Crypto (Page 21)

Bitcoin climbed to $77,000 on Friday, coinciding with nearly $1 billion in liquidations of mostly shorts.

Notable Statistics:

• Coinglass data shows 182,798 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $818.97 million.
• SoSoValue data shows net inflows of $26.05 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Thursday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $18.02 million.
• In the past 24 hours, top gainers include RaveDAO, Ethena and …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Galaxy Digital Inc (NASDAQ:GLXY) shares are surging on Friday. The stock is riding a wave of renewed optimism across the digital asset ecosystem.

The Nasdaq is up 1.38% while the S&P 500 has gained 1.40%.

Middle East Peace Fuels Risk-On Sentiment

The primary catalyst is a sector-wide crypto rally. Markets reacted to signs of progress toward a Middle East ceasefire. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial vessels on Friday.

“In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open,” Araghchi posted on X.

Crypto Prices Bounce On Geopolitical Relief

Bitcoin

Full story available on Benzinga.com

The Chinese provider of data services for businesses has linked up with a state-run exchange with a joint mission to develop datasets as digital commodities

image credit: Bamboo Works

Key Takeaways:

• Xunce and the Shenzhen Data Exchange will work together to expand a system in which data is traded as tokens and can be recognized on balance sheets
• The company’s shares jumped after news of the partnership to trade at more than six times its IPO price 

As the fuel behind the explosive growth of AI, data is transforming itself from a business input into a financial asset.

That’s the assumption behind a strategic partnership between a Chinese provider of data solutions and a state-run platform that aims to promote the trading of datasets as a commodity within the digital economy.

Shenzhen Xunce Technology Co. Ltd. (3317.HK) supplies data systems and analytics to businesses, including AI-powered data agents that can act on the information they process. The company announced on April 12 it had linked up with the Shenzhen Data Exchange to develop what it called a service framework for “data assetization”, the process of turning data into marketable assets.

The partners also agreed to work on harnessing data and AI to drive growth across sectors, to push for data assets to be logged on balance sheets and to foster high-quality data standards and scenarios for robotics, autonomous driving and smart devices.

Investors welcomed the tie-up, sending Xunce’s shares 15.61% higher in the first session after the announcement. The closing price of HK$358.4 was more than six times the company’s IPO price from December last year, capping a steady rise in market enthusiasm.

Founded in 2016, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has the potential to reach $1 million by 2035, says Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan, but only if store of value market continues to grow the same manner for the past 20 years.

Path To $1 Million

In an Apr. 17 interview with CoinDesk, Hougan said Bitcoin is entering a long-term institutional adoption phase, driven by ETF growth, geopolitical instability and rising demand for “digital gold.”

He estimates Bitcoin could reach seven-figure valuations if it captures 15%–17% of the global store-of-value market, up from roughly 6% today.

Under that scenario, long-term price targets …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) is up 6% after closing above $0.10 for the first time in weeks as Dogecoin Cash Inc. announced it is developing Dogecoin Gold, a planned token that would link digital assets to physical gold reserves.

Dogecoin Cash Announces Gold-Backed Token Plan

Dogecoin Cash Inc. proposed a framework where one billion tokens would equal one gram of physical gold. 

The system would create tokens only when gold enters custody and remove them from circulation upon verified redemption.

“We are evaluating a framework that seeks to integrate verifiable ownership of physical gold with blockchain-based auditability and precision,” management said in a statement.

“The objective is to determine whether a system can be structured in which real-world assets, mathematically defined units, and transparent digital infrastructure operate within a disciplined and verifiable environment,” they added

The initiative remains in the development phase with no tokens issued or timeline …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is up 5% after breaking above the descending trendline that defined the entire bear trend from $128,000, setting up short-squeeze conditions.

The 46-Day Short Streak

The last time this squeeze happened was November to December 2022 during the FTX collapse.

