Former CFTC chair J. Christopher “CryptoDad” Giancarlo has quit his senior role at Willkie to focus full‑time on crypto, AI and policy work, including a new book on digital money under Trump’s second term.

Former Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman J. Christopher Giancarlo has stepped down as senior counsel and digital‑assets lead at New York law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher to focus on cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and public‑policy work, he confirmed on LinkedIn and in remarks reported by Crypto in America and Phemex.

Giancarlo, who joined Willkie in 2020 and helped build its “Digital Works” crypto practice, said he is pivoting toward “strategic advisory services to founders and boards in the fintech and digital asset sectors,” as well as nonprofit projects such as the Digital Dollar Project.creators.spotify+3

In an April post, Giancarlo told followers “after six rewarding years helping Willkie build one of the world’s leading digital asset legal practices, it is time for my next chapter,” adding that he will focus on “fintech, #digitalassets, #crypto and AI — and on making sure freedom and human agency are baked into the new architecture of banking, finance and money itself.” The former regulator, nicknamed “Crypto Dad” for his industry‑friendly stance at the CFTC, also teased an upcoming book titled “CryptoDad’s New Adventures: The Path to Financial Freedom in the 21st Century,” due for publication in October and billed as a narrative of the crypto industry from the 2024 election into President Donald Trump’s second term.

Giancarlo chaired the CFTC from 2017 to 2019, overseeing the launch of the first regulated bitcoin futures and arguing that U.S. regulators should adopt a “do no harm” approach to blockchain innovation, a phrase he repeated in speeches and later in his first book “CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money.” At Willkie, he co‑chaired the firm’s Digital Works practice out of New York, advising banks, exchanges and fintech firms on crypto regulation and co‑authoring memos on topics ranging from stablecoin rules to the emerging U.S. crypto regulatory framework.

According to the ABA Banking Journal and other legal trade publications, Giancarlo has also become one of the most visible public advocates for a U.S. central bank digital currency through his work at the Digital Dollar Project, arguing that a well‑designed digital dollar could “promote U.S. values of privacy, free enterprise and the rule of law” in a world where China and others are racing ahead with state‑backed e‑money. Finews Asia previously reported that Trump allies had floated Giancarlo as a potential “crypto czar,” noting his push for clear stablecoin rules, safe harbors for token projects and a more unified federal approach to digital‑asset oversight.

His latest career move comes as Washington debates the CLARITY Act, GENIUS stablecoin legislation and bank‑backed tokenization pilots, with regulators from the Federal Reserve to the SEC and CFTC defining how dollar‑pegged tokens, DeFi and tokenized treasuries fit inside the existing system. By stepping away from big law to concentrate on investing, policy research and a new book aimed at retail readers, Giancarlo is betting there is room — and demand — for a former top derivatives regulator to help architect that future from the outside, as both adviser and storyteller.

Crypto exchange Kraken is facing an extortion attempt by a criminal group that threatens to release videos purportedly showing access to internal systems containing client data, the company said Monday.

The Wyoming-based firm said it identified and shut down two instances of inappropriate access tied to individuals within its support team, each involving limited client data.

“Our systems were never breached; funds were never at risk; we will not pay these criminals; we will not ever negotiate with bad actors,” said Nick Percoco, chief security and information officer of Payward and Kraken, in a post on X.

The first incident came in February 2025, when Kraken received a tip about a video circulating on a criminal forum. An internal investigation identified the individual involved, revoked their access and led to additional security controls. A limited number of affected clients were notified.

More recently, Kraken received another tip and a similar video. The company said it again identified the individual responsible, terminated their access and notified affected users.

Security incidents remain a persistent issue in crypto because the industry combines high-value, easily transferable assets with technical and human vulnerabilities. Digital assets can be moved instantly across borders and are often irreversible once lost, making them attractive targets for malicious actors. At the same time, weaknesses in smart contracts, private key management and exchange infrastructure can create exploitable entry points, while phishing and social engineering schemes continue to target users directly.

Recent crypto exploits have shown increasing sophistication, with attackers combining smart contract vulnerabilities, social engineering and rapid fund movement to maximize impact.

