Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A Seeking Alpha analysis argues that Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) such as MSTR, DFDV, and SBET offer leveraged crypto exposure with a corporate structure that may reduce risk versus pure BTC exposure. The core claim: DFDV (SOL) and SBET (ETH) are preferred over MSTR (BTC) because they can generate yield operationally. The article highlights that these DATs can earn staking-related returns and support treasury economics, while MSTR’s BTC treasury is portrayed as lacking comparable operational yield. Valuation signal: DFDV and SBET are currently trading at a discount to mNAV (a NAV-based metric referenced in the article). The author frames this as potential undervaluation for investors buying into SOL and ETH infrastructure through a DAT wrapper. Key risk: The main forward concern is dilution. If DFDV or SBET issue new equity at prices below NAV, shareholders could be diluted relative to the benefit from acquiring more SOL or ETH. Market narrative linkage: The author notes potential “paradigm shifts” from AI and tokenization that could favor SOL and ETH ecosystem infrastructure, supporting the investment case for DFDV and SBET as dynamic asset plays with “healthy balance sheets.” Overall, the piece focuses on how Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) may combine yield generation with discount-to-NAV entry points, while balancing dilution and staking/market drawdown risks.

Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto shared a technical outlook for XRP on X, arguing that what many traders call “weakness” could actually be a structural setup for an upside move. Using an inverted chart perspective with a logarithmic scale, Egrag Crypto claims XRP is forming an ascending triangle rather than a bearish continuation pattern. The post frames the move as “structure > noise” and projects targets based on different measured-move methods. On a non-logarithmic basis, the measured move suggests a conservative breakout range of about $4–$7. With cycle and Fibonacci expansion, Egrag Crypto projects a wider upside zone around $13–$27. For long-term “macro repricing,” the analysis introduces a potential level near $100, which it says would require sustained demand, improved liquidity, and ongoing ecosystem development. The most eye-catching figure is a $225 target derived from a logarithmic measured move, described as a “system shift” (rhetorical “mega crash”), not a literal prediction of decline. The article adds a caution: these projections rely on assumptions around adoption and market evolution. XRP is still trading within broader consolidation, so real-world utility and institutional participation will be key for any trend to materialize.

Hyperliquid’s HYPE rose 3.09% to about $41.92, but price is stalling near the $42.20–$42.50 “Fair Value Gap” resistance zone. The HYPE/USDT pair is hovering at the top of its recent range, with multiple wicks suggesting buyers are meeting stiff supply. Using the ICT framework, analysts say the token is trading slightly above the midpoint of its last band (a “premium” area), which can prompt a short liquidity draw before a pullback. One derivatives liquidity analyst (Daniel Keller) expects a potential retracement toward $41.40–$41.60 after any brief upside burst, unless HYPE can hold and break above resistance. Technical signals remain broadly supportive: TradingView indicators show buy-side strength, and moving averages are stacked favorably. Even with consolidation, increased derivatives liquidity and speculative interest often precede renewed volatility. Key levels for traders: Resistance at $42.20–$42.50; short-term support at $41.40–$41.60. A sustained breakout could open a path toward an upside target near $55. Crypto traders should watch whether HYPE can decisively clear $42.50 or instead fade back into the support zone.

Ray Dalio’s new “war thesis” argues investors face dollar debasement and an eventual monetary-order transition, with geopolitical stress as the immediate trigger (linked to the Iran conflict). In his framework, “safe money” goes first to gold: reserve-manager depth, central-bank credibility, and a long monetary track record. Bitcoin is positioned as a “bit of Bitcoin”—a smaller, higher-beta allocation based on scarcity and sovereignty outside any state balance sheet. The article links this to market behavior during acute stress. On Apr. 7, as Iran tensions deepened, gold rose while Bitcoin fell about 2% alongside risk assets—consistent with a safe-haven hierarchy. It also cites central-bank survey data: nearly 70% now rank geopolitics as the top global risk (up from 35% in 2024), around 75% hold gold, and ~40% are considering more exposure. China’s central bank added gold for a 17th straight month. Macro backdrop: the IMF and World Bank expect slower growth with higher inflation, while UBS pushes expected Fed cuts to later in the year. The World Gold Council reports gold demand in 2025 exceeded 5,000 tons (record), supporting “gold remonetization.” Traders should therefore expect Bitcoin to remain equity/tech-adjacent in stress, while gold may lead the initial safe-haven rotation. dollar debasement against Bitcoin remains the long-run narrative—yet near-term positioning may still favor gold first, with BTC following via monetary repricing rather than immediate crisis shelter.

