‍Kraken Parent Payward to Acquire Bitnomial for $550 Million Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has announced an agreement to acquire Bitnomial for up to $550 million. This strategic move aims to establish a fully regulated environment for crypto derivatives in the U.S. Bitnomial is the first company to hold a complete suite of CFTC licenses for digital assets, including exchange, clearinghouse, and brokerage licenses. This acquisition will significantly enhance Payward Services, enabling regulated access to perpetuals, options, and spot margin trading for U.S. clients. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026.

Cryptovka

Kraken Parent Payward to Acquire Bitnomial in $550 Million Deal

Payward, the parent company of the prominent digital asset exchange Kraken, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Bitnomial, a specialize...

‍Bitcoin Surges to 10-Week High Amidst Market Optimism Bitcoin (BTC) reached its highest price in ten weeks, trading at $77,027 on Friday, April 17. This surge is attributed to decreased geopolitical tensions and increased appetite for risk assets. Analysts suggest a potential rally to $88,000 within two to four weeks, supported by positive macroeconomic factors and steady inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs. However, traders caution that declining trading volume could signal a potential correction to $50,000 if momentum falters. The sustainability of this rally hinges on Bitcoin maintaining its price floor above $72,810 and continued institutional investment.

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Bitcoin Hits 10-Week High as Analysts Forecast Potential Rally to $88,000

The leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, Bitcoin (BTC), reached its highest price point in ten weeks on Friday, April 17, as market par...

‍Neo Co-Founder Proposes $461M Overhaul to Exit Founder Governance Da Hongfei, co-founder of Neo blockchain, has proposed a significant restructuring to decentralize treasury management and governance. This follows the release of Neo's first financial disclosure since 2019, showing the Neo Foundation and Neo Global Development hold approximately $461 million in assets. The "Giveback II" proposal includes redomiciling the Neo Foundation to the Cayman Islands, establishing a five-member board with veto power, a 24-month moratorium on founders holding board positions, returning 49.5 million NEO tokens to the community, and enforcing mandatory annual financial reports. This aims to move Neo from a "trust me" model to a more transparent, legally regulated structure.

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Neo Co-Founder Proposes $461M Overhaul to Exit Founder Governance

Da Hongfei, the co-founder of the Neo blockchain, has introduced a comprehensive restructuring proposal aimed at decentralizing the network's ...

‍Crypto Executives Boost Personal Security Amid Ransom Attack Surge The cryptocurrency industry is experiencing a sharp increase in physical security threats, with targeted kidnap and ransom (K&R) attempts against high-net-worth individuals at record levels. Data indicates a substantial rise in these incidents: 316 documented attacks since 2014, with 79 recorded in 2025 alone. By mid-April 2026, 27 targeted attacks on crypto holders had been reported. In response, companies like Coinbase are significantly increasing executive protection spending. The industry is adapting with specialized K&R insurance and governmental initiatives, such as a new prevention platform launched by French officials, to address the growing physical safety concerns for individuals in the blockchain ecosystem.

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Crypto Executives Scale Up Personal Security Amid Surge in Ransom Attacks

The cryptocurrency industry is facing a significant rise in physical security threats, with targeted kidnap and ransom (K&R) attempts against high-...

‍Bitcoin Surges as Iran Reopens Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire On Friday, global markets reacted to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessel traffic, as confirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. This de-escalation has positively impacted Bitcoin (BTC), which rose above $76,210, showing a 1% daily increase and a 5% weekly recovery. Conversely, energy commodities experienced a sharp decline, with Brent crude oil futures dropping approximately 10% to $85 per barrel. While the current stability offers a temporary boost to digital assets by increasing investor risk appetite, market analysts remain cautious. The two-week ceasefire between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is set to expire on April 22, introducing potential volatility as the deadline approaches.

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Bitcoin Rises as Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire

The global financial landscape shifted on Friday following official announcements regarding the restoration of maritime stability in the Middle Eas...