In cases like the Drift exploit, adversaries appear to have used a deep understanding of protocol mechanics and liquidity conditions to manipulate systems in ways that are difficult to detect in real time, underscoring how complex and fast-moving decentralized finance (DeFi) environments can create opportunities for advanced attacks.

Kraken is a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange operated by Payward Inc., offering spot and derivatives trading, as well as custody and staking services for digital assets. Founded in 2011, the platform serves retail and institutional clients globally, providing access to cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin BTC$71,818.74 and ether (ETH), as well as fiat on- and off-ramps. The company is also known for its focus on security and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Across both incidents, approximately 2,000 client accounts were potentially viewed, according to the company. Kraken has millions of customers, and the security events affected only 0.02% of their client base, a person with knowledge of the matter told CoinDesk.

Kraken said it began receiving extortion demands shortly after the latest access was cut off, with the group threatening to distribute materials from both incidents to media outlets and on social media. The company said it will not comply.

The exchange added that it has been working with industry partners and law enforcement to investigate what it describes as broader insider recruitment efforts targeting crypto, gaming and telecommunications firms. It said it believes there is sufficient evidence to identify and arrest those responsible.

“The security of our clients is our highest priority, and we remain fully committed to combating the growing global threat of insider recruitment and constantly enhancing our security practices to combat new threats,” Percoco added.

Galaxy Digital (GLXY), the digital asset financial services firm founded by Mike Novogratz, said it also recently contained a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to an isolated development workspace. No client funds or account data were accessed or at risk.

Read more: Galaxy Digital’s testnet suffers hack but no client funds or information were compromised

• Scale of testing: Researchers tested 428 routers – 28 paid (sourced from Taobao, Xianyu, Shopify) and 400 free from public communities – using decoy AWS Canary credentials and encrypted crypto private keys.
• Confirmed malicious activity: 9 routers injected malicious code, 17 accessed AWS credentials, and 1 free router drained ETH from a researcher-owned wallet.
• Evasion sophistication: 2 routers deployed adaptive evasion, including waiting 50 API calls before activating and specifically targeting YOLO-mode autonomous sessions.
• Attack mechanism: Routers operate as application-layer proxies with plaintext JSON access – no encryption standard governs what they can read or modify in transit.
• Poisoning reach: Leaked OpenAI keys processed 2.1 billion tokens, exposing 99 credentials across 440 Codex sessions and 401 autonomous YOLO-mode sessions.
• Recommended defenses: Researchers urge client-side fault-closure gates, response anomaly filtering, append-only audit logging, and cryptographic signing for verifiable LLM responses.

Key Highlights

• ALMU stock soars 46% following announcement of $4M federal contract awards
• Share price reaches $15.75 amid quantum photonics funding announcement
• Government support accelerates AI semiconductor and photonics initiatives
• Federal funding exceeding $4M drives quantum technology commercialization plans
• ALMU experiences major breakout as federal partnerships strengthen tech roadmap

Shares of Aeluma, Inc. (ALMU) experienced a significant rally following the announcement of new federal contract awards focused on quantum and photonics innovation. The stock climbed to $15.75, representing a 46.29% gain in a single trading session. This sharp movement came after the company revealed it had secured over $4 million in non-dilutive federal funding to advance semiconductor scaling technologies.

Aeluma, Inc., ALMU

Federal Contracts Propel Stock Performance

The dramatic rise in Aeluma’s share price followed the company’s announcement of significant government contract wins supporting its commercialization strategy. These federal awards specifically target scalable semiconductor technology for quantum applications and high-speed data transmission platforms. The news boosted investor confidence in the company’s positioning within cutting-edge technology sectors.

These contract awards emphasize expanding wafer manufacturing and advanced fabrication capabilities through established industry partnerships. The company maintains ongoing collaborations with Tower Semiconductor and Sumitomo Chemical Advanced Technology. These strategic alliances are designed to enhance manufacturing capacity and create robust supply chain frameworks.

