A slump in majors came as Chinese stocks in Hong Kong extended their losses to as much as 2.9% after Wednesday’s open despite the Chinese economy growing 5.4% in the first quarter.
Bitcoin has experienced a notable rebound over the past week, following a brief period of downside pressure earlier this month. After dropping below $80,000 amid the tariff turmoil, the asset has regained its losses and is now trading above $85,000. This recovery marks a nearly 10% surge over the last seven days and comes as investors reassess macroeconomic cues and on-chain signals. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Forecast: What Experts Anticipate Following The Jump Toward $85,000 Bitcoin On-Chain Trends Indicate Continued Uptrend The market’s resilience appears to be underpinned by several important metrics. According to a recent post by CryptoQuant analyst BorisVest, various on-chain indicators continue to suggest that Bitcoin remains undervalued in the current cycle. The analysis points to declining exchange reserves, a stablecoin supply ratio that suggests available liquidity for new purchases, and normalized funding rates that may indicate a reduced risk of overheated market conditions. One of the striking observations in BorisVest’s analysis is the ongoing reduction in exchange-held Bitcoin reserves, which have now returned to levels not seen since 2018. The total number of BTC on exchanges stands at around 2.43 million, significantly down from the 3.4 million observed during the 2021 bull market peak. This reduction implies a shift toward long-term holding behavior among investors, limiting available supply for immediate sale and potentially contributing to upward price pressure. In addition, the Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR) currently stands at 14.3. The SSR is a metric used to gauge the purchasing power available in the market via stablecoins. A lower SSR indicates higher purchasing power and potential for further buying activity. Since the SSR has not reached the elevated levels seen during the last cycle’s peak, the data implies that capital remains on the sidelines and could be deployed as prices stabilize or rise. Normalized Funding Rates and Bullish Implications Another significant factor highlighted in the report is the normalization of funding rates. During Bitcoin’s recent all-time highs, funding rates spiked as long positions accumulated rapidly, suggesting an overheated market and increased short-term risk. However, since the correction, these rates have returned to neutral territory, now hovering between 0.00% and 0.01%. This return to balance is interpreted as a reset of market sentiment, reducing the likelihood of immediate downside caused by over-leveraged longs. The report concludes that the combination of declining exchange reserves, a stable SSR, and subdued funding rates supports a constructive outlook for Bitcoin in the near term. Related Reading: Strategy’s Bitcoin Portfolio Grows To Nearly 600,000 BTC After Recent Purchase While broader macroeconomic factors, such as the global tariff environment and monetary policy, will continue to influence sentiment, current on-chain dynamics suggest that investor confidence remains intact. The focus now shifts to whether these conditions will translate into sustained upward momentum or if a period of consolidation will take hold before the next major move. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView
Local governments in China are reportedly seeking ways to offload seized crypto while facing challenges due to the country’s ban on crypto trading and exchanges.The lack of rules around how authorities should handle seized crypto has spawned “inconsistent and opaque approaches” that some fear could foster corruption, lawyers told Reuters for an April 16 report.Chinese local governments are using private companies to sell seized cryptocurrencies in offshore markets in exchange for cash to replenish public coffers, Reuters reported, citing transaction and court documents. The local governments reportedly held approximately 15,000 Bitcoin (BTC) worth $1.4 billion at the end of 2023, and the sales have been a significant source of income.China holds an estimated 194,000 BTC worth approximately $16 billion and is the second largest nation Bitcoin holder behind the US, according to Bitbo. Zhongnan University of Economics and Law professor Chen Shi told Reuters that these sales are a “makeshift solution that, strictly speaking, is not fully in line with China’s current ban on crypto trading.”Countries and governments that hold BTC. Source: BitboThe issue has been exacerbated by a rise in crypto-related crime in China, ranging from online fraud to money laundering to illegal gambling. Additionally, the state sued more than 3,000 people involved in crypto-related money laundering in 2024. China crypto reserve floated as solutionShenzhen-based lawyer Guo Zhihao opined that the central bank is better positioned to deal with seized digital assets and should either sell them overseas or build a crypto reserve.Ru Haiyang, co-CEO at Hong Kong crypto exchange HashKey, echoed the suggestion saying that China may want to keep forfeited Bitcoin as a strategic reserve as US President Donald Trump is doing. Related: Bitcoin rebounds as traders spot China ‘weaker yuan’ chart, but US trade war caps $80K BTC rallyCreating a crypto sovereign fund in Hong Kong, where crypto trading is legal, has also been proposed.This issue has gained attention amid rising US-China trade tensions and Trump’s plans to regulate stablecoins and foster growth and innovation in the crypto industry.Several industry observers have suggested that China’s tariff response could result in a devaluation of the local currency, which may result in a flight to crypto. Magazine: Illegal arcade disguised as … a fake Bitcoin mine? Soldier scams in China: Asia Express
