Alternative News for You

by Brandon Long on April 19, 2025 at 12:30 am

A desire to spend more time with family has driven Queensland farmers Andrew and Jocie Bate to develop robots capable of operating day and night.

on April 18, 2025 at 11:48 pm

Tasmania Police has opened an investigation into the death of a pedestrian after a body was found on a major highway north of Hobart in the early hours of Saturday morning.

by Gabrielle Becerra Mellet on April 18, 2025 at 11:46 pm

As Queensland's Jimmy Judge prepares to showcase his competitive eating skills across the country, venue owners say food challenges are helping them attract business. 

by Chris De Silva on April 18, 2025 at 11:22 pm

Jai Arrow downplays a verbal stoush he had with a Bulldogs fan seated inside Stadium Australia after the Rabbitohs' humiliating 32-0 loss.

by Giulia Bertoglio, Mya Kordic, and Dunja Karagic on April 18, 2025 at 11:21 pm

Emergency services say they will continue to monitor ex-cyclone Errol as it moves through the Kimberley, bringing welcome rain ahead of the busy tourist season.

by Nakita Jager on April 18, 2025 at 11:09 pm

The vision for this medieval-style masterpiece came to its former owner in a dream in the 1990s, and now it will be passed on to a new family. 

by Anthea Beveridge on April 18, 2025 at 10:53 pm

Many online fitness programs can claim to build a butt or be perfect for building abs, but looking past marketing terminology to find a program that best suits your health and fitness goals can be challenging.

by Melissa Brown on April 18, 2025 at 10:49 pm

A six-year-old boy who wandered away from family in the Dandenong Ranges has been found, but a search continues for a man hit by a wave while exploring the beach near San Remo.

by David Hirst on April 18, 2025 at 10:47 pm

An eight-year-old boy remains in an induced coma after the body of a woman, believed to be his mother, was found in a burnt-out car in Sydney's south-west.

by Dominic Cansdale on April 18, 2025 at 10:45 pm

A track extension promises to bring millions of passengers through Mermaid Beach every year but some business owners wonder if their stores will survive long enough to see the benefits. 

by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 18, 2025 at 10:20 pm

US Senator Elizabeth Warren warned that if President Donald Trump eventually moves to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, it could undermine investor confidence in the integrity of US capital markets and trigger a financial crash.During an appearance on CNBC, the Massachusetts Senator said the President does not have the legal authority to remove Powell from his position. Moreover, removing Powell would weaken the financial infrastructure of the US, Warren added:"If Chairman Powell can be fired by the President of the United States, it will crash the markets. The infrastructure that keeps this stock market strong and, therefore, a big part of our economy strong, and a big part of the world economy strong, is the idea that the big pieces move independently of politics.""If interest rates in the United States are subject to a president who just wants to wave his magic wand, this doesn't distinguish us from any other two-bit dictatorship," Warren continued.Trump discusses US economic policies with reporters. Source: The White HousePresident Trump has repeatedly called for Powell's termination, citing the chairman's hesitancy to lower interest rates. Lower interest rates are usually considered a positive catalyst for risk-on asset prices, including cryptocurrencies, and could reverse the market downturn brought on by the trade war and current macroeconomic pressures.Related: Fed's Powell reasserts support for stablecoin legislationTrump's feud with the Federal Reserve chairmanTrump criticized Powell for not cutting interest rates and called for his termination again in an April 17 Truth Social post, which inflamed speculation that he would follow through on threats and find a way to remove the chairman.Senator Rick Scott echoed Trump's calls to remove Powell. "It’s time to clean house of everyone working at the Federal Reserve who isn’t on board with helping the American people and fighting for their best interests," Scott wrote in an opinion piece published on Fox News. Source: Donald TrumpThe Trump administration has repeatedly stated that lowering interest rates is a top priority. Market analyst and investor Anthony Pompliano recently speculated that Trump deliberately crashed financial markets to force lower interest rates.At the time, Pompliano cited a reduction in the yield of the 10-year US Treasury Bond to just 4%. The 10-year bond yield has climbed back up to 4.3% since then.Magazine: Meebits and CryptoPunks are like Hot Wheels for adults: New MeebCo owner Sergito

by Andrew Thorpe and Caitlin Rawling on April 18, 2025 at 10:18 pm

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is selling the Coalition's newly announced small business tax package in Sydney this morning, where he's set to tour the Royal Easter Show. Meanwhile, Labor is talking up its proposed changes to penalty rates, which would prevent reductions in weekend rates for lower-paid workers. Follow live.  

by Lucia Stein on April 18, 2025 at 10:00 pm

Cats pose a real threat to native animals in Australia, but finding a one-size-fits-all approach is proving tricky.

on April 18, 2025 at 9:56 pm

Alex de Minaur fights hard but is beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open, his latest loss against an opponent inside the top 10.

by Cointelegraph by Cointelegraph on April 18, 2025 at 9:56 pm

Today in crypto, US federal prosecutors continue their case against SafeMoon’s CEO; Spar shoppers in Zug, Switzerland, can now pay for groceries in Bitcoin via the Lightning Network; and a new TRM Labs report shows rising DeFi usage in Yemen as US sanctions target the Houthi-designated terrorist group.US prosecutors to pursue ex-SafeMoon CEO case despite DOJ memoFederal prosecutors said they will continue pursuing their case against Braden John Karony, the former CEO of crypto firm SafeMoon, despite the US Justice Department issuing a memo suggesting a policy of abandoning “regulation by prosecution” related to digital assets.In an April 18 filing in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, US Attorney for EDNY John Durham said his office had reviewed the April 7 DOJ memo issued by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and intended to proceed with a trial against Karony.The former SafeMoon CEO faces securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy charges for allegedly “divert[ing] and misappropriat[ing] millions of dollars’ worth” of the platform’s SFM token between 2021 and 2022.April 18 notice that US prosecutors will continue to prosecute John Karony. Source: PACERSpar supermarket in Switzerland starts accepting Bitcoin paymentsGlobal grocery giant Spar has rolled out Bitcoin-based payments in a Swiss city, marking another step in the growing adoption of cryptocurrency for everyday transactions.A Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has implemented Bitcoin (BTC) payments via the Lightning Network.The store’s Bitcoin payments went live on BTC Mao, a community-driven project highlighting stores that accept BTC payments, DFX Swiss, a crypto-to-fiat payment solution firm, announced in an April 17 LinkedIn post.“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin (via LNURL), thanks to our new hashtag#OpenCryptoPay solution, an open P2P standard for in-person crypto payments,” DFX said.Spar in Zug adopts Bitcoin payment, announcement. Source: DFX SwissSwitzerland has long been regarded as one of the more crypto-friendly European jurisdictions with some of the earliest crypto-adoption initiatives.In 2023, the Swiss city of Lugano adopted Bitcoin and Tether USDt (USDT) payments for all municipal fees, one of the world’s first city administrations to do so.Yemenis are turning to DeFi as US sanctions target Houthi groupYemeni citizens are increasingly using decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to bank themselves amid US sanctions aimed at the Houthi group, which they have deemed a terrorist organization. DeFi platforms account for most of Yemen’s crypto-related web traffic, taking up over 63% of observed activity, while global centralized exchanges account for 18% of crypto-related web traffic, TRM Labs data shows.DeFi platforms account for most of Yemen’s crypto-related web traffic, followed by centralized exchanges. Source: TRM LabsIn the past, internet infrastructure challenges and low financial literacy among the war-torn population contributed to relatively limited crypto adoption, according to an April 17 report from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs.“However, there are signs of growing interest and usage driven primarily by necessity rather than speculation,” the blockchain intelligence firm said. “For those who use cryptocurrencies in Yemen, the ability to bypass the disruption in local financial services offers a modicum of financial resilience, especially as banks can be difficult to access or are simply inoperable due to the ongoing conflict.”  

by Costa Haritos on April 18, 2025 at 9:52 pm

Usually Catholic and Protestant Easter falls a couple of weeks before Eastern Orthodox Easter, but this year all Christians will be celebrating at the same time.

by Stephanie Richards on April 18, 2025 at 9:51 pm

Small businesses working over the busy Easter period are counting the cost of rising prices, global economic uncertainty and customers who are becoming more frugal.

on April 18, 2025 at 9:35 pm

US President Donald Trump has hit back at Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen for meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia and insists he will not facilitate Garcia's return from El Salvador, despite the US Supreme Court directing him to.

