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Bitcoin acting "less Nasdaq" and more like gold, despite 60% recession odds
by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 22, 2025 at 9:09 am
Bitcoin is decoupling from the US stock market and starting to trade more like precious metals, in another signal of Bitcoin’s growing role as a safe-haven asset against global economic disruption.Bitcoin’s (BTC) price is showcasing its growing maturity as a global asset, becoming “less Nasdaq — more gold” over the past two weeks, according to Alex Svanevik, co-founder and CEO of the Nansen crypto intelligence platform.Bitcoin staged a 12% recovery in the two weeks leading up to April 22, despite ongoing tariff escalation between the world’s largest trading nations. The US increased reciprocal tariffs on China to 125% as of April 9, while China raised import tariffs from 84% to 125% effective April 12.Source: Alex SvanevikBitcoin was “surprisingly resilient” amid the trade war compared to altcoins and indexes like the S&P 500, but remains vulnerable to economic recession concerns, Svanevik told Cointelegraph, adding:“We expect gold to be more resilient, although gold holdings could be net sold in case investors panic and want to cover margin call. This was seen one to two days at the worst of the trade war earlier this month."Still, Bitcoin will continue benefiting from regulatory development and the US Bitcoin Reserve-related news, particularly with more developments on how the “Treasury is looking for ways to swap reserves into BTC,” added Svanevik.Related: Bitcoin rally above $100K may follow US Treasury buybacks — Arthur HayesWhile the US Bitcoin reserve will initially hold BTC forfeited in government criminal cases, President Donald Trump’s executive order instructed the government to develop “budget-neutral strategies” to buy more Bitcoin.
LATEST: Executive Director of Digital Assets Bo Hines said the US government may buy Bitcoin using tariff revenue. pic.twitter.com/Gfc2HiEJoL— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) April 15, 2025The US is looking at “many creative ways” to fund its Bitcoin investments, including from tariff revenue and by reevaluating the Treasury’s gold certificates, creating a paper surplus to fund the BTC reserve without selling gold, Bo Hines of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets said in an interview on April 14.Related: Bitcoin up 33% since 2024 halving as institutions disrupt cycleUS recession odds rise to 60%, says JPMorganDespite Bitcoin’s resilience against tariff concerns, a potential US recession may slash investor demand for risk assets.The probability of a US recession in 2025 has risen from 40% to 60%, according to an April 15 research report from JPMorgan, which wrote: “The latest unwinding of the Liberation Day tariffs reduces the shock to the global trading order, but the remaining universal 10% tariff is still a material threat to growth and the 145% tariff on China keeps the probability of a recession at 60%.”Global Recession Outlook. Source: JPMorgan Global EconomicsJPMorgan expects the Fed to “start easing in September, with further cuts at every meeting thereafter through January 2026 — reaching a 3% policy rate by June 2026,” added the report. Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19
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In Pirlangimpi, a long way from Canberra, voters are keen to have their voices heard
by Isabella Tolhurst on April 22, 2025 at 9:07 am
Voters in the small remote community of Pirlangimpi on the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, have become some of the first to cast their votes for the federal election.
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Alexa Leary smiles her way to another world record
by Simon Smale on April 22, 2025 at 9:01 am
Alexa Leary twice swam under her previous world record time in the S9 100m freestyle at the Australian Open Swimming Championships in Brisbane.
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Stolen corflutes, trust funds and dirt files. The fight for a marginal Melbourne seat
by Alysia Thomas-Sam on April 22, 2025 at 9:00 am
From 1945 to 2022 Kooyong was Liberal heartland. Now it's a battleground as the Coalition try to reclaim it with allegations of dirty tricks from both sides being aired.
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Nash set for hefty ban with high hit on Miers sent straight to tribunal
on April 22, 2025 at 8:58 am
Hawthorn midfielder Conor Nash is sent straight to the AFL Tribunal after being reported for striking Geelong forward Gryan Miers.
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Santos's $5.6b Barossa gas project wins final regulatory approvals
by Samantha Dick on April 22, 2025 at 8:45 am
Santos's offshore Barossa gas project off the coast of the Northern Territory has won final approvals from the national offshore gas regulator.
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'Lifeline' aged care respite facility likely to shut despite federal funding promise
by Charlotte Gore and Harry Frost on April 22, 2025 at 8:37 am
For Deb Stevens Burrangiri aged care respite facility in Canberra's south was a "lifeline" as her mother's dementia progressed, but the ACT's Health Minister says it's unlikely the facility will be the recipient of a promised $10 million federal funding boost should an Albanese government be re-elected.
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New Zealand populist party bill to define men and women by biology
on April 22, 2025 at 8:24 am
New Zealand's populist party has introduced a bill to parliament to define women and men by their biology, preventing trans people from being recognised by law.
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Super Netball league forgets to celebrate one of its legends
by Brittany Carter on April 22, 2025 at 7:01 am
The Super Netball trophy is modelled off Romelda Aiken-George's on-court battles across her 18-year career in Australia, but the league dropped the ball when it came to celebrating her record-breaking appearance.
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Tigers in Galvin backflip with wantaway star recalled after one-week exile
on April 22, 2025 at 6:42 am
The Wests Tigers recall Lachlan Galvin a week after dumping the five-eighth to reserve grade.
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A not-quite-suspended campaign sees leaders head to church
by Brett Worthington on April 22, 2025 at 6:31 am
Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese both paid tribute to the late Pope Francis today, semi-suspending their campaigns before the third leaders' debate tonight.
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Man charged with murder over woman's death in WA's remote far north
by Mya Kordic, Dunja Karagic, and Esse Deves on April 22, 2025 at 6:09 am
A 38-year-old man appears in Derby Magistrate's Court charged with murder after the death of a woman in the state's Kimberley region.
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Bitcoin risks 10%-15% BTC price dip after key rejection near $89K
by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on April 22, 2025 at 6:08 am
Bitcoin (BTC) traders see a BTC price reversal beginning as classic resistance stops bulls in their tracks.BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView200-day moving average keeps BTC price pinnedData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows BTC/USD cooling after hitting new April highs of $88,874.Having found strength at the start of the week, Bitcoin raised hopes of a gold copycat move as the latter set multiple all-time highs.Those highs continued on April 22, while BTC price action conversely saw rejection at the key 200-day simple moving average (SMA).“Interesting spot. Broke above the Daily 200EMA (Blue) and diagonal resistance. So far, saw a sharp rejection from the Daily 200MA (Purple),” trader Daan Crypto Trades said in a post on X alongside an explanatory chart. “Fun won't start until we get some daily closes back above the previous range low at ~$90K. Important to hold ~$85K below I'd say.”BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/XThe 200-day SMA traditionally forms support during Bitcoin bull markets, but was lost in March as crypto faced sell-side pressure when the US trade war began.Since then, BTC/USD has seen five-month lows under $75,000, and despite a healthy rebound, some market participants are keen to call time on the latest episode of price upside.Among them is fellow trader Roman, who referenced stochastic relative strength index (RSI) values in “overbought” territory.“As we approach horizontal resistance, I wanted to show that the last 4 times stoch RSI has been overbought, we’ve seen a 10-15% correction,” he noted, adding that such a move “would make perfect sense” given downward momentum on the S&P 500.Daily stochastic RSI was at the top of its 0-100 scale on April 22.BTC/USD 1-day chart with 200 SMA, stoch RSI data. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBitcoin “reversal has started,” says traderAs Cointelegraph continues to report, other bullish market commentary focuses on the confluence of macroeconomic factors that traditionally fuel BTC price gains.Related: US dollar goes ‘no-bid’ — 5 things to know in Bitcoin this weekThese include rapidly weakening US dollar strength, all-time highs in the global M2 money supply and a delayed reaction to gold’s breakout.“In the past few weeks, I’m looking at different onchain data and global events, which makes me believe that BTC reversal has started,” trader Cas Abbe concluded in a dedicated X thread on the topic.Abbe rejected the idea that the current BTC rebound will end up as a “bull trap,” pointing to whale accumulation and the reemerging Coinbase premium in addition to macroeconomic factors.“I believe that $74K-$75K zone was the bottom for $BTC. Most alts have also bottomed out and we could see a sustained rally,” he added.BTC/USD vs. XAU/USD chart. Source: Cas Abbe/XThis 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.
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Sinners is an ambitious genre-bending movie with ideas to burn
by Jamie Tram on April 22, 2025 at 6:02 am
Sinners is the first entirely original film written and directed by Ryan Coogler, and it thrums with the unruly spirit of someone finally bursting free of the franchise blockbuster death spiral.
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US judge transfers Binance lawsuit to Florida, citing first-to-file rule
by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 22, 2025 at 6:00 am
A US judge has granted Binance’s motion to transfer a case involving allegations it facilitated money laundering to the Southern District of Florida due to a similar case that had already been before the courts there.The case, filed in August 2024 in Washington, focused on the same core issue as a suit filed in June 2023 in Florida, accusing Binance of allowing cybercriminals to use the platform for money laundering, US District Judge Barbara Rothstein said in an April 21 order. “Although the two complaints describe the proposed classes in slightly different terms, both encompass the same proposed class of individuals whose cryptocurrency was stolen and transferred to a Binance.com account during the relevant period,” Judge Rothstein said.“Therefore, this Court concludes that the classes of plaintiffs are sufficiently similar to warrant application of the first-to-file rule.”US District Judge Barbara Rothstein said transferring the Washington lawsuit to Florida was appropriate given the similarity to a case already being heard there. Source: Law360The first-to-file rule allows a court to decline a ruling on a matter when a complaint involving the same parties and issues has already been filed in another district. Generally, the court that first hears the case usually retains jurisdiction, according to legal resource LSD Law.Plaintiffs say the lawsuits differ in key areas Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs in the Washington case argued that it differed from the Florida suit because it added other accusations not present in the Florida lawsuit and named former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao as a defendant. They also argued that transferring the case could postpone both court actions to the “detriment of all plaintiffs.”Jude Rothstein said in her ruling that it’s not apparent transferring the suit would delay resolution in either case, and would promote efficiency by “avoiding duplicative litigation,” which is one of the “first-to-file rule’s purposes.”“To allow two parallel class actions to proceed in separate districts would be duplicative and inefficient,” she said. Related: Binance to face class action after US Supreme Court denies petition for reviewThree crypto investors launched a suit in August 2024 against Binance and CZ in Washington, alleging their crypto was stolen and the funds were sent to Binance by the thieves to launder the funds.A year before, Michael Osterer filed his lawsuit in Florida in June 2023, alleging Binance aided the conversion of stolen crypto. A Florida court ordered the case to arbitration in July 2024.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered
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US Bitcoin ETFs clock biggest inflows since January as crypto markets gain
by Cointelegraph by Jesse Coghlan on April 22, 2025 at 5:56 am
US-based Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had their largest day of net inflows since late January, as crypto markets remained buoyant over the Easter weekend.The 11 Bitcoin (BTC)-tracking funds saw a joint net inflow of $381.3 million on April 21, largely carried by a $116.1 million inflow into the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), according to CoinGlass data.It's the largest inflow day for the ETFs since the funds had a $588.1 million joint net inflow on Jan. 30, days after Bitcoin hit a peak and was trading with a six-figure price tag.Total Bitcoin ETF flows since their launch in January 2024. Source: CoinGlassThe ETFs have struggled to maintain inflows over the past few weeks amid US President Donald Trump’s trade war threats. CoinGecko shows Bitcoin fell below $100,000 in early February and hit a 2025 low of $74,773 on April 7, days after Trump placed tariffs on every country, which also caused a stock market slump.The Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) saw the second-largest inflow for April 21, with $87.6 million, while the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and the company’s Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) saw joint net inflows of $69.1 million.The Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (BTCO) and the WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund (BTCW) saw no inflows or outflows on April 21. Source: CoinGlassBlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), the largest of the group by assets under management, saw net inflows reach $41.6 million, about half of the inflows it saw before the weekend trading break on April 17.Crypto stays afloat over long weekendUS markets had shut down on April 18 in observance of Good Friday, and trading on Monday, April 21, saw them close in the red, with the S&P 500 down 2.4%, while the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones each dropped 2.5%.Related: Bitcoin rally above $100K may follow US Treasury buybacks — Arthur HayesThe crypto markets, meanwhile, were able to hold onto gains made over the long weekend, with the total crypto market capitalization climbing by $800 billion over the three-day break to hold at $2.84 trillion.Bitcoin has boosted that total, having climbed above a market value of $1.75 trillion for the first time since March 22 as its price struck above $88,500, a four-week high.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
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Catholic leaders in Canberra remember Pope Francis as a 'compassionate' leader
by Jade Toomey and Coquohalla Connor on April 22, 2025 at 5:49 am
The late Pope Francis is remembered as "charitable" leader by members of the Catholic Church in Canberra.