“Traders are actively building short positions and betting against a breakout, creating conditions where a short squeeze becomes more likely if upward momentum persists,” said Vetle Lunde, head of research at K33.

If prices keep climbing, traders who bet against the rally face mounting losses that can force them to buy back positions all at once, sending prices sharply higher in a cascading short squeeze. The longer the standoff persists, the bigger the potential unwind.

The Wall Street Push

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) filed for a Bitcoin ETF this week, its first direct push …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) has gained roughly 10% over the past week, with traders increasingly pointing to a potential breakout as price compression continues higher timeframes.

Price Structure Compressed

In a Apr.16 podcast, Trader Cryptoinsightuk said XRP is forming a “compressed” structure, a pattern that often precedes sharp volatility expansions. While short-term weakness in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) remains a possibility, he argued that XRP’s broader setup is increasingly significant.

He says this compression, combined with several weekly indicators, is unusually significant.

Based on historical cycle behavior, he suggested XRP …

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XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) has surged 12.5% from its April low as U.S. spot ETFs recorded $41.64 million in net inflows for the week ending April 16, the largest single-week inflow in three months.

The ETF Acceleration

The weekly inflow represents a 254% jump from the prior week’s $11.75 million, the kind of acceleration that typically accompanies pattern breakouts rather than consolidation.

The last five days show consistent demand with inflows of $11.87 million, $17.11 million, $11.20 million, $1.46 million, and $9.09 million. 

Cumulative inflows have reached $1.26 billion, pushing total assets past $1.08 billion.

Bitwise and Franklin products continue to lead flows, while Grayscale shows mixed activity with earlier outflows still weighing on totals.

The Timing Difference

The current setup flips the …

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Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) and Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB) saw notable price gains over the past month, rising 7% and 6% respectively, as broader market sentiment improved and large holders moved tokens off exchanges.

Large Outflows From Robinhood

According to Whale Alert data, both tokens recorded significant transfers from Robinhood into private wallets, a move typically interpreted as reduced near-term selling pressure.

Dogecoin holders moved more than 2.56 billion DOGE, worth roughly $245 million, across five transactions, marking one of the largest single-day liquidity withdrawals in the asset’s history.

Shiba Inu holders also transferred over 16 trillion SHIB, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Cardano (CRYPTO: ADA) CEO Frederik Gregaard said the network cut audit costs by 50% for institutions and listed a $100 million reinsurance product on the London Stock Exchange.

The Audit Cost Breakthrough

The Cardano Foundation posted 7,000 financial transactions using a product called Leccia on the blockchain.

Grant Thornton then used legal entity identifiers to download all transactions, compare them to the bookkeeping ledger, and sign the audit.

The process proved institutions can lower audit costs by nearly 50% while moving from spot checks to full architectural audits that examine all transactions, Gregaard told Cointelegraph at Paris Blockchain Week.

“Instead of a spot check of transactions, they can look at all the transactions,” Gregaard said. “We are the only blockchain who has enabled that using legal entity identifiers.”

The London Stock Exchange Play

Cardano partnered with Members Cap to tokenize exposure to Hannover Re, one of the …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Macro investor Raoul Pal says the entire banking system will move to Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) as ETH tests the 100 exponential moving average at $2,355 for the first time since October.

The Banking System Thesis

Raoul Pal pushed back against the “ETH is dead” narrative from 1.5-2 years ago, arguing banks care about Lindy effects—things that survive, things you don’t get fired for, things that are proven.

“I find it hilarious that 1.5-2 years ago people were like, ‘ETH is dead.’ I’m like, ‘No, the entire banking system will go to ETH,’” Pal said. 

“That doesn’t mean it’s a mono-chain world, but I know how banks work. It’s really for them about Lindy effects because nobody wants to lose their jobs over new technology,” he added.

The Decentralization Customer

Etherealize co-founder Danny Ryan …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin remains above $75,000 while Bitcoin ETFs saw $26.05 million in net inflows on Thursday, while Ethereum ETFs reported $18 million in net inflows.  