‍Ramp Network Launches Multichain Self-Custodial Wallet Fintech provider Ramp Network has launched a new multichain self-custodial wallet, consolidating buying, swapping, and off-ramping functionalities into a single interface. This move aims to reduce user fragmentation and enhance the digital asset management experience. The wallet currently supports Ether (ETH) across eight prominent networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Optimism. It utilizes USDC on the Base network as its core balance system and employs passkeys for security, with optional key export. Future updates will include support for Bitcoin, Solana, Avalanche, and BNB Smart Chain. While previously a backend provider for MetaMask and Trust Wallet, Ramp is transitioning to a direct-to-consumer model. CEO Przemek Kowalczyk stated the goal is to simplify the user journey. The wallet is currently unavailable in the EU pending further regulatory compliance, despite Ramp's MiCA authorization.

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Ramp Network Debuts Multichain Wallet to Streamline Self-Custody

Fintech infrastructure provider Ramp Network has officially launched a new multichain self-custodial wallet aimed at reducing the fragmentation inh...

‍SEC Signals Pro-Innovation Shift, Declines Enforcement Actions The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is transitioning from an enforcement-led approach to one of cooperation, aiming to re-establish the U.S. as a financial technology leader. SEC Chair Paul Atkins, alongside Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda, outlined this vision in the agency's new podcast, "Material Matters." The agency reported a 22% decline in enforcement actions for fiscal year 2025, with Commissioners criticizing past overreach into non-core areas. "We need to have financial regulation that is open to innovators because innovation is what makes the financial markets resilient," stated Commissioner Hester Peirce. Recent policy changes include guidance suggesting most crypto assets are not securities, regulatory exemptions for DeFi interfaces, and the dismissal of major enforcement cases.

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SEC Officials Signal Pro-Innovation Shift in Debut Agency Podcast

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has signaled a fundamental transition in its regulatory philosophy, moving away from the...

‍HTX DAO Burns $19.2M in $HTX, Reducing Supply by 11% HTX DAO has completed its Q1 2026 token burn, removing over 10.8 trillion $HTX tokens (approx. $19.22M) from circulation. This brings the total burned and pledged tokens to 110.32 trillion. Despite a 27% decline in global crypto trading volumes in Q1 2026, the HTX ecosystem showed resilience. The quarterly burn exceeded 1% of the total supply, indicating efficient revenue conversion. HTX exchange also led centralized exchanges (CEXs) in 24-hour net capital inflows, reaching $54.14M on March 31. Since 2024, $HTX has maintained an average annual deflation rate of 5.5%, resulting in an 11% total supply decrease over two years. Strategic initiatives include making $HTX the sole token for trading fee discounts, launching staking with up to 10% APY, and listing on the European exchange Bit2Me. HTX DAO operates on a decentralized governance model, encouraging community proposals for ecosystem development.

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HTX DAO Burns $19.2M in $HTX: Total Supply Shrinks by 11% in Two Years

HTX DAO has announced the successful completion of its quarterly token burn for the first quarter of 2026, marking a significant milestone in its...

‍Charles Schwab Enters Spot Crypto Market Charles Schwab, with over $11.8 trillion in client assets, has officially launched spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading under the "Schwab Crypto" brand. The service, utilizing Paxos for custody, will roll out in phases to its 35 million brokerage accounts. Trading fees are set at 0.75% per transaction. This move signifies further institutional adoption of digital assets.

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Charles Schwab Enters Spot Crypto Market Amid Institutional Shift

The financial landscape reached a significant milestone on April 17, 2026, as Charles Schwab, a giant managing over $11....

‍Bitcoin Funding Rates Hit Yearly Lows as BTC Tests $76,000 Mark Bitcoin's recent surge to $76,000 has revealed a divergence between spot market action and derivatives positioning. Funding rates have remained negative for over a month, reaching their highest negative levels of the year, indicating a substantial portion of traders are betting against the rally. This heavily shorted market, despite bullish catalysts like ETF inflows and legislative progress, could fuel a significant short squeeze if BTC breaks above $80,000. However, options data and a rising put/call ratio suggest caution, with risks of a bull trap and macroeconomic volatility remaining key concerns. The path to new highs will likely be volatile.

Cryptovka

Bitcoin Funding Rates Hit Yearly Lows as BTC Tests $76,000 Mark

Bitcoin’s recent surge toward the $76,000 price level has created a significant divergence between spot market performance and derivatives positi...