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KuCoin’s settlement with CFTC in flux after Trump policy shift
by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on April 22, 2025 at 5:45 am
A planned settlement between the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission and crypto exchange KuCoin will likely be delayed after a policy shift at the CFTC to deprioritize cases against crypto companies under the Trump administration. CFTC attorney John Murphy submitted a letter on April 21 to District Judge Valerie Caproni, asking for more time to secure approval for a deal negotiated under the Biden administration, reported Law360.“It appears unlikely that such authorization will be granted in the near term,” he said, referencing a recent statement by acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham that the agency’s enforcement division was to deprioritize cases against crypto companies.The CFTC charged KuCoin with “multiple violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations” in March 2024.According to the Justice Department, which also filed charges against KuCoin and two founders for violating Anti-Money Laundering laws, the exchange received more than $5 billion and sent more than $4 billion in “suspicious and criminal funds.” KuCoin, trading under Mek Global Limited, reached a $297 million settlement with the Department of Justice in January and agreed to exit the US market for at least two years. In December, the CFTC and KuCoin informed the court that they reached an agreement in principle to settle the case, however terms and details of the proposed deal were not disclosed. In March, KuCoin asked the judge for a 14-day stay to address further negotiations in line with President Trump’s executive order curtailing enforcement actions against the digital asset industry. However, this request was denied, with the judge pressing for negotiation status updates. No majority at CFTCWhen Pham announced in February that the Commission would wind down its practice of regulation by enforcement, she also noted that terminating active cases would be more difficult to deal with.The CFTC needs a majority to dismiss a case or authorize its settlement, and there is currently no majority, with two members from each party sitting on its governing body.This could change if the Senate confirms the appointment of Trump nominee Brian Quintenz to lead the financial regulator.Both parties have requested an additional 60 days or until the Commission provides “definitive direction” on the matter. Related: US regulators FDIC and CFTC ease crypto restrictions for banks, derivativesOn April 21, the CFTC’s Divisions of Market Oversight issued a request for comment to better inform them on the potential uses, benefits, and risks of perpetual contracts in derivatives markets.“Innovation and new technology have created a renaissance in markets that presents new opportunities that are accessible to more people, as well as risks,” said Pham. Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest
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Markets brace for more pain as Trump takes on Powell
by Ian Verrender on April 22, 2025 at 5:33 am
US President Donald Trump has again rattled global investment markets, this time with his threats to interfere with the independence of America's central bank.
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Law firm urges Metaplex rethink fee sweep or risk ‘extended litigation’
by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 22, 2025 at 5:17 am
Crypto law firm Burwick Law has called out Solana-based non-fungible token platform Metaplex’s plan to sweep unclaimed Solana (SOL) into its treasury instead of returning it to investors, suggesting it could be at risk of litigation if it follows through with the plan.Last year, Metaplex, an NFT protocol, discovered a way to reduce the amount of onchain storage required for certain NFTs. By resizing the NFTs, Solana NFT holders can claim a small amount of SOL. In October, Metaplex said that Metaplex Token Metadata (TM) NFT holders will be able to execute a “resize optimization” for all TM accounts with a deadline of April 25. Those who didn’t do it voluntarily by the deadline would have their excess SOL transferred to the Metaplex DAO automatically, with how they’re to be used yet to be determined. However, Burwick criticized the firm’s plan to sweep unclaimed funds to its DAO treasury instead of returning them to NFT holders.“Many minters never received clear notice that these lamports could be swept, let alone diverted to a treasury they do not control,” Burwick said in an April 22 open letter to Metaplex and the broader Solana community.Burwick said over 54,000 SOL tokens are at risk, and according to Metaplex’s website, only 7,043 SOL have been claimed. At current market prices, more than $6.5 million remains unclaimed.Burwick said many of the NFT collectors it represents have shared “deep concerns” about the plan.Burwick added that Metaplex’s plan “erodes trust” and “violates the spirit of crypto.”“‘Code is law’ only works when the rules are clear and immutable. If a protocol can rewrite yesterday’s deal tomorrow, the promise of decentralised permanence rings hollow.”Source: Burwick LawBurwick said such a move could entitle victims to restitution should a court find the sweep constituted unjust enrichment or violates consumer protection laws.Metaplex hasn’t responded to Burwick’s X post. Cointelegraph reached out to Metaplex but didn’t receive an immediate response.Metaplex said the unclaimed SOL may be used for the DAO to vote on airdrops, distribute grants to ecosystem builders, or other initiatives. Source: MetaplexBurwick pitches what Metaplex should do insteadThe crypto lawyers advised Metaplex to pause the plan and refund rent directly to current NFT holders while retaining a “modest” network-maintenance bounty of 10%.“A 90 / 10 split protects users, preserves DAO funding, and proves that the Solana ecosystem can self‑regulate—without a courtroom.”Related: Coinbase distances Base from highly criticized memecoin that dumped $15MBurwick noted that other DeFi protocols have resolved similar issues this way.The lawyers said there is still plenty of time for Metaplex to execute such a strategy and avoid litigation where funds could be frozen.“The ball is in the DAO’s court. Let’s show the world that Web3 corrects its own course and lives up to its founding principles of transparency, immutability, and fair dealing.”Magazine: Meet lawyer Max Burwick — ‘The ambulance chaser of crypto’
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'Good on him' if Cassius Turvey stabbed accused killer, prosecutor tells trial
by David Weber on April 22, 2025 at 5:13 am
A man accused of murdering Cassius Turvey is a "liar" who had no justification in striking the Perth teenager with a trolley pole, a prosecutor tells the WA Supreme Court.
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Former Test cricketer Michael Slater free after strangulation, assault sentence
by Janel Shorthouse and Owen Jacques on April 22, 2025 at 5:05 am
Former Australian Test cricketer and television host Michael Slater has been sentenced to four years in prison yet has walked free after already serving more than a year in custody.
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Hundreds gather to mourn man killed in Footscray police shooting
on April 22, 2025 at 5:04 am
About 200 people gathered in Melbourne's west to call for greater mental health supports after the police shooting death of Abdifatah Ahmed.
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This 96-year-old Tokyo chef has spent his entire life perfecting just one dish
by James Oaten on April 22, 2025 at 4:59 am
In Japan, it's called "shokunin", and it might be the reason why Tokyo is now the world's culinary capital.
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As the most credible foil to Trump, Pope Francis leaves a geopolitical hole
by Andrew West on April 22, 2025 at 4:51 am
In the hours after his death, it has become commonplace to posit Francis as a “progressive” Pope disavowing the conservatism of his predecessors but in reality he was in line with Catholic social teaching.
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Gibraltar court ends 2-month freeze of 542M PLAY tokens amid legal dispute
by Cointelegraph by Jesse Coghlan on April 22, 2025 at 4:25 am
Update (5:50 am UTC): This article has been updated to include a statement from Christina Macedon.The Supreme Court of Gibraltar has reversed its decision to freeze 542 million PLAY tokens in a court battle between two companies tied to the Web3 game-creation platform PLAY Network.In an April 17 judgment, Gibraltar Supreme Court Judge John Restano undid his earlier February freeze of the tokens, finding it could have hurt the value of the tokens and that the evidence filed was insufficient to continue the freeze.“Whilst there may be many reasons for the drop in value of the tokens, the evidence before the court suggests that these proceedings are a factor in that regard,” he wrote.US-based Ready Makers, which operates as Ready Games, and its founder, David Bennahum, have filed a legal dispute against its Gibraltar-based subsidiary, Ready Maker (Gibraltar) Limited, and its CEO, Christina Macedon. The suit claims she took over the firm and its PLAY token that is used as a reward on the PLAY Network.Ready Games won a freeze of the tokens in February, with the Gibraltar-based Ready Maker, operating as PLAY Network, handing them over to a court-appointed custodian.The 542 million PLAY tokens are nearly two-thirds of its current circulating supply and are worth around $2.6 million. The token’s price has plummeted by over 97% since it launched in December, according to CoinGecko.PLAY has sunk over the past three months to trade for fractions of a cent. Source: CoinGeckoJudge Restano said the evidence filed by Ready Games for the freeze was “far from impressive, and raises more questions than it answers.”He added he did “not consider that this is a case where the order should be re-granted in any event,” and cited Ready Games’ failure to disclose that it was in administrative dissolution at the time of filing for the token freeze, which he called “a significant omission.”Macedo said in a statement that she saw “months of false and misleading statements made during the dispute,” and the judgment “restores clarity for our community and partners.”Ready Games’ Bennahum told Cointelegraph that it has filed to lodge an appeal alongside “an urgent application with the Gibraltar Court of Appeal asking them to either stay the discharge of the original injunction or grant a new injunction” so the tokens could again be frozen pending the appeal's outcome.He added that his company disagreed with the court’s decision to lift the token freeze, saying that the Gibraltar-based firm was in an “alarming state.”Ready Maker is just a “token launch vehicle” — Ready Games founderBennahum reiterated an earlier claim that the US-based Ready Games created Ready Maker in Gibraltar with the US company’s intellectual property and funding “specifically to serve as our token launch vehicle.”“We maintain that Ms. Macedo and associated parties have wrongfully seized control of this entity and its assets,” he said. Judge Restano said in his judgment that Macedo disputed Bennahum’s claim, and regulatory filings purportedly show she is the sole controller and ultimate beneficial owner of the Gibraltar-based firm.Related: Crypto gaming has mixed Q1 as deals jump, investment totals dip: DappRadar Ready Games had said in a February statement that its court action was to “recover control” of the Gibraltar company.It added that a Delaware business court issued a temporary restraining order that required Ready Gibraltar to restore Ready Games’ access to the firm’s tech stack, such as “GitHub repositories, cloud systems, and domain accounts.”Web3 Gamer: Riskiest, most ‘addictive’ crypto game of 2025, PIXEL goes multi-game
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Expert advice if you're short on money that won't leave you worse off
by Amy Sheehan on April 22, 2025 at 3:55 am
If you’ve got an unexpected bill to pay or large expense and you don’t have the money to cover it, here’s what you can do.