Aeluma positions these achievements to address growing demand in AI infrastructure, defense applications, and next-generation communications networks. The non-dilutive funding structure protects existing shareholders from equity dilution while enabling near-term operational objectives. Consequently, the company bolsters its operational foundation while pursuing strategic long-term expansion.

Advancing Quantum Dot Laser and Photonic Technologies

The company continues developing its quantum dot laser capabilities to meet the needs of emerging data center and telecommunications infrastructure. These advanced lasers deliver superior power efficiency, enhanced durability, and minimized signal degradation. Such characteristics prove critical for quantum computing architectures and AI-powered interconnect frameworks.

Aeluma employs metalorganic chemical vapor deposition techniques to facilitate mass production of quantum dot components. This manufacturing approach enables high-throughput fabrication while ensuring consistent performance specifications across diverse use cases. The company incorporates these laser systems into sophisticated multi-channel photonic arrays designed for advanced computational platforms.

The firm also progresses its aluminum gallium arsenide nonlinear photonics platform tailored for quantum technology deployments. This specialized material enables superior photon creation and control for communications and detection systems. Accordingly, the platform delivers enhanced capabilities versus conventional materials currently employed in photonic implementations.

Market Position in AI and Quantum Sectors

Aeluma solidifies its competitive standing by combining compound semiconductor advantages with conventional silicon fabrication methodologies. The organization previously validated successful material integration on CMOS-compatible 200mm silicon substrates. This technical achievement enables scalable manufacturing across both 200mm and 300mm production environments.

This integration capability ensures compatibility with silicon nitride waveguide technologies utilized in quantum photonic systems. Such an approach facilitates straightforward implementation within current semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure. Aeluma minimizes commercial deployment obstacles across high-growth market segments.

The newly awarded contracts fund specific demonstration projects and scaling operations at its California headquarters and partner manufacturing sites. These initiatives target accelerated preparation for volume manufacturing and commercial market penetration. Ultimately, Aeluma reinforces its leadership position in quantum technology, artificial intelligence, and high-performance communication solutions.

The monero price prediction carries serious weight this cycle because XMR hit a new all time high of $798 in January and now trades 57% below that peak, leaving every trader asking whether this bounce means real recovery or another trap waiting to snap shut. Privacy demand keeps growing even as exchanges delist the token one by one.

While the XMR forecast plays out over months, Pepeto is the network that attracted more than $8.9 million with a confirmed Binance listing, working exchange tools already live, and a presale price that disappears permanently the moment trading begins and early holders start building wealth.

Monero Price Prediction Gains Attention as THORChain Integration and FCMP++ Upgrade Approach

Monero is set to launch on THORChain’s mainnet within two months, enabling private cross chain swaps without centralized exchanges according to CoinMarketCap.

The network also activated its FCMP+ upgrade expanding privacy coverage to the entire chain, and Coinpedia reported that XMR’s price structure shows a Wyckoff base building pattern with a breakout setup forming above key support.

When a privacy coin adds decentralized liquidity and quantum resistant upgrades at the same time, the monero price prediction shifts from hope to pure timing.

XMR at $339 and Pepeto at $8.9M: The Presale Where Timing Is Already Decided

Pepeto: The Network With Verified Tools and a Listing That Locks the Return

When ranking every presale drawing capital this cycle, Pepeto wins before the math even starts, because every other early token asks for blind trust in something that does not exist yet. Pepeto already runs a full network where every tool is live and your capital stays protected from the first second you enter.

PepetoSwap runs trades across tokens at zero cost, so returns stay whole instead of getting sliced apart by fees on every single position. The risk scorer reviews every contract before you buy, so tokens designed to empty wallets get flagged instantly and your money stays exactly where it belongs.

A developer from Binance directs the build, and SolidProof checked every contract with results locked on chain for anyone to verify. More than $8.9 million came in during extreme fear, proving that the wallets that always end up on the winning side of every cycle did their research and moved while everyone else sat paralyzed watching prices fall. Staking pays 185% APY, growing positions daily that gain real, compounding value once the Binance listing sets the opening price and the market discovers what these holders already own.

