pursuing similar paths. In December of last year, five firms — including Circle (CRCL) and Ripple — received conditional approval for trust charters. However, not everyone in the financial sector supports that approach.  Growing Bank Unease Over Crypto Trust Charters  Some incumbent banks and industry groups have pushed back, concerned that expanding trust‑bank charters to crypto companies stretches the historical purpose of the charter and could introduce new risks.  Rebeca Romero Rainey, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America, warned that conditional approvals could endanger consumers and create institutions that the OCC might struggle to regulate effectively.  Related Reading: TAO Rockets 70% — Here’s What Fueled Bittensor Move And The Near‑Term Outlook She also argued that the new framework can permit stablecoin operators to access the federal banking system without meeting the same capital and regulatory standards required of full‑service, deposit‑taking banks. Yet, the OCC’s leadership has defended the approvals. Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould said new entrants to the federal banking system can bring fresh products and services and boost competition, which he maintained would benefit consumers and the broader banking sector.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

A new analysis released by CryptoQuant, written by contributor CryptoMe, suggests that Bitcoin (BTC) may still have room to fall this year, and that the collapse could give the ideal purchasing opportunity for long-term investors.  Bitcoin Bottom At $54,000? In a Monday report, CryptoMe highlighted the cryptocurrency’s Realized Price indicator as a key reference point and argued that periods when spot prices dip at or below that level have historically been attractive accumulation zones. The Bitcoin Realized Price is, in simple terms, the market’s average cost basis: the price paid for all coins in circulation weighted by when they last moved. Notably, this Bitcoin metric has frequently acted as meaningful support during past bear markets.  Related Reading: XRP Price Alert: Expert Predicts $0.80 On Bitcoin’s Potential Retreat To $60,000 When Bitcoin spot prices drop below the Realized Price indicator, the analyst says, the market is often in a state of capitulation — characterized by negative news, extreme fear, and pervasive pessimism. Bitcoin’s Realized Price sits at roughly $54,000, compared with a market price near $67,000 at the time of writing— a gap of about 19.4% between these levels.  CryptoMe argues that if the cryptocurrency were to fall to the Realized Price or below, that area would be a potential market bottom in the current bear cycle, and an optimal zone for spot purchases and step‑by‑step accumulation.  Prepare For Drawdowns CryptoMe also reminded investors of two important caveats. First, historical episodes show that when Bitcoin does move beneath the Realized Price, it can remain there for widely varying lengths of time — from as few as seven days to as long as 301 days.  The analyst warned prospective buyers at these levels to be prepared for a potentially extended period of underperformance before prices recover.  Related Reading: US Labor Department Eyes 401(k) Crypto Access, Bitcoin Considered In New Rule Second, a drop below the Realized Price indicator does not imply a fixed floor: CryptoMe asserts that the broader crypto market may fall further, and investors must be ready for deeper drawdowns. Despite those warnings, the analyst concluded on a bullish note: “Below $54,000, Bitcoin is cheap compared to the market average, and it is a perfect place to make gradual accumulation and collect Bitcoin.”  After failing to break through the key resistance level of $76,000 last week, Bitcoin has dropped by almost 12% to its current trading price.  This surge in volatility has been linked to increased Middle Eastern tensions and rising oil prices, which have caused investors to withdraw their funds from riskier assets. As a result, Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and Solana (SOL) have all followed Bitcoin’s price movement, falling to crucial support levels.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Bittensor (TAO) has emerged as one of the market’s strongest performers this month, rallying roughly 73% over the past 30 days even as larger cryptocurrencies staged a more modest recovery.  NVIDIA Nod Fuels TAO Rally Market analyst Alex Carchidi argues that a key catalyst was public recognition from a major tech figure. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently acknowledged decentralized AI training — the core use case Bittensor champions — as a practical approach after hearing about the project’s latest technical milestone.  