Meme coin market capitalization is up 7.5% over the past 24 hours at $38.4 billion

Trader Commentary: 

Crypto chart analyst …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

(Editor’s note: The future prices of benchmark tracking ETFs, the economic data and the headline were updated in the story.)

Futures related to U.S. stocks ticked up in pre-market trading on Thursday, after the benchmark S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose to fresh records in the previous session, as investors weighed signs of easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Sentiment was supported by growing hopes of a possible diplomatic breakthrough after President Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Wednesday that the Iran war was “very close to over” and that Tehran was eager to strike a deal. He also said that talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Thursday.

A White House official also told CNBC that a second round of U.S.-Iran talks was under discussion, though no date has been set.

Investors are also pricing in earnings before the bell from PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP), Travelers (NYSE:TRV), and Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE:SCHW), alongside weekly jobless claims and March’s industrial production data.

In a speech on Thursday, New York Fed President John Williams said that the Middle East conflict has introduced substantial risks and heightened uncertainty. He said the war is driving “significant increases in energy prices, which are already lifting overall inflation.”

Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.283%, and the two-year bond was at 3.755%. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool‘s projections show markets pricing a 99.5% likelihood of the Federal Reserve leaving the current interest rates unchanged in its April meeting.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ), which track the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, respectively, were higher in premarket trading on Thursday. The SPY was up 0.16% at $701.07, while the …

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Signs of easing geopolitical tensions have lifted cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE), and whales have started loading up on the memecoin.

Whales Getting Ready For DOGE’s Leg Up?

Widely followed cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez highlighted in an X post on Thursday that large investors bought around 330 million DOGE tokens this week. At the prevailing prices, this amounted to $32.34 million

Exchange-traded funds rode the bullish wave, as the Grayscale Dogecoin Trust ETF (NYSE:GDOG), 21Shares Dogecoin ETF (NASDAQ:TDOG), and Bitwise Dogecoin ETF (NYSE:BWOW) attracted over $1.5 million in net inflows over the last week, per data from SoSo Value.

Hope Builds for Iran War Resolution

President Donald Trump’s …

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Pakistan has lately accelerated efforts to integrate cryptocurrencies into its financial system, while neighboring rival India continues to take a more cautious approach, with limited progress toward comprehensive regulation.

Pakistan’s Ambitious Crypto Push

In a notable shift, Pakistan’s central bank now allows banks to service licensed virtual asset providers, marking the end of an eight-year lull in regulated cryptocurrency activity.

Bilal Bin Saqib, Chairman of the country’s federal regulator for virtual assets, said that the country will now move from “restriction to regulation,” and “from ambiguity to institutional clarity.”

Pakistan Attracting Big Players

The move is part of Pakistan’s ongoing cryptocurrency pivot, as it works to attract global players and position the country as a global hub of digital assets.

It has roped in Binance (CRYPTO: BNB) co-founder Changpeng Zhao as strategic advisor of the Pakistan Crypto Council, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Cryptocurrency bookmakers significantly raised odds of Iran surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile after President Donald Trump claimed the Middle-Eastern country agreed to abandon nuclear weapons.

Polymarket Traders Raise Optimism

Polygon (CRYPTO: POL)-based Polymarket showed a 40% possibility of Iran officially pledging to give up its stockpile by the end of the month, up from 30% a day earlier.

The odds of this happening by the end of June spiked 14 percentage points to 65%, while the chances of this happening anytime before the end of 2026 rose to 72%.

The bet has already garnered over $1 million in wagers on the outcome. To qualify, Iran must publicly commit to transferring all or part of its enriched uranium stockpile to an entity outside its jurisdiction and influence.

Meanwhile, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Leading cryptocurrencies held steady, while stocks closed at new records on Thursday as President Donald Trump said Iran agreed to transfer its “nuclear dust” to the U.S

Major Coins Consolidate

Bitcoin traded in a range between the mid-$73,000s and mid-$75,000s, even as 24-hour volume climbed 9%.Ethereum consolidated around $2,300, while XRP and Dogecoin moved higher.

