Crypto World
Changelly turns 11, reaches 12 million users, and expands global partner network
April 29, 2026 – Changelly, a leading instant cryptocurrency exchange and trusted blockchain API provider, is marking its 11th anniversary with a new company milestone. More than 12 million users worldwide now rely on the platform’s web and app alone for seamless digital asset swaps, purchases, and cash-outs—with API integrations driving an even greater volume of users beyond that count. After more than a decade on the market, the platform has grown to support 1,200 cryptocurrencies across 200 blockchains for instant crypto swaps.
To celebrate, the company is launching Changelly’s 11th Birthday Mystery Boxes—a limited-time in-app game available starting April 28, 2026, featuring prizes from Changelly and its partners, including Topper by Uphold, SafePal, OneKey, SecuX, and MyTonWallet.
“Congratulations to Changelly on 11 years of making crypto accessible to millions worldwide. At SecuX, we believe great security starts with great partners, and Changelly has always stood for ease, trust, and innovation. Here’s to many more years of building a more secure and open financial future together!” — Wendy Chen, Head of PR at SecuX.
1,200 coins, 1b+ assets on DeFi, 840 integrations, scaling user and business demand
Asset availability on Changelly has continued to expand. The platform now supports 1,200 cryptocurrencies, with 200 new coins added over the past year—a selection built around users’ preferences and market demand. Include Changelly DeFi, a recently launched cross-chain swap product accessible directly on the web platform and as a standalone app, and that figure grows to over 1 billion supported assets.
Meanwhile, Changelly significantly broadened its business collaborations and blockchain API reach. Its partner network has grown to 840 Web3 companies, with 240 new partnerships signed over the last 12 months. Through embedded instant exchange and fiat on/off-ramp APIs, Changelly’s infrastructure now powers a growing share of crypto purchase and swap flows across wallets, apps, and digital finance products. Additionally, Changelly expanded its blockchain API offering for crypto businesses with the launch of Changelly DeFi, which brings decentralized trading infrastructure to business partners.
“We’re proud of our long-term partnership with Changelly—a progressive team that shares our vision of making crypto simple, easy, and more accessible to people around the world. On behalf of MyTonWallet, we warmly congratulate Changelly on its 11th anniversary. This is an impressive milestone for the entire industry, and we’re excited to support this campaign together. Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation, and shared success.” — Irina Arons, CMO at MyTonWallet.
Where first-time users became long-term traders
Besides bringing in new users, Changelly has remained the preferred platform for its user base for years—and the anniversary data suggests the platform has managed to do both. Users who joined Changelly five or more years ago have returned to use the platform again and again, making thousands of crypto swaps and purchases. One customer alone completed more than 16,000 transactions across eight years—the kind of number that speaks volumes about habits, trust, and routine use.
“Reaching 12 million users is a milestone we’re proud of, but it’s the depth of engagement that tells the real story,” said John Adam Khandjian, Chief Growth Officer at Changelly. “Our longest-standing users have made millions of secure and fast crypto transactions. That’s a real relationship built over the years. It reflects what we’ve tried to build from the start: a service people can rely on regardless of what the market is doing.”
The 2 million new users added over the past year have largely followed market movements, with registration spikes consistent within weeks of significant price action. On the platform, the most-traded assets included BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and TRON, alongside altcoins like VIRTUAL, AIXBT, PENGU, GRASS, HYPE, and CC, indicating growing user interest in AI-adjacent and community-driven assets.
Security is another reason why users remain loyal to the veteran crypto platform:
“At OneKey, our mission is to make advanced security feel effortless, pairing certified hardware with an app anyone can use. Partnering with Changelly helps us share that mission and remind users that strong security doesn’t have to be scary.” — The OneKey Team.
The anniversary celebration moves in-app
Starting April 28, 2026, Changelly is bringing its 11th birthday celebration directly into the app—and users get to unwrap gifts from Changelly and ecosystem partners.
Prizes include a Crypto Terminal (Mac Mini & espressoDisplay Pro), SafePal x Changelly limited edition hardware wallets, Topper-branded exclusive hardware wallets, OneKey Classic 1S Pure BTC-only hardware wallets, OneKey Keytags, SecuX Neo wallets, MyTonWallet NFT cards, USDT prizes of up to 200 USDT, VIP status, 0% fees, and exclusive crypto guides.
“Changelly sets the bar for what a crypto partnership should look like—collaborative, high-performing, and always thinking about the user. Proud to be part of this campaign.” — Robin O’Connell, CEO Enterprise, Uphold.
How to get your birthday surprise
- Download the Changelly app or log in if you already have an account
- Navigate to the in-app stories to play the game
- Open your Mystery Box and discover your reward
- To unlock more boxes and more chances to win, complete any transaction and get one more try
The two-week anniversary campaign will run through May 11, with the final results and prize announcements scheduled for May 12. Read the Terms & Conditions and enter the game.
About Changelly
Changelly is an instant crypto exchange trusted by over 12 million users worldwide. Founded in 2015, the platform offers secure and fast crypto-to-crypto swaps for over 1,200 cryptocurrencies and 24/7 live customer support. Changelly also features a built-in smart fiat on-ramp aggregator, giving users access to 220+ competitive offers from verified providers, enabling seamless purchases of 350+ cryptocurrencies using 20+ global payment methods.