by Warwick Long on April 18, 2025 at 9:33 pm

Do you know where the timber in your local hardware store comes from? The 

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 18, 2025 at 9:31 pm

United States asset manager Canary Capital has filed to list an exchange-traded fund (ETF) holding the Tron blockchain network’s native token, TRX (TRX), regulatory filings show. The fund intends to hold spot TRX and stake a portion of the tokens for added yield, the filing said. According to CoinMarketCap, the TRX token has a total market capitalization of more than $22 billion. Staking TRX generates an annualized yield of approximately 4.5%, data from Stakingrewards.com shows.The filing is the latest in an outpouring of submissions aimed at listing ETFs holding alternative cryptocurrencies, or “altcoins.” However, Canary’s proposed fund is relatively unique in requesting permission to stake its crypto holdings in its initial application. Other US ETFs, such as those holding the Ethereum network’s native token, Ether (ETH), have sought approval for staking only after successfully listing a fund holding the spot token. They are still waiting for a regulatory decision. Tron is a proof-of-stake blockchain network founded by Justin Sun, who also owns Rainberry (formerly Bittorrent), the developer of the BitTorrent protocol. In March 2023, the SEC sued Sun for allegedly fraudulently inflating the prices of the Tron token and BitTorrent’s BTT token. In February, the SEC and Sun asked the judge overseeing the lawsuit to pause the case to allow the parties to enter into settlement talks. Platforms for staking TRX. Source: Stakingrewards.comRelated: Canary Capital proposes first Sui ETF in US SEC filingAltcoin ETF seasonSince US President Donald Trump took office in January, US regulators have acknowledged dozens of filings for proposed crypto investment products. They include plans for ETFs holding native layer-1 tokens such as Solana (SOL) as well as memecoins such as Official Trump (TRUMP). Since 2024, Canary has filed for several proposed US crypto ETFs, including funds holding Litecoin (LTC), XRP (XRP), Hedera (HBAR), Axelar (AXL), Pengu (PENGU), and Sui (SUI).Some industry analysts doubt that ETFs holding non-core cryptocurrencies will be embraced by traditional investors.“Most crypto ETFs will fail to attract AUM and cost issuers money,” crypto researcher Alex Krüger said in a March post on the X platform.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 18, 2025 at 9:30 pm

An Aptos community member submitted a proposal on April 18 to slash staking rewards for the network’s native token, Aptos (APT), by nearly 50%The proposal, submitted by a community member called MoonSheisty, aims at reducing reward yields from 7% to 3.79% in a three-month period, aligning Aptos staking rewards with other layer-1 blockchains and encouraging capital efficiency.The proposal has sparked curiosity on X, but early comments on GitHub show some initial resistance.A community member going by ElagabalxNode noted that reducing the staking reward without “compensatory mechanisms like a robust delegation program” could push smaller validators out of the network, thus weakening the Aptos blockchain’s decentralization and long-term resistance.Related: Aptos to accelerate innovation with new tech, investment in IndiaThe proposal addresses the validators’ role in the network, stating that Aptos should consider a community validator program to give grants and stake to small validators contributing to the ecosystem.”Aptos was founded in 2021 by a group of former Meta engineers. According to DefiLlama, the Aptos blockchain has a total value locked of $974 million as of April 18, with nearly a $320 million coming from lending protocol Aries Markets.Aptos TVL and other metrics. Source: DefiLlamaWhile high staking rewards can incentivize users to lock up tokens on Aptos, MoonSheisty argues that they may also discourage participation in higher-risk, higher-reward opportunities within the ecosystem, such as restaking, DePIN infrastructure, MEV, and decentralized finance.Staking ‘real reward rates’ vary considerablyStaking rewards can vary significantly across blockchains. According to CoinLedger, real returns on the BNB Smart Chain are among the highest at 7.43%, while Cardano offers one of the lowest at just 0.55%.Staking offers multiple benefits: It incentivizes users to lock their tokens on-chain, supports validators and helps secure the network. Rewards work similarly to interest earned on a savings account — but instead of cash, stakers earn crypto, which can fluctuate in fiat value.Related: Coinbase’s Ethereum staking dominance risks overcentralization: ExecsFrom time to time, proposals emerge aiming to modify staking procedures. In June 2024, Polkadot introduced a proposal to reduce the time needed to unstake to just two days. In September, the Starknet community voted to pass a new staking mechanism, while Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed solutions to staking issues a few weeks later.While staking gives the community a true “stake” in the network, there are risks associated with it, including the consolidation of smaller pools into larger ones. This trend can undermine decentralization and weaken the blockchain’s overall resilience. Magazine: Ethereum restaking — Blockchain innovation or dangerous house of cards?

on April 18, 2025 at 9:22 pm

Melbourne City continues a 27-match unbeaten run with a 5-1 win over Perth Glory to seal a second consecutive A-League Women premiership.

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 18, 2025 at 9:04 pm

Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO of cryptocurrency payment firm MoonPay, is calling on US lawmakers to leave a path open to state-level regulators when passing legislation on stablecoins.In an April 18 X post, Soto-Wright said he wanted Congress to “keep state-regulated issuers in the game” when it comes to stablecoin regulation, referencing efforts in the House of Representatives and Senate to create a federal regulatory framework. Lawmakers are considering whether to pass the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins, or GENIUS Act, in the Senate and the Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy, or STABLE Act, in the House.“While the cryptocurrency industry has called for federal legislation for years, it has been these state regulators who have provided and continue to provide regulatory clarity and supervision to ensure consumer protection and enable growth in the sector,” said Soto-Wright. “As federal legislation now approaches the finish line, it is essential to preserve viable state pathways for PSIs [permitted stablecoin issuers] that place the state regulators who meet the standards set out in GENIUS and STABLE on equal footing with federal regulators.”April 17 letter from MoonPay CEO to congressional leadership. Source: Ivan Soto-WrightThe MoonPay CEO’s comment echoed those of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), which wrote to leadership on the House Financial Services Committee in an April 1 letter and recommended a similar state-level approach. Both the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee voted to advance the bills in March and April, respectively, paving the way for a full floor vote.Related: Lawmaker alleges Trump wants to replace US dollar with his stablecoinThe STABLE Act, a companion bill modeled after the GENIUS Act, proposed regulating payment stablecoins by limiting them to “permitted payment stablecoin issuers,” allowing for “state qualified” ones. Soto-Wright said the GENIUS bill “stacks the deck” for permitted stablecoin issuers through federal regulators over state-level ones and the Federal Reserve to be the “sole federal regulator for all state PSIs.”Trump family-backed venture launched its own stablecoinIt’s unclear whether the bills have the necessary votes to pass both chambers before being signed into law by US President Donald Trump. The president and his family members have also backed the launch of their own stablecoin through World Liberty Financial, despite allegations of conflicts of interest and potential complications getting the bills through the House and Senate.  World Liberty Financial, which launched in September 2024, has already received roughly $600 million — largely through token sales — from investors including Tron founder Justin Sun, market maker DWF Labs, venture capital firm Oddiyana Ventures, and investment platform Web3Port. According to the project, its USD1 stablecoin was not tradable as of March 24.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Leonie Thorne on April 18, 2025 at 9:02 pm

Many young people have written to the ABC with a similar story: they feel like they did everything "right" but will never achieve what previous generations did. It's a story that defined the past week in politics. 

on April 18, 2025 at 9:00 pm

Pope Francis misses the Good Friday procession, after nearly dying during a five-week bout with double pneumonia.

on April 18, 2025 at 8:59 pm

The 41-year-old man had offered to help the woman, 84, carry her shopping home and once inside allegedly assaulted her in Sydney's west.

by Sam Nichols on April 18, 2025 at 8:53 pm

Sexual transmitted infections have continued to grow across Australia over the last three decades, with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis spiking in New South Wales alone. The reasons why are complex, experts say.

on April 18, 2025 at 8:39 pm

After eight months on the sidelines, Australia's star all-rounder makes a triumphant return to cricket by scoring an unbeaten century for English county side Gloucestershire.

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 18, 2025 at 8:36 pm

Tokenized stocks are on track to exceed $1 trillion in market capitalization in the coming years as adoption accelerates, two industry executives said at the TokenizeThis conference in New York. The total addressable market for tokenized stocks — a type of tokenized real-world asset (RWA) —  is difficult to project but is “definitely a bigger trillion-dollar market,” Arnab Naskar, STOKR’s CEO, said during an April 16 panel at the event.In 2025, demand for the instruments has “exploded” from institutions ranging from Web3 wallets to neobanks to traditional financial services firms, according to Anna Wroblewska, Dinari’s Chief Business Officer. “We've had an enormous influx of demand from a much broader scope of potential partners than you might even imagine [...] it's actually been really interesting,” Wroblewska said.Tokenized stocks are still a small portion of the total RWA market. Source: RWA.xyzRelated: Tokenization can transform US markets if Trump clears the waySmall but growing market shareAs of April 18, tokenized stocks comprise around $350 million in cumulative market capitalization, according to data from RWA.xyz. This represents only a sliver of the total RWA market, which is worth upward of $18 billion, the data shows. But this could change as tokenized stocks capture a growing share of the US equities market, Wroblewska said. The US stock market has an aggregate value of more than $50 trillion, according to Siblis Research. There is a “huge appetite for US public equities... even individual investors globally want exposure to US capital markets. Tokenization makes it fast and cheap,” Wroblewska said. She added that tokenized US Treasury Bills are already in high demand for similar reasons. They currently comprise nearly $6 billion in total market cap, RWA.xyz data shows. Meanwhile, Coinbase is considering making tokenized shares of its stock available on Base, its Ethereum layer-2 network.Collectively, tokenized RWAs represent a $30 trillion market opportunity globally, Colin Butler, Movement Labs’ global head of institutional capital, told Cointelegraph in an August interview.“Tokenization will become a mirror of the market. If the user experience is better, faster, and cheaper, people will default to tokenized assets,” Wroblewska said.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

