News

CENTCOM has announced a blockade on all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, effective April 13 at 10 a.m. ET. According to BeInCrypto, this directive applies to vessels of any flag or ownership within Iranian coastal waters, including ports in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports will maintain freedom of navigation. CENTCOM has not specified the duration of the blockade and stated that further guidance will be provided.

Binance Wallet announced on X that participants in the Pieverse Booster activities can now claim their PIEVERSE token rewards for phases 1, 2, 3, and 4. Users are encouraged to navigate to the 'Discover' section, select 'Booster,' and then proceed to 'My Total Rewards' to access their accumulated tokens. By clicking on the 'Batch Claim' option in the upper right corner, users can efficiently collect all their rewards in one go.

This update marks the availability of token rewards for those who participated in the initial phases of the Pieverse Booster activities. The process is designed to streamline the claiming experience, allowing users to consolidate their rewards with ease. Participants who have engaged in these activities can now benefit from their involvement by accessing their earned tokens through the specified steps. This initiative is part of Binance's ongoing efforts to enhance user engagement and reward participation within its platform.

According to SoSoValue data, Ethereum spot ETFs recorded net inflows of $187 million during last week's trading sessions (April 6 to April 10, Eastern Time).The Ethereum spot ETF with the highest net inflows last week was BlackRock's ETF ETHA, with weekly net inflows of $168 million. Currently, ETHA's total historical net inflows have reached $11.73 billion. Following that was BlackRock's ETF ETHB, with weekly net inflows of $66.0015 million. Currently, ETHB's total historical net inflows have reached $377 million.The Ethereum spot ETF with the highest net outflows last week was Fidelity's ETF FETH, with weekly net outflows of $62.1274 million. Currently, FETH's total historical net inflows stand at $2.23 billion.As of the time of writing, the total net asset value of Ethereum spot ETFs is $12.96 billion. The ETF net asset ratio (market cap as a percentage of Ethereum's total market cap) has reached 4.76%, and the historical cumulative net inflows have reached $11.67 billion.

Justin Sun recently accused the WLFI token contract of having a 'backdoor' that allows for arbitrary freezing of user assets. According to ChainCatcher, WLFI officials have denied these allegations and announced plans to pursue legal action.WLFI representatives stated that Justin Sun's accusations are defamatory and unfounded, portraying himself as a 'victim.' They noted that such public accusations are not new. WLFI claims to have gathered relevant contract and evidence materials and intends to confront Justin Sun in court.

According to Binance's post on X , Binance co-CEO Richard Teng and Yi He will appear at the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Festival, and serve as keynote speakers on the first day of the conference. The event will be held on April 20 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Yi He will speak from 13:30 to 14:00, and Richard Teng will speak from 15:50 to 16:30.

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig has affirmed the agency's commitment to defending its exclusive authority over prediction markets offered on CFTC-regulated exchanges. According to NS3.AI, Selig emphasized that the agency's legal actions against Arizona, Illinois, and Connecticut are intended to prevent states from applying gambling laws to products that the CFTC considers derivatives. Additionally, Selig noted that the CFTC is currently engaged in a formal rulemaking process concerning prediction markets.

According to Jin10, local media 'The San Francisco Standard' reported that the residence of OpenAI founder Sam Altman was reportedly targeted again on Sunday morning. This incident occurred just two days after a 20-year-old man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the property.
The San Francisco Police Department announced the arrest of two suspects, 25-year-old Amanda Tom and 23-year-old Muhammad Tariq Hussain, on charges of negligent discharge of a firearm. According to the police's preliminary report, at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, a Honda sedan with two occupants stopped in front of Altman's residence shortly after passing by. The passenger allegedly extended their hand out of the window and fired a shot at the side of the residence facing Lombard Street. Both OpenAI and the San Francisco Police Department have not responded to requests for further comments.

XRP spot ETFs experienced notable financial movements last week, with a net inflow of $11.75 million, according to Odaily. The data, sourced from SoSoValue, covers the trading days from April 6 to April 10 (Eastern Time).

The Bitwise ETF XRP led the inflows, attracting $9.5154 million, bringing its historical total net inflow to $388 million. Following this, the Franklin ETF XRPZ saw a weekly net inflow of $2.8987 million, with its historical total reaching $324 million.

