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Aussie regulator to shut 95 ‘hydra’ firms linked to crypto, romance scams

Australia’s corporate watchdog has been given the nod to shut down 95 “hydra” companies that it suspects engaged in crypto investment and romance scams, known as “pig butchering.”

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s application to wind up the companies was approved by the Federal Court of Australia on just and equitable grounds after ASIC found that most of the companies had been incorporated with false information.

Many of these companies were set up purporting to provide “genuine services” but were instead believed to be scamming their victims, ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said in an April 8 statement.

“There appears to be a common pattern of scam activity in the nature of ‘pig butchering,’” Justice Angus Stewart said in an April 4 court ruling after looking at 48 “Reviews of Misconduct” from 17 companies accused of facilitating romance scams. The judgment was made on March 21.

Source: Rocky Perrotta

Aussie regulator to shut 95 ‘hydra’ firms linked to crypto, romance scams
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SEC crypto trading roundtable to include crypto giants Uniswap, Coinbase

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has released the list of executives from US crypto and finance giants that will take part in a roundtable discussion on crypto trading regulation.

On April 7, the regulator said its upcoming April 11 roundtable will discuss how it should handle crypto trading rules, calling it “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading.”

It will be the second in a series of discussions on crypto, headed by its recently-formed Crypto Task Force.

Taking part are Uniswap Labs chief legal officer Katherine Minarik, Cumberland DRW associate general counsel Chelsea Pizzola and Coinbase institutional product vice president Gregory Tusar — all firms that had once been in the regulator’s scope.

Under the Biden administration, the regulator sued Cumberland DRW in October and Coinbase in June 2023 for alleged securities law violations, but both lawsuits were dropped this year under the Trump administration.

SEC crypto trading roundtable to include crypto giants Uniswap, Coinbase
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Spanish police arrest six over $20M AI-powered investment scam

Authorities in Spain have arrested six people who helped operate a global AI-powered investment scam that stole over $20 million from at least 208 victims. 

The scammers would swindle victims up to three times. After stealing an initial sum through the investment scam, the fraudsters contacted victims twice more, masquerading as investment managers and then as authorities, offering to recover the stolen funds for a fee, Spanish police said in an April 7 statement. 

The scammers used deepfake ads of “national personalities” promising high returns on crypto investments, and would occasionally pose as financial advisers or even feign romantic interest to lure in victims.  

Experts have been warning of a rise in AI-enhanced scams. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said in its Feb. 13 Crypto Scam Revenue 2024 report that generative AI is making “scams more scalable and affordable for bad actors to conduct.”

🚩Detenidas seis personas por estafar más de 19 millones de euros usando #inteligenciaartificial

🔴Engañaban a las víctimas a través de anuncios manipulados con #IA para que realizaran inversiones con #criptomonedas en productos supuestamente muy rentables pic.twitter.com/rMrdgBpOYz

Spanish police arrest six over $20M AI-powered investment scam
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Lawyer sues US homeland dept to probe supposed Satoshi Nakamoto meeting

Update: April 8 at 1:01am UTC: This article has been updated to include James Murphy’s responses to two questions from Cointelegraph.

A crypto lawyer has sued the US Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency may know who created Bitcoin — compelling the department to share what it knows. 

The Freedom of Information Act lawsuit was filed by James Murphy, who based his accusations on claims made by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud at a conference in April 2019, where she said a few of her colleagues had previously met with four people involved in creating Bitcoin.

“My FOIA lawsuit simply asks for the notes, email and other documents relating to that alleged interview,” Murphy posted to X after announcing the April 7 suit.  

“IF the interview really happened as the DHS Agent claimed, there should be documentation of the substance of that meeting,” added Murphy, who goes by MetaLawMan on X.

Lawyer sues US homeland dept to probe supposed Satoshi Nakamoto meeting
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Former Kraken execs acquire real state firm Janover, disclose SOL treasury plans

A team of former Kraken executives has taken control of Janover, with Joseph Onorati, former chief strategy officer at Kraken, stepping in as chairman and CEO, following the group's purchase of over 700,000 common shares and all Series A preferred stock.

Parker White, former director of engineering at Kraken, was appointed as the new chief investment officer and chief operating officer. The group bought 728,632 shares of Janover common stock and all 10,000 shares of Series A preferred stock. Marco Santori, former chief legal officer at Kraken, will join the board.