by Cointelegraph by Sam Bourgi on April 18, 2025 at 8:00 pm

The US Federal Reserve under Jerome Powell has developed a reputation for dragging its feet on implementing important policy changes. However, a top central banker has assured that the Fed is “absolutely” ready to do whatever it takes to avoid a financial crisis, whether triggered by the US-led trade war or other adverse developments.Although the long-awaited “Fed pivot” could still be months away, policymakers appear poised to gradually ease financial conditions, beginning last month when they reduced the redemption cap on Treasurys by 80%. Fed policy exerts a gravitational pull on global markets through US dollar liquidity, which has a direct impact on Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader cryptocurrency markets. In fact, the Fed’s impact on crypto has only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Bitcoin has been highly correlated with liquidity — a fact that was reinforced by a 2024 academic paper by Kingston University of London. This week’s Crypto Biz newsletter highlights remarks from a senior central bank official and covers major developments in the Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) market and the Bitcoin mining sector.Fed’s Collins: Central bank will respond to liquidity constraints Boston Fed President Susan Collins said the central bank “would absolutely be prepared” to backstop markets if economic and financial conditions deteriorated rapidly. Collins was specifically referring to potential liquidity issues or other disruptions that could hinder normal market functioning.Currently, however, Collins noted that the central bank is “not seeing liquidity concerns.” Should that outlook shift, she emphasized that the Fed has “tools to address concerns about markets functioning or liquidity.”Collins is a voting member of this year’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which is responsible for setting interest rates. Investors expect the FOMC to refrain from cutting interest rates at its forthcoming meeting in May, based on Fed Fund Futures prices. However, the likelihood of a June rate cut has risen to 67.5%. Fed’s Collins pictured in an interview with Bloomberg. Source: Bloomberg TelevisionUS regulators approve options on spot ETH ETFsThe US Securities and Exchange Commission has green-lighted options trading for several spot Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds, an important milestone in ETH’s quest to attract more institutional capital.According to an April 9 announcement, the approvals were granted to BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust, Bitwise’s Ethereum ETF (ETHW), Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund (FETH), and Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH).Options give ETF investors the ability to hedge against a decline in assets, potentially making the funds more attractive to investors. The options trading approval is also seen as an important step in the SEC’s deliberations around staking services on ETH ETFs. According to Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart, the SEC may be on track to approve staking as early as May.Source: James SeyffartSolana staking ETFs come to CanadaAs the US SEC continues to deliberate about crypto staking services, Canadian regulators have approved another suite of crypto staking ETFs, this time for Solana (SOL).This week, asset managers 3iQ, Purpose, Evolve, and CI received approvals from the Ontario Securities Commission to offer staked Solana ETFs. The 3iQ fund selected blockchain infrastructure provider Figment as its primary staking provider. According to 3iQ’s website, its Solana Staking ETF will offer yields of between 6% and 8%.The Toronto-based 3iQ launched a spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETF in 2021, some three years before similar funds were approved in the United States.Bitdeer reportedly pivots to self-mining as trade war rattles supply chainBitcoin mining company Bitdeer is expanding its self-mining capacity and pouring more resources into the United States amid fears that the US-led trade war will rattle global supply chains and upend its hardware business. According to an April 15 report by Bloomberg, Bitdeer is prioritizing BTC mining due to declining demand for its mining rigs.As the broader industry grapples with the potential impact of tariffs, “Our plan going forward is to prioritize our own self-mining,” Bitdeer executive Jeff LaBerge told Bloomberg. On the topic of US expansion, LaBerge said, “This is something we’ve been planning for a long time.” US President Donald Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr, are going all-in on Bitcoin mining after backing a new venture with Hut 8. This follows a renewed commitment by the Trump administration to promote “made in America” Bitcoin.Crypto Biz is your weekly pulse on the business behind blockchain and crypto, delivered directly to your inbox every Thursday.

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on April 18, 2025 at 8:00 pm

On April 7, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) posted a rare spike to 60, a level seen as a barometer of extreme market fear and uncertainty. According to Dan Tapiero, CEO of 10Tfund, the VIX has hit 60 only five times in the last 35 years, and data suggests a rebound for risk assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) in 6 to 12 months. CBOE Volatility Index. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe VIX, which is widely considered a "fear gauge," reflects investor expectations of market turbulence based on S&P 500 options trading. As illustrated in the chart, extreme spikes were seen in 2008 and 2020, typically coinciding with market bottoms, where panic-driven sellers paved the way for generational market entries. In light of that, Tapiero argued that the current spike is no different, with the worst of market fears likely "priced in," setting the stage for a positive future. Tapiero said that “odds favor better future.” Likewise, Julien Bittel, head of macro research at Global Macro Investor (GMI), supported Tapiero’s claim and said that tech stocks are at their most oversold since the COVID-19 crash, with over 55% of Nasdaq 100 stocks posting a 14-day RSI below 30. Such a market signal has occurred only during major crises like the 2008 Lehman Brothers collapse and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.American Association of Individual Investors survey. Source: X.comBittel explained that after the VIX touched 60 last week, it implied peak uncertainty, which breeds fear in investors’ minds. Briefly touching on the US Investors Intelligence Survey, Bittel compared the current bullish sentiment of 23.6% to the lowest reading since December 2008. Additionally, the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) survey respondents are currently 62% bearish, reflecting the highest bearish reading since March 2009. Bittel said,“In other words, we’re back at the same levels of fear that marked the bottom of the equity market after the Global Financial Crisis.”This widespread fear, alongside a rare VIX spike, sets up for market entries in assets like Bitcoin, as the recovery of market liquidity will inevitably flow back into risk-on assets. Related: Saylor, ETF investors’ ‘stronger hands’ help stabilize Bitcoin — AnalystAnalyst warns Bitcoin VIX trends are bearishWhile macroeconomic experts highlighted the possibility of a bullish outcome for risk assets, markets analyst Tony Severino suggested that the Bitcoin/VIX ratio might also lead to a bear market. In a recent X post, Severino predicted that Bitcoin could have already peaked this cycle, but remained open about a possible change in opinion by the end of April. Bitcoin VIX analysis by Tony Severino. Source: X.comAs illustrated in the chart, Severino noted a sell signal at the beginning of January. The analyst used the Elliott Wave theory model to pinpoint the current bearish conditions and said that it is still early to say that Bitcoin will turn bullish based on the VIX correlation. Related: Bitcoin price volatility 'imminent' as speculators move 170K BTC — CryptoQuantThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 18, 2025 at 7:46 pm

TRUMP tokenholders face steep losses as the first vesting unlock goes live on April 18, releasing 40 million tokens, worth roughly $309 million, into circulation at a 90% discount from its peak. The unlocked tokens account for 20% of the current circulating supply and could introduce fresh volatility as a previously illiquid portion of the supply hits the market. According to CoinGecko, the TRUMP token price has fluctuated between $7.46 and $7.83 in the past 24 hours. April 18 marks the first unlock event for the TRUMP token, with steady, smaller unlocks following from that date.TRUMP emission schedule. Source: GetTrumpMemesThe TRUMP token is down 89.5% from its all-time high of $73.43 recorded on Jan. 19, just two days after launching ahead of US President Donald Trump's inauguration. The token's value collapsed in the weeks following its debut, with over 800,000 wallets suffering a total of $2 billion in losses, according to estimates from blockchain analytics firm ChainalysisGains or losses are only realized upon sale, meaning holders won’t incur actual losses unless they choose to sell their tokens. According to the token’s website, the unlocked tokens will belong to the “Creators and CIC Digital LLC.” Related: Donald Trump’s memecoin generated $350M for creators: ReportWho owns the TRUMP token supply?According to the TRUMP token’s website, two organizations affiliated with Trump's business umbrella own 80% of the token supply: CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC. A report from MarketWatch notes that CIC Digital, an affiliate of The Trump Organization, was placed in a trust by the time of Trump’s 2024 financial disclosures to the US Federal Election Commission. CIC Digital had previously been linked to Trump’s non-fungible token collections.Related: What is TRUMP? Donald Trump’s billion-dollar memecoinFight Fight Fight LLC is another Trump-affiliated business. It is co-owned by CIC Digital and another company, Celebration Cards LLC, which was formed in Wyoming by Andrew Pierce. Fight Fight Fight LLC is synonymous with the Trump slogan “Fight Fight Fight,” which he shouted into a camera during an assassination attempt during a campaign rally.The April 18 unlock represents a “cliff” — a large, one-time release of tokens. While there are other cliff unlocks ahead, many tokens will be released at a steadier pace. For example, between April 19 and 21, around 493,000 tokens will unlock daily, according to DropsTab.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 18, 2025 at 7:26 pm

