Crypto World
Ex-FTX CEO Withdraws Motion for a New Trial, Still Asks for New Judge
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, serving a 25-year sentence for his role in misusing user funds at the crypto exchange, has dropped a motion in federal court requesting a new trial for his criminal case, but still has a pending appeal of his conviction and sentence.
In a Wednesday filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Bankman-Fried responded to a March 23 letter from Judge Lewis Kaplan ordering the former FTX CEO to answer whether he received any assistance from lawyers for a pro se motion — a filing on his own behalf without an attorney. Kaplan’s order followed US prosecutors raising doubts whether the convicted company founder filed for an extension of his request for a new trial by himself in March, just a few days after his mother, Barbara Fried, though lacking standing, sent a letter to the court on her son’s behalf.
“I am the author of this letter, but did consult with my parents about it, since it concerns both of them,” said Bankman-Fried, referring to an extension to file for a Rule 33 motion for a new trial, adding:
“As I have had to focus on responding to these questions rather than drafting a response to the prosecution’s opposition, and because I do not believe I will get a fair hearing on this topic in front of you, I am now requesting to withdraw the Rule 33 motion, without prejudice to renewing it after my direct appeal and the related request for reassignment have been ruled upon.”
Bankman-Fried requested in February that a different judge rule on his motion for a new trial, claiming that Kaplan showed “extreme prejudice.” He also awaits a decision on his appeal of his conviction and sentence in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Neither filing was apparently affected by Bankman-Fried’s letter, posted to the public docket on Wednesday.
Related: Interview with SBF’s parents drops chance of pardon on betting markets
Bankman-Fried, known as SBF, was once the CEO of one of the largest crypto exchanges globally before he was convicted of fraud and charges related to his misuse of customer funds in 2023 and later sentenced to 25 years in prison. As of Wednesday, he was housed at the Federal Correctional Institution, Lompoc I, in California.
Is SBF still seeking Trump pardon?
Following his incarceration, the former FTX CEO has made several public statements through interviews and his social media accounts signaling plans to apply for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
His request for a new trial included claims that former US President Joe Biden’s Justice Department “threatened multiple witnesses into silence or into changing their testimony“ at his criminal trial. He has also posted to X praising Trump’s crypto policies and the president’s military actions in Iran.
In a January New York Times interview, Trump said that he had no intention of pardoning the convicted former FTX CEO.
TLDR
- Bitwise launched a new Avalanche-focused fund on April 15 to expand its crypto product lineup.
- CIO Matt Hougan said Avalanche offers differentiated exposure within the Layer 1 blockchain market.
- Hougan explained that Avalanche allows institutions to launch customizable blockchains with their own rules and validators.
- He linked the AVAX ETF thesis to long-term growth in tokenized assets, stablecoins, and onchain finance.
- Hougan cited partners including BlackRock, Apollo, Toyota, the State of Wyoming, and FIFA as part of Avalanche’s ecosystem.
Bitwise Asset Management has launched an Avalanche-focused fund and outlined its investment rationale. Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan presented the case in a recent memo. He argued that Avalanche offers differentiated exposure within the Layer 1 market.
Hougan said the firm launched its Avalanche fund on April 15 to expand its crypto lineup. He explained that Avalanche approaches blockchain design differently from Ethereum and Solana. He stated that this structural difference supports the case for broader portfolio inclusion.
AVAX ETF Thesis Centers on Differentiated Blockchain Structure
Hougan wrote that Avalanche does not operate as a single shared chain like many rivals. Instead, it allows institutions to launch customizable blockchains with tailored rules and validators. He said this structure supports regulated entities seeking controlled blockchain environments.
He stated, “Avalanche is attractive not because it dominates Layer 1, but because it approaches blockchain design differently.” He added that banks and governments may prefer infrastructure without adopting a fully public chain model. He linked this flexibility to long-term growth in tokenized assets and onchain finance.
Hougan connected the AVAX ETF thesis to expanding tokenization trends across financial markets. He said tokenized real-world assets on Avalanche have climbed sharply in recent months. He cited activity from partners including BlackRock, Apollo, Toyota, the State of Wyoming, and FIFA.