Related Reading: US Labor Department Eyes 401(k) Crypto Access, Bitcoin Considered In New Rule The analyst asserted that the endorsement amplified investor interest in the Bittensor blockchain by validating the concept that training large language models (LLMs) can be accomplished outside centralized data centers. Bittensor’s most recent achievement centers on its Templar subnet, which reportedly trained Covenant‑72B, a 72‑billion‑parameter LLM, through a decentralized collaboration involving more than 70 contributors using commercially available hardware.  That accomplishment is noteworthy because large‑scale model training normally requires substantial capital and tightly controlled infrastructure; proving such a model can be trained in a distributed manner lends credibility to Bittensor’s thesis that subnets can marshal meaningful compute to build economically valuable services. Bittensor At Risk If Subnets Don’t Scale Carchidi also points to TAO’s tokenomics as a potential upside factor. The chain’s supply dynamics partially resemble Bitcoin’s (BTC), a design Cardichi finds appealing for long‑term appreciation if the network continues to produce in‑demand services.  Still, he cautions that the project faces a critical shortcoming: so far, its subnets have not demonstrated robust, sustainable demand that translates into meaningful external revenue. The current economics underline that concern. The protocol’s distribution of newly minted TAO results in the top subnet receiving roughly $52 million in annualized subsidies from the chain, while that subnet brings in at most about $2.4 million in outside revenue.  Across the entire Bittensor network, demand‑side revenue ranges from approximately $3 million to $15 million a year, set against a token market capitalization near $3.3 billion.  Cardichi concluded that those figures create what he deems as “a valuation mismatch” that could put TAO’s price at risk if the subnets fail to scale revenue significantly. Key Price Levels To Watch Technical levels add another layer to the outlook. TAO was trading around $308 at the time of writing, with immediate resistance positioned near $315 after failing to consolidate above it during last week’s rally.  Related Reading: XRP Price Alert: Expert Predicts $0.80 On Bitcoin’s Potential Retreat To $60,000 Analyst Ali Martinez had previously outlined a key conditional scenario for the Bittensor token. Should the support level of $315 hold, the rally could extend towards $580. This makes the $315 level one of the most important to reclaim right now.  However, last week’s inability to breach mid‑term resistance at $378 contributed to the pullback to $308, leaving TAO almost 60% below its all‑time high of $757. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

The US Labor Department published a proposed regulation on Monday intended to give 401(k) participants access to alternative investments, including crypto assets such as Bitcoin (BTC).  The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) framed the rule as “historic,” saying it lays out a clear, process-driven framework that plan fiduciaries can follow when evaluating non-traditional assets for defined contribution plans. Safe‑Harbor Rules For 401(k) Considering Crypto At the heart of the proposal are safe-harbor procedures designed to guide plan managers through the selection of designated investment alternatives.  Under the rule, fiduciaries would be required to evaluate potential alternatives, addressing factors such as expected performance, fees, liquidity, valuation methods, appropriate performance benchmarks, and the complexity of the crypto assets.  The department emphasized that the rule is intentionally neutral with respect to asset classes: it does not endorse any particular type of investment but instead sets out a prudent process for review and selection. Related Reading: XRP Price Alert: Expert Predicts $0.80 On Bitcoin’s Potential Retreat To $60,000 The move follows President Trump’s executive order, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors,” and represents an attempt to translate that directive into practical regulatory guidance, according to the statement on the matter.  Labor Department officials say the proposed rule returns the agency to a long-standing approach that focuses on fiduciary process rather than picking winners and losers among asset types.  “The department’s days of picking winners and losers are over. Our rule clearly spells out that managers must evaluate any and all potential product offerings by following a prudent process,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. Treasury And SEC Back Labor Proposal The EBSA noted that the Biden administration’s 2022 compliance guidance — which effectively discouraged fiduciaries from offering crypto options — diverged from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s (ERISA) requirements, contributing to the limited uptake of alternatives in retirement plans.  