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken introduced foreign exchange (forex) perpetual futures contracts to its Kraken Pro platform on April 18, giving traders further exposure to global currency markets.The first two perpetual forex futures available on the platform will be the euro-US dollar (EUR-USD) and the British pound-US dollar (GBP-USD) contracts, according to a company announcement.Both contracts feature 20x leverage and no expiry date, meaning they do not have to be rolled or settled by a deadline, unlike traditional futures contracts, which have an expiry date.Kraken’s move is the latest in a series of expansions from the company, as it seeks to blur the line between digital assets and traditional financial products — a trend reflected across the crypto industry.EUR-USD price action. Source: TradingViewRelated: Kraken secures restricted dealer registration in CanadaKraken sinks its tentacles into TradFi markets Kraken rolled out spot forex trading to clients worldwide except for the United States in March 2020.The launch gave crypto traders access to nine major currency pairs on the platform, including the euro, US dollar, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen, pound, and Swiss franc pairs.The crypto exchange in March signed an agreement to purchase NinjaTrader, a retail futures platform, for $1.5 billion.The deal is expected to close during the first half of 2025 and will position Kraken to offer crypto futures trading to US residents.Mastercard and Kraken partnered in April to release a crypto debit card that gives holders the ability to spend cryptocurrencies in standard retail transactions.On April 14, the exchange introduced stock and ETF trading in select US states, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Idaho, Iowa, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Alabama and the District of Columbia.Kraken is also reportedly eyeing a capital raise of up to $1 billion as the company explores going public, according to a Bloomberg report published in March. If Kraken's IPO plans materialize, the public offering will likely happen in the first quarter of 2026, Bloomberg reported.Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC

by Jared Richards and Dylan Lewis on April 18, 2025 at 7:26 pm

One of New Zealand's most celebrated voices has embraced te reo Māori for his new album, arriving during a tumultuous time for Māori rights.

by Velvet Winter on April 18, 2025 at 7:22 pm

From real-life stories to new comedies, ditch that $20-per-month streaming service and let us introduce to you the best of film and TV you can watch right now without paying a cent.

by Cointelegraph by Rakesh Upadhyay on April 18, 2025 at 7:02 pm

Bitcoin (BTC) has been trading in a tight range for a few days, but a minor positive is that the bulls have kept the price above $83,000. Usually, a low volatility period is followed by a range expansion, but it is difficult to predict the direction of the breakout with certainty.Cryptocurrency analysts remain bullish on Bitcoin’s prospects because gold’s rally in 2017 and 2020 was followed by a sharp rise in Bitcoin's price. Theya head of growth Joe Consorti said in a post on X that Bitcoin follows gold with a lag of roughly 100 to 150 days. If Bitcoin moves as per Consorti’s expectations, a new all-time high could be hit between Q3 and Q4 of 2025. On similar lines, trading and analytics account Cryptollica projected a medium-term target of $155,000 for Bitcoin.Crypto market data daily view. Source: Coin360Along with Bitcoin, analysts are also bullish on altcoins. Swiss bank Sygnum said in its Q2 2025 investment outlook that improved regulations for crypto use cases have prepared the ground for a strong altcoins rally in the second quarter, as “none of the positive developments have been priced in.”Could Bitcoin and the altcoins break above their respective overhead resistance levels and start a recovery? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.Bitcoin price analysisBitcoin has been trading between the 20-day exponential moving average ($83,463) and the 200-day simple moving average ($87,857), indicating a tough battle between the bulls and the bears.BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf the 20-day EMA cracks, the selling could pick up, and the BTC/USDT pair may slide to $78,500 and then to $73,777. Buyers are expected to defend the $73,777 level with all their might because a break below it may signal the start of a downtrend.On the contrary, a break and close above the 200-day SMA indicates that the corrective phase may be over. The pair could climb to $95,000 and eventually to the psychologically critical level of $100,000.Ether price analysisEther (ETH) has been trading between the $1,368 support and the $1,754 resistance, indicating indecision between the bulls and the bears.ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe downsloping moving averages and the RSI in the negative territory suggest a slight edge to the sellers. If the price slips below $1,471, the ETH/USDT pair could descend to $1,368. Buyers are expected to vigorously defend the $1,368 support because a break below it may sink the pair to $1,150.On the upside, the bulls are likely to face stiff resistance in the zone between the 20-day EMA ($1,676) and $1,754. A break and close above the resistance zone could propel the pair to the breakdown level of $2,111.XRP price analysisThe bears have failed to sink XRP (XRP) below the $2 support, suggesting a lack of selling pressure at lower levels.XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe bulls will try to start a recovery, which could reach the 50-day SMA ($2.23). This is an essential short-term level to keep an eye on because a break above it opens the doors for a rally to the resistance line. Buyers will have to push the price above the resistance line to signal a short-term trend change.Alternatively, a break below the $2 support tilts the advantage in favor of the bears. The XRP/USDT pair could then plunge to the $1.72 to $1.61 support zone.BNB price analysisBNB (BNB) has been trading just below the downtrend line, indicating that the bulls have held on to their positions as they anticipate a breakout.BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf buyers propel the price above the downtrend line, the BNB/USDT pair could pick up momentum and rally to $644. Sellers will try to defend the $644 resistance, but the bulls are expected to buy the dips to the 20-day EMA ($588). If that happens, the likelihood of a rally to $680 increases.This optimistic view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down from the downtrend line and breaks below $566. That could keep the pair stuck inside the triangle for some more time.Solana price analysisSolana (SOL) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($126) on April 16 and rose above the 50-day SMA ($130), indicating buying on dips.SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe SOL/USDT pair could rise to the overhead resistance at $153, where the bears are expected to mount a stiff resistance. If buyers pierce the $153 level, the pair could surge toward $180.Buyers are expected to guard the zone between the 20-day EMA and $120. If the zone gives way, it suggests that the bears are active at higher levels. The pair could then descend to the $110 support.Dogecoin price analysisDogecoin (DOGE) has been trading between the 20-day EMA ($0.16) and the crucial support at $0.14 for the past few days.DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe flattening 20-day EMA and the positive divergence on the RSI suggest reduced selling pressure. Buyers will have to drive the price above the 50-day SMA ($0.17) to gain the upper hand. The DOGE/USDT pair could climb to $0.20, an essential level to watch out for as a break above it completes a double bottom pattern.Contrarily, a break and close below the $0.14 support signals the start of the next leg of the downtrend. The pair could then plummet to $0.10.Cardano price analysisBuyers have kept Cardano (ADA) above the $0.59 support but are struggling to push the price above the 20-day EMA ($0.63).ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf the price turns down and breaks below $0.59, the ADA/USDT pair could slide toward the solid support at $0.50. This is an important level for the bulls to defend because a break below it signals the resumption of the downtrend. The next support on the downside is at $0.40.Buyers will be back in the driver’s seat on a break and close above the 50-day SMA ($0.70). The pair could then rally to $0.83.Related: Bitcoin price volatility 'imminent' as speculators move 170K BTC — CryptoQuantUNUS SED LEO price analysisUNUS SED LEO’s (LEO) failure to rise above the uptrend line may have tempted short-term buyers to book profits.LEO/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day EMA ($9.34) has started to turn down gradually, and the RSI is in the negative zone, signaling a slight edge to the bears. If the price tumbles below the immediate support at $8.95, the LEO/USD pair could retest the vital level at $8.79. A break below $8.79 could sink the pair to $8.30.This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the price rises above the 50-day SMA ($9.56). The pair could then retest the stiff overhead resistance at $9.90. Chainlink price analysisChainlink (LINK) has been trading below the 20-day EMA ($12.77), but the bears have failed to pull the price below $11.68, signaling a lack of sellers at lower levels.LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe bulls will try to push the price above the moving averages. If they manage to do that, the LINK/USDT pair could rally to $16. Sellers will try to halt the rally at $16, but the pair could reach the resistance line if the bulls prevail.If sellers want to retain the advantage, they will have to sink the price below the $11.68 support. The pair could then decline to the support line of the descending channel, which is likely to attract buyers.Avalanche price analysisAvalanche (AVAX) has been trading near the moving averages, indicating a balance between supply and demand.AVAX/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe flattish 20-day EMA ($18.97) and the RSI near the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. A break above the downtrend line could open the doors for a rally to the overhead resistance at $23.50. Buyers will have to overcome this barrier to start a new up move.On the downside, a break and close below $17.50 may sink the AVAX/USDT pair to $15.27. This is an essential level for the bulls to defend, as a break below $15.27 may signal the resumption of the downtrend.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 18, 2025 at 6:39 pm