Shares of Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) closed up 3.76% and 2.00%, respectively.

Over $440 million was liquidated in the past 24 hours, nearly evenly split between long positions and short positions, according to Coinglass data.

Open interest in Bitcoin futures fell 0.70% over the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, derivative sentiment on Binance remained bearish for the apex cryptocurrency.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.52 trillion, following an increase of 0.82% increase in the last 24 hours.

Stocks Extend Record-Breaking Run

The stock market rally continued on Thursday. The Dow …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could be heading toward a potential supply squeeze, fueled by aggressive institutional accumulation and a tightening available supply in the market.

Saylor’s Buying Strategy In Focus

In his Apr.15 podcast, analyst Scott Melker pointed to Michael Saylor and his firm Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) as central to this narrative.

The company has consistently raised capital and deployed it into Bitcoin purchases, creating a steady and highly visible source of demand.

This repeatable strategy is seen as “structural demand,” gradually removing circulating supply and reinforcing bullish sentiment among investors.

Beyond Saylor’s accumulation, broader institutional participation is accelerating.

Major firms such as BlackRock

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could form a market bottom as early as May, according to crypto analyst Benjamin Cowen, though such a scenario would likely require a sharp capitulation event.

Early Bottom Possible, But Unlikely

In his Apr. 15 podcast, Cowen said the base-case outlook still points to a later bottom, likely around October 2026, in line with historical market cycles.

While a May bottom is possible, it remains a lower-probability scenario unless price action deviates significantly from past patterns.

He noted that the current cycle closely resembles previous midterm-year behavior, where markets tend to move sideways before a more decisive phase …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin holds $74,000 as market sentiment remains neutral, supported by continued institutional interest and positive ETF inflows.

Notable Statistics:

• Coinglass data shows 162,452 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $427.31 million.        
• SoSoValue data shows net inflows of $186 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Wednesday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $67.9 million.
• In the past 24 hours, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) is up 3%, retesting the $0.098 resistance zone where yesterday’s breakout attempt failed as Polymarket traders see 78% odds on a move toward $0.10 in April.

The Failed Breakout

DOGE had a clear fakeout yesterday as it attempted to break out of a descending triangle on the 12-hour chart. 

The descending trendline held firm as resistance, immediately rejecting the price.

The market rarely revisits a fakeout level without intent. DOGE has returned to retest the $0.098 resistance zone—the exact level where price was rejected from the descending channel trendline.

The Decision Zone

The daily chart reflects a falling channel in place since October …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) analysts see negotiations around the proposed CLARITY Act moving closer to resolution, as lawmakers and regulators in Washington intensify efforts to settle key disputes in digital asset regulation.

Key Issues In Focus

The CLARITY Act is designed to define how cryptocurrencies are regulated in U.S., including how authority is split between the SEC and the CFTC. It also aims to establish clearer rules for stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms, CoinDesk reported on Thursday.

According to JPMorgan’s analysis, ongoing discussions are centered on two major areas: DeFi …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

U.S. spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) ETFs recorded $186.1 million in net inflows on Wednesday as Morgan Stanley’s (NYSE:MS) MSBT crossed $103 million while Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) filed for its first Bitcoin ETF.

Morgan Stanley Beats WisdomTree In Week One

MSBT reached $103 million in total inflows just six trading days after launch, surpassing WisdomTree’s BTCW (BATS:BTCW) cumulative total of $86 million. 

The fund charges a 0.14% expense ratio, the cheapest in the category.

Morgan Stanley’s wealth management network oversees trillions in client assets, giving MSBT direct distribution to investors. 

However, the fund remains far smaller than BlackRock’s (NYSE:BLK) IBIT, …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is up 5% on the day and 7.5% over the past week as spot ETFs recorded $17.11 million in net inflows on April 15, the highest single-day figure in almost two months.