The new proposal aims to remove that regulatory uncertainty by providing concrete, process-based protections for fiduciaries who choose to consider crypto investments. Officials from other agencies welcomed the initiative as part of a broader push to expand retirement investment options.  Related Reading: XRP Nears Key Turning Point As Descending Wedge Tightens Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the Labor Department’s rulemaking as “another step in ushering in President Trump’s Golden Age,” saying the proposal seeks to broaden access to additional retirement options for “millions of Americans” while protecting retirement assets.  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins also expressed support, noting that enabling Americans to participate in innovation and economic growth through diversified, long-term investments is important for retirement planning and that the SEC helped formulate the proposal. If finalized, the rule would provide plan fiduciaries with a structured path to consider crypto and other alternative assets without immediately exposing them to the compliance risks that had discouraged inclusion in recent years.  At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $66,580, having failed to capitalize on moves slightly above $68,000 earlier on Monday.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

Long traders in XRP futures market have been repeatedly wiped out in recent weeks, even as large holders quietly add to their positions. Liquidations on Binance topped $2.5 million on March 18, followed by another $2.45 million four days later, and $2.15 million on March 26 — three sharp resets in less than two weeks that point to an unstable futures environment despite rising whale activity. Related Reading: UK Slaps Sanctions On $20B Crypto Black Market Tied To Southeast Asia Scam Rings Whale Buying Hits Longest Streak In Months Large holders have been accumulating XRP steadily since late February. According to data tracked by CryptoQuant, whale inflows are now averaging $9 million per day on a 30-day moving average, and that buying streak has held without interruption since Feb. 27 — the longest sustained accumulation run since a similar period between April and July last year. That earlier stretch ended with XRP hitting an all-time high of $3.65 in mid-July 2025. The current buying activity stands in sharp contrast to the price chart, which has moved in the opposite direction. XRP has dropped 13.63% over the past 10 days after breaking down from a bullish pattern traders had been watching closely. Based on reports from CryptoQuant analysts, the altcoin could slide further to test support at $1.27, with a deeper fall toward the yearly low of $1.11 still possible if selling pressure continues. Open interest on Binance jumped close to 15% in the 24 hours ending March 26 — its highest single-day rise since early March — signaling that traders are adding new positions even as the market keeps punishing longs. The repeated liquidation spikes suggest that fresh money coming into the futures market is taking on more risk than conditions can currently support. Risk-Adjusted Returns Turn Slightly Positive One data point in XRP’s favor is its Sharpe Ratio, which measures how much return an asset delivers relative to its risk. After spending most of the period between October 2024 and February 2025 near or below zero, the ratio edged positive to 0.0267 as of March 26. Analyst Arab Chain, writing on CryptoQuant, called the movement a sign of gradual rebalancing, adding that a drop back into negative territory would signal renewed volatility. A 30-day average daily return of 0.00063 supports the shift, though the number is modest. Data shows gains remain small while volatility has stayed relatively flat — not a strong breakout signal, but a slight improvement from where things stood just a month ago. Related Reading: Ethereum Sets User Record As Price Lags Far Behind Network Growth Spot Market And Futures Sending Different Messages The gap between what onchain data shows and what the price chart is doing is the clearest tension in XRP’s current setup. Whales are buying. Retail futures traders keep getting liquidated. The Sharpe Ratio has improved but remains barely above zero. None of these signals points cleanly in the same direction. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin is currently trading around $66,400, which is almost 48% below its all-time high of $126,080 set in October 2025, and a technical analysis is drawing a line in the sand for the correction.  