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Quantum computers likely to reveal if Satoshi is alive — Adam Back

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 incentives

When the threat becomes real, Back said the Bitcoin community will have to choose between deprecating old, vulnerable addresses or letting those funds be stolen:

Quantum computers likely to reveal if Satoshi is alive — Adam Back
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Buying Bitcoin vs gold: Which is easier for investors to purchase?

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.

Buying Bitcoin vs gold: Which is easier for investors to purchase?
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Astar reduces base staking rewards to curb inflation pressure

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 Network

Astar Network implements inflation-control mechanisms

Unlike 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. 

Astar reduces base staking rewards to curb inflation pressure
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Bitcoin price volatility 'imminent' as speculators move 170K BTC — CryptoQuant

Bitcoin (BTC) speculators may spark “significant” BTC price volatility as a large tranche of coins moves onchain.

In one of its “Quicktake” blog posts on April 18, onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant warned that a Bitcoin market shake-up is due.

CryptoQuant: “Volatility is coming” for BTC price

Bitcoin short-term holders (STHs) are signaling that the current calm BTC price behavior may not last long.

CryptoQuant reveals that 170,000 BTC owned by entities with a purchase date between three and six months ago has begun to circulate.

“Around 170,000 BTC are moving from the 3–6 month holder cohort,” contributor Mignolet confirmed. 

Bitcoin price volatility 'imminent' as speculators move 170K BTC — CryptoQuant
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Spar supermarket in Switzerland starts accepting Bitcoin payments

Global 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 Swiss

Switzerland has long been regarded as one of the more crypto-friendly European jurisdictions with some of the earliest crypto-adoption initiatives.

Spar supermarket in Switzerland starts accepting Bitcoin payments
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KiloEx exchange exploiter returns all stolen funds after $7.5M hack

A hacker behind the $7.5 million KiloEx exploit returned all the stolen funds four days after the attack.

Decentralized exchange (DEX) KiloEx had suspended platform operations after suffering the $7.5 million exploit, Cointelegraph reported on April 15.

In a surprising turn of events, the wallet address behind the exploit has returned all of the stolen cryptocurrency loot to the DEX. 

“#KiloEx exploiter -labeled addresses have returned ~$5.5M worth of cryptos to #KiloEx,” according to an April 18 X post from blockchain security platform PeckShieldAlert.

Minutes after the transfer occurred, KiloEx announced the full recovery of all the stolen funds, the exchange wrote in an April 18 X post.

KiloEx exchange exploiter returns all stolen funds after $7.5M hack
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Hashkey takes aim at XRP ETF in Asia with new fund backed by Ripple

Hong Kong-based crypto investment firm HashKey Capital announced the launch of an XRP fund, with plans to convert it into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the future.

According to an April 18 announcement, the fund, officially titled the HashKey XRP Tracker Fund, is reportedly “the first investment fund in Asia designed to track the performance of XRP.”

XRP developer Ripple will serve as the fund’s anchor investor. In a separate X post, HashKey Capital said the fund aims to bring “more institutional capital into regulated XRP products and the broader digital asset ecosystem.”

Close collaboration with Ripple

In another X post, HashKey Capital said the fund marks the beginning of a closer collaboration with Ripple. The two firms “are exploring new investment products, cross-border DeFi solutions, and tokenization —including the possibility of launching a money market fund (MMF) on the XRP ledger.”

Related: Ripple vs. XRP vs. XRP Ledger: What’s the difference?

Hashkey takes aim at XRP ETF in Asia with new fund backed by Ripple
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Altcoins may rally in Q2 2025 thanks to improved regulations: Sygnum

Altcoins may see a resurgence in the second quarter of 2025 as regulations for digital assets continue to improve, according to Swiss bank Sygnum.

In its Q2 2025 investment outlook, Sygnum said the space has seen “drastically improved” regulations for crypto use cases, creating the foundations for a strong alt-sector rally for the second quarter. However, it added that “none of the positive developments have been priced in.” 