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Hannah Green hopes lofty ranking can translate to major success
on April 22, 2025 at 3:52 am
In-form world number five Hannah Green will lead a seven-strong Australian challenge at women's golf's first major of the year, the Chevron Championship in Texas.
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Woman charged with killing terminally ill husband denied bail
by Talissa Siganto on April 22, 2025 at 3:50 am
Prosecutors told the court Brisbane woman Kylie Truswell-Mobbs injected her husband, who was in the final stages of Motor Neurone Disease, with pain medication for "the sole purpose of killing him".
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Stawell Gift winner says 11m handicap 'totally fair' despite criticism
by Andrew McGarry on April 22, 2025 at 3:37 am
Victorian athletics officials say they may have to review the benchmark time used for handicapping the Stawell Gift and other races, after the failure of Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout to reach the final.
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US dollar, stocks tumble and crypto gains as Trump amps up pressure on Fed
by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on April 22, 2025 at 3:35 am
Crypto markets avoided the fallout caused by US President Donald Trump’s latest salvo against Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which saw the US stock market slump and the dollar continue to weaken over uncertainty. Stock markets across the United States ended April 21 in the red, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.4%, the tech-heavy Nasdaq slipping 2.5%, and the Dow Jones losing 2.5%, or nearly 1,000 points, according to Google Finance. The S&P 500 has now declined by more than 12% since the beginning of the year, and the Nasdaq is down almost 18% in the US tech stock exodus. US stock heatmap. Source: TradingViewThe stock slide follows escalating tension between Donald Trump and Jerome Powell and growing concern over the impact of trade tariffs. “‘Preemptive Cuts’ in Interest Rates are being called for by many,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social on April 21. “With Energy Costs way down, food prices substantially lower, and most other ‘things’ trending down, there is virtually No Inflation,” he added. Trump has reiterated his call for lowering interest rates, which Powell, who has been labelled as “Mr. Too Late” and a “major loser” by the POTUS, has kept high at 4.5%. Source: Donald TrumpLast week, Powell took a swipe at Trump’s trade tariffs, saying they could lead to a dangerous economic mix of rising prices and slowing growth, or “stagflation.”Trump responded with a call to fire the central bank chair, stating at the time that his “termination cannot come fast enough.” The Fed is expected to maintain its wait-and-see policy approach at its May 7 meeting, with interest rate markets predicting just a 13% chance of a rate cut, according to CME Fed Watch. US dollar devaluation continues The US Dollar Index (DXY) — a measure of the strength of the greenback against a basket of leading currencies — has also slipped more than 10% so far this year. This week it fell to a three-year low below 98 on April 21, according to TradingView. “Everyone needs and wants a weaker dollar to service their dollar debts,” commented Real Vision founder and CEO Raoul Pal on April 22. “This is the purest form of global liquidity and is the largest driver of global M2 [money supply] currently,” he added. Related: US dollar goes 'no-bid' — 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week Meanwhile, crypto markets have held on to weekend gains with total capitalization remaining at $2.83 trillion at the time of writing. Bitcoin (BTC) is keeping digital asset markets buoyed, hitting a four-week high of $88,500 on April 22. “Amid one of the most turbulent periods for global markets in years, Bitcoin is showing impressive resilience,” commented Bitfinex analysts in a recent market update. Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest
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Who is behind 47,000 anonymous pamphlets attacking Allegra Spender?
by Matt Martino on April 22, 2025 at 3:15 am
Unauthorised pamphlets attacking independent MP Allegra Spender have been circulating in her electorate, calling her "weak" on antisemitism.
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Partner of woman found dead in burnt-out car had 'conflict' with crime group, police say
on April 22, 2025 at 2:50 am
The woman's male partner's alleged involvement with organised crime is being investigated, said police, with two children known to the woman remaining in hospital under police guard.
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WazirX confirms restart on track as it awaits sanction hearing in May
by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 22, 2025 at 2:49 am
Indian crypto exchange WazirX, which was hacked for $234 million last July, says it is on track to restart its operations pending a May 13 court decision on its restructuring proposal and user compensation plan. If Singapore’s High Court gives the nod, WazirX parent company Zettai PTE Ltd can restart the exchange and begin its compensation scheme for affected users within 10 business days, WazirX said in an April 21 update to X.WazirX lost $234 million of crypto from a Safe Multisig wallet mid-July 2024 in an attack since attributed to North Korean hackers, forcing them to temporarily pause all crypto and Indian rupee withdrawals on the platform.Source: WazirX“Zettai has completed all prior required steps, and the next key step is the sanction hearing, which the Singapore High Court has scheduled for May 13, 2025,” the firm said.“This hearing is essential for the Scheme to become legally effective. While we’ve worked to stay aligned with the previously shared timelines, court proceedings operate independently, and we respect that process.”On April 7, more than 90% of the voting creditors voted in favor of the platform’s post-hack restructuring plan, which involved the issuance of recovery tokens.The tokens would be repurchased using net profits from the exchange and could yield 75% to 80% of users’ account balances at the time of the cyberattack.WazirX had warned that repayments from the $235 million hack could be delayed until 2030 if creditors didn’t approve its proposed restructuring plan. Singapore’s High Court gave Zettai permission to convene a creditors’ meeting to propose a possible remedy for users and a plan to get the exchange back online in January.Related: Bybit CEO: Two-thirds of Lazarus-hacked funds remain traceable“We understand the eagerness around the platform restart and truly appreciate your continued patience,” WazirX said."Since the beginning, we have communicated that the first distribution and restart would occur within the April-May 2025 window.”Supreme Court of India dismisses WazirX users petition A separate April 16 court judgment from the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition filed by 54 victims of the hack, who sought legal action against WazirX, Shetty, Binance and custody provider Liminal. Petitioners also asked the court to audit WazirX’s accounts. Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine Masih rejected the petition, saying the court could not rule on the case because it was a matter of crypto policy, which the court doesn't have the authority to rule on. Gavai and Masih advised the petitioners to approach a regulatory body or other relevant authority to hear the matter instead.Magazine: Uni students crypto ‘grooming’ scandal, 67K scammed by fake women: Asia Express
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How to stake Solana (SOL) in 2025: A step-by-step guide for beginners
by Cointelegraph by Max Moeller on April 22, 2025 at 2:21 am
Key takeawaysStaking Solana allows you to earn passive income through staking rewards while participating in network governance.There is no minimum requirement for staking Solana, but the practical minimum is around 0.01 SOL.All you need to start staking Solana is a SOL-compatible wallet.Staking is considered one of the safer ways to participate in crypto ecosystems.Solana is a blockchain network known for its fast transaction speeds and extensive ecosystem of decentralized applications (DApps). It also combines the proof-of-stake (PoS) and proof-of-history (PoH) consensus mechanisms, allowing you to stake its native currency, SOL (SOL), to earn rewards. This Solana staking guide walks you through the Solana staking process and explains why staking could be a smart move, especially if you’ve been wondering how to earn passive income with SOL.What is Solana staking?Solana staking consists of locking SOL into a cryptocurrency wallet. The process rewards you in the following ways:Staking rewards: You earn rewards for staking SOL — a percentage based on how much you’ve staked, Solana’s current inflation rate (which fluctuates and is set to decrease every year), the total amount of SOL staked on the network, and how long you’ve been staking overall.Governance: Staking gives you a say in governance, allowing you to vote on proposals that shape the Solana network. This approach prioritizes those with the largest investments, assuming they’ll act in the network’s best interest.Network security: Staking increases security to create a stable investment environment. By staking, you’re directly contributing to Solana’s health and longevity. That said, if a few wallets stake large amounts, one could argue they’re centralizing the network.If you earn rewards staking SOL, they’re paid out every two days — a period known as an epoch. When staking SOL, you’re delegating funds to a Solana representative (a validator.) Validators process transactions, produce blocks, and vote on network proposals. It’s essential to choose a validator that aligns with your vision for Solana, as they’ll be voting in your stead, much like an elected official in traditional governments.Validator votes are stake-weighted. The more stake a validator has, the more weight their vote carries. Solana validator vs. delegator: By delegating funds to a validator, you become a delegator. The validator’s job is to vote in the network’s best interest. It’s your job to choose reputable validators that keep the network safe. Did you know? Solana is one of the fastest blockchains in terms of transactions per second (TPS). It currently averages around 1,128 TPS, with a theoretical max of 65,000 TPS. Staking Solana for beginnersThere are a few things to consider as you prepare to stake Solana.Understanding staking methodsOn the surface, staking is quite simple; however, there are actually two staking methods — each affects your SOL liquidity.Liquid staking: Earn rewards while retaining control of your SOL’s liquidity. When you liquid stake, you receive liquid staking tokens (LSTs) equivalent to the amount of SOL you stake. You can use those LSTs in Solana’s decentralized finance (DeFi) applications as you would if you weren’t staking funds.Native staking: Native staking is the original method that locks your funds away, allowing you to earn rewards and participate in governance. However, you cannot use your funds without pulling them out via the unstaking process. This process is beginner-friendly but limits what you can do with your SOL.The difference between the two is flexibility. Native staking is less flexible but easier for beginners, while liquid staking retains your liquidity for use in DeFi and other applications.Solana staking tax 2025In the United States, Solana staking rewards are subject to income and capital gains tax.Income tax: You’re required to pay income tax on the value of SOL at the moment you unstake it. You also pay income tax on staking rewards when you gain the ability to withdraw them.Capital gains tax: You’re required to pay capital gains tax once you sell or convert that SOL.How to stake SolanaNow, let’s get into the Solana staking tutorial. Choose a Solana walletFirst, you need a wallet to store and stake your SOL. Most Solana wallets have built-in staking capabilities. This guide uses the Phantom Wallet for demonstration purposes.Download Phantom Wallet from its official website by clicking the “Download” button.Next, click “Create a new wallet.”You’ll be asked to continue with an email or a seed phrase wallet. Click “Create a seed phrase wallet.”Enter a password, and proceed to the recovery phrase screen. Write down your recovery seed phrase on piece of paper, check the confirmation box, and click “Continue.”Create a username, click “Continue,” and you’ll have created a Solana wallet. Fund the walletFund Phantom with SOL by either transferring SOL from another wallet or buying it with a debit/credit card via the “Buy” button.Phantom partners with companies such as Robinhood or Topper to facilitate card payments, allowing you to buy from within the wallet interface.After funding your wallet, it’s time to start staking.Stake your SolanaOpen your token list and click on “Solana.”Select “Start earning SOL.”Now, choose between “Liquid Staking” or “Native Staking.”Liquid staking is typically done via a third-party provider. Phantom integrates with Jito’s liquid staking platform, enabling you to receive JitoSOL LSTs when you liquid stake.If you choose to liquid stake, Phantom will detail your estimated annual percentage yield (APY) and how much JitoSOL you’ll receive in return for staking.JitoSOL will appear in your token list.JitoSOL will appear in your token list.If you choose native staking, you must commit to a validator. Phantom will list validators in order of how much SOL