Conversely, the 21Shares ETF TOXR recorded the highest net outflow, amounting to $661,200, with its historical total net outflow standing at $25.85 million.

As of the latest update, the total net asset value of XRP spot ETFs is $968 million, with an ETF net asset ratio of 1.16% compared to XRP's total market capitalization. The cumulative historical net inflow has reached $1.22 billion.

JPMorgan is set to enhance its tokenization platform by supporting its JPM deposit token on the Canton Network this year through Kinexys. According to Cointelegraph, this initiative is linked to a network that handles $350 billion in daily U.S. repo settlements. The move aims to integrate JPMorgan's tokenization capabilities with the Canton Network, potentially streamlining financial processes and enhancing efficiency in settlement operations.

Aave DAO has approved a significant funding proposal, granting Aave Labs $25 million in aEthLidoGHO and 75,000 AAVE tokens. According to The Block, the proposal received substantial support, passing with 522,780 votes in favor and 175,310 against, reflecting approximately 75% approval. This decision pertains solely to the funding aspect of a larger framework, with growth and development grants to be addressed through separate proposals.

According to the announcement from Binance, starting at approximately 2026-04-13 12:00 (UTC), the platform will temporarily suspend deposits and withdrawals of tokens on the Moonbeam (GLMR) network. This suspension is to facilitate a network upgrade aimed at enhancing user experience. The upgrade is scheduled to occur at the block height of 15,190,604, which is expected to be around 2026-04-13 13:00 (UTC).

The trading of tokens on the Moonbeam network will remain unaffected during this period. Binance assures users that it will manage all technical requirements related to the upgrade. Once the network is deemed stable post-upgrade, deposits and withdrawals will be reopened without further announcements. Users are advised to stay informed through the project team's updates for more details on the upgrade process.

Oil prices have climbed above $105 following the breakdown of U.S.-Iran discussions in Islamabad, which has reignited concerns of potential conflict in global energy markets. According to NS3.AI, the Kobeissi Letter reported that Google search interest for 'price of oil' has reached an unprecedented level, surpassing the peaks of 2022 and 2008 by 300%.

According to the announcement from Binance, the platform has introduced a new Word of the Day (WOTD) game, themed "Team Up with Binance." This educational initiative aims to enhance users' crypto vocabulary while keeping them informed about the latest market trends. The activity period is set from 2026-04-13 00:00 (UTC) to 2026-04-19 23:59 (UTC).

Participants can engage in up to two WOTD games daily, testing their knowledge on the specified topic. Users who correctly answer at least three questions during the activity period will qualify to share a 15 BNB reward pool. The distribution of rewards will be proportional to the number of correct answers each user provides, with a maximum cap of 0.01 BNB per user. Rewards are scheduled to be distributed to winners' Spot Accounts by 2026-05-03 23:59 (UTC).

To access a second WOTD game, users must click the "Get A New WOTD" button after completing the first game. Sharing the featured link on social media and having it clicked by a logged-in user will unlock the second game. Additionally, new users registering with the "WOTD" referral code during the activity period will receive a 10% discount on Spot trading fees. They may also earn additional welcome rewards by completing tasks in the Rewards Hub within 14 days of registration.

Binance reserves the right to modify or cancel the promotion without prior notice and may update the list of eligible countries or regions. Participation is subject to Binance's terms and conditions, and users must complete account verification to be eligible for rewards. The platform emphasizes that any fraudulent activity or violation of terms may lead to disqualification from the promotion.

South Korea's Financial Supervisory Service has issued a warning to consumers regarding increasing abuse in the cryptocurrency market linked to APIs. According to NS3.AI, these application programming interfaces are responsible for approximately 30% of the nation's virtual asset trading volume. The regulator highlighted that automated trading programs are being utilized to artificially inflate transactions and manipulate market conditions. In response, a consumer advisory was released, providing examples of such misconduct to raise awareness among investors.