In April, Bitcoin dominance reached a four-year high, signaling that crypto investors are rotating their funds into an asset perceived to be relatively safer. 

Still, Sygnum said regulatory developments in the US, such as President Donald Trump’s establishment of a Digital Asset Stockpile and advancing stablecoin regulations, may propel broader crypto adoption.

“We expect protocols successful in gaining user traction to outperform and Bitcoin’s dominance to decline,” Sygnum wrote. 

Altcoins may rally in Q2 2025 thanks to improved regulations: Sygnum
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What is Bitcoinlib, and how did hackers target it?

Bitcoinlib, explained

Bitcoinlib is an open-source Python library designed to make Bitcoin development easier. 

Think of it as a toolbox for programmers who want to create Bitcoin wallets, manage transactions, or build apps that interact with the Bitcoin blockchain. Since its launch, it’s been downloaded over 1 million times, showing just how widely trusted and used it is in the crypto community.

Here’s what Bitcoinlib does in a nutshell:

Creates and manages wallets: It lets developers build Bitcoin wallets to store, send and receive Bitcoin securely.Handles transactions: It simplifies the process of creating, signing and broadcasting Bitcoin transactions.Supports multiple networks: Bitcoinlib works with Bitcoin’s main network (where real money is involved) and test networks (for experimenting without risk).Open-source and flexible: Being open-source, anyone can use, modify or contribute to its code, making it a go-to for developers worldwide.

For beginners, Bitcoinlib is like a user-friendly bridge to Bitcoin’s complex world. Instead of wrestling with the blockchain’s technical details, developers can use Bitcoinlib’s ready-made functions to get things done quickly. For example, this library automates tricky tasks like generating private keys or signing transactions, saving developers hours of coding.

What is Bitcoinlib, and how did hackers target it?
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Synthetix’s sUSD stablecoin continues fall after depeg, tapping $0.68

The Synthetix protocol’s native stablecoin, Synthetix USD (SUSD), has slipped further away from its US dollar peg, reaching new all-time lows under $0.70. 

However, the firm reiterates that this isn’t the first time the asset has been under significant stress, and several risk measures are in place.

“Synthetix and sUSD have weathered multiple bear markets and periods of stablecoin volatility; this is not the first resilience test,” a spokesperson from Synthetix told Cointelegraph.

SUSD down almost 31% from its intended 1:1 peg

sUSD is a crypto-collateralized stablecoin. Users lock up SNX tokens to mint sUSD, making its stability highly dependent on the market value of Synthetix (SNX). 

At the time of publication, sUSD (SUSD) is trading at $0.70, 30% below its intended 1:1 peg with the US dollar, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Synthetix’s sUSD stablecoin continues fall after depeg, tapping $0.68
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Crypto rug pulls have slowed, but are now more devastating: DappRadar

There has been a 66% year-on-year decrease in the number of crypto rug pulls this year compared to 2024, but recent data shows the size of each rug pull has been increasing.

Rug pulls have dropped in frequency year-over-year, with early 2024 recording 21 separate incidents, compared to only seven so far in 2025, according to an April 16 report from blockchain analytics platform DappRadar.

However, since the beginning of 2025, the Web3 ecosystem has lost nearly $6 billion to rug pulls, according to DappRadar’s report. However, the report attributes 92% of that to Mantra’s OM token collapse, which the founders have strongly denied was a rug pull.

In comparison, during the same period in early 2024, three months into the year, total losses from rug pulls hit $90 million.

“This shift suggests that rug pulls are becoming less frequent, but far more devastating when they do occur,” DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas said. 

Crypto rug pulls have slowed, but are now more devastating: DappRadar
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Manta founder details attempted Zoom hack by Lazarus that used very real ‘legit faces’

Manta Network co-founder Kenny Li says he was targeted by a highly sophisticated phishing attack on Zoom that used live recordings of familiar people in an attempt to have him 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 Li

Li believes the North Korean state-backed Lazarus Group was behind the attack.