Ethereum staking has reached an all-time high as 38.9M ETH (about $85B) is now locked on staking platforms. This is ~31.29% of circulating ETH—nearly one out of every three ETH tokens is effectively taken off the liquid market. Key players dominate the flow. Lido leads with 9M+ ETH staked, while major exchanges and staking providers including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken also hold large positions through liquid staking. The trend extends to protocols like ether.fi, which reuse staked assets for DeFi and yield strategies. Market impact: ETH is up from roughly $2,050 to the $2,260 area over seven days, with a breakout above $2,200 around April 7. The article frames this rally as demand absorption: buyers keep taking dips, while holders appear less willing to sell. The core thesis for traders is that less liquid ETH can reduce sell-side liquidity and support upside during demand surges. It also notes an on-chain headline claim that “30% of all Ethereum is now staked,” reinforcing the narrative that yield-focused behavior is anchoring supply. Risks remain around concentration, since staking is increasingly routed through a relatively small set of centralized and decentralized platforms.

Dogecoin breaks a year-long descending resistance line, signalling a potential shift in DOGE price momentum. Analysts say the move weakens selling pressure, but traders want confirmation through sustained volume and demand. The key level to watch is whether Dogecoin can hold above $0.09 in the coming sessions. If momentum persists, Dogecoin may attempt to test higher resistance zones; without follow-through, DOGE could slip back into consolidation or face renewed downside. Market chatter also links the breakout to election-cycle speculation. Meme coins can attract retail-driven hype during political periods, and the article notes similar social-media attention patterns in past cycles. Still, Dogecoin remains far below prior all-time highs, suggesting this is an early recovery phase. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading around $0.09386, down about 0.1% over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin short squeeze risk is increasing after analysis showed a mix of rising open interest and persistently negative funding rates on exchanges. CryptoQuant said BTC is “crowded” with shorts as funding rates remain the most negative since early February. As BTC/USD pushed above $73,000, open interest climbed to about $24.2B (highest since early March) while funding stayed negative, implying shorts are still paying longs. This positioning can become a trigger for a Bitcoin short squeeze via forced liquidations if price continues higher. CryptoQuant’s read is that leveraged short positions are rapidly accumulating, and while there is a slight decrease, it does not yet signal meaningful deleveraging. Another contributor warned traders to be cautious when entering new positions within the current range because it also reflects buying demand. Meanwhile, CoinGlass data showed cross-crypto liquidations under $100M over the prior 24 hours, suggesting no major liquidation cascade yet despite the upside move. Market sentiment among large-volume speculators has started to lean toward further upside, with mentions of targets around $80,000 and higher. Overall, the Bitcoin short squeeze narrative is driven by derivatives positioning (open interest + negative funding) more than spot momentum, so traders may see volatility spike if liquidation thresholds are reached.

World (formerly Worldcoin) says its WLD token unlock rate will fall 43% on July 24, 2026, under existing on-chain tokenomics contracts. Daily releases drop from about 5.1M WLD to roughly 2.9M WLD. The cut is split across allocations: World community unlocks fall 50% (to ~1.6M WLD/day), while team/investor unlocks fall 32% (to ~1.3M WLD/day). As of April 10, 2026, about 4.9B WLD have already been unlocked and ~3.3B WLD is in circulation. The 15-year schedule continues with no unlock cliffs; investor/team unlocks are expected to end around 2028–2029 and community unlocks extend to July 2038. Traders should note the market impact is mainly about reducing future WLD sell pressure/inflation. The current unlocked float remains large, so price reaction will likely depend on whether demand and ecosystem flows offset any residual exchange/vesting-related selling around July 24, 2026.