is staked to them and their estimated APY.Select a validator, enter how much SOL you’d like to stake, and click “Stake.” The network will create your staking account, and you’ll start earning rewards in a few days.Congratulations, you’re successfully staking SOL.Did you know? Validators who act out of turn or experience significant downtime will have their rewards slashed, also reducing the rewards of those who stake with the validator. How to unstake SolanaWhether you choose liquid or native staking, here’s how to unstake your funds. You might unstake if:You want to convert SOL: If you want to swap or sell your SOL, you must unstake the funds first.You want to stake elsewhere: If another network catches your eye, you’ll have to unstake your Solana funds to transfer them for staking on another network.Validators act up: If your validator acts outside the network’s best interest, you may want to unstake and delegate to another validator.Unstake natively staked tokensTo unstake natively staked tokens, click on “Solana” in your token list.Next, click on “Your stake.”Select the validator you want to unstake from and click “Unstake.” Then, select “Withdraw Stake” to pull the funds back into your wallet. The validator will show “Inactive” once you’ve unstaked.Unstake LSTsTo unstake your LSTs, select them in your token list.Click “More” in the options list, then select “Unstake.”If you’re using Jito as your LST provider, clicking unstake will take you to Jito’s platform. Here, you have two options: unstake immediately or delayed unstaking.Unstake immediately: Immediate unstaking costs a small fee, based on the amount you are unstaking. You can pay additional fees to prioritize your transaction or tip validators. Finally, you can adjust your slippage tolerance.Delayed unstaking: Delayed unstaking can range from one day to a week, depending on network congestion, but you pay a much lower fee. You also don’t have to account for slippage, as the network won’t prioritize your transaction.Choose whichever option works best for you, and click “Unstake SOL.” The funds will appear in your wallet.Did you know? You can stake Solana with as little as 0.01 SOL, making it one of the most accessible PoS blockchain networks.Is Solana wallet staking safe?Staking Solana is relatively safe, but even if you know how Solana staking works, there are risks to be aware of:Market volatility: Solana is subject to market volatility as much as any other cryptocurrency. The value of your staked SOL can fluctuate based on market conditions.Validator behavior: Validators can act out of favor with the network and may experience “slashing.” Slashing penalizes the validator’s rewards, which affects your rewards as well. Your initial investment remains safe, however.Cyberthreats: Blockchain networks are exposed to bad actors 24/7, meaning they can be vulnerable to hacks at any time, putting your funds at risk.Past downtime: Solana has had various outages over the years, often due to congestion. While this doesn’t necessarily mean your funds are at risk, bad actors could target the network during its weak moments.So, while staking on Solana offers potential rewards, it’s important to understand that staking always carries risk. As with any investment, there’s a possibility of loss, so it’s crucial to evaluate your risk tolerance and take necessary precautions.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.
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Mantra says CEO has begun the process of burning his 150M OM tokens
by Cointelegraph by Jody McDonald on April 22, 2025 at 2:09 am
Mantra founder and CEO John Patrick Mullin has started unstaking 150 million of his Mantra (OM) tokens in preparation for sending them to a burn address in an attempt to restore the token’s value by tightening supply. Mantra announced on April 21 that the unstaking process had begun, and would be completed by April 29, at which point Mullin's Mantra (OM) tokens will be sent to the burn address and permanently removed from circulating supply.Source: John Patrick MullinMullin said it was a “first step in rebuilding trust with the community, but far from the last.” Mantra said it was also in talks with “key ecosystem partners” about burning a further 150 million OM to bring the total burn amount to 300 million.With 150 million fewer OM, Mantra’s total supply will decline to 1.67 billion, and its number of staked tokens will drop by over 26% from 571.8 million OM to 421.8 million OM. Returns will also be boosted: “This strategic burn will lower the bonded ratio from 31.47% to 25.30%, resulting in an increase in staking APR,” Mantra said.Token burn initiative follows OM price collapseTwo days after Mantra’s rapid 90% price collapse on April 13, Mullins posted to X that he intended to burn all of the staked tokens he was allocated at the blockchain’s mainnet genesis in October. These vested “team tokens” were due to be unlocked starting in 2027.He also ran a poll on X about the proposed burn of his tokens, with alternate options such as extended vesting or unlocking tokens at milestones — as a “temperature check of people’s thoughts.”The poll had attracted almost 9,000 votes at the time of writing, and a number of commenters criticized it as an attempt to reverse course on the burn commitment. Source: John Patrick MullinThe burn is connected to an “OM Token support plan” Mantra announced following the price crash, which will also feature a token buyback. Mullin said the buyback program was also “well underway.”Related: How Mantra’s OM token collapsed in 24 hours of chaosMantra also released a tokenomics dashboard to increase transparency as it seeks to regain the trust of the community. At the time of writing, the OM price remains down around 90% from its value of $6.30 earlier in April, trading at below $0.55.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
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Paul Atkins’ loosely linked RSR token rises 13% after Coinbase listing
by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 22, 2025 at 1:53 am
A governance token for the Reserve Protocol stablecoin, launched by a firm previously advised by sworn-in SEC Chair Paul Atkins, has surged over 13% after crypto exchange Coinbase announced that it will list the token. Atkins was an early adviser for the stablecoin firm around the time it launched in 2019, according to Reserve Protocol’s CEO Nevin Freeman. He is no longer consulting at the firm.The Reserve Rights (RSR) token is the governance token aimed at ensuring the stability of the Reserve Protocol’s stablecoin, Reserve Dollar (RSV). In an April 21 X post, Coinbase said it would list the RSR token on the Ethereum layer-2 network Base on April 22 at 9 am Pacific Time (4 pm UTC). Source: Coinbase AssetsAtkins news bumps up RSR’s price even furtherThe Coinbase listing, combined with the news of Atkins officially being sworn in as SEC chair on April 21, pushed the token up 13.6% to a near two-month high of $0.00835 on April 22, CoinGecko data shows. Prior to Atkins being sworn in, RSR had already risen double digits to around $0.0081.It is currently the 143rd largest coin by market capitalization at $464 million.Atkins said he will be focused on ensuring the US is the “best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business,” while ensuring sufficient consumer protection measures are in place.It comes two weeks after the Senate confirmed Atkins as SEC chair in a 52-44 vote on April 9. Related: Crypto in a bear market, rebound likely in Q3 — CoinbaseAtkins takes over from Mark Uyeda, who has been the SEC’s acting chair since Jan. 20, when former chair Gary Gensler stepped down.Since US President Donald Trump returned to office, the SEC created a Crypto Task Force to consult with the industry on regulation and dropped several crypto-related investigations and enforcement actions undertaken by the Gensler-led SEC.Atkins is expected to take a more crypto-friendly approach, telling a Senate confirmation hearing in March that a priority of his at the SEC would be to provide a firm regulatory foundation for crypto assets through a “rational, coherent and principled approach.” Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
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Paul Atkins, nominated by Trump, has been sworn in as SEC chair
by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 21, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Update: April 22 at 12:35am UTC: This story has been updated to include more details of Paul Atkins being sworn in as the SEC’s chair.Paul Atkins has officially been sworn in as the 34th chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.The April 21 announcement comes nearly two weeks after Atkins’ position was confirmed by the US Senate in a 52-44 vote on April 9.“I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC,” said Atkins, who served as an SEC commissioner between 2002 and 2008.“As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors.””Together we will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business.”Atkins is widely expected to lead a more crypto-friendly SEC than former chair Gary Gensler under the Biden administration.Source: CointelegraphHis confirmation was reportedly delayed due to several financial disclosures that he needed to file as a result of marrying into a billionaire family. Some of those financial disclosures reportedly included up to $6 million worth of crypto-related investments, including crypto custody platform Anchorage Digital and blockchain tokenization platform Securitize.Atkins has taken over from acting chair Mark Uyeda, who helped the SEC establish a Crypto Task Force in January, aimed at strengthening rapport between the commission and industry players.The SEC has also dismissed several crypto probes and enforcement actions undertaken by the Gensler-led SEC in recent months, including cases involving Coinbase, Consensys, Gemini and Uniswap.Related: Crypto industry is not experiencing regulatory capture — AttorneyThe Atkins-led SEC currently has over 70 crypto-related exchange-traded fund applications to decide on this year, Bloomberg reported on April 21.“Everything from XRP, Litecoin and Solana to Penguins, Doge and 2x Melania and everything in between,” Bloomberg ETF analyst James Balchunas said in an X post. “Gonna be a wild year.”The recent surge in crypto ETF filings reflects a “spaghetti cannon approach” from issuers testing which products the new SEC leadership might approve, fellow Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said in February.“Issuers will try to launch many many different things and see what sticks,” Seyffart said.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered
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US lawmaker targets crypto investors using Puerto Rico as a tax haven
by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 21, 2025 at 10:20 pm
A member of the House of Representatives has proposed legislation aimed at stopping investors from using the US territory of Puerto Rico as a crypto tax haven.According to an April 21 Bloomberg report, New York Representative Nydia Velázquez introduced the Fair Taxation of Digital Assets in Puerto Rico Act, a bill that could change existing laws in the territory to require certain investors to pay local and federal taxes on capital gains, including from digital assets. The legislation would reportedly add text to Puerto Rico’s Internal Revenue Code, making income from cryptocurrencies subject to federal tax laws.“This wave of crypto investors hasn’t helped Puerto Rico’s recovery or strengthened the local economy,” said Rep. Velázquez, according to Bloomberg. “Instead, it’s driven up housing costs, pushed out local residents, and added pressure to an island where nearly 40% of people live in poverty — all while costing the federal government billions in lost tax revenue.”Puerto Rico is well known as a tax haven for many people in the crypto industry since the territory began allowing exemptions in 2012 under Act 20 and Act 22 of the Tax Incentives Code — later consolidated as Act 60. The island has attracted investors, including Pantera Capital founder Dan Morehead, venture capitalist Brock Pierce, and online influencer Logan Paul.Related: NFT trader faces prison for $13M tax fraud on CryptoPunk profitsMissing out on crypto tax revenueRep. Velazquez’s office reportedly said Puerto Rico could lose roughly $4.5 billion in revenue from 2020 to 2026 due to the tax incentives in place. In contrast, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón proposed extending Act 60, set to expire in 2035, to the end of 2055, but requiring applicants to be subject to a 4% capital gains tax rate, smaller than the typical range up to 37% in the US.It’s unclear whether the legislation proposed by Rep. Velazquez, a Democrat, would have enough political support to pass in the Republican-controlled House or Senate. Both chambers will likely consider floor votes for stablecoin legislation and a crypto regulatory framework in the coming months. Magazine: XRP win leaves Ripple and industry with no crypto legal precedent set
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President Trump and First Lady Melania Participate in Easter Egg Roll at White House
by Sundance on April 21, 2025 at 10:13 pm
President Trump and First Lady Melania participate in an annual tradition at the White House, the Easter Egg Roll. . *Travel day tonight. See you in the morning. :)) /SD Posted in Christian Values, Melania Trump, President Trump The post President Trump and First Lady Melania Participate in Easter Egg Roll at White House appeared first on The Last Refuge.
