Alternative News for You

by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 28, 2025 at 1:10 pm

Peter Chung, head of research at quantitative trading firm Presto, has repeated his prediction that Bitcoin (BTC) will reach $210,000 by the end of 2025.In an April 28 interview with CNBC, Chung cited institutional adoption and global liquidity expansion as the primary drivers behind his long-term bullish outlook.The analyst acknowledged that market conditions this year haven’t been as expected, specifically the challenging macroeconomic environment and market reaction.However, he described the recent corrections as a “healthy” adjustment, suggesting they have laid a stronger foundation for Bitcoin’s progression toward becoming a mainstream financial asset.“In hindsight, I think it was actually a healthy correction which has paved the way for the further re-rating of Bitcoin as a mainstream asset,” he said.Related: Bitcoin trades at ‘40% discount’ as spot BTC ETF buying soars to $3B in one weekBitcoin’s dual role Chung also discussed Bitcoin’s dual nature, describing it as both a “risk-on asset” and “digital gold.”He said that Bitcoin typically behaves like a high-risk asset driven by user adoption and network effects.However, during periods of financial instability, such as the 2022 outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict or the 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapse, Bitcoin tends to act as a safe-haven asset, similar to gold.“These moments are rare,” Chung explained, “[They] only happened when the market has doubts about the stability of the US dollar-dominated financial system.”While Bitcoin has lagged behind gold during recent market turbulence, Chung suggested BTC could “catch up” and potentially outperform traditional safe-haven assets by year’s end.Chung also reaffirmed Presto’s target for Ether (ETH), maintaining its valuation model based on the ETH-to-BTC ratio, reflecting confidence in Ethereum’s ongoing network improvements.Related: New Bitcoin price all-time highs could occur in MayBitcoin hits $94,000 as institutional adoption expandsEchoing Chung’s view, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley said in a recent post on X that Bitcoin’s surge to $94,000 has occurred with minimal retail participation, noting that Google searches for “Bitcoin” remain near long-term lows.According to Horsley, the current rally is being driven by institutional investors, financial advisers, corporations, and even nation-states.“The types of investors buying Bitcoin is expanding,” Horsley said.Hunter Horsley pointing out growing Bitcoin adoption among institutions. Source: Hunter HorsleyCorporate Bitcoin treasuries already hold nearly $65 billion worth of BTC, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET.On April 22, analysts from Standard Chartered and Intellectia AI said institutional Bitcoin demand from exchange-traded funds and traders seeking to hedge against macroeconomic risk could cause Bitcoin’s price to more than double this year.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

by Cointelegraph by Andrew Singer on April 28, 2025 at 1:00 pm

When Donald Trump was running for president, he pledged to build 10 new US cities, dubbed “freedom cities,” from scratch, designed to improve the quality of life for Americans. These new high-tech communities were to be created on public land, and they were going to be free of the “nightmare of red tape,” including lengthy environmental reviews, that had hampered the development of affordable housing in many parts of the US.Freedom cities aren’t really a new idea. They are a rebranding of charter cities, which have been around since the late 1800s. Still, Trump’s proposal won the gung-ho support of many of Silicon Valley’s tech bros, whose backing helped tilt the last US presidential election in his direction, and many of whom — e.g., the PayPal mafia consisting of Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Balaji Srinivasan — were also enthusiastic early supporters of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In mid-March, the new administration made some tentative moves to make freedom cities a reality. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced a Joint Task Force on using underutilized federal land suitable for housing.“America needs more affordable housing, and the federal government can make it happen by making federal land available to build affordable housing stock,” they wrote in The Wall Street Journal.How serious is one to take this idea of new, free-floating cities to be built on federally owned land? The administration says freedom cities are needed to help quell the national housing crisis. But others suggest that building new communities free from many state and federal laws and rules, like the Clean Water Act or the Endangered Species Act, is to create places that are, in effect, outside of the law — “where the rules are suspended and don’t apply anymore to certain people.” And if so, what does that mean for the rest of the country?“These are not normal times”“In normal times, I might say the idea that the US federal government would spearhead a program to build any number of master-planned cities is rather preposterous,” Max Woodworth, an associate professor in the geography department at Ohio State University, told Cointelegraph, adding: “But these are not normal times, and the current administration seems open to things that might previously have been dismissed, fairly or unfairly, as impossible or misguided.”Freedom cities have their critics. They have been called a “devious scam,” aimed at bringing back “the bad old ‘company towns’ of yesteryear with a fresh coat of modern cryptofascist varnish.” Indeed, company “scrip” was the medium of exchange in towns like Pullman, Illinois, built by George Pullman, owner of the Pullman Palace Car Company, in the late 19th century, whereas today “cryptocurrency is a key component of freedom cities,” the New Republic reported. The history of chartered cities is checkered at best, commented Woodworth, and looking ahead much will depend on how they are designed and managed. “Over the years, there have been ‘new city’ plans intended to manifest fascist, communist, social-democratic, libertarian and post-colonial political agendas. For better and worse, urban space is very commonly used as a laboratory for different overt political projects.” But maybe these are mischaracterizations. “Anyone who thinks Freedom Cities would be lawless should read fewer comic books and more copies of The Wall Street Journal,” Tom Bell, a professor at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law, told Cointelegraph. “Building cities takes money, and investors don’t like lawlessness.” He added:“That is not to say that all the usual regulations would apply in Freedom Cities; investors don’t like red tape, either. The goal is not getting rid of all regulation but rather finding new and better ways to guide investment, construction and business.”Bell, who has been working with others to develop a Freedom Cities Act, would require a city’s board to favor developers’ applications that achieve the same outcomes as applicable current federal regulations, “but through alternative and more efficient enforcement regimes.” Part of the Freedom Cities Act, outlining self-governance. Source: Tom BellJeffrey Mason, head of policy at the Charter Cities Institute, also supports enabling federal legislation for freedom cities. “We’ve proposed that a process be created by which freedom cities could propose the waiving or other modification of highly burdensome regulations in sectors of strategic importance or in frontier technologies, much like the regulatory sandboxes adopted by various states in recent years,” he told Cointelegraph.Others see a model along the lines of New York’s Brooklyn Navy Yard, the former military installation that was later transformed into an industrial park. It now houses more than 300 businesses and has become a model for other such projects in the US, writes Mark Lutter and Nick Allen. “The second Trump administration has opened the door to Freedom Cities. They can play an important role in American revitalization.” Related: Is Elon Musk plotting the mother of all blockchains?Indeed, the recent joint announcement by the Departments of the Interior and of Housing and Urban Development “suggests that the administration is actively thinking about how a very small share of federal land could be used to build more housing, and possibly entirely new cities,” added Mason.It’s in the detailsBut more clarity may still be needed. “At this point the idea of freedom cities being bandied about is so vague that it’s impossible to have clear conceptions or misconceptions of them in the first place,” said Woodworth. The devil could be in the details. “There seems to be some excitement around freedom cities among libertarian-leaning intellectuals and investors whose ideal freedom city would be places that are very business-friendly,” said Woodworth.Again, this does not mean that “anything goes.” But it’s not hard to imagine a tax and regulatory regime at work in the jurisdiction of the freedom city that is favorable to corporate interests, said Woodworth. “Indeed, the impetus for freedom cities seems to be precisely to create exceptional conditions that make an end run around the regulatory thicket that frustrates a lot of people, including in the crypto business.” Why do crypto bros like freedom cities?How does one, in fact, explain the strong interest in freedom cities among some of the cryptocurrency community’s high-profile partisans? “The crypto community has been interested in new cities, charter cities and other innovative governance mechanisms for a long time,” Mason told Cointelegraph.“I think the common interest in decentralization drives a large part of this, but I also think the crypto community is passionate about innovation and building new things, so there’s natural alignment.”New vistas of innovation may tantalize both groups, “and they sense that existing institutional structures rooted in a 20th-century world hamper its potential,” opined Woodworth. “New cities, theoretically at least, might offer the prospect of designing a setting that can unleash the sector to discover where it can go in terms of innovation and new applications.”Bell added, “The crypto community doubtless sees in freedom cities the promise of a regulatory regime that at least is not overtly hostile to fintech innovation and that perhaps even welcomes it. There are lots of bold new ideas floating around the crypto space. Freedom Cities might offer a chance to put the best of them to work.”Bell would like to see quicker progress, though. He noted that Trump proposed the creation of 10 freedom cities in March 2023 while running for office, but “since then, so far as outward signs go, the administration has not followed up on the president’s promise.”Various parties eager to see freedom cities created have been urging Congressional members to enact the necessary legislation, he added. So far, “that effort has yet to bear fruit.”Two case studies: California Forever and Próspera In any event, the challenges of building a 21st-century city from scratch in the United States shouldn’t be underestimated, as those Silicon Valley billionaires who invested in the troubled California Forever real estate enterprise could probably attest.California Forever intended to develop new industries, novel sources of clean energy and safe, walkable neighborhoods with affordable homes in an underpopulated part of California, 60 miles north of San Francisco.Designed as an eco-friendly, walk-only community that would house up to 400,000 souls on previous farmland, it’s instead become a cautionary tale illustrating “the cultural and regulatory barriers to building today,” write Mark Lutter, founder and executive director of the Charter Cities Institute, and Nick Allen, president of the Frontier Foundation. The project has been “on hold” for two years pending an environmental study of its plan.California Forever hoped to build a city in Solano County. Source: California ForeverThe project’s backers made some missteps, to be sure. They purchased $900 million of farmland in sparsely populated Solano County without revealing anything about the identities of the enterprise’s backers or plans for a new city. When details finally did emerge, community relations soured. They frayed further when the project’s backers filed a $500-million antitrust lawsuit saying that farmers who had refused to sell their land to them were colluding to raise prices, The New York Times reported.Related: US gov’t actions give clue about upcoming crypto regulationOn the positive side, the project underscored that San Francisco is not building enough housing units, which has caused a huge spike in rents there and is driving away local residents. Something similar, if less extreme, is happening in other US cities today, a key reason why the Trump administration’s freedom cities initiative is gaining attention. Próspera’s island “paradise”By comparison, the overseas-based Próspera chartered-city project avoided many of those same regulatory and zoning problems that vexed California Forever thanks to a welcoming Honduras government — at least initially. The owners of Próspera, a Delaware Registered Company, persuaded Honduras to give them a 50-year lease and permission to build a startup city on the the island of Roatán with a regulatory system designed for entrepreneurs “to build better, cheaper, and faster than anywhere else in the world,” according to the for-profit company’s website.Próspera has raised $120 million in investments since its founding in 2017, including from venture-capital funds backed by tech billionaires Peter Thiel, Sam Altman and Marc Andreessen, among others.It operates in a special economic development zone within Honduras, but it has its own government, is modestly taxed, and has a flexible regulatory structure largely of its own devising. Disputes are settled by the Próspera arbitration center. Indeed, the new city’s court system reportedly makes use of retired Arizona judges who operate totally online.The island of Próspera. Source: PrósperaPróspera has been able to persuade Western-based companies to set up new businesses within its zone, including experimental medical facilities, “which run clinical trials unburdened by F.D.A. standards,” according to The New York Times.To say that the Honduras-based startup city is crypto-aligned might be an understatement. In January 2025, Próspera received a strategic investment from Coinbase Ventures “to expand economic freedom globally.” In February, it hosted a “crypto cities summit.” The island has a Bitcoin Center, which instructs visitors in crypto’s whys and wherefores. Indeed, Próspera calls itself “one of the most Bitcoin-friendly jurisdictions in the world,” and it invites visitors to “connect with fellow Bitcoiners, tour Próspera, and relax in paradise.”Recently, however, the charter city may have lost its way. Próspera has a $11-billion claim against the State of Honduras that still awaits a ruling from an international arbitration tribunal, and some of its one-time supporters have become disenchanted. “It’s like a gated community. They’re just trying to isolate themselves and do what’s best for them,” Paul Romer, a Nobel-winning economist and former supporter, told Bloomberg recently. In short, developing a charter city isn’t always a breeze — not even in paradise.Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research

by Cointelegraph by Helen Partz on April 28, 2025 at 12:36 pm

Michael Saylor’s Strategy added to its massive Bitcoin stash last week as the cryptocurrency surged above $90,000.In an April 28 announcement, Strategy reported acquiring 15,355 Bitcoin (BTC) between April 21 and 27.The latest purchases cost Strategy $1.42 billion at an average price of $92,737 per BTC, increasing the company’s aggregate BTC holdings by roughly 3% to a total of 535,555 BTC worth more than $50 billion.An excerpt from Strategy’s Form 8-K filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: StrategyStrategy’s latest buy is its largest since late March, when the firm bagged 22,048 Bitcoin for $1.92 billion at an average price of $86,969 per BTC.Strategy’s Bitcoin yield is at 13.7%Announcing the purchase on X, Strategy co-founder Saylor said the firm has achieved the BTC yield of 13.7% year-to-date.“As of April 27, we hodl 553,555 BTC acquired for approximately $37.90 billion at $68,459 per Bitcoin,” Saylor noted.Source: Michael SaylorStrategy’s BTC yield — an indicator representing the percentage change of the ratio between its BTC holdings and assumed diluted shares — amounted to 74% in 2024.The company expects to reach a BTC yield target of 15% in 2025.“You can still buy BTC for less than $0.1 million”Strategy’s Bitcoin purchase came as the cryptocurrency caught significant bullish action last week, surging 8% from around $87,000 to nearly $94,000 in the period from April 21–27, according to data from CoinGecko.Bitcoin traded at $95,442 at the time of writing, slightly above its price on Jan. 1, but still lower than its all-time high price above $109,000 seen on Jan. 21.As Strategy beefed up its Bitcoin stash alongside a BTC rally, Saylor continued posting bullish messages to the community on social media.Related: Over 13K institutions exposed to Strategy as Saylor hints at BTC buy“You can still buy BTC for less than $0.1 million,” Saylor wrote on April 25.In another X post preceding the purchase announcement, Saylor said: “Stay humble. Stack sats [satoshis].” He linked the message to a screenshot of Strategy’s portfolio tracker reflecting the company’s BTC purchases on the timeline of the price chart.Source: Michael SaylorThe news comes as Strategy is inching toward a $100 billion market capitalization, with MSTR shares surging roughly 23% YTD and trading at $368.7 at the time of publication, according to data from TradingView.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26