According to a crypto analyst known as Leshka.eth, Bitcoin is now approaching a price level that will determine whether this cycle survives or collapses into a full reset. That line is $60,000, and whether it holds may shape Bitcoin’s price trajectory for the rest of the year. Related Reading: UK Slaps Sanctions On $20B Crypto Black Market Tied To Southeast Asia Scam Rings $60,000 As The Important Line Of Defense According to crypto analyst Leshka.eth, the $60,000 price is now the most important zone for Bitcoin in the current market structure. This level is what the analyst describes as the final barrier that will determine whether a deeper correction plays out to lower price levels. Bitcoin has been trading around the low $70,000 region in recent sessions, and the past 24 hours have been characterized by another 3.3% drop. Although its current positioning keeps it comfortably above the $60,000 level for now, the margin is no longer wide enough to ignore downside risks. The weekly candlestick chart shared by the analyst shows how previous breakdowns from similar structures have led to price crashes. However, it is important to note that Bitcoin has not lost the $60,000 price level this cycle, with the early February crash finding a bottom around $63,000.  This context makes the $60,000 level particularly significant. It has kept on acting as a solid floor throughout the past two months, helping to maintain the higher price structure between $63,000 and $76,000. Therefore, a loss of $60,000 would mean that buyers have lost control of an important structural level that has supported the Bitcoin price throughout the current cycle. Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: @leshka_eth On X The Macro Trendline In Every Bitcoin Cycle The broader structure becomes clearer when looking at the long-term trendline drawn across multiple Bitcoin cycles. The trendline, which is drawn on the weekly candlestick chart from 2018 through to a projected 2028, connects the deepest cycle lows that formed during extended bearish price action. In late 2018, Bitcoin topped out, collapsed, and fell to the trendline in 2020 before entering a prolonged accumulation phase near the lows. It then finally surged into the 2021 cycle top. The same structure repeated in the 2022 bear market: Bitcoin crashed from its peak, returned to the macro trendline in 2023, accumulated, and launched into a new cycle that carried it to $126,080 in October 2025. Related Reading: Shiba Inu Under Pressure As Nearly 40B Netflow Surge Hits Exchanges That trendline is now around the $40,000 price level. According to the analyst, if $60,000 holds, then the cycle survives. If it breaks, $40,000 becomes the bottom and accumulation starts over, Leshka.eth wrote in the post on X. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Solana’s derivatives market is signaling something the price chart doesn’t fully show—and it matters right now. According to data from Coinglass, Solana’s total open interest across all exchanges is currently at $5.44 billion, which is about 65.12 million SOL in outstanding futures contracts. That figure places open interest back within the same range it occupied in April 2025, effectively erasing nearly a full year of buildup in the asset Related Reading: UK Slaps Sanctions On $20B Crypto Black Market Tied To Southeast Asia Scam Rings A Year’s Worth Of Leverage Is Gone According to CoinGlass, Solana’s open interest is currently around $5.45 billion, a level that stands far below the peaks seen during the late-2025 run-up.  From late April 2025, Solana’s open interest continued to climb, scaling from the $5 billion to $6 billion range through the summer months, breaking past $12 billion by mid-July, and ultimately peaking around $15 billion to $16 billion in mid-September 2025 when the SOL price was trading above $240. However, what followed that peak was an unwinding that has lasted for the past few months. Solana’s open interest fell through October and November 2025, briefly stabilized in December, then finally collapsed in January and early February 2026. At the time of writing, Solana’s open interest has now dropped to $5.44 billion, which appears to be the lowest point since early April 2025. That is important because it shows the Solana price ecosystem has unwound nearly a full year of speculative buildup. Many of the traders who were previously amplifying Solana’s moves through leverage are no longer as active. Solana Open Interest. Source: Coinglass What This Means For SOL Price The distribution of that $5.44 billion across trading exchanges shows that Binance holds the largest share at $951.84 million, which is about 17.49% of total open interest. This is followed by CME at $672.55 million and Bybit at $617.30 million. KuCoin stands out in the short-term data, recording the largest 24-hour OI change among major venues at +10.42%, though it originates from one of the smaller books in the table at $402.69 million.  