Manta founder details attempted Zoom hack by Lazarus that used very real ‘legit faces’
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Media mogul hits Justin Sun with countersuit in $78M sculpture dispute

American film producer, record executive and art collector David Geffen has hit back at crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun in a countersuit disputing ownership claims over a multimillion-dollar sculpture.

The billionaire American media mogul filed a counterclaim against Sun on April 16, calling the Tron founder’s suit a “sham” and adding claims of “unethical and/or illegal business activities.”

Sun sued Geffen in February, claiming that the statue was stolen from him by a former employee who then sold the artwork to Geffen in a deal worth around $65 million in artwork and cash.

Sun purchased the Alberto Giacometti sculpture titled “Le Nez” at a Sotheby’s auction in 2021 for $78 million, working with the assistance of his former art adviser, Xiong Zihan Sydney.

In the 100-page countersuit, Geffen claims that Sun and Xiong “contrived this fraudulent lawsuit” after they couldn’t profitably sell two paintings that Geffen had exchanged for the sculpture, along with $10.5 million in cash.

Media mogul hits Justin Sun with countersuit in $78M sculpture dispute
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Yemenis are turning to DeFi as US sanctions target Houthi group

Yemeni 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. 

In 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.” 

Yemen has been in a civil war between the government and the Houthi group since September 2014. The US has also frequently sanctioned financial infrastructure in the country to disrupt Houthi activity, with the most recent action on April 17 hitting the International Bank of Yemen.

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.

Yemenis are turning to DeFi as US sanctions target Houthi group
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Saylor, ETF investors’ ‘stronger hands’ help stabilize Bitcoin — Analyst

Bitcoin’s relatively stable price movements despite macroeconomic uncertainty is likely due to resilient spot Bitcoin ETF holders and Michael Saylor’s firm continuing to buy aggressively, according to a Bloomberg analyst.

“The ETFs and Saylor have been buying up all ‘dumps’ from the tourists, FTX refugees, GBTC discounters, legal unlocks, govt confiscations and Lord knows who else,” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said in an April 16 X post.

Bitcoin ETF holders hold despite market volatility

Balchunas pointed out that spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs have attracted $131.04 million over the past 30 days and are up $2.4 billion since Jan. 1. Balchunas called this “impressive,” noting it helps explain why Bitcoin has “been relatively stable.”

“Its owners are more stable,” Balchunas said. Balchunas said Bitcoin ETF investors have “much stronger hands than most people think.” He said this “should” increase the stability and lower Bitcoin’s volatility and correlation in the long term. 

As of April 16, Bitcoin ETFs saw a total of $131.04 million in inflows over the past 30 days. Source: Eric Balchunas

Saylor’s firm, Strategy, made its latest Bitcoin purchase on April 14, acquiring 3,459 BTC for $285.5 million at an average price of $82,618 per coin. According to Saylor Tracker, Strategy holds 531,644 Bitcoin at the time of publication.

Saylor, ETF investors’ ‘stronger hands’ help stabilize Bitcoin — Analyst
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Galaxy Research proposes new voting system to reduce Solana inflation

Crypto research firm Galaxy Research has made a proposal to adjust the voting system that decides the outcome of future Solana inflation following the failure to come to a consensus in a previous vote.

On April 17, Galaxy introduced a Solana proposal called “Multiple Election Stake-Weight Aggregation” (MESA) to reduce the inflation rate of its native token, SOL (SOL). The researchers described the proposal as a “more market-based approach to agreeing on the rate of future SOL emissions.”

Rather than using traditional yes/no voting for inflation rates, MESA allows validators to vote on multiple deflation rates and uses the weighted average as the outcome.

“Instead of cycling through inflation reduction proposals until one passes, what if validators could allocate their votes to one or many changes, with the aggregate of ‘yes’ outcomes becoming the adopted emissions curve?” Galaxy explained.  