Bitcoin's recent recovery remains precarious as geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges persist, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to Cointelegraph, Nic Puckrin, a crypto market analyst and founder of the Coin Bureau media outlet, highlighted the fragility of Bitcoin's position. He noted that even if the conflict were to end immediately, its effects would likely dominate discussions into 2026, especially in the second quarter. Puckrin expressed skepticism about any potential interest rate cuts before late in the third or fourth quarter of that year.Puckrin suggested that for Bitcoin to push toward $90,000, several conditions would need to align: a ceasefire leading to reduced geopolitical tensions, a sustained decrease in oil prices to around $80, and softer-than-expected economic data to alleviate stagflation concerns. Currently, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $71,276, with resistance anticipated around the $74,000 mark. The cryptocurrency continues to trade below its 200-day exponential moving average, indicating potential challenges ahead.The ongoing conflict has contributed to inflationary pressures, as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index. This development has dampened hopes for further interest rate cuts in 2026, as such measures typically boost asset prices. Bitcoin experienced a surge of about 5.8% starting April 6, reaching over $73,000, before retreating to around $71,000 on April 11. This fluctuation followed news of unsuccessful negotiations between the US and Iran, as reported by the Kobeissi Letter. The publication described the outcome of the talks as potentially the worst-case scenario.In response to the failed negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a directive for the US military to establish a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz. He instructed the Navy to intercept any vessel in international waters that has paid a toll to Iran, emphasizing that no one paying an illegal toll would have safe passage.Members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), responsible for setting US interest rate policy, remain divided on the prospect of further rate cuts in 2026 due to inflation concerns stemming from the conflict. The FOMC has not ruled out a potential rate hike if inflation exceeds its 2% target, as indicated in the March meeting minutes. According to the CME Fedwatch tool, there is a high probability of maintaining the current target rate range of 350-375 basis points at the upcoming meetings on April 29 and June 17, with a reduced likelihood of a rate cut at the July 29 meeting.

A political action committee associated with Tether, Fellowship PAC, has made its first expenditure ahead of the 2026 U.S. Congressional midterm elections. According to Odaily, the PAC paid approximately $300,000 to Nxum Group, a company co-founded by Bo Hines, to provide advertising services for Republican candidates.

Bo Hines currently serves as the head of Tether's U.S. operations and previously worked as a digital asset policy advisor in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Jesse Spiro, the chairman of Fellowship PAC, is also affiliated with Tether US.

Public records indicate that Nxum Group was established by Bo Hines and his partners. This transaction coincides with the PAC's initial expenditure report submission to the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC). Although Fellowship PAC has announced plans to invest up to $100 million in support of crypto-friendly candidates, its current account disclosures show nearly zero funds.

Under U.S. campaign finance regulations, political committees can pay affiliated entities for services, provided they adhere to the "fair market price" principle. This has sparked discussions about potential conflicts of interest.

Fellowship PAC has begun targeted advertising and candidate support in Republican elections, positioning itself as a new political influence tool for the crypto industry in the 2026 election cycle. However, questions remain regarding the transparency of its funding sources and operations.

A recent midday cryptocurrency digest reported a significant security breach involving the Polkadot network. According to NS3.AI, the exploit resulted in the unauthorized minting of 1 billion DOT tokens, raising concerns about the network's security protocols.

In addition to the Polkadot incident, the digest highlighted geopolitical tensions, specifically the potential implications of a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Such an action could escalate risks in the region, affecting global markets and investor sentiment.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Sun Dong, and Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of China's Cyberspace Administration, have signed a memorandum of cooperation. According to Foresight News, the agreement focuses on advancing key areas such as artificial intelligence, cross-border data, and blockchain. The initiative aims to implement China's 15th Five-Year Plan, support Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology hub, and promote a new economy driven by technological innovation. The collaboration seeks to enhance Hong Kong's integration into national development strategies. Both parties will strengthen cooperation to advance new productivity, deepen cybersecurity collaboration, and enhance international exchanges and promotion.

Bitcoin mining is anticipated to become increasingly centralized, according to Alex Thorn, head of Galaxy Research. According to NS3.AI, Thorn's insights suggest a shift in the mining landscape, potentially impacting the decentralization that has been a hallmark of the cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, the edge AI market is expected to experience significant growth. Grand View Research forecasts that the market will expand from approximately $25 billion in 2025 to $119 billion by 2033, indicating a trend towards more localized AI applications.

Apple's stock opened at $260 on Monday as discussions intensified regarding the impact of potential delays in the launch of a foldable iPhone on AAPL. According to NS3.AI, Nikkei Asia reported that Apple's foldable iPhone models are encountering engineering and technical difficulties, which could result in a postponed release.

