The U.S. Department of Justice will be helmed by Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, after removing Attorney General Pam Bondi from the position.

Blanche represented Trump in his criminal case in New York prior to Trump’s reelection as U.S. President in 2024. Trump named him deputy attorney general after retaking office.

As deputy attorney general, Blanche ordered the disbanding of the DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, which was formed in 2022 under former President Joe Biden, and signed a four-page memo ordering prosecutors not to pursue regulatory violation cases in the crypto industry.

The document was referenced in the Southern District of New York office’s case against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, eventually leading that office to drop a charge against Storm (Storm was later convicted on another charge, and faces a retrial on two more later this year).

According to Blanche’s most recent government ethics disclosure, dated July 10, 2025, Blanche transferred his crypto asset holdings to his children and a grandchild, including Bitcoin BTC$66,822.54, Solana (SOL), ADA$0.2393 and Ethereum (ETH). His disclosure form also noted that he’d held Polygon (MATIC), DOT$1.2373 and Quant (QNT), as well as Coinbase (COIN) stock.

According to ProPublica, he still held these cryptos — somewhere between $159,000 and $485,000 in total — when he signed the enforcement memo, which violated ethics rules and his pledge to divest prior to working on crypto-related matters.

Bitcoin has stubbornly maintained a 60,000 to 73,000 USD trading band as macro headwinds intensify. Oil prices hover at levels not seen since 2008, geopolitical tensions flare across the US, Israel and Iran, and stock markets remain volatile after a choppy start to the year. In this environment, BTC has drawn steady bids on pullbacks toward the 60k mark, but the path forward remains uncertain as traders weigh whether a breakout or deeper correction lies ahead.

Analysts point to a technical setup that could tilt the risk balance either way. A rising wedge and a bear-flag pattern have been in focus, with a key stake on whether Bitcoin can sustain a rally above a critical resistance area. Market technicians stress that a daily close above roughly 76,000 USD would be necessary to invalidate the current bearish configuration and shift the narrative toward a potential fresh leg higher. Until such a breakout occurs, the market may remain in a waiting game as traders seek a catalyst to unlock capital and directional bets.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin remains range-bound between 60,000 and 73,000 USD despite challenging macro conditions, with support at 60k and resistance nearer 70k–73k.
• A bear-flag/bearish continuation pattern dominates near-term view, requiring a close above 76,000 USD to negate the setup; a breakdown could push toward the mid-50k to 52,500 USD area per some scenarios.
• Trading activity shows subdued demand and a cautious stance, as aggregated open interest stays below 20 billion USD and negative funding rates are treated as opportunistic signals rather than reliable catalysts for rallies.
• Liquidity dynamics hint at risk for leveraged longs if BTC weakens toward 63–65k USD, with a liquidity gap below and another cluster of longs starting around 57,500–56,000 USD.
• Market participants await a clear catalyst—whether a macro shift or a technical breakout above 76k—before the next sustained move, keeping the focus on the 60k–70k range until then.

Bearish patterns and the price action

Bitcoin’s recent price action has framed a cautious setup. A correction to 60,014 USD occurred on Jan. 20 as BTC traded within the broader range, reinforcing a bearish continuation narrative. Since February 8, attempts to break past the bear-flag’s overhead trendline have failed, reinforcing the view that the pattern remains intact unless a decisive breakout occurs.

Technical observers underscore that clearing 76,000 USD on a multi-day basis is the prerequisite for negating the current bearish configuration. In practical terms, a rally to that level would need to sustain for two or three consecutive daily candles and then retest the trendline at around 75,000 USD to confirm a change in role from resistance to support.

“Breakdown of the lower boundary will be the signal for a possible move toward 52,500 USD.”

That outlook aligns with a broader sentiment among some technicians who monitor price channels and chart patterns for guidance on possible trajectories. While not a guaranteed forecast, the emphasized level of 52,500 USD sits as a potential magnet in a scenario where downside momentum intensifies.

Liquidity, funding and risk in the wings

Across spot and futures markets, demand appears relatively flat by several market-tracking measures. Data suggests that traders still view episodes where the funding rate turns negative as potential buying opportunities, but such signals have not reliably translated into sustained upside as Bitcoin tests the bear-flag resistance.