The motivation for the concept comes from a previous proposal (SIMD-228), which showed community agreement that SOL inflation should be reduced, but the binary voting system couldn’t find consensus on specific parameters. 

Galaxy Research proposes new voting system to reduce Solana inflation
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Arizona crypto reserve bill passes House committee, heads to third reading

Update (April 18 at 3:28 am UTC): This article has been updated to include a comment from Bitcoin Laws founder Julian Fahrer.

One of Arizona’s crypto reserve bills has been passed by the House and is now one successful vote away from heading to the governor’s desk for official approval.

Arizona's Strategic Digital Assets Reserve Bill (SB 1373) was approved on April 17 by the House Committee of the Whole, which involves 60 House members weighing in on the bill before a third and final reading and a full floor vote.

Source: Bitcoin Laws

SB 1373 seeks to establish a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund made up of digital assets seized through criminal proceedings to be managed by the state’s treasurer. 

Arizona’s treasurer would be permitted to invest up to 10% of the fund’s total monies in any fiscal year in digital assets. The treasurer would also be able to loan the fund’s assets in order to increase returns, provided it doesn’t increase financial risks.

Arizona crypto reserve bill passes House committee, heads to third reading
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Slovenia’s finance ministry floats 25% tax on crypto transactions

Slovenia’s Finance Ministry is considering a possible 25% tax on crypto trading profits for residents in the country under a new draft law now open for public consultation. 

The bill proposes to tax traders when they sell their cryptocurrency for fiat or pay for goods and services, but crypto-to-crypto and transfers between wallets owned by the same user will be exempt, Slovenia’s Finance Ministry said in an April 17 statement.

Under the proposed legislation, crypto tax will be aligned with existing tax laws. Slovenia taxpayers will be required to keep a record of all their transactions for annual tax returns. The tax base would be calculated on profits by subtracting the purchase price from the sale price. 

In a statement to the Slovenia Times, finance minister Klemen Boštjančič said it’s unreasonable that crypto trading for individuals isn’t currently taxed in the country. 

“The goal of taxation of crypto assets is not to generate tax revenue, but we find it illogical and unreasonable that one of the most speculative financial instruments is not taxed at all,” he said in a statement translated from Slovenian.

Slovenia’s finance ministry floats 25% tax on crypto transactions
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Bitcoin dip buyers nibble at BTC range lows but are risk off until $90K becomes support

Bitcoin’s (BTC) realized market cap reached a new all-time high of $872 billion, but data from Glassnode reflects investors’ lack of enthusiasm at BTC’s current price levels.

In a recent X post, the analytics platform pointed out that despite the realized cap milestone, the monthly growth rate of the metric has dropped to 0.9% month over month, which implied a risk-off sentiment in the market.

Bitcoin realized cap net position. Source: X.com

Realized cap measures the total value of all Bitcoin at the price they last moved, reflecting the actual capital invested, providing insight into Bitcoin’s economic activity. A slowing growth rate highlights a positive but reduced capital inflow, suggesting fewer new investors or less activity from current holders.

Additionally, Glassnode’s realized profit and loss chart recently exhibited a sharp decline of 40%, which signals high profit-taking or loss realization. The data platform explained,

“This suggests saturation in investor activity and often precedes a consolidation phase as the market searches for a new equilibrium.”

While new investors remained sidelined, existing investors are probably adopting a cautious approach due to the short-term holder’s realized price. Data from CryptoQuant suggested that the current short-term realized price is $91,600. With BTC currently consolidating under the threshold, it implies short-term holders are underwater, which can increase selling pressure if they sell to cut their losses.

Bitcoin dip buyers nibble at BTC range lows but are risk off until $90K becomes support
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Kyrgyzstan’s president signs CBDC law giving ‘digital som’ legal status

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov has signed a constitutional law authorizing the launch of a central bank digital currency pilot project while also giving the “digital som” — the national currency in digital form — legal tender status.