Federal prosecutors said they will continue pursuing their case against Braden John Karony, the former CEO of crypto firm SafeMoon, despite the US Justice Department issuing a memo suggesting a policy of abandoning “regulation by prosecution” related to digital assets.In an April 18 filing in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, US Attorney for EDNY John Durham said his office had reviewed the April 7 DOJ memo issued by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and intended to proceed with a trial against Karony. The former SafeMoon CEO faces securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy charges for allegedly “divert[ing] and misappropriat[ing] millions of dollars’ worth” of the platform’s SFM token between 2021 and 2022.April 18 notice that US prosecutors will continue to prosecute John Karony. Source: PACERKarony, initially indicted in October 2023 under former US Attorney for EDNY Breon Peace, argued in February that his criminal trial should be delayed, hinting that securities laws enforcement under the Donald Trump presidency could see “significant changes.” The judge denied the motion and later ordered jury selection for the trial to begin on May 5. However, Karony’s legal team made its claims about securities laws under Trump potentially undergoing “policy changes” before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dismissed cases and dropped investigations into many crypto firms facing allegations of violating securities laws. Blanche’s April 7 memo also suggested that the DOJ under Trump would direct jurisdictions not to pursue many crypto enforcement cases.Related: Democrats slam DOJ’s ‘grave mistake’ in disbanding crypto crime unit“[T]he parties may learn within days or hours of the commencement of trial that DOJ no longer considers digital assets like SafeMoon to be ‘securities’ under the securities laws,” said Karony’s legal team on Feb. 5. “Worse, the parties may learn this during or shortly after a trial, half of whose charges rest on the government’s claim that SafeMoon is such a security.”Crypto enforcement by the SEC and DOJ under TrumpSince being appointed acting SEC chair by Trump in January, Mark Uyeda has led the agency to drop cases against Ripple Labs, Coinbase, Kraken, and others. The SEC has also launched a crypto task force headed by Commissioner Hester Peirce to explore a regulatory framework for digital assets, and issued a memo saying memecoins were not securities. The agency’s actions suggest a more permissive approach to digital assets than that under former chair Gary Gensler.“By directing the SEC to abdicate its critical mission of investor protection, Mr. Trump is unnecessarily endangering our financial system,” said former SEC official John Reed Stark in an April 18 New York Times op-ed with Duke University lecturing fellow Lee Reiners. “Whether he is doing so to keep his promise to crypto-donors or in a zeal to cash in (or perhaps even both), that is a troubling development not just for investors and banks, but for all of us.”Whether Trump’s appointees in the Justice Department intend to step in and move to halt Karony’s case, as the DOJ did in the corruption case with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, is unclear. At the time of publication, the former SafeMoon CEO was set to go to trial in May and has been free on a $3 million bond since February 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm

Crypto investor sentiment took another significant hit this week after Mantra’s OM token collapsed by over 90% within hours on Sunday, April 13, triggering knee-jerk comparisons to previous black swan events such as the Terra-Luna collapse.Elsewhere, Coinbase’s report for institutional investors added to concerns by highlighting that cryptocurrencies may be in a bear market until a recovery occurs in the third quarter of 2025.Mantra OM token crash exposes “critical” liquidity issues in cryptoMantra’s recent token collapse highlights an issue within the crypto industry of fluctuating weekend liquidity levels creating additional downside volatility, which may have exacerbated the token’s crash.The Mantra (OM) token’s price collapsed by over 90% on Sunday, April 13, from roughly $6.30 to below $0.50, triggering market manipulation allegations among disillusioned investors, Cointelegraph reported.While blockchain analysts are still piecing together the reasons behind the OM collapse, the event highlights some crucial issues for the crypto industry, according to Gracy Chen, CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitget.“The OM token crash exposed several critical issues that we are seeing not just in OM, but also as an industry,” Chen said during Cointelegraph’s Chainreaction daily X show, adding:“When it’s a token that’s too concentrated, the wealth concentration and the very opaque governance, together with sudden exchange inflows and outflows, [...] combined with the forced liquidation during very low liquidity hours in our industry, created the big drop off.”Source: CointelegraphContinue readingCrypto in a bear market, rebound likely in Q3 — CoinbaseA monthly market review by publicly traded US-based crypto exchange Coinbase shows that while the crypto market has contracted, it appears to be gearing up for a better quarter.According to Coinbase’s April 15 monthly outlook for institutional investors, the altcoin market cap shrank by 41% from its December 2024 highs of $1.6 trillion to $950 billion by mid-April. BTC Tools data shows that this metric touched a low of $906.9 billion on April 9 and stood at $976.9 billion at the time of writing.Venture capital funding to crypto projects has reportedly decreased by 50%–60% from 2021–22. In the report, Coinbase’s global head of research, David Duong, highlighted that a new crypto winter may be upon us.“Several converging signals may be pointing to the start of a new ‘crypto winter’ as some extreme negative sentiment has set in due to the onset of global tariffs and the potential for further escalations,” he said.Continue readingManta founder details attempted Zoom hack by Lazarus that used very real “legit faces”Manta Network co-founder Kenny Li said he was targeted by a sophisticated phishing attack on Zoom that used live recordings of familiar people in an attempt to lure him to download malware. The meeting seemed real with the impersonated person’s camera on, but the lack of sound and a suspicious prompt to download a script raised red flags, Li said in an April 17 X post.“I could see their legit faces. Everything looked very real. But I couldn’t hear them. It said my Zoom needs an update. But it asked me to download a script file. I immediately left.”Li then asked the impersonator to verify themselves over a Telegram call, however, they didn’t comply and proceeded to erase all messages and block him soon after.Source: Kenny LiLi said the North Korean state-backed Lazarus Group was behind the attack.The Manta Network co-founder managed to screenshot his conversation with the attacker before the messages were deleted, during which Li initially suggested moving the call over to Google Meet.Source: Kenny LiSpeaking with Cointelegraph, Li said he believed the live shots used in the video call were taken from past recordings of real team members.“It didn’t seem AI-generated. The quality looked like what a typical webcam quality looks like.”Continue readingAI tokens, memecoins dominate crypto narratives in Q1 2025: CoinGeckoThe cryptocurrency market is still recycling old narratives, with few new trends yet to emerge and replace the leading themes in the first quarter of 2025.Artificial intelligence tokens and memecoins were the dominant crypto narratives in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for 62.8% of investor interest, according to a quarterly research report by CoinGecko. AI tokens captured 35.7% of global investor interest, overtaking the 27.1% share of memecoins, which remained in second place.Out of the top 20 crypto narratives of the quarter, six were memecoin categories while five were AI-related.AI tokens, memecoins, were leading crypto narratives in Q1 2025: CoinGecko“Seems like we have yet to see another new narrative emerge and we are still following past quarters’ trends,” said Bobby Ong, the co-founder and chief operating officer of CoinGecko, in an April 17 X post. “I guess we are all tired from the same old trends repeating themselves.”Continue readingCrypto lending down 43% from 2021 highs, DeFi borrowing surges 959%The crypto lending market’s size remains significantly down from its $64 billion high, but decentralized finance (DeFi) borrowing has made a more than 900% recovery from bear market lows.Crypto lending enables borrowers to use their crypto holdings as collateral to obtain crypto or fiat loans, while lenders can use their holdings to generate interest.The crypto lending market was down over 43%, from its all-time high of $64.4 billion in 2021 to $36.5 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, according to a Galaxy Digital research report published on April 14.“The decline can be attributed to the decimation of lenders on the supply side and funds, individuals, and corporate entities on the demand side,” according to Zack Pokorny, research associate at Galaxy Digital.Crypto lending key events. Source: Galaxy ResearchThe decline in the crypto lending market started in 2022 when centralized finance (CeFi) lenders Genesis, Celsius Network, BlockFi and Voyager filed for bankruptcy within two years as crypto valuations fell.Their collective downfall led to an estimated 78% collapse in the size of the lending market, with CeFi lending losing 82% of its open borrows, according to the report.Continue readingDeFi market overviewAccording to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView, most of the 100 largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization ended the week in the green.Decentralized exchange (DEX) Raydium’s (RAY) token rose over 26% as the week’s biggest gainer, followed by the AB blockchain (AB) utility token, up over 19% on the weekly chart.Total value locked in DeFi. Source: DefiLlamaThanks for reading our summary of this week’s most impactful DeFi developments. Join us next Friday for more stories, insights and education regarding this dynamically advancing space.

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 18, 2025 at 5:14 pm

Bitcoin’s spot price could take a hit after the US Federal Reserve reported some of the worst manufacturing data in recent history, according to several cryptocurrency analysts.On April 17, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Manufacturing Index — a monthly survey of 250 US-based manufacturers — reported the sharpest declines in overall business activity since 2020. The data puts Bitcoin (BTC) “under short term pressure,” researchers at Bitunix, a crypto exchange, said in a post on the X platform. They added that Bitcoin could still see a “strong comeback” if its price holds above $83,000 per coin.  As of April 18, Bitcoin has been trading at approximately $84,000 per coin, according to data from Google Finance. The Federal Reserve’s bearish report comes as factories brace for the impact of US President Donald Trump’s plans to impose sweeping tariffs on US imports, potentially raising production costs for manufacturers. “[I]ndicators for general activity, new orders, and shipments all fell and turned negative… suggest[ing] subdued expectations for growth over the next six months,” the report said. Source: Felix JauvinRelated: Trade tensions to speed institutional crypto adoption — ExecsBad omen for crypto?Analysts said the combination of rising prices and slowing production could deal a blow to financial markets, including cryptocurrencies. Rising prices limit central banks’ ability to support markets in a downturn. “Economic activity is falling off a cliff and any activity that remains, the prices are going up,” Felix Jauvin, a Blockworks macroeconomic analyst, said in a post on the X platform. It's an “[a]bsolute worst scenario for policy makers here especially with no meaningful idea of how permanent tariffs will be,” he added.Six-month outlook for key manufacturing indicators. Source: Derek ThompsonHowever, Bitcoin has been more resilient to recent macroeconomic shocks than stocks or other cryptocurrencies, Binance said in an April research report. Since Trump announced his tariff plans on April 2, Bitcoin has traded roughly flat after initially declining but more than 10%, Google Finance data shows. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 — an index of US stocks — is still down by around 7%. “Even in the wake of recent tariff announcements, BTC has shown some signs of resilience, holding steady or rebounding on days when traditional risk assets faltered,” Binance said. Trump initially sought to impose double-digit levies on virtually all foreign goods but later paused planned tariffs on certain countries. He still wants to place high taxes on many Chinese imports, causing concerns among crypto executives who fear a trade war could harm blockchain networks. Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC

by Cointelegraph by Yashu Gola on April 18, 2025 at 3:58 pm

Bitcoin’s (BTC) richest traders and investors are increasingly bullish on BTC despite facing downside risks from unfavorable macroeconomic factors, the latest onchain data suggests. Bitcoin whales absorbing 300% of new supplyBitcoin whales and sharks are now absorbing BTC at record rates—over 300% of yearly issuance—while exchanges are losing coins at a historic pace, according to Glassnode.Notably, Bitcoin’s yearly absorption rate by exchanges has plunged below -200% as outflows continue. This signals a growing preference for self-custody or long-term investment.Bitcoin yearly absorption rates. Source: GlassnodeMeanwhile, larger holders (100–1,000+ BTC) are scooping up more than three times the new issuance, marking the fastest rate of accumulation among sharks and whales in Bitcoin’s history. Bitcoin yearly absorption rates of whales and sharks. Source: GlassnodeThis marks a structural shift as traditional finance increasingly adopts BTC, particularly with the approval spot Bitcoin ETFs last year. The result is less BTC supply on crypto exchanges and long-term bullish conviction among big holders.Most cohorts are buying the BTC price dipBitcoin whales holding over 10,000 BTC remain in strong accumulation territory, with their Trend Accumulation Score at around 0.7 as of April 18, according to Glassnode.Bitcoin trend accumulation score by cohort. Source: GlassnodeThis metric quantifies cohort behavior from distribution (0) to accumulation (1). The score implies confidence among the largest holders of Bitcoin.In contrast, the sell-off in smaller cohorts that have been distributing earlier in the year appears to be slowing down. That includes the 10–100 BTC and the 1-100 BTC groups, whose scores have climbed back to a neutral zone at around 0.5.Even the smallest cohort (Onchain analyst Mignolet adds that the whale behavior is similar to what preceded Bitcoin’s 2020 bull run.Bitcoin falling wedge breakout hints at $100KBitcoin has broken out of a multimonth falling wedge pattern, signaling a potential bullish reversal that could drive its price toward the $100,000 mark by May.A falling wedge forms when price action contracts between two downward-sloping trendlines and resolves with an upside breakout. Traders typically measure the wedge’s upside target by measuring its maximum height and adding the outcome to the breakout point. BTC/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingViewApplying this rule of technical analysis brings Bitcoin’s target to over $101,570.Related: 4 reasons why Bitcoin price could rally to $90K in AprilConversely, BTC’s price is testing its 50-day (the red wave) and 200-day (the blue wave) exponential moving averages (EMAs) around $85,300 as resistance. A bearish rejection from these EMAs risks pushing BTC’s price toward the wedge’s upper trendline near $80,000. “The 200-day moving average remains overhead as resistance, and the horizontal level at $88,804 is still the key barrier to flip market structure and print a higher high,” wrote market analyst Scott Melker, adding: “Encouraging – but not convincing – yet. Bulls need to follow through with strength.”This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 18, 2025 at 3:56 pm

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is planning a lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase, alleging the company is selling unregistered securities to residents of the US state, after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) dropped its federal case against the exchange. According to Coinbase's chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, the lawsuit is an exact "copycat case" of SEC’s 2023 lawsuit against the exchange, which the federal agency agreed to drop in February. Grewal added:"In case you think I’m jumping to conclusions, the attorney general's office made it clear to us that they are literally picking up where the Gary Gensler SEC left off — seriously. This is exactly the opposite of what Americans should be focused on right now."The lawsuit signals that the crypto industry still faces regulatory hurdles and pushback at the state level, even after securing several legal victories on the federal level. Pushback from state regulators could fragment crypto regulations in the US and complicate cohesive national policy.Source: Paul GrewalRelated: Coinbase distances Base from highly criticized memecoin that dumped $15MSeveral US states drop lawsuits against Coinbase following SEC movesThe SEC reversed its stance on cryptocurrencies following the resignation of former chairman Gary Gensler in January.Gensler's exit triggered a wave of dropped lawsuits, enforcement actions and investigations against crypto firms, including Coinbase, Uniswap, and Kraken.Several US states followed the SEC's lead and also dropped their lawsuits against Coinbase in the first quarter of this year.Vermont, one of the 10 US states that filed litigation against the exchange, dropped its lawsuit on March 13.Vermont drops legal action against Coinbase. Source: State of VermontThe legal order specifically cited the SEC's regulatory pivot and the establishment of a crypto task force by the agency as reasons for dropping the lawsuit.South Carolina dismissed its lawsuit against Coinbase two weeks after Vermont rescinded its litigation against the exchange giant.Kentucky's Department of Financial Institutions became the third state-level regulator to dismiss its Coinbase lawsuit, ending the litigation on March 26.Despite the legal victory, Coinbase's Grewal called on the federal government to end the state-by-state approach of crypto regulation and focus on passing clear market structure policies at the federal level.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