He wrote that Avalanche could capture part of the market if hundreds of trillions of dollars move onchain. He framed this opportunity as tied to institutional blockchain adoption. He maintained that the fund provides targeted exposure to that theme.
Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Avalanche Form Core Layer 1 Group
Hougan used the memo to outline Bitwise’s broader Layer 1 allocation strategy. He said the market remains early and fast-moving across competing networks. He argued that predicting a single long-term winner remains difficult.
He wrote that the most sensible approach focuses on networks with clear structural differences. He identified Ethereum, Solana, and XRP as core platforms within that group. He added that Avalanche extends that list due to its customizable model.
Hougan said Ethereum leads in smart contracts and decentralized applications. He described Solana as optimized for high-speed and low-cost transactions. He included XRP for its focus on payments infrastructure.
He explained that Avalanche offers exposure to a different segment of blockchain demand. He said its design supports private and public use cases within one ecosystem. He positioned the Avalanche fund as aligned with that framework.
TLDR
- U.S. banking groups asked the Treasury Department to extend comment periods on GENIUS Act stablecoin rule proposals.
- The associations requested at least 60 additional days after the OCC finalizes its supervisory framework.
- Bankers said the related rule proposals depend directly on the OCC’s final approach.
- The letter addressed rulemaking efforts at OFAC, FinCEN, and the FDIC.
- The GENIUS Act aims to establish a national stablecoin oversight framework before 2027.
U.S. banking groups have urged federal regulators to extend comment periods tied to stablecoin rules under the GENIUS Act. They argue that overlapping proposals require more review time before agencies finalize frameworks. The request centers on aligning rulemaking schedules across multiple banking regulators.
Banking Groups Call for More Time on GENIUS Act Rules
Several major bank trade associations submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. They asked regulators to extend three proposed rule comment periods linked to the GENIUS Act. They requested at least 60 additional days after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency completes its framework.
The American Bankers Association and the Bank Policy Institute signed the letter with other organizations. They stated that all related proposals remain “directly contingent on the OCC’s final framework.” They argued that agencies should allow coordinated review before moving forward.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is drafting standards for supervising stablecoin issuers. Bankers said the OCC’s final approach will shape related rules under development at other agencies. They stressed that agencies should not finalize separate rules without considering the OCC’s decisions.
The letter addressed rulemaking efforts at the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. It also referenced a related proposal at the FDIC. The groups said these efforts together represent a “body of regulatory work of extraordinary scope and complexity.”
Bankers explained that they plan to provide detailed feedback on each proposal. However, they said agencies must first finalize the OCC’s supervisory structure. They wrote that their comments “will necessarily be more comprehensive” with more time.
Coordinated Oversight and Ongoing Stablecoin Debate
The GENIUS Act aims to establish a national framework for stablecoin oversight before 2027. Lawmakers designed the measure to coordinate federal supervision across banking and financial regulators. Agencies have begun drafting rules to meet the law’s timeline.
Federal agencies often extend comment windows for complex rule proposals. Banking groups cited that precedent in their request. They said regulators should synchronize review periods to avoid inconsistent standards.
At the same time, the same banking organizations remain engaged in discussions over the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. That proposal seeks to define oversight roles for digital asset markets. Disagreements between banks and crypto industry participants have slowed its progress in Congress.
PUSD, a Shariah-compliant stablecoin backed by Gulf currencies, is set to deploy on ADI Chain, a Layer 2 network focused on institutional settlement in the Middle East.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the stablecoin has about $2.3 billion in circulation and is backed 1:1 by reserves held in Saudi riyals and UAE dirhams, which are pegged to the US dollar.
It is already available on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana and Tron, with ADI Chain marking its latest integration. The stablecoin is positioned to provide access to Islamic finance markets, which represent more than $3 trillion in assets globally, according to the announcement from the ADI Foundation.
ADI Chain is the settlement layer for a dirham-backed stablecoin initiated by International Holding Company and First Abu Dhabi Bank and licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE, according to the announcement.
The addition of PUSD introduces a second stablecoin to the network, allowing institutions to settle transactions using either a dollar-linked asset or a dirham-denominated token on the same infrastructure.
Transactions on the network require its native token for fees and are expected to support settlement across corridors linking the Gulf, the Middle East and parts of Africa.