The law gives the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic the exclusive right to issue the digital som, establish the rules for its issuance and circulation, and oversee the platform on which the national currency will operate, Kyrgyzstan’s presidential office said on April 17.

However, a final decision on whether to officially issue the CBDC is not expected until the end of 2026, local outlet Trend News Agency reported in December.

If the central bank decides to adopt the digital som, it would also need to outline cryptographic protection measures to ensure the digital som remains secure and isn’t used for fraudulent transactions.

Testing of the digital som platform is expected to take place sometime this year.

Kyrgyzstan’s president signs CBDC law giving ‘digital som’ legal status
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OpenAI sought Anysphere deal before turning its sights on WindSurf

OpenAI was reportedly in talks to buy Anysphere, the company that produces the Cursor AI coding assistant, before entering into talks with rival company WindSurf.

According to CNBC, OpenAI approached Anysphere in 2024 and again in 2025, but talks stalled both times. Failing to arrive at a deal led OpenAI to look elsewhere for potential acquisitions.

Sources familiar with the deal also say OpenAI is prepared to pay $3 billion to purchase WindSurf, which would make it the company's largest corporate acquisition to date.

An example of OpenAI’s ChatGPT producing computer code through simple text prompts. Source: ChatGPT

OpenAI's attempted acquisition of an AI coding assistant company follows the release of DeepSeek R1 in January 2025, which shattered long-held assumptions about artificial intelligence.

DeepSeek was reportedly trained at a fraction of the cost of leading AI models while delivering comparable performance — challenging the belief that scaling requires massive computing power, rattling financial markets, and raising questions about the billions spent by US AI giants.

OpenAI sought Anysphere deal before turning its sights on WindSurf
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Crypto exchange eXch to shut down amid money laundering allegations

Cryptocurrency exchange eXch announced it will cease operations on May 1 after reports alleged the firm was used to launder funds from a Bybit hack.

In an April 17 notice, eXch said the majority of people in its management team voted to “cease and retreat” in response to the allegations that North Korea’s Lazarus Group used the exchange to launder roughly $35 million of the funds stolen in a $1.4 billion exploit on Bybit. The exchange said it was the subject of “an active transatlantic operation” aimed at shutting it down and potentially pursuing charges.

“Even though we have been able to operate despite some failed attempts to shut down our infrastructure (attempts that have also been confirmed to be part of this operation), we don’t see any point in operating in a hostile environment where we are the target of SIGINT [Signals Intelligence] simply because some people misinterpret our goals,” said eXch.

Related: North Korean hackers target crypto devs with fake recruitment tests

The exchange initially denied reports from crypto sleuths suggesting that it had laundered digital assets for the Lazarus Group, but admitted to processing an “insignificant portion of funds” from the February hack. Individuals from eXch’s management team emphasized its focus on user privacy in announcing the shutdown, claiming that some exchanges “abus[e] customers with nonsensical policies” in their attempts to fight money laundering.

Crypto exchange eXch to shut down amid money laundering allegations
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Ripple acquisition Hidden Road secures FINRA registration

Prime brokerage Hidden Road, which was recently acquired by Ripple for $1.25 billion, has secured a broker-dealer license from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) — a move that enhances its capacity in the fixed-income markets. 

As a FINRA broker-dealer, Hidden Road can further develop its fixed-income prime brokerage services and extend its capabilities in traditional markets, the company announced on April 17. This includes offering institutional clients regulatory-compliant clearing and financing services across fixed-income securities. 

Membership in FINRA is considered a significant commitment to compliance and investor protection. It also boosts registrants’ credibility in the eyes of investment bankers, according to Telos Capital Advisors, a Dallas-based investment bank.  

Hidden Road operates a prime brokerage and credit network, clearing more than $10 billion in daily transactions on behalf of more than 300 institutional clients. When it was founded in 2018, Hidden Road focused mainly on foreign exchange markets before expanding into digital assets.