by Cointelegraph by SK Arora on April 28, 2025 at 12:30 pm

sUSD depeg, explained: Why Synthetix’s stablecoin fell below $0.70 In a significant and concerning event in the cryptocurrency space, sUSD, the native stablecoin of the Synthetix protocol, saw its value plummet to $0.68 on April 18, 2025. This drop represents a dramatic 31% deviation from its intended peg of 1:1 with the US dollar, a threshold that is fundamental to the concept of stablecoins. As the name implies, stablecoins are designed to maintain a stable price, which is crucial for their role as a reliable store of value within decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.For stablecoins like sUSD, maintaining this price stability is essential for ensuring confidence in their usage. However, the steep drop in sUSD’s value sent shockwaves through the crypto community, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. The question arises: How did this once-stable digital asset fall below its peg, and why does this matter to the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem?SUSD depeg was triggered by a protocol shift (SIP-420) that lowered collateralization and disrupted peg-stabilizing incentives. Combined with Synthetix’s (SNX) price drops and liquidity outflows, confidence in sUSD weakened.Understanding SIP-420 and its impactSIP-420 introduces a protocol-owned debt pool in Synthetix, allowing SNX stakers to delegate their debt positions to a shared pool with a lower issuance ratio. This shift boosts capital efficiency, simplifies staking, and enhances yield opportunities while discouraging solo staking by raising its collateralization ratio to 1,000%.Before SIP-420, users who minted sUSD had to over-collateralize with SNX tokens, maintaining a 750% collateral ratio. This high requirement ensured stability but limited efficiency. SIP-420 aimed to improve capital efficiency by reducing the collateral ratio to 200% and introducing a shared debt pool. This meant that instead of individual users being responsible for their own debt, the risk was distributed across the protocol.While this change made it easier to mint sUSD, it also removed the personal incentive for users to buy back sUSD when its price dropped below $1. Previously, users would repurchase sUSD at a discount to repay their debts, helping to restore its value. With the shared debt model, this self-correcting mechanism weakened.Consequences of the changeThe combination of increased sUSD supply and reduced individual incentives led to a surplus of sUSD in the market. At times, sUSD comprised over 75% of major liquidity pools, indicating that many users were offloading it at a loss. This oversupply, coupled with declining SNX prices, further destabilized sUSD’s value. ​But this is not the first time Synthetix has experienced volatility. The protocol, known for its decentralized synthetic asset platform, has seen fluctuations during past market cycles, but this recent depeg is one of the most severe in the history of the crypto industry. For instance, Synthetix has faced volatility before — during the 2020 market crash, mid-2021 DeFi corrections, and post-UST collapse in 2022 — each time exposing vulnerabilities in liquidity and oracle systems. A 2019 oracle exploit also highlighted structural fragility.The significance of sUSD’s depeg extends beyond this individual asset and reveals broader issues in the mechanisms supporting crypto-collateralized stablecoins. What is sUSD, and how does it work? sUSD is a crypto-collateralized stablecoin that operates on the Ethereum blockchain, designed to offer stability in a highly volatile crypto market. Unlike fiat-backed stablecoins such as USDC (USDC) or Tether’s USDt (USDT), which are pegged to the US dollar through reserves held in banks, sUSD is backed by a cryptocurrency — specifically, SNX, the native token of the Synthetix protocol.Minting sUSD:The process for minting sUSD involves staking SNX tokens into the protocol. In return, users receive sUSD tokens, which can be used within the Synthetix ecosystem or traded on the open market. To ensure that the sUSD token maintains its value, it is over-collateralized, meaning users must stake more SNX than the value of the sUSD minted. Historical collateralization ratio (C-Ratio):Historically, the collateralization ratio has been set around 750%, meaning that for every $1 of sUSD minted, users need to stake $7.50 worth of SNX tokens.The high collateralization ratio ensures a buffer against the price volatility of SNX, which is critical for the system’s stability. In an effort to improve capital efficiency, Synthetix introduced SIP-420, which brought significant changes:The required C-Ratio was lowered from 750% to 200%, allowing users to mint more sUSD with less SNX.Previously, each user was responsible for their own debt.With SIP-420, debt is now shared across a collective pool, meaning individual users are less directly impacted by their own actions.As a result of these changes, combined with market factors like declining SNX prices, sUSD has struggled to maintain its $1 peg, trading as low as $0.66 in April 2025. The Synthetix team is actively working on solutions to stabilize sUSD, including introducing new incentive mechanisms and exploring ways to enhance liquidity.Did you know? Synthetix uses a dynamic C-Ratio to manage system stability. Your active debt shifts with trader performance; profits increase debt, and losses reduce it. Through delta-neutral mechanisms in perpetual futures, liquidity providers absorb imbalances until opposing trades restore balance. It’s a system of shared, fluctuating risk. Is sUSD an algorithmic stablecoin? One of the common misconceptions surrounding sUSD is its classification as an algorithmic stablecoin. To clarify, sUSD is not algorithmic — it is crypto-collateralized. The key distinction is important because algorithmic stablecoins, such as the now-infamous TerraUSD (UST), rely on algorithms and smart contracts to manage supply and demand in an attempt to maintain their peg, often without actual collateral backing. In contrast, sUSD relies on the value of the underlying collateral (SNX tokens) to maintain its price.The sUSD peg is not fixed in the same way that fiat-backed stablecoins like USDC are. The Synthetix system allows for some natural fluctuation in the peg. While sUSD aims to stay close to $1, it’s not fixed — instead, the protocol relies on smart, built-in mechanisms to help restore the peg over time when it drifts. Here are the key mechanisms post-SIP-420:​Lower collateralization ratio (200%): As mentioned, the required backing for minting sUSD was reduced, allowing more sUSD to enter circulation with less SNX. This increases capital efficiency but also heightens the risk of depegging.Shared debt pool: Instead of individual debt responsibility, all stakers now share a collective debt pool, weakening natural peg-restoring behavior.sUSD lockup incentives (420 Pool): To reduce circulating sUSD and help restore the peg, users are incentivized to lock their sUSD for 12 months in exchange for a share of protocol rewards (e.g., 5 million SNX).Liquidity incentives: The protocol offers high-yield incentives to liquidity providers who support sUSD trading pairs, helping absorb excess supply and improve price stability.External yield strategies: The protocol plans to use minted sUSD in external protocols (e.g., Ethena) to generate yield, which can help offset systemic risk and reinforce stability mechanisms.These restoration mechanisms primarily function through incentives. For example, if sUSD is trading below $1, users who have staked SNX may be incentivized to buy discounted sUSD to pay off their debts at a reduced cost. This type of system relies heavily on market dynamics and the incentives of participants to help stabilize the peg.Did you know? The C-Ratio is calculated using the formula: C-Ratio (%) = (Total SNX value in USD / active debt in USD) × 100. It changes as the price of SNX or your debt share fluctuates — crucial for minting synths and avoiding penalties. Synthetix’s recovery plan: How it aims to restabilize sUSD Synthetix has formulated a comprehensive three-phase recovery plan aimed at restoring the stablecoin’s peg to the US dollar and ensuring its long-term stability. Synthetix founder Kain Warwick recently published a post on Mirror proposing a solution to fix the sUSD stablecoin. His plan outlines how the community can work together to restore the peg and strengthen the system.1. Bring back good incentives (the “carrot”)Users who lock up sUSD will earn SNX rewards, helping reduce the amount of sUSD in the market.Two new yield-earning pools (one for sUSD and one for USDC) will let anyone supply stablecoins and earn interest — no SNX required.2. Add gentle pressure (the “stick”)SNX stakers now have to hold a small percentage of their debt in sUSD to keep earning benefits.If the sUSD peg drops more, the required sUSD holding goes up — more pressure to help fix the peg.According to Warwick, this plan restores the natural loop: When sUSD is cheap, people are motivated to buy it and close their debt, pushing the price back up. Kain estimates it might take less than $5 million in buying pressure to restore the peg — totally doable if enough people participate.Once incentives are realigned and sUSD regains its peg, Synthetix will roll out major upgrades: retiring legacy systems, launching Perps v4 on Ethereum with faster trading and multi-collateral support, introducing snaxChain for high-speed synthetic markets, and minting 170 million SNX to fuel ecosystem growth through new liquidity and trading incentives. The sUSD shake-up: Key risks crypto investors can’t ignore The recent sUSD depeg is a stark reminder of the inherent risks that come with crypto-collateralized stablecoins. While stablecoins are designed to offer price stability, their reliance on external factors, such as market conditions and the underlying collateral, means that they are not immune to volatility. Crypto-collateralized stablecoins like sUSD face heightened risk due to their reliance on volatile assets like SNX. Market sentiment, external events, and major protocol changes can quickly disrupt stability, making depegging more likely — especially in the fast-moving, ever-evolving world of DeFi.Here are some of the critical risks that crypto investors should be aware of:Dependence on collateral value: The stability of sUSD is directly tied to the price of SNX. If SNX falls in value, sUSD becomes vulnerable to under-collateralization, threatening its peg and causing it to lose value.Protocol design risks: Changes in the protocol, such as the introduction of SIP-420, can have unintended consequences. Misalignments in incentives or poorly executed upgrades can disrupt the balance that keeps the system stable.Market sentiment: Stablecoins operate on trust, and if users lose confidence in a stablecoin’s ability to maintain its peg, its value can rapidly drop, even if the protocol is sound in design.Incentive misalignment: The removal of individual incentives, such as those seen with the 420 Pool, can weaken the protocol’s ability to keep the peg intact, as it reduces the motivation for users to stabilize the system.Lack of redundancy: Stablecoins should have robust fallback strategies to mitigate risks from single points of failure. A failure in one mechanism, like a protocol upgrade or design flaw, can quickly spiral into a full-blown crisis.To protect themselves, users should diversify their stablecoin exposure, closely monitor protocol changes, and avoid over-reliance on crypto-collateralized assets like sUSD. Staying informed about governance updates and market sentiment is key, as sudden shifts can trigger depegging. Users can also reduce risk by using stablecoins with stronger collateral backing or built-in redundancies and by regularly reviewing DeFi positions for signs of under-collateralization or systemic instability.

by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 28, 2025 at 12:16 pm

Coinbase, the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume, is launching the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund on May 1, aiming to offer Bitcoin (BTC) exposure for institutional investors outside the US.The fund targets an annual net return of 4% to 8% on Bitcoin holdings, according to an April 28 blog post by Coinbase.“To address the growing institutional demand for bitcoin yield, Coinbase Asset Management is excited to introduce the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund (CBYF),” the company wrote.The fund is backed by multiple investors, including Aspen Digital, a digital asset manager based in Abu Dhabi and regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Coinbase introduces a Bitcoin yield-bearing fund. Source: CoinbaseRelated: Michael Saylor hints at Bitcoin purchase as whales stack aggressivelyThe yield will be generated through a cash-and-carry strategy, through the difference between spot Bitcoin prices and derivatives.Unlike Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL), Bitcoin holders can’t generate passive income through staking — a gap the fund is aiming to fill, according to the announcement:“Bitcoin yield funds have emerged to address this limitation, but these funds generally require institutional allocators to take on significant investment and operational risk.”The new fund seeks to lower the investment and operational risks typically associated with Bitcoin yield products, which Coinbase says will better align with the risk appetite of institutional investors.Related: Stacks Asia expands Bitcoin initiatives with Abu Dhabi partnershipBitcoin momentum mainly driven by institutional interestCoinbase cited growing institutional crypto adoption as the reason behind the launch of the funds, which may have been the reason behind Bitcoin’s significant price recovery over the past week.Bitcoin rose by more than 9% in the week leading up to April 28, bolstered by exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows, which recorded their second-highest week of inflows at over $3 billion, Farside Investors data shows.Bitcoin ETF Flow, USD, million. Source: Farside InvestorsBitcoin’s recovery to $94,000 was mainly supported by growing “ETF inflows and corporate buying,” amid lagging retail interest, Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research, told Cointelegraph, adding:“Retail interest may surge if Bitcoin breaks $100,000, fueled by media hype and FOMO. Monitor the $94,000–$95,000 resistance for potential retail re-engagement.”On April 21, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes predicted that this might be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin below $100,000, as the incoming US Treasury buybacks may signal the next significant catalyst for Bitcoin price.Magazine: Bitcoin’s odds of June highs, SOL’s $485M outflows, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 2 – 8