Aggregated open interest provides a corroborating view: it has remained below 20 billion USD, a threshold last associated with BTC trading near 79,000 USD earlier in February. The muted open interest implies that traders are selectively taking on risk, rather than piling into directional bets with high leverage.

In the options and futures space, risk dynamics show a clustering of leveraged long positions vulnerable to liquidation if price declines into the 63,000–65,000 USD range. A liquidity gap exists below, with the next sizable block of long positions projected around 57,500–56,000 USD. These pockets of risk hint at how quickly sentiment could shift if Bitcoin breaks lower and triggers cascading liquidations in highly leveraged positions.

Market path to watch

The prevailing mood appears to be one of consolidation, with market participants waiting for a meaningful trigger to re-accelerate volatility in either direction. Traders are watching for catalysts—whether from macro data, geopolitical news, or a fresh technical breakout—that could reallocate capital and tip BTC out of its current range.

Absent such catalysts, the price action is likely to continue trading within the 60,000–70,000 region, with 60,000 acting as a stubborn floor and 70,000 representing a more challenging hurdle for those hoping to reestablish momentum above the long-standing resistance area. The broader picture suggests that the market is seeking a narrative or data point that justifies larger bets, rather than reacting to mid-cycle noise alone.

What readers should watch next

As the market evolves, key milestones to monitor include a sustained break above 76,000 USD on a multi-day basis, followed by a confirmatory retest of the 75,000 USD level. If the price fails to clear this zone, attention will likely shift back to the lower boundary near 60,000 USD and the risk of a renewed test of the bears’ target around 52,500 USD. On the funding and liquidity front, any meaningful shifts in open interest and leverage dynamics—especially a surge in long liquidations around the 63–65k window—could catalyze sharper moves. The coming weeks will be telling as macro headlines and on-chain signals converge to redefine BTC’s trajectory.

According to analysts like Aksel Kibar, who shared charts and commentary on X, the path of least resistance will hinge on whether the support and resistance lines hold or give way. For now, Bitcoin’s fate rests on whether buyers can step forward with conviction above the critical 76k level or whether a fresh wave of selling drives the market toward mid- to low-50k territory. Readers should stay tuned to both price action and the evolving liquidity landscape, as these are the levers most likely to determine the next leg in BTC’s ongoing range-bound saga.

YZi Labs has announced a strategic additional investment in prediction market platform Predict.fun following the second season of its EASY Residency program, according to an official update from the firm. The follow‑on round brings in Susquehanna Crypto, the digital asset trading arm of global quantitative trading firm Susquehanna International Group, signaling growing institutional interest in on‑chain prediction markets.

The Predict.fun team graduated from YZi Labs’ EASY Residency Season 2 cohort, unveiled during Binance Blockchain Week, where the incubator highlighted the protocol’s blend of DeFi yield, self‑custody and gasless UX as the basis for “mainstream prediction markets.” YZi Labs described Predict.fun as enabling a new class of event trading by routing user collateral into DeFi strategies while positions are open, turning predictions into a yield‑generating primitive rather than idle bets.

Polymarket has expanded beyond crypto and event-based contracts into traditional financial assets, integrating oracle provider Pyth Network as the resolution source for a new suite of equity, index, and commodity markets.

The collaboration, announced on Wednesday, launches with daily up/down and daily close markets for major equity indices, commodities including gold, silver, WTI crude, and natural gas, and more than a dozen U.S. equities such as TSLA, COIN, PLTR, NVDA, and AAPL.

Alongside the integration, Pyth unveiled Pyth Terminal, a live data interface that allows traders to explore and verify price feeds in real time. The tool includes benchmark comparisons for U.S. equities and foreign exchange, publisher-level transparency for each feed, and free API key access for new sign-ups.

Polymarket traders can follow a live “price to beat” chart that updates every second as markets move, with the Terminal serving as the public source of truth for how each market resolves.

Over 125 leading trading firms, exchanges, and market makers publish first-party price data directly to Pyth, creating what the network describes as a price discovery system rooted in real trading activity rather than a single exchange or market window.