The ETF Surge

ETF demand began picking up on April 14 with $11.20 million in inflows, forming the strongest two-day run since January.

Total net assets have crossed back above the $1.02 billion milestone, and cumulative inflows now stand at $1.25 billion.

Bitwise’s XRP ETF led April 15 with $6.23 million, followed by 21Shares at $5.43 million and Franklin Templeton at $5.30 million. Canary Capital saw a slight inflow of $148,130.

The inflows continued to surge this week amid bullish developments such as Ripple partnering with Kyobo Life Insurance and MassMutual buying Bitwise XRP …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) reclaimed $75,000 this week, erasing all losses since the Iran war began — and according to Anthony Pompliano, that price action just proved something historic.

In a wide-ranging conversation with his son John on The Pomp Podcast, Pompliano argued that Bitcoin has officially “transcended” its identity as a risk-on tech proxy, decoupled from equities, and is now trading as a neutral, non-sovereign store of value in a world at war.

The War Trade Broke Every Prediction

When the U.S. began bombing Iran, the consensus trade was textbook: stocks up on defense spending, oil up on supply disruption, bonds down on inflation fears, and Bitcoin down as a risk asset.

Every single one of those predictions was wrong — except oil.

Bitcoin outperformed every major asset class during active conflict, Pompliano said: “If you need to move money around the world during conflict, Bitcoin becomes …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin remains steady near $74,000 as Bitcoin ETFs saw $186 million in net inflows on Wednesday, while Ethereum ETFs reported $67.9 million in net inflows.  

Meme coin market capitalization is up 3.4% over the past 24 hours at $36.2 billion

Trader Commentary:  

Trader CyrilXBT explained Bitcoin …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) CEO Jeremy Allaire said China could launch a yuan-backed stablecoin within three to five years, calling it a “tremendous opportunity” as digital money integrates into global trade.

The Yuan Play

China wants to expand the yuan’s role in the global financial system, and stablecoins have emerged as a way to export a currency by making it easier for global payments, Allaire told Reuters.

“There’s a tremendous opportunity for a yuan stablecoin,” Allaire said in an interview in Hong Kong. 

“If there’s currency competition, you want your currency to have the best features possible. This is becoming a technological competition,” he added.

Reuters reported last August that China was considering a yuan-backed stablecoin to boost adoption of its currency globally. 

Such a move would mark a major shift in China’s approach toward digital assets after the country banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in 2021.

The Iran War Bump

Circle …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Binance (CRYPTO: BNB) co-CEO Richard Teng said Wednesday that the platform’s gold perpetual trading volume now rivals that of several national commodity exchanges.

TradFi Perps Thrive On Crypto Exchanges

Teng drew on Binance’s own research, which highlighted the “rapid” growth of perpetual futures on cryptocurrency exchanges for traditional assets such as stocks, gold, and silver.

Note that these are leveraged contracts, not physical ownership or spot trading.

Binance Leading The Market?

The report recognized Binance as the market leader with 41% share. Notably, CoinGecko data showed Binance led with $46 billion in total perpetual trading volume over the last 24 hours.

A chart embedded in the report showed that the gold perpetual volume on cryptocurrency exchanges was over twice that of the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange and the Multi Commodity Exchange, and more than four …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Although President Donald Trump claimed the Iran war is “very close to being over,” cryptocurrency punters remain unconvinced, with odds still reflecting skepticism about a quick resolution.

Crypto Bettors See No Immediate End To Conflict

Polygon (CRYPTO: POL)-based Polymarket showed a 41% possibility that Trump announces the end of military operations against Iran by the end of this month, down from 46% a day earlier.

The possibility of this happening by the end of May, however, was significantly higher at 73%, while bookmakers set the chance of the war ending by June 30 at 83%.

Over $26 million has already been traded on the outcome, making it one of the most wagered bets on Polymarket. An official statement by Trump, the federal government or the military will qualify for a resolution.