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Here’s what happened in crypto today
by Cointelegraph by Cointelegraph on April 21, 2025 at 9:50 pm
Today in crypto, Paul Atkins has been officially sworn in as SEC chief, taking over for acting chair Mark Uyeda. New filings reveal crypto companies among donors to US President Donald Trump's inauguration and the Ethereum Foundation is entering a new phase as Vitalik Buterin steps back to focus on research.Paul Atkins, nominated by Trump, sworn in as SEC chairPaul Atkins has officially been sworn in as the 34th chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission.The April 21 announcement comes nearly two weeks after Atkins’ position was confirmed by the US Senate in a 52-44 vote on April 9.Source: US House Committee on Financial Services Republicans“I am honored by the trust and confidence President Trump and the Senate have placed in me to lead the SEC,” said Atkins, who served as an SEC commissioner between 2002 and 2008.Atkins is widely expected to lead a more crypto-friendly SEC than former chair Gary Gensler under the Biden administration.Consensys, Solana, Uniswap CEO donated to Trump's $239M inauguration fundNew filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reveal that several cryptocurrency firms and their executives made significant contributions to US President Donald Trump’s inauguration fund after the results of the 2024 election. According to FEC filings made public on April 20 by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams donated more than $245,000, Solana Labs donated $1 million, and software firm Consensys sent $100,000 in January to support the then-president-elect’s inauguration. Many major crypto firms had previously announced their support of Trump through donations to the inaugural fund, including Coinbase, Ripple Labs, Kraken, Ondo Finance, and Robinhood.Altogether, the fund reported more than $239 million in net donations between Nov. 15 and April 20 from companies and individuals. These included $1 million from McDonald’s, $1 million from Meta, $1 million from Apple CEO Tim Cook, $1 million from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and various contributions from Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, FedEx, Nvidia, PayPal, Target, and Coca-Cola. Jan. 9 contribution from Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams to Trump-Vance inauguration fund. Source: FECSince Trump took office on Jan. 20 and appointed Mark Uyeda as acting chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the agency has dropped multiple investigations and enforcement actions against crypto firms, including those that donated to the president’s 2024 campaign or inauguration fund. In February, Uniswap reported that the SEC had dropped its probe into the firm, and Consensys founder Joseph Lubin said the agency had agreed to end a separate lawsuit. Ethereum Foundation shifts focus to user experience, layer-1 scalingThe Ethereum Foundation, the nonprofit organization developing the Ethereum ecosystem, is shifting its focus to user experience and layer-1 scaling challenges following its March leadership reshuffle. On April 21, the Ethereum Foundation co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak shared an X post detailing how the organization has changed since its change in leadership structure.Stańczak said the change aims to give Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin more time for research and exploration rather than dealing with day-to-day tasks and crisis management.“Each time Vitalik shares insights or communicates a direction, he accelerates major long‑term breakthroughs,” he wrote.Stańczak added that Buterin’s recent posts had advanced promising avenues and helped realign the community around the organization’s core values.On April 20, Buterin proposed a change in the Ethereum Virtual Machine’s (EVM) contract language to improve the efficiency and speed of the blockchain’s execution layer. Stańczak said that while Buterin’s proposals will “always carry weight,” they are supposed to start conversations and encourage progress in different research areas. The executive said the community can either refine or reject the ideas.
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Coinbase Derivatives lists XRP futures
by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 21, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Coinbase has listed futures contracts for the XRP token on its US derivatives exchange, the cryptocurrency platform said on April 21.The contracts are overseen by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and offer traders “a regulated, capital-efficient way to gain exposure to one of the most liquid digital assets,” the company said in a post on the X platform.Coinbase’s XRP (XRP) futures include standard contracts representing 10,000 XRP and retail-oriented “nano” contracts representing 500 XRP each, or approximately $1,000 as of April 21, according to regulatory filings. The contracts are the latest crypto futures to launch on Coinbase’s derivatives exchange, which also features Solana (SOL) and Hedera (HBAR) futures contracts, both added in February. Source: CoinbaseRelated: Coinbase in talks to buy derivatives exchange Deribit: ReportBurgeoning market segmentSince 2024, US exchanges — including Coinbase, Robinhood and Chicago Mercantile Exchange — have been expanding crypto futures offerings in response to strong demand from retail and institutional investors. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell an underlying asset at a future date. They are popular for hedging and speculation because they let traders take long and short positions, often with leverage. Coinbase lists derivatives tied to some 92 different assets on its international exchange and approximately two dozen in the US, according to its website. Its US-traded products include contracts tied to memecoins, such as Dogecoin (DOGE), and commodities, such as oil and gold. Coinbase's stock performance vs. the S&P 500. Source: JPMorganIn December, Coinbase said derivatives trading volumes soared roughly 10,950% in 2024. The exchange is reportedly in talks to buy Deribit in a bid to expand its derivatives footprint.Coinbase launched its US derivatives exchange in 2022, bringing cryptocurrency futures — including retail-oriented “nano” contracts — to tens of millions of US users.Launched in 2012, XRP Ledger is among the oldest blockchain networks and specializes in payments and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications for institutions. As of April 21, XRP’s market capitalization stands at approximately $120 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. In March, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped a years-long lawsuit against XRP Ledger’s developer, Ripple, for alleged securities law violations.Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC
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Astra Fintech commits $100M for Solana growth in Asia
by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 21, 2025 at 9:10 pm
Astra Fintech, a global blockchain payments provider, has launched a $100 million fund to support the Solana ecosystem's growth throughout Asia, according to an April 21 announcement. Through the fund, Astra Fintech plans to deploy capital to accelerate projects and form partnerships with developers, companies, and regulators. The fund’s base of operations will be in South Korea, a country Solana's venture arm invested in after the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in 2022.The fund will focus on projects and developers working on PayFi solutions — a conglomeration of systems that use blockchain technology to facilitate payments. Astra’s main suite of products attempts to blend traditional finance with digital currencies.According to data from Electric Capital, Solana and Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) blockchains are currently within the top 10 blockchains for developer activity, only behind Ethereum.In 2021, Solana created a $5 million development fund to spur projects in Southeast Asia. The region is a hotspot for Web3 games, a crypto use case that has proliferated on Solana due to the blockchain’s fast speeds and low transaction costs.Solana, with its ups and downsThe Solana ecosystem has had quite the ride in 2025. Its native token, Solana (SOL), rose to an all-time high of $293.31 on Jan. 19, two days after US incoming President Donald Trump launched a memecoin on the network. It trades at $136.61 at this writing, a fall of 53.4% since then. However, crypto executives and companies continue betting on the Solana ecosystem. On April 7, a group of former Kraken executives acquired Janover, aiming to transform the real estate firm into a de facto Solana treasury. Just weeks later, Upexi — a brand management and supply chain company — saw its shares surge 630% on April 21 after announcing a similar strategy. Meanwhile, Canada approved SOL staking in early April, and ARK Invest has since added exposure to Solana funds through its tech-focused ETFs.Magazine: X Hall of Flame: Solana ‘will be a trillion-dollar asset’ — Mert Mumtaz
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Investors sue Meteora and VC firm, alleging fraud
by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 21, 2025 at 8:41 pm
A group of investors has filed a class-action lawsuit against decentralized cryptocurrency exchange Meteora, alleging the firm was involved in manipulating the launch and market price of the M3M3 token.In an amended complaint filed on April 21 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, the plaintiffs allege that venture capital firm Kelsier Labs, Meteora, and four current or former executives “intentionally misrepresented” information in the M3M3 launch in December 2024. The investors claimed that they suffered at least $69 million in losses between December 2024 and February 2025 after the parties presented “trusted leaders in the Solana ecosystem” as being behind the token launch, rather than a “blatant fraud” in which sales were manipulated to artificially inflate the price.“This artificially-inflated valuation communicated highly misleading information to non-insider investors, who reasonably relied on Defendants’ representations that the $M3M3 launch was fully accessible to the public and conducted in a transparent manner fair to non-insider investors, and thus reasonably relied on $M3M3 market price as a meaningful measure of its value,” the complaint reads. “The post-launch price spike also served to corroborate Defendants’ aggressively-marketed, but misleading, assertions that $M3M3 had intrinsic value and a comparatively low risk profile.”Class-action lawsuit against Meteora, Kelsier Labs, and current and former executives. Source: PACERThe lawsuit is one of many involving different crypto firms that have alleged fraud through violations of US securities laws. Though the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under acting chair Mark Uyeda since US President Donald Trump took office, has scaled back or dismissed many enforcement actions involving digital assets, the agency said in February it still intended to pursue cases against fraudulent token projects.The investors added:“Together, Defendants designed the $M3M3 Token and planned its launch on Meteora in a manner intended to illicitly enrich themselves at the expense of the unsuspecting investing public.”Related: Meteora says co-founder’s X account hacked after ‘parasitic’ memecoin postMemecoins in the Solana ecosystemMeteora has been tied to the launch of several high-profile yet controversial tokens, including those for Trump (TRUMP), his wife Melania (MELANIA), Libra (LIBRA), and online influencer Haliey Welch (HAWK). According to the lawsuit, the firm “purported to offer a comprehensive solution to the problems in the memecoin investment market” with the launch of M3M3. The defendants in the case allegedly attempted to distinguish the token from other notable memecoins by highlighting the “legitimacy and trustworthiness” through the involvement of Meteora co-founder Ben Chow and the platform.Kelsier Ventures, KIP Protocol, and Meteora face a similar class-action lawsuit filed in New York in March over LIBRA allegedly being launched in a “deceptive, manipulative and fundamentally unfair” manner. Argentine President Javier Milei briefly promoted the token over social media after his sister reportedly received payments from the project.Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
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More than 70 US crypto ETFs await SEC decision this year — Bloomberg
by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 21, 2025 at 7:23 pm
More than 70 cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are slated for review by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this year. According to Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, the list includes proposed ETFs holding a range of assets, from altcoins to memecoins to derivatives instruments. “Everything from XRP, Litecoin and Solana to Penguins, Doge and 2x Melania and everything in between,” Balchunas said in an April 21 post on the X platform. “Gonna be a wild year.”Crypto ETFs’ SEC review schedule. Source: Eric Balchunas/BloombergRelated: ARK adds staked Solana to two tech ETFsUncertain institutional demandThe planned funds listings come as institutional investors turn increasingly bullish on crypto as an asset class. Upward of 80% of institutions say they plan to increase allocations to crypto in 2025, according to a March report by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon. However, analysts caution that just because ETFs are approved for US listings doesn’t guarantee widespread adoption, especially for funds holding more obscure alternative cryptocurrencies.“Having your coin get ETF-ized is like being in a band and getting your songs added to all the music streaming services,” Balchunas said. “Doesn’t guarantee listens but it puts your music where the vast majority of the listeners are.”Comparing asset manager Grayscale’s net assets pre-ETF launch across different cryptocurrencies suggests tepid demand for altcoin ETFs. Source: Sygnum BankSygnum Bank’s research head, Katalin Tischhauser, told Cointelegraph she expects altcoin ETFs to see cumulative inflows of several hundred million to $1 billion, far less than spot Bitcoin funds. Funds holding Bitcoin (BTC) — the first spot cryptocurrency approved for listing in a US ETF wrapper — attracted upward of $100 billion in net assets last year. However, ETFs using options and other derivatives to provide structured exposure to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether might see more institutional uptake, analysts said. Options on spot cryptocurrencies unlock numerous potential portfolio strategies for investors and could potentially catalyze “explosive” price upside for digital assets such as Bitcoin, Jeff Park, Bitwise Invest’s head of alpha strategies, said in September.Options are contracts granting the right to buy or sell an underlying asset at a certain price. On April 21, ARK Invest added exposure to staked Solana (SOL) to two of its existing ETFs. The asset manager said it marks the first time spot SOL has been available to US investors in an ETF. Magazine: ‘Bitcoin layer 2s’ aren’t really L2s at all: Here’s why that matters