“Millions of dollars can hinge on a single price point, and that demands absolute confidence in the source of truth. Pyth delivers that assurance, enabling Polymarket to expand into high-stakes financial markets,” said Mustafa Aljadery, Product Lead at Polymarket.

The launch significantly deepens Polymarket’s push into finance-related markets. The prediction market already hosts 138 active commodities markets and a finance category covering earnings, Fed rate decisions, IPOs, and forex.

Polymarket’s monthly volumes have surged from roughly $1 billion in mid-2025 to over $8 billion by March 2026, with weekly notional volume consistently exceeding $1 billion through the first quarter.

The expansion comes as Polymarket continues to deepen its institutional and mainstream partnerships, having recently been named MLB’s exclusive prediction market partner.

For Pyth, the Polymarket deal adds to a string of recent product launches, including a 24/7 oil index designed to fill pricing gaps left by traditional commodity markets that shut down overnight and on weekends.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

SpaceX appears poised to launch what could become the largest initial public offering in history, with a potential valuation above USD 1.75 trillion and up to USD 75 billion in proceeds. If confirmed, the listing would give public investors exposure to SpaceX’s broader space ecosystem, including Starlink’s connectivity and launch capabilities, while funding the continued development of Starship and expansion into new verticals such as AI infrastructure, including space-based data centres. The move follows SpaceX’s merger with xAI, creating a vertically integrated platform that blends space and artificial intelligence and invites scrutiny of how such a multi‑line business should be valued. The prospect of retail ownership, potentially up to 30%, adds another near‑term dynamic.

Key points

• Possible largest IPO ever with valuation above $1.75 trillion and up to $75 billion in proceeds.
• Public exposure to SpaceX’s ecosystem, including Starlink connectivity and launch capabilities.
• Proceeds earmarked for Starship development, Starlink expansion, defence initiatives, and AI infrastructure, including space-based data centres.
• SpaceX-xAI merger introduces vertical integration spanning space and AI, raising valuation questions for investors.
• Retail share allocation expected to be up to 30% of the offering.

Why it matters

If SpaceX moves forward with a valuation in this range, it would set a new benchmark for mega-tech listings tied to space, infrastructure, and AI. The IPO would broaden public exposure to a space-based ecosystem beyond traditional hardware, while the xAI tie-in signals a broader ambition that spans multiple high-capital segments. For investors, the arrangement raises questions about how to price a company with profitable space operations alongside capital-intensive AI ventures, and how share distribution to retail participants could influence demand and pricing.

What to watch

• Final confirmation of IPO details: valuation, proceeds, and timing.
• Retail investor share allocation up to 30%.
• Impact of SpaceX-xAI merger on valuation and strategy.
• Near-term signals on Starship and Starlink funding implications.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company or its PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

SpaceX IPO Set to Become Largest in History, Marking a Defining Moment for Global Markets

Abu Dhabi, UAE – April 01, 2026

SpaceX is reportedly preparing to go public in what could become the largest IPO in history, with a potential valuation exceeding USD $1.75 trillion and plans to raise up to USD $75 billion. If confirmed, this would surpass Saudi Aramco’s 2019 listing, which raised USD $29.4 billion.

The listing would mark the first opportunity for public market investors to gain exposure to Elon Musk’s space ecosystem. SpaceX has established itself as a global leader, with its Starlink broadband network generating significant revenue and its launch capabilities dominating the commercial space sector.

Proceeds from the IPO are expected to fund the continued development of Starship, expand Starlink into new verticals, support defence-related initiatives, and accelerate investments in AI infrastructure, including the concept of space-based data centres.

The company’s recent merger with xAI introduces an additional dimension for investors. While the move creates a vertically integrated innovation platform spanning space and artificial intelligence, it also raises questions around valuation, given xAI’s capital-intensive nature.

Josh Gilbert, Market Analyst at eToro, commented: “SpaceX’s IPO represents a watershed moment for global markets. It’s not just about gaining exposure to a leading space company, but about investing in a broader ecosystem that spans connectivity, defence, and artificial intelligence. However, the complexity of the business model — combining a highly profitable space and broadband operation with a capital-intensive AI venture — means investors will need to carefully assess whether the proposed valuation is justified.”