PUSD is issued by Palm Azgar Finance and is designed for institutional use, including corporate treasuries, exchanges and payment processors.
Related: Here’s why crypto is moving to Dubai and Abu Dhabi
UAE builds out stablecoin framework
The United Arab Emirates has developed a multi-layered regulatory framework for digital assets, with authorities including the Central Bank of the UAE and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) establishing rules for stablecoins and virtual asset providers. Within that framework, dirham-pegged payment tokens are being explored as a way to modernize domestic payments and improve cross-border settlement.
In December, UAE telecom giant e& signed an agreement with Al Maryah Community Bank to test a dirham-pegged stablecoin licensed by the UAE central bank for consumer payments across its digital platforms in an early-stage pilot.
The following month, RAKBank received in-principle approval from the central bank to issue a dirham-backed stablecoin, with the planned token expected to be fully backed 1:1 by reserves held in regulated accounts. The approval is subject to final regulatory and operational conditions before any live issuance.
The push has also expanded to dollar-denominated tokens operating under local rules. In January, Universal Digital launched USDU, a US dollar-backed stablecoin registered by the UAE central bank under its Payment Token Services Regulation, making it the first dollar-denominated token approved for payment use within the framework.
Separately, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority has granted approvals to several crypto firms, including Tether (USDT), Ripple USD and Circle, to operate inside the ADGM’s financial zone.
TLDR
- Thailand SEC has proposed new rules to allow digital asset firms to apply for derivatives licenses within existing entities.
- The proposal removes the requirement for crypto firms to establish separate companies for derivatives operations.
- The regulator aims to expand access to crypto futures while strengthening oversight and compliance standards.
- The consultation period will remain open until May 20 for industry feedback.
- Blockchain.com launched perpetual futures trading with up to 40% leverage using Bitcoin as collateral.
Thailand’s securities regulator has opened consultation on new licensing rules for digital asset firms. The proposal allows firms to seek derivatives licenses within existing entities. The move targets broader access to crypto futures while tightening oversight standards.
Thailand Crypto Futures Framework Shifts Under Proposed SEC Rule Changes
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed rule updates for digital asset operators. The agency aims to streamline licensing and expand derivatives offerings. Officials said the plan supports market growth and regulatory clarity.
The proposal removes the need for separate entities when applying for derivatives licenses. Licensed crypto firms could apply directly within current structures. This approach could lower operational barriers for market participants.
The regulator confirmed that earlier changes recognized digital assets as valid underlying assets. Futures contracts can now reference these assets under approved frameworks. The new proposal builds on that regulatory base.
Officials also introduced safeguards to address conflicts of interest within firms. They outlined stronger compliance and reporting standards for licensed entities. These measures aim to align with international derivatives practices.
The SEC said the consultation period will run until May 20. Industry participants can submit feedback during this period. Authorities will use responses to finalize the regulatory framework.
Global Crypto Derivatives Expansion Accelerates Alongside Regulatory Moves
Crypto derivatives activity has increased across major markets in recent months. Exchanges continue to expand offerings tied to digital assets and traditional markets. This trend reflects growing demand for leveraged trading tools.
Blockchain.com recently launched perpetual futures trading within its self-custody wallet. Users can open leveraged positions using Bitcoin as collateral. The system supports over 190 markets with leverage up to 40%.
The platform relies on infrastructure provided by Hyperliquid for execution. It allows traders to maintain custody of assets during trading. This structure reduces reliance on centralized exchanges.
Other platforms have introduced similar products targeting global users. Kraken and Coinbase launched perpetual futures linked to equities earlier this year. These products target non-US clients seeking continuous trading access.
Both exchanges continue to expand multi-asset trading environments. Their offerings support round-the-clock trading across different asset classes. This approach aligns with growing global trading demand.
Regulatory discussions in the United States may influence future availability. In March, official statements suggested progress on crypto perpetual futures approvals. Authorities indicated movement could occur within a short timeframe.
Bitcoin (BTC) reached a monthly high of $79,472 on Wednesday, marking its strongest 28-day return since April 2025. The rally aligns with a shift in a market positioning metric and a surge in leverage use.
A combined view of the market positioning metric and open interest shows new positions are being added, potentially influencing BTC’s push toward new highs.