The global trade war and negotiations are expected to drag on longer as China and the U.S. remain in impasse mode. Europe has found itself on thin ice as China makes progress in negotiations, while the U.S. side stalls. Earlier on Tuesday, April 15, during the mid-Western financial markets, EU’s Trade Chief Maroš Šefčovič ended …
The long-standing legal battle between Ripple and the SEC may be nearing a historic resolution. In a court filing dated April 10, both parties agreed to pause their appeals as they enter active settlement discussions, sparking speculation that the incoming SEC Chair, Paul Atkins, may be ready to drop the case altogether. The filing noted …
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that privacy should be a top priority for developers, warning that assumptions about transparency and good intentions in global politics are overly optimistic.In an April 14 blog post, Buterin argued that privacy is essential to maintain individual freedom and protect against the growing power of governments and corporations. He criticized the idea that increased transparency is inherently beneficial, saying it relies on assumptions about human nature that are no longer valid.These assumptions include believing that global political leadership is “generally well-intentioned and sane,” and that social culture continues to progress in a positive direction.” Both are proving to be increasingly untrue, Buterin argued.Buterin claimed there was “no single major country for which the first assumption is broadly agreed to be true.” Furthermore, he wrote that cultural tolerance is “rapidly regressing,” which is reportedly demonstrable by an X post search for “bullying is good.” Buterin’s personal privacy issuesButerin said that he found his lack of privacy unsettling at times. He added:“Every single action I take outside has some nonzero chance of unexpectedly becoming a public media story.”Covertly taken photos of Vitalik Buterin. Source: Vitalik.ethWhile this may appear as a suggestion that privacy is an advantage only for those who venture outside the social norms, he highlighted that “you never know when you will become one of them.”Buterin only expects the need for privacy to increase as technology develops further, with brain-computer interfaces potentially allowing automated systems to peer directly into our brains. Another issue is automated price gouging, with companies charging individuals as much as they expect them to be able to pay.Related: Messaging apps are spying on you — Here’s how to stay safe in 2025There is no privacy with government backdoorsButerin also argued strongly against the idea of adding government backdoors to systems designed to protect privacy. He said such positions are common but inherently unstable.He highlighted how, in the case of Know Your Customer data, “it’s not just the government, it’s also all kinds of corporate entities, of varying levels of quality” that can access private data. Instead, the information is handled and held by payment processors, banks, and other intermediaries.Similarly, telecommunication companies can locate their users and have been found to illegally sell this data. Buterin also raised concerns that individuals with access will always be incentivized to abuse it, and data banks can always be hacked. Lastly, a trustworthy government can change and become untrustworthy in the future, inheriting all the sensitive data. He concluded:“From the perspective of an individual, if data is taken from them, they have no way to tell if and how it will be abused in the future. By far the safest approach to handling large-scale data is to centrally collect as little of it as possible in the first place.“Related: Privacy will unlock blockchain’s business potentialAuthorities have more data than everButerin raised the issue of governments being able to access anything with a warrant “because that‘s the way that things have always worked.” He noted that this point of view fails to consider that historically, the amount of data available for obtaining through a warrant was far lower.He said the traditionally available data would still be available even “if the strongest proposed forms of internet privacy were universally adopted.” He wrote that “in the 19ᵗʰ century, the average conversation happened once, via voice, and was never recorded by anyone.”Buterin’s proposed solutionsButerin suggested solutions based mainly on zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) because they allow for “fine-grained control of who can see what information.” ZK-proofs are cryptographic protocols that allow one party to prove a statement is true without revealing any additional information.One such system is a ZK-proof-based proof of personhood that proves you are unique without revealing who you are. These systems rely on documents like passports or biometric data paired with decentralized systems.Another solution suggested is the recently launched privacy pools, which allow for regulatory-compliant Ether (ETH) anonymization. Buterin also cited on-device anti-fraud scanning, checking incoming messages and identifying potential misinformation and scams.These systems are proof of provenance services for physical items using a combination of blockchain and ZK-proof technology. They track various properties of an item throughout its manufacturing cycle, ensuring the user of its authenticity.The post follows Buterin’s recent privacy roadmap for Ethereum. In it, he highlighted the short-term changes to the base protocol and ecosystem needed to ensure better user privacy.Magazine: Cypherpunk AI: Guide to uncensored, unbiased, anonymous AI in 2025