Changelly is available on desktop (website), iOS (App Store), and Android (Google Play).
Crypto World
XRP Price May Rebound 50% After ETFs Add $84M in April
XRP (XRP) price was up 1.2% over the last 24 hours to trade at $1.40 on Wednesday. Several market and technical factors suggest that the XRP/USD pair may climb further as long as key support levels hold.
Key takeaways:
- Spot XRP ETFs are set to record their strongest monthly inflows since December 2025, signaling renewed institutional demand.
- A symmetrical triangle setup sees XRP price rising roughly 53% as long as support at $1.40 holds.
Ripple CEO on XRP: “Lock in”
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is urging the XRP community to “lock in” as massive marketing campaigns take over the Las Vegas Strip ahead of the XRP Las Vegas 2026 (XRPLV26) conference.
Related: Bitcoin, stocks risk ‘months’ of losses as Kevin Warsh Becomes Fed chair
The event, which is scheduled for Thursday and Friday will focus on the expanding XRP ecosystem, next-generation applications on the XRP Ledger and community building.
On Tuesday, OKX, a major crypto exchange, posted an image of the Las Vegas Sphere lit with the XRP logo, which Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse reposted with a simple directive to his followers: “Lock in.”

Source: X/OKX/Brad Garlinghouse
Ripple has heavily promoted the event with massive “Raise the Standard” XRP billboards across the Las Vegas Strip, timed with the ongoing Bitcoin 2026 conference. This has sparked renewed hype and social media buzz around the event.
However, historical patterns show Ripple/XRP events rarely trigger sustained price rallies. For instance, XRP price gained 16% over the week following Ripple’s Swell 2025. But this was followed by a 30% drop from $2.56 to $1.81 between Nov. 11 and Nov. 21 of that year.
Therefore, without major concrete announcements emerging from the stage, any upside may quickly fade amid broader market forces.
XRP ETF demand is “still alive”
XRP spot ETFs are gaining steady momentum again, with the latest inflows showing that investor demand is not just returning but holding firm at elevated levels.
These investment products posted inflows in 11 of the last 13 days, totaling $82.42 million, according to data from SoSoValue.
XRP ETFs have already pulled in $83.9 million in net inflows in April, marking a strong rebound from March’s $31.16 million outflow.
This reversal makes April the “strongest monthly inflow since December 2025,” signaling a notable shift in momentum, analyst Xfinancebull said in a Monday post on X, adding:
“That does not guarantee instant price fireworks, but it absolutely tells me the bid for regulated $XRP exposure is still alive and building.”

Spot XRP ETF flows chart. Source: SoSoValue
Meanwhile, global XRP exchange-traded products (ETPs) posted inflows totaling $25 million during the week ending Friday. XRP ETPs have now recorded $148 million in net inflows so far in 2026, bringing the total assets under management (AUM) to roughly $2.6 billion.

Crypto funds net flows data. Source: CoinShares
This indicates a sustained institutional appetite for XRP products, adding to XRP’s tailwinds.
As Cointelegraph reported, exchange outflows, positive flows into whale addresses and strong ETF demand improve XRP’s chances of a sustained price recovery.
XRP price technicals put 50% rally in play
The XRP/USD pair has spent nearly three months inside a symmetrical triangle, defined by two converging trend lines. Its rebound from the lower trend line support on Wednesday now raises the odds of a move toward the upper boundary.
A daily candlestick close above the upper line of the triangle at $1.45 would open the way for a rally toward its measured target at $2.15, about 53% above the current price.
However, bulls must overcome resistance from the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $1.52 and the 200-day EMA at $1.75, before reaching this target.

XRP/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
Notably, XRP’s chances hinge on bulls defending support at $1.40, which is also the 200-week EMA and the 20-day EMA, making this a key level. A decisive break below it risks invalidating the bullish narrative altogether.
It may instead raise the odds of the price declining toward the $0.98 mark, aligning with the triangle’s bearish target.
As Cointelegraph reported, a break below the moving averages around $1.38-$1.40 could see XRP price drop toward $1.12 over the next few days.
Crypto World
AI Earnings Night Tests Bitcoin’s Correlation
Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta all report Q1 2026 AI earnings after the close on April 29, with crypto traders tracking whether their combined $600 billion in planned 2026 AI capital expenditure is translating into commensurate revenue and cloud growth.
Summary
- The four companies collectively plan to spend over $600 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, with the central market question being whether that spend is producing measurable revenue acceleration.
- Bitcoin has risen in correlation with tech stocks and Nvidia this year, meaning a disappointing earnings cycle could hit crypto via the same risk-off channel that equity selloffs typically trigger.
- Microsoft Azure growth above 38%, AWS above 25%, Alphabet Cloud above 48%, and Meta advertising margins above 40% are the specific thresholds analysts are watching as proof that AI monetization has arrived.