BTC positioning builds with rising leverage
Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. said that the Bitcoin positioning index has turned higher, with its 30-day average rising to 4.5 from -10.9 in February. The indicator blends net taker flow direction, open interest trends, funding and the exchange balance into a single metric.
Its steady climb since late March, from 0.4 to current levels, shows a consistent improvement without breaking the price trend.
The growth in open interest confirms the same trend. The 30-day change stands at +14.5%, with 23 of the past 30 sessions closing positive. The rising positioning alongside expanding open interest signals new capital entering derivatives markets.
Over the past 24 hours, the aggregated open interest also rose 6.7% to 260,000 BTC, while the price experienced a 10.7% drop in leverage over the weekend.
Related: Bitcoin Bull Score hits six-month high as 2022 bear-market fears linger
Key BTC levels to watch
Bitcoin has moved above a descending trendline dating back to the October 2025 peak near $126,000 and has reclaimed the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA). This indicates a strong shift in trend from bearish to neutral-to-bullish on the higher time frame.
The $81,000 level now serves as the first test area, with a small fair-value gap indicating a liquidity imbalance, where a price hold would signal that buyers are accepting higher prices.
Above that, $88,000 stands as the supply zone tied to prior distribution. The $88,000–$91,000 range stands out as a key supply zone, shaped by a prior distribution phase when large volumes of Bitcoin last changed hands.
Many of those holders are now sitting near break-even or in slight profit, which typically increases activity when the price revisits that area.
Adding to this, the realized price of the three–to-six–month holder cohort sits at $91,600, further reinforcing this zone as a major decision point.
A sustained move through this range would signal strong demand, showing that buyers are absorbing overhead supply and setting the stage for Bitcoin price to move higher.
Crypto analyst Crazzyblockk highlighted a tight range, with the $72,000–$75,000 zone acting as a floor, supported by clusters of realized prices from mid-term holders. A break below this band would push more supply into loss, increasing the risk of reactive selling.
On the upside, the $83,000–$85,000 marks a profit-taking zone for recent short-term holders. Price strength through this range would signal that buyers are absorbing the supply, allowing momentum to build.
Related: ‘Powerful move’ looms for Bitcoin price, says Bollinger Bands indicator
This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research before making any decisions. Cointelegraph makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information presented, including forward-looking statements, and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content.
At the LONGITUDE crypto conference in Paris, industry leaders gathered to map the path from regulatory clarity to practical adoption of digital assets. In a fireside chat, Blockstream CEO Adam Back—an enduring figure in Bitcoin lore—addressed renewed speculation that he might be Satoshi Nakamoto, offering a measured denial while reflecting on why the mystery still captures the imagination of the space.
Back told Cointelegraph that the Satoshi rumor is flattering in some sense, but not accurate. He pointed to his long-running presence on early cypherpunk forums as a likely fuel for the assumption that he could have penned Bitcoin. “It is flattering in some sense that they think you could have done it,” he said, noting that he was “the reply guy” when electronic cash was a hot topic on the Cryptography Mailing List in the 1990s. When the Bitcoin white paper appeared in October 2008, he said, the public’s curiosity about Satoshi’s identity became a persistent talking point in the industry.
Beyond the personal intrigue, Back described the Satoshi mystery as an “interesting question” that the community has lingered on for years, without any conclusive answer. The exchange of ideas at LONGITUDE underscored a broader shift in crypto discourse—from secrecy and novelty to questions of regulation, market structure, and the practical growth of stablecoins.
Key takeaways
- Adam Back acknowledges the Satoshi speculation but firmly denies being the Bitcoin creator, attributing much of the conjecture to his historic participation in early cypherpunk discussions.
- MiCA is widely seen as a watershed for regulatory clarity, but industry leaders warn that heavy oversight could slow innovation if not balanced with global coherence.
- Proponents of a U.S. framework, including the CLARITY Act, expect a more stable environment for crypto firms, though terms remain unsettled, and some voices urge caution about implementation details.
- Major players in payments view stablecoins as well-suited for settlement, provided regulatory clarity, while last-mile integration into local economies remains the key hurdle for widespread adoption.