Janover is a real estate financing company that connects lenders and buyers of commercial properties. The company stock price saw an 840% rise on April 7 as part of the deal.

According to a statement, the company's new leadership has plans to create a Solana (SOL) reserve treasury. The plans include acquiring Solana validators, staking SOL and additional purchases of the token.

Janover stock price on April 7. Source: Google Finance

Former Kraken execs acquire real state firm Janover, disclose SOL treasury plans
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Corporate Bitcoin treasuries drop more than $4B on US tariff hike impact

Corporate Bitcoin (BTC) treasuries collectively shed more than $4 billion in value after US President Donald Trump’s tariffs triggered a global market sell-off, data shows. 

As of April 7, corporate Bitcoin holdings are worth approximately $54.5 billion in the aggregate, down from roughly $59 billion before April 2, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net.

The cryptocurrency’s volatility has also weighed on publicly traded Bitcoin holders’ share prices.

The Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB) — an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking a diverse basket of corporate Bitcoin holders — has lost more than 13% since Trump announced sweeping US import tariffs on April 2, according to Yahoo Finance.

Even shares of Strategy — the de facto Bitcoin hedge fund founded by Michael Saylor that pioneered corporate Bitcoin buying — are down, clocking losses of more than 13% since April 2, Google Finance data showed. 

Corporate Bitcoin treasuries drop more than $4B on US tariff hike impact
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Bitcoin on verge of largest ‘price drawdown’ of the bull market — Analyst

Bitcoin’s (BTC) 26.62% decline from its $109,500 all-time high is en route to becoming the deepest drawdown of the current bull market cycle, according to CryptoQuant head of research, Julio Moreno.

Bitcoin price drawdown analysis. Source: X

Bitcoin has experienced significant drawdowns in past cycles, with a notable 83% drop from its peak in 2018 and a 73% correction from all-time highs (ATH) in 2022. In comparison, the current decline of 26.62%, while substantial, remains less severe than previous bear markets.

This suggests that even though the current downturn is impactful, it has not yet reached the intensity of previous cycles. However, crypto and macro resource ‘ecoinometrics’ said that Bitcoin might struggle to stage an immediate turnaround. The analysts explained,

“Historically, when the NASDAQ 100 falls below its long-term year-on-year average return, Bitcoin tends to grow more slowly. It also faces a higher risk of entering a severe correction.”

Bitcoin and Nasdaq correlation. Source: X / Ecoinometrics

Bitcoin on verge of largest ‘price drawdown’ of the bull market — Analyst
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Crypto bull market ‘hasn't started yet’ — LONGITUDE panel

Crypto’s worst quarter since the FTX crisis has many investors worried about the end of the bull market, but according to an industry panel, Bitcoin and altcoins’ parabolic moves haven’t even begun yet. 

In a panel discussion at the LONGITUDE by Cointelegraph event in Paris, France, MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said he thinks the bull market is “actually getting started from this point.” 

While it’s hard to believe that following Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent plunge below $80,000 on global tariff woes, “we know from history” that chaotic sell-offs create favorable conditions for a reversal, he said.

Van de Poppe drew parallels between the current market dump and the COVID-19 crash in 2020, when Bitcoin plunged by nearly 40% in a single day.

“That was the actual bottom, and since then, Bitcoin went 20x,” said van de Poppe. 

Crypto bull market ‘hasn't started yet’ — LONGITUDE panel
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Bitcoin, showing 'signs of resilience', beats stocks, gold as equities fold — Binance

Bitcoin (BTC) is showing “signs of resilience” even as stocks and the broader cryptocurrency market plunge amid a global market sell-off after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on US imports last week, Binance Research said. 

As of mid-day trading on April 7, Bitcoin is up almost 1% to nearly $79,000. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 — an index of large US stocks — is essentially flat and front-month gold futures are down around 1.5%, according to Google Finance.

“Even in the wake of recent tariff announcements, BTC has shown some signs of resilience, holding steady or rebounding on days when traditional risk assets faltered,” Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, said in an April 7 research report.  

Notably, Bitcoin’s supply of long-term holders continues to rise, “reflecting conviction and limited capitulation during recent volatility,” Binance said.

On April 2, Trump said he was putting tariffs of at least 10% on most imports into the United States and adding additional "reciprocal" tariffs on goods from 57 countries. 