At $0.000000186 per token, analysts project 100x to 300x once trading starts. The 420 trillion supply matching the original Pepe coin sets a starting point that even the best monero price prediction cannot come close to touching from a $6 billion cap. The Binance listing marks a cutoff that ends this entry for good, and once that door closes there is no walking back through it.

Every day closer to that date is one less day you can get in at a price the open market will never offer again. Pepeto is the only play this cycle where the return comes from one listing and the tools already run today.

Monero Price Prediction: Levels, Targets, and What the Breakout Means

XMR trades near $339 with a $6.2 billion cap, sitting 57% below its January 2026 all time high of $798 per CoinMarketCap.

Changelly projects the monero price prediction for April between $310 and $365, with an average near $338. The $380 to $400 supply zone is the key resistance, and a clean break above it would confirm a shift from months of tight range into a fresh move higher.

The THORChain integration brings back the trading access that exchanges took away, and the bull case targets $555 by year end per Cryptopolitan. Even that aggressive target delivers roughly 63% from current levels, strong for a privacy token but months away from a $6 billion base.

Conclusion

XMR holds the privacy story and a THORChain integration that restores the liquidity exchanges stripped away, but 63% over months from a $6 billion cap is a trade, not a wealth event. Wealth events happen when you find the one entry that no one else has priced in yet and you commit before the listing forces the entire market to pay what you already hold. Pepeto is that entry.

The creator of the $11 billion Pepe token built a working exchange. SolidProof signed off on every line of code. A former Binance developer runs the build. And $8.9 million came in from wallets that recognize this setup because they have seen presale to listing events mint millionaires before and they are positioning to be on the right side again.

Entering through the Pepeto official website at this price is how a single decision made today turns into the financial turning point you look back on for the rest of your life. The monero price prediction asks for months of patience and gives you 63%.

The Binance listing asks for one entry and gives you a shot at returns that rewrite your entire financial future. The presale closes, the price vanishes, and the only people who win are the ones already inside.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

How does the THORChain integration affect the monero price prediction?

Decentralized swaps restore liquidity lost to delistings, and the monero price prediction improves, but Pepeto at presale pricing with a confirmed listing delivers returns XMR needs months to match.

Is XMR a strong buy at 57% below its all time high?

XMR targets $380 to $555 with strong privacy demand, but the gain takes months while a move from the Pepeto official website captures that return in one listing event.

Can a presale outperform the XMR forecast this cycle?

Pepeto with a developer from Binance, more than $8.9 million attracted, and a confirmed listing is how presale positions deliver the returns privacy token forecasts take years to reach.

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Key Highlights

• ALPHA3 trial demonstrated 58.3% MRD negativity in cema-cel patients compared to just 16.7% in the observation group
• Zero instances of cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity reported among treated participants
• Baird analysts upgraded their price target from $7.00 to $9.00 while maintaining Outperform status
• Probability of success for the therapy program increased to 70% according to Baird’s assessment
• Shares climbed to $3.87 from $2.91, marking approximately 99% gains year-to-date

Shares of Allogene Therapeutics experienced a dramatic rally exceeding 41% on April 13, 2026, following the disclosure of encouraging interim results from the company’s crucial Phase 2 ALPHA3 clinical study examining cemacabtagene ansegedleucel (cema-cel) in patients diagnosed with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma.

Allogene Therapeutics, Inc., ALLO

The released information originated from an interim futility analysis conducted on the trial. Within the initial cohort of 24 randomized participants, 58.3% receiving cema-cel treatment successfully achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. By contrast, the observation group saw merely 16.7% achieve this benchmark — representing a substantial 41.6 percentage point advantage.

Researchers are utilizing Natera’s investigational CLARITY MRD assay to detect high-risk patients prior to observable clinical relapse. The study positions cema-cel as a first-line consolidation treatment option, which would represent an earlier intervention point than most existing CAR T therapeutic strategies.

Remarkable Safety Results Generate Buzz

The trial’s safety outcomes proved equally compelling as the effectiveness data. Remarkably, no treated participants developed cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome — two complications frequently linked with CAR T cellular therapies.

Additionally, zero treatment-related serious adverse events were documented. Such a clean safety profile stands out significantly within this therapeutic category, prompting Baird analysts to highlight it as a key distinguishing characteristic when evaluating cema-cel against second-line autologous CAR T alternatives.

The therapy’s potential for outpatient administration, coupled with these favorable safety metrics, contributes to what could be a distinctive competitive position. Current CAR T treatments typically mandate inpatient care and are associated with more substantial toxicity concerns.

Following the data announcement, Baird elevated its ALLO price objective from $7.00 to $9.00 while retaining its Outperform recommendation. The investment firm also boosted its probability of success projection for this therapeutic program to 70%.

“The limited dataset size of 12 treated patients should generate enthusiasm,” Baird wrote, acknowledging the early-stage nature of the readout while flagging the initial results as a positive signal for the commercial profile in the first-line setting.

Looking Forward

The ALPHA3 clinical study is recruiting approximately 220 participants across more than 60 clinical sites. Efficacy endpoints continue to remain blinded currently, and the available dataset remains relatively limited. These preliminary figures will require validation as additional trial data matures.

Scheduled interim event-free survival analyses are anticipated in 2027, with complete primary results projected for 2028. Favorable outcomes from these assessments could potentially support a future biologics license application submission.

Additional Wall Street analysts are monitoring developments closely. Jefferies recently launched coverage on ALLO with a Buy recommendation and a $6.00 price objective, while Citizens maintained its Market Outperform stance with a $5.00 target price.

ALLO shares reached $3.87 on April 13, advancing from the previous session’s close of $2.91. The equity has gained approximately 99% year-to-date and is currently trading near its 52-week peak. InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is presently valued above its calculated fair value, though the biotechnology company maintains a balance sheet with cash holdings exceeding debt obligations.

Key Takeaways

• UBS maintained its Buy recommendation with a $475 price objective for Broadcom (AVGO) following an extended Google collaboration lasting until 2031
• The expanded agreement includes next-generation TPU systems and networking infrastructure, granting Anthropic access to approximately 3.5GW of TPU compute capacity starting 2027
• TPU order projections tied to Anthropic have climbed to roughly $50 billion from approximately $40 billion spanning 2026–2027
• UBS increased Broadcom’s fiscal 2027 AI revenue projection to $145 billion from a previous $133 billion estimate
• Wall Street responses varied — Seaport Global shifted AVGO to Neutral while Mizuho and BofA Securities retained bullish stances

Broadcom (AVGO) has secured a comprehensive multi-year arrangement with Google extending into 2031, capturing significant attention from financial analysts. This expanded partnership encompasses upcoming TPU technology iterations alongside networking infrastructure and rack-level systems — representing a substantial deepening of an already critical client relationship.

Broadcom Inc., AVGO

The arrangement also integrates Anthropic into the equation. Beginning in 2027, the artificial intelligence firm is positioned to receive approximately 3.5GW worth of TPU-powered computational resources, contingent upon sustained commercial expansion. This substantial commitment rapidly influenced analyst financial modeling.

UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri maintained his Buy position with a $475 price objective following the announcement. He characterized the developments as “incremental to the near-term TPU risk debate,” while anticipating investor attention will pivot toward ASIC diversification beyond TPU technology as MediaTek accelerates manufacturing.

The updated UBS projections carry significant weight. Anthropic-connected TPU orders for Broadcom now approach $50 billion, representing an increase from the approximately $40 billion estimated across calendar years 2026 and 2027 under previous assumptions.

UBS currently projects Broadcom will deliver approximately 7 million TPU units during calendar year 2027, elevated from an earlier 6 million unit forecast. This single adjustment underscores the magnitude of the partnership.

Top-Line Projections Move Higher

Regarding overall revenue expectations, UBS elevated its FY2027 projection to $195 billion from $182 billion. Its calendar 2027 estimate advanced to $212 billion from $195 billion.

AI-specific revenue for fiscal 2027 now stands at $145 billion compared with the prior $133 billion estimate. This projection already exceeds Broadcom’s internal guidance considerably.

Broadcom has achieved a 77% gross profit margin alongside 25% revenue expansion over the trailing twelve months, per InvestingPro analytics. The company’s market capitalization currently stands at $1.76 trillion.

Billionaire investor Ken Fisher maintains a $4.79 billion position in AVGO, positioning it as his eighth-largest AI equity holding. Fisher’s investment rationale emphasizes Broadcom’s capability to develop customized, application-specific chips that general-purpose GPUs cannot effectively duplicate.

Wall Street Opinion Diverges

Not all analysts share the optimistic view. Seaport Global Securities lowered AVGO from Buy to Neutral, citing broader AI sector limitations despite Broadcom’s strong competitive positioning.

Mizuho maintained its Outperform designation with a $480 price objective. BofA Securities similarly preserved its Buy rating, establishing a $450 target. Both institutions cited the Google and Anthropic arrangements as primary drivers supporting their constructive outlooks.

D.A. Davidson retained a Neutral stance with a $375 price target, while emphasizing the strategic importance of Broadcom’s extended Google partnership for customized AI silicon.

On the product development front, Broadcom recently introduced Arcot Smart Ruleset this month — a machine learning-powered fraud prevention platform designed to enhance 3-D Secure payment verification by automating fraud detection logic that historically required manual configuration.

The TPU partnership with Google, guaranteeing supply continuity for networking and rack-level infrastructure through 2031, remains the primary catalyst behind revised analyst financial models.

The European Central Bank (ECB) set out a cautious path toward tokenizing Europe’s capital markets, saying the technology can deliver efficiency gains only if it remains anchored to central bank money, infrastructures remain interoperable, and regulation is “robust and supportive.” 

In its latest Macroprudential Bulletin published on Monday, the ECB said distributed ledger technology (DLT) could help deepen the European Union’s savings and investments union, but warned that benefits will depend on interoperable infrastructure and policymakers keeping pace with new risks. 

The central bank’s stance highlights a push to modernize market plumbing in the bloc without loosening control over settlement or financial stability.

The ECB said that tokenization and DLT are “moving from concept to early-scale deployment,” but the benefits will “only be realised safely if European policy action keeps pace.”

ECB maps conditions for tokenized capital markets

One article in the Bulletin lays out how tokenized assets could rewire the issuance-to-settlement chain, cutting operational frictions and potentially improving secondary market liquidity. By moving securities and cash onto compatible ledgers and automating corporate actions, the authors argue, tokenization could streamline processes that today rely on multiple intermediaries and legacy systems. 

The analysis underlines, however, that efficiency gains hinge on avoiding a patchwork of incompatible platforms and ensuring that central bank money, not just commercial bank money or privately issued tokens, can be used for settlement in tokenized markets.

Related: EU central bank backs plan for crypto supervision under EU markets watchdog

A further piece drills into the nascent market for tokenized bonds, finding early evidence that they can already lower borrowing costs and tighten bid-ask spreads compared with traditional formats. 

The authors attribute this partly to operational efficiencies and partly to improved transparency and programmability around settlement and collateral management. Still, they frame these benefits as tentative and conditional, cautioning that technology, legal and liquidity risks remain and that policymakers will need to monitor whether advantages persist once tokenization scales beyond flagship deals and highly selected issuers.

Tokenized MMFs and euro stablecoins under the microscope

The Bulletin also takes a hard look at tokenized money market funds and euro-denominated stablecoins, treating them as parallel experiments in onchain cash-like instruments.

One article stresses that tokenized money market funds (MMFs) largely replicate familiar liquidity and run risks but layer on new operational vulnerabilities, raising questions about how they would behave under stress alongside stablecoins.

Another argues that Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) compliant euro stablecoins could reshape demand for sovereign bonds and act either as a liquidity buffer in turbulent markets or a new channel of bank contagion, depending on how issuers meet deposit and reserve requirements. 

Across the five pieces in the Bulletin, the ECB’s stance is clear: Tokenization can support its vision of an integrated capital market, but only if policy, prudential rules and central bank infrastructure evolve in lockstep.

Cointelegraph reached out to the ECB for comment, but had not received a response by publication.

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