A validator on the XRP Ledger, “Vet,” argues that quantum computers are unlikely to threaten most XRP holders soon. He estimates around 300,000 dormant XRP accounts holding about 2.4B XRP have never sent outgoing transactions, so their public keys are not exposed and are considered more resistant to quantum attacks. By contrast, only two large dormant “whale” XRP accounts (about 21M XRP total) have been inactive for over five years and have exposed public keys, creating a more concentrated wallet-level risk. Vet says this vulnerable slice is tiny network-wide (about 0.03% of total supply), implying limited impact on overall XRP security. Mitigation points are practical: the XRP Ledger is account-based and supports signing key rotation, so users can refresh keys without changing the account. The article also notes escrow structures using hashlocks may increase attacker cost. Overall, the news frames “XRP quantum risk” as a wallet-hygiene and edge-case exposure issue, not an imminent price catalyst. Broader concerns around BTC/ETH remain unresolved in the wider quantum debate, but no quantum computers capable of breaking public blockchains exist today.

Bitcoin (BTC) is nearing $70,000 after a sharp drop to about $60,000 on Feb 5. Over the past two months, price has consolidated in a tight range, and on-chain indicators now suggest “seller fatigue” is setting in. CheckonChain data shows realized losses have fallen to around $400 million per day (still elevated vs prior years, but down from peak levels earlier this year). Realized losses previously surged to roughly $2 billion per day on Nov 21 and Feb 5—levels not seen even during the 2022 bear market. The spot market appears to be shifting. Both realized profits and realized losses are trending lower, consistent with reduced aggressive selling. Glassnode confirms a similar pattern: the 7-day moving average of realized profits is about $300 million per day, near multi-month lows. Investors who bought around $60,000 have started locking in profits. Glassnode’s realized profit-loss ratio has risen to 1.4, the highest reading since January, signaling improving profitability for recent BTC buyers. Activity among both profit-taking and loss-making coins has also cooled, and the share of BTC moving at a profit is rising versus coins sold at a loss. For traders, the key takeaway is that Bitcoin’s sell-side pressure is weakening while measured profit-taking increases—conditions that can support a potential move higher if consolidation breaks upward.

A new explainer argues that “blockchain improves privacy” through layered privacy mechanisms, not full anonymity. It stresses that public blockchains are pseudonymous: transactions are recorded on an auditable ledger and can often be linked to real identities via exchange KYC and blockchain analytics clustering. Key privacy methods discussed include decentralization (reducing single points of failure), cryptographic address design (public/private keys), and privacy-enhancing features like ring signatures (e.g., Monero) and stealth addresses. The article then highlights “blockchain improves privacy” with advanced cryptography: zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs) for validating statements without revealing underlying data, plus confidential transactions that hide transfer amounts via cryptographic commitments. For real-world use, it notes the need for selective transparency and programmable privacy to balance regulation (e.g., AML/KYC and GDPR concerns such as the “right to erasure” conflicting with immutability). The piece emphasizes a privacy paradox: perfect secrecy can weaken accountability, recovery, and compliance frameworks. No specific policy or protocol upgrade is announced. Instead, it frames privacy as a spectrum—expect more enterprise/hybrid deployments and privacy-preserving DeFi/L2 designs—while warning that stronger privacy often increases proof cost, latency, and on-chain data size.

Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, said “push notifications” are a persistent privacy attack surface that can allow message data retrieval even after users delete messages or remove the app. Durov cited a recent 404 Media report alleging the FBI obtained deleted Signal messages from an iPhone by accessing device push notification logs. Durov argued that end-to-end encryption can be undermined through metadata and other information generated by apps. He added that turning off notification previews would not fully protect users, because contacts may still generate loggable notification data. The report also highlights how investigators or skilled actors may bypass encryption by exploiting notification artifacts on devices. Cointelegraph said it reached out to Signal for comment but did not receive a response by publication. Separately, Durov pointed to rising interest in decentralized messaging as privacy and surveillance concerns grow amid geopolitical pressure, including communication blackouts and bans. He referenced Bitchat, a decentralized Bluetooth-mesh messaging app, and claimed more than 48,000 users in Nepal downloaded it during a nationwide social media ban in September 2025. Durov also said users have commonly relied on VPNs and IP/geolocation masking to circumvent bans, noting that Telegram reportedly reached over 50 million users in Iran despite a multi-year ban. For traders, the key takeaway is that privacy and censorship-resistance narratives may strengthen (decentralized messaging demand), but heightened surveillance risk can increase policy and compliance focus around major platforms and their ecosystems.

On-chain data suggests Bitcoin may be entering a “seller exhaustion” phase. After bottoming near $60,000 on Feb. 5, Bitcoin has consolidated for over two months and has been grinding higher toward $70,000. Key metrics point to easing forced selling. Realized losses are now about $400 million per day, down from peaks near $2 billion on Nov. 21 and Feb. 5. While still above typical levels from prior years, the downward trend implies fewer coins are being sold under stress. CheckonChain adds that spot markets are shifting from aggressive selling to net buy-side pressure, with realized profits and losses both declining. This is reinforced by Glassnode data: realized profits average around $300 million per day (seven-day moving average), near 12-month lows, and the realized profit-to-loss ratio has risen to 1.4—the highest since January. In plain terms, realized profits are now outweighing realized losses. For traders, the setup is important: when Bitcoin realized losses cool and profit-to-loss improves, downside momentum can weaken. That can support a continuation bid during consolidation, though the macro backdrop (e.g., Middle East-driven oil-price strength) can still inject volatility.

France is tightening crypto reporting rules, raising compliance pressure for users and exchanges. The French National Assembly approved an anti-fraud bill requiring annual reporting for self-hosted crypto wallets when holdings exceed €5,000; non-compliance is set to face penalties similar to unreported foreign bank accounts. The bill is still under review by the Senate and a joint committee. At the EU level, France is also pushing MiCA-linked restrictions. Denis Beau urged tighter limits on non-Euro stablecoins, especially those pegged to foreign currencies, warning that MiCA only partially addresses risks from large-scale non-euro stablecoin adoption. France has implemented the EU’s DAC8 framework: crypto service providers must report user identity and transaction data. Full reporting is scheduled for 30 September 2027, and non-compliance can trigger a “kill switch” approach, including account closure if tax information is not provided. Separately, lawmakers are debating a tax plan that could treat crypto as “non-productive wealth,” including a 1% annual tax on assets above €2 million and taxes on unrealized gains. For traders, these crypto reporting rules could shift demand toward compliant rails, increase operating costs, and change liquidity/sentiment—especially around stablecoin usage.

Dynamix Corporation and Ether Machine have mutually terminated their $1.6B SPAC merger, citing unfavorable and volatile market conditions. The deal would have taken Ether Machine public on Nasdaq as ETHM, positioning it as an Ethereum treasury and yield vehicle that uses ETH staking and DeFi strategies. Ether Machine reportedly holds 496,712 ETH (over $1.1B). The planned structure included a fully committed $1.5B PIPE and about $170M in Dynamix’s trust account, targeting a launch with 400,000+ ETH. After termination, an SEC filing says Ether Machine must pay Dynamix a $50M termination fee within 15 days. Traders may treat this as a risk-off signal for large, capital-heavy Ethereum-linked listings, removing a potential catalyst tied to SPAC timelines and slightly dampening sentiment around ETH treasury/DeFi yield narratives.