Bitcoin, showing 'signs of resilience', beats stocks, gold as equities fold — Binance
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US govt. sets AI policies across agencies

The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued two directives specifying policies and deadlines for deploying AI tools that enhance public services, providing a roadmap for implementing US President Donald Trump’s executive order advance US “dominance” in the use and development of artificial intelligence.

According to two memorandums from April 3, all government agencies “should invest in the AI marketplace and maximize the use of AI products and services that are developed and produced in the United States.” The memorandums list various deadlines for the adoption of AI, including a 270-day deadline to update policies and procedures.

In early 2025, Trump took significant steps to reshape US policy on emerging technologies by repealing former President Joe Biden's 2023 executive order on AI safety — arguing it imposed excessive regulations that stifled innovation — and declaring his intention to make the US the "world capital"of AI and cryptocurrency. Critics, however, have raised concerns that removing safety frameworks could leave the public vulnerable to AI-related risks.

OMB memorandum M-25-21. Source: White House

Some common AI models developed and produced in the United States include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Meta’s Llama, and Elon Musk’s Grok. The directive from the OMB follows Trump’s promises to boost American dominance in this new sector of technology.

US govt. sets AI policies across agencies
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Ethereum price falls to 2-year low, but pro traders still have hope

Ether (ETH) price dropped to $1,410 on April 7, marking its lowest level since March 2023. This sharp decline triggered liquidations of leveraged ETH futures worth over $370 million in 2 days, according to CoinGlass data. However, the altcoin managed to recover above the $1,500 mark as the S&P 500 index reclaimed its psychological 5,000 support level.

Ether/USD (blue) vs. total crypto market capitalization (magenta). Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph

Over the past 30 days, Ether has underperformed the broader cryptocurrency market by 14%. Despite this, professional traders are not yet ready to turn bearish, as suggested by Ethereum’s derivatives data and onchain metrics. While this data does not guarantee that Ether’s price has reached its bottom, the reduced demand for bearish positions below $1,600 offers some reassurance for bullish investors.

Ether 2-month futures annualized premium. Source: laevitas.ch

On April 7, the Ether monthly futures premium rose to 4% after dipping to 3% earlier in the day. Although still below the neutral threshold of 5%, this marks an improvement from March 31, when the indicator hit a low of 2%. Currently, there is a noticeable lack of demand from long positions (buyers), but this is not unusual following a steep 30% drop in ETH’s price over the past month.

Ethereum price falls to 2-year low, but pro traders still have hope
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Bloomberg analyst predicts Bitcoin could sink back to $10,000

Diving into the chaos of global markets, Bloomberg Senior Commodity Strategist Mike McGlone warns more turmoil could be on the way.

In an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, McGlone points to deepening market sell-offs, intensified by US President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff wars, and forecasts a sharp correction in crypto assets. He predicts Bitcoin could tumble to $10,000, citing excessive speculation and overvaluation within the digital asset space.

"Look at Dogecoin — it still has a $20 billion market cap. It should go to zero. The whole space needs purging, just like the dot-com bubble did."

According to McGlone, Bitcoin’s current price could face significant downward pressure as part of the broader market resets. Despite the relatively supportive regulatory environment, he cautions that Bitcoin’s “digital gold” narrative is facing a stress test.

“Anybody who bought ETFs is learning the hard way. They did not buy digital gold. They bought more of a value of leveraged beta. That's a fact.”

Bloomberg analyst predicts Bitcoin could sink back to $10,000
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Price analysis 4/7: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LEO

Bitcoin (BTC) made a sharp comeback and is trading near the $78,000 level. The largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization tumbled below the psychological support of $80,000 after the US stock futures market opened sharply lower on April 6. The selling continued on April 7, and Bitcoin hit a new year-to-date low of $74,508, but lower levels attracted solid buying by the bulls.

The bearish macroeconomic picture sent the Fear & Greed Index of the US stock markets to just 4/100. Usually, such periods of panic selling form a bottom as most weak hands and leveraged players capitulate. Once that happens, the recovery is likely to be sharp.

Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360

However, it is a good strategy to remain cautious and not overleverage on trades in the short term as the volatility may remain high. Even Michael Saylor’s firm Strategy, the world’s largest publicly listed corporate holder of Bitcoin, stalled its Bitcoin purchases last week.