AI earnings season reaches its most concentrated single session on April 29 when Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta all report after the close, the same afternoon as Powell’s final FOMC press conference. Yahoo Finance noted that capital expenditure guidance has overtaken headline earnings as the most market-sensitive line item, with combined 2026 AI infrastructure commitments of roughly $200 billion from Amazon, $175 to $185 billion from Alphabet, $146 billion from Microsoft, and $115 to $135 billion from Meta.
AI Earnings Results Could Move Crypto Either Direction Before Asia Open
As crypto.news reported, the last time Big Tech AI capex figures landed without sufficient revenue justification, top AI tokens dropped over 20% and Bitcoin fell sharply in the same session, as investors feared that astronomical infrastructure costs would erode margins before monetization arrived. The February 2026 episode illustrated how tightly crypto has become correlated with the AI investment narrative: a miss on cloud growth or a raised capex guide without matching revenue acceleration is processed by markets as evidence that the AI return on investment timeline is longer than priced, which tightens risk sentiment across both equity and crypto simultaneously. For tonight’s reports, the specific thresholds that matter are Microsoft Azure growth above 38%, AWS above 25%, Google Cloud above 48%, and Meta advertising margins above 40%. Any of these numbers coming in materially below expectation, particularly combined with raised capex guidance, would be a negative catalyst for Bitcoin after the Asia open.
The Bitcoin-AI Correlation That Makes Tonight Matter
As crypto.news documented, the correlation between Bitcoin and Nvidia reached elevated levels during a three-month rolling window through late 2025, and data from the Nasdaq showed a materially positive aggregate relationship between tech earnings outcomes and subsequent Bitcoin price action. The mechanism is direct: when AI-related equities sell off sharply on earnings disappointments, macro and growth funds reduce exposure across risk assets simultaneously, and Bitcoin, despite its non-sovereign properties, gets caught in the liquidity contraction alongside everything else that front-ran the AI spending boom. A beat cycle in which all four companies show cloud growth meeting or exceeding consensus, with AI revenue lines contributing meaningfully to that growth, would remove the single largest overhanging risk for risk assets heading into May.
What a Beat or Miss Means for Crypto Through the Weekend
As crypto.news tracked, the core concern analysts have raised repeatedly about the Big Tech AI capex cycle is the gap between infrastructure spending and actual profit generation. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found that despite $30 to $40 billion in enterprise spending on generative AI, 95% of companies reported no measurable return as of 2025. If tonight’s reports confirm that the hyperscaler cloud platforms are beginning to monetize that spend through sustained revenue acceleration, the relief rally in tech stocks would flow through to crypto via the same correlation channel that makes bad earnings dangerous. If the prints disappoint on the metrics that matter, Bitcoin at $77,000 after a 21% April rally represents exactly the kind of elevated entry point from which post-event corrections tend to be sharpest.
Strategy reports Q1 2026 earnings on Tuesday May 5, making tonight’s Mag 7 results the first major earnings signal of the week before Bitcoin’s most watched corporate treasury holder updates its own results.
Crypto World
Meta Begins Stablecoin Payouts to Select Creators in Colombia and Philippines
Tech giant Meta has begun stablecoin payouts to select creators. This signals a cautious return after its earlier high-profile retreat from the stablecoin sector.
The feature is currently limited to a select group of creators in Colombia and the Philippines. Eligible users can receive payments in USDC through supported crypto wallets on the Solana and Polygon blockchain networks.
Meta Selects USDC for Stablecoin Payouts
To access the service, creators must link a cryptocurrency wallet to the payout system. Notably, Meta does not offer built-in conversion services to local currencies, meaning recipients will need to rely on external platforms to convert their USDC to fiat if needed.
Meta has also teamed up with Stripe to handle certain crypto-related tax reporting requirements for stablecoin payouts.
“As stablecoin payments involve digital assets, you may also receive specific crypto-related reporting directly from Stripe. We recommend keeping both your Meta payment history and your Stripe records for your tax filings,” the webpage reads.
The launch tracks earlier reports that Meta planned to re-enter stablecoins this year. The plan was always to use third-party integration rather than launch a proprietary token. Stripe was widely flagged as the leading integration partner.
Meanwhile, both networks chosen for the rollout publicly endorsed the integration. Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron told Fortune the program is expected to reach more than 160 countries by year-end.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
The Solana Foundation also welcomed the news. Head of product Catherine Gu framed Solana as a default settlement layer for internet-scale payments.
Meanwhile, the pivot also marks a clear break from Diem, the rebranded Libra project Meta scrapped in 2022. That effort collapsed after sustained pushback from lawmakers. This time, the company is plugging into existing infrastructure rather than issuing its own asset.
The post Meta Begins Stablecoin Payouts to Select Creators in Colombia and Philippines appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Global crackdown nets 276 arrests; nine crypto-scam hubs shut down
A Dubai-led international crackdown on scam rings tied to fake crypto investment platforms resulted in 276 arrests last week, authorities said. The operation, conducted with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and China’s Ministry of Public Security, culminated in 275 arrests in Dubai and one additional arrest by the Royal Thai Police. Six individuals have been charged in the United States in connection with the scam centers, with four defendants and two fugitive co-conspirators facing federal fraud and money laundering counts in San Diego. If convicted, the offenses carry substantial penalties, including potential prison terms of up to 20 years per count.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the charges reflect a concerted, cross-border effort to dismantle networks that run “scam centers” built around fake crypto investment platforms and coercive recruitment. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tysen Duva emphasized that fraud is borderless in today’s world, and so too must be law enforcement’s response in rooting out these operations. Separately, the FBI reported that Americans’ losses from crypto and artificial intelligence–related scams in 2025 surpassed $11 billion, with investment scams among the most damaging modalities.
