Crypto World
AI to Strengthen DAO Governance
Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, argues that artificial intelligence could reshape decentralized governance by addressing a core constraint: human attention. In a Sunday post on X, he warned that despite the promise of democratic models like DAOs, decision-making is hindered when members must tackle a flood of issues with limited time and expertise. Participatory rates in DAOs are often cited as low — typically between 15% and 25% — a dynamic that can concentrate influence and invite disruptive maneuvers when attackers seek to pass proposals without broad scrutiny. The broader crypto ecosystem is watching how AI tools could alter governance, privacy, and participation.
Key takeaways
- Attention limits are identified as a primary bottleneck in democratic on-chain governance, potentially hindering timely decisions in DAOs.
- Delegation, while common, risks disempowering voters and centralizing control in a small group of delegates.
- DAO participation averages around 15–25%, creating opportunities for governance attacks and misaligned proposals.
- AI-powered assistants, including large language models, could surface relevant information and automatically vote on behalf of members, provided privacy and transparency safeguards are in place.
- Privacy remains a critical design concern; proposals for private LLMs or “black box” personal agents aim to protect sensitive data while enabling informed judgments.
- Parallel efforts, such as AI delegates from the Near Foundation, illustrate practical explorations into scalable, participatory governance models.
Market context: The governance conversation unfolds amid broader discussions about AI safety, on-chain transparency, and regulatory scrutiny of token-weighted voting mechanisms. As networks scale, trials with AI-assisted decision-making could influence how quickly new proposals are vetted and executed, impacting liquidity, risk sentiment, and user participation across the crypto ecosystem.
Why it matters
The notion of AI-assisted governance enters crypto governance at a pivotal moment. If DAOs are to meaningfully scale beyond niche communities, they must solve the “attention problem” that limits who can participate and how often. Buterin’s argument centers on the danger that without broad and informed participation, governance can drift toward the preferences of a vocal minority or, worse, become vulnerable to coordinated attacks. The cited participation range, often quoted as 15–25%, underscores the fragility of consensus in diverse, globally distributed communities. When only a fraction of members engage, a coordinated actor with concentrated token holdings can steer outcomes that don’t reflect the broader base.
AI-powered assistants offer a potential path forward by translating dense policy options into actionable votes, tailored to an individual’s stated preferences. The idea rests on personal agents capable of observing user input — writing, conversations, and explicit statements — to infer voting behavior. If a user is uncertain about a specific issue, the agent would solicit input and present relevant context to inform the decision. This approach could dramatically increase effective participation without requiring each member to study every proposal in depth. The concept is anchored in current research into large language models (LLMs), which can aggregate data from diverse sources and present concise options for voter consideration.
Still, the privacy dimension looms large. Buterin has stressed that any system enabling more granular inputs must protect sensitive information. Some governance challenges arise precisely because negotiations, internal disputes, or funding deliberations often involve material that participants would prefer not to expose publicly. Proposals for privacy-preserving architectures include private LLMs that process data locally or cryptographic methods that output only the voting judgment, without revealing the underlying private inputs. The aim is to strike a balance between empowering voters and safeguarding their personal information.
Industry voices beyond Buterin echo this tension. Lane Rettig, a researcher at the Near Foundation, has highlighted parallel efforts to use AI-driven digital twins that vote on behalf of DAO members to counter low voter turnout. The Near Foundation’s exploration, described in coverage linked to AI delegation, signals a broader push to test AI-enabled delegation tools within a governance framework that remains accountable to the community. For those following the space, leadership in this domain is moving from conceptual discussions to concrete prototypes that can be observed and tested on real networks.
Another facet concerns strategic risk. The potential for “governance attacks” remains a real concern in token-weighted systems, where a malicious actor could amass enough influence to push harmful proposals. Researchers and builders are keen to ensure that any AI-assisted approach includes checks and balances, such as transparent audit trails, user override capabilities, and governance-rate limits to prevent rapid, unilateral shifts