Developers behind the Ethereum layer 2 Aztec Network have launched a whistleblowing platform called StealthNote that allows workers to vent about their employer without revealing themselves.StealthNote uses zero-knowledge proofs to prove that posts on its platform are written by someone with access to an email address of the company that they’re reviewing.Aztec Labs developer Saleel Pichen wrote in an April 14 X post that StealthNote creates a zero-knowledge proof of a Google JSON Web Token, which is used to authenticate users and allows the platform to prove a poster owns “an email from a company domain without revealing any personal info.”Two of the latest posts on StealthNote from personnel at Aztec Labs and Cornell University. Source: StealthNote.xyzAccording to Aztec’s documentation, the privacy solution had been in development since at least Oct. 22, while the first test post from Aztec occurred about three months ago.Workers from Ethereum Foundation, StarkWare and Scroll as well as Columbia and Cornell universities have made posts on StealthNote, primarily sharing greetings and voicing their support for privacy solutions.“Let’s make privacy cool again,” a worker from Nim Network wrote.ZK-proofs needed more than ever, says ButerinZK-proofs have become an increasingly used privacy solution in the internet age as concerns over data security and government surveillance continue to grow.The concerns were raised in an April 14 blog post by Ethereum co-creator Vitalik Buterin, who criticized the assumption that governments are generally well-intentioned when it comes to sacrificing privacy for a more “transparent society.” Related: Vitalik Buterin unveils roadmap for Ethereum privacyHe championed ZK-proofs as a solution to mitigate this trade-off, highlighting the technology’s ability to provide “fine-grained control of who can see what information.”Related: Vitalik Buterin unveils roadmap for Ethereum privacyThe privacy-focused Aztec Network launched on Ethereum in February 2020. The firm raised $100 million in Series B funding led by the tech-focused venture capital firm Andreessen “a16z” Horowitz in December 2022, with A Capital and King River also contributing.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
Hong Joon-pyo, a presidential primary candidate for the country's right-wing party, previously called for pro-innovation policies.
Japanese-listed firm Metaplanet Inc. is deepening its Bitcoin commitment with a fresh $10 million move, further cementing its reputation as Asia’s boldest corporate player in the crypto space. This time, the company has issued zero-coupon dollar-denominated bonds to EVO FUND to boost its Bitcoin holdings while strategically avoiding any financial strain. ???? Metaplanet to raise …
Cardano price started a fresh decline from the $0.680 zone. ADA is consolidating near $0.620 and remains at risk of more losses. ADA price started a recovery wave from the $0.5850 zone. The price is trading below $0.640 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $0.6350 on the hourly chart of the ADA/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears the $0.640 resistance zone. Cardano Price Faces Resistance In the past few sessions, Cardano saw a fresh decline from the $0.680 level, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. ADA declined below the $0.650 and $0.640 support levels. A low was formed at $0.6040 and the price is now consolidating losses. There was a minor move above the $0.6120 level. The price tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $0.6481 swing high to the $0.6040 low. Cardano price is now trading below $0.640 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $0.6260 zone and the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $0.6481 swing high to the $0.6040 low. The first resistance is near $0.6350. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $0.6350 on the hourly chart of the ADA/USD pair. The next key resistance might be $0.6480. If there is a close above the $0.6480 resistance, the price could start a strong rally. In the stated case, the price could rise toward the $0.680 region. Any more gains might call for a move toward $0.70 in the near term. Another Drop in ADA? If Cardano’s price fails to climb above the $0.6350 resistance level, it could start another decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $0.6040 level. The next major support is near the $0.60 level. A downside break below the $0.60 level could open the doors for a test of $0.580. The next major support is near the $0.5550 level where the bulls might emerge. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ADA/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for ADA/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.6040 and $0.580. Major Resistance Levels – $0.6350 and $0.6480.
The breakdown suggests the attempted recovery from the April 7 lows has likely ended.
Chinese local governments have been selling confiscated crypto assets amid a slowing economy, Reuters reported.