- Stablecoin circulation sits around $317 billion and has surged roughly 50% year over year, signaling continued growth but also a need to solve local adoption challenges beyond cross-border use cases.
Regulatory clarity and the competition for global coherence
Onstage conversations at LONGITUDE highlighted a regulatory landscape that many in the industry view as progressively clearer, yet uneven in its global reach. Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe, participated in a discussion asserting that the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework has been “extremely beneficial for the industry.” He argued that MiCA’s framework helps build trust by treating crypto as a regulated asset class and ensuring participants “will be vetted and held up to the highest standards.”
Yet Ghoos also cautioned that the heavy regulatory overhead could dampen entrepreneurial momentum in Europe. He warned that the burden might drive startups to seek more permissive jurisdictions, potentially slowing local innovation. That sentiment echoed broader industry concerns about fragmentation in global regulatory regimes—an issue voiced by CertiK CEO Ronghui Gu, who noted that developers and crypto firms still operate under divergent compliance standards depending on their region.
Industry observers also weighed the U.S. policy horizon. The CLARITY Act—posed as a framework to bring structure to the crypto sector—was discussed as a potential catalyst for adoption beyond traditional financial channels. Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard argued that the act is “extremely important,” adding that policymakers appear eager to advance it. He predicted that once the CLARITY Act passes, non-TradFi adoption could accelerate dramatically, claiming a “100X” acceleration as classical industries begin to embrace the technology once regulatory clarity is in place.
However, not everyone shares the same level of optimism about timeline and interpretation. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis indicated that he does not expect the Senate Banking Committee to mark up the CLARITY Act in April and suggested scheduling for the following month. The evolving political process underscores a broader tension: the sector seeks rapid clarity, while lawmakers balance consumer protections, stablecoin risk, and financial-system resilience.
Ronghui Gu of CertiK framed the broader challenge as a call for a unified, global framework. Without one, developers and crypto companies must navigate a mosaic of national standards, creating friction for cross-border projects and complicating risk management and compliance in multinational deployments. The dialog at LONGITUDE thus underscored a central truth: regulatory clarity matters to players across the ecosystem, but it must be congruent across borders to unlock scalable growth.
Payments rails and the march of stablecoins: benefits, burdens, and the last mile
Another thread at the event explored how stablecoins fit into real-world payments—and the friction that remains before they reach everyday users. Mastercard’s Christian Rau, speaking on a panel with Stella Development Foundation’s Raja Chakravorti and Ethereum Foundation enterprise lead Matthew Dawson, framed stablecoins as particularly well-suited for payments when backed by regulatory clarity. He described stablecoins as having more predictable behavior than other digital assets, which helps them function effectively in settlement and commerce, while acknowledging that most real-time payment experiences still rely on traditional rails.
Rau characterized the current payments landscape as one where real-time-like experiences are possible in practice but not yet achieved end-to-end in a fully digital sense. He noted that the existing card- and bank-based systems still require steps of authorization, clearing, and settlement, which introduces latency and costs—albeit with a degree of immediacy that resembles real-time payments in many cases. The implication is that stablecoins, if properly integrated with clear regulatory guardrails, could streamline settlement in certain use cases, particularly cross-border and cross-ecosystem transactions.
On the adoption front, Chakravorti pointed to the roughly $317 billion in stablecoin circulation as of the event, up about 50% from a year prior. He observed early signs of cooling, a healthy signal that infrastructure is maturing. The larger takeaway, he said, is that the next frontier for stablecoins lies in “local stablecoins”—efforts to embed digital assets into domestic economies and legal tender ecosystems. The last mile, he emphasized, remains the principal barrier: turning digital assets into something that works smoothly within local financial systems and everyday commerce.
That last-mile bottleneck aligns with a broader assessment that widespread adoption hinges on bridging on-chain activity with off-chain financial systems. In this view, robust on- and off-ramp infrastructure, clear regulatory expectations, and interoperable standards will determine whether stablecoins transition from a mainly cross-border instrument to a pervasive domestic payments layer.
For readers watching regulatory developments, the LONGITUDE conversations offered a clear signal: clarity is not enough. The rules must be practical, globally coherent, and paired with the kind of interoperable infrastructure that makes digital assets usable in day-to-day life. The path forward will likely hinge on coordinating policy globally while continuing to build the technical and regulatory guardrails that give institutions, developers, and users confidence to participate at scale.