by Cointelegraph by Ezra Reguerra on April 28, 2025 at 11:40 am

Wallet interoperability still remains the vision for Web3 gaming, according to Arthur Madrid, the co-founder and CEO of the decentralized metaverse and gaming platform The Sandbox. In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph at the Crypto Polo event in Dubai, Madrid and The Sandbox co-founder and chief operating officer Sebastien Borget told Cointelegraph that Web3 gaming interoperability remains the goal for The Sandbox. Madrid said: “So, the vision is still kind of obvious for us. It’s like you need to be able to play any games using one wallet that will enable you to combine the utilities of all that you collected and all what you earned.”The Sandbox CEO said that one of the main narratives they’ve seen in the last couple of months is that players can move from one game to another using a single wallet. The executive told Cointelegraph that players accessing games with one wallet and using their items on different platforms remains an exciting topic for Web3 gaming enthusiasts. The Sandbox co-founders at the Crypto Polo event in Dubai. Source: CointelegraphWeb3 gaming still “booming” as tools become accessibleMadrid added that despite a market slowdown, the Web3 gaming space is still booming. The executive told Cointelegraph that the tools and infrastructure needed to create new games have become more accessible. “I can feel that the tools you need to create games are becoming more accessible. If you look the number of games that have been created on gaming platforms over the last two years, it's still booming,” Madrid told Cointelegraph. The executive also said that a new generation of programmers and programming tools is working on new types of gameplay. Madrid added that the space needs only one good game that could serve as the catalyst for the broader adoption of Web3 technology in gaming. “The thing is, you always need this moment where one game is making a difference. You have this moment of rebirth,” Madrid said. Related: Nike sued for $5 million over its shutdown of NFT platform RTFKTThe Sandbox co-founder highlights a shift in NFT utilityBorget told Cointelegraph that the non-fungible token (NFT) space is now seeing a shift in focus. The executive said that their team is seeing more maturity in the industry as it shifted from using NFTs to do fundraising and just profile pictures to better use cases. Borget said this was driven by consumers demanding more use for their digital assets. The executive said that creators and developers must focus on adding more value to their NFTs to keep up with this demand. “At The Sandbox, we still continue to see more demand for our virtual land, avatars and other NFT collections, such as Jurassic World, because they can be used across the game right away,” Borget said.Magazine: Ethereum is destroying the competition in the $16.1T TradFi tokenization race

on April 28, 2025 at 11:26 am

Russia has announced a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. 

on April 28, 2025 at 11:22 am

Cardinals will meet in a secret conclave to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church starting from May 7, the Vatican has confirmed. 

by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 28, 2025 at 11:05 am

The Stacks Asia DLT Foundation has become the first Bitcoin-based organization to establish an official presence in the Middle East, aiming to promote institutional Bitcoin adoption through expanded educational initiatives.Stacks Asia has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) — one of the world’s fastest-growing financial centers — in a move that could boost the adoption of its Bitcoin (BTC) layer-2 (L2) solution in the Middle East and Asia.The new partnership will play a “pivotal role” in shaping the future of Bitcoin’s “programmability and adoption” in these regions through educational programs and support for Bitcoin builders, according to an April 28 announcement shared with Cointelegraph.Through the collaboration, Stacks and the ADGM aim to make it easier for institutions and investors to participate in the growing Bitcoin economy and help set “new standards for regulatory clarity and technical growth” for the rising global Bitcoin capital, according to Kyle Ellicott, executive director at Stacks Asia DLT Foundation.Stacks Asia DLT partners with ADGM. Source: Stacks Asia DLT FoundationRelated: Crypto options desk QCP Capital wins Abu Dhabi license: Report“Stacks and ADGM are a powerful combination for accelerating Bitcoin adoption across the Middle East and Asia,” Ellicott told Cointelegraph, adding:“ADGM has established itself as a world-class global financial hub at the heart of the United Arab Emirates, known as the ‘Capitol of Capital,’ where capital and innovation are brought together to shape the future financial landscape.”“We’ll be working to enable the launch of educational programs, regional developer communities, and create opportunities for the real-world adoption of Bitcoin-powered applications,” he said.Starting in May, the foundation will host a series of live and virtual events to “empower institutions” with the knowledge to integrate Bitcoin into their operations and learn about the “opportunity of productive Bitcoin capital,” Ellicott added.Related: Nomura crypto arm Laser Digital bags Abu Dhabi licenseStacks Foundation pushing for a “progressive” regulatory environment worldwideAs the leading Bitcoin scalability solution, Stacks is also pushing for progressive global regulations that will cement Bitcoin’s role in the future of the financial landscape.“We’re not just focused locally — our team is engaged in global conversations, advocating for frameworks that balance decentralization, security, innovation, and compliance surrounding the unlocking of Bitcoin capital,” Ellicott said.A key part of the strategy involves knowledge sharing with local regulatory bodies to build understanding among government officials about Bitcoin’s characteristics and potential economic impact.The foundation is also developing the Bitcoin Capital Activation Framework, described as a comprehensive policy blueprint to help regulators enable Bitcoin utility in their jurisdictions. The Stacks Foundation will also launch the Bitcoin Policy Bridge in May, a working group uniting regulators from all key jurisdictions across the Middle East and Asia.In February, ADGM signed a memorandum of understanding with the Solana Foundation to advance the development of distributed ledger technology.Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

by Cointelegraph by Yashu Gola on April 28, 2025 at 10:48 am

Key takeaways:XRP futures ETF approval fuels bullish momentum ahead of April 30 potential launch.Whales are stacking XRP despite recent sharp corrections.A technical breakout hints at a potential 55% rally toward $3.63.XRP (XRP) rose by nearly 5% to hit an intraday high of $2.36 on April 28, extending a three-week rebound that has lifted its price by over 46%.XRP/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingViewProShares’ XRP futures ETF buzz boosts priceXRP’s price rise today follows a fundamental boost from the potential launch of three XRP-based futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by ProShares.The ETFs—ProShares XRP Strategy ETF, ProShares Short XRP Strategy ETF, and ProShares XRP Blend Strategy ETF—will likely go live on April 30, offering investors indirect exposure to XRP market.Source: Vincent Van CodeLast week, CME Group announced the addition of XRP futures to its US derivatives exchange, with trading set to begin next month alongside new BTC, ETH, and SOL contracts.Progress on a spot XRP ETF remains stalled, however. The SEC has acknowledged multiple spot XRP ETF applications, but none have been approved yet. Grayscale’s application faces a critical decision deadline on May 22.“The real catalyst will come when a Spot XRP ETF gets approved,” argues market analyst John Squire, noting that a futures ETF won’t lead to “real market impact.”XRP whales are on the riseThe number of XRP addresses holding at least 10,000 tokens has continued to rise, especially during its 30% price correction from the January’s top of $3.40, according to Glassnode data.XRP address count holding over 10,000 tokens. Source: GlassnodeThis steady accumulation by larger holders suggests growing confidence in XRP’s long-term upside prospects.It also indicates that selling pressure remains limited even during market pullbacks, providing a strong foundation for continued upside.XRP price: falling wedge breakoutXRP rally is part of what appears to be a falling wedge breakout, confirmed by the price breaking above the bullish reversal pattern’s upper trendline with a slight increase in volumes.XRP/USD three-day price chart. Source: TradingViewThe breakout target, determined by measuring the maximum wedge height and adding it to the breakout point, stands near $3.63, a 55% gain from current price levels.The price now holding above the 50-3D exponential moving average (50-3D EMA; the red wave)—a historical support level—is furthering the wedge’s potential of reaching its $3.63 target.Related: XRP futures open interest surges by 32% — Are traders bullish or bearish?XRP’s relative strength index (RSI) is neutral with a reading between 30 and 70, suggesting the price has adequate room to grow.This 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.

by Cointelegraph by Helen Partz on April 28, 2025 at 10:32 am

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) bounced back with their third-largest inflows on record last week, according to CoinShares.Global crypto ETPs collectively posted $3.4 billion of inflows in the trading week of April 21–25, marking the highest level since December 2024, CoinShares reported on April 28.The inflows were just 13% below the all-time high of $3.85 billion seen in the trading week of Dec. 2–6, 2024, CoinShares previously reported.Renewed investment interest in crypto ETPs came as Bitcoin (BTC) broke back above $90,000 last week for the first time since briefly retesting the price mark in early March, according to CoinGecko.Bitcoin ETFs lead as price consolidates above $90,000Bitcoin was the primary winner among crypto ETPs last week, with investors pouring as much as $3.18 billion into BTC ETPs.The fresh inflows covered all the previous outflows seen since the beginning of April, with year-to-date (YTD) inflows extending to $3.7 billion.Flows by asset (in millions of US dollars). Source: CoinSharesBitcoin ETP’s assets under management (AUM) have reached $132 billion, while total AUM surged to $151.6 billion.Solana was the only loserBullish sentiment was seen in all crypto ETPs except for Solana (SOL), with Solana-based investment products seeing $5.7 million of outflows last week.Meanwhile, Ether (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, saw $183 million inflows in the past trading week, breaking an eight-week streak of outflows.Related: Solana's Loopscale pauses lending after $5.8M hackOther notable gainers among altcoins were Sui (SUI) and XRP (XRP), which saw $20.7 million and $31.6 million of inflows, respectively.All issuers see healthy inflowsThe fresh crypto ETP flows were distributed across all major issuers, including those in the United States and Europe.BlackRock’s iShares ETFs saw the largest inflows last week at $1.5 billion, with ARK and Fidelity following at $621 million and $574 million, respectively.Flows by issuer (in millions of US dollars). Source: CoinSharesDespite significant inflows, some issuers continue to see outflows month-to-date, or since April 1. Among those issuers are Grayscale with $84 million in outflows, ProShares with $18 million in outflows, and CoinShares with $7 million in outflows.Reasons for the spikeThe latest inflows mark a notable trend reversal in crypto ETPs as the majority of issuers were seeing massive YTD inflows in the previous week, following a series of outflows in 2025.According to CoinShares’ James Butterfill, the new inflows likely came from concerns over the tariff impact on corporate earnings as well as a notable weakening of the US dollar, fueling demand for safe-haven assets.The inflows also came as gold prices saw a notable decline last week after breaking new highs at nearly $3,500 on April 22, dropping to as low as $3,275 on April 23, according to TradingView.Magazine: Ethereum is destroying the competition in the $16.1T TradFi tokenization race

by Cointelegraph by Jonathan DeYoung on April 28, 2025 at 10:12 am

Switzerland has long been seen as a beacon of privacy where companies, organizations and wealthy people put down roots in an effort to avoid the prying eyes of the rest of the world. Joining this cohort are many Web3 projects, which also appreciate the Swiss government’s generally positive stance toward blockchain and digital assets.The country’s reputation as a privacy haven has resulted in Switzerland becoming a hub for privacy projects establishing their foundations or development entities there, including Nym, Session and Hopr — joining traditional privacy software companies such as Proton and Threema.Now, a proposed change to a Swiss surveillance ordinance is worrying these same projects, as it would spell a marked increase in the government’s user monitoring requirements. But the decentralized nature of crypto may offer a solution for those wishing to preserve their privacy in a climate of increasing surveillance.Switzerland is a privacy haven — or maybe notSwitzerland has long been considered by many to have some of the world’s strongest privacy protections. As Proton, the company behind the encrypted Proton Mail email service, argued in a 2014 blog post titled “Why Switzerland?”, the Central European country offers several advantages: Companies are outside of the jurisdiction of the US and EU, the country is politically neutral, there are strong constitutional privacy protections, and there is established infrastructure.Kee Jeffries, technical co-founder of decentralized private messaging app Session, recently told Cointelegraph’s The Agenda podcast that it was important to establish the foundation “in a country which has a long history of preserving people’s personal privacy and freedom of speech.”However, all governments must ultimately balance citizen privacy and national security concerns. In Switzerland, surveillance is governed by the Ordinance on the Surveillance of Correspondence by Post and Telecommunications (OSCPT).In January, the Swiss Federal Council proposed a revision to the OSCPT that would increase user monitoring requirements for telecommunications service providers and widen the definition of who meets these requirements to include services such as VPNs, social networks and messaging apps.In short, as they are currently written, the changes would require service providers that serve at least 5,000 users to identify all users and willfully decrypt all communications that are not end-to-end encrypted.Privacy projects fight back against surveillanceThe move has been met with widespread backlash from the privacy community. Proton CEO Andy Yen has threatened to fight the government in court and potentially pull the company out of the country. Decentralized VPN provider Nym issued a public call to action for Swiss citizens to contact their representatives and oppose the action.Source: Andy YenIn a statement, Nym’s chief operating officer, Alexis Roussel, said the ordinance by the Federal Council “is destroying an entire sector,” adding:“This ordinance directly endangers the people who use these services.”Sebastian Bürgel, vice president of technology at Gnosis and founder of decentralized mixnet Hopr, echoed the concerns of Yen and Roussel, telling Cointelegraph the move would likely backfire.“If the intent is to limit the privacy and anonymity that services such as Proton Mail, Proton VPN and Threema are providing, that will not change much because those entities will potentially leave Switzerland if that were to happen,” he said. “But again, the consequences will be borne by everyone out there and everyone who’s actually in Switzerland.”Related: Keeping crypto cypherpunk protects users from censorship and corporatism — Gnosis VPMeanwhile, Ronald Kogens, a legal partner at Swiss law firm MME who focuses on Web3 and fintech, told Cointelegraph that it’s unclear whether the Swiss Federal Council even has the authority to implement such changes. “In an ordinance, you cannot include any heavy rights or obligations which have a strong impact on individuals in Switzerland,” he shared, saying that the Federal Council is essentially an executive body and that laws must pass through parliament. “One question you could ask is, does the Federal Council have the power, based on the laws where it stated that they can enact an ordinance, the power to do this, what they’re doing now?”Are Swiss crypto projects at risk?The move by the Swiss Federal Council is damaging Switzerland’s privacy reputation, but decentralized technologies like blockchain networks may offer a lifeline. According to Kogens, truly decentralized projects should be exempt from the new surveillance requirements.“In my opinion, most Web3 activities are not affected because [...] the pure offering of software without running any infrastructure for the whole messaging or communication system is not covered by this,” he told Cointelegraph. “You have to have specific servers or clients that you operate that are an essential part of the communication or messaging service.”Either way, the more decentralized a project is, the less any government can influence its operations. Take, for example, Tornado Cash, which has continued chugging along for years despite multiple developers being arrested and the US sanctioning its smart contracts at one point.Nym CEO Harry Halpin told Cointelegraph in March that “in theory, we should be able to get run over with a car, and the network would keep operating.”“Hopr, as an example of Web3 infrastructure, does not operate infrastructure, right?” said Bürgel. “Hopr Association is involved in software development and research and development, but we are not an operator of a network.”The fact that the Hopr network is fully decentralized and anonymous means the Hopr Association could not actually give any information about its users to Switzerland, even if it were legally compelled.“Individual node runners which are participating in it, or other third parties, cannot tell who is using the Hopr network to access any kind of web service. That is the explicit goal of what we are undertaking.”The future of privacy in SwitzerlandThe Swiss Federal Council’s proposed changes to the OSCPT are still in the consultation phase, with the public encouraged to offer feedback on the proposal through May 6.Kogens told Cointelegraph that the council will review the feedback, create a final report, and decide whether to adjust the proposal. “That happens quite a lot,” he said, “because in the end, it’s not in the interest of Switzerland to do something which harms the industry, as long as they still can fulfill their goal, which they have with this surveillance act.”Source: NymBut even if the changes go through as written, there could be some positive knock-on effects for the crypto space. “It may be that the silver lining is that it will drive users to decentralized and privacy-facilitating solutions instead,” said Bürgel.“It is clear to everyone that more surveillance is bad,” he added. “Every single individual understands that.”“Taming the surveillance machinery is a goal of Web3. It’s not just about magic internet money. And yeah, I think we need more people working towards that.”Magazine: UK’s Orwellian AI murder prediction system, AI will take your jobDocument has no content