Healthcare technology firm Semler Scientific has reported paper losses on its Bitcoin holdings over the first quarter of this year as the cryptocurrency saw a heavy correction. The firm reported a preliminary unrealized loss from the change in fair value of Bitcoin holdings of approximately $41.8 million since Dec. 31, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15.Semler declared holdings of 3,182 Bitcoin (BTC) valued at around $263.5 million as of March 31. During the three-month period, BTC prices fell 12% from $93,500 at the beginning of January to $82,350 by the end of March. The full correction from its all-time high to the low below $75,000 on April 7 stands at 32%. Semler reported expected revenues of $8.8 to $8.9 million and operational losses of $1.3 to $1.5 million for the period. It held cash and cash equivalents of approximately $10 million as of March 31.In November, Semler Scientific CEO Doug Murphy-Chutorian said, “We remain laser-focused on acquiring and holding Bitcoin while supporting innovation and growth in our healthcare business.” Semler is the twelfth largest corporate holder of BTC, ahead of Hong Kong gaming firm Boyaa Interactive International Limited, according to Bitbo data. Semler also reported that it had reached an agreement in principle to pay almost $30 million to settle claims related to a civil investigation by the Department of Justice.Semler floats $500 million securities sale In a separate April 15 SEC filing, the firm outlined its plan to offer and sell securities worth up to $500 million, in part to continue its Bitcoin acquisition strategy.Related: Healthcare tech firm Semler buys 871 Bitcoin, yield tops 150%“We may offer and sell securities from time to time in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate value of $500,000,000,” it stated. Semler’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq under the symbol SMLR.“Our stock price has been volatile and may continue to be volatile,” the firm cautioned. Shares in the medical firm have fallen 36% since the beginning of 2025. SMLR price year-to-date. Source: Google FinanceSemler intends to use the net proceeds from the securities sale “primarily for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Bitcoin,” it revealed. Magazine: Bitcoin eyes $100K by June, Shaq to settle NFT lawsuit, and more: Hodler’s Digest
Bullish sentiment could be returning to Bitcoin as a key metric from Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume, shows that buyers are starting to dominate the platform’s volumes.The Binance Taker Buy Sell Ratio, which calculates the ratio of buyers to sellers of Bitcoin (BTC) in Binance, “has returned to neutral territory,” CryptoQuant contributor DarkFost said in an April 15 note.Bitcoin’s bullish momentum is “picking up again”The ratio currently stands at 1.008. When the ratio is higher than 1, buyers — usually a bullish sentiment indicator — dominate volumes, conversely, a ratio below 1 indicates that sellers, or bearish sentiment, are dominating.Bitcoin is trading at $83,810 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCapBitcoin is trading at $83,810 at the time of publication, down 1.47% over the past seven days, according to CoinMarketCap data.“Over the past few days, the ratio has been mostly positive, suggesting that bullish sentiment is picking up again on Binance’s derivatives market,” Darkfost said. On April 14, when Bitcoin was above $86,000, the ratio was above 1.1. CoinGlass data shows that if Bitcoin reclaims $85,000, almost $637 million in short positions will be at risk of liquidation. Several key market indicators suggest that investors continue to favor Bitcoin over altcoins.CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index is currently at 15 out of 100, signalling it is still very much “Bitcoin Season.” TradingView’s Bitcoin Dominance Chart shows the asset’s market share is sitting at 63.81%, up 9.82% so far this year.Bitcoin Dominance is up 9.88% since the beginning of 2025. Source: TradingViewOverall, crypto market participants are still appearing to feel hesitant. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index shows the overall market sentiment on April 16 is in “Fear” with a score of 29 out of 100.Some analysts, including DeFiDaniel, commented that Bitcoin’s recent price action is “so boring.” However, Cointelegraph earlier reported that Bitcoin apparent demand is on a recovery path, but it is not net positive yet. Historically, 30-day apparent demand can move sideways for a prolonged period after Bitcoin reaches a local bottom, leading to its price chopping sideways.Related: Bitcoin price recovery could be capped at $90K — Here’s whyAnalysts have differing views over where Bitcoin is going to go next.Real Vision chief crypto analyst Jamie Coutts told Cointelegraph in late March that “the market may be underestimating how quickly Bitcoin could surge — potentially hitting new all-time highs before Q2 is out.” AnchorWatch CEO Rob Hamilton said in an April 15 X post that Bitcoin’s price “is flat for the day because we are in an epic tug of war between people who are selling Bitcoin to pay their taxes and people using their refunds to buy Bitcoin.” The tax deadline in the US was April 15.Magazine: Is Cambria S2 the riskiest, most ‘addictive’ crypto game of 2025? Web3 GamerThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
The X account of UK member of Parliament and Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, was hacked to promote a scam crypto token.In a series of now-deleted posts on April 15, Powell’s X account shared links to a token called the House of Commons Coin (HOC), describing it as “a community driven digital currency.”Source: Daniel GreenA member of Powell’s staff confirmed to the BBC that the account had been hacked and that “steps were taken quickly to secure the account and remove misleading posts.”DEX Screener shows the HOC token saw limited interest from would-be investors, achieving a peak market cap of just over $24,000 shortly after the posts from Powell’s account.The token has seen a total of 736 transactions and a trading volume of just $71,000.While Powell hasn’t promoted a cryptocurrency before, it isn’t unheard of for political figures to back real crypto tokens.US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump both launched and promoted memecoins days before they entered the White House, sparking criticism from the president’s political rivals and even some supporters.Argentine President