‍Pavel Durov Warns EU Identity App is a Gateway to Mass Surveillance Telegram founder Pavel Durov has criticized the EU's new age verification app, calling it a potential surveillance tool. He suggests the app's rapid compromise, reportedly within two minutes of release, was a staged event to justify increased state oversight. Durov alleges the app has a deliberate flaw allowing authorities to dismantle privacy safeguards under the guise of enhancing security. This follows ongoing debates about encryption, digital IDs, and decentralized platforms. Experts note this could boost interest in decentralized identity solutions and zero-knowledge proofs.

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Pavel Durov Warns EU Identity App is a Gateway to Mass Surveillance

Telegram founder Pavel Durov has issued a sharp critique of the European Union’s recently launched age verification application, characterizing i...

‍Foundation NFT Marketplace Ceases Operations Following Failed Acquisition The prominent Ethereum NFT marketplace Foundation has announced its closure after a planned acquisition by Blackdove fell through. Founder and CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed the halt in operations on April 15, 2026, citing a lack of necessary resources. Launched in early 2021, Foundation facilitated over $230 million in primary sales and was known for its curated approach to digital art. The shutdown reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the NFT sector, with other platforms like Mint Blockchain, Nifty Gateway, Rodeo, and Bybit NFT also ceasing or winding down operations.

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Ethereum NFT Platform Foundation Shuts Down After Blackdove Sale Fails

The prominent Ethereum-based non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Foundation has officially announced its closure following the collapse of a plann...

‍Tokenization's Liquidity Illusion: Experts at PBW 2026 Clarify Expectations Industry experts at Paris Blockchain Week 2026 have cautioned against the belief that tokenizing illiquid assets like real estate or private credit automatically guarantees market liquidity. Panelists emphasized that while RWA tokenization offers technological benefits, it does not inherently create active secondary markets for these traditionally difficult-to-trade products. Oya Celiktemur of Ondo Finance stated, "Tokenizing something illiquid will somehow magically make it a liquid asset, which is just not true." Francesco Ranieri Fabracci of Tether added that liquidity is more a function of the underlying asset class, with stablecoins, government bonds, and standardized instruments being more likely to exhibit consistent liquidity. Despite these nuances, the total value of tokenized RWAs has surged by over 240% in the past year, from $8.8 billion to $29.9 billion. However, this growth remains concentrated in assets with existing high liquidity in traditional markets, such as US Treasury debt. Secondary market trading volume has not kept pace with issuance, indicating many investors are holding rather than actively trading these assets. True onchain liquidity for illiquid assets will require robust distribution channels and standardized regulatory frameworks.

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Tokenization Fails to "Magically" Solve Asset Illiquidity: PBW 2026

Industry experts at Paris Blockchain Week 2026 have challenged the prevailing narrative that moving traditional assets onto the blockchain automati...

‍Binance Web3 Wallet Launches Alpha Box Airdrop for HANA, DAM, and AGT Binance Web3 Wallet has initiated its Alpha Box event, allowing eligible users to claim airdrops for Hana Network (HANA), Reservoir (DAM), and Alaya Governance Token (AGT) as of April 17, 2026. Participation requires a minimum of 242 Binance Alpha Points, with the threshold dynamically decreasing by 5 points every five minutes if rewards remain unclaimed. Each claim consumes 15 Alpha Points and rewards are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Users can receive 700-2,500 HANA or DAM tokens, or 2,800-10,000 AGT tokens.

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Binance Alpha Box Airdrop: HANA, DAM, and AGT Reward Details

The Binance Web3 Wallet has officially launched its Alpha Box event, providing an opportunity for ecosystem participants to secure airdrops from th...

‍OSL HK Lists Gold and Silver Tokens for Professional Investors OSL HK has launched regulated trading for precious metal-backed Real-World Asset (RWA) tokens: Matrixdock Gold (XAUm) and Matrixdock Silver (XAGm). This initiative marks Hong Kong's first regulated exchange offering digital bullion trading. XAUm and XAGm are Ethereum-compatible, supporting USD, USDT, and USDC trading pairs for institutional access. This debut includes the first regulated listing of a silver-backed token on a Hong Kong exchange, signifying OSL's commitment to compliant RWA expansion and the convergence of traditional finance with digital assets.