Interestingly, the odds of the U.S. and Iran agreeing on …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Tron (CRYPTO: TRX) founder Justin Sun criticized a new governance proposal by Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial (WLFI) on Wednesday, deeming it a “power consolidation and property expropriation operation.”

Details Of Proposal

The proposal’s terms include a 2-year cliff and a 3-year linear vest for all 45.24 billion WLFI tokens held by advisors, institutions, partners, founders and team members. This means that tokens will begin to unlock in year 2 and will be fully distributed by year 5.

Upon passage, 10% of this allocation, up to 4.52 billion, will be burned and permanently removed from the token supply.

Early supporters, meanwhile, will have a shorter vesting schedule, with their 17.04 billion WLFI moving to a 2-year cliff followed by a 2-year linear vest. No tokens will be burned under this schedule.

“Holders who do not affirmatively accept this new vesting schedule will continue to have their tokens locked indefinitely,” the proposal read.

WLFI said that the proposal aims to establish a “structured vesting framework” and ensure the “ecosystem’s commitment to long-term governance and market supply.”

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Leading cryptocurrencies remained stable, while stocks hit record highs on Wednesday as President Donald Trump declared the Iran war is nearing an end.

Crypto Market Holds Steady

Bitcoin hovered around $74,000 for most of the day before surging to $75,000 in late trading. Trading activity remained on the lower side. Ethereum also wobbled in the $2,300 zone, while XRP and Dogecoin traded in the green.

Shares of Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) closed up 4.45% and 6.19%, respectively.

Over $210 million was liquidated in the past 24 hours, predominantly in short positions, according to Coinglass data.

Open interest in Bitcoin futures held steady over the last 24 hours, while retail and whale derivative sentiment continued to be bearish.

“Extreme Fear” sentiment prevailed in the market, according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.

Top Gainers (24 Hours) 

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.52 trillion, following a modest …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin is holding $74,000 as markets await the upcoming Clarity Act roundtable.

Notable Statistics:

• Coinglass data shows 106,868 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $212.62 million.       
• SoSoValue data shows net inflows of $411.5 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Tuesday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $53 million.
• In the past 24 hours, top gainers include Siren, DeXe and Chiliz.

Notable Developments:

• Can A Generational Wealth Shift Unlock $2.2 Trillion In Crypto Demand?

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin’s (CRYPTO: BTC) recent rebound alongside equities is not necessarily the start of a new bull market but could instead reflect a late-cycle distribution phase, according to analyst Benjamin Cowen.

Late-Cycle Pattern Repeating

In an Apr. 16 podcast, Cowen said current market behavior mirrors historical late-cycle dynamics.

Typically, markets see a sharp correction, followed by a recovery that retests or slightly exceeds prior highs, often described as “sweeping the highs.”

This pattern can trap late buyers, creating the illusion of strength before a broader downturn.

Cowen compared …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitwise Asset Management has rolled out the Bitwise Avalanche ETF (NYSE:BAVA) months after filing an updated S-1 with the SEC, offering investors direct exposure to Avalanche (CRYPTO: AVAX) while tapping into staking rewards — a structure that underscores the next phase of crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

• BAVA stock is trading in a tight range. Where are BAVA shares going?

The fund aims to combine price exposure with yield generation, as Bitwise stakes its AVAX holdings through its in-house on-chain division to capture an estimated 5.4% annual …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Kevin Warsh, Donald Trump‘s nominee to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve, would not just bring a new policy outlook to the central bank. He brings a background of immense personal wealth.

His 69-page disclosure lists personal assets ranging from at least $192 million to roughly $226 million, while his wife, Jane Lauder, an Estée Lauder heiress, is estimated to be worth about $1.9 billion.