Javier Melei also promoted a token called LIBRA, which quickly crashed in value and has caused a political scandal in Argentina and calls for a probe into Melei’s involvement with the token.Powell’s account hack follows similar attack on Ghana’s presidentIn March, the X account of Ghana’s President John Mahama saw a similar breach, with attackers taking over his account for 48 hours to promote a scam cryptocurrency called Solanafrica.The Ghanaian president’s X account was hacked in March 2025. Source: CrediRates Related: UK trade bodies ask government to make crypto a ‘strategic priority’The scammers made similar crypto-promoting posts to Mahama’s 2.4 million followers, claiming that the scam project was “making payments fast and free across the continent with support from Solana and the Bank of Ghana.”The president’s team regained control of Mahama’s X account two days later. His spokesman, Kwakye Ofosu, told the AFP that the account “has now been fully restored, and we urge the public to disregard any suspicious cryptocurrency-related posts from the handle.”Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post published today, Bitcoin (BTC) may still be undervalued based on several on-chain metrics. Crypto on-chain analyst BorisVest explained that data suggests bullish sentiment remains intact for the leading cryptocurrency. On-Chain Metrics Suggest Bitcoin Still Undervalued BorisVest pointed to two key on-chain metrics suggesting that BTC’s current price might be below its fair value. First, the analyst highlighted the decline in Bitcoin’s exchange reserves. Related Reading: Bitcoin Buy Signal Confirmed? Analysts Highlight Key Reversal Zone In Play According to recent data, BTC exchange reserves – the amount of BTC available on cryptocurrency exchanges – are currently hovering around 2.43 million BTC, a sharp decline from the 3.40 million BTC on exchanges during the 2021 bull run. The analyst noted: The Bitcoin exchange reserve data shows that Bitcoin is being withdrawn from exchanges after seven years. The fact that Bitcoin is not readily available for sale suggests it is being held for the long term. A decrease in Bitcoin supply supports a potential price increase. To explain further, a decline in BTC exchange reserves means fewer coins are available for sale on centralized exchanges. This suggests that investors are holding rather than selling – a signal of growing confidence and potential undervaluation, as supply tightens while demand may rise. Further, BorisVest pointed to the Bitcoin Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR), which currently stands at 14.3. This suggests that even if BTC falls further, there is enough purchasing power among potential investors to prevent a major price decline. The analyst explained that the SSR increases as the BTC price rises, indicating reduced purchasing power, which may signal that BTC is overvalued at prevailing market prices. The following chart shows that the SSR has not yet reached its 2021 levels – around 34 – hinting that BTC may be undervalued at its current price. USDT Dominance Shows Bearish Divergence Crypto analyst Titan of Crypto shared an interesting observation regarding the declining USDT dominance on the weekly timeframe. The analyst noted that a hidden bearish divergence may be forming, which could indicate an early signal of risk-on sentiment returning to the market. A bearish divergence on the USDT dominance chart suggests that investors are becoming less defensive, possibly rotating out of stablecoins and back into risk-on assets like BTC and altcoins. It often signals improving market sentiment and a potential bullish phase for crypto. Related Reading: Bitcoin Flashes ‘Death Cross’ Amid Tariff-Induced Market Turmoil – Is Further Decline Inevitable? Meanwhile, the Bitcoin weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) recently broke its prolonged downtrend, sparking hopes for a potential price recovery, with some analysts targeting prices beyond $100,000. Additionally, exchange net flow data suggests that a BTC rally may be closer than most investors anticipate. At press time, BTC is trading at $85,550, up 0.5% in the last 24 hours. Featured image created with Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant, X, and TradingView.com
XRP price started a fresh increase above the $2.20 resistance. The price is now correcting gains and might find bids near the $2.050 zone. XRP price started a downside correction from the $2.250 resistance zone. The price is now trading below $2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $2.140 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair might extend losses if there is a close below the $2.050 support zone. XRP Price Dips Again XRP price started a fresh increase above the $1.980 resistance, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price climbed above the $2.020 and $2.050 resistance levels. A high was formed at $2.244 and the price recently started a downside correction. There was a move below the $2.120 support zone. Besides, there was a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $2.140 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price even spiked below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.920 swing low to the $2.244 high. The price is now trading below $2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $2.120 level. The first major resistance is near the $2.180 level. The next resistance is $2.20. A clear move above the $2.20 resistance might send the price toward the $2.250 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.320 resistance or even $2.350 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $2.50. Another Decline? If XRP fails to clear the $2.120 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.050 level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.920 swing low to the $2.244 high. The next major support is near the $2.00 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.00 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $1.920 support. The next major support sits near the $1.840 zone. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.050 and $2.00. Major Resistance Levels – $2.120 and $2.180.
The collaboration aims to leverage Bleap's technology to enable other wallet providers to integrate with Mastercard's payments network.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs saw $76.4 million in inflows Tuesday and $1.5 million Monday, following a seven-day outflow of $878 million.