Could Bitcoin sustain the recovery, or will higher levels attract sellers? How are the altcoins positioned? Let’s analyze the charts to find out.

Price analysis 4/7: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LEO
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Bitcoin, stocks crumble after ‘90 day tariff pause’ deemed fake news — BTC whales keep accumulating

Global financial markets continued to tumble on April 7, as US equities dropped more than 3%, wiping more than $2 trillion in value on market open. The pullback saw the S&P 500 drop 2.79%, with the index officially entering a bear market, following a 20% decline from its recent all-time highs.

However, the SPX momentarily rallied by 6% after a rumor began to spread on X that US President Donald Trump was contemplating a 90-day tariff pause. Bitcoin (BTC) price also rallied above $80,000, but after 30 minutes of positive price action, the White House confirmed that the rumor was not true.

Source: X

The S&P 500 is currently in positive territory for the day. Still, despite this uptick, the sustainability of the recovery remains uncertain as bearish undercurrents remain the same as before the tariff-pause rumor started to circulate.

In Asia trading sessions, where economies heavily depend on favorable global trade, stock markets plummeted. Hong Kong's equity index suffered a staggering 13% drop, marking its worst performance since the Asian financial crisis. Major indexes in Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo also saw sharp declines, ranging from 7% to 10%.

Bitcoin, stocks crumble after ‘90 day tariff pause’ deemed fake news — BTC whales keep accumulating
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Pakistan appoints Changpeng Zhao as crypto adviser as adoption heats up

Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has been appointed as an adviser to Pakistan’s Crypto Council, a newly formed regulatory body tasked with overseeing the country’s embrace of blockchain technology and digital assets. 

The appointment was confirmed by Pakistan’s finance ministry and reported by Bloomberg on April 7. Zhao will advise the regulatory body on cryptocurrency regulation, infrastructure and adoption, Bloomberg reported.

CZ is seen signing documents during his appointment by Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance. Source: Business Recorder

Zhao is one of the most recognizable names in crypto, having served as CEO of Binance between 2017 and 2023. He resigned as CEO of the exchange in November 2023 after pleading guilty to charges related to violating US money laundering laws. He was later sentenced to four months in prison. 

For Pakistan, Zhao is a high-profile appointment that could potentially help the country lure foreign investment in an industry that has taken on new strategic importance.

Pakistan appoints Changpeng Zhao as crypto adviser as adoption heats up
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Metaplanet repays 2B yen bonds early, CEO comments on BTC ‘down days’

Metaplanet, a Japanese hotel manager turned Bitcoin treasury company, has fully repaid 2 billion yen ($13.5 million) worth of bonds ahead of schedule as it seeks to shore up its financial position.

Metaplanet conducted an early redemption of its 9th Series of Ordinary Bonds on April 4, more than five months before the maturity date, the company disclosed on April 7. 

The zero-interest bonds were issued in March through Metaplanet’s Evo Fund and used to acquire additional Bitcoin (BTC). Since the bonds carry zero interest, the repayment would not have a material impact on the company’s fiscal 2025 results, it said.

Source: Metaplanet

Metaplanet, which trades publicly on the Tokyo stock exchange, has made Bitcoin the center of its corporate strategy through a series of acquisitions. The company’s Bitcoin balance has swelled to 4,206 BTC, placing it among the top 10 publicly traded holders. 

Metaplanet repays 2B yen bonds early, CEO comments on BTC ‘down days’
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Hodlers on edge: Trump’s tariffs shake Bitcoin, but some are buying the dip

Bitcoin holders are facing renewed pressure following US President Donald Trump's trade tariff announcement, which sent shockwaves through global financial markets, including cryptocurrencies.

Even with Bitcoin (BTC) hodlers under pressure, some community members, including BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes, are not missing a chance to buy BTC at a discount.

“Been nibbling on BTC all day, and shall continue,” Hayes wrote on X on April 7 as the Bitcoin price hovered around $75,000.

Source: Arthur Hayes

He also predicted that Bitcoin’s dominance in the broader crypto market could grow. He expects the current 60.5% share of the market to go toward 70%.