According to Odaily, Arkham has reported that Alameda Research has unstaked $16 million worth of SOL and transferred it to an address designated for creditor distribution. This marks the first such transaction in a month.

Hyperliquid founder Jeffrey Yan has declined a substantial investment offer based on a valuation of approximately $1 billion, according to BlockBeats. The offer, which amounted to around $100 million, was turned down after careful consideration.

The report indicates that prior to the investment proposal, the team had been sustaining operations through personal funds, with monthly expenses covered by Yan himself. During the investor engagement period, Yan consulted with various entrepreneurs and venture capitalists about the essence and significance of external funding but remained unconvinced that external capital could enhance the intrinsic value of Hyperliquid.

On Monday, Yan informed his team of the decision to reject the investment offer. Insiders revealed that the team members responsible for managing funds were surprised by the decision, as several preparatory steps had been taken in anticipation of the funding. Yan's primary reason for declining the offer was his belief that Hyperliquid is not a traditional company but a neutral on-chain protocol. He argued that introducing external equity capital could compromise the protocol's "permissionless and neutral" stance, conflicting with its long-term design goals.

Yan has publicly stated that if Bitcoin had accepted venture capital funding in its early stages, its "neutrality narrative" might have been weakened. Following this logic, he chose to maintain Hyperliquid's structure without investors and continues to support part of its operational expenses with personal funds. On January 28, 2024, Yan summarized the project's principles on social media:

- No investors

- No paid market makers

- No fees charged to the development team

- No insiders or privileged participants

This statement is seen as a key element of Hyperliquid's "extreme decentralization/de-capitalization" approach.

PeckShieldAlert posted on X that a significant amount of 1 billion DOT tokens were minted and subsequently sold on the Ethereum and Polkadot networks. This development has raised concerns within the cryptocurrency community regarding the potential impact on the market value of DOT tokens. The minting and selling activities were observed on both networks, highlighting the interconnected nature of blockchain platforms. The implications of this large-scale transaction are yet to be fully understood, as stakeholders assess the potential effects on the market dynamics of DOT.

Bitcoin's recent performance indicates a need to break above $76,000 with significant trading volume to counteract its six-month downtrend. According to NS3.AI, the cryptocurrency rebounded from approximately $60,000 in early February, climbing above $75,000 before encountering resistance at its downtrend line.

On Apr 12, 2026, 22:01 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has dropped below 71,000 USDT and is now trading at 70,895.140625 USDT, with a narrowed 3.39% decrease in 24 hours.

The overnight index swap (OIS) curve indicates that the market anticipates an approximately 84% probability of the Bank of England raising interest rates twice in 2026. According to Jin10, this expectation has increased from 60% last Friday.

Gold call options continue to be positioned for an upward move, although enthusiasm for betting on a significant rise remains moderate. According to Jin10, silver call options exhibit a more cautious stance, with limited bets placed on substantial upward movements.

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a significant shift in its funding environment over the past six months, according to Odaily. Tom Dunleavy, Head of Venture Capital at Varys Capital, shared on X that the process for venture capitalists (VCs) to secure promising projects has changed drastically. Previously, VCs had to engage in extensive networking, content creation, podcast appearances, and numerous calls to attract investments. Now, simply having available funds is sufficient, as projects are actively seeking out VCs.

Currently, most VC firms are in one of three states: they have exhausted their funds, shifted focus to later-stage investments (Series A and beyond), or are in the process of fundraising, albeit with difficulty. Fundraising timelines have extended from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months. Projects with questionable business models or those merely replicating the latest trends are struggling to secure new or follow-up funding, which Dunleavy views as a positive development.

There are fewer than 20 firms actively investing in pre-seed or seed rounds. VCs now have the luxury of selecting projects more carefully and conducting thorough due diligence. The investment cycle of 2025-2026 is anticipated to be a historic 'golden opportunity,' provided VCs can endure the current market conditions.

European stock markets opened with widespread declines on April 13, according to BlockBeats. The Euro Stoxx 50 index fell by 1.02%, while Germany's DAX index dropped 1.42%. The UK's FTSE 100 index decreased by 0.5%, Spain's IBEX 35 index declined 1.06%, and France's CAC 40 index saw a reduction of 0.89%.