Ethereum (ETH) is holding around $2,243 after a 2.5% daily gain, with buying momentum returning but whale ETH accumulation appearing to slow. The later update (CryptoQuant/CW cited) points to capital inflows and reduced sell pressure, supported by ecosystem growth. Since the February selloff, ETH has been range-bound near $2,150–$2,300, with the latest daily close around $2,243.7. Technically, RSI has risen above 60 (about 60.05) and MACD flipped positive, suggesting ETH is shifting from oversold conditions toward renewed bullish momentum. Traders still watch resistance at $2,250–$2,300. A sustained break above this zone could extend the rebound; failure may trigger renewed selling. On-chain, the “end of whale accumulation” narrative adds uncertainty, since transitions from accumulation to distribution can lead to choppier price action even when ETH momentum improves.

Iran’s missile and drone strikes damaged Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)’s Al Taweelah smelter on March 28, prompting EGA to pause some supply contracts under force majeure. Restoration could take up to 12 months. The disruption deepens an existing regional squeeze: Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) shut three smelting lines after the Strait of Hormuz halted shipments, and Qatar’s Qatalum also paused operations after QatarEnergy suspended LNG production due to energy infrastructure strikes. Together, Gulf producers account for about 9% of global primary aluminium output. Wood Mackenzie estimates the Middle East conflict could remove 3–3.5 million tonnes from 2026 supply, against ~74 million tonnes produced last year. London Metal Exchange aluminium prices have surged above $3,500/tonne (near four-year highs). Goldman Sachs warns prices could reach $3,600 if losses persist; Kpler analysts flag a potential move toward $4,000 with further escalation. For crypto traders, this aluminium supply crisis matters as a macro risk driver. Higher industrial input costs can add inflation pressure, while shipping and geopolitical shocks can worsen risk-off sentiment. Short-term, it may reinforce volatility in risk assets; long-term, sustained disruption could keep commodity-driven inflation expectations elevated, influencing broader market liquidity and correlation trades. The aluminium supply crisis also highlights how industrial shocks can spill into defense and manufacturing supply chains, which can extend the duration of pricing pressure.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) launched the CFTC Innovation Task Force to provide clearer “rules of the road” for derivatives markets and emerging technologies. CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig announced the task force on March 24, and the agency named staff on April 10. Michael J. Passalacqua leads the group, with Mark Fajfar as senior adviser and Taylor Foy as senior counsel. The CFTC Innovation Task Force will focus on three areas: crypto assets and blockchain, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and prediction markets/event-based contracts. It also signals a shift from primarily enforcement-driven guidance toward a more formal policy channel. This follows earlier CFTC actions in March, including coordination with the SEC on how federal securities laws may apply to crypto assets, plus CFTC crypto FAQs for registrants and registered entities. The new task force will coordinate with the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee and other agencies (including the SEC), suggesting tighter interagency alignment on where securities oversight ends and commodities/derivatives oversight begins. For crypto traders, near-term impact is mainly expectations of regulatory clarity for crypto derivatives and related market structure. Longer-term, it could influence product approval paths and compliance planning as the CFTC and partners work toward clearer frameworks.

Blockchain tracking data (Arkham) shows Bhutan’s Bitcoin reserves have fallen sharply. In Oct 2024, Bhutan held about 13,000 BTC. Over the next 18 months, it cut its Bitcoin stash to 3,954 BTC (down nearly 70%), leaving remaining holdings worth about $280.6M. The latest signals point to continued outflows in 2026. About $215.7M worth of BTC has left Bhutan-controlled wallets this year, spread across multiple on-chain transactions—more consistent with gradual selling than a single liquidation. Separately, mining inflows appear weaker: there has been over a year since Bhutan recorded mining inflows above $100k, suggesting a slowdown or change in mining strategy. With no official explanation from Bhutan-linked entities, traders may treat the Bhutan Bitcoin reduction as a near-term overhang. If additional state-related BTC transfers continue, it could weigh on BTC sentiment and keep rallies more fragile in the short term.