Hodlers on edge: Trump’s tariffs shake Bitcoin, but some are buying the dip
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A decade-old debate is back as self-custody gets smarter

Opinion by: Alvin Kan, chief operating officer of Bitget Wallet

Here we go again: A top centralized crypto exchange (CEX) was hacked, this time likely for the largest sum in humanity’s history. We were lucky to avoid the worst — platform collapse and devastating consequences for the industry. The incident reminded us again that even the strongest market players are not invincible. 

CEXs’ freedom to manage customer funds comes with risks, reminding users that good old non-custodial storage is still the safest. With recent advances in security features, wallets safeguard coins and help users safely make the most of their crypto.

Golden rules never rust

After the $1.5 billion Bybit hack, things settled down quite quickly. If the platform didn’t keep reserves of 1:1 for client funds, however, the hack could have dire consequences for the entire industry. When FTX’s liquidity problems surfaced in 2022, a bank run killed the platform in days, and billions of repayments are only just starting.

Historically, CEXs have been a primary target for hackers. Between 2012 and 2023, centralized exchanges fell victim to 118 hacks, losing almost $11 billion. This is 11 times more than money directly stolen from blockchain networks and cryptocurrency wallets. Again and again, we see how vulnerable crypto market titans can be. The golden “not your keys, not your Bitcoin” rule remains highly relevant.

Making a centralized crypto exchange deposit means delegating the storage of your money. CEXs keep all private keys and hence have complete control over customers’ funds. Besides a smooth trading experience, this entails a few unpleasant consequences. 

A decade-old debate is back as self-custody gets smarter
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Was Bitcoin price drop to $75K the bottom? — Data suggests BTC to stocks decoupling will continue

Bitcoin (BTC) fell below $75,000 on April 6, pressured by traditional markets as S&P 500 futures hit their lowest levels since January 2024. The initial panic also caused WTI oil futures to drop below $60 for the first time in four years. However, markets later recovered some losses, allowing Bitcoin to reclaim the $78,000 level.

Bitcoin's high correlation with traditional markets tends to be short-lived

While some analysts argue that Bitcoin has entered a bear market following a 30% price correction from its cycle peak, historical data offers numerous examples of even stronger recoveries. Notably, Bitcoin's high correlation with traditional markets tends to be short-lived. Several indicators suggest traders are simply waiting for better entry opportunities.

40-day correlation: S&P 500 futures vs. Bitcoin/USD. Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph

Bitcoin's recent performance has been closely tied to the S&P 500, but this correlation fluctuates significantly over time. For example, the correlation turned negative in June 2024 as the two asset classes moved in opposite directions for nearly 50 days. Furthermore, while the correlation metric exceeded the 60% threshold for 272 days over two years—roughly 38% of the period—this figure is statistically inconclusive.

The recent Bitcoin price drop to $74,440 reflects heightened uncertainty in traditional markets. While periods of unusually high correlation between Bitcoin and traditional assets have occurred in the past, they rarely last long. Furthermore, most major tech stocks are currently trading down by 30% or more from their all-time highs.

Was Bitcoin price drop to $75K the bottom? — Data suggests BTC to stocks decoupling will continue
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Bitcoin price retakes $80K as US stocks avoid 'Black Monday' meltdown

Bitcoin (BTC) sought a relief rally into the April 7 Wall Street open as US stocks rebounded from a 4%+ loss.

BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Bitcoin joins US stocks in relief rally

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed the area around $80,000 forming a focus for BTC/USD after the pair hit five-month lows.

The fallout from US trade tariffs continued to ricochet across global markets, with Asia stocks closing the day with considerable losses.

At the same time, reports of a potential 90-day pause in the tariffs going live, against a background of negotiations with over 50 US trading partners, helped pare losses in futures markets ahead of the open and allowed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index to avert a ”Black Monday” 1987-style implosion.

Bitcoin price retakes $80K as US stocks avoid 'Black Monday' meltdown
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Over 90% of WazirX creditors support post-hack restructuring plan

More than 90% of the voting creditors of the Indian crypto exchange WazirX voted in favor of the platform’s post-hack restructuring plan.

According to an April 7 announcement, 93.1% of voting creditors who hold 94.6% of the value voted in favor of the plan. All creditors who held crypto balances on the platform were eligible to vote on the Kroll Issuer Services platform from March 19 until March 28.

