Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has launched a new self custodial application called tether.wallet, marking a shift from infrastructure provider to consumer facing financial services. The wallet is designed to give users direct control over digital assets instead of relying on intermediaries. The company said the product targets billions of people underserved by traditional finance and builds on a network that already reaches more than 570 million users globally. Until now, Tether’s infrastructure has primarily supported liquidity, settlement, and payments behind the scenes rather than functioning as a standalone user product. Supported Assets and Simplified Transaction Features…

Several crypto market analysts are warning that Bitcoin could still face a sharp decline toward the $50,000 level before any sustained recovery begins. Market commentator Ivan Liljeqvist stated that Bitcoin has yet to experience what he described as “the big flush,” arguing that the recent bounce from $60,000 does not represent a confirmed bottom. He noted that recent upward movements remain small compared with the broader downward trend, indicating persistent bearish pressure. Institutional Demand May Limit Deeper Declines $50,000 level is widely viewed as the last significant accumulation zone before any long-term recovery. Such a decline could represent a healthy…

Core PPI m/m rose just 0.1% versus a 0.4% forecast and 0.5% prior, while headline PPI m/m came in at 0.5% compared to 1.1% expected and 0.7% previously. The softer readings indicate easing upstream inflation pressures in the US economy, reducing expectations of aggressive Federal Reserve policy tightening. This typically weighs on the US dollar as yield advantage expectations soften. Impact on USD and Gold Market Reaction A weaker inflation pipeline supports a softer dollar bias and improves demand for non-yielding assets like gold. Lower PPI reduces real yield expectations, which often boosts gold attractiveness for investors seeking inflation hedges.…

Deutsche Borse announced it will invest $200 million in Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, as part of its broader push into blockchain-based financial products. The investment, expected to close in the second quarter pending regulatory approval, will grant Deutsche Börse a 1.5% fully diluted stake through a secondary share purchase. The deal builds on a strategic partnership formed in December 2025, which focused on expanding institutional access to regulated crypto investment products. The collaboration includes integrating Kraken-backed xStocks into Deutsche Börse’s digital asset infrastructure, 360X, with plans to develop services across trading, custody, settlement, collateral management, and…

The preferred security STRC, issued by Strategy (MSTR), recorded a record-breaking $1.16 billion in daily trading volume, significantly exceeding its 30-day average of $278 million. The surge is estimated to have funded the purchase of roughly 7,800 units of Bitcoin, marking what could be the largest single-day addition since the security’s debut. This spike in activity follows a recent $1 billion Bitcoin purchase funded entirely through STRC offerings. The security carries an 11.5% annual dividend paid monthly in cash and maintained its $100 par value throughout the trading session, indicating sustained investor confidence despite heavy trading volumes. Market Capitalization Growth…

Iran has estimated war-related damages at approximately $270 billion following joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel earlier this year. The assessment was shared by government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, who noted that the figure is based on preliminary calculations and may increase as further evaluations are completed. Officials stated that the issue of reparations has become a central demand in ongoing diplomatic talks, including earlier negotiations held in Islamabad. Mohajerani emphasized that damage calculations are being reviewed across multiple sectors, indicating that the final figure could change as detailed assessments continue. Reparations Dispute Emerges as Major…

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $291 million in net outflows on Monday, marking the largest daily redemption since March 27. The decline came even as Bitcoin surged roughly 5% to trade above $74,000, reaching its highest level in nearly four weeks. The majority of withdrawals were driven by the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which alone accounted for $229 million in outflows. Market data indicated that selling pressure was concentrated within a limited number of funds rather than spread across the entire ETF sector, suggesting selective repositioning rather than broad investor panic. Select Funds Maintain Positive Momentum Amid…

Thom Tillis is expected to release a draft agreement this week aimed at resolving the ongoing stablecoin yield dispute tied to the proposed Clarity Act. The proposal is being developed in collaboration with Angela Alsobrooks, with the goal of settling disagreements over whether cryptocurrency companies should be allowed to offer rewards on idle stablecoin balances. According to reports, the draft language has already been reviewed by both banking institutions and crypto industry representatives. However, banks have reportedly expressed concerns and signaled resistance to certain provisions, indicating that further revisions may be necessary before public release. Banking Sector and Crypto Firms…

The United States Department of Justice has launched a compensation process aimed at reimbursing victims of the massive OneCoin fraud, which caused billions of dollars in losses worldwide. Officials confirmed that more than $40 million in forfeited assets is now available for distribution to individuals who purchased OneCoin between 2014 and 2019 and recorded a net financial loss. Jay Clayton described the initiative as a key step toward returning funds to affected investors, noting that authorities remain committed to seizing criminal proceeds linked to the scheme. OneCoin was initially launched in 2014 with claims it would surpass Bitcoin, briefly gaining…

Bitcoin’s breakout above $74,000 has been strengthened by a softer tone from the Bank of Japan, which signaled it is unlikely to raise interest rates at its April 28 meeting. Governor Kazuo Ueda adopted a cautious stance amid uncertainty over the economic impact of the Iran conflict, easing pressure on global risk assets. The policy shift matters for crypto because it keeps the yen weak and preserves cheap funding conditions for leveraged strategies. A similar setup reversed sharply in August 2024, when a surprise BOJ rate hike triggered a yen carry trade unwind that caused Bitcoin to fall from $64,000…