Wall Street analysts are trimming forecasts for Coinbase and other crypto platforms after a sharp drop in crypto trading activity and token prices, setting up a likely first-quarter earnings profit squeeze. Coinbase is being hit hardest by the revenue mechanics of exchanges: lower volumes mean lower transaction fees. Barclays downgraded Coinbase and warned global crypto trading activity is at levels not seen since late 2023. Barclays estimates Coinbase’s March trading volume was the lowest since Sept 2024, with April showing no improvement, and projects first-quarter volumes down about 30% quarter over quarter. It also expects adjusted EBITDA to land roughly 24% below Street estimates, largely tied to weaker spot trading and retail participation. Oppenheimer also cut estimates but remains comparatively more optimistic. It lowered its Coinbase volume estimate to about $211 billion for the quarter (from $244 billion) and expects total revenue around $1.48 billion, reflecting softer crypto prices and continued uncertainty; it notes earlier Wall Street models had not fully captured the volume decline. Beyond Coinbase, the reset is spilling across the sector. Oppenheimer said Circle continues expanding USDC, with USDC transfer volume up about 12% quarter over quarter and stablecoin market cap up about 1%. Still, stablecoin growth is not expected to fully offset weaker core trading. Stablecoin rewards remain politically and regulator-dependent. Key dates: Coinbase reports second-quarter earnings on May 7. Bullish reports April 23. Circle has not announced a date.

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading near a key structural support after reclaiming the $73,000 level. Market analyst Sminston With cites CoinMarketCap data showing BTC gained about 10% over the prior seven days, despite a still-weak broader trend. The article points to BTC sitting around the Power Law estimate of current miner Cost of Production (CoP) at roughly $73,234. A break below this CoP floor is framed as a trigger for a steep correction, with the next “normal” downside target near the 1st quantile Power Law floor around $60,000. In a worst-case stress scenario, BTC could fall toward a lower CoP estimate near $53,000, a zone described as high-panic/weak-hands selling with potential accumulation by long-term holders. Network conditions are also highlighted: BTC hash rate is stabilizing around 873.19 EH/s (CoinWarz), after failing to sustain a sustained breakout above ~1.2 ZH/s earlier in the week. At the time of writing, BTC is around $72,709, with weekly gains of about 9.03% and monthly gains around 4.13%. For traders, the takeaway is clear: BTC’s near-CoP positioning makes the current bounce fragile, and downside levels ($60k and potentially $53k) are being actively watched as inflection points.

Magic Eden will “sunset” major parts of its NFT trading services in 2026. The platform has shut down its Bitcoin (Ordinals/Runes) and EVM-chain (Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche) marketplaces, while keeping the Solana marketplace live—citing a cost-cutting move to concentrate liquidity on its biggest chain. Traders should note the wallet timeline. For users of Magic Eden’s multi-chain wallet, functionality is tightening: the wallet entered “export-only” mode on April 1, 2026, and will be fully removed from app stores on May 1, 2026. The article warns that any keys not backed up could be lost, and instructs users to export the seed phrase and import it into compatible wallets (EVM via MetaMask; Bitcoin via Xverse). Why this shift: Magic Eden says maintaining a multi-chain empire became too expensive. It is pivoting toward “crypto entertainment,” including a new iGaming product called Dicey and an upcoming focus around the $ME token. However, the article notes ME has fallen roughly 80% over the past six months. Broader context: the report frames this as part of industry-wide consolidation in 2026, as major crypto platforms narrow their scope to sustainable revenue. For traders, the immediate actionable theme is Magic Eden market reallocation: lower accessibility/risk around BTC and EVM NFT flows, while Solana liquidity remains the main venue—at least until further changes.

Polymarket has launched pUSD, a USDC-backed ERC-20 collateral token on Polygon, as part of a major protocol upgrade. The goal is to improve trade execution, reduce costs, and simplify balance management without changing the user flow. pUSD functions as Polymarket’s technical collateral layer. Users deposit USDC and their system balances appear as pUSD. Withdrawals convert pUSD back into USDC, with the token designed to remain fully backed by USDC (no algorithmic or fractional-reserve approach). Key changes aimed at trading reliability and lower expenses include removing nonce-related execution failures, updating fee calculation to occur at trade matching (instead of order placement), and optimizing contract libraries to reduce gas costs. Polymarket also introduced a one-click migration so users can move to the updated system quickly. On the architecture side, Polymarket confirmed its CTFv2 smart contracts were audited by Cantina and Quantstamp. The company plans to publish contract code and launch a bug bounty. Order management is improved by using timestamps and signatures rather than on-chain nonces, and the central limit order book updates are designed to reduce race conditions tied to balance checks. Polymarket reiterated that settlement continues in native USDC, combining that settlement model with the new pUSD layer for more stable internal operations. Overall, the upgrade targets fewer failed trades and smoother execution for daily users of pUSD.