The CME open interest number is notable to watch, as it means that institutional participation via regulated futures is still holding up compared to other exchanges.  Total Solana Open Interest. Source: Coinglass There is an important relationship between price and open interest. Whenever an asset’s price rises alongside open interest, it means new money is entering and momentum is being reinforced. On the other hand, when price falls and open interest also falls, it usually points to a reset, where positions are being closed and leverage is being removed from the system. Related Reading: Shiba Inu Under Pressure As Nearly 40B Netflow Surge Hits Exchanges This can be read in two ways. The bearish reading is that fewer leveraged traders means less immediate buying pressure and less momentum support, which can leave price vulnerable if spot demand does not step in. The more constructive reading is that a large part of the excess leverage has already been washed out. At the time of writing, Solana is trading at $83.51, down by 2.7% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

A worst-case scenario is now on the table. Some analysts say Bitcoin could fall as low as $41,000 if a bear flag pattern currently forming on price charts plays out — a warning sign drawing attention as the cryptocurrency trades near $66,000, roughly half of what it was worth at its recent high. Related Reading: Ethereum Sets User Record As Price Lags Far Behind Network Growth Geopolitical Shock Hits At A Bad Time The closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices surging this week, rattling global markets and pulling risk assets lower. Bitcoin was caught in the selloff. Prices slipped below $66,000 as traders weighed rising energy costs, stubborn US inflation, and fresh stress in the bond market. The timing of the geopolitical flare-up has made an already fragile price setup harder to defend. A bear flag pattern — a technical chart signal where prices briefly consolidate after a decline before continuing lower — is now visible on Bitcoin’s chart. Based on reports from market analysts, the pattern puts an initial downside target near $50,000, with the $41,000 level emerging as a deeper floor if selling pressure intensifies. Bitcoin is down 47% from its peak. That kind of drawdown might sound alarming, but analysts who track long-term crypto cycles say it fits a pattern that has shown up before. A Cycle That Has Played Out Before Data shows that Bitcoin tends to lose momentum in midterm years. Reports going back to 2014, 2018, and 2022 show a recurring sequence: prices start the year relatively stable, fade through late Q1 into early Q2, and then grind lower through the summer months. The 2026 price action has tracked this historical average closely. On average, around now is when #Bitcoin continues its decline in midterm years. pic.twitter.com/JZ7Rcx2wJY — Benjamin Cowen (@intocryptoverse) March 27, 2026 Analyst Benjamin Cowen, who has followed Bitcoin’s multi-year cycles, points to what he calls the mid-cycle dip zone — a phase that typically follows a major bull run and stretches across several quarters. According to Cowen, midterm years are not crash events. They are cooldown periods. Rallies lose steam. Volatility picks up. Corrections run longer than most investors expect. That description fits what is happening now. Following a strong run in 2025, Bitcoin’s year-to-date performance has tilted negative, matching the kind of softening seen in prior cycles. Related Reading: UK Slaps Sanctions On $20B Crypto Black Market Tied To Southeast Asia Scam Rings Patience May Be The Only Strategy Left For long-term Bitcoin holders, the message from analysts is straightforward: this has happened before, and it has always eventually ended. But the short-term picture offers little comfort. Macro pressures are stacking up at the same moment that Bitcoin’s chart structure is weakening, and there is no clear catalyst in sight to reverse the trend. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