WazirX co-founder and CEO Nischal Shetty told Cointelegraph that with the plan approved, stolen asset recovery is “a primary focus.” Still, he pointed to profit sharing as a further measure that the firm hopes to use to compensate its users.

The news follows early February reports that WazirX had warned that repayments from the $235 million hack against it could be delayed until 2030 if creditors didn’t approve its proposed restructuring plan. At the time, the platform said that creditors might need to endure “unclear and potentially extended timelines” if the plan wasn’t approved.

WazirX said creditors could face repayment delays if they voted against the restructuring plan. Source: WazirX

Over 90% of WazirX creditors support post-hack restructuring plan
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Michael Saylor’s Strategy halts Bitcoin buys despite dip below $87K

Michael Saylor’s firm Strategy, the world’s largest publicly listed corporate holder of Bitcoin, did not add to its BTC holdings last week as the cryptocurrency’s price dropped below $87,000.

In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, Strategy announced it made no Bitcoin (BTC) purchases during the week of March 31 to April 6.

The decision followed a week of heightened market volatility, with BTC surging to as high as $87,000 on April 2 after starting the week at around $82,000, according to data from CoinGecko.

Bitcoin price from March 31, 2025, to April 6, 2025. Source: CoinGecko

BTC fell below $80,000 on April 6, a significant discount from the average BTC price of Strategy’s previous 22,000 BTC purchase announced on March 31.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy halts Bitcoin buys despite dip below $87K
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ZKasino scammer loses $27M as Ethereum price drops

A wallet linked to the $40 million ZKasino scam lost more than $27 million after a leveraged position was liquidated, marking what some in the crypto community are calling a dose of karmic justice.

ZKasino launched in April 2024, luring investor capital by promising an airdrop of its native token to users who bridged Ether (ETH) to the platform.

However, instead of returning the funds, ZKasino transferred around $33 million in user ETH to the staking protocol Lido Finance.

Nearly a year later, the wallet behind the alleged exploit has been liquidated for $27.1 million after ETH’s price declined sharply, according to blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens.

Source: Onchain Lens

ZKasino scammer loses $27M as Ethereum price drops
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US federal agencies to report crypto holdings to Treasury by April 7

US federal agencies are expected to disclose their cryptocurrency holdings to the Department of the Treasury by April 7, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Citing an unidentified White House official, journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that the deadline for federal agencies to report their crypto holdings to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is April 7.

The disclosures will remain confidential for now. “Unclear as of now if and when the findings could be made public,” Terrett wrote.

Source: Eleanor Terret

Crypto disclosure follows Bitcoin Reserve establishment

The reporting requirement followed an executive order signed on March 7 that directed the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a broader Digital Asset Stockpile. The Bitcoin (BTC) reserve will be seeded with BTC forfeited to federal agencies through civil or criminal asset seizures.

US federal agencies to report crypto holdings to Treasury by April 7
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Mantra unveils $108M fund to back real-world asset tokenization, DeFi

The Mantra blockchain network has launched a $108,888,888 ecosystem fund aimed at accelerating the growth of startups focused on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and decentralized finance (DeFi), amid rising demand for stable, asset-backed digital products.

Mantra, a layer-1 (L1) blockchain built for tokenized RWAs, launched the Mantra Ecosystem Fund (MEF) to accelerate the growth and adoption of projects and startups building on its network, according to an April 7 announcement shared with Cointelegraph.

Mantra said it will deploy the capital over the next four years among “high-potential blockchain projects” worldwide, with investment opportunities sourced through Mantra’s network of partners. The fund’s backers include a wide range of institutional partners including Laser Digital, Shorooq, Brevan Howard Digital, Valor Capital, Three Point Capital and Amber Group.

Related: 0G Foundation launches $88M fund for AI-powered DeFi agents

Mantra CEO John Patrick Mullin said the fund will operate an “open-arms policy, welcoming projects at any developmental stage globally with a particular focus on RWA’s and DeFi.” Mullin told Cointelegraph:

Mantra unveils $108M fund to back real-world asset tokenization, DeFi
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Crypto ETPs shed $240M last week amid US trade tariffs — CoinShares

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) saw renewed outflows last week, with $240 million in investor capital pulled, according to an April 7 report from digital asset manager CoinShares.

The outflows reversed two consecutive weeks of inflows that totaled $870 million, leaving total digital asset ETP holdings at about $133 billion, CoinShares reported.