Key takeaways
- Global operation led by Dubai police, with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security, resulting in 276 arrests; 275 in Dubai and one in Thailand.
- Six individuals charged in the United States over fake crypto investment platforms promoted by the scam centers; penalties could reach up to 20 years per count if convicted.
- Separately, European authorities shut down a vast call-center network in the Balkans, with 10 arrests tied to three centers in Tirana and Albania, aided by Europol and Eurojust.
- Europol characterized the Albanian-Balkan operation as highly organized, noting a workforce of up to 450 employees spanning customer acquisition, conversion, retention, and back-office roles.
- The crackdown aligns with a broader warning: fraud in crypto spaces remains widespread, and enforcement actions are increasingly coordinated across continents.
Dubai crackdown: dismantling the alleged scam-center ecosystem
In the Dubai phase of the operation, authorities say the six defendants operated across three companies that ran scam centers leveraging fake crypto investment platforms. Victims were drawn in through seemingly legitimate online investment offerings advertised on social media, then steered into deposits that funded the networks’ activities. FBI investigators have identified millions of dollars in losses attributed to the network, underscoring the scale of the deception.
The U.S. DOJ’s announcement made clear that the charges include fraud and money laundering tied to the operation. The case highlights how organized groups can disguise their wrongdoing behind professional-looking platforms and structured recruitment strategies, aiming to extract funds from investors well beyond national borders. The DOJ’s statement, anchored by the collaboration with international partners, signals a sustained push to disrupt financial fraud that operates on a global stage.
European action: a highly organized, multinational scam operation
In a separate development, Austrian and Albanian authorities—supported by Europol and Eurojust—arrested ten individuals in relation to three scam centers operating in Tirana and surrounding areas. Europol described the operation as a stark example of how modern scam centers operate with a “scale and professionalism” that extends beyond a single country. The organization reportedly employed up to 450 people across functions such as customer acquisition, conversion, and retention, plus dedicated back-office teams handling finance, IT, human resources, and other support roles.
Victims in the European operation were lured through online platforms that promised lucrative investments, with losses estimated at more than €50 million ($58 million) globally. The case underscores how perpetrators blend the appearance of legitimate financial opportunity with aggressive sales tactics to extract funds from a broad swath of international victims.
The Europol briefing also emphasized that the structure of these operations—comprising many departments and specialized roles—facilitated a seamless flow from marketing to onboarding and ongoing customer engagement. This level of organization is a reminder to regulators and security professionals that crypto-adjacent scams can resemble legitimate financial services in their execution, even as the underlying claims remain fraudulent.
Why these actions matter for the crypto ecosystem
From a market and ecosystem perspective, the coordinated seizures reinforce several ongoing themes. First, cross-border enforcement remains a central tool in combatting sophisticated scam networks that weaponize crypto narratives to deceive investors. Second, the profitability of clearly fake investment schemes—bolstered by glossy marketing and social-media reach—raises the stakes for consumer protection and due diligence in the crypto space. Third, the parallel European crackdown demonstrates that scam centers can scale to hundreds of staff and a continent-spanning footprint, complicating traditional notions of jurisdiction and accountability.
Industry observers note that the most damaging scams often combine persuasive online marketing with pressure-filled sales tactics. Victims are steered into platforms that promise outsized returns, then pressured into escalating investments. The results are frequently heavy losses for individuals and a reputational drag for legitimate crypto ventures that operate within regulatory boundaries. The recent actions serve as a sobering reminder for investors to scrutinize investment platforms, verify licensing where applicable, and be wary of aggressive recruitment messages that blur the line between opportunity and fraud.
For builders and exchanges, the episodes underline the ongoing importance of robust know-your-customer and anti-fraud controls, transparent product disclosures, and rapid response mechanisms to suspicious activity. Regulators are increasingly calling for stronger interoperability among agencies and clearer cooperation with international partners to locate, disrupt, and prosecute scam networks before they can monetize new rounds of fundraising.
As the regulatory and enforcement landscape continues to evolve, market participants should watch for further disclosures from the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, Europol, and national authorities about ongoing prosecutions and follow-on actions. The combined message from these actions is clear: illicit operators relying on crypto-enabled deception face growing, coordinated consequences across jurisdictions.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division; FBI; Europol
Crypto World
BeInCrypto 100 Institutional Awards Nomination: Franklin Templeton for Best Digital Asset Manager
Digital asset management is moving beyond simple Bitcoin exposure. The first wave was about giving institutions regulated access to crypto. The next phase is about building full digital asset platforms inside major asset managers.
Franklin Templeton has been building toward that shift for years. The firm is nominated for Best Digital Asset Manager at the BeInCrypto Institutional 100 Awards 2026.