by Paul Johnson and Kate Ainsworth on April 28, 2025 at 9:48 am

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called out Peter Dutton's history of "punching down on vulnerable people" during a wide-ranging interview on 7.30 that focused on several key election issues.

by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 28, 2025 at 9:44 am

Onchain sleuth ZachXBT has flagged a suspicious transfer involving 3,520 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $330.7 million, that may indicate a major theft. The transaction, reported on April 28, saw funds moved from a potential victim’s wallet to the address bc1qcry...vz55g.Following the transfer, the stolen stash was quickly laundered through over six instant exchanges and swapped into privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero (XMR).The large-scale conversion led to a 50% spike in XMR’s price with the token reaching an intraday high of $339, according to data from CoinMarketCap.Source: ZachXBTAt the time of writing, XMR has settled slightly but remains up 25% in the past 24 hours, trading at $289.When asked whether North Korea’s Lazarus Group was behind the attack, ZachXBT dismissed the theory, stating it was “highly probable it’s not,” suggesting independent hackers were responsible.Related: Kraken to end Monero support in European Economic AreaVast majority of hackers use mainstream cryptosIn a recent comment to Cointelegraph, Chainalysis noted that most criminal transactions still rely on mainstream cryptocurrencies.“While there are concerns of more criminals moving to privacy coins for anonymity, the vast majority of criminal activity still uses mainstream cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and stablecoins,” Chainalysis said.The firm added that these assets remain attractive because they offer the same benefits to bad actors as they do to legitimate users — cross-border functionality, instant settlement, and high liquidity.Chainalysis noted that privacy coins pose limitations for criminals due to reduced liquidity and the fact that many major exchanges have delisted assets like Monero.“Cryptocurrency is only useful if you can buy and sell goods and services or cash out into fiat, and that is much more difficult with privacy coins, especially as many mainstream exchanges have offboarded the use of privacy coins, such as Monero,” they explained.The firm even said that blockchain transparency allows law enforcement to trace and recover illicit funds, regardless of the cryptocurrency used.In 2024, a leaked Chainalysis video suggested that Monero transactions could be traceable despite the privacy-preserving nature of the blockchain.The video reportedly showed how Chainalysis could track transactions back to 2021 via its own “malicious” Monero nodes.Related: The IRS offers a $625,000 bounty to anyone who can break Monero and Lightning NetworkMonero accepted at Spar stores in SwitzerlandThe suspected laundering operation comes as Monero is gaining wider retail acceptance. Two Spar supermarket locations in Switzerland recently began accepting XMR for payments.The announcement, shared by Monero’s official X account, credits partnerships with DFX Swiss and OpenCryptoPay for enabling the integration.One user, posting on April 25, shared their experience of purchasing organic cacao using XMR at a Spar store in Kreuzlingen.User paying for goods with Monero. Souce: SchmidtIn April 2025, Spar first tapped into the crypto market by introducing Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network at outlets in Zug, Switzerland.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26

by Cointelegraph by Bradley Peak on April 28, 2025 at 9:40 am

Key takeawaysCrypto-backed mortgages let you use assets like Bitcoin or Ether as collateral to secure a loan without selling your holdings.The process involves choosing a lender, securing your crypto in custody, appraising the property and finalizing loan terms.These mortgages offer tax advantages, streamlined approvals and the ability to retain crypto investment value while accessing liquidity.Platforms like Nexo provide tailored solutions, but thorough research is essential to ensure security and regulatory compliance.Crypto-backed mortgages are a watershed moment in real estate financing because they let you use digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ether (ETH) as collateral for a home loan.Instead of selling your cryptocurrency, you pledge it to secure funds for buying property. This approach has been gaining traction as more people explore alternatives to traditional financing.Furthermore, as the adoption of cryptocurrencies grows, crypto-backed mortgages are positioning themselves as a bridge between decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional property markets, offering a unique solution for crypto holders looking to diversify their investments without forfeiting their digital wealth.What are crypto-backed mortgages?Crypto-backed mortgages are home loans where digital assets are used as collateral instead of cash or traditional assets. Surprisingly, the process is straightforward: You transfer your cryptocurrency to a lender, who locks it up as collateral. In return, they provide a loan, often in fiat currency, to finance your property purchase. As long as you make timely payments, your crypto stays intact. If the value of your collateral drops due to market volatility, you might need to add more assets to maintain the loan’s security — this is called a margin call.What role does blockchain play in crypto-backed mortgages?Blockchain technology makes this system transparent and efficient. Smart contracts, for example, automate much of the loan process, reducing paperwork and speeding up approvals. The blockchain’s immutable nature ensures every transaction is secure and verifiable, building trust between lenders and borrowers.Crypto-backed mortgages are still emerging, but various platforms have already entered the market, offering tailored solutions for crypto investors. As the adoption of blockchain in real estate grows, this innovative financing model is becoming more and more attractive. Did you know? In 2012, BTCJam launched as one of the earliest platforms facilitating Bitcoin-backed loans, enabling individuals worldwide to borrow funds using Bitcoin as collateral. By 2016, BTCJam had serviced over 16,000 loans across more than 120 countries, with the average loan size ranging from $400 to $600.The crypto-backed mortgage process Navigating a crypto-backed mortgage involves several key steps:Eligibility criteria: Lenders typically accept major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether as collateral. The required collateral value often exceeds the loan amount to account for market volatility. For instance, a lender might require collateral worth 150% of the loan value.Financial stability and regulatory compliance: Beyond crypto holdings, lenders assess your overall financial health, including income stability and credit history. Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations is crucial; you’ll need to provide thorough documentation tracing the origin of your crypto assets to ensure they are legitimate.Application steps: Start by identifying lenders or platforms that accept cryptocurrency as collateral. Options may include specialized crypto lending platforms and certain traditional financial institutions. Once approved, you’ll transfer your crypto assets to a secure escrow or custodial account designated by the lender. This step ensures the lender can access the collateral if necessary.Property appraisal and loan finalization: The lender will conduct a property appraisal to confirm its market value. Afterward, you’ll finalize the loan terms, including interest rates and repayment schedules.Repayment and collateral management: Repayment structures vary; some loans may offer interest-only payments with a lump-sum principal repayment at the end, while others follow traditional amortization schedules. Interest rates can differ based on the lender and the loan’s specifics.Given the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies, lenders monitor the value of your collateral. If its value drops below a certain threshold, you may face a margin call, requiring you to add more collateral or risk liquidation of your assets.Did you know? When a homeowner fails to make mortgage payments, the lender may initiate a foreclosure to recover the outstanding loan balance. This legal process allows the lender to take ownership of the property and sell it to recoup losses. Advantages of crypto-backed mortgagesPreserving your crypto investments: Using your cryptocurrency holdings as collateral for a mortgage allows you to access funds without selling your assets. This means you can continue to benefit from any potential appreciation in value while securing the financing you need.Potential tax benefits: By leveraging your crypto assets as collateral instead of selling them, you may avoid triggering capital gains taxes. This strategy can be more tax-efficient, especially in jurisdictions where selling digital assets incurs significant tax liabilities.Streamlined approval process: Crypto-backed mortgages often place less emphasis on traditional credit scores. Lenders focus more on the value of your crypto collateral, which can simplify and expedite the approval process, making it more accessible for individuals with varying credit histories.Did you know? Mississippi has one of the lowest mortgage approval rates in the US, with only 52.14% of applications approved between 2018 and 2022. This low approval rate is influenced by factors such as higher poverty levels, lower median incomes and elevated debt-to-income ratios among applicants. Additionally, racial disparities persist, with Black applicants facing higher denial rates compared to white applicants. Risks and considerationsDespite the advantages, there are some risks you should be aware of:Cryptocurrency volatility: The value of cryptocurrencies can fluctuate significantly. If the value of your collateral drops below a certain threshold, lenders may issue a margin call, requiring you to provide additional assets to maintain the loan. Failure to do so could result in the liquidation of your crypto holdings.Regulatory and legal landscape: The regulatory environment for crypto-backed mortgages varies by jurisdiction and is continually evolving. It’s essential to understand the legal implications and ensure compliance with local laws, including AML regulations.Understanding loan terms: Thoroughly review the loan agreement to comprehend all terms, including interest rates, repayment schedules and conditions for margin calls. Being well-informed helps prevent unexpected challenges during the loan term.Where can you leverage your crypto assets for real estate financing?Several platforms already offer crypto-backed mortgages, allowing you to leverage your digital assets to purchase real estate. Here are some options:Nexo: Nexo provides crypto-backed loans compatible with over 40 different currencies. Borrowers can receive quick approvals and flexible repayment plans, making it a viable option for those looking to finance real estate using their crypto holdings.Ledn: Ledn offers Bitcoin-backed mortgages, allowing clients to use their BTC holdings as collateral to secure loans for real estate purchases. This service is designed to help crypto investors diversify into property without selling their digital assets.Salt Lending: Salt Lending facilitates crypto-backed loans, including options for real estate financing. By using your crypto assets as collateral, you can access funds for property purchases while retaining ownership of your digital investments.Key considerations Reputation and security: Research the platform’s track record and security measures to ensure your assets are protected.Interest rates and terms: Compare interest rates, loan-to-value ratios and repayment terms to find a platform that aligns with your financial goals.Supported cryptocurrencies: Ensure the platform accepts the specific digital assets you intend to use as collateral.Regulatory compliance: Verify that the platform operates within legal frameworks applicable to your jurisdiction to avoid potential legal issues.Customer support: Assess the availability and quality of customer service to assist you throughout the loan process.By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose a reputable and secure platform that suits your needs for obtaining a crypto-backed mortgage.Wishing you joyful house hunting!

by Andrew Greene on April 28, 2025 at 9:32 am

A fleet of retired tanks the Albanese government pledged to Ukraine last year remain stuck in Australia, with defence figures in part blaming resistance from the United States for their delayed transfer.

on April 28, 2025 at 9:31 am

The Muslim Vote campaign has taken aim at the Labor Party's "failure to stand for justice on Gaza and Palestine" as it looks to unseat Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton.