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ARK adds staked Solana to two tech ETFs
by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 21, 2025 at 6:34 pm
ARK Invest has added exposure to staked Solana (SOL) to the portfolios of two of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the asset manager said in a client email reviewed by Cointelegraph. As of April 21, the two ARK funds — ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) — now hold shares of 3iQ’s Solana Staking ETF (SOLQ), a Canadian ETF holding staked SOL, ARK said. The two ARK funds are designed to offer broad exposure to emerging technologies, and comprise a mix a technology stocks — including crypto-focused companies such as Coinbase, Block, and Robinhood — and spot cryptocurrencies, according to ARK’s website.According to ARK, adding the SOL ETF shares makes “ARKW and ARKF the first US-listed ETFs to gain exposure to Solana.”In March, asset manager Volatility Shares launched two ETFs that offer exposure to SOL using financial derivatives, but spot Solana ETFs are still awaiting approval by US regulators.ARKW’s fund holdings. Source: ARK InvestRelated: Spot Solana ETFs to launch in Canada this weekSolana ETFs’ proposals line up for approvalExperts say the recent listing of Solana futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), a US derivatives exchange, indicates that US SOL ETF listings are coming soon. Last week, 3iQ launched its Solana ETF in Canada following approval of several such funds by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), Canada’s largest securities regulator. Solana is the second-most popular blockchain network after Ethereum. Its total value locked exceeds $7 billion, versus approximately $45 billion for the Ethereum network, according to data from DefiLlama. Blockchain networks by TVL. Source: DeFiLlamaThe US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) authorized spot Ether ETFs to trade in the United States in July 2024. In July, ARK partnered with 21Shares, a crypto-focused fund issuer, to launch ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB), a spot Bitcoin (BTC) fund with nearly $4 billion in net assets as of April 21, according to ARK’s websiteIt also partnered with 21Shares on an Ether ETF but dissolved the partnership in June, shortly before the fund launched under 21Shares’ branding. Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – March 1
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Nasdaq-listed Upexi shares up 630% after $100M raise, SOL treasury
by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 21, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Upexi, a brand owner that specializes in supply chain management, is diversifying into the cryptocurrency sector. On April 21, the company announced a $100 million raise, with over 90% earmarked for building a Solana (SOL) treasury strategy.After the announcement, shares of Upexi have skyrocketed from a $2.30 close on April 17 to $16.79 at this writing, marking a 632% jump for the day.UPXI intraday performance on the Nasdaq. Source: Google FinanceMany “prominent” crypto venture capitalist firms participated in the $100 million raise, according to an announcement. Backers include the family office of Arthur Hayes, Delta Blockchain Fund, Delphi Ventures, Hivemind, Borderless, and White Star Capital, among others. The round was completed with a sale of around 44 million shares of common stock at a price of $2.28.According to Upexi's recent financials, it posted a profit of $3 million in the last quarter of 2024, down 34.8% or $4.6 million from the same time period in 2023.Companies mimic StrategyStrategy (formerly MicroStrategy) was one of the first mainstream companies to adopt a cryptocurrency treasury strategy. It started purchasing Bitcoin (BTC) in August 2020, and its stock price has jumped significantly since then. Currently, over 13,000 companies have exposure to Strategy.Other companies have followed Strategy’s lead in adopting a Bitcoin treasury, including Metaplanet, which topped $400 million in BTC holdings on April 21, and Semler Scientific, which reported paper losses for its BTC holdings on April 16.Related: Metaplanet, Semler Scientific were ‘zombie companies’ until Bitcoin, execs sayFewer companies adopting a crypto treasury strategy have chosen a coin other than Bitcoin. One such company is Janover, which was taken over by former Kraken executives on April 7. Like Upexi, it is adopting a Solana treasury strategy and acquired $10.5 million worth of SOL on April 15.SOL is the native token of the Solana blockchain. The network, once seen as the “Ethereum killer,” has fast speeds based on a proof-of-history consensus mechanism. Solana has been among the big winners of the latest bull market, thanks to use cases like memecoins and decentralized infrastructure applications. Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge
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Price analysis 4/21: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LINK
by Cointelegraph by Rakesh Upadhyay on April 21, 2025 at 4:10 pm
The US Dollar Index (DXY) plunged below the 98 level on April 21, falling to a three-year low. That catapulted gold to a new all-time high, and Bitcoin (BTC) also showed strength, rising above $88,000. BitMEX co-founder and Maelstrom chief investment officer Arthur Hayes believes it may be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin below $100,000. Hayes expects the Federal Reserve to announce US Treasury buybacks, which will act as a “Bazooka” for Bitcoin’s price trajectory.Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360The whales seem ready for the move higher, as they have been accumulating in March and April. According to Glassnode data, the number of wallets holding more than 1,000 Bitcoin increased from 2,037 in late February to 2,107 on April 15.Could Bitcoin bulls sustain the higher levels, triggering a rally toward $100,000? Will the altcoins follow? Let’s analyze the charts to find out.S&P 500 Index price analysisThe S&P 500 Index (SPX) recovery hit a wall at the 20-day exponential moving average (5,399) on April 14.SPX daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 5,119 level is the critical support to watch out for on the downside. If this level gets taken out, the index could plummet to 4,950. The bulls are expected to vigorously defend the zone between 4,950 and 4,835.Instead, if the price rebounds off 5,119, it signals that the bulls are trying to form a higher low. The index could then oscillate between 5,119 and 5,500 for a while. Buyers will have to drive the price above 5,500 to signal that the correction may be over.US Dollar Index price analysisThe US Dollar Index resumed its downtrend on April 21, indicating that the bears remain in charge.DXY daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe index could collapse to 97.50, which could act as strong support. The oversold level on the relative strength index (RSI) signals a possible relief rally in the near term. Sellers are expected to aggressively defend the zone between 99 and 100.27 on any recovery attempt. If the price turns down from the overhead zone, the index risks a fall to 95.The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the 100.27 resistance. That indicates solid buying at lower levels. A short-term trend change is likely if buyers propel the price above the 20-day EMA (101.64).Bitcoin price analysisBitcoin made a decisive move higher after days of narrow-range trading, and the price has reached a critical resistance at the 200-day SMA ($88,238). BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe moving averages are about to complete a bullish crossover, and the RSI has risen into positive territory, indicating an advantage to buyers. If the 200-day SMA is scaled, it suggests that the BTC/USDT pair may have bottomed out in the near term. The pair could rally to $95,000 and subsequently to the psychologically vital level of $100,000.The 20-day EMA ($84,176) is likely to act as strong support during any pullback. A break and close below the 20-day EMA signals that the bears are back in the game. The pair may then tumble to $78,500.Ether price analysisEther (ETH) remains in a downtrend, but the bulls are trying to start a relief rally by pushing the price above the 20-day EMA ($1,659).ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe recovery is expected to face selling in the zone between $1,754 and the 50-day SMA ($1,846). If the price turns down from the overhead zone, it heightens the risk of a break below $1,368.Contrarily, a break and close above the 50-day SMA clears the path for a rally to the breakdown level of $2,111. Sellers are expected to defend the level with all their might because a break above it suggests that the ETH/USDT pair may have bottomed out. The pair may then rise to $2,600.XRP price analysisXRP (XRP) has risen above the 20-day EMA ($2.09), indicating that the bearish momentum has weakened.XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThere is resistance at the 50-day SMA ($2.21), but if the level is crossed, the XRP/USDT pair could march toward the resistance line. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the resistance line because a rally above it signals a potential trend change.The $2 level is the crucial support on the downside. A break and close below $2 indicates that the bears remain in command. The pair may then tumble to $1.72 and eventually to $1.61.BNB price analysisBNB (BNB) broke out of the downtrend line on April 21, indicating that the bulls are trying to seize control.BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA close above the downtrend line opens the doors for a rally to $645. Sellers will try to halt the up move at $645, but if the bulls do not give up much ground, the BNB/USDT pair may rise to $680.Time is running out for the bears. If they want to make a comeback, they will have to quickly pull the price below $566. Such a move indicates that the markets have rejected the breakout above the downtrend line. The pair could then spend some more time inside the triangle.Solana price analysisSolana (SOL) has been gradually climbing toward the $148 to $153 overhead resistance zone, indicating that the bears are losing their grip.SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe moving averages are on the verge of completing a bullish crossover, and the RSI is in the positive zone, indicating that the path of least resistance is to the upside. The SOL/USDT pair could rally to $180 if buyers pierce the overhead zone.Related: Bitcoin longs cut $106M — Are Bitfinex BTC whales turning bearish above $86K?On the contrary, if the price turns down sharply from the overhead zone, it suggests that the bears are selling on rallies. That could keep the pair range-bound between $153 and $120 for some time.Dogecoin price analysisDogecoin (DOGE) has been clinging to the 20-day EMA ($0.16), indicating that the selling pressure is reducing.DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe flattening 20-day EMA and the RSI near the midpoint suggest a balance between supply and demand. A break and close above the 50-day SMA ($0.17) tilts the advantage in favor of the bulls. The DOGE/USDT pair could then rally to $0.21.The $0.14 level remains the key support to watch out for on the downside. Sellers will have to yank the price below $0.14 to signal the resumption of the downtrend. The pair could drop to $0.13 and later to $0.10.Cardano price analysisThe bulls are trying to maintain Cardano (ADA) above the 20-day EMA ($0.63), signaling a comeback.ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe ADA/USDT pair could rise to the 50-day SMA ($0.69), which is a crucial near-term resistance to watch out for. If buyers kick the price above the 50-day SMA, it suggests that the corrective phase may be over. The pair could climb to $0.83 and thereafter to $1.03.If the price turns down from the 50-day SMA, the bulls will try to halt the pullback at the 20-day EMA. If that happens, it increases the possibility of a rise above the 50-day SMA. The advantage will tilt in favor of the bears on a break below $0.58. Chainlink price analysisChainlink (LINK) closed above the 20-day EMA ($12.90) on April 19 and has reached the 50-day SMA ($13.63).LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers will try to defend the 50-day SMA, but if the bulls overcome the barrier, the LINK/USDT pair could pick up momentum and rally toward the resistance line of the descending channel pattern. The $16 level may act as a hurdle, but it is likely to be crossed.The first support on the downside is the 20-day EMA and then $11.68. A break and close below $11.68 suggests that bears remain in control. The pair may then slump to the support line, where buyers are expected to step in.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.