The new outflows likely reflect investor caution in response to global trade tariffs imposed by the United States and concerns over their potential threat to global economic growth, CoinShares head of research James Butterfill said.

Weekly crypto ETP flows since late 2024. Source: CoinShares

Bitcoin ETPs flip monthly total negative

Bitcoin (BTC) ETPs led the downturn, with $207 million in weekly outflows. As a result, monthly flows turned negative for the first time this year, with $138 million in net outflows in the past 30 days.

Crypto ETPs shed $240M last week amid US trade tariffs — CoinShares
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Hong Kong introduces crypto staking rules, reaffirms Web3 commitment

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has introduced new guidelines for crypto exchanges offering staking services.

In an April 7 announcement, the SFC announced new guidelines for crypto exchanges offering staking services and locally authorized funds exposed to digital assets involved in staking. The announcement follows recent remarks from Christina Choi, the SFC’s executive director of investment products, who said during a speech at the Hong Kong Web3 Festival:

“The SFC is committed to supporting Hong Kong’s Web3 journey.”

In its announcement, the regulator said it “recognizes the potential benefits of staking in enhancing the security of blockchain networks and allowing investors to earn yields.” Consequently, the latest guidance allows crypto exchanges to provide staking service offerings.

Chen Wu, co-founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based and SFC-licensed crypto exchange Ex.io, told Cointelegraph that the firm appreciates the regulator “allowing licensed platforms to offer staking services under clear and responsible guidelines.” She said:

“The SFC’s announcement signals that more doors are opening — not just for staking, but for a wider range of Web3 products to take shape under a regulated and trusted framework.”

“Hong Kong is positioning itself not just as a compliant market, but as a real hub for Web3 adoption, where users’ interests are protected without slowing down progress,” Wu added.

Hong Kong introduces crypto staking rules, reaffirms Web3 commitment
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Whale makes $14M Ether emergency deposit to avoid $340M liquidation

An unidentified cryptocurrency whale injected millions of dollars in emergency capital to avoid a potential liquidation of more than $300 million in Ether as markets slumped amid renewed macroeconomic pressure.

The whale is reportedly close to liquidation on a 220,000 Ether (ETH) position on MakerDAO, a decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform. To stave off liquidation, the investor deposited 10,000 ETH — worth more than $14.5 million — and 3.54 million Dai (DAI) to raise the position’s liquidation price, blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain said in an April 7 post on X.

“If $ETH drops to $1,119.3, the 220,000 $ETH($340M) will be liquidated.”

Source: Lookonchain

The development came hours after another Ether investor was liquidated for over $106 million on the decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform Sky.

The whale lost more than 67,000 ETH when the asset crashed by around 14% on April 6. Sky’s system employs an overcollateralization ratio, typically 150% or higher, meaning that users need to deposit at least $150 worth of ETH to borrow 100 DAI.

Whale makes $14M Ether emergency deposit to avoid $340M liquidation
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How to use Render Network for decentralized GPU rendering

Key takeaways

Render Network connects GPU owners with creators, allowing users to rent idle graphics power for AI training, 3D rendering and crypto-related projects.

The RNDR token powers the ecosystem, enabling fast, transparent and decentralized transactions between creators and node operators.

Decentralized rendering is more accessible and cost-effective than traditional centralized GPU services, solving issues such as pricing, scalability and vendor lock-in.

Proof-of-render ensures verified outputs, rewarding only completed, validated tasks while maintaining blockchain-level trust and transparency.

The hunger for powerful graphics processing units (GPUs) has skyrocketed. Whether it’s training complex AI models or rendering high-fidelity 3D graphics, the demand often outstrips supply.

How to use Render Network for decentralized GPU rendering
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Black Monday 2.0? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week

Bitcoin (BTC) is turning back the clock this week as tariff mayhem drags BTC price action toward 2021.

Bitcoin is giving up bull market support lines left and right as a new “death cross” completes on the BTC/USD daily chart.

CPI week is firmly overshadowed by US trade tariffs and their increasingly global impact on stock markets.

Both crypto and TradFi market participants are drawing comparisons to “Black Monday” 1987 and the COVID-19 cross-market crash.

Bitcoin’s speculative investor base is firmly out of pocket and likely increasingly tempted to panic sell.

Black Monday 2.0? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week
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