Technical analysis shared by MooninPapa (via X) says ETH is still the weaker coin as Bitcoin quietly takes over. BTC dominance is “grinding higher” and ETH underperforms, reinforcing that this remains a “Bitcoin season.” On the weekly view, bullish divergence is developing, but short-term signals lean toward a pullback. For ETH and altcoins, the key warning is market structure: MooninPapa highlighted ETHBTC as weak, with POL also showing weakness on the pair. The article points to a late-breakout behavior after a ~6% move that previously failed in prior cycles, and notes that 4-hour breakout clustering has not produced a clean continuation. Broader alt performance is also flagged as damaged. TOTAL3 (excluding BTC and ETH) is working through a third daily breakdown signal, which the author frames as a pattern-level bearish warning for altcoins. Individual picks leaned cautious: TAO showed bearish divergence and rolled over; ZBCN flashed another bearish warning; WLFI looked messy; ZEC is extended; MON is stronger but overheated; SUI needs a cleaner bottom; SOLBTC highlights how weak alt-to-BTC pairs can be; NEAT and HYPE are extended; LDO and DOT remain structurally weak. Macro/TradFi backdrop is described as fragile: DXY drifting lower, VIX cooling, while equity indices looked stretched/toppy after a bounce. Overall, ETH keeps losing ground versus BTC, and traders may expect limited alt rotation until ETH stabilizes and TOTAL3 stops breaking down.

Bitcoin price is trading mostly flat, slipping below $73,000 as U.S. and Iran officials begin high-level negotiations in Islamabad. BTC is around $72,9xx, down roughly 0.6% (24h), while the broader crypto market is broadly steady. Earlier in the week, risk sentiment improved after a two-week ceasefire announcement. That news triggered a derivatives short squeeze that wiped out more than $430 million in bearish positions, helping lift the market. In the last 24 hours, the CoinDesk 20 index is up slightly (~0.12%), while Ethereum is also modestly higher (~0.1%). Most large-cap moves remain small. Traders are watching geopolitical spillovers. The U.S.-Iran truce is described as fragile: Israel continues airstrikes against Lebanon, and Iran says it will charge ships a toll to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. These developments can impact oil prices and risk appetite, indirectly influencing crypto liquidity. U.S. side reportedly includes Vice President J.D. Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iran’s delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Pakistan is a third-party participant in the talks.

Ethereum Foundation (EF) has completed its planned ETH sell program: it disposed of all 5,000 ETH it intended to raise operating funds after reaching its 70,000 staked ETH target. The sales were executed in two batches. The first ended Apr 9 and the second ended Apr 11. Lookonchain data shows EF converted the proceeds into 11.11M DAI at an average disposal price of about $2,221. (The article also notes the earlier remaining 1,250 ETH, totaling the full planned 5,000 ETH conversion.) Meanwhile, market flows looked constructive. A Cumberland-linked wallet withdrew about $60M worth of ETH from multiple exchanges including OKX and Binance, suggesting fresh positioning rather than liquidation. Spot Ethereum ETFs also ended the week in the green: net inflows were $85.19M on Thursday and $65M on Friday, following a $120.24M inflow on Monday. The week ended with about $187.07M in net inflows—the first positive week in nearly a month. On price action, ETH rebounded from roughly $2,050 to above $2,250 after a two-week US–Iran truce. Analyst Ted Pillows expects a move toward $2,350–$2,400 and frames it as likely the “last pump” before another correction if $2,200 support holds. Another analyst (CW) pointed to improving futures activity as ETH futures whales increase long positions after a quieter period since the 8th. For ETH traders, the near-term setup is mixed: EF’s ETH supply reduction is a headline risk, but ETH ETF inflows and whale accumulation could keep bids under the market while traders test the “last pump” scenario.