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Consensys, Solana, Uniswap CEO donated to Trump's $239M inauguration fund
by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 21, 2025 at 3:54 pm
New filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reveal that several cryptocurrency firms and their executives made significant contributions to US President Donald Trump’s inauguration fund after the results of the 2024 election. According to FEC filings made public on April 20 by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams donated more than $245,000, Solana Labs donated $1 million, and software firm Consensys sent $100,000 in January to support the then-president-elect’s inauguration. Many major crypto firms had previously announced their support of Trump through donations to the inaugural fund, including Coinbase, Ripple Labs, Kraken, Ondo Finance, and Robinhood.Jan. 9 contribution from Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams to Trump-Vance inauguration fund. Source: FECAltogether, the fund reported more than $239 million in net donations between Nov. 15 and April 20 from companies and individuals. These included $1 million from McDonald’s, $1 million from Meta, $1 million from Apple CEO Tim Cook, $1 million from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and various contributions from Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, FedEx, Nvidia, PayPal, Target, and Coca-Cola. Since Trump took office on Jan. 20 and appointed Mark Uyeda as acting chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the agency has dropped multiple investigations and enforcement actions against crypto firms, including those that donated to the president’s 2024 campaign or inauguration fund. In February, Uniswap reported that the SEC had dropped its probe into the firm, and Consensys founder Joseph Lubin said the agency had agreed to end a separate lawsuit. Memecoins, stablecoin issuers, and future electionsTrump’s memecoin, launched on Jan. 17 on the Solana blockchain — along with his wife Melania’s, which was available a few days later — has many in the crypto industry and members of Congress voicing concern over conflicts of interest potentially arising from the president appearing to capitalizing on his position.Trump’s family is also behind the launch of World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm responsible for a US dollar-pegged stablecoin at a time when lawmakers are considering legislation to regulate the technology.In addition to the Consensys case, the SEC said it intended to drop enforcement actions or investigations into Ripple, Kraken, Robinhood Crypto and Coinbase. The three firms donated a combined $9 million to the inauguration fund.Related: Trump’s next crypto play will be Monopoly-style game — ReportThe 2024 US election cycle saw crypto-backed political action committees (PACs) spending more than $131 million to influence races in crucial congressional districts. The Fairshake PAC has already said it had more than $100 million available, in part from contributions from Coinbase and Ripple, to spend on the 2026 midterms. Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions
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Bitcoin price tops $88.5K as BTC doubles down on stocks decoupling
by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on April 21, 2025 at 3:23 pm
Bitcoin (BTC) doubled down on its divergence from stocks at the April 21 Wall Street open as US trade war tensions escalated. BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewTrade war reactions fuel BTC price gainsData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD matching month-to-date highs above $88,000.Bitcoin continued higher after the weekly close to catch up with gold as the latter set fresh all-time highs of $3,430 per ounce.XAU/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBy contrast, stock markets came under renewed selling pressure, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index both down over 2% at the time of writing.Newfound BTC price strength thus appeared to end lockstep trading with equities as part of reactions to trade-war headlines.These included warnings about the deterioration of relations with the US from both China and Japan, while US President Donald Trump renewed existing attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates.Source: Donald Trump“Technology stocks have gotten crushed again over the last week. Nvidia, NVDA, is down over -15% since last Monday while multiple other Mag 7 stocks are down 10%+,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter wrote in part of a reaction thread on X. “Without technology stocks, this market cannot bottom.”S&P 500 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewKobeissi also referenced downside pressure on the US Dollar Index (DXY), which traded at its lowest levels since March 2022.“While the USD, DXY, falls to a new 52-week low below 99, Bitcoin and Gold are surging,” it summarized. “Markets need trade deals ASAP.”US dollar index (DXY) vs. BTC/USD chart. Source: The Kobeissi Letter/XBitcoin “institutional confidence returning”Continuing, trading firm QCP Capital struck an optimistic tone.Related: US dollar goes ‘no-bid’ — 5 things to know in Bitcoin this weekBitcoin, it argued in its latest bulletin to Telegram channel subscribers, seemed to be sharing some of gold’s limelight as a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty after months of failure.“With equities finishing last week in the red and extending an April drawdown, the narrative of BTC as a safe haven or inflation hedge is once again gaining traction. Should this dynamic hold, it could provide a fresh tailwind for institutional BTC allocation,” it wrote.QCP even suggested that recent outflows from the US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may soon recover.“Indeed, we’re already seeing early signs of institutional confidence returning. Spot BTC ETF flows turned positive last week with net inflows of $13.4 million, a stark contrast to the previous week’s $708 million in outflows,” the bulletin noted. “In options markets, positioning has turned more balanced. Risk reversals across tenors have flattened out, diverging from the persistent near-dated put skew that has dominated for weeks.”US spot Bitcoin ETF flows (screenshot). Source: Farside InvestorsThis 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.
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Toxic Agribusiness’s Genetically Mutilated Greenwash
by Editor on April 22, 2025 at 7:30 am
In recent years, the global movement toward regenerative and organic agriculture has gained significant momentum. These approaches promise to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and create more sustainable and resilient food systems. Rooted in ecological principles and farmer autonomy, these practices have become vital alternatives to the destructive patterns of …
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Let’s talk about…Klaus & Francis
by Editor on April 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Just weeks after announcing he would be stepping down as Davos Chief within the next 18 months, Klaus Schwab has stepped down with immediate effect. A surprising move, and one that sees one of the few-remaining Covid-era “leaders” exit the world stage. For those keeping count, Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, …
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Congress’s Biggest Financial Priority Is “Stablecoin.” What the Hell Is That?
by Matt Sledge on April 21, 2025 at 10:00 am
Instead of tackling crashing markets, Congress is pushing a crypto sector that the Trump family is financially involved in. The post Congress’s Biggest Financial Priority Is “Stablecoin.” What the Hell Is That? appeared first on The Intercept.
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WATCH: Paul vs James & the Birth of Christianity
by Editor on April 20, 2025 at 3:00 pm
A highly interesting documentary from the days before the History Channel was nothing but staged reality shows, this film discusses the men who inherited Jesus’ followers after his death, the conflict between them and how it shaped the fledgling Christian Church. Happy Easter!
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Trump’s Power Feeds on White Demographic Fears
by James Risen on April 20, 2025 at 11:00 am
Paranoid about losing their majority status and the power it confers, white Americans keep backing Trump’s racist anti-immigrant policies. The post Trump’s Power Feeds on White Demographic Fears appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Galaxy Brains of the Trump White House Want to Use Tariffs to Buy Bitcoin
by Matt Sledge on April 19, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Critics on the right and left say the bitcoin reserve is a pointless industry handout — and using tariff revenue is even dumber. The post The Galaxy Brains of the Trump White House Want to Use Tariffs to Buy Bitcoin appeared first on The Intercept.
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Truth for Truth’s Sake
by Editor on April 19, 2025 at 2:00 pm
I’ll tell you another pet peeve of mine—people who ask me why it is important to know the truth if I can’t do anything about it. I find it strange that people do not seek truth for truth’s sake. Sure, there are times when you really do not need to know the truth about something. …
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DOGE Installs a Former Tesla Employee at the FBI
by Shawn Musgrave on April 18, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Former Tesla employee Tarak Makecha has roles at the FBI and the Justice Department, records reviewed by The Intercept show. The post DOGE Installs a Former Tesla Employee at the FBI appeared first on The Intercept.