Overall, the event illustrated a crypto ecosystem at a crossroads: maintain the momentum of innovation while embracing a framework that both protects consumers and accelerates real-world adoption. As policymakers weigh fresh measures and industry players push for cross-border harmonization, readers should monitor how quick regulatory signals translate into tangible, usable solutions—especially in the crucial last mile that connects digital assets to everyday commerce.
Readers should watch for updates on MiCA’s rollout across Europe, the CLARITY Act’s path through U.S. channels, and how large-scale stablecoin deployments evolve in local economies. The next phase will reveal whether regulatory clarity translates into faster, broader adoption or if the pace of policy development outstrips practical deployment.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, hours after President Trump extended the ceasefire with Tehran indefinitely, while confirming the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place.
Summary
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz and fired on a third, citing maritime violations.
- Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks but kept the US naval blockade active.
- Brent crude surged past $100 per barrel following the incidents, adding pressure to global energy markets and crypto assets.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced on April 22 that it had seized two container ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, citing what it described as maritime violations, according to NBC News and CNBC. The seizures came hours after President Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran, saying he was giving Tehran’s leaders time to produce a unified peace proposal, while making clear the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would not be lifted.
Iran Strait of Hormuz Seizures Shake the Fragile Ceasefire
The two vessels, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, were escorted to Iranian waters after being intercepted by the IRGC Navy, with the Guard claiming one of the ships was linked to Israel without providing supporting evidence. A third vessel was also reportedly targeted and disabled off Iran’s coast. CNBC reported that Brent crude briefly surpassed $100 per barrel following the incidents, with international benchmark prices rising more than 1.8% as markets weighed the impact on a waterway that normally carries roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
Trump Extends the Ceasefire But Keeps the Blockade
Trump had previously vowed not to extend the ceasefire beyond its original deadline, but reversed course on April 21, announcing the extension to give Iranian leaders time to produce a unified response to US terms. NPR reported that Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran is “collapsing financially,” losing $500 million a day under the blockade, and that the US loses nothing by maintaining it. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has rejected the administration’s framing, calling the blockade “an act of war” and a violation of the ceasefire agreement in its own right. Peace talks scheduled for Islamabad have stalled, with Iran’s negotiating team declining to participate while the blockade continues.
What the Hormuz Crisis Means for Bitcoin and Crypto Markets
The Strait of Hormuz has been a direct driver of Bitcoin volatility since the conflict began in February. As crypto.news has tracked, each escalation event in the strait has triggered immediate Bitcoin selling rather than safe-haven buying, with BTC dropping below $74,000 earlier this week as peace talk prospects faded. Oil prices remaining above $100 per barrel sustains the inflation narrative that has suppressed Federal Reserve rate cut expectations, creating a prolonged headwind for risk assets including crypto. Any resolution that reopens the strait and brings oil back toward pre-war levels near $65 to $70 a barrel would, according to analysts covered by crypto.news, represent the largest positive catalyst for digital asset markets since Bitcoin’s all-time high of $126,000 in October 2025.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly fluid, with Iran’s seizure of the two vessels and the breakdown of Islamabad talks raising the risk of further escalation before any diplomatic resolution is reached.
North Korea’s Lazarus Group has launched a new macOS malware campaign called Mach-O Man that uses fake online meeting invitations to trick crypto and fintech executives into executing malicious commands on their own devices, according to blockchain security firm CertiK.
Summary
- Lazarus Group’s new Mach-O Man campaign uses fake meeting invites to lure executives into pasting malicious terminal commands on their Macs.
- The malware auto-deletes after execution, making the breach nearly impossible to detect through standard forensic methods.
- CertiK links the same Lazarus push to over $500 million stolen from DeFi platforms Drift and KelpDAO in the past two weeks.
North Korea’s Lazarus Group is running a new campaign dubbed Mach-O Man that targets executives at crypto, fintech, and other high-value firms by disguising malware delivery as a routine technical fix during a fake business meeting, according to CertiK senior blockchain security researcher Natalie Newson. The campaign was disclosed on April 22 and represents one of the group’s most operationally sophisticated social engineering methods to date.