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OSL HK Debuts Matrixdock Gold and Silver Tokens for Pro Investors

The Hong Kong digital asset landscape has reached a new milestone with OSL Group (HKEX: 863) announcing the official listing of Matrixdock Gold (XA...

‍Tokyo Offers ¥40 Million Grants for Yen Stablecoin Projects The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is launching a ¥40 million grant program to encourage the adoption of yen-denominated stablecoins. Businesses can receive up to two-thirds of project expenses, capped at ¥40 million per project, to develop and implement stablecoin solutions for social challenges or payment systems. The initiative focuses on practical applications and validation of third-party issued stablecoins within the current fiscal year, aiming to foster blockchain innovation and digital transformation in Japan's Web3 and fintech sectors.

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Tokyo to Subsidize Yen Stablecoin Projects With ¥40 Million Grants

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has officially launched a strategic initiative to accelerate the adoption of yen-denominated stablecoins within t...

‍South Korea Lawmaker Urges Immediate Stablecoin Legislation A prominent South Korean legislator, Kim Sang-hoon, is calling for urgent prioritization of stablecoin regulations. He warns that delays in establishing a legal framework for KRWQ (South Korean Won-pegged stablecoins) circulating internationally could compromise the nation's monetary sovereignty. The unauthorized issuance of these tokens abroad presents a significant challenge to the domestic financial system. Without oversight, South Korea cannot effectively monitor collateralization or transaction flows. Legislators aim to secure critical financial measures by addressing the threat of offshore won-pegged assets, separate from ongoing debates over cryptocurrency exchange ownership limits.

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South Korea Lawmaker Pushes for Urgent Stablecoin Legislation

A high-ranking South Korean legislator has called for the immediate prioritization of stablecoin regulations, warning that legislative delays could...

‍Ubuntu Group to Release Proof-of-Reserves for $GIFT Gold Token Dubai-based Ubuntu Group will publish an independent Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) report for its gold-backed digital asset, $GIFT. This initiative aims to provide third-party verification of the physical gold backing each token, reflecting a growing trend for transparency in the Real-World Asset (RWA) sector. The assurance engagement will include verification of physical gold reserves, an audit of issuance and redemption protocols, a review of internal controls, and an assessment of asset segregation. This move is intended to meet the expectations of institutional participants and regulators amidst heightened scrutiny of tokenized commodity markets. The PoR report will be made publicly available.

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Ubuntu Group to Release Proof-of-Reserves for $GIFT Gold Token

The Dubai-based Ubuntu Group has announced the upcoming publication of an independent Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) assurance report for its gold-backed ...

‍Crypto Winter Deepens: CEX Trading Volumes Plummet 39% in Q1 2026 The cryptocurrency market has entered a sustained "crypto winter." In Q1 2026, spot trading volumes on major centralized exchanges (CEXs) dropped by 39%, totaling $2.7 trillion, down from $4.5 trillion in Q4 2025. March 2026 saw the lowest monthly volume since late 2023 at $800 billion. Geopolitical instability, including Middle East conflict and fears of a global economic slowdown, alongside a hawkish shift signaled by the US Federal Reserve nomination, have impacted investor sentiment. Bitcoin fell 22% over the quarter, underperforming equity benchmarks. All top ten CEXs reported a contraction in activity, with HTX seeing a 55% decline. The market contraction is attributed to broader macroeconomic uncertainty.

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CEX Trading Volumes Plunge 39% as Crypto Winter Deepens in Q1 2026

The cryptocurrency market has officially entered a sustained crypto winter, according to the latest quarterly report from CoinGecko....

‍New Counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus Scam Exposed A sophisticated counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus device has been discovered on a Chinese marketplace, designed to steal users' private keys and seed phrases. The compromised hardware features unauthorized WiFi and Bluetooth antennas and a boot sequence identifying it as an Espressif Systems product. Scammers are using a fake Ledger Live application accessed via a QR code to trick users into inputting sensitive data. This incident highlights the increasing threat of supply chain attacks and underscores the importance of purchasing hardware wallets only from official manufacturers and never entering recovery phrases into any application.

Cryptovka

Fake Ledger Nano S Plus Warning: New Counterfeit Device Scam Exposed

A security researcher has issued a critical warning to the digital asset community after discovering a highly sophisticated counterfeit Ledger Nano...