by Cointelegraph by Onkar Singh on April 28, 2025 at 9:28 am

If you’re following developments in the cryptocurrency market, you’ve likely noticed that Coinbase Derivatives has introduced XRP futures contracts to its US derivatives exchange. This move is part of a broader trend where regulated platforms are expanding access to futures trading, giving investors new ways to engage with digital assets like XRP (XRP).But what exactly are XRP futures? And how do you get involved as an investor or trader?Let’s take a closer look.What are XRP futures?XRP futures are standardized financial contracts that allow you to agree to buy or sell XRP at a predetermined price on a specific future date. Rather than trading the actual token, you’re trading a contract that tracks the price of XRP.These contracts are overseen by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), meaning they operate within a regulated framework. That adds a level of oversight and structure that appeals to many investors, particularly those wary of the risks tied to unregulated platforms.On April 3, 2025, Coinbase Derivatives announced it had filed with the CFTC to self-certify XRP futures contracts, and the contracts were launched on April 21, 2025.Types of XRP futures contracts offered by CoinbaseCoinbase’s offering includes:Nano XRP futures represent 500 XRP per contract, cash-settled in US dollars. These are designed for retail traders and smaller institutions, offering lower capital requirements while still providing exposure to XRP price movements.Standard XRP futures cover 10,000 XRP per contract, are also settled in USD, and are aimed at larger institutions and active traders.This variety lets you choose a position size that matches your risk tolerance and investment strategy. But what do terms like “cash-settled” actually mean?Both Nano and Standard XRP futures are contracts that let you trade based on the price of XRP — but you don’t actually own or receive XRP. You’re trading contracts that track XRP’s price.And, when the contract closes, the difference between your entry and exit price is calculated (profit or loss) and settled in USD — this is what cash settlement means. Did you know? Other products offered by the Coinbase Derivatives exchange include more than 20 futures contracts on assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar (XLM).Why choose XRP futures contracts over buying XRP?You might be wondering why someone would choose futures over simply buying XRP on the spot market.Here are a few reasons:Leverage: Futures often allow you to control a large position with a relatively small amount of capital. While this can amplify gains, it also increases potential losses.Hedging: If you already hold XRP and expect short-term volatility, futures can be used to protect your portfolio.Speculation: Futures allow you to take both long (bullish) and short (bearish) positions, so you can potentially benefit from market moves in either direction.No wallet or storage needs: Buying XRP requires a secure wallet and managing private keys, which carries risks like hacking or loss. Futures contracts are financial instruments traded on exchanges, eliminating the need for direct XRP custody.Liquidity and accessibility: Futures markets often have high liquidity, making it easier to enter and exit positions. Some exchanges offer XRP futures with lower barriers than buying XRP on certain crypto platforms, especially in regions with regulatory restrictions.Cash settlement: Many XRP futures are cash-settled, meaning you settle profits or losses in fiat or stablecoins without handling XRP itself, simplifying the process for traders avoiding crypto custody.When to choose futures contracts:You want to trade XRP price movements with leverage or flexibility to go long or short.You prefer not to deal with crypto wallets or custody.You’re hedging an existing XRP position or portfolio.You’re comfortable with the risks and complexities of derivatives.When to buy XRP:You believe in XRP’s long-term value and want to hold it as an investment.You plan to use XRP for transactions or in its ecosystem (e.g., Ripple’s payment network).You want to avoid the risks of leverage and futures margin calls.Ultimately, futures suit active traders or those seeking leveraged exposure, while buying XRP could be ideal for long-term holders or users of the asset. You must always assess your risk tolerance and goals before deciding whether to invest in XRP or XRP futures.Did you know? The MarketVector™ Coinbase XRP Benchmark Rate provides a robust USD price reference exclusively for XRP traded on the Coinbase Exchange. It includes no other assets and no other exchanges — just XRP, just Coinbase.Where to invest in XRP futuresIf you’re looking to invest in XRP futures, there are several platforms (other than Coinbase) offering access depending on your location and trading needs.Kraken Futures: Kraken provides XRP futures with leverage. In Australia, access is limited to wholesale clients through Beaufort Fiduciaries Pty Ltd (AFSL no. 545124). In the United Kingdom, only clients classified as Professional Clients under Financial Conduct Authority rules can trade through Crypto Facilities Limited (FRN: 757895).Binance: Binance offers XRP/USDT perpetual futures contracts, allowing users to trade XRP without an expiry date. These contracts support leverage, giving traders flexibility in managing exposure. However, as of May 28, 2024, Binance no longer supports XRP as a margin asset under its “Multi-Assets Mode,” though XRP futures remain available in other trading modes.OKX: OKX also provides XRP/USDT perpetual swaps, which let traders speculate on XRP price movements continuously. While OKX delisted XRP expiry futures contracts in December 2024, perpetual swaps are still supported. Traders can apply leverage and adjust positions based on their risk strategy.Bitget: It is a globally accessible platform that offers XRP futures with options to take long or short positions. It features a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both new and experienced traders, though availability depends on regional regulations.KuCoin Futures: KuCoin supports XRP perpetual contracts (XRP/USDT) with leverage. The platform is known for low trading fees and offers various features for different trading strategies. It’s accessible in many countries, with some regional restrictions.MEXC: It provides XRP futures in both USDt-margined and coin-margined formats. MEXC supports high leverage and offers educational tools, catering to traders of all levels. The platform is available in most regions, though users should check for local compliance.Delta Exchange: It lists XRP perpetual futures with leverage up to 100x. It’s known for low fees and advanced risk management tools. The platform is available to traders in several countries, depending on local laws.Bitfinex: Lastly, Bitfinex offers XRP futures as part of its broader derivatives portfolio. Its platform caters to advanced users with customizable strategies. Access is region-dependent, and traders must ensure eligibility based on their location.Did you know? Coinbase crypto derivatives are not available to retail clients based in the United Kingdom or Spain due to local regulatory restrictions. How to invest in XRP futures If you’re interested in trading XRP futures, here are general steps to get started:Choose a platform: Select a regulated exchange offering XRP futures, such as Coinbase’s US Derivatives Exchange. Create an account and complete identity verification, which typically involves submitting a valid ID and proof of address.Understand the product: Research how XRP futures contracts work, including contract sizes (e.g., Coinbase offers standard contracts of 10,000 XRP or nano contracts of 500 XRP), margin requirements, leverage options and fees. Futures are complex, so review the exchange’s documentation and understand risks, such as liquidation.Fund your account: Deposit USD or another accepted currency to use as collateral (margin) for trading. Check the platform’s minimum deposit and margin requirements. For example, Coinbase settles futures in USD, and you can fund via bank transfer or debit card.Place your trade: Use the platform’s trading interface (e.g., Coinbase Advanced) to select XRP futures contracts (symbol: XRL for standard XRP contracts on Coinbase). Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell), set your position size, and apply any leverage if available. Confirm the trade after reviewing details.Practice risk management: Futures carry high risks due to leverage and volatility. Set stop-loss orders, limit position sizes based on your risk tolerance, and avoid risking more than you can afford to lose. For instance, some exchanges pause trading if the underlying asset’s price moves over 10% in an hour to mitigate volatility risks.Monitor the market: Track XRP’s price, market sentiment, funding rates and external factors like regulatory news or macroeconomic trends. Use tools like candlestick charts or technical indicators on the platform to inform your strategy. Stay updated to adjust positions and avoid unexpected losses.Oregon targets Coinbase over XRP, cites securities violationsOregon’s Attorney General has sued Coinbase, claiming the exchange offered unregistered securities, including XRP. The lawsuit argues that a wide range of digital assets traded on the platform qualify as investment contracts under state law.State officials say the case is part of a broader effort to step in where federal enforcement has pulled back. Legal experts note that while the outcome won’t set a national precedent, it could influence how regulators and courts approach similar cases.The timing is notable — just weeks after the SEC dropped its case against Ripple and days after Coinbase listed XRP futures on its US derivatives exchange.Did you know? On March 25, 2025, Ripple Labs settled its long-standing legal dispute with the SEC. As part of the agreement, Ripple consented to pay a reduced fine of $50 million — down from the original $125 million — without admitting any wrongdoing.CME’s XRP futures launch: A new era for institutional crypto trading?CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, is set to launch XRP futures on May 19, 2025, pending regulatory approval. This move marks a significant milestone for Ripple’s native token, as it opens the door for institutional investors to gain regulated exposure to XRP for the first time through a trusted exchange.The futures contracts will come in two sizes:2,500 XRP (micro) 50,000 XRP (standard)These contracts will be cash-settled, using the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate, calculated daily at 4:00 p.m. London time. Such contracts are designed to provide traders and institutions with a capital-efficient way to hedge or speculate on XRP’s price movements.This launch follows CME’s expanding suite of crypto derivatives, which already includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana futures. With over 80 million XRP users globally and growing interest in Ripple’s technology, the addition of XRP futures positions CME as a key player in the evolving digital asset landscape.How risky are crypto futures?Futures trading offers opportunities, but it comes with significant risks — especially if you’re new to derivatives. Here’s what you should keep in mind:Leverage risk: While leverage can increase your returns, it also amplifies losses. A small price move in the wrong direction can quickly deplete your account.Volatility: XRP is known for its sharp price swings. Futures contracts can exaggerate the impact of volatility on your position.Funding rates: Perpetual futures contracts charge periodic funding fees, which can eat into profits if held long-term.Liquidation: If the market moves against you and your margin falls below the required level, your position may be automatically closed — often at a loss.Complexity: Futures are more complicated than spot trading. Understanding contract terms, funding rates and expiry dates is crucial to managing your trades effectively.Market liquidity: While XRP is a liquid asset, futures trading depends on active participation. Thin order books can lead to slippage and unexpected price movements.Emotional pressure: The fast-paced nature of futures trading can lead to impulsive decisions. Discipline and a clear strategy are essential.If you’re new to this type of trading, consider starting with a demo account or using nano contracts to reduce your exposure while you learn. Trade smart — your safety’s on you!This 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.If you’re following developments in the cryptocurrency market, you’ve likely noticed that Coinbase Derivatives has introduced XRP futures contracts to its US derivatives exchange. This move is part of a broader trend where regulated platforms are expanding access to futures trading, giving investors new ways to engage with digital assets like XRP (XRP).But what exactly are XRP futures? And how do you get involved as an investor or trader?Let’s take a closer look.What are XRP futures?XRP futures are standardized financial contracts that allow you to agree to buy or sell XRP at a predetermined price on a specific future date. Rather than trading the actual token, you’re trading a contract that tracks the price of XRP.These contracts are overseen by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), meaning they operate within a regulated framework. That adds a level of oversight and structure that appeals to many investors, particularly those wary of the risks tied to unregulated platforms.On April 3, 2025, Coinbase Derivatives announced it had filed with the CFTC to self-certify XRP futures contracts, and the contracts were launched on April 21, 2025.Types of XRP futures contracts offered by CoinbaseCoinbase’s offering includes:Nano XRP futures represent 500 XRP per contract, cash-settled in US dollars. These are designed for retail traders and smaller institutions, offering lower capital requirements while still providing exposure to XRP price movements.Standard XRP futures cover 10,000 XRP per contract, are also settled in USD, and are aimed at larger institutions and active traders.This variety lets you choose a position size that matches your risk tolerance and investment strategy. But what do terms like “cash-settled” actually mean?Both Nano and Standard XRP futures are contracts that let you trade based on the price of XRP — but you don’t actually own or receive XRP. You’re trading contracts that track XRP’s price.And, when the contract closes, the difference between your entry and exit price is calculated (profit or loss) and settled in USD — this is what cash settlement means. Did you know? Other products offered by the Coinbase Derivatives exchange include more than 20 futures contracts on assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar (XLM).Why choose XRP futures contracts over buying XRP?You might be wondering why someone would choose futures over simply buying XRP on the spot market.Here are a few reasons:Leverage: Futures often allow you to control a large position with a relatively small amount of capital. While this can amplify gains, it also increases potential losses.Hedging: If you already hold XRP and expect short-term volatility, futures can be used to protect your portfolio.Speculation: Futures allow you to take both long (bullish) and short (bearish) positions, so you can potentially benefit from market moves in either direction.No wallet or storage needs: Buying XRP requires a secure wallet and managing private keys, which carries risks like hacking or loss. Futures contracts are financial instruments traded on exchanges, eliminating the need for direct XRP custody.Liquidity and accessibility: Futures markets often have high liquidity, making it easier to enter and exit positions. Some exchanges offer XRP futures with lower barriers than buying XRP on certain crypto platforms, especially in regions with regulatory restrictions.Cash settlement: Many XRP futures are cash-settled, meaning you settle profits or losses in fiat or stablecoins without handling XRP itself, simplifying the process for traders avoiding crypto custody.When to choose futures contracts:You want to trade XRP price movements with leverage or flexibility to go long or short.You prefer not to deal with crypto wallets or custody.You’re hedging an existing XRP position or portfolio.You’re comfortable with the risks and complexities of derivatives.When to buy XRP:You believe in XRP’s long-term value and want to hold it as an investment.You plan to use XRP for transactions or in its ecosystem (e.g., Ripple’s payment network).You want to avoid the risks of leverage and futures margin calls.Ultimately, futures suit active traders or those seeking leveraged exposure, while buying XRP could be ideal for long-term holders or users of the asset. You must always assess your risk tolerance and goals before deciding whether to invest in XRP or XRP futures.Did you know? The MarketVector™ Coinbase XRP Benchmark Rate provides a robust USD price reference exclusively for XRP traded on the Coinbase Exchange. It includes no other assets and no other exchanges — just XRP, just Coinbase.Where to invest in XRP futuresIf you’re looking to invest in XRP futures, there are several platforms (other than Coinbase) offering access depending on your location and trading needs.Kraken Futures: Kraken provides XRP futures with leverage. In Australia, access is limited to wholesale clients through Beaufort Fiduciaries Pty Ltd (AFSL no. 545124). In the United Kingdom, only clients classified as Professional Clients under Financial Conduct Authority rules can trade through Crypto Facilities Limited (FRN: 757895).Binance: Binance offers XRP/USDT perpetual futures contracts, allowing users to trade XRP without an expiry date. These contracts support leverage, giving traders flexibility in managing exposure. However, as of May 28, 2024, Binance no longer supports XRP as a margin asset under its “Multi-Assets Mode,” though XRP futures remain available in other trading modes.OKX: OKX also provides XRP/USDT perpetual swaps, which let traders speculate on XRP price movements continuously. While OKX delisted XRP expiry futures contracts in December 2024, perpetual swaps are still supported. Traders can apply leverage and adjust positions based on their risk strategy.Bitget: It is a globally accessible platform that offers XRP futures with options to take long or short positions. It features a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both new and experienced traders, though availability depends on regional regulations.KuCoin Futures: KuCoin supports XRP perpetual contracts (XRP/USDT) with leverage. The platform is known for low trading fees and offers various features for different trading strategies. It’s accessible in many countries, with some regional restrictions.MEXC: It provides XRP futures in both USDt-margined and coin-margined formats. MEXC supports high leverage and offers educational tools, catering to traders of all levels. The platform is available in most regions, though users should check for local compliance.Delta Exchange: It lists XRP perpetual futures with leverage up to 100x. It’s known for low fees and advanced risk management tools. The platform is available to traders in several countries, depending on local laws.Bitfinex: Lastly, Bitfinex offers XRP futures as part of its broader derivatives portfolio. Its platform caters to advanced users with customizable strategies. Access is region-dependent, and traders must ensure eligibility based on their location.Did you know? Coinbase crypto derivatives are not available to retail clients based in the United Kingdom or Spain due to local regulatory restrictions. How to invest in XRP futures If you’re interested in trading XRP futures, here are general steps to get started:Choose a platform: Select a regulated exchange offering XRP futures, such as Coinbase’s US Derivatives Exchange. Create an account and complete identity verification, which typically involves submitting a valid ID and proof of address.Understand the product: Research how XRP futures contracts work, including contract sizes (e.g., Coinbase offers standard contracts of 10,000 XRP or nano contracts of 500 XRP), margin requirements, leverage options and fees. Futures are complex, so review the exchange’s documentation and understand risks, such as liquidation.Fund your account: Deposit USD or another accepted currency to use as collateral (margin) for trading. Check the platform’s minimum deposit and margin requirements. For example, Coinbase settles futures in USD, and you can fund via bank transfer or debit card.Place your trade: Use the platform’s trading interface (e.g., Coinbase Advanced) to select XRP futures contracts (symbol: XRL for standard XRP contracts on Coinbase). Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell), set your position size, and apply any leverage if available. Confirm the trade after reviewing details.Practice risk management: Futures carry high risks due to leverage and volatility. Set stop-loss orders, limit position sizes based on your risk tolerance, and avoid risking more than you can afford to lose. For instance, some exchanges pause trading if the underlying asset’s price moves over 10% in an hour to mitigate volatility risks.Monitor the market: Track XRP’s price, market sentiment, funding rates and external factors like regulatory news or macroeconomic trends. Use tools like candlestick charts or technical indicators on the platform to inform your strategy. Stay updated to adjust positions and avoid unexpected losses.Oregon targets Coinbase over XRP, cites securities violationsOregon’s Attorney General has sued Coinbase, claiming the exchange offered unregistered securities, including XRP. The lawsuit argues that a wide range of digital assets traded on the platform qualify as investment contracts under state law.State officials say the case is part of a broader effort to step in where federal enforcement has pulled back. Legal experts note that while the outcome won’t set a national precedent, it could influence how regulators and courts approach similar cases.The timing is notable — just weeks after the SEC dropped its case against Ripple and days after Coinbase listed XRP futures on its US derivatives exchange.Did you know? On March 25, 2025, Ripple Labs settled its long-standing legal dispute with the SEC. As part of the agreement, Ripple consented to pay a reduced fine of $50 million — down from the original $125 million — without admitting any wrongdoing.CME’s XRP futures launch: A new era for institutional crypto trading?CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, is set to launch XRP futures on May 19, 2025, pending regulatory approval. This move marks a significant milestone for Ripple’s native token, as it opens the door for institutional investors to gain regulated exposure to XRP for the first time through a trusted exchange.The futures contracts will come in two sizes:2,500 XRP (micro) 50,000 XRP (standard)These contracts will be cash-settled, using the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate, calculated daily at 4:00 p.m. London time. Such contracts are designed to provide traders and institutions with a capital-efficient way to hedge or speculate on XRP’s price movements.This launch follows CME’s expanding suite of crypto derivatives, which already includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana futures. With over 80 million XRP users globally and growing interest in Ripple’s technology, the addition of XRP futures positions CME as a key player in the evolving digital asset landscape.How risky are crypto futures?Futures trading offers opportunities, but it comes with significant risks — especially if you’re new to derivatives. Here’s what you should keep in mind:Leverage risk: While leverage can increase your returns, it also amplifies losses. A small price move in the wrong direction can quickly deplete your account.Volatility: XRP is known for its sharp price swings. Futures contracts can exaggerate the impact of volatility on your position.Funding rates: Perpetual futures contracts charge periodic funding fees, which can eat into profits if held long-term.Liquidation: If the market moves against you and your margin falls below the required level, your position may be automatically closed — often at a loss.Complexity: Futures are more complicated than spot trading. Understanding contract terms, funding rates and expiry dates is crucial to managing your trades effectively.Market liquidity: While XRP is a liquid asset, futures trading depends on active participation. Thin order books can lead to slippage and unexpected price movements.Emotional pressure: The fast-paced nature of futures trading can lead to impulsive decisions. Discipline and a clear strategy are essential.If you’re new to this type of trading, consider starting with a demo account or using nano contracts to reduce your exposure while you learn. Trade smart — your safety’s on you!This 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.