Altman’s startup is reportedly testing an X-style app, as legal and business clashes with Elon Musk escalate.
Ethereum price started a fresh decline from the $1,690 zone. ETH is now consolidating and might decline further below the $1,580 support zone. Ethereum started a fresh decline after it failed to clear $1,700 and $1,720. The price is trading below $1,620 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a new connecting bullish trend line with support at $1,625 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase if it clears the $1,640 resistance zone. Ethereum Price Faces Rejection Ethereum price formed a base above $1,550 and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH gained pace for a move above the $1,600 and $1,620 resistance levels. The bulls even pumped the price above the $1,650 zone. A high was formed at $1,690 and the price recently corrected gains. There was a move below the $1,640 support zone. Besides, there was a break below a new connecting bullish trend line with support at $1,625 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The price tested the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1,472 swing low to the $1,690 high. Ethereum price is now trading below $1,625 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $1,620 level. The next key resistance is near the $1,640 level. The first major resistance is near the $1,650 level. A clear move above the $1,650 resistance might send the price toward the $1,690 resistance. An upside break above the $1,690 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $1,750 resistance zone or even $1,800 in the near term. More Losses In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $1,640 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1,580 level. The first major support sits near the $1,555 zone and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1,472 swing low to the $1,690 high. A clear move below the $1,555 support might push the price toward the $1,525 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $1,450 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $1,420. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $1,580 Major Resistance Level – $1,640
Fresh from successfully convincing game retailer GameStop to add Bitcoin to its balance sheet, Strive Asset Management CEO Matt Cole has now set his sights on fintech firm Intuit to do the same.Cole said in an April 14 open letter to Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi that Intuit’s growth is admirable, but Bitcoin (BTC) is the best way to ensure the company’s long-term success and hedge against any potential disruption caused by artificial intelligence.Intuit’s flagship products are its tax preparation app TurboTax and the small business accounting software Quickbooks. The company laid off 10% of its staff in July to pursue its AI endeavors, but Cole said the firm needs an additional hedge because TurboTax is at risk of being automated away by AI. “While we appreciate Intuit’s own investments and internal implementation of AI, we believe an additional hedge is warranted, and that a Bitcoin war chest is the best option available,” Cole said. An excerpt from Matt Cole’s letter urging Intuit to consider adding Bitcoin to its balance sheets, among other suggestions. Source: Strive Asset Management That Bitcoin war chest, he added, will ensure Intuit has “enough strategic capital to weather the AI storm and act from a position of strength through the turbulence of the AI revolution.” Cole sent a similar letter to GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen in February to advise the gaming retailer to use its $4.6 billion in cash to buy Bitcoin. GameStop’s Cohen acknowledged the letter in an April 1 regulatory filing and revealed his company had finished a convertible debt offering that raised $1.5 billion, with some proceeds earmarked for buying Bitcoin.Strive urges Intuit change crypto policyIn his letter to Intuit, Cole said the firm should reconsider the acceptable use policy for its marketing platform Mailchimp, which he claims has continued to suspend crypto-related accounts over policy violations.Source: Strive Asset ManagementCole said he “remains concerned that Intuit’s censorship and de-platforming policies discriminate against Bitcoin enthusiasts, which may harm long-term shareholder value.”Mailchimp has said that crypto-related content isn’t necessarily banned under its policy, and crypto content can be sent provided the sender isn’t involved in the sale, exchange, or marketing of crypto. Related: Saylor signals Strategy is buying the dip amid macroeconomic turmoilIts current acceptable use policy states that the platform might not allow accounts that offer “cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, and any digital assets related to an initial coin offering.” According to Cole, Mailchimp likely adopted its policies when the legal status of crypto and related businesses was uncertain, but said with the crypto-friendly Trump administration, it’s time to “amend the acceptable use policy to end the blanket ban on crypto-related businesses.”Intuit did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Magazine: Bitcoin eyes $100K by June, Shaq to settle NFT lawsuit, and more: Hodler’s Digest, April 6–12
Semler Scientific, a healthcare tech company, is going full steam ahead with its Bitcoin strategy. The company has filed a new S-3 registration with the SEC, signaling plans to raise to $500 million. This capital raise would come through a variety of securities like common stock, debt, and warrants. While the funds will be used …