Immense Power, Opaque Holdings

If confirmed, Warsh would be among the richest Fed leaders in history. However, his wealth is not the core ethical problem. The issue is that major parts of his portfolio are opaque. His disclosure lists more than $100 million in funds that withhold underlying assets under pre-existing confidentiality agreements.

That arrangement is a red flag for the head of a central bank that will influence stablecoin regulation, bank crypto-custody rules, tokenized deposits, and any future U.S. central bank digital currency policy. When a nominee’s true financial exposure is hidden, the public cannot judge where private incentives may intersect with public decisions.

Warsh has pledged to divest these holdings, and he should be in compliance once he does …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

BlackRock’s iShares platform kicked off 2026 with a record-breaking quarter, pulling in $132 billion in net inflows, up nearly 60% year over year, as investors doubled down on ETFs for both income and flexibility. The asset manager said 49 of its products each attracted more than $1 billion during the quarter, underscoring broad-based demand across its $5.5 trillion ETF platform.

But beneath the headline number, the flows reveal a more telling shift: investors are leaning heavily into fixed income and actively managed strategies, while favoring short-duration exposure in a still elevated rate environment.

Bond ETFs Take Center Stage

Fixed income emerged as a key growth engine, with iShares pulling in $46 billion into bond ETFs during the quarter. The firm’s bond ETF platform has now swelled to $1.2 trillion, up 20% over the past year, positioning it among the largest bond managers globally on a standalone basis.

Short-duration Treasury products dominated flows, signaling a continued preference for liquidity and capital preservation. The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Based on BlackRock Chairman Larry Fink’s annual letter to shareholders, Real World Assets (RWA) are being built into the pipeline of Wall Street product offerings. Do the originators of the concept have a chance to be players here? Or will RWAs be run by Big Finance? 

“It opens up the biggest land grab in history for financial institutions,” Will Peck, Head of Digital Assets at Wisdom Tree, said about RWAs and tokenization more broadly during an American Banker event on Dec 2, 2025.

When the likes of Larry Fink speak about the tokenization of every financial asset, the crypto community is understandably conflicted. 

“On one hand, having the world’s largest asset manager validate blockchain – albeit for their own ends – is the ultimate validation and vindication. But on the other hand, there’s a fear that traditional finance is arriving not to join the revolution, but to colonize it,” said Saeed Al Fahim, founder of Tharwa, a UAE-based DeFi platform focused on RWA tokenization. 

Some crypto natives refer to RWA models now as simply “wrapped TradFi”, whereas physical assets like land and real estate are digitized but everything around it is centralized within the usual Big Finance ecosystem. 

“Token holders may gain liquidity, but they don’t gain meaningful control or transparency,” said Al Fahim. “I think that runs counter to the principles that crypto was founded on, and I don’t think there’s a quick fix that can remedy that.”

The RWA concept began around 2020 within the small universe of the DeFi blockchain bros. Early players like MakerDAO (CRYPTO: DAO) and Centrifuge (CRYPTO: CFG) began using the concept when they started backing stablecoins and crypto currency loans backed by real estate, or Treasury bonds. It then became the go-to phrase to describe what was seen as a potential new DeFi product line.

RWA was born in the crypto universe. But it has been adopted by Wall Street giants, led by BlackRock. 

The RWA market has reached an estimated $25 billion in 2025, driven by major financial players and blockchain technology.

RWA: Regulatory Concerns and Questionable Use Cases

RWAs connect traditional markets to a blockchain. They let you invest in real-world value using digital tools. Tokenized securities generally fall into two categories, as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 2026: securities tokenized by or on behalf of the issuers of such securities; and securities tokenized by third parties unaffiliated with the issuers of such securities. Investors can access high value assets like real estate, gold, or government bonds without needing large capital. Tokenization turns them into small, tradable units, though some might say that this already exists …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has outperformed gold since the start of the Iran war but remains down against gold over the past year.

Despite this divergence, some analysts argue the steep correction may represent a long-term buying opportunity.