by Yiying Li on April 28, 2025 at 9:23 am

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis has alleged that a US air strike has hit a detention centre in Saada that holds African migrants. 

by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 28, 2025 at 9:18 am

Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, has criticized the US Federal Reserve for quietly maintaining a key anti-crypto policy that favors big-bank-issued stablecoins, despite relaxing crypto partnership rules for banks.In an April 27 thread on X, Long explained that while the Fed recently rescinded four prior crypto guidelines, it left intact a Jan. 27, 2023, statement issued in coordination with the Biden administration.The guidance, according to Long, blocks banks from engaging directly with crypto assets and prohibits them from issuing stablecoins on permissionless blockchains.“THE FED HAS MAINTAINED A REGULATORY PREFERENCE FOR PERMISSIONED STABLECOINS (ie, big-bank versions),” Long stated.She warned that this move gives traditional financial institutions a “head start” in launching private stablecoins while the broader market waits for stablecoin legislation to pass through Congress.Caitlin Long criticizing the Fed’s preference for permissioned stablecoins. Source: Caitlin LongLong urges Congress to pass stablecoin billLong noted that once a federal stablecoin bill becomes law, it could override the Fed’s stance. “Congress should hurry up,” she urged.Beyond stablecoins, Long pointed out how the Fed’s policy hampers banks from participating in crypto markets as principals, preventing them from market-making in assets like Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) or Solana (SOL).Related: US banks are 'free to begin supporting Bitcoin'She also noted operational challenges for banks looking to offer crypto custody services, particularly around covering gas fees for onchain transactions — a standard practice for crypto custodians but restricted under current Fed rules.Summing up her concerns, Long argued that the Fed’s decision keeps “sand in the wheels” of banks entering crypto custody, while simultaneously advancing permissioned stablecoins backed by major financial institutions.“The Fed definitely won on PR spin--its press release listed a long list of guidance it rescindedbut omitted ANY mention of the guidance it kept. That duped *a lot* of smart people, understandably,” she wrote.Related: Fed's Powell reasserts support for stablecoin legislationSenator Lummis calls Fed’s move as “lip service”Senator Cynthia Lummis, a vocal supporter of digital assets, also condemned the Fed’s move as mere “lip service,” signaling potential legislative pushback in the near future.Lummis mentioned the Fed’s policy statement in Section 9(13), which hasn’t been withdrawn, stating that Bitcoin and digital assets are considered “unsafe and unsound.”Senator Cynthia Lummis criticizing the Fed. Source: Senator Cynthia LummisHowever, other crypto executives praised the Fed’s announcement as a positive development for the industry. Strategy's Michael Saylor said in an April 25 X post that the Fed’s move means that “banks are now free to begin supporting Bitcoin.”Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

by Cointelegraph by Nancy Lubale on April 28, 2025 at 9:10 am

Key points:High Bitcoin ETF inflows don't always signal a price top as historical data is mixed. Spot Bitcoin inflows often precede short-term price rises, not reversals.Bitcoin may hit $100K but faces resistance.Bitcoin’s (BTC) price recovery may be stalled at $100,000 as questions emerge whether high ETF inflows have always marked the local top for the asset.Does $1B Bitcoin ETF inflows signal a top?Bitcoin has displayed bullish momentum after recovering from its multimonth lows of $74,400. BTC is up 8% over the last seven days, as per data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView. Bitcoin’s recovery was fueled by high investor appetite for spot ETFs, which recorded $3.06 billion net weekly inflows, the largest since December 2025.Evidence of whether the high spot Bitcoin ETFs inflows could signal that the price is getting close to a local top could be determined by analyzing historical data. While there have been instances where significant inflows coincided with or preceded Bitcoin price peaks, this has not always been the case.Spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Source: Glassnode The chart above shows that in March 2024, spot Bitcoin ETFs saw record inflows of over $1 billion on March 12, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone receiving $849 million. This preceded Bitcoin’s new all-time high of around $73,300, suggesting a potential top signal. Similarly, on June 3, 2024, daily inflows hit $917 billion, aligning with Bitcoin’s rally from $67,000 to $72,000, followed by a 25% correction to $53,000. These cases support the idea of major inflows preceding local tops.However, in November 2024, weekly inflows hit $3.38 billion, as Bitcoin hit one all-time high after another, but this did not immediately lead to a price top. Instead, BTC showed resilience crossing the $100,000 market for the first time to its previous all-time highs of $108,000 reached on Dec. 17, 2025.Using a Vector Autoregression model, market analytics resource FalconX demonstrated the relationship between ETF net flows and Bitcoin price, and found that inflows have short-term predictive power for price increases, not necessarily reversals.Related: A 'local top' and $88K retest? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this weekHow high can Bitcoin price go?Bitcoin’s 27% rally from the $74,400 range low saw it flip key levels into support, including the 50-day ($85,100), 100-day ($90,570), and 200-day ($89,300) simple moving averages (SMA).Bitcoin was still consolidating under the resistance at $95,000 as observed by popular analyst AlphaBTC.“The pink box [at the $95,000 level] has held $BTC’s price for the last few days, as expected,” AlphaBTC said in an April 28 post on X, hoping to see BTC move past it as the week opens.Cointelegraph earlier reported that the $95,000 level marks the next significant resistance for Bitcoin and that continued ETF demand and other bullish factors would be key in overcoming it.AlphaBTC added:“I think we push to 100K, but then likely see a bigger pullback.”BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: AlphaBTCData from monitoring resource CoinGlass shows significant seller interest within the $97,000-$100,000 range over the past three months. This suggests that Bitcoin’s price might rise further to take the liquidity at $100,000 before staging a pullback.BTC/USDT liquidation heatmap (screenshot). Source: CoinGlassKeith Alan, co-founder of trading resource Material Indicators, doubted the ability of BTC/USD to sustain a trip above $95,000. While trading firm QCP Capital argued that Bitcoin lacked a “catalyst” to propel it toward $100,000 for the time being.This 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.