Lazarus Group Crypto Hack Hides Behind Routine Business Communications
The attack chain begins with an urgent-looking meeting invitation sent over Telegram, impersonating a Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet call. The link leads to a convincing but fake website that tells the victim to paste a single command into their Mac terminal to resolve an apparent connection issue, a technique CertiK identifies as ClickFix. Once executed, the command installs a modular malware kit built from native Mach-O binaries tailored for Apple environments, which profiles the host, establishes persistence, and exfiltrates credentials and browser data through a Telegram-based command-and-control channel. Critically, the toolkit auto-deletes after completing its task, making detection and forensic analysis extremely difficult. “These fake verification steps guide victims through keyboard shortcuts that run a harmful command,” CertiK’s Newson told CoinDesk. “The page looks real, the instructions seem normal, and the victim initiates the action themselves, which is why traditional security controls often miss it.”
Why This Attack Is Harder to Catch Than Standard Phishing
Unlike traditional phishing attacks that rely on urgency cues or suspicious sender addresses, the Mach-O Man campaign is designed to look entirely routine at the moment of delivery. Executives in crypto and fintech routinely receive cold outreach from investors, researchers, and business partners, making the fake meeting invitation format a credible lure in a way that generalized phishing often is not. CertiK’s analysis notes that the Mach-O Man framework is tied to Lazarus’ Famous Chollima unit and distributed through compromised Telegram accounts specifically targeting high-value organizations in the digital asset space. Most victims will not realize they have been compromised until well after the malware has erased itself. “They likely don’t know it yet,” Newson said. “If they do, they probably can’t identify which variant affected them.”
The Scale of the Lazarus Threat to Crypto in 2026
CertiK has linked the Mach-O Man campaign to a broader Lazarus offensive that has siphoned more than $500 million from DeFi platforms Drift and KelpDAO in under two weeks, adding to a cumulative theft total estimated at $6.7 billion since 2017. The United Nations has previously estimated that North Korean hackers have stolen several billion dollars in digital assets to fund the country’s weapons programs. “What makes Lazarus especially dangerous right now is their activity level,” Newson said. “This isn’t random hacking. It’s a state-directed financial operation running at a scale and speed typical of institutions.” CertiK is advising crypto professionals to independently verify all meeting requests through a separate channel before clicking any link or downloading any attachment from an unsolicited invitation.
CertiK has shared indicators of compromise tied to the Mach-O Man campaign with the broader security community to support detection and defense efforts across the industry.
Key takeaways:
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US government bailout plans and currency swap lines with the UAE are easing global liquidity fears and lowering credit crisis risks.
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Record Bitcoin ETF inflows and rising BTC miner profits suggest strong bullish momentum despite the ongoing war in Iran.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization surged to an 11-week high on Wednesday as Bitcoin (BTC) climbed to $79,000 and Ether (ETH) reached $2,400. The bullish momentum occurred as investors grew more confident that immediate US recession risks were fading, despite sustained high oil prices resulting from the war in Iran.
Traders are now weighing whether Bitcoin and Ether are destined for further gains or if a short-term correction is imminent given that economic recession risks persist.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index reached a record high on Wednesday as traders awaited Tesla (TSLA US) quarterly earnings. Brent crude prices rose 9% over two days after reports indicated Iran targeted two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Elevated energy costs increase the likelihood of economic stimulus, providing a temporary buffer for risk assets.
US liquidity plans and Bitcoin ETF inflows may offset recession fears
US President Donald Trump reportedly stated during a CNBC interview that “the federal government should help” Spirit Airlines, a budget carrier that has experienced bankruptcy twice since 2025. The Trump administration previously provided capital to chipmaker Intel (INTC US), utility Southern Company (SO US) and defense contractor L3Harris (LHX US).
Direct US government intervention in private firms and the US Treasury signals that credit lines for allies have eased liquidity concerns. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted Wednesday that both the US and the United Arab Emirates would benefit from a currency swap line intended to “maintain order in the dollar funding markets.”
US allies are facing pressure to sell US bonds to raise dollars for local defense, imports and liquidity amid the collapse of oil revenue and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Potential currency swaps ease these dollar shortages, preventing a spike in US Treasury yields. The overall impact includes lower borrowing costs and a reduced risk of an immediate credit crisis.
