Author: Tristan Lodenberg

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed an executive order banning state employees from participating in prediction markets, following a similar order issued by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker earlier this week. Hochul stated that using insider knowledge to profit from prediction markets amounts to corruption, emphasizing that public officials must prioritize public service over personal financial gain. Hochul also criticized the Trump administration and congressional Republicans for failing to introduce meaningful ethical safeguards, describing the sector as an “ethical Wild West.” The order warns that violations could result in dismissal and potential law enforcement action, and also prohibits state employees…

Former Sam Bankman-Fried has withdrawn his motion requesting a new criminal trial but continues to seek reassignment to a different judge as his appeal moves forward. The decision was revealed in a Wednesday filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where Bankman-Fried responded to inquiries from Lewis Kaplan regarding whether he had legal assistance in submitting earlier filings. Bankman-Fried clarified that although he consulted his parents, including his mother Barbara Fried, he remained the “ultimate author” of the documents. The judge had raised questions after prosecutors suggested that Bankman-Fried may not have independently filed…

HIVE Digital secured $115 million through a zero interest convertible note offering to expand its Tier III data centers and boost GPU capacity for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads. The company said the funding will support expansion across its facilities in Canada, Sweden and Paraguay, where infrastructure supports both bitcoin mining and AI-driven computing services. The financing structure includes capped call protection designed to limit shareholder dilution while accelerating development of its global data center footprint. The move reflects a broader shift among crypto mining firms toward diversified computing services as demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow. Keel…

Robinhood Ventures Fund I (RVI), a publicly traded closed-end fund, has announced a $75 million investment in OpenAI, marking one of its largest private equity positions to date. The fund acquired OpenAI common stock, which will act as the underlying asset for offering retail investors indirect exposure through “venture tokens.” RVI president Sarah Pinto said the initiative is designed to democratize access to private companies, allowing retail investors to gain price exposure without directly owning equity. Following the announcement, RVI shares rose more than 14% to $28, according to data. Venture Tokens Raise Regulatory and Ownership Questions The structure allows…

Binance.US has cut spot trading fees across all cryptocurrencies to near zero, introducing 0% maker fees and 0.02% taker fees on all trading pairs. The move is aimed at attracting users to a platform that has struggled with low activity and limited growth compared to major competitors. CEO Stephen Gregory said American traders have “been paying too much for too long,” adding that a fully regulated U.S. exchange can still deliver the lowest cost trading environment while increasing competition. Maker fees apply to liquidity-providing orders, while takers remove liquidity immediately, with takers now paying 0.02% per trade. Competitive Pressure From…

Bitcoin is showing renewed strength as the Coinbase premium index records its longest positive streak since the market’s all time high phase. The indicator has remained positive for 14 consecutive days, from April 9 to April 22, 2026, marking the strongest sustained reading since Bitcoin’s surge above $126,000 in October 2025. At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading around $79,300, with monthly gains of approximately 14%, reflecting improving market sentiment. What the Coinbase Premium Reveals About Market Behavior The Coinbase premium measures the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and offshore exchanges like Binance. A positive premium suggests stronger…

Uzbekistan has introduced a state supervised crypto mining initiative by establishing the “Besqala Mining Valley” in the Republic of Karakalpakstan through a presidential decree signed on April 17, taking effect on April 20. The new framework allows registered companies to conduct crypto mining under government oversight while introducing tax incentives to attract foreign investment. The zone enables approved entities to mine digital assets and sell them on both domestic and international crypto platforms. However, all proceeds from mining activities must be transferred through local bank accounts in Uzbekistan, ensuring strict financial monitoring within the national banking system. Tax Exemptions and…

Bitcoin Breaks Above $79,000 With Strong Market Momentum Bitcoin climbed above $79,000 reaching its highest level since early February as bullish momentum strengthened across the crypto market. The asset gained 4.5% over the past 24 hours, lifting major altcoins including Ether, BNB, Solana and XRP. Crypto related stocks recorded notable gains, with Strategy rising 10%, Circle Internet adding 9% and Coinbase increasing 6%. Bitcoin mining firms MARA Holdings and Riot Platforms also climbed between 6% and 7%. The rally coincided with a supportive macro environment, as the S&P 500 rose 0.9% and the Nasdaq gained 1.3% to reach record highs.…

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation is entering its final transition phase, with the July 1 deadline marking the end of the longest 18-month grandfathering window. After this date, any crypto asset service provider operating without MiCA authorization must stop serving clients across the bloc. Early adopters such as CoinJar, which secured authorization in Ireland in 2025, view the framework as a step toward a more mature market, while smaller firms warn the timeline is becoming increasingly difficult to meet. High Compliance Costs Raise Risk of Market Consolidation The cost of licensing, governance restructuring and ongoing reporting…

Gold futures moved higher in early European trading after the United States extended its ceasefire with Iran, easing concerns about escalating conflict and rising inflation. Gold prices climbed more than 1%, reaching $4,785 per troy ounce and then again back to $4,745 , as declining oil prices reduced immediate fears of supply disruptions that could drive inflation higher. Market sentiment shifted as investors reacted to reduced geopolitical tension, with lower oil prices helping to stabilize inflation expectations. The easing of tensions also placed downward pressure on the U.S. dollar, which further supported gains in gold prices during the session. Oil…