Founded
Firm AUM
Digital Assets AUM
Tokenized Funds AUM
Crypto ETFs AUM
Blockchains
1947
$1.7T+
$2.1B
$1.4B
$0.7B
9+
Franklin Templeton Digital Asset Management Snapshot
The nomination centers on the launch of Franklin Crypto, a dedicated cryptocurrency division announced on April 1, 2026.
Franklin Templeton created the unit through its planned acquisition of 250 Digital, an active cryptocurrency investment management firm spun out of CoinFund. The acquisition includes the 250 Digital investment team and liquid crypto strategies previously run by CoinFund.
Franklin Crypto gives the firm a dedicated active management arm for digital assets. It moves the business beyond passive ETF exposure and tokenized money market products into professionally managed liquid crypto strategies.
Franklin Templeton said its Digital Assets business managed approximately $1.8 billion in global assets as of December 31, 2025.
Its latest Q2 2026 investor update puts digital assets AUM at $2.1 billion, including $1.4 billion in tokenized funds and $0.7 billion in crypto ETFs.
From Bitcoin ETFs to Active Crypto Management
Franklin Templeton was already part of the first US spot Bitcoin ETF cohort. It’s the Franklin Bitcoin ETF, EZBC, launched on January 11, 2024, and seeks to reflect the performance of Bitcoin before fund expenses. The ETF trades on Cboe and carries a 0.19% sponsor fee.
But the Franklin Crypto launch adds a different layer. The company is no longer only offering investors access to Bitcoin through an ETF wrapper. It is adding active liquid crypto strategies, crypto-native portfolio talent, and a dedicated internal division.
That is the more important institutional shift. Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and large allocators often need more than spot exposure. They need portfolio construction, risk management, liquidity management, and managers who can evaluate crypto markets with the same discipline used in other asset classes.
Franklin Templeton has also been building internal crypto capability since 2018. The company says its digital asset work combines tokenomics research, data science, and technical expertise. The firm has also built a team that includes blockchain-focused investment professionals, node operators, and digital asset specialists.
BENJI Becomes Core Infrastructure
The second pillar of Franklin Templeton’s nomination is BENJI.
The Franklin OnChain US Government Money Fund, or FOBXX, launched in 2021. Each share is represented by one BENJI token, and the fund’s transfer agent maintains the official share ownership record through Franklin Templeton’s blockchain-integrated Benji platform.
FOBXX was the first US-registered mutual fund to use blockchain-integrated technology to process transactions and record share ownership. Franklin Templeton’s own fund page states that FOBXX invests at least 99.5% of its assets in US government securities, cash, and repurchase agreements collateralized by US government securities or cash. The fund reported $843.74 million in total net assets as of March 31, 2026.
The platform has continued to expand across public chains. Franklin Templeton’s filings list support across networks including Stellar, Aptos, Base, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche, and Ethereum. In September 2025, BNB Chain announced that Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform had also integrated with BNB Chain.
Tokenized Funds Move Into Institutional Workflows
Franklin Templeton has also pushed BENJI into trading and lending use cases.
In September 2025, DBS, Franklin Templeton, and Ripple announced plans to launch trading and lending solutions using tokenized money market funds and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin.
The arrangement allows eligible investors to acquire Franklin Templeton’s sgBENJI token on DBS Digital Exchange using RLUSD. DBS also said it would explore enabling sgBENJI tokens to be used as collateral for credit from the bank or third-party platforms.
That makes the Franklin Templeton story broader than asset gathering. The firm is building across several layers of digital asset management: passive ETFs, tokenized funds, blockchain recordkeeping, collateral use cases, stablecoin-linked trading, and now active crypto strategies.
This is why Franklin Templeton stands out in the category. It has treated digital assets as an operating business, not a narrow product line.
The BeInCrypto Institutional 100 Awards recognize firms building the systems that could define the next phase of finance. Franklin Templeton’s nomination reflects its role in turning digital assets into a full asset management platform, spanning ETFs, tokenized securities, blockchain infrastructure, and active crypto investment strategies.
The post BeInCrypto 100 Institutional Awards Nomination: Franklin Templeton for Best Digital Asset Manager appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Bitcoin Tests STH Realized Price Resistance at $79,300: Will BTC Break Above $80,000 or Slide to $65,000?
TLDR:
- Bitcoin is trading at $75,821, recording a 3.97% weekly decline amid growing on-chain resistance pressure.
- The STH Realized Price at $79,300 reflects the average cost basis of holders active within the last 155 days.
- A sustained close above $80,000 could signal the end of Bitcoin’s corrective phase since October 2025.
- Rejection at current resistance levels may trigger a break-even flush, pushing BTC toward the $65,000 floor.
Bitcoin’s Short-Term Holder (STH) Realized Price has emerged as a decisive on-chain metric shaping the current market cycle. At press time, BTC is trading at $75,821.93, recording a 0.62% drop over 24 hours.
The seven-day decline stands at 3.97%, with a trading volume of $42.7 billion. With the STH Realized Price sitting near $79,300, Bitcoin now faces a critical test that could determine its next major directional move.