by Cointelegraph by Ross Shemeliak on April 28, 2025 at 9:00 am

Opinion by: Ross Shemeliak, co-founder and chief operating officer of StoboxThe Trump administration is pushing a much-revived policy trajectory, marked by tariffs and sanctions that aim to reshore production. Despite exemptions favorable to technology, this dramatic turnaround may seem like a case of the White House treating global trade as its playground. The president’s tariff agenda is fracturing supply chains overnight and disregarding long-standing economic rules.This latent, chaotic agenda also sees the quiet emergence of a new infrastructure in which blockchain is taking on a fresh role. Insofar as it is not purely focused on decentralization, the technology is geopolitically resilient. With global businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, increasingly pushed toward blockchain, we are witnessing a global economic map redrawing into one centered on Real-World Assets tokenization and stablecoins.Secondary markets for tokenized trade assetsThere are few winners in a trade war. Sanctions and restrictions disrupt international economic rules, and liquidity is one of the first victims. Companies struggle to finance their operations, while risk management models force banks to step back. With the fragmented economic order, a new era in which secondary markets for tokenized trade assets are prevalent is being ushered in. These tokenized real-world assets — receivables, commodities or shopping slots, for example — can be fractionalized and sold in global permissioned marketplaces. The resulting access to capital outside of sanctioned corridors grants companies liquidity. As sanctions reduce liquidity, tokenization creates it. Within the economic disruption from the US, there is a moment of opportunity for tokenization.Onchain provenanceAnother implication of sanctions relates to the existential significance of transparency and traceability. Traceability means companies importing goods must prove their origin and routing or risk secondary sanctions. Tokenization may be in a position to benefit.Recent: US exchanges bet big on crypto derivatives amid tariff turbulenceThis owes itself to tokenized assets having immutable metadata — certificates of origin, shipping routes, customs approvals. The result is real-time, tamper-proof compliance, which far outstrips outdated spreadsheets and siloed databases. Manufacturers can directly onchain verify that every component used — down to the source of its raw materials — fully complies with sanctions.The peril of sanctions extends yet further, as trust in banks is eroded. Exiting high-risk corridors, banks leave companies without neutral payment intermediaries. DeFi Infrastructure and tokenized Escrow represent meaningful options for rebuilding trust without banks. Tokenized Escrow via smart contracts enables milestone-based payments to be enforced by code, not banks. International deals can be conducted without traditional clearing systems while maintaining trust and accountability. When sanctions gnaw away at trust in banks, code can step in as the counterparty.Stablecoins are a new artery for sanction-neutral paymentsStablecoins do more still. The technology no longer just enables DeFi; it facilitates parallel international trade. While this may seem like the remit of the theoretical, it is happening. As fiat rails fall under geopolitical pressure, companies from Latin America to Southeast Asia adopt stablecoin-based invoicing to keep commerce alive.While stablecoins began as something of a fintech novelty, the disruption of sanctions to SWIFT and frozen cross-border transfers means that stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and even EURC are emerging as financial lifelines. A shadow banking system has come into being for the sanctioned world. Faster, cheaper, borderless, this offers three serious advantages:Payments are processed 24/7, without banks or FX intermediaries.Counterparties can settle in neutral, dollar-pegged assets — outside traditional financial rails.Smart contracts and stablecoins enable programmable, conditional payments tied to compliance checkpoints.Neutral blockchain hubsThe deepening fractures in geopolitics are leading to further opportunities for digital infrastructure. With supply chains increasingly politicized, the door is opening to greater use of tokenization by creating “compliance-first” trade hubs. This is significant because the trade hubs can be located in neutral countries like Singapore, the UAE and Turkey. These hubs tokenize ports, warehouses and logistics routes. As a result, they embed compliance and origin data directly into the asset lifecycle. Companies seeking a trustworthy alternative in a fraught geopolitical environment can turn to neutral blockchain hubs.  Tokenized smart contractsSanctions carry disadvantages for legacy contracts — these agreements are static, complex to amend, and dependent on intermediaries — and freeze when restrictions are hit. By contrast, the logic embedded in tokenized smart contracts offers more dynamic reactivity to regulatory shifts.Let’s briefly consider an example — a European supplier tokenizes its invoice and programs the contract to release payment only if goods clear non-restricted jurisdictions. This level of programmable compliance, enabled by the technology, reduces legal risk, operational lag and cross-border tension.Building infrastructure from uncertaintyAn unprecedented, challenging economic environment is emerging from US sanctions, which has painful implications for financial institutions and trade partners. As traditional infrastructure is broken, tokenization offers the possibility to build a new one.On the surface, tokenization and stablecoins are about efficiency and transparency. Realizing the full benefits requires us to look deeper — they are becoming foundational layers in a parallel global economy. This new order adapts faster than banks, negotiates better than lawyers, and operates beyond the reach of sanctions.Blockchain does far more than simply record trade. It enforces geopolitical logic at the asset level. With the next economic map being drawn onchain, tokenization's broad benefits are clear.Opinion by: Ross Shemeliak, co-founder and chief operating officer of Stobox.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

by Cointelegraph by Adrian Zmudzinski on April 28, 2025 at 8:42 am

Cryptocurrency services platform Nexo announced that it is reentering the US market after facing previous regulatory challenges.According to an April 28 announcement, Nexo’s reentry event featured Donald Trump Jr., who said that he thinks “crypto is the future of finance,” adding:“We see the opportunity for the financial sector and want to ensure we bring that back to the US.”Trump Jr. also emphasized the need for a regulatory environment that supports the cryptocurrency industry. He said that “the key to everything crypto is going to be the regulatory framework.”Source: NexoRelated: Coinbase presses to axe rule banning SEC staff from holding cryptoNexo is back to fight where it lostNexo left the US at the end of 2022, citing a lack of regulatory clarity as the reason behind the decision. At the beginning of 2023, the firm agreed to pay a $45 million settlement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its failure to register the offer and sale of securities of its interest-earning product.A month after settling with US regulators, Nexo also decided to shut down its interest-earning product to US-based customers. The product allowed users to earn daily compounding yields on certain cryptocurrencies by loaning them to Nexo.In late 2022, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation also filed a desist and refrain order against the same interest-earning product managed by Nexo. The regulator claimed that the product was an unqualified security, meaning a security that the government has not approved for sale in the form of an investment contract.Related: US crypto rules like 'floor is lava' game without lights — Hester PeirceUS SEC dances to a different tune nowThe US SEC, once viewed as the crypto industry’s primary regulatory obstacle, recently appointed Paul Atkins as chair.The change was positively commented on by crypto entrepreneurs, with Michael Saylor, the CEO of top corporate Bitcoin holder Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), saying:“SEC Chairman Paul Atkins will be good for Bitcoin.”James Gernetzke, chief financial officer of Bitcoin and crypto wallet Exodus, said that “the promise of being able to engage with a regulator on a reasonable basis is going to be very helpful.”Nexo declined to comment further on its return to the US market.Magazine: Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22

by Brittany Carter on April 28, 2025 at 8:20 am

It's been an emotional few months for Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who had a miscarriage in January. But in round three, as the shooter returned to guide the West Coast Fever to their first win, it was clear her happy place is on a Super Netball court.

by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 28, 2025 at 8:19 am

The team behind the Official Melania Meme (MELANIA) token sold more than $1.5 million of tokens over the past three days, suggesting a programmatic selling strategy that may add downside pressure to the token.The team behind the Melania memecoin sold another $930,000 worth of tokens on April 28, two days after selling $630,000, according to blockchain data.The selling patterns point to dollar-cost averaging (DCA), an investment strategy used to buy or sell a predetermined amount of an asset at fixed times, according to crypto intelligence platform Lookonchain. It flagged the activity in an April 28 post on X, writing:“The #Melania team didn’t just add or remove liquidity to sell $MELANIA, they also employed a DCA strategy for direct sales!”Source: LookonchainRelated: Libra, Melania creator’s ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ memecoin crashes 99%The DCA strategy involves investing a certain amount of funds in an asset at regular intervals, often employed by investors to manage emotional decision-making.MELANIA/USD, all-time chart. Source: CoinMarketCapDespite the team’s selling, MELANIA staged an over 21% recovery during the past seven days, but remains around 96% below its all-time high of $13.7 recorded on Jan. 20 — the date of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration — according to CoinMarketCap data.Meanwhile, some large investors are betting on the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin’s price decline.Source: LookonchainA newly created whale wallet deposited $1.33 million worth of USDC (USDC) stablecoins to open a short position with 2x leverage at $14.7. The short would be liquidated if the Trump token’s price rises above $21.50, according to Lookonchain.Related: Bitcoin still on track for $1.8M in 2035, says analystMemecoins were the second-biggest crypto sector in Q1Memecoins were the second-most-dominant cryptocurrency investment narrative in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting that the market is still recycling old narratives.AI tokens, memecoins, were leading crypto narratives in Q1 2025: CoinGeckoMemecoins captured around 27% of the global investor mindshare, while artificial intelligence tokens held over 35%, according to a quarterly research report by CoinGecko.“Seems like we have yet to see another new narrative emerge and we are still following past quarters’ trends,” said Bobby Ong, the co-founder and chief operating officer of CoinGecko, in an April 17 X post.Pump.fun usage metrics. Source: Binance research reportHowever, the launch of the TRUMP token and its disappointing performance may have marked the end of the memecoin supercycle, which saw the weekly usage activity on memecoin launchpad Pump.fun stage a significant decline — from 2.85 million active wallets on the week of Jan. 20, to just 1.44 million as of March 31.Magazine: Caitlyn Jenner memecoin ‘mastermind’s’ celebrity price list leaked

by Stephen Clarke on April 28, 2025 at 8:02 am

A man accused of murder allegedly impersonated his dead housemate 29-year-old Qiong Yan for financial gain, a court has been told.

by Elizabeth Byrne on April 28, 2025 at 7:40 am

The ACT Magistrates Court finds a woman who refused to take down intimate images of herself and a former partner on her OnlyFans page, after he withdrew consent, acted out of a desire for retribution.

by Meg Whitfield on April 28, 2025 at 7:27 am

After a wave of recent alleged incidents in Hobart's northern suburbs, a meeting has called been called to address youth crime in Tasmania. It will be attended by the police commissioner, the police minister and the premier — who says "all options are on the table" for consideration.

by Matt Garrick on April 28, 2025 at 7:20 am

The unstaffed Nightcliff Police Station stands opposite to where 71-year-old supermarket owner Linford Feick was fatally stabbed last week.

by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on April 28, 2025 at 7:19 am

Bitcoin (BTC) is bracing for a major US macro data week as crypto market participants warn of serious volatility next.Bitcoin retests $92,000 after a promising weekly close, but traders still see a deeper BTC price correction to come.A bumper week of US macro data comes with the Federal Reserve under pressure on multiple fronts.The Fed has its hands tied, analysis argues, predicting interest rates coming down, liquidity booming and BTC/USD reaching $180,000 within eighteen months.Bitcoin short-term holders are back in the black, making current price levels especially pertinent for speculative investors.Sentiment is in neutral territory, but crowd-based FOMO may keep price from rising much higher, research concludes.Bitcoin traders wait for support retestBitcoin is circling multimonth highs as the week gets underway, having tested $92,000 as support after the weekly close.BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThat close itself was bullish, data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView confirms, coming in at just above the key yearly open level of $93,500.#BTC Can Bitcoin do it?Can Bitcoin Weekly Close above $93500 to start the process of regaining the previous Range?$BTC #Crypto #Bitcoin https://t.co/r5reRJ0HFy pic.twitter.com/5ga0gcSqX4— Rekt Capital (@rektcapital) April 27, 2025Forecasting an “interesting week” to come, popular trader CrypNuevo eyed the potential for higher highs for BTC/USD.“Pretty simple - I don't see momentum rolling over just yet and it's possible to see a third leg up up $97k where there is some liquidity,” he wrote in a thread on X. “Eventually, we should see a 4H50EMA retest that can be a potential support.”BTC/USD 4-hour chart with 50 EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewCrypNuevo referred to the 50-period exponential moving average (EMA) on 4-hour timeframes, currently at $91,850.On the topic of likely support retests, fellow trader Roman had a deeper retracement in mind.“Waiting to see what happens at 88k,” he told X followers. “Not a believer in breaking 94k resistance any time soon.”BTC/USD 1-day chart with stochastic RSI data. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRoman reiterated that the stochastic relative strength index (RSI) metric remained heavily overbought, a sign that a cooling-off period for price may follow.Trader and commentator Skew meanwhile focused on the area between $90,000 and $92,000, describing “indecision” in the market resulting in current price action.BTC/USDT 1-day chart. Source: Skew/XGDP, PCE prints headline major macro weekIt’s crunch time for US macroeconomic data and inflation progress this week, with a slew of numbers coming thick and fast.Q1 GDP, nonfarm payrolls and tech earnings are all due, but the highlight will be the Federal Reserve’s “preferred” inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index.Set for release on April 30, both PCE and GDP precede the monthly candle close, setting the stage for crypto and risk-asset volatility.The stakes are already high — US trade tariffs have resulted in wild swings both up and down for crypto, stocks and commodities, with seemingly no end in sight for now.“This has been one of the most volatile years in history: The S&P 500 has seen a 2% move in either direction on 23% of trading days, or at least once a week so far this year,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter noted in part of ongoing X analysis. “This is the highest reading since 2022, when the share hit 29% for the full year. By comparison, the long-term average has been twice a month.”S&P 500 volatility data. Source: The Kobeissi Letter/XInflation expectations are a key topic, meanwhile, with markets seeing interest rate cuts beginning in June despite the Fed itself staying hawkish.The latest data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool shows diverging opinions over what will result from the June meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).By contrast, May’s FOMC gathering is almost unanimously expected to deliver a freeze on the current Fed funds rate.Fed target rate probabilities for June FOMC meeting. Source: CME Group“Evidence of a strong labor market and concerns over how tariffs could impact the inflation outlook is keeping the Fed on hold when it comes to interest rates,” trading firm Mosaic Asset wrote in the latest edition of its regular newsletter, “The Market Mosaic,” on April 27.Referencing FedWatch, Mosaic noted that “market-implied odds are starting to shift in favor of more rate cuts through year-end.”Crypto exec doubles down on $180K BTC price targetExisting macro data is already causing a stir for crypto market participants eyeing the long-term implications of current Fed policy.In his latest X analysis, hedge fund founder Dan Tapiero had a bold BTC price prediction in store for the coming eighteen months.“Btc to 180k before summer '26,” he summarized.Tapiero pointed to a recent Fed survey showing manufacturing expectations, deteriorating at a record pace, calling the results “hard for them to ignore.”“Forward market inflation indicators collapsing into danger zone,” he continued in a separate post on the outlook for the US Consumer Price Index (CPI).In both cases, Tapiero concluded that Bitcoin and risk assets will benefit from increasing market liquidity — an already popular theory against the backdrop of record M2 money supply.“Liquidity spigot coming as real rates too restrictive given fiscal tightening,” he added about current interest rates.US CPI data. Source: Dan Tapiero/XBitcoin speculators turn a profitBitcoin short-term holders (STHs) are back under the microscope at current prices thanks to the influence of their aggregate cost basis on market trajectory.As Cointelegraph often reports, the cost basis, also known as realized price, reflects the average price at which speculative investors entered the market.This level, which covers buyers over the past six months but which is also broken down into various subcategories, is particularly important in Bitcoin bull markets.“Today, when we look at the current situation, we can see that the price has reached the STH-Realized Price,” CryptoMe, a contributor to onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant, wrote in one of its “Quicktake” blog posts on the topic.CryptoQuant shows that the combined STH cost basis currently sits at around $92,000, making the level key to hold as support going forward.“One of the key On-Chain conditions for a bull run is that the price remains above the STH-Realized Price. If the price is below the Realized Prices, we cannot truly talk about a bull run,” CryptoMe explains.“If this bull run is to continue, it must meet these conditions.”Bitcoin STH realized price data (screenshot). Source: CryptoQuantThe STH cost basis was lost as support in March, with the recent BTC price rebound having a near-instant impact on its most recent buyers.STH-owned coins moving onchain earlier this month meanwhile led to predictions of fresh market volatility. Research warns of greed-induced “local top”After hitting its highest in nearly three months last week, greed within crypto is on the radar as a price influence this week.Related: New Bitcoin price all-time highs could occur in May — Here is whyThe latest data from the Crypto Fear & Greed Index confirms a spike to 72/100 on April 25, implying that crypto market sentiment came close to “extreme greed.”Now back in “neutral” territory, the Index has nonetheless led research firm Santiment to warn of a potential local price top.Crypto Fear & Greed Index (screenshot). Source: Alternative.me“Data shows a surge in optimism from the crowd as $BTC rebounded above $95K for the first time since February,” it told X followers. “As for the level of greed being measured across social media, this is the highest spike in bullish (vs. bearish) posts since the night Trump was elected on November 5, 2024.”Crypto market sentiment data. Source: Santiment/XAn accompanying chart covered what Santiment describes as “excitement and FOMO” peaking as a result of the BTC price rebound.“The crowd's level of greed vs. fear is very likely going to influence whether a local top forms (because the crowd gets too greedy), or if crypto can continue to decouple from the S&P 500 (because the crowd tries to prematurely take profit),” it added.This 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.

