Author: Tristan Lodenberg

The Bank for International Settlements has issued a warning that US dollar backed stablecoins could create risks for financial stability and monetary policy if adoption expands significantly. Speaking in Tokyo at a Bank of Japan seminar, BIS general manager Pablo Hernández de Cos said that tokens such as USDt and USDC behave more like investment products than cash equivalents due to redemption limits, fees, and price deviations in secondary markets. He warned that stablecoins may resemble exchange-traded funds while still carrying run risks because reserves are held in short-term government debt and bank deposits. In stressed conditions, sudden withdrawals could…

Strategy Inc. has made one of its largest acquisitions to date, purchasing about $2.5 billion worth of Bitcoin in a single week, totaling 34,164 BTC. The move reinforces its shift from enterprise software to a dedicated Bitcoin accumulation strategy funded through equity and perpetual preferred share offerings, including STRC. Long-Term Target of 1 Million BTC Drives Capital Deployment The latest purchase supports Strategy’s stated objective of reaching 1 million BTC holdings by the end of 2026. The company continues to deploy capital raised from equity issuance and preferred stock programs directly into Bitcoin markets, expanding its position as one of…

Crypto investment products recorded $1.4 billion in inflows last week, marking the second-strongest weekly performance since January as market sentiment improved and Bitcoin price momentum strengthened. The rally pushed total assets under management to $154.8 billion, the highest level since early February. The inflows follow a three-week streak totaling $2.7 billion, bringing year-to-date gains in crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) to approximately $3.8 billion, according to data from CoinShares. Bitcoin Leads Inflows While Ethereum Turns Positive YTD Bitcoin dominated inflows with $1.12 billion last week, driven largely by US spot ETFs, which contributed about $1 billion alone. The price of Bitcoin…

LayerZero reported that the $292 million exploit affecting Kelp DAO on April 18 is likely connected to the North Korean hacking collective Lazarus Group, specifically its subgroup known as TraderTraitor. The breach resulted in the loss of 116,500 rsETH tokens, making it the largest decentralized finance exploit recorded so far this year. According to investigators, attackers accessed a list of remote procedure call (RPC) nodes used in the decentralized verified network (DVN). They reportedly compromised two nodes and delivered a forged cross-chain message, while launching a distributed denial-of-service attack to disable legitimate verification nodes. Single-Point Configuration Blamed for Security Breakdown…

A large scale Ukrainian drone attack struck the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse, triggering a major fire at the local oil infrastructure. The strike reportedly hit the Rosneft-owned refinery, causing a rapid escalation into a large inferno visible across the area. Oil Refinery Damage and Emergency Disruptions in Resort Town Authorities and local reports said the attack involved a coordinated drone swarm that caused multiple explosions at the refinery site. Flames reignited hours after initial firefighting efforts had temporarily brought the situation under control, worsening damage at the energy facility. Thick black smoke spread across the coastal town,…

Decentralized prediction market platform Polymarket is reportedly seeking to raise $400 million in new funding at a valuation of approximately $15 billion, according to sources familiar with ongoing discussions. The planned fundraising follows earlier reports from October indicating the company was exploring investor interest at valuations ranging between $12 billion and $15 billion. The proposed funding round builds on prior backing from Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, which previously agreed to invest up to $2 billion in the platform. Of that commitment, about $600 million has already been secured, and the company is now…

The United Arab Emirates has held discussions with the United States regarding potential emergency financial support if the ongoing regional conflict disrupts access to U.S. dollars. During meetings in Washington, Khaled Mohamed Balama raised the possibility of establishing a currency-swap line with Scott Bessent and officials from the Federal Reserve. Emirati representatives described the talks as precautionary but warned that prolonged conflict could pressure reserves and investor confidence. Yuan Option Raised if Dollar Access Tightens Officials noted that damage to energy infrastructure and disruptions to tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz have limited oil exports, reducing a major source…

Spot exchange traded funds tied to Bitcoin recorded $996.4 million in net inflows last week according to SoSovalue , marking the strongest weekly performance since mid-January and extending a three-week streak of positive investment activity. Over the past three weeks alone, these funds have attracted more than $1.8 billion in total inflows, reflecting renewed institutional confidence in digital assets. Among the leading funds, BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, known as IBIT, accounted for the majority of the inflows, drawing approximately $906 million during the reporting period. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s recently launched MSBT fund posted $71 million in net inflows during its first…

Michael Saylor has hinted at another significant Bitcoin purchase, just days after his company revealed a $1 billion acquisition of Bitcoin earlier in April. In a recent social media post, Saylor shared the phrase “Think Even Bigger” alongside a chart tracking the company’s historical purchases a move widely seen by market watchers as a signal of an upcoming buy announcement. The company, Strategy, disclosed that it purchased 13,927 Bitcoin between April 6 and April 12, paying an average price of $71,902 per coin. This continues its aggressive accumulation strategy, reinforcing its position as the largest publicly traded holder of Bitcoin.…

Coinbase has begun testing artificial intelligence agents integrated into workplace tools such as Slack and corporate email systems, marking a significant step in the company’s automation strategy. Chief executive Brian Armstrong revealed that two internal AI agents have already been deployed to assist employees with daily tasks. He suggested that in the near future, workers may be able to create personalized AI assistants for their teams, adding that the number of AI agents could eventually surpass the number of human staff within the company. Fred and Balaji AI Models Designed for Strategy and Innovation The company introduced two agents named…