STH Realized Price Acts as a Key Resistance Wall
The STH Realized Price tracks the average cost basis of investors who purchased Bitcoin within the last 155 days. These are largely newer market participants and are typically more sensitive to price swings. When Bitcoin trades below this level, most short-term holders are sitting at a loss.
Crypto analyst Ali Charts posted on X on April 29, 2026, explaining the dynamics clearly. “When Bitcoin drops below this level, it typically enters a corrective phase,” the analyst wrote. “Short-term holders, sensitive to volatility, often feel forced to sell to avoid further losses.”
This selling behavior creates a feedback loop that adds further downward pressure on price. Each wave of panic exits reinforces the next, making recovery harder without a strong catalyst. Since October 2025, Bitcoin has largely traded below this metric, marking a prolonged corrective stretch.
That trend now puts the STH Realized Price at roughly $79,300 as a primary resistance barrier. With Bitcoin currently below that level, bulls need a strong push above $80,000 to shift the narrative. A sustained close above that zone would indicate the correction has run its course.
A Breakout Above $80,000 Could Flip the Market Structure
The mechanics of the STH Realized Price work both ways. When Bitcoin climbs above the metric, short-term holders move from loss to profit.
That shift changes their behavioral incentive from selling to holding or accumulating more. As Ali Charts noted, holders “are incentivized to hold or even add to their positions to maximize profits.”
This psychological shift is what often triggers a broader macro trend reversal. Buyers gain confidence, selling pressure eases, and momentum builds organically from the inside out. The $80,000 level, therefore, carries both technical and behavioral weight.
However, the current setup remains fragile. A rejection at the STH Realized Price could trigger what analysts describe as a break-even flush.
Short-term holders who bought near the top would exit en masse to cut losses, which then sends Bitcoin lower. That scenario points to a retest of the macro floor around $65,000, according to market data referenced in Ali Charts’ analysis.
For now, the $79,300 to $80,000 range represents the battlefield. Bulls need volume and conviction to clear it. A confirmed close above that band would be the first structural signal that the market has flipped back in favor of a sustained upward trend.
Crypto World
Sodot Joins MoonPay to Strengthen Institutional Crypto Key Management Infrastructure
TLDR:
- Sodot’s acquisition by MoonPay marks a major step toward scalable institutional crypto key management infrastructure.
- MoonPay Institutional will use Sodot’s technology stack as its core key management foundation for financial firms.
- Sodot was built on a zero-compromise approach to security, reliability, and performance for institutional crypto needs.
- The deal validates the growing demand for dedicated crypto key management as institutional adoption accelerates globally.
Sodot, a crypto key management infrastructure company, has announced its acquisition by MoonPay. The deal brings two firms together under a shared goal of serving institutional clients.
Sodot’s technology will form the key management foundation of MoonPay Institutional, a new unit targeting financial institutions, asset managers, trading firms, and exchanges.
Both companies cite aligned values and a mutual drive to build foundational digital asset infrastructure at greater scale.
Sodot Built for a Changing Crypto Landscape
Sodot was founded three years ago to address a growing gap in crypto infrastructure. The team recognized early that institutional adoption was shifting from a talking point to a pressing reality.
Financial institutions, global asset managers, and regulated fintechs needed infrastructure that met strict operational and security standards. Sodot was designed to meet exactly those requirements from the start.
The company’s founding principle was straightforward: zero compromises on security, reliability, and performance.
Over time, that principle shaped a broader belief that crypto deserves its own dedicated key management company.
The team understood that protecting keys in crypto carries immediate and serious consequences when handled incorrectly. That awareness drove every product and infrastructure decision the company made.
Modern custody has grown more complex, requiring operations across multiple exchanges, liquidity venues, and vendors. Hundreds of keys and credentials are now used continuously by automated systems in institutional settings.
Managing that at scale is one of the defining infrastructure challenges in digital assets today. Sodot positioned itself to solve that challenge directly.
The company’s growth reflected the broader market shift toward institutional participation. Customers trusted Sodot with a sensitive and critical part of their business operations.
That trust, according to the team, remains the company’s biggest source of motivation. It also became a key factor in the decision to seek a larger stage.
MoonPay Acquisition Opens a Larger Platform for Sodot’s Technology
The acquisition gives Sodot access to greater scale and a wider market reach. MoonPay’s platform serves a large and growing base of users across global markets.
Adding Sodot’s key management infrastructure strengthens MoonPay’s ability to serve institutional clients. The combination positions both companies to capture demand from a rapidly evolving sector.
MoonPay Institutional will rely on Sodot’s technology stack as its core infrastructure layer. The new business unit is specifically designed for financial institutions, trading firms, and exchanges.
This integration is a clear signal of where institutional crypto markets are heading. It also validates the direction Sodot chose when the company was founded three years ago.
As digital assets become more integrated into traditional finance, key management becomes more critical than ever. Automated and autonomous money movement requires secure, reliable infrastructure at the foundation.
Sodot’s technology addresses that need directly within MoonPay’s expanding ecosystem. Together, the two companies aim to set a new standard for institutional digital asset infrastructure.
The Sodot team acknowledged their investors, employees, and customers in the announcement. Each group played a role in making the acquisition possible.
