Can a stablecoin choose not to freeze your funds and still be a stablecoin? That question, posted on X by Columbia Business School professor Omid Malekan, just got a sharp technical reality check from Ripple CTO Emeritus, David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz. The timing could not be more loaded. Malekan’s argument was straightforward. In a space where …
Other major bitcoin miners have been selling their BTC holdings amid a broader shift toward AI and HPC infrastructure.
Solana-based Drift Protocol has suffered the largest exploit of 2026 to date, losing nearly $300 million in a “highly sophisticated operation” that has raised concerns about the growing threat of human-targeted attacks in the crypto space. Related Reading: Bitcoin ETFs Break Four-Month Negative Streak With $1.32B Inflows While ETH, XRP Funds Bleed Solana DEX Loses $285M On April Fool’s Day On Wednesday, Solana-based decentralized exchange (DEX) Drift Protocol was the victim of an exploit that stole hundreds of millions of dollars from its vaults. After online reports flagged unusual on-chain activity yesterday afternoon, Drift’s official channels confirmed the attack, quickly suspending deposits and withdrawals. According to reports, the attack lasted less than 20 minutes and stole around $285 million in multiple assets, including USDC, JPL, USDT, JUP, USDS, WBTC, and WETH, from nearly 20 vaults. This marks the largest crypto exploit of 2026 to date, and one of the largest hacks in the industry, just above WazirX’s $235 million hack. The hack wiped out half of the Solana-based project’s total value locked (TVL), which fell from roughly $550 million to $252 million, per DeFiLlama data. Drift protocol’s token, DRIFT, also plunged, retracing nearly 40% over the past 24 hours. Within hours, the exploiter had swapped $270.9 million into USDC, bridged them from Solana to Ethereum via the CCTP TokenMessengerMinterV2, and purchased 129,000 ETH, splitting them across multiple wallets. In a Thursday post, Drift shared the details of the incident, affirming that “a malicious actor gained unauthorized access to Drift Protocol through a novel attack involving durable nonces, resulting in a rapid takeover of Drift’s Security Council administrative powers.” Solana’s durable nonces are an advanced mechanism that allows transactions to bypass the typical short expiration date of regular transactions. This enables users to pre-sign transactions for future execution, offline signing, or complex multisig workflows. “This was a highly sophisticated operation that appears to have involved multi-week preparation and staged execution, including the use of durable nonce accounts to pre-sign transactions that delayed execution,” the post continued. Malicious Actors Targeting Humans, Not Smart Contracts The Solana-based DEX emphasized that the exploit was not the result of a bug in Drift’s programs or smart contracts, noting that they found no evidence of compromised see phrases either. “The attack involved unauthorized or misrepresented transaction approvals obtained prior to execution, likely facilitated through durable nonce mechanisms and sophisticated social engineering,” the project underscored. Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, addressed the incident, asserting that it is a blow to the whole Solana ecosystem. Liu pointed out that “Smart contracts held up. The real targets now are humans: social engineering and opsec weaknesses more than code exploits.” Related Reading: Analyst Forecasts More Pain For XRP In Q2 – How Much Lower Can It Go? Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet linked Drift’s attack method to Bybit’s $1.4 billion hack, which was attributed to North Korean hacking groups. As he explained, the attackers likely compromised several machines belonging to multisig signers through long-term infiltration and misled operators into approving the malicious transactions. This modus operandi is similar to the Bybit hack last year, widely attributed to DPRK-linked actors. The pattern is becoming familiar: patient, sophisticated supply-chain-level compromise targeting the human and operational layer, not the smart contracts themselves. Guillemet affirmed that the incident is “yet another wake-up call for the industry” to raise the bar on security. “Ultimately, security is not just about code audits. It’s about giving operators and users the right information at the right time, so they can make informed decisions about what they sign,” he concluded. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
The reported acquisition talks come as South Korea is considering a 20% cap on major crypto exchange shareholders, which would force major platforms to restructure ownership.