After failing to push past the critical short‑term resistance at $1.60 last week, XRP has slid about 8%, settling back into the $1.35–$1.40 trading range. Market analyst Sam Daodu says three connected problems explain why recent rallies have fizzled and what must change for a sustainable recovery. XRP Faces Resistance Until Bitcoin Clears $75,000 First, Bitcoin (BTC) dominance remains high. Daodu notes Bitcoin’s share of the crypto market has hovered around 58.6% for much of 2026 and stayed above 58% most of the time. Historically, broad altcoin rallies tend to begin when Bitcoin dominance falls below 50% and capital rotates from BTC into smaller tokens.  That rotation has not occurred: institutions are not reallocating to altcoins but either leaving crypto or keeping funds in Bitcoin as a perceived safe haven. Daodu argues that unless Bitcoin decisively breaks and holds above $75,000, even XRP’s strong fundamentals are unlikely to move its price materially. Related Reading: MARA Holdings’ Bitcoin Sell-Off: 15,000 BTC Liquidated As Prices Crash Below $69,000 Second, large holders have been steadily taking profits since XRP hit $3.65 in July 2025. Daodu estimates roughly $6 billion in XRP has been sold by whales since that peak, and substantial volumes continue to flow onto exchanges. The expert identified that many of these whales originally bought below $0.65, so they are willing to sell into rallies to lock in gains, asserting that selling pressure keeps rallies short‑ lived. Third, a large portion of holders sits underwater, which creates persistent resistance near the current price. Glassnode data cited by Daodu shows 60% of circulating XRP is held at a cost basis above today’s levels; the average cost basis across holders is approximately $1.44.  Because that average is nearly the center of XRP’s recent trading band, holders who have been losing money sell when price approaches breakeven, using $1.45 as a take‑profit level.  ETFs Fail To Absorb Supply Daodu adds that even if XRP clears $1.45, further layers of selling are likely: positions across the $1.40–$3.65 range contain clusters of holders looking to return to breakeven or better, meaning upward moves tend to meet fresh supply. Exchange‑traded funds (ETFs) focused on XRP add another structural constraint. Total assets under management (AuM) fell from ITS January peak of $1.65 billion to about $1 billion as the token’s price declined.  At the current inflow pace—roughly $1.9 million per week—ETFs would only add about $100 million by year‑end, a level Daodu argues is insufficient to meaningfully soak up supply.  Is Regulatory Clarity The Key?  Looking ahead, Daodu points to one potential catalyst that could change the dynamics: the long-awaited US crypto market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, which has faced significant opposition in recent months due to key provisions that have prevented its passage.  If the bill becomes law and formally cements XRP’s status as a commodity, Daodu argues, it would reduce regulatory uncertainty and could unlock broader institutional adoption.  That in turn might encourage banks to settle in XRP rather than relying on alternatives such as Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, creating the kind of demand pressure that could finally push the price out of its current range. Related Reading: NVIDIA Faces Class Action After Court OKs $1 Billion Crypto-Mining Revenue Claims – Stock Dips 7% In short, Daodu’s view is that XRP needs multiple things to shift at once: a change in capital flows away from Bitcoin, less selling from large holders, and materially larger ETF inflows—or a regulatory development that brings institutions on board.  Until several of those factors move together, the analyst says, XRP rallies are likely to remain short‑lived and the token stuck near its recent trading band. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

US lawmakers on Friday unveiled the Digital Asset PARITY Act — a wide‑ranging draft bill that would reshape tax and regulatory treatment for digital assets while drawing immediate criticism for excluding Bitcoin (BTC).  Introduced by Representatives Max Miller and Steven Horsford, the measure would, among other changes, create a narrow tax exemption for small stablecoin transactions and alter how staking income is treated.  Key PARITY Act Provisions Under the PARITY proposal, regulated payment stablecoins used in transactions worth less than $200 would be exempt from recognizing gains or losses, provided the stablecoin’s price remains within 1% of its dollar peg at the time of payment.  Related Reading: NVIDIA Faces Class Action After Court OKs $1 Billion Crypto-Mining Revenue Claims – Stock Dips 7% The bill also contains several other notable provisions, on staking for example, as it seeks to change the tax timing for income earned by passive participants in proof‑of‑stake (PoS) networks, permitting those “passive stakers” to defer the immediate tax consequences of staking rewards.  Yet the bill’s approach to staking and mining has become a focal point for criticism. The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) has been one of the most vocal opponents, arguing that PARITY’s staking deferral provisions create an uneven, technology‑biased tax regime that disadvantages proof‑of‑work (PoW) networks such as Bitcoin.  