on April 28, 2025 at 7:14 am

Round eight of the NRL saw 18 players sin-binned as the league cracked down on high tackles. But it has left many players, coaches, fans and experts scratching their heads.

by Kristian Silva on April 28, 2025 at 6:50 am

The triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson over an allegedly poisonous mushroom meal starts on Tuesday in the regional Victorian town of Morwell.

by Leigh Tonkin on April 28, 2025 at 6:41 am

High-stake election campaigns and high school popularity politics have a lot more in common than you'd hope for grown men vying to run the country.

by Norman Hermant on April 28, 2025 at 6:19 am

After the resignation of Justin Trudeau, it was unlikely that Canada's governing Liberal party would secure another term when Canadians went to the polls — then Donald Trump's tariffs hit the country.

by Zena Chamas on April 28, 2025 at 6:15 am

Witnesses at the scene of a deadly car ramming in Vancouver detail the incident, as the death toll continues to climb.

by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 28, 2025 at 6:15 am

Coinbase has urged the US Office of Government Ethics to remove a rule banning Securities and Exchange Commission staff from holding crypto.SEC staff need to use crypto to better understand how it works and the best way to regulate it, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal argued in open letters sent to OGE acting director Jamieson Greer and newly sworn-in SEC Chair Paul Atkins, which he shared to X on April 25.“To regulate technology, you need to understand it. To understand technology, you need to use it,” Grewal said in the letter to Greer.“Permitting commission staff to hold crypto is essential to them developing the knowledge necessary to propose and adopt workable regulatory frameworks for digital securities activity,” he added.Source: Paul GrewalLegal Advisory 22-04, issued on July 4, 2022, by the OGE, prohibits SEC staff from buying, selling, or otherwise using crypto and stablecoins because they are not “publicly traded securities” and don’t qualify for an exception, unlike stocks. SEC needs waivers for staff Grewal said US President Donald Trump directed the SEC and other agencies to submit recommendations for crypto regulations due in around 90 days, and SEC “staff still cannot use the technology on which they are making recommendations.”In his letter to Atkins and SEC commissioner Hester Peirce, he echoed a similar sentiment, arguing that the inability to hold crypto is a roadblock for the agency’s Crypto Task Force in creating a regulatory framework.Source: Paul GrewalWhile it’s up to OGE to rescind the advisory, the SEC should take its own action, Grewal said. “For example, issuing waivers to crypto task force members and other staff actively working on task force matters would be consistent with measures already taken in commensurate advisory situations,” he said.Related: Coinbase files FOIA to see how much the SEC’s ‘war on crypto’ costGrewal added that a waiver would allow SEC staff on the Crypto Task Force responsible for creating crypto regulations to use crypto and “evaluate the underlying digital asset technology.”Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who took office in 2021, was known for his hardline stance on crypto regulation. He resigned on Jan. 20 after spearheading an aggressive regulatory stance toward crypto, bringing upward of 100 regulatory actions against firms. Following Gensler’s exit, the SEC opted out of a swathe of lawsuits against crypto firms, including Coinbase, on Feb. 27 and, in a more recent April 24 walkback, flagged plans to drop its enforcement against blockchain firm Dragonchain. Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26

by Kirstie Wellauer on April 28, 2025 at 6:08 am

Nuclear testing in the Australian outback in the 50s left permanent scars on Karina Lester's people. Today Traditional owners across the country oppose the Coalition's nuclear policy, urging Australian's to remember the past.

on April 28, 2025 at 5:49 am

The 18-year-old charged with murder over the death of Darwin supermarket owner Linford Feick has faced court for the first time since the fatal stabbing.

by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 28, 2025 at 5:42 am

The Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial has signed a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council to accelerate crypto adoption in the South Asian country and one of the industry’s fastest-growing markets.Under the partnership, World Liberty will help the Council launch regulatory sandboxes to test blockchain-based products, expand stablecoin applications for remittances and trade, explore real-world asset tokenization, and assist with the growth of decentralized finance protocols, local news outlet Business Recorder reported on April 27.World Liberty founders Zach Witkoff, Zak Folkman and Chase Herro signed the letter in a recent meeting with the Council’s CEO Bilal bin Saqib, with Pakistan’s central bank governor, finance minister and IT secretary among those in attendance.Source: Pakistan Crypto CouncilTrump and his family backed World Liberty at the crypto lending and borrowing platform’s launch last year and they receive a cut of its profits. The Pakistan Crypto Council is a government-backed body that oversees crypto regulation and related initiatives aimed at driving adoption and attracting more foreign investment.Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis ranked Pakistan ninth for crypto adoption last year, with an estimated 25 million active crypto users and $300 billion in annual crypto transactions. Pakistan is looking to capitalize on its young population, where roughly 60% are under 30, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said.“Pakistan’s youth and technology sector are our greatest assets. Through partnerships like this, we are opening new doors for investment, innovation, and global leadership in the blockchain economy.”Pakistan looks to balance pro-crypto innovation with regulationThe three World Liberty founders recently met with former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who was recently appointed as an adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council to assist the country on crypto regulation and innovation.Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency also proposed a crypto regulatory framework on April 10, which looks to address terrorism financing, money laundering, and Know Your Customer controls.Related: Pakistan Crypto Council proposes using excess energy for BTC miningFIA Director Sumera Azam said the framework is part of a broader effort to strike a “balance between technological advancement and national security imperatives.”The proposed framework is subject to legislative approval and input from crypto firms operating in the country, with an expected multi-phased rollout beginning in 2026.Pakistan’s new crypto-friendly approach contrasts sharply with its stance in May 2023, when former finance minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha stated the country would never legalize cryptocurrencies due to concerns over bypassing Financial Action Task Force regulations.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Samantha Dick on April 28, 2025 at 5:39 am

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggests Anzac Day dawn services should not involve Welcome to Country ceremonies and says most veterans do not support having them at the events.

on April 28, 2025 at 5:32 am

High-flying Western Australian footballer Peter Bosustow dies at 67, with former Carlton teammates and coaches paying tribute to the exciting dual premiership player known as "the Buzz".

by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on April 28, 2025 at 5:29 am

Chinese tech giant Huawei has reportedly developed a powerful artificial intelligence chip that could rival high-end processors from US chip maker Nvidia.The Shenzhen-based Huawei is poised to start testing a new AI chip called the Ascend 910D, and has approached local tech firms, which are slated to receive the first batch of sample chips by late May, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 27, citing people familiar with the matter.The development is still at an early stage, and a series of tests will be needed to assess the chip’s performance and get it ready for customers.Huawei is pinning hopes on its latest Ascend AI processor being more powerful than Nvidia’s H100 chip, which was used for AI training in 2022.Huawei is also poised to ship more than 800,000 earlier model Ascend 910B and 910C chips to customers, including state-owned telecoms operators and private AI developers such as TikTok parent ByteDance.Beijing has also reportedly encouraged Chinese AI developers to increase purchases of domestic chips as trade tensions between China and the US escalate. In mid-April, Nvidia stated that it was expecting around $5.5 billion in charges associated with its AI chip inventory due to significant export restrictions imposed by the US government affecting its business with China. The Trump administration added Nvidia’s H20 chip, its most powerful processor that could be sold to China, to a growing list of semiconductors restricted for sale to the country.Some key components for AI chips, such as the latest high-bandwidth memory units, have also been restricted for export to China by the US. Huawei is focusing on building more efficient and faster systems, such as CloudMatrix 384, a computing system unveiled in April, connecting Ascend 910C chips. This would leverage their chip arrays and use brute force rather than making individual processors more powerful.China seeks self-reliance on AIReuters reported on April 26, citing state media reports, that Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged “self-reliance and self-strengthening” to develop AI in the country.“We must recognise the gaps and redouble our efforts to comprehensively advance technological innovation, industrial development, and AI-empowered applications," Xi said at a Politburo meeting study session on April 25.Donald Trump (left) meeting with Xi Jinping (right) in 2018 at the G20. Source: Dan ScavinoRelated: US Senate bill threatens crypto, AI data centers with fees — Report“We must continue to strengthen basic research, concentrate our efforts on mastering core technologies such as high-end chips and basic software, and build an independent, controllable, and collaborative artificial intelligence basic software and hardware system,” Xi added.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Xi to contact him for discussions about a potential trade deal after his administration imposed 145% tariffs on most Chinese goods. China has stated that it is not having any talks with the US and that the country should “stop creating confusion.”Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest

by Sarah Richards on April 28, 2025 at 5:21 am

The Queensland government says new data shows the state's 'adult crime, adult time' laws are working, but a criminologist believes it is a "premature" claim.

by Lucy MacDonald on April 28, 2025 at 5:02 am

Convicted murder Susan Neill-Fraser has been released on parole from prison, but she is not allowed to talk about her case. The Human Rights Law Centre is lodging a challenge to try to change that.

by Eva Blandis on April 28, 2025 at 5:01 am

Family members of murder victim Michael Purse have labelled his remorseless killer a cruel and evil coward who "does not belong in society", and say they do not have much hope his body will ever be found.

by Kellie Scott on April 28, 2025 at 5:01 am

It is helpful to be as financially prepared as possible before leaving a relationship — especially if you are a woman, experts say.

by Selina Green and Elsie Adamo on April 28, 2025 at 4:55 am

The South Australian government provides $3 million in support for dairy farmers affected by the collapse of Beston Global Food. 

by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 28, 2025 at 4:46 am

Crypto exchange Bitget says it is issuing legal letters to account holders it accuses of manipulating the price of perpetual futures contracts linked to the VOXEL token.Eight account holders that the exchange accuses of being involved in the April 20 incident and who allegedly pocketed $20 million between them will receive a letter from the exchange’s lawyers in “quick succession,” Xie Jiayin, Bitget’s head of Chinese operations, said in an April 27 X post.“These eight accounts are the main instigators of the VOXEL incident and have improperly gained more than 20 million US dollars from it,” she said, according to a translation of the post.“Except for these eight accounts, all other users who participated in VOXEL trading on April 20 and have withdrawn funds do not need to worry,” she added. “The accounts have been restored to normal and no responsibility will be pursued in the future.”Source: Xie JiayinOn April 20, Bitget said it discovered “abnormal trading activity” on its VOXEL/USDT perpetual futures contract and paused accounts it suspected of market manipulation.The trading pair clocked over $12 billion in volume, dwarfing the metrics of the same contract on Binance. After the pause, Bitget rolled back the irregular trades to claw back the gains.At the time, Bitget CEO Gracy Chen told Cointelegraph that the trades were between individual market participants, not the platform itself, and insisted the losses were not platform-wide and user funds remained safe.Bitget still investigating cause of incident Jiayin said Bitget plans to distribute 100% of the recovered funds to affected users through airdrops while a complete incident report is still in the works.Some X users claimed the incident was caused by a bug in a market maker bot, which caused VOXEL’s excessive volume. Traders who spotted the suspected bug early used high-leverage bets to boost their profits in a zero-cost exploit.Related: Bitget CEO slams Hyperliquid’s handling of ‘suspicious’ incident involving JELLY tokenVOXEL is the native utility token of Voxies, a free-to-play, 3D turn-based tactical RPG game built on the Ethereum blockchain.Decentralized exchange Hyperliquid suffered a similar incident on March 27, when a whale allegedly exploited the liquidation parameters to profit at least $6.26 million on the Jelly my Jelly (JELLY) memecoin.Hyperliquid has since delisted perpetual futures tied to the JELLY token, citing evidence of suspicious market activity as the reason for the decision. Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge

by Sundance on April 28, 2025 at 4:20 am

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency. This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread. Posted in The post April 28th – 2025 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 99 appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Sundance on April 28, 2025 at 4:15 am

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL. The post Monday April 28th – Open Thread appeared first on The Last Refuge.