These strengths positioned Hidden Road as an attractive acquisition for blockchain payments network Ripple, which ultimately purchased the company on April 8.

Ripple acquisition Hidden Road secures FINRA registration
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US jobless claims hint at stability as Bitcoin reaches 'inflection point' at $85K

The latest US initial jobless claims data came at 215,000, below the estimated expectation of 225,000, on April 17. The dip in jobless claims indicated that the US labor market remained stable, with fewer people being affected by the uncertainty of US tariffs. Initial jobless claims are a leading economic indicator that measures the health of the US economy and it often impacts investor sentiment around risk assets like Bitcoin (BTC). US jobless claims data. Source: Investing.com

Resiliency in the labor market comes on the back of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s recent comment about the impact of tariffs. In a press conference at the economics club of Chicago on April 16, Powell said,

“The level of the tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated. The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth.”

The Fed Reserve Chair also stated that the Fed has no plans to intervene with market bailouts or implement rate cuts in the near future. This stance aligns with his earlier comments from April 4, 2025, when he noted it was "too soon" to consider rate reductions, reflecting the Fed's cautious approach amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

However, the European Central Bank cut interest rates to 2.25% from 2.50% in order to combat economic pressure from US trade tariffs. According to data, the ECB has taken borrowing costs to its lowest level since late 2022, with the current rate cut marking its seventh reduction in a span of a year.

Related: Bitcoin gold copycat move may top $150K as BTC stays 'impressive'

US jobless claims hint at stability as Bitcoin reaches 'inflection point' at $85K
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A16z doubles down on LayerZero with $55M investment

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z, announced a $55 million investment in LayerZero, a Web3 company that runs a crosschain messaging protocol. The investment was disclosed in an April 17 X post by Ali Yahya, a general partner in the firm.

A16z has made previous investments in LayerZero, including an initial investment in March 2022 and a subsequent investment during LayerZero’s Series B funding round in April 2023. The companies have not disclosed the funding round's valuation.

Source: Ali Yahja | alive.eth

The Canada-based LayerZero was valued at $3 billion during its Series B funding round, which saw participation from 33 investors. In addition to a16z, Circle Ventures, OKX Ventures, OpenSea Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and many others participated at the time. 

In January 2025, LayerZero reached a settlement with the FTX Estate over a long-running dispute stemming from allegations that it exploited the exchange’s liquidity crisis by “negotiating a fire-sale transaction,” according to the Estate. In June 2024, LayerZero launched its own token, LayerZero (ZRO).

Related: ‘Big Sybil hunt’ and durable users helped LayerZero airdrop succeed, says CEO

A16z doubles down on LayerZero with $55M investment
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Ethena Labs, Securitize unveil 'Converge' network roadmap

Ethena Labs, the developer of the USDe synthetic dollar (USDe), and financial technology company Securitize, released a preliminary roadmap for their upcoming Converge network, a high-throughput blockchain focused on real-world assets and decentralized finance (DeFi).

According to the announcement, a testnet will be live in the coming weeks, with a mainnet launch later in 2025.

Converge will feature a 100 milliseconds (ms) native block time, with plans to reduce block times to 50ms by Q4 2025. The developers also plan to achieve at least one gigagas of potential throughput during 2025. Gigagas is a measure of billions of gas units processed by a blockchain network in one second.

Ethena and Securitize are launching the network to support permissioned real-world tokenized applications and permissionless DeFi applications as the line between traditional and decentralized finance continues to blur.

Converge 1-year performance targets. Source: Converge

Related: Ethena Labs exits German market following agreement with BaFin

Ethena Labs, Securitize unveil 'Converge' network roadmap
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4 reasons why Bitcoin price could rally to $90K in April

Key points: 

Monetary stimulus in China and Europe increases investors’ focus on Bitcoin price.

The US Federal Reserve is under political pressure to cut rates, as the DXY weakens.