In an investor note dated April 15, 2025, Matt Hougan, the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Bitwise, shared an examination of Bitcoin’s recent trading patterns that may surprise both critics and supporters. “Bitcoin is acting like an asset that wants to go higher, if only macro obstacles would get out of the way,” he wrote. According to Hougan, Bitcoin’s price on April 14 hovered around $84,379, compared to $84,317 a month earlier—a minuscule change of 0.07% during a 30-day window. This flat performance emerged against the backdrop of two significant geopolitical events: the United States announcing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and President Donald Trump imposing sweeping tariffs on countries around the globe. The resilience that Bitcoin has shown during this period stands in stark contrast to the broader downward trend in traditional financial markets. Hougan pointed out that the S&P 500, which peaked on February 19, has lost 12.0% of its value, with Bitcoin down a comparable 12.4% since that date. He found this alignment astonishing, particularly because it departs from Bitcoin’s behavior during past market downturns. In the 2022 correction, for example, the S&P 500 slid 24.5% while Bitcoin plunged 58.3%. Similarly, at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in early 2020, stocks fell 33.8% but Bitcoin sank 38.1%, and in late 2018, when escalating trade tensions between the United States and China dragged equities down 19.36%, Bitcoin declined 37.22%. This track record had historically reinforced the notion that, when stocks took a hit, Bitcoin would invariably suffer a far steeper pullback. Related Reading: Bitcoin Lags Gold As Wall Street Doubts Persist, Claims Expert In his latest note, Hougan emphasized how different the present situation feels. Instead of being battered well beyond the equity market’s turbulence, Bitcoin is now mirroring stock losses closely. He acknowledged that this alone does not make Bitcoin an unequivocal hedge asset, adding, “Critics will point out that matching stocks’ performance during a downturn is not the same as acting as a hedge asset, and that gold has been a better performer than Bitcoin during this pullback. That’s true.” Nonetheless, he argued that Bitcoin’s ability to stay around the $80,000 mark while global markets churn is a testament to its robust staying power in the face of multiple macroeconomic shocks. “If that doesn’t give you confidence in its staying power, I don’t know what will,” he remarked. Hougan’s view is that we are witnessing a transitional phase in Bitcoin’s evolution. He explained that the cryptocurrency has historically been driven by two competing forces: it has served as a risk asset, associated with significant upside potential and high volatility, yet it has also occasionally taken on the role of a hedge similar to gold. Related Reading: This Bitcoin Pullback Mirrors 2017’s Path To Parabolic Highs, Says Analyst In Bitcoin’s early days, the risk-asset angle tended to dominate; in major equity sell-offs, investors often shed Bitcoin faster and more aggressively than they exited stocks. Now, with more corporations integrating Bitcoin into their balance sheets, institutional investors exploring it as part of diversified portfolios, and governments—like the United States—incorporating it into strategic reserves, there appears to be a gradual tilt toward Bitcoin being treated more like “digital gold.” . Still, Hougan warned that investors should not overlook the inherent unpredictability in the current macro environment. He noted that equity markets may not yet have found a bottom, raising the possibility that deeper slides could re-expose Bitcoin’s vulnerability if broader panic sets in. He also conceded that gold’s performance remains a more classic example of a safe-haven behavior during systemic shocks, meaning Bitcoin has not conclusively demonstrated that it can replace traditional hedges during intense economic strain. Even so, in his words, “The world is unraveling, and Bitcoin is trading above $80,000.” Hougan underscored that there is no guarantee this dynamic will endure, particularly given the unpredictable repercussions that could stem from sudden tariff escalations or shifts in monetary policy. As he concluded in his note, “Our baby is growing up as a macro asset. And that’s a beautiful thing to see.” At press time, BTC traded at $85,200. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
The aim of Noble’s AppLayer is to let developers build new financial tools and apps with high throughput of stablecoins and reliable stablecoin infrastructure.
Bitcoin price started a fresh decline from the $86,500 zone. BTC is now consolidating and might continue to decline below the $83,200 support. Bitcoin started a fresh decline from the $86,500 zone. The price is trading below $85,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There was a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $84,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears the $84,500 zone. Bitcoin Price Faces Rejection Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above the $83,500 zone. BTC formed a base and gained pace for a move above the $84,000 and $85,500 resistance levels. The bulls pumped the price above the $86,000 resistance. A high was formed at $86,401 and the price recently corrected some gains. There was a move below the $85,000 support. Besides, there was a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $84,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The price tested the $83,200 support. Bitcoin price is now trading below $85,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $84,000 level and the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $86,401 swing high to the $83,171 low. The first key resistance is near the $84,500 level. The next key resistance could be $84,750 and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $86,401 swing high to the $83,171 low. A close above the $84,750 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $85,500 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $86,400 level. Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $85,000 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $83,500 level. The first major support is near the $83,200 level. The next support is now near the $82,200 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $81,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $80,800. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $83,200, followed by $82,200. Major Resistance Levels – $84,750 and $85,500.
In February, the Seychelles-based exchange paid the DOJ $500 million to settle charges it had operated in the U.S. without a money transmitter license.