The company’s commitment to customers remains unchanged going forward. If anything, the team noted, the bar for performance and reliability will only rise.
Crypto World
International Crackdown Shutters Nine Crypto Scam Centers, 276 Arrested
A Dubai police-led international crackdown on scam rings last week resulted in the arrest of 276 individuals and the shutdown of at least nine crypto scam centers, the US Department of Justice revealed on Wednesday.
In a joint operation with the FBI and China’s Ministry of Public Security, Dubai authorities arrested 275 people, with an additional person arrested by the Royal Thai Police.
Six people have been charged in connection with the scam centers. Four of the defendants and two fugitive co-conspirators were charged with federal fraud and money laundering in federal court in San Diego, according to the DOJ. If convicted, each offense carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and hefty fines.
“The charges and arrests announced today reflect an international consensus that scam centers are unwelcome everywhere and must be rooted out…. In contemporary society, fraud is borderless, and law enforcement activity to combat it and eliminate it is as well,” said US Assistant Attorney General Andrew Tysen Duva.
The FBI reported earlier this month that Americans’ losses from crypto and artificial intelligence-related scams in 2025 exceeded $11 billion, with investment scams flagged as the most damaging.

Source: US Department of Justice Criminal Division
Scammers used fake crypto investment platforms to deceive victims
All six defendants are accused of working for three different companies operating the scam centers, promoting fake crypto investment platforms and deceiving victims into making deposits.
FBI investigators have identified millions of dollars in losses caused by the criminal network.
“Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s determination to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global scam centers defrauding Americans no matter where they set up shop,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office.
European police shut down scam network with 450 employees
Meanwhile, in a separate police action involving Austrian and Albanian authorities, with support from Europol and Eurojust, ten people were arrested in connection with three scam centers in Tirana and Albania, Europol said on Wednesday.

Inside one of the shuttered scam centers. Source: Europol
Victims were drawn in by “seemingly legitimate online investment platforms,” advertised on social media and the promise of profitable investments, according to Europol.
Once registered, they were assigned a fake broker who pressured them into making investments. Losses from the scheme are estimated at more than 50 million euros ($58 million) and affected people worldwide.
Related: OFAC sanctions Cambodian politician linked to pig butchering scam centers
“The scale and professionalism of the criminal network were evident in its structure, which involved up to 450 employees across various departments, including customer acquisition, handled by conversion agents, and customer service, managed by retention agents,” Europol said.
“Additionally, the network had dedicated teams for management, finance, IT, human resources and various back-office activities.”
Magazine: AI-driven hacks could kill DeFi — unless projects act now
Crypto World
Traders eye Fed and Middle East as risk appetite cools ahead rate decision
Traders are cutting risk ahead of the Fed’s April decision as Middle East tensions, a blocked Strait of Hormuz and fragile crypto sentiment keep markets on edge.
Summary
- Pepperstone’s Michael Brown says traders are cutting risk before the Federal Reserve’s April decision.
- Geopolitical tensions and a blocked Strait of Hormuz add to caution across global markets.
- Derivatives data show markets largely positioned for the Fed to hold rates steady into year-end.
Traders are trimming exposure to risk assets ahead of the Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision, with Pepperstone analyst Michael Brown warning that many participants “will want to cut back on their positions” before the announcement at 2 a.m. Beijing time on April 30.
Fed decision looms as traders de‑risk
According to a recent Pepperstone FOMC preview, money markets are pricing virtually no chance of a policy move, with the federal funds rate expected to stay in a 3.50%–3.75% range and only around 12 basis points of easing priced by year‑end, implying roughly an even probability of just one 25‑basis‑point cut in 2026.
In crypto markets, earlier this month traders have already been fading aggressive Fed‑cut bets for 2026 as U.S. unemployment fell to 4.3%, tempering the liquidity story for assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Middle East conflict and Hormuz blockage fuel risk aversion
Brown underscored that the backdrop is not just about the Fed, flagging that “there is still no good news regarding the Middle East conflict” and that the Strait of Hormuz “remains blocked,” a combination that keeps traders wary of fresh shocks to oil and broader risk sentiment.
Pepperstone recently noted that “the Strait of Hormuz remains impassable” and that much of the market’s recent relief has been built more on “hope” than on “expectation,” even as Brent and WTI crude briefly dipped back below $100 per barrel.
Those tensions have already rippled into digital assets, with the crypto fear and greed index dropping from 12 to 10 in February as Iran’s naval drills and brief closures of the strait raised energy‑cost risks for Bitcoin miners and other energy‑intensive players, according to a crypto.news report.
Earlier in April, the crypto market added roughly 4.3% to push total capitalization above $2.6 trillion after signs that Iran might soften its stance in talks over the war and shipping restrictions, while Bitcoin rallied toward $74,800 on the day and around $430 million in short positions were liquidated, data cited by another crypto.news story showed.
Those gains remain fragile as ceasefire negotiations stall and Iran turns the Strait of Hormuz into a $1‑per‑barrel bitcoin tollbooth during limited truces, a move that keeps energy and macro uncertainty elevated for traders across equities, bonds and crypto.