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WATCH: What I Learned From The JFK Files
by Editor on April 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm
In case you haven’t heard, the JFK files just dropped recently. So, what are these documents? Where did they come from? What do they contain? And, most important of all, why have they been hidden from us for over 60 years? James Corbett has the answers in this deep dive edition of The Corbett Report …
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Facing Life in Prison Based on Shoddy Evidence, a Florida Mother Makes a Deal
by Liliana Segura on April 18, 2025 at 2:28 pm
Michelle Taylor was accused of setting a fire that killed her son for insurance money — even though the arson evidence didn’t hold up. The post Facing Life in Prison Based on Shoddy Evidence, a Florida Mother Makes a Deal appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Evidence Linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13: A Chicago Bulls Hat and a Hoodie
by Jessica Washington on April 18, 2025 at 11:47 am
What’s it take for Trump to label someone a gang member and deport them to a prison in El Salvador? Little more than a Chicago Bulls cap. The post The Evidence Linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13: A Chicago Bulls Hat and a Hoodie appeared first on The Intercept.
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Bait and Switch: Mohsen Mahdawi’s Citizenship Trap
by The Intercept Briefing on April 18, 2025 at 10:00 am
Rep. Becca Balint and immigration lawyer Matt Cameron discuss Mahdawi’s arrest at his naturalization interview and the legal strategy that could affect us all. The post Bait and Switch: Mohsen Mahdawi’s Citizenship Trap appeared first on The Intercept.
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Universities Told Students to Leave the Country. ICE Just Said They Didn’t Actually Have To.
by Natasha Lennard on April 17, 2025 at 6:05 pm
In their haste to comply with apparent directives from Trump, universities became unwitting handmaidens of the deportation machine. The post Universities Told Students to Leave the Country. ICE Just Said They Didn’t Actually Have To. appeared first on The Intercept.
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Bitchute, the UK and modern censorship in action
by Kit Knightly on April 17, 2025 at 11:30 am
Last week, alternative video-sharing platform BitChute announced they would no longer allow UK-based users to view content on their site. The opening of their official statement makes the reason quite clear [you can read the whole thing here]: After careful review and ongoing evaluation of the regulatory landscape in the United Kingdom, we regret to …
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No-Bid ICE Contract Went to Former ICE Agents Being Sued for Fabricating Criminal Evidence on the...
by Sam Biddle on April 17, 2025 at 11:00 am
The $73 million deal for assisting with deportations went to a company whose executives are accused of retaliating against a fellow ICE worker. The post No-Bid ICE Contract Went to Former ICE Agents Being Sued for Fabricating Criminal Evidence on the Job appeared first on The Intercept.
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Inside Columbia’s Betrayal of Its Middle Eastern Studies Department
by Meghnad Bose on April 16, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Columbia reassured its Middle Eastern studies scholars behind the scenes — then, to appease Trump, threw them to the wolves. The post Inside Columbia’s Betrayal of Its Middle Eastern Studies Department appeared first on The Intercept.
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“How Can I Take Anyone Seriously Talking About Mohsen Being Antisemitic?”
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Marco Rubio revoked his green card for antisemitism. His Jewish Israeli friend calls bullshit. The post “How Can I Take Anyone Seriously Talking About Mohsen Being Antisemitic?” appeared first on The Intercept.
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Fetterman Campaign Bleeds Money
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 10:05 pm
As he cozies up to Trump and Netanyahu, Sen. John Fetterman brought in less than half his average haul over the last five quarters. The post Fetterman Campaign Bleeds Money appeared first on The Intercept.
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Nobel Winner Joseph Stiglitz Denounces Columbia’s Apparent Capitulation to Trump
by Meghnad Bose on April 15, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Stiglitz, perhaps the most renowned Columbia professor, gave an exclusive interview to The Intercept on academic freedom, deportations of students, and more. The post Nobel Winner Joseph Stiglitz Denounces Columbia’s Apparent Capitulation to Trump appeared first on The Intercept.
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Pitt’s Suspension of Pro-Palestine Student Group Violates First Amendment, Says ACLU Lawsuit
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 5:21 pm
“Pitt cannot constitutionally put its thumb on one side of the debate by harassing and chilling the pro-Palestinian students.” The post Pitt’s Suspension of Pro-Palestine Student Group Violates First Amendment, Says ACLU Lawsuit appeared first on The Intercept.
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Goodbye Jury Trials, Hello Digital ID: 10 “recommendations” from the Crime and Justice...
by Kit Knightly on April 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm
The Times Crime and Justice Commission was established last year, with its mission statement being to… consider the future of policing and the criminal justice system, in the light of the knife crime crisis, a shoplifting epidemic, the growing threat of cybercrime, concerns about the culture of the police, court backlogs, problems with legal aid …
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Pete Hegseth Is Gutting Pentagon Programs to Reduce Civilian Casualties
by Nick Turse on April 15, 2025 at 11:00 am
The defense secretary’s focus on “lethality” could lead to “wanton killing and wholesale destruction and disregard for law,” one Pentagon official said. The post Pete Hegseth Is Gutting Pentagon Programs to Reduce Civilian Casualties appeared first on The Intercept.
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Palestinian Student Leader Was Called In for Citizenship Interview — Then Arrested by ICE
by Akela Lacy on April 14, 2025 at 5:03 pm
A green card holder, Columbia University protest leader Mohsen Mahdawi faced attacks from pro-Israel activists. The post Palestinian Student Leader Was Called In for Citizenship Interview — Then Arrested by ICE appeared first on The Intercept.
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This Week in the New Normal #100
by Kit Knightly on April 14, 2025 at 2:30 pm
This week is our one hundredth edition of This Week in the New Normal! …except it isn’t really. Due to some special editions going unnumbered I think we’re actually around 104. But we at OffGuardian are nothing if not on trend, and since these days cool kids are simply saying stuff that is provably untrue …
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Trump Will Be Long Gone Before Luigi Mangione Faces Execution
by Liliana Segura on April 14, 2025 at 1:30 pm
The Trump administration vows to seek the death penalty “whenever possible.” But federal cases move slowly, and few result in a death sentence at all. The post Trump Will Be Long Gone Before Luigi Mangione Faces Execution appeared first on The Intercept.
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Pentagon Considers Cutting Its Sexual Assault Rules
by Jessica Washington on April 14, 2025 at 11:00 am
On the chopping block is the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, which tracks sexual violence in the military and supports victims. The post Pentagon Considers Cutting Its Sexual Assault Rules appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Unusual Nonprofit That Helps ICE Spy on Wire Transfers
by Shawn Musgrave on April 14, 2025 at 10:00 am
A little-known database logs hundreds of millions of wire transfers sent to or from Mexico, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. The post The Unusual Nonprofit That Helps ICE Spy on Wire Transfers appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Cow That Lives Forever
by Kit Knightly on April 13, 2025 at 5:30 pm
The scientists had done it. They had solved world hunger, they had ended farming as we know it and they had rid the world of animal cruelty. It wasn’t an easy path, naturally. Like so many strides in science before, its initial steps were in the other direction. The research on regeneration was originally military, …
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The Tesla Takedown Shows How We Can Make Oligarchs Feel the Pain
by Sunjeev Bery on April 13, 2025 at 10:00 am
The “Tesla Takedown” protests reveal a major vulnerability of the Trump regime. The post The Tesla Takedown Shows How We Can Make Oligarchs Feel the Pain appeared first on The Intercept.
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Who Set Up The Hit?
by Michael Shrimpton on July 21, 2024 at 9:03 pm
It is now clear that Thomas Matthew Crooks was not acting alone last Saturday when he shot President Trump at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in Connoquonessing Township, Butler County PA. Since there are almost no lone gunmen that conclusion should not terribly surprising. It’s also clear that in a reprise of the assassination of
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Might The Polls Be Wrong?
by Michael Shrimpton on July 3, 2024 at 7:36 pm
Every poll published so far in the British General Election campaign has shown Labour well in the lead, with margins of between roughly 15 and 25 per cent over the hapless Tories. Some of these have been MRP mega-polls with over 20,000 people contacted. The Tories are in full retreat, restricting campaigning to seats with
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Why Is the African Dish, Shakshuka So Popular In Israel?
by Managing Editor on April 22, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Why Is the African Dish, Shakshuka So Popular In Israel? Shakshuka is an African-inspired dish with a rich history as it spread its influence to another country a long time ago, Israel. The Ottoman Empire and other North African nations enhanced the original influence of the traditional shakshuka recipe. North African Jewish immigrants that came
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Exploring Winning Betting Strategies In Blackjack
by Managing Editor on April 1, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Exploring Winning Betting Strategies In Blackjack In the exciting world of online casinos, few are as alluring and intriguing as blackjack. Known for its blend of skill and chance, this thrilling card game has enthralled players for centuries. While mastering the basic rules and strategies of blackjack is essential, understanding how to manage your bets
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How to Identify GI Bill Fraud
by Managing Editor on March 19, 2024 at 4:33 pm
How to Identify GI Bill Fraud The US government offers incentives and benefits for veterans who have served their country. Many of these benefits, including those under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, are tied to higher education and the costs associated with pursuing a degree. These benefits are designed to help veterans continue to advance
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Rumsfeld Shady Heritage in Pandemic: GILEAD’s Intrigues with WHO & Wuhan Lab. Bio-Weapons’...
by Fabio G. C. Carisio on March 11, 2024 at 8:21 am
«You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge”, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent». (Holy Bible – Psalm 90) by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio UPDATE ON JULY,
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Age Old Battle Between Khazarian Mafia and True Christianity Crashing Into Finality
by Jonas E. Alexis, Senior Editor on March 10, 2024 at 9:03 am
According to unconfirmed reports, yesterday Israel sent troops into Ukraine to fight the Russians for Zelensky’s army; both soundly defeated in short order. This kind of action seems to be a hopeless endeavor as the Russian Federation’s apparent complete weapons superiority (so far) seems to assure RF victory in the Ukraine.
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Shipping to Poland from the US: Navigating Customs Clearance
by Managing Editor on February 5, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Shipping to Poland from the US: Navigating Customs Clearance A few key steps are crucial When ensuring your international shipment reaches Poland without a hitch. First, pack your items carefully and accurately label them with the recipient’s address. It’s also vital to verify that what you’re sending isn’t on the list of prohibited items. Completing
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Braving the Storm and Tackling Addiction in the Ranks of US Veterans
by Managing Editor on February 4, 2024 at 11:40 pm
The battle doesn’t always end when our soldiers return home. For many US veterans, the transition back to civilian life brings with it a new kind of warfare – one against addiction. This silent struggle often goes unnoticed, yet it is as real and challenging as any faced on the battlefield. In a society
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Navigating the Transition from Battlefield to Civilian Life for Our Homefront Heroes
by Managing Editor on February 4, 2024 at 11:28 pm
The return home for veterans, often portrayed as a hero’s welcome, is a journey of complexities and challenges. As they transition from the structured life of military service to the civilian world, veterans face myriad adjustments that can be both daunting and disorienting. This article delves into the realities of life for veterans returning