The IPO also has implications for Tesla investors, as Tesla holds a stake in SpaceX following its USD $2 billion xAI investment. Increasing operational ties between the companies have fuelled speculation about a potential future merger, which could create a new type of multi-sector technology conglomerate.

Notably, SpaceX is expected to allocate a significant portion of shares to retail investors, potentially up to 30%, signalling a shift in how major IPOs engage with individual market participants.

As anticipation builds, the key question for investors remains whether the scale, ambition, and integration of SpaceX’s business lines can support what would be one of the most ambitious valuations ever seen in public markets.

Key takeaways:

• Private credit risks and weak US jobs market data drive Bitcoin lower, but is there a silver lining?

• Institutional Bitcoin ETF outflows and miner sales test BTC’s strength, but the Federal Reserve’s options for addressing the federal deficit may also favor scarce assets.

Bitcoin (BTC) faced rejection at $69,000 on Wednesday after President Donald Trump’s speech failed to guarantee an end to the war in Iran. Oil prices soared following the speech and beyond traders’ war-related worries, tumult in the private credit markets is also taking a toll on investor confidence across multiple markets.

While Bitcoin has successfully defended the $66,000 level throughout the week, traders remain concerned about downside risk over the upcoming weekend, as US and European markets will be closed on Friday for Easter.

The threat of additional US-led military action in Iran caused WTI crude oil prices to rally above $110, triggering a move away from risky assets. Traders chose to cut their exposure to Bitcoin and stocks as the US Treasury Department expressed concerns regarding the $2 trillion private credit markets on Wednesday. Domestic and international insurance regulators will be surveyed through early May.

Private credit markets sound the alarm: Will BTC respond?

Blue Owl, a $307 billion alternative asset manager, announced “extraordinary redemption requests” for two of its private credit funds in shareholder letters issued Thursday. Over 70% of the companies Blue Owl lends to are in the software industry, as reported during a quarterly earnings call. The fund manager capped withdrawal requests at 5%, adding fresh concerns to the credit market.

Adding to the short-term bearish sentiment among traders was a surge in US continuing jobless claims, which rose to 1.84 million for the week ending March 21, up from 1.82 million the week prior. This data is not inherently negative for equities; however, as the global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas noted, most layoffs originated from companies “shifting budgets toward AI investments at the expense of jobs.”

The odds of economic stimulus initiatives amid weakening economic activity could ultimately support Bitcoin’s price in the medium term. The US federal deficit is expected to reach a massive $1.9 trillion in 2026, leaving little room to maneuver other than injecting liquidity, which tends to benefit scarce assets.

An improvement in the risk perception of Bitcoin will be decisive for a potential rally above $75,000. There has been a considerable negative impact from net outflows from US-listed spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the liquidation of positions held by companies that previously focused on building corporate reserves, and the unwinding by publicly listed miners.

US-listed Bitcoin ETFs have seen $450 million in net outflows since March 24, which serves as a proxy for weak institutional demand. Traders fear further selling pressure because the industry holds $88 billion in Bitcoin under management, with BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT US) leading at $53.9 billion. However, these outflows should slow if Bitcoin continues to show strength near $66,000.

Related: Bitcoin hits weekly low on oil fears as analyst teases $10K BTC price target

MARA Holdings (MARA US) announced the sale of 15,133 BTC in March at a price far below the company’s estimated cost basis. Meanwhile, Riot Platforms (RIOT US) reportedly transferred 500 BTC for sale on Wednesday. Additionally, Nakamoto Holdings (NAKA US) disclosed a sale of 284 BTC, despite having previously announced its intention to continue accumulating the asset.

As long as companies such as Strategy (MSTR US) and Metaplanet (MTPLF US) continue to absorb some of this selling pressure, investors will likely recognize that Bitcoin serves as a safeguard against increasing money supply. Governments will do everything possible to avoid a recession, raising the odds that Bitcoin’s path to $75,000 stays firmly in play despite worsening macroeconomic conditions.