Bitcoin becomes the live market over Easter as oil shocks hit and traditional finance goes dark The Bitcoin market now has three trading days where it will act as the live venue for geopolitical risk while much of traditional finance is closed. As of Friday, April 3, Wall Street is closed for Good Friday; several […]
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Cartesi (CTSI) price has broken out of a prolonged downtrend structure, delivering a sharp expansion move as price reclaims the $0.04 zone with strong volume support. The trading volume exploded by more than 1700%, reaching $184.16 million, making it one of the best-performing crypto for the day. However, this does not appear to be a …
Render (RNDR) is showing early signs of a potential breakout as price stabilizes near key support and derivatives activity picks up sharply. After weeks of downside pressure, RNDR price is now trading around $1.92, holding above its demand zone while approaching resistance. With participation rising and price compressing below a key level, the market is …
Bitcoin price today faced a sharp setback after a U.S. address in Iran triggered a global risk-off reaction, dragging prices down nearly 6% within hours. The move pushed BTC below the crucial resistance levels, with price now struggling under the $69,000 mark and failing to break the $72,500–$73,000 zone. Adding to the uncertainty, markets are …
Bloomberg senior strategist Mike McGlone has renewed a stark prediction for Bitcoin (BTC), arguing that the market’s leading cryptocurrency could resume a prolonged decline that takes it back toward $10,000. Why McGlone Sees Bitcoin Heading Back To $10K In a Thursday post on social media platform X (previously Twitter), McGlone framed the $10,000 level as a long-standing reference point for Bitcoin: it was a common trading price before the 2020–21 rally and has been among the most frequently traded levels since futures began trading in 2017. McGlone’s view, which he describes as a “bursting crypto bubble” scenario, is a minority stance among market analysts who predict a Bitcoin bottom this year as low as $38,000 in the worst scenario—much higher than the Bloomberg strategist’s price point. Related Reading: What April Could Mean For XRP: Past Patterns And Key Price Catalysts To Watch If Bitcoin were to fall from its current trading price to $10,000, the move would represent a roughly 92% drop, taking into account the retrace already seen from its all-time high of $126,000. That would be materially lower than the previous bear-market trough around $15,000. The idea that Bitcoin could revert toward $10,000 clashes with a common pattern observed in prior post‑Halving cycles. Historically, corrections following Halving rallies have produced higher lows compared with prior cycles. In that framework, a return to $10,000 would mark an unusually deep reversal well below the low of the last bear market. Still, McGlone contends that significant structural and behavioral shifts around the 2020–21 era mean the market could be reverting to an older norm centered on the $10,000 price point. Market Worries Mount Beyond long-term projections, Bitcoin is now range-bound with limited directional confidence. The leading cryptocurrency was trading at $66,938 at the time of writing, down around 2.5% in the previous 24 hours. Analysts point to heightened geopolitical tension as a near-term catalyst for risk-off moves: President Trump’s recent remarks suggesting intensification of strikes against Iran have reduced hopes for a swift de‑escalation, pressuring risk assets and prompting a pullback in crypto markets. “Trump’s latest comments on the war with Iran triggered a sharp sell-off amid a lack of de-escalation signs,” Alex Kuptsikevich, chief market analyst at FxPro, told Bloomberg, noting Bitcoin’s consolidation between roughly $66,000 and $69,000. Related Reading: National Trust Bank Bid: Citadel Securities-Backed Crypto Exchange Enters The Fray In addition, CryptoQuant data indicate that large holders — often referred to as whales — have moved from accumulation to net selling over the past year, a trend traders say helps explain the subdued price action. “Onchain data confirms what price action has been telegraphing: there’s zero conviction,” Jasper De Maere, a trader at Wintermute, commented. Institutional flows have not been supportive either. Net inflows to US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) turned negative on Wednesday, with investors withdrawing about $174 million from those vehicles, contributing to the retracement. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
XRP News: Two of Asia’s most prominent blockchain-focused firms SBI Ripple and DSRV have started a joint research project to explore how blockchain can improve remittance and payment systems in Japan and South Korea.They teamed up to make cross-border payments faster and cheaper, using the XRP Ledger at the center of their plan. SBI Ripple–DSRV …
Bitfinex's support for El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption highlights the need for broader institutional backing and regulatory clarity to drive market impact.