BPI Objection Over Bitcoin Exclusion The Bitcoin Policy Institute contends the draft perpetuates the “phantom income” problem that both miners and stakers previously acknowledged needed legislative relief, but solves it only for stakers.  The organization warned that by offering deferral to staking participants while leaving miners outside the relief, the bill effectively penalizes mining and undermines technological neutrality. Related Reading: MARA Holdings’ Bitcoin Sell-Off: 15,000 BTC Liquidated As Prices Crash Below $69,000 BPI called the imbalance “a two‑tier tax regime,” and urged lawmakers to remedy it by restoring a broader de minimis exemption that is not limited to stablecoins and by extending the deferral election to all block‑reward recipients — miners as well as stakers — or otherwise explicitly including mining in the relief.  The Bitcoin Policy Institute argued these fixes are minimal but necessary steps if Congress truly intends to maintain US leadership in Bitcoin and digital asset innovation. Left unchanged, the group warned, the draft could disadvantage proof‑of‑work systems and shift innovation offshore. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at roughly $66,000, representing a 4% and almost 6% loss in the 24-hour and seven-day time frames, respectively, as the broader crypto market wraps up the week to the downside.  Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com 

NVIDIA shares, NVDA, fell 7% on Thursday after a US federal judge allowed an investor lawsuit to proceed as a class action, reviving allegations that the company and CEO Jensen Huang concealed more than $1 billion in crypto-mining–related graphics card sales.  NVIDIA Accused Of Hiding $1 Billion In Crypto Sales The suit, originally filed in 2018, contends that NVIDIA misled shareholders by attributing surging revenue to gaming demand while minimizing the substantial contribution from cryptocurrency miners.  Plaintiffs maintain that the company funneled orders from miners through consumer GeForce gaming cards rather than reporting them under dedicated crypto product lines, inflating the appearance of organic gaming growth.  Related Reading: MARA Holdings’ Bitcoin Sell-Off: 15,000 BTC Liquidated As Prices Crash Below $69,000 According to internal testimony and documents disclosed in the court filing, independent analyses place undisclosed crypto-related GPU revenue between $1.1 billion and $1.35 billion—far exceeding what NVIDIA publicly acknowledged at the time. In court materials, one insider identified as “FE 1” explained how the tracking system monitored miner purchases; another, “FE 2,” said Huang participated in sales meetings where crypto-driven demand and its effects on revenue were discussed.  Plaintiffs argue these accounts, together with internal records, show NVIDIA was aware of the scale of miner demand but publicly downplayed its significance. Class Action Certified Despite Company Defense NVIDIA has long maintained that crypto mining accounted for only a small fraction of its business and that any mining-related exposure was largely confined to dedicated Crypto SKUs within its OEM segment.   NVIDIA’s defense has drawn backing from industry groups: in August 2024, the Digital Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to overturn a Ninth Circuit decision that had partially revived the case. Regulators have previously sanctioned NVIDIA over related disclosure issues. In 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fined the company $5.5 million and issued a cease-and-desist order for allegedly failing to fully disclose how crypto-mining demand affected fiscal 2018 results.  Despite that settlement, plaintiffs say the newly surfaced internal emails and testimony support their contention that NVIDIA’s public statements materially mischaracterized the drivers of its 2018 revenue. Related Reading: Ethereum (ETH) May Be Reversing Course, Says Top Analyst; Watch These Key Resistances The alleged concealment had real market consequences: when cryptocurrency prices collapsed in late 2018, and miner demand evaporated, NVIDIA sharply lowered its revenue guidance, citing excess inventory and weaker miner orders.  The stock plunged over two trading days, precipitating the investor suit that has now been certified as a class action by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. Judge Gilliam reached the certification after NVIDIA failed to demonstrate that its statements had no impact on the company’s stock price.  Court filings also include an internal email from a senior vice president that suggested NVIDIA’s valuation remained elevated because of the company’s public reassurances—an item plaintiffs point to as evidence of market effect. At the time of writing, NVDA was trading at $172, down almost 18% from its all-time high of $212 set in October of last year.  Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView.com