by Cointelegraph by Yohan Yun on April 18, 2025 at 3:20 pm

South Korea kicked off 2025 with political chaos, regulatory heat and a crypto market finally brought to heel — or at least forced to grow up.The nation closed 2024 in disarray following then-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law stunt in December.In the aftermath, authorities spent the first quarter drawing lines in the sand as financial watchdogs slapped cryptocurrency exchanges with probes and lifted the ban on corporate trading accounts. Meanwhile, crypto adoption hit record highs as trading volume cooled.Here’s a breakdown of the key developments that shaped South Korea’s crypto sector in Q1 of 2025.South Korea’s economy limped into 2025 as local currency tanked. Source: Ki Young JuSouth Korean crypto traders given yet another two-year tax exemptionJan. 1 — Crypto tax postponedA planned 20% capital gains tax on crypto did not take effect on Jan. 1 after lawmakers agreed to delay it until 2027. This was the third postponement: first from 2022 to 2023, then again to 2025.Related: Crypto’s debanking problem persists despite new regulations The latest delay, reached through bipartisan consensus in late 2024, came amid mounting economic uncertainty and political turmoil. Lawmakers cited fears of investor flight to offshore exchanges, challenges in tracking wallet-based profits, and shifting national priorities in the wake of Yoon’s failed martial law stunt and subsequent impeachment.Jan. 14 — Warning against North Korean crypto hackersThe US, Japan and South Korea published a joint statement on North Korean crypto hacks. Crypto firms were warned to guard against malware and fake IT freelancers. Lazarus Group, the state-sponsored cyber threat group, was named as a prime suspect in some of the top hacks in 2024, such as the $230-million hack on India’s WazirX and the $50-million hack against Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange.At least $1.34 billion of crypto stolen in 2024 has been attributed to North Korea. Source: ChainalysisJan. 15 — Companies wait on the sidelines for crypto greenlightSouth Korea’s Virtual Asset Committee, a crypto policy coordination body under the Financial Services Commission (FSC), held its second meeting. The FSC was widely expected to approve corporate access to trading accounts on local exchanges. Despite popular demand, the FSC held off on making an official decision, citing the need for further review.Instead, the FSC announced investor protections against price manipulation and stricter stablecoin oversight.Jan. 16 — First enforcement of crypto market manipulationSouth Korean authorities indicted a trader in the first pump-and-dump prosecution under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, the new crypto law effective from July 2024.Meanwhile, Upbit received a suspension notice for allegedly violating Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements in over 500,000 instances, prompting regulators to consider a ban on new user registrations.Jan. 23 — Upbit, Bithumb compensate users after service outages during martial lawUpbit and rival exchange Bithumb announced plans to compensate users following service disruptions triggered by the surprise declaration of nationwide martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The shocking move caused panic across financial and crypto markets, leading to a surge in traffic that overwhelmed local trading platforms.Ex-President Yoon took his shot at martial law, which backfired and shaped South Korea’s 2025. Source: Kang Min Seok, Presidential Security Service South Korean crypto world finally opened to corporationsFeb. 13 — Charities and universities get first dibs on corporate crypto accessThe FSC unveiled its long-awaited plan to allow corporate entities to open crypto trading accounts in phases by late 2025. The rollout will require businesses to use “real-name” accounts and comply with KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. Charities and universities are first in line and will be allowed to sell their crypto donations starting in the first half of the year.South Korea’s real-name financial transaction system, introduced in 1993, was designed to combat tax evasion and money laundering by requiring all bank accounts to be opened under verified legal names using national IDs.Related: Market maker deals are quietly killing crypto projectsCrypto trading exploded in 2017, driven in part by anonymous accounts from businesses, foreigners and minors. Financial authorities responded by requiring crypto exchanges to partner with domestic banks and offer fiat services only through verified real-name accounts. To date, only five exchanges have met the requirements.Since there was no regulatory framework for real-name corporate accounts, this policy effectively shut out both overseas users and domestic companies from trading on South Korean exchanges. The new roadmap aims to fix that by creating a formal structure for institutional participation under tighter compliance standards.Feb. 21 — Alleged serial fraudster busted againPolice rearrested “Jon Bur Kim,” identified by the surname Park, for allegedly profiting 68 billion won (approximately $48 million) in a crypto scam involving the token Artube (ATT). He allegedly employed false advertising, pump-and-dump tactics and wash trading to manipulate the market.This wasn’t Park’s first brush with the law. He was previously indicted in a 14-billion-won (around $10 million) token fraud case and was out on bail when he launched ATT.Park flashes supercars on social media. Source: Jon Bur KimFeb. 25 — Upbit operator Dunamu gets slappedThe nation’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) formally notified Dunamu, operator of Upbit, of regulatory action. The sanctions were tied to KYC compliance failures and dealings with unregistered foreign exchanges. The FIU issued a partial business suspension, restricting Upbit from processing new customers’ deposits and withdrawals for three months.Feb. 27 — Crypto crime force formalizedSouth Korean prosecutors formally launched the Virtual Asset Crime Joint Investigation Division, following a year and seven months as a temporary operation. As a non-permanent unit from July 2023, the task force indicted 74 individuals, secured 25 arrests, and recovered over 700 billion won (around $490 million) in illicit gains. The 30-person task force includes prosecutors, regulatory staff and specialists.Feb. 28 — Upbit operator Dunamu files lawsuit to overturn business sanctionsDunamu said it filed a lawsuit against the FIU to challenge the sanctions imposed on the exchange.Bitcoin ETF next on checklist for South Korean crypto spaceMarch 5 — Reconsidering Bitcoin ETF banThe FSC started reviewing legal pathways to allow Bitcoin (BTC) spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), citing Japan’s evolving regulatory approach as a potential model. This marks a notable shift from South Korea’s previous opposition to crypto-based ETFs.The Capital Markets Act does not recognize cryptocurrencies as eligible underlying assets for ETFs. However, in 2024, lobbying efforts from major domestic brokerages intensified amid rising client demand, especially after spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved in the US.While the review remains in its early stages, regulators are no longer dismissing the possibility outright.March 21 — Crackdown on unregistered exchanges beginsThe FIU compiled a list of illegal foreign exchanges and moved to block access via app stores and ISPs. Additionally, the agency warned of criminal penalties for trading platforms operating without a license.March 26 — 17 exchange apps blocked (including KuCoin and MEXC)Google Play removed 17 unlicensed crypto exchange apps in South Korea at the request of regulators. The FIU said it is also working with Apple to block unauthorized crypto platforms.There are 22 unregistered overseas exchanges on the regulators’ radar, and 17 have been banned from the Google Play store. Source: FSCMarch 27 — Upbit scores three-month breakA South Korean court temporarily lifted the Feb. 25 partial business suspension imposed on crypto exchange Upbit by the FIU. The court’s decision allows Upbit to resume serving new users while the case is under review.South Korean crypto expected to go from crackdown in Q1 to campaign trail in Q2As March ended, more than 16 million investors — roughly a third of South Korea’s population — held crypto accounts, surpassing the 14.1 million domestic stock traders. But that surge in adoption came as trading activity cooled. Upbit, the country’s dominant exchange, saw volumes fall by 34%, dropping from $561.9 billion in Q4 2024 to $371 billion in Q1 2025, according to CoinGecko.By mid-April, the crackdown was still gaining steam. Apple followed Google’s lead in removing offshore exchange apps from its store, while prosecutors filed yet another round of market manipulation charges.South Korea’s crypto industry is now contending with tighter rules, rising institutional expectations and a government no longer content to watch from the sidelines.All this unfolds ahead of an early presidential election in June, following Yoon’s impeachment. Crypto played a visible role in Yoon’s successful 2022 presidential election campaign and is expected to remain a key issue with voters. One candidate in the upcoming election, former prosecutor Hong Joon-pyo of the People Power Party, recently pledged to overhaul crypto regulations in line with the pro-industry stance of the Trump administration, local media reported. Despite the pledge, Hong’s understanding of the technology came into question as he admitted to not knowing what a central bank digital currency is.Magazine: Uni students crypto ‘grooming’ scandal, 67K scammed by fake women: Asia Express

by Cointelegraph by Axel Schorn and Dr. Duc Au on April 18, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Opinion by: Axel Schorn and Dr. Duc AuTraditional stocks, bonds and commodities markets have long benefited from well-established standards governing the flow of information and data. These standards underpin the seamless functioning of trading, settlement and regulatory compliance, ensuring all participants can rely on the same consistent frameworks.As the financial industry moves into decentralized finance (DeFi) with the introduction of digital assets, like crypto assets and tokenized securities, the lack of such standards presents a growing challenge. While digital assets promise transformative potential, their fragmented information landscape risks undermining their adoption and integration into the broader financial ecosystem.Independent platforms like CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko provide information on various tokens, but this data varies significantly regarding market capitalization, total supply and other relevant reference data. Several global initiatives by private foundations and associations are working toward standardization. Traditional frameworks as a guideline Just as standardized financial data has been instrumental in building trust and facilitating growth, digital assets need their global standards. According to studies, standards generate overall economic benefits estimated at 17 billion euros annually in Germany alone.For traditional assets, a clear hierarchy of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) exists to unambiguously categorize and identify each asset. The International Securities Identification Number (ISIN) is the global standard for uniquely identifying all types of financial instruments, including equities, debt, derivatives and indexes. The Certification of Financial Instruments (CFI) is the internationally recognized system for classifying financial instruments. It is defined when a financial or reference instrument is issued and remains unchanged. The Financial Instrument Short Name (FISN) outlines a standardized approach to short names and descriptions for financial instruments. Unlike ISIN and CFI, the FISN is not intended to be machine-readable but to provide a short format for key information about security for human use. National Numbering Agencies (NNA), responsible for collecting registration data such as issuer information, instrument types, terms and trading conditions, assign ISIN, CFI and FISN. The Association of National Numbering Agencies maintains the identifiers and data in a global database. For countries that do not have an NNA, four global Substitute Numbering Agencies assign identification to those countries.Recent: DePIN needs a more cohesive narrative for mass adoptionISINs are allocated to financial instruments regardless of the technology used for creating the respective instruments, both in paper form and electronic form, thereby including tokenized instruments such as crypto securities according to the German Electronic Securities Act. For tokens with an apparent geographical reference, such as the issuer of a security token residing in Germany, the responsible NNA will allocate the ISIN. Regarding tokens for referential instruments without an apparent geographical reference — e.g., Bitcoin (BTC), where the issuer’s country cannot be identified — an ISIN with the prefix “XT” is allocated from Etrading Software.This helps to identify the instrument on the token level. More exemplary data fields on the token level are the type of token, hash function and generation mechanism. Focused on the instrument level, additional data elements like the token’s blockchain are needed.For this purpose, the Digital Token Identifier Foundation, which is responsible for allocating this new identifier, provides the so-called Digital Token Identifier — e.g. DTI, ISO 24165. Key working theses regarding the standardization of digital assets Crypto identifiers could become mandatory. Similar to traditional assets using systems like ISINs, digital assets will adopt unique identifiers for cryptocurrencies and tokenized securities. These identifiers will facilitate tracking, trading and reporting across exchanges and custody providers, enabling seamless integration with legacy financial systems.Data standards will enhance transparency and compliance: With increasing regulatory scrutiny, standardized data formats will emerge for compliance and risk management. Global coordination will drive interoperability: The standardization of digital assets will rely on global collaboration among regulatory bodies and financial institutions. International organizations will play pivotal roles in creating frameworks that ensure interoperability across jurisdictions and reduce market fragmentation and, thus, inconsistencies in information handling. Initial steps have been taken toward unambiguously identifying digital assets with generally accepted ISO identifiers. Combined with a European Union-wide regulation such as the regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), the industry lays the foundation for more significant adoption. It remains to be seen how investors and the digital assets player will further progress toward more standardization and what roadblocks may arise to be solved.Opinion by: Axel Schorn and Dr. Duc AuThis article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

by Sundance on April 18, 2025 at 2:27 pm

“This is not our war.” ~ Secretary Rubio Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters in Paris on April 18 about the prolonged peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. However, a frustrated Rubio warned that the U.S. could “move on” from its involvement in negotiations to end the war if no progress is made The post Secretary of State Marco Rubio Says U.S. Willing to Walk Away from Ukraine Conflict, Decision in “Days Not Weeks” appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Sundance on April 18, 2025 at 1:48 pm

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has declassified and released two sets of files today. 1. the first tranche of the RFK assassination files (10,000 pages HERE); and 2. The Joe Biden Domestic Terrorism Plan (SEE HERE) Following President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14176, DNI Gabbard is releasing all the archive documents around the RFK The post DNI Tulsi Gabbard Releases Declassified Files of RFK and Biden Domestic Terrorism Plan appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Cointelegraph by Adrian Zmudzinski on April 18, 2025 at 1:26 pm