French publicly traded company Capital B has increased its Bitcoin holdings by 37 BTC, bringing its total to 2,925 BTC. According to Foresight News, this move reflects the company's ongoing strategy to expand its cryptocurrency assets. Capital B's decision to bolster its Bitcoin reserves comes amid fluctuating market conditions and growing interest in digital currencies. The company continues to monitor the market closely as it navigates the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency investments.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform that the United States will enforce a blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13. According to BlockBeats, this decision follows unsuccessful negotiations between the United States and Iran.

On April 12, President Trump expressed indifference towards Iran's willingness to return to the negotiating table. He reiterated the plan to impose the blockade and voiced disappointment over NATO's lack of support for the U.S. in the conflict involving Iran.

Shin Hyun-song, the nominee for the governor of the Bank of Korea, has emphasized the importance of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and commercial bank deposit tokens in shaping the digital currency ecosystem. According to NS3.AI, Shin expressed support for a stablecoin denominated in the domestic won, highlighting that maintaining trust in the currency is paramount. He also noted that stablecoins could facilitate the exchange of tokenized assets and coexist alongside deposit tokens.

Social fear sentiment surrounding XRP has reached its third-highest level in the past two years, according to NS3.AI. The cryptocurrency has experienced a 63% decline over the past nine months. Historically, such high levels of pessimism have increased the likelihood of a rebound.

On Apr 12, 2026, 19:50 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Ethereum has dropped below 2,200 USDT and is now trading at 2,199.120117 USDT, with a narrowed 5.06% decrease in 24 hours.

All maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly ceased after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a maritime blockade via social media. According to NS3.AI, information from British sources, as reported by CCTV News, indicated that the blockade had been in place for several hours. While traffic was still feasible on the 12th, at least two vessels attempting to exit the strait reversed course. Tanker traffic had seen a slight uptick on the 11th before declining on the 12th.

The future of the market is expected to be shaped by compliant multi-jurisdiction centralized exchanges (CEX) and native on-chain decentralized exchanges (DEX), with both playing complementary roles. According to PANews, these two types of exchanges will lead the way in the evolving landscape, each offering distinct functionalities that cater to different needs within the financial ecosystem. The compliant multi-jurisdiction CEX will provide regulated environments for trading, ensuring adherence to legal standards across various regions. Meanwhile, native on-chain DEX will offer decentralized platforms that prioritize transparency and user control, allowing for peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. Together, these exchanges will create a balanced market structure, leveraging their unique strengths to meet the diverse demands of users and investors.

Polymarket has forecasted a high valuation for the launch of Genius, with a 99% probability that its fully diluted valuation (FDV) will exceed $20 million on the day following its debut. According to Foresight News, the market also predicts a 97% chance of the FDV surpassing $50 million and a 96% chance of it exceeding $80 million. Currently, the trading volume in this prediction market has surpassed $900,000.

A large cryptocurrency holder, identified by the address starting with 0x004, has opened a Bitcoin short position with 33x leverage. According to ChainCatcher, the average price for this position is $70,745, involving 200 BTC. The position currently shows a floating loss of 10%. Earlier today, the same address closed a previous Bitcoin short position at break-even and has now re-entered the market. This marks the fifth time this month that the address has opened a short position.

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, announced on April 13 that the region will adopt a cautious approach to stablecoin regulation by initially issuing a limited number of licenses. According to BlockBeats, applicants must demonstrate practical application scenarios before further licenses are considered, allowing for experience to be gathered and evaluated.

Chan emphasized the need to balance encouraging financial innovation with risk management, including the establishment of anti-money laundering regulatory mechanisms. He highlighted that while stablecoins offer decentralization and efficiency, they should be viewed primarily as payment tools rather than investment instruments.

In light of the current international and security environment, Chan stressed the importance of vigilance. Hong Kong aims to enhance its financial market competitiveness and global influence as a form of proactive defense. The government and financial institutions have already established a comprehensive, cross-market monitoring system to ensure market stability.

The probability of the European Central Bank (ECB) raising interest rates in April has increased to 50%, according to recent pricing in the money markets. According to Jin10, this marks a significant rise from last Friday when the likelihood was estimated at around 20%. The shift in market expectations reflects growing anticipation of monetary policy adjustments by the ECB.