Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Bitcoin continued to test the $78,000 to $79,000 range on Thursday as traders watched closely for signs of a broader market trend reversal. Analysts noted that while sentiment has improved, a confirmed trend shift would likely require multiple daily closes above the $80,000 to $83,000 resistance zone. Recent gains have been supported by strengthening market structure and renewed institutional participation. In April alone, spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds recorded inflows totaling about $2.03 billion. Meanwhile, major institutional activity included a purchase of 34,000 BTC worth approximately $2.54 billion by Strategy. Another boost came from Morgan Stanley, whose newly launched Bitcoin…

Momentum in the crypto market may continue if Bitcoin extends its recent rally toward the $86,000 level, a target highlighted by market analyst Michael van de Poppe. A move to $86,000 would represent roughly a 10% rise from Bitcoin’s recent price near $77,890 and mark a return to levels last seen in late January. Bitcoin has gained more than 11% over the past 30 days, supported in part by a strong rebound in the Nasdaq Composite, which recorded a similar monthly increase. Market participants believe it remains crucial for Bitcoin to hold above the $75,000 level, as losing that support…

Operation Absolute Resolve Insider Trading Allegations A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been charged with making more than $400,000 through prediction market bets tied to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Federal prosecutors allege that Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke used classified information obtained during planning for “Operation Absolute Resolve,” a January 2026 mission that led to Maduro’s capture. According to investigators, Van Dyke created an account on the prediction platform Polymarket in late December 2025. He allegedly placed multiple “yes” bets on contracts predicting Maduro’s removal and potential U.S. military action in Venezuela. These wagers, totaling…

Crypto Yield Products Compared to Unsecured Loans A new report from the Bank for International Settlements warns that many cryptocurrency exchanges are evolving into “shadow banks” by offering lending and yield services that resemble traditional banking products without equivalent safeguards. The 38-page report states that popular “earn” and yield programs function similarly to unsecured loans, even though they are often marketed to retail investors as passive-income opportunities. According to the report, these platforms pool customer funds into lending, trading, or market-making strategies, effectively recycling deposits into higher-risk activities. However, unlike traditional bank accounts, these services typically lack deposit insurance, transparency…

Bitcoin Price Rally Driven by Strong Buyer Demand and Derivatives Activity Bitcoin climbed above $79k during the New York trading session yesterday as buying pressure strengthened across both spot and derivatives markets. Onchain data indicates rising demand while exchange held Bitcoin continues to decline, signaling reduced immediate selling pressure. According to CryptoQuant, Bitcoin’s cumulative net taker volume on Binance has risen to $9.2 billion, its highest level since February. This metric tracks aggressive buying versus selling in futures markets and suggests buyers are actively absorbing available sell-side liquidity. CryptoQuant Analyst noted that this shift reflects “renewed conviction from market participants,”…

U.S. President Donald Trump tells BBC that upcoming state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla could help improve relations between the United States and the United Kingdom. In a phone interview, Trump described the King as a “fantastic” and “brave” leader and said the visit would have a positive impact on bilateral ties. The royal couple is scheduled to begin a four day visit on Monday, with meetings planned at the White House. King Charles is also expected to hold a private discussion with Trump and deliver an address to Congress. After spending two days in Washington, the…

XRP Price Rejection Signals Weak Breakout Momentum XRP declined about 3% after failing to hold gains above the $1.44 resistance level, highlighting continued selling pressure in the market. The token briefly moved higher during Wednesday trading but quickly reversed, slipping back toward $1.42 as sellers stepped in near resistance. The failed breakout reflects weakening momentum across the broader crypto market, where profit-taking activity led by Bitcoin followed its recent surge toward the $80,000 level. This wider market pullback reduced XRP’s ability to sustain upward movement and confirmed that bullish conviction remains limited. Trading volume increased during the attempt to break…

Kelp DAO Hack Funds Movement and ETH Laundering Activity The wallet linked to the Kelp DAO exploit has reportedly laundered nearly all of the approximately 75,700 Ether stolen in a $293 million DeFi hack, significantly reducing the chance of asset recovery. The attacker converted most of the stolen ETH through THORChain, swapping it into Bitcoin (BTC) and generating around $910,000 in protocol fees during the process. According to blockchain analyst EmberCN, the attacker began moving funds on April 22, transferring roughly $175 million worth of ETH into newly created wallets before routing them through THORChain and the privacy protocol Umbra.…

Persistent security breaches and weak growth metrics are continuing to limit institutional participation in decentralized finance, according to analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. The analysts, led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, pointed to the recent Kelp DAO exploit as a major example of sector vulnerability. The cross chain bridge attack involved the minting of approximately $292 million in unbacked rsETH tokens, which were used as collateral on Aave to borrow real Ether. The incident created an estimated $230 million in bad debt and contributed to roughly $20 billion being wiped from total value locked (TVL) across DeFi platforms within…

The U.S. military is currently operating a Bitcoin node as part of ongoing cybersecurity and network defense experiments, according to Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific. Paparo disclosed the development during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 23 while responding to questions from Representative Lance Gooden about Bitcoin’s national security role. Paparo told lawmakers that the military is in an experimental phase, using the Bitcoin network to monitor activity and conduct operational testing. He clarified that the military is not mining Bitcoin but instead evaluating how the Bitcoin protocol can help secure and protect…