Early cypherpunk Adam Back, cited by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin white paper, suggested that quantum computing pressure may reveal whether the blockchain’s pseudonymous creator is alive.During an interview after a Q&A session at the “Satoshi Spritz” event in Turin on April 18, Back suggested that quantum computing may force Nakamoto to move their Bitcoin (BTC). That’s because, according to Back, Bitcoin holders will be forced to move their assets to newer, quantum-resistant signature-based addresses.Back said that current quantum computers do not pose a credible threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography but will likely threaten it in the future. Back estimated that quantum computers may evolve to that extent in “maybe 20 years.”Related: Bitcoin’s quantum-resistant hard fork is inevitable — It’s the only chance to fix node incentivesWhen the threat becomes real, Back said the Bitcoin community will have to choose between deprecating old, vulnerable addresses or letting those funds be stolen:“If the quantum computers are here, and people at universities and research labs have access, the network has a choice to either let people steal them or to freeze them — to deprecate the signature.“Back expects the community to go with the former option, forcing Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator to move their funds if they wish to avoid losing them.Privacy upgrades could complicate proofStill, Back said that whether such a situation will reveal if Satoshi Nakamoto is alive also depends on Bitcoin’s future privacy features.“It depends a bit on the technology, there are some research ideas that could add privacy to Bitcoin,” Back said. “So, possibly there might be a way to fix quantum issues while keeping privacy.“Related: Lawyer sues US Homeland Dept to probe supposed Satoshi Nakamoto meetingStill, not everyone is convinced that — privacy enhancements or not — such a scenario would reveal whether Nakamoto was alive. An anonymous early Bitcoin miner and member of the Bitcoin community told Cointelegraph that he does not expect Nakamoto’s coins to be moved:“Even if he is alive and holds the private keys, I do not think he’d move them. Based on how he acted so far I would rather expect him to let the community to decide.”He added that, since this is a controversial choice, it makes sense to let the community decide. He said that he’d be surprised if Nakamoto came out of the woodwork to move the assets.A quantum-resistant BitcoinBack explained that most quantum-resistant signature implementations are either unproven in terms of security or very expensive from a data perspective. He cited Lamport signatures as an old and proven design, but pointed out that they weigh tens of kilobytes.Consequently, he suggested that Bitcoin should be prepared to switch to quantum-resistant signatures but only do so when necessary. He suggested a Bitcoin taproot-based implementation allowing addresses to switch to quantum-resistant signatures when needed.Magazine: Bitcoin vs. the quantum computer threat: Timeline and solutions (2025–2035)

by Menagerie on April 18, 2025 at 1:00 pm

John 18:1—19:42 Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and The post Good Friday appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Cointelegraph by Helen Partz on April 18, 2025 at 12:12 pm

As gold prices break new highs, many Bitcoiners are seeking ways to obtain exposure to the precious metal, but have been met with hurdles along the way.Although physical gold is accessible in the form of jewelry, gold bars and coins, many industry executives are concerned about aspects like its quality, liquidity when selling, and buying at a premium above spot prices.Still, gold advocates are confident that the precious metal is much easier to buy than Bitcoin (BTC), given the complexities of storing private keys and a steep learning curve for new crypto investors.Both Bitcoin and gold are available in the form of tokenized assets, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other equity instruments, but the question of owning these assets in their original form reveals some differences.Community: Buying Bitcoin is easier and faster“Buying Bitcoin is significantly easier and faster than buying physical gold,” Ross Shemeliak, co-founder of the tokenization platform Stobox, told Cointelegraph.He referred to Bitcoin’s instant and 24/7 availability and no need for vaults, while gold is associated with additional costs like transportation, storage, verification and resale.Adam Lowe, chief of product at the self-custodial wallet Arculus, agreed that buying physical gold is subject to many challenges and additional costs.“The first is maintaining quality, assuring the purity is accurate,” Lowe said, adding that investors have to rely on the reputation of dealers and the supply chain when buying physical gold.Related: Bitcoin may rival gold as inflation hedge over next decade — Adam Back“Selling liquidity is also an issue as you have to find a buyer and will most likely pay a discount relative to the market price per ounce,” he continued, adding that self-custodied Bitcoin has none of these issues.As well as limited liquidity, retail investors in physical gold face widened spreads, Shemeliak said, as they often have to buy at a premium above the market price of gold.Gold advocate: Bitcoin self-custody is not easyUnlike crypto investors, traditional finance (TradFi) investors and analysts are not so excited about self-custody opportunities offered by Bitcoin.“Bitcoin could be very easy to buy if you have everything set up already, but if you don’t, it’s very difficult,” Rafi Farber, publisher of the gold-focused marketplace service End Game Investor, told Cointelegraph.Farber, who has emerged as one of the biggest Bitcoin critics, referred to investor challenges for Bitcoin self-custody, which requires holders to safely store their private key or risk losing access to the coins.While dealing with a self-custodial wallet, users have to “remember a string of random words or copy it down and put it in a safe, then copy and paste a gibberish code,” Farber said. “And if you lose any of the codes or the power goes out for whatever reason you’re screwed.”Self-custody wallet providers offer onboarding sessions for $99 per hour. Source: TrezorFarber’s concerns over the challenges of self-custody are not without merit. Trezor, one of the most prominent self-custody wallet providers, admits that usability remains one of the key issues faced by self-custodial wallets.While some have tried to offer simplified self-custody options, others insist that holding a private key is the only way to actually own a cryptocurrency, which requires onboarding and a learning curve — but doesn’t come without its own costs.Is Bitcoin a direct competitor to gold?On the other hand, physical gold is “very easy to buy,” Farber said, suggesting options like coins or jewelry shops.“Yes, buying a gold coin at a jewelry or coin shop is easy — but that doesn’t mean you’ve made a sound investment,” Stobox’s Shemeliak countered:“Without verified origin, proper assay, secure storage, and a liquid resale market, you’ve likely bought a souvenir, not a serious store of value.”“In contrast, digital assets like Bitcoin or tokenized gold offer transparency, liquidity and verifiability,” he added.Shemeliak doesn’t see Bitcoin and gold as direct competitors.“Gold will always have historical value, but Bitcoin is building financial infrastructure for the next 100 years,” he said.At the time of publication, the price of spot gold stood at $3,327, up nearly 27% year-to-date (YTD) as it continues breaking new highs, according to TradingView.The picture is less appealing for Bitcoin, which reached new highs around $110,000 in December 2024. Bitcoin is down 10% YTD, trading at $84,525 at publication, according to CoinGecko.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

by Sundance on April 18, 2025 at 12:10 pm

There are a ton of geopolitical influences happening in the background and foreground of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump voice and envoy Steve Witkoff, and Keith Kellogg meeting in Paris with delegations from France, U.K, Ukraine and EU stakeholders.  The intent is to get the EU/UK on board with a Trump/Putin ceasefire plan. The post Rubio, Witkoff and Kellogg Meet with French President Macron, Ukraine and UK Delegation to Discuss Outline of Ceasefire appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Cointelegraph by Ezra Reguerra on April 18, 2025 at 11:25 am

Blockchain firm Astar Network implemented changes to its tokenomics to reduce inflationary pressures in its ecosystem. On April 18, Astar Network announced that it reduced the blockchain’s base staking rewards to 10% from 25% to curb token inflation. The company said the change promotes a more stable annual percentage rate (APR) for users as staking inches closer to a more ideal ratio. The firm said this ensures that rewards “remain meaningful” without causing excessive inflation. “This change lowers automatic token issuance, reducing overall inflationary pressure while maintaining strong incentives for users to stake their ASTR,” Astar Network wrote. Astar Network highlights key changes to its tokenomics. Source: Astar NetworkAstar Network implements inflation-control mechanismsUnlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed total supply, the ASTR token operates under a dynamic inflation model without a cap on its maximum token supply. As the blockchain operates, it emits more tokens, increasing the supply. Having no fixed supply can often create downward pressure on the token’s value over time. This is especially true if the demand for the token does not keep up. To address this, Astar is introducing several new inflation-control mechanisms.Apart from lowering staking rewards, Astar also started routing token emissions into a parameter that governs total value locked (TVL)-based rewards like decentralized application staking. This means that DApp staking APRs will become “more predictable” over time, offering stability to stakers. Astar also introduced a new minimum token emission threshold of 2.5% to ensure it doesn’t exceed a sustainable baseline. With continued transaction fee burning, Astar said it would also contribute to reward predictability. According to Astar, the changes have already lowered its annual inflation rate from 4.86% to 4.32%. It also lowered its total ASTR token emitted per block from 153.95 to 136.67 tokens. This reduces the token’s estimated annual emissions by 11%, going from 405 million to 360 million. Related: Sony’s Soneium taps EigenLayer to cut finality to under 10 secondsAstar token hits all-time low on April 7Astar Network’s efforts to curb token inflation come as its native token recently hit an all-time low. CoinGecko data shows that on April 7, the ASTR token declined to a new low of $0.02. The price is 93.8% lower than its peak three years ago, when it reached $0.42 on Jan. 17, 2022. In December 2024, the token rallied along with the rest of the market, hitting a high of $0.09. Since then, the crypto asset had continuously dropped in value before hitting the new all-time low. Astar Network’s 1-year price chart. Source: CoinGeckoMagazine: Uni students crypto ‘grooming’ scandal, 67K scammed by fake women: Asia Express