The FBI used a forensic method to retrieve deleted Signal messages from a defendant’s iPhone in a terrorism-related case. According to testimony relayed by 404 Media, agents did not recover content from the Signal app itself. Instead, they extracted message text from iOS’s hidden push-notification data storage, which can keep incoming notification content for up to about a month. The device had Signal deleted, but the notification database still held message previews/content. The FBI reportedly used specialized forensic tools with physical access to the iPhone to pull the data directly from that system-level store. The article notes that iOS notification storage affects many messaging apps, making this an iOS design issue rather than a Signal-specific encryption break. Signal’s end-to-end encryption was described as intact: the FBI’s approach intercepted content outside Signal’s control, through iOS notification handling. There is a Signal setting to block message content from appearing in push notifications, but the defendant allegedly had not enabled it. The article also says users can disable this notification content storage feature. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov responded publicly on X, arguing that Telegram’s Secret Chats never display message content in push notifications (a design choice dating back to 2013). He criticized Signal’s dependencies on US tech companies (naming AWS, Microsoft, and Intel SGX) and framed the incident as a dependency/design gap. This is tied to a Texas case involving alleged vandalism at an ICE detention facility and the shooting of a police officer, and it is described as a first prosecution under the Trump administration’s “Antifa” terrorist designation.

Oil prices jumped after the Iran war and the risk of disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, pushing U.S. investors back to inflation concerns. April data noted headline inflation rising (0.9% in the latest month, with energy a key driver) while core inflation fell short of expectations. Michael Ashton, co-founder of the USDi stablecoin with Andrew Fately, argues the stablecoin boom has only fixed crypto’s payments use case, not its store-of-value problem. In his view, most dollar-pegged stablecoins are designed for nominal $1 value, so they can lose purchasing power in real terms—creating an “inflation risk” for treasurers and payment platforms holding stablecoin float. The USDi stablecoin is positioned as an inflation-linked token that rises with changes in the U.S. CPI, aiming to resemble an on-chain version of inflation-protected principal rather than a nominal-dollar peg. Its reserves are invested via the Enduring U.S. Inflation Tracking Fund, which uses TIPS, U.S. Treasury instruments, FX, and commodity derivatives to generate returns. Ashton contrasts this approach with TIPS’ market-price sensitivity to rate moves. Beyond CPI tracking, the USDi stablecoin plan includes customizable inflation exposure—potentially isolating health-care, tuition, energy, or even geography-specific inflation components. Ashton highlights insurers as likely early adopters because they face hard-to-hedge inflation risk in medical costs. USDi is already live and targeting a seed raise of about $1.5M. Ashton frames the product as a structural completion of crypto’s monetary system: stablecoins handled payments; now the store-of-value layer needs to be solved.

Community discussion is bringing SHIB tokenomics back into focus, centering on the SHIB burn narrative and early supply design. The X account claims Ryoshi locked 50% of the 1 quadrillion SHIB supply into Uniswap V2/V3 liquidity pools and destroyed the liquidity keys, leaving that supply permanently inaccessible to reinforce decentralization and remove founder control. The remaining 50% was sent to Vitalik Buterin, who burned ~410 trillion SHIB on May 16, 2021 (about 41% of total supply), substantially reducing circulating supply. On price action, SHIB is attempting to stabilize after recent volatility. It rose to around $0.000006 following broader market recovery and fresh macro data: US CPI increased 0.9% in March (in line with forecasts) and 3.3% YoY. Rate expectations stayed steady, with CME FedWatch showing a 99% probability of no late-April change. Traders are watching a key technical level: SHIB needs to hold above the 50-day moving average near $0.00000586. A sustained break above $0.000006 may confirm a stronger breakout, while failure to hold could signal renewed downside risk. (Main focus: SHIB tokenomics and the SHIB burn mechanism.)