Six consecutive days of inflows into US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), totaling $1.54 billion, have likely boosted sentiment. The successful launch of the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT US), which reached $145 million in total net assets in under three weeks, improved Bitcoin’s risk perception despite global socio-economic uncertainty.
Related: Bitcoin inflows to Binance fall to 2023 low as BTC bulls set target on $80K
Bitcoin miner profitability eases short-term sell pressure
As Bitcoin price neared $79,000, miner profitability hit its highest level since January, according to Luxor’s Hashprice Index.
Miners recently gained attention as firms sold significant Bitcoin holdings to fund investments in data centers and AI infrastructure. Examples include MARA Holdings (MARA US), Riot Platforms (RIOT US), Core Scientific (CORZ US) and Cango (CANG US). While higher profitability does not guarantee reduced selling pressure from miners, the bullish momentum creates an incentive to accumulate.
Ultimately, a short-term correlation with US stock markets continues to dictate cryptocurrency trends; therefore, the war in Iran and tech earnings remain decisive for trader sentiment.
As the US government signals that stimulus measures will be used to secure liquidity and address credit concerns, Bitcoin and Ether appear primed to sustain their upward momentum.
This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research before making any decisions. Cointelegraph makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information presented, including forward-looking statements, and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content.
OKX, Bybit, and Bitget are reportedly requiring all employees to use AI tools daily, according to a WuBlockchain report. Some exchanges now track token consumption as a performance metric.
The report marks one of the clearest signals yet that major centralized exchanges are treating AI not as optional but as core operating infrastructure.
OKX, Bybit, and Bitget Reportedly Mandate AI Tools for All Employees As CEXs Join the Fray
Based on the report, OKX purchased Anthropic’s Claude Enterprise edition for all employees. Meanwhile, Bybit, under CEO Ben Zhou’s direction, made both Claude and OpenClaw available company-wide.
At the same time, Bitget went further, requiring employees to meet minimum daily AI usage thresholds within a quarterly review cycle.
The most striking detail involves coding workflows. Allegedly, some exchanges now require over 90% of their code to be written with AI assistance.
At least one ranks individual token consumption as a key performance indicator, effectively incentivizing employees to maximize their use of large language models.
Neither, Bitget, Bybit, nor OKX immediately responded to BeInCrypto’s request for comment.
Nevertheless, the approach mirrors practices already documented at major tech firms. Companies including Meta and OpenAI run internal leaderboards for AI token usage, and generous token budgets have become a recruiting perk at some Silicon Valley employers.
Productivity Gains Driving the Push
The mandates align with measurable results these platforms have already reported.
Bybit’s AI4SE initiative improved engineering productivity by 30%, with a stated target of 50% efficiency gains across the full software development lifecycle.
Bitget separately reduced hiring timelines by 38% through AI-powered recruitment.
A recent Gate whitepaper on crypto industry employment noted that AI’s impact reached the sector faster than most expected.
Crypto.com cut 12% of its workforce in Q1 2026, while remaining staff faced rising expectations to integrate AI into daily output.
Anthropic, which builds Claude, now counts over 1,000 business customers paying more than $1 million annually for its enterprise AI services.
What This Means for the Industry
The shift reflects a broader trend across tech and fintech. JetBrains survey data from April 2026 shows 84% of professional developers now use AI coding tools daily.
However, crypto exchanges appear to be moving faster than most industries, tying AI fluency directly to performance reviews and career advancement.
At Paris Blockchain Week earlier this month, Zhou framed AI not as a consumer feature but as core operating infrastructure for financial platforms.
He described a future where finance becomes more intelligent, more accessible, and eventually invisible.
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Whether token consumption proves to be a meaningful productivity metric or simply a volume incentive remains an open question.
Critics argue the approach rewards volume over value, while supporters point to measurable drops in development time and shipping speed.
These three exchanges are betting that mandatory crypto exchange AI adoption will translate into faster product cycles and leaner engineering teams.
How quickly competitors follow may determine whether this becomes an industry standard or an outlier experiment.
The post New Report Reveals AI Arms Race at 3 Major Exchanges appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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