Historic Correction Against Gold

In an Apr. 14 post on X, trader Michael van de Poppe said Bitcoin’s recent drawdown relative to gold is among the most severe on record, estimating a decline of roughly 66% in a key valuation metric known as sigma deviation.

He noted that similar extremes have previously appeared near major cycle …

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent Elon Musk a letter Tuesday demanding answers about X Money by April 21, citing concerns that the upcoming payments platform could pose risks to consumers, national security, and financial stability.

The 13-Question Demand

Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee, is pressing Musk on whether X Money will issue a stablecoin, partner with Cross River Bank, offer 6% APY on deposits, and surveil consumer transaction data.

The letter comes as Musk prepares to launch X Money in early public access this month.

Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino said the platform will allow users to fund their X Wallet using Visa’s Direct service, connect to debit cards for peer-to-peer transactions, and transfer funds to bank accounts.

The Cross River Concern

Screenshots posted by William Shatner, who recently gained early access to X Money, mention that deposits are held by Cross River Bank. 

Warren notes the institution faced a serious FDIC enforcement action in 2023 …

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The IMF warns that global public debt could reach about 100% of world GDP by 2029, a scenario where Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) could stand out as investors seek alternatives outside traditional finance.

The 100% Debt Trap

Global public debt approaching 100% of GDP means that every dollar, yuan, pound, euro, yen, and rupee earned in a year will be used to pay off government debt. 

By 2029, the debt load will have grown to consume the entire global economic output, leaving nothing for additional investments.

China and the U.S. will continue to drive debt higher, with contributions from a broad range of nations as defense spending surges globally, according to the IMF.

If annual economic growth equals or falls short of the debt raised by issuing government bonds, markets could start questioning the fiscal solvency of sovereigns and demand higher returns for lending to governments.

The …

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XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) ETF inflows hit $11.20 million on April 14, the strongest day since early February.

The ETF Turnaround

According to SoSoValue, Bitwise’s XRP ETF (NYSE:XRP) led with $4.56 million, followed by Franklin’s (NASDAQ:XRPZ) with $6.64 million.

Total net assets have recovered to $978.65 million, creeping back toward the $1 billion mark. 

Moreover, cumulative inflows now stand at $1.23 billion, and the recent trend of consecutive green days on the inflow chart signals a clear shift in institutional sentiment.

The Triangle Apex

The descending triangle that has dominated XRP’s …

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A large-scale shift in wealth from older generations to younger investors could significantly boost long-term demand for digital assets such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and the broader crypto market.

$110 Trillion Wealth Transfer In Motion

Data from Grayscale Investments suggests that Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation currently hold around $110 trillion in assets in the United States.

Over time, this wealth is expected to be passed down to Millennials and Gen Z, groups that show a much stronger preference for crypto investments.

Analysts estimate that even a modest …

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Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE:BMNR) posted a $3.82 billion net loss for the quarter ended February 28 driven by unrealized losses on its Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) holdings, as the stock builds a base near $20-$22.

The Unrealized Loss

Bitmine’s reported net loss widened from a net loss of $1.15 million in the same period last year. 

The six-month net loss exceeded $9 billion compared to $2.1 million in the year-ago period.

The losses came largely from $3.78 billion in unrealized losses on the company’s digital asset holdings. 

Meanwhile, Bitmine has continued to increase its ETH holdings even through the extended crypto downturn since late 2025.

As of April 12, Bitmine held 4.87 million ETH in its treasury, valued at approximately $10.7 billion. 

The company is the largest corporate Ethereum treasury globally and the second-largest corporate crypto treasury overall behind Strategy

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Bitcoin is holding $74,000 while other altcoins pull back as traders turn cautious ahead of a key U.S. regulatory event tied to the Clarity Act; liquidations stand at $424.51 million over the past 24 hours.     

Bitcoin ETFs saw $411.5 million in net inflows on Tuesday, while Ethereum ETFs reported $53 million in net inflows.  

Meme coin market capitalization is down1% over …

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