In a previous crypto.news story, rising oil above $100 per barrel and threats to Iranian energy infrastructure were already pressuring risk assets by reviving fears that the Fed would have to stay restrictive for longer, a dynamic that now frames Brown’s warning that position‑cutting into this week’s decision may be the path of least resistance for cautious traders.
Crypto World
Bitcoin Exchange Inflow Hits 30-Day High as Whales Move Coins Amid $78K Resistance
TLDR:
- Bitcoin recorded its largest single-day exchange net inflow in 30 days, reaching 9,905 BTC on April 27, 2026.
- The Exchange Whale Ratio hit 0.707, with the top 10 transactions accounting for over 70% of all exchange deposits.
- Exchange reserves rose from 2.666M BTC to 2.677M BTC between April 25 and April 28, signaling supply buildup.
- Bitcoin spot ETFs posted $89.68M in net outflows on April 28, with BlackRock’s IBIT leading at $112 million.
Bitcoin exchange inflow data from April 27, 2026, has drawn attention from on-chain analysts tracking large holder behavior.
A single-day net inflow of +9,905 BTC — the largest in 30 days — emerged as Bitcoin struggled near the $78K resistance zone.
Rising exchange reserves and whale activity have fueled growing concern about a potential price correction toward the $74K–$75K support range in the near term.
Whale Activity Drives Exchange Inflow Surge
The Exchange Whale Ratio reached 0.707 on April 27, marking its highest level in over a week. This reading means the top 10 largest inflow transactions made up more than 70% of all deposits that day. Such concentration points to large holders actively moving coins onto exchanges.
CryptoQuant analyst Woo Minkyu noted the pattern in a published report, stating that smart money appears to be preparing to sell into any price strength.
This behavior is consistent with distribution phases seen in previous Bitcoin market cycles. The inflow spike did not accompany a breakout, which makes the move more telling.
When whales deposit coins to exchanges without a corresponding price rally, it often reflects intent to sell rather than trade.
Bitcoin has spent several weeks consolidating below the $78K–$79K zone without a decisive move higher. The prolonged consolidation, combined with rising inflows, adds weight to the bearish short-term outlook.
Minkyu summarized the concern plainly: “Unless this inflow is quickly absorbed, a retest of the $74K–$75K support zone is increasingly likely in the near term.” The market now watches whether buyers can absorb this growing supply overhang at current price levels.
Rising Exchange Reserves Add to Selling Pressure Outlook
Exchange reserves climbed steadily from 2.666M BTC on April 25 to 2.677M BTC on April 28. A consistent build-up in reserves is historically linked to increased selling activity ahead. This trend, running alongside the inflow spike, reinforces the cautious outlook.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a total net outflow of $89.68 million on April 28, according to SoSoValue data.
BlackRock’s IBIT led those outflows at $112 million for the session. Institutional selling through ETF channels added another layer of pressure on Bitcoin’s price structure.
Ethereum spot ETFs also saw a net outflow of $21.80 million on the same date. BlackRock’s ETHA contributed $13.17 million of that total. The outflows across both assets suggest a broader risk-off posture among institutional participants.
Taken together, the on-chain data and ETF flow figures paint a cautious picture for Bitcoin in the short term. Whether the $74K–$75K support zone gets tested depends largely on how quickly the market absorbs the recent supply increase.
-
Tech2 days agoRegister Renaming | Hackaday
-
Fashion5 days agoWeekend Open Thread – Corporette.com
-
Crypto World4 days agoHyperliquid $HYPE Rally Builds Momentum as AI Sector Enters Prove-It Phase
-
Business6 days agoPatterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
-
Sports4 days agoIPL 2026: Ruturaj Gaikwad registers slowest fifty of the season, enters all-time unwanted list | Cricket News
-
Politics2 days agoDrax board avoid their own AGM, accused of greenwashing & environmental racism
-
NewsBeat4 days agoLK Bennett closes all stores after entering administration
-
Crypto World6 days agoMichael Saylor says BTC winter is over. Market analyst disagrees, says bitcoin was in a pullback
-
Fashion1 day agoKylie Jenner’s KHY Enters a New Era with ‘Born in LA’
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler's “Miami Vice” movie will bring the action back to the '80s
-
Entertainment4 days agoMariah Carey Slams Deposition Claims In Brother’s Lawsuit
-
Tech2 days agoImages of Samsung’s rumored smart glasses have leaked
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Russell Brand Had Sex With 16 Year Old When He Was 30
-
Business1 day agoMost Commercial Energy Audits Miss the Real Losses
-
Crypto World6 days agoIs Algorand One of the Few Quantum-Resistant Blockchains? Here’s What the Data Shows
-
NewsBeat6 days agoTrump threatens to review UK’s claim to Falkland Islands and punish Nato allies over Iran war disagreement
-
Sports7 days ago2026 NFL Draft tonight: Time, TV channel, where to watch, order
-
Sports7 days agoBayern Munich on the brink of historic ‘double treble’
-
Business6 days agoJeanine Pirro announces closure of Federal Reserve building cost probe
-
Business3 days ago(VIDEO) Charlize Theron Climbs Times Square Billboard to Promote New Netflix Thriller ‘Apex’


You must be logged in to post a comment Login