The post Bitfinex backs El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, eyes on $100K by June 30: FT appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Bitcoin ended the first quarter of 2026 at $68,200 after falling 22% over the period, its weakest opening three months since 2018. The slide erased an early push higher that had briefly carried the cryptocurrency close to $95,000 before the market turned lower. Related Reading: XRP Could Soon Enter Arizona’s Treasury — Here’s What’s Happening A Sharp Turn After A Strong Start The quarter did not begin quietly. Bitcoin opened the year at a little past $87,000 and moved higher in the early stretch, showing enough strength to reach nearly $95,000. That momentum did not last. The price later sank to about $60,000 on February 6, marking a fast shift in tone after a strong start to the year. From there, the market kept swinging. Bitcoin managed a brief rebound to around $70,000 later in February, but the recovery faded. Selling pressure returned as tension in the Middle East spread through risk markets, and Bitcoin slipped again, touching about $63,000 before the quarter ended. Coinglass data used in the report shows how unusual the quarter was when set against recent history. Bitcoin fell nearly 50% in the first quarter of 2018, then posted smaller swings in the years that followed. Source: Coinglass It gained 8% in 2019, lost 10% in 2020, surged over 100% in 2021, slipped 1.40% in 2022, and then rebounded with gains of 70% in 2023 and 65% in 2024. The pattern broke again in 2025 with an 11% decline before this year’s deeper drop. Geopolitical Stress Kept Traders On Edge The latest decline was tied in the report to rising unrest in the MidEast. That pressure did not stay confined to one trading session. It lingered through March and helped push Bitcoin into a choppy finish for the quarter, with rapid price changes making it harder for the market to settle. The report also pointed to fresh selling at the start of the second quarter. After US President Donald Trump signaled a tougher stance and warned of further military action in the weeks ahead, Bitcoin fell 3% in 24 hours to $66,700. Ethereum, BNB, and XRP also traded lower by about 3% to 4% as the broader crypto market softened. Related Reading: Bitcoin Ends 5-Month Losing Run — Real Reversal Or Just April Fool’s Hype? April Brings A Different Seasonal Pattern Despite the weak finish to March, the report noted April has often been a better month for Bitcoin. Coinglass data cited in the report shows an average April gain of 11.90% and a median return of 5% over the years, which has kept some traders looking for a rebound even after the rough quarter. Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
The memecoin debate is back in the spotlight after Changpeng Zhao explained why BNB Chain didn’t join the “PUMP” trend like Solana. Speaking in a podcast with ThreadGuy, CZ highlighted that the difference wasn’t just strategy, it was timing, regulation, and risk. Why BNB Stayed Away From ‘PUMP’ CZ admitted that if a PUMP-style platform …
Escalating tensions and market volatility highlight the fragile geopolitical landscape, complicating diplomatic efforts and economic stability.
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Rising tensions and market skepticism highlight the potential for prolonged instability and the need for urgent diplomatic interventions.
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January saw the largest attack against a DeFi protocol of the quarter, the $40 million private key compromise of portfolio management platform Step Finance.
After aggressively accumulating Bitcoin over the past two years, several public companies are now reversing course. With BTC hovering around $66K and prolonged price weakness weighing on balance sheets, firms, especially mining companies, are increasingly offloading holdings to stay liquid. Riot Platforms Sold 3,778 BTC in Q1 2026 As per the latest report, Riot Platforms …
What began as a single protocol exploit is now affecting the entire Solana network. Drift Protocol, which lost $285 million in the attack, is no longer only Drift’s problem. New data from SolanaFloor shows 20 protocols are now exposed, with losses continuing to grow. Here’s how the Drift Protocol exploit impacts the other Solana protocol. …
Data shows the Ethereum Open Interest observed a sharp jump before the cryptocurrency’s price saw a decline of almost 5% over the past day. Ethereum Has Seen Bearish Price Action Over The Last 24 Hours This week saw some recovery for Ethereum and the wider digital asset sector during its first three days, but Thursday has brought with it a shift as the market as a whole has retraced. Related Reading: Dogecoin Bollinger Bands Tighten—Big Move Brewing? Ethereum had managed to recover above $2,150, but following this decline, its price is back near $2,000. In terms of the 24-hour percentage change, the ETH price has seen returns of nearly -5%, worse than Bitcoin’s 3% drop, but better than the losses that some of the altcoins have witnessed. Derivatives markets data may have already foreshadowed this volatility. ETH Open Interest Surged On Wednesday As highlighted by CryptoQuant community analyst Maartunn in an X post yesterday, Ethereum saw a sharp surge in its Open Interest alongside the recovery rally. The “Open Interest” here refers to an indicator that measures the total amount of derivatives market positions related to ETH that are currently open on all centralized exchanges. When the value of the indicator rises, it means investors are opening up fresh positions related to the cryptocurrency. Generally, the total leverage in the market goes up when new positions appear, so an increase in the Open Interest can lead to more volatility for the asset’s price. On the other hand, the metric going down implies investors are either closing positions of their own volition or getting forcibly liquidated by their platform. In either case, the market can become more stable due to the leverage washout. Below is the chart for the 24-hour change in the Ethereum Open Interest that Maartunn had shared on Wednesday. As displayed in the graph, the Ethereum Open Interest rose by 7.1% as the price surge occurred, implying that new positions appeared to ride the wave. In the chart, the analyst also highlighted past instances of the metric going up sharply. It would appear that many of these coincided with local tops in the asset. “This setup plays out ~75% of the time,” noted Maartunn. Related Reading: Dogecoin Network Comes Alive: Active Addresses Jump 28% Given this pattern, it may not be surprising that Ethereum opened Thursday with a price plunge. The drawdown has meant that the investors who jumped in to bet on a further bullish outcome have been flushed out. In total, ETH has seen liquidations of more than $94 million over the past day, according to data from CoinGlass. From the heatmap, it’s apparent that Ethereum’s liquidations have been the largest in the cryptocurrency sector, with Bitcoin ranking second this time around with $83.8 million in contracts involved. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView.com
Cryptoquant data shows there are 8.2 million Bitcoin currently at a loss, which is still under the amount of Bitcoin at a loss during the 2022 bear market.