Bitcoin’s decoupling from traditional markets continues to gain attention. 

Bitcoin (BTC) traders are somewhat puzzled by BTC price jumping to $85,000, especially since the S&P 500 index has dropped 5.7% in April, and this move came after the cryptocurrency managed a 14% rebound off its trade-war induced crash to $74,400. Investors are cautiously optimistic, but multiple events and data points to further gains above $90,000.

4 reasons why Bitcoin price could rally to $90K in April
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Trump blasts ‘too late’ Powell for not cutting interest rates

US President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, accusing him of being too slow to cut interest rates and escalating a long-running conflict that risks undermining the central bank’s political independence.

With the European Central Bank (ECB) cutting interest rates again on April 17, “Too Late” Powell has failed to act appropriately in the United States, even with inflation falling, Trump said on Truth Social on April 17. 

“Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” Trump said.

Source: realDonaldTrump

Florida Senator Rick Scott agreed with the president, saying, “it’s time for new leadership at the Federal Reserve.”

Trump’s public criticism of the Fed breaks a decades-long convention in American politics that sought to safeguard the central bank from political scrutiny, which includes any executive decision to replace the chair. 

Trump blasts ‘too late’ Powell for not cutting interest rates
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Wyoming commission floats whether stablecoin is 'covered' by SEC rules

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission, a body authorized by the US state to issue a stablecoin, has suggested that it may clarify its language to better comply with potential guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

In an April 17 meeting in the extension of the Wyoming Capitol building, Commissioner Joel Revill suggested the body could reduce the risk of the state’s proposed WYST stablecoin qualifying as a security under SEC rules. The discussion among the commissioners and Executive Director Anthony Apollo followed the SEC issuing guidelines that certain “covered stablecoins” were considered” non-securities” and largely not subject to reporting requirements. 

Wyoming Stable Token Commission Executive Director Anthony Apollo with Senator Cynthia Lummis. Source: LinkedIn

“We’re looking to kind of create our own vernacular around some of this, to clarify, and then use that as a jumping off point of discussion for the commission,” said Apollo, adding there were internal discussions regarding the SEC guidance but the commission was scheduled to address the matter in a May memo. 

Related: Wyoming treasury should run on blockchain — Stable Token Commission boss

The commission, established after Wyoming passed a law to issue a state-issued stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and redeemable for fiat currency, has been exploring issues surrounding WYST. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said in August that the government initially planned a launch in the first quarter of 2025 for the stablecoin, later amending the timeline to potentially launch in July.

Wyoming commission floats whether stablecoin is 'covered' by SEC rules
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When gold price hits new highs, history shows ‘Bitcoin follows’ within 150 days — Analyst

The price of gold surged to a new all-time high of $3,357 per ounce on April 17, igniting speculation on whether Bitcoin (BTC) would follow. Bitcoin-gold comparison. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

In 2017, Bitcoin rallied to $19,120 after gold witnessed a 30% hike a few months earlier. Similarly, gold reached a new high near $2,075 in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, which preceded Bitcoin’s surge to $69,000 in 2021.

Bitcoin has historically surpassed its previous all-time highs whenever gold rallies, reflecting a dynamic relationship between the two assets during periods of economic uncertainty and when investors look for a US dollar alternative.

Further highlighting the interconnections between the assets, Joe Consorti, head of growth at Theya, pointed out that BTC follows gold’s directional bias with a lag of 100-150 days at a time. Consorti said,

“When the printer roars to life, gold sniffs it out first, then Bitcoin follows harder.”Bitcoin vs gold price movement correlation. Source: X.com

Considering Consorti’s view, Bitcoin is expected to potentially attain new all-time highs between Q3 and Q4 of 2025. Anonymous Bitcoin proponent apsk32 expected a similar outcome or bullish period between July and November.

When gold price hits new highs, history shows ‘Bitcoin follows’ within 150 days — Analyst
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