Mantra CEO John Mullin said he is planning to burn all of his team’s tokens in order to win back the trust of the network’s community following the sudden collapse of the Mantra (OM) token on April 13.“I’m planning to burn all of my team tokens and when we turn it around the community and investors can decide if I have earned it back,” Mullin posted to X on April 16.Mantra set aside 300 million OM, 16.88% of the token’s nearly 1.78 billion total supply, for its team and core contributors. They are currently locked and were scheduled to be released in stages between April 2027 and October 2029, according to an April 8 blog post.The team’s tokens are worth around $236 million, with OM currently trading around 78 cents but were worth around $1.89 billion before the token sank on April 13, going from around $6.30 to a low of 52 cents and wiping over $5.5 billion in value, according to CoinGecko.Source: JP MullinMany community members welcomed Mullin’s pledge, but others saw the token burn as a potential blow to the team’s long-term commitment to building the real-world asset tokenization platform.“This would be a mistake. We want teams that are highly incentivized. Burning the incentive may seem like a good gesture but it will hurt the team motivation long term,” said Crypto Banter founder Ran Neuner.Mullin suggested a decentralized vote could determine whether to burn the 300 million team tokens.Mantra recovery process already underwayMullin promised a post-mortem statement explaining what went wrong to be transparent with the community. Speaking to Cointelegraph on April 14, Mullin outlined plans to leverage the $109 million Mantra Ecosystem Fund for potential token buybacks and burns to stabilize OM’s price, which had fallen from $6.30 to as low as $0.52.Related: Red flag? Mantra's TVL jumped 500% as OM price collapsedMullin’s firm has strongly refuted rumors that it controls 90% of OM’s token supply and engaged in insider trading and market manipulation.Mantra claims the OM price implosion was triggered by “reckless liquidations," adding that it wasn’t related to any actions undertaken by the team.OKX and Binance were among the crypto exchanges that saw significant OM activity right before the token collapse.Both exchanges denied any wrongdoing, attributing the collapse to changes made to OM’s tokenomics in October and unusual volatility that ultimately triggered high-volume cross-exchange liquidations on April 13.Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
Canada’s financial regulators have given the green light to multiple spot Solana (SOL) exchange-traded funds, marking another cryptocurrency milestone for the country. According to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, these new investment products will hit Canadian markets on April 16, 2025. Related Reading: Crypto Holders Beware! New Malware Drains ETH, SOL, XRP Wallets The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) allowed multiple financial institutions to roll out these ETFs yesterday, opening the way for direct investment in the Solana cryptocurrency using conventional brokerage accounts. SOL Enters Major Financials Four large investment companies have received approval to distribute these new crypto products. 31Q, Purpose Investments, CI Global Asset Management, and Evolve will all be releasing spot Solana ETFs later this week, providing Canadian investors with a variety of choices to invest in SOL. These firms are long-time participants in Canada’s investment space, and their inclusion marks increasing institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies outside of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Canada is readying spot Solana ETFs to launch this week after regulator gave green light to multiple issuers incl Purpose, Evolve, CI and 3iQ. ETFs will include staking via TD pic.twitter.com/FSw149Xkm4 — Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) April 14, 2025 Staking Features Could Boost Returns For Investors One of the main features distinguishing these Solana ETFs is their capacity for staking the underlying SOL positions. The OSC has allowed the issuers of ETFs to stake some portion of their Solana, and this could unlock extra returns for investors in excess of price appreciation alone. TD Bank reported that returns from staking SOL can be higher than those from Ethereum staking, and thus these products could be more appealing to yield-starved investors. The bank also referred to them as “the world’s first spot Solana ETFs,” emphasizing the innovative character of these financial products. US Solana ETF Market Experiences Mixed Results The US market so far has only futures-based Solana ETFs, with limited success. Balchunas noted that two SOL futures ETFs in the United States, Volatility Shares 2x SOL ETF and Volatility Shares SOL ETF, have failed to gain investor attention since their launch in March 2025. Both of these products have only accumulated a combined assets under management of nearly $14 million. For comparison, the Teucrium 2x XRP ETF performed better even though it came out later after the SOL products, implying unequal investor interest in disparate cryptocurrency ETFs. Related Reading: Whale Alert: Ripple Sends 200 Million XRP Into The Shadows SEC Ruling On US Spot SOL ETFs Remains Pending As Canada progresses with spot Solana ETFs, their equivalents in the United States languish in limbo. It has had applications from some of the largest financial institutions, such as Grayscale Investments, Bitwise, 21Shares, Canary Capital, Fidelity Investments, and VanEck. The SEC has accepted these filings but has not approved any for release yet. The regulators last month postponed their consideration of VanEck’s Solana Trust ETF filing, rescheduling the deadline to May 19, 2025. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView
Nvidia shares plummeted 8% after the U.S. banned its H20 chip sales to China, impacting equities and the crypto market.