Dogecoin started a fresh decline below the $0.0920 zone against the US Dollar. DOGE is now consolidating losses and might face hurdles near $0.0910 and $0.0920. DOGE price started a fresh decline below the $0.0920 level. The price is trading below the $0.0910 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $0.0910 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could extend losses if it stays below $0.0910 and $0.0920. Dogecoin Price At Risk of Key Downside Break Dogecoin price started a fresh decline after it closed below $0.0932, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. DOGE declined below the $0.0920 and $0.0910 support levels. The price even traded below $0.090. A low was formed near $0.0889, and the price is now showing bearish signs. There was a recovery wave above $0.0900, but the price stayed below the 38.2% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.0944 swing high to the $0.0889 low. Dogecoin price is now trading below the $0.0910 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. If there is a recovery wave, immediate resistance on the upside is near the $0.0910 level. The first major resistance for the bulls could be near the $0.0920 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.0944 swing high to the $0.0889 low. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $0.0920 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. The next major resistance is near the $0.0932 level. A close above the $0.0932 resistance might send the price toward the $0.0950 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $0.0980 level. The next major stop for the bulls might be $0.10. More Losses In DOGE? If DOGE’s price fails to climb above the $0.0920 level, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.090 level. The next major support is near the $0.0880 level. The main support sits at $0.0850. If there is a downside break below the $0.0850 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might slide toward the $0.0800 level or even $0.0750 in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.0900 and $0.0880. Major Resistance Levels – $0.0920 and $0.0932.
Stalled US-Iran talks heighten geopolitical tensions, diminishing hopes for a ceasefire and increasing the likelihood of military escalation.
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McLaren Racing has joined Hedera’s governing council, giving the network a fresh shot of attention just as HBAR trades near $0.08. The token was up 1.40% over 24 hours, but it was still down 6% over the past week, leaving traders with a mixed picture. Related Reading: Bitcoin Ends 5-Month Losing Run — Real Reversal Or Just April Fool’s Hype? Trading Volume Slips As Price Stays Tight According to Coingecko data cited in the report, HBAR’s 24-hour trading volume fell 15% to $87 million. That drop points to softer short-term activity even as the price held near a key range. The token has also spent recent sessions moving inside a tight band, which often draws attention when a larger move may be building. Crypto analyst ChartNerd said a long-range target of $1.80 is still in play, but the setup depends on a clear break above resistance. The chart view in the report points to a converging triangle pattern, with higher lows forming underneath and lower highs pressing down from above. That kind of structure can compress price action for a while before a sharp move takes shape. $HBAR to $1.80 is inevitable. Paths have changed, targets haven’t. Mark the low, base build, expand. pic.twitter.com/BL7DWmHH9m — ???????? ChartNerd ???? (@ChartNerdTA) April 1, 2026 Technical Setups Point Both Ways The report also says the chart lines up with an Elliott Wave-style move, with the latest leg appearing to finish near support. Momentum readings were described as having come out of oversold territory before, which traders sometimes treat as a sign that a rebound could follow. Still, the same setup can fail just as fast if support gives way. ChartNerd stressed that confirmation matters. A decisive push through resistance, backed by stronger volume, would strengthen the bullish case. Without that, the price could keep sliding instead of breaking out. The $1.80 target was presented as a speculative level, not a sure outcome. McLaren Adds A New Use Case The bigger business story in the piece is McLaren Racing’s move onto Hedera’s council. The team, which competes in Formula 1 and IndyCar, brings a fan base spread across more than 180 countries. Hedera says the partnership will include governance work and digital engagement efforts tied to racing events. Related Reading: XRP Could Soon Enter Arizona’s Treasury — Here’s What’s Happening Reports say the collaboration also includes blockchain-based collectibles connected to major race weekends, with more launches planned through the 2026 season. The idea is to use Hedera’s network for secure digital experiences while pulling more sports fans into blockchain products. That gives the project a real-world angle at a time when traders are still focused on the chart. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Good Friday shuts CME futures and ETF activity, removing a key source of demand as large holders continue distributing and spot demand weakens.
The IMF said tokenization could improve cross-border payments and financial inclusion in emerging economies but cited concerns over volatility and the “erosion of monetary sovereignty.”
Stablecoin monthly transaction volume hit $7.2 trillion in February, surpassing the $6.8 trillion processed by the Automated Clearing House network.
XRP price extended losses and traded below $1.30. The price is now consolidating losses and faces hurdles near $1.3240 and $1.3340. XRP price started another decline and traded below the $1.3050 zone. The price is now trading below $1.3120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.3340 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could continue to move down if it stays below $1.3340. XRP Price Dips Further XRP price failed to stay above $1.320 and extended its decline, underperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price declined below $1.3150 and $1.3050 to enter a short-term bearish zone. The price even extended losses below $1.30. A low was formed at $1.2801, and the price is now consolidating losses. There was a minor upward move above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.3678 swing high to the $1.2801 low. The price is now trading below $1.3120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh recovery move, the price might face resistance near the $1.320 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.3240 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.3678 swing high to the $1.2801 low. The main resistance could be $1.3340. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.3340 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. A close above $1.3340 could send the price to $1.350. The next hurdle sits at $1.3650. A clear move above the $1.3650 resistance might send the price toward the $1.380 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $1.40 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $1.4120. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $1.3340 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.30 level. The next major support is near the $1.2880 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.2880 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.280. The next major support sits near the $1.2750 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.250. 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 – $1.3000 and $1.2880. Major Resistance Levels – $1.3240 and $1.3340.
The prolonged conflict and low ceasefire odds suggest escalating regional instability and potential for broader geopolitical tensions.
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The escalating US-Iran tensions and military actions suggest prolonged instability, impacting global markets and diplomatic relations.
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Ethereum is tightening into a critical zone near the $2,000 level as price action continues to compress without clear direction. With volatility steadily declining and pressure building on both sides, the current structure suggests that a decisive move, either a breakout or breakdown, could be just around the corner. Momentum Fails To Build On Ethereum Ethereum is currently in a very different position compared to the broader market, as it has never experienced a strong, sustained rally. CyrilXBT noted that ETH briefly spiked to $2,400 in mid-March but has been trending downward ever since. The move failed to establish continuation, and the price has gradually weakened. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Drops to $2,100, Shaking Confidence Amid Volatility Currently, Ethereum is hovering around the 200 EMA, near $2,104, which provides a slightly constructive signal. Rather than breaking down aggressively, the price is compressing, suggesting that the market is building energy for a potential move. $1,800 remains the key level to watch, acting as critical macro support that has yet to be tested. The $2,300–$2,500 region continues to act as a major resistance zone, and any upside move lacking strong volume is likely to be dismissed as noise. A decisive daily close above $2,200 would be the first meaningful sign of strength. Until then, the outlook remains neutral, with close attention on the $2,000 level as the next important test if buyers lose control. Ethereum Trades Within High-Timeframe Range Boundaries According to Minga’s latest update, Ethereum is currently trading within a high-timeframe range, with the upper boundary defined by the 2021 all-time high and the lower boundary anchored at the 2022 bear market low. Thus, Minga suggests that the most effective approach is to trade level to level, respecting key zones rather than anticipating extended trends. Related Reading: Ethereum Price Recovery Picks Up, Is a Breakout Now Brewing? A closer look at the chart shows that ETH swept the 2021 ATH, faced rejection, and has been trending downward since. Along the way, ETH took out an untapped monthly low around $1,750, triggering a push back toward the $2,300 region, but momentum faded as price slipped back below $2,151. Currently, Ethereum is near the midpoint of this broader range, rejecting a significant historical level. The $2,151 zone stands out as a key bullish/bearish continuation level, having acted as both support and resistance in the past. Rejection from this area keeps downside pressure intact. However, a successful reclaim could open the path toward $2,395, where an untapped fair value gap remains. On the downside, the next major level to watch lies around $1,537, where weekly equal lows are positioned. While ETH may hit the level, it is not expected to mark the ultimate bottom. For a broader macro reversal, a sweep of the $1,384 low is anticipated, with a potential extension into the $1,190–$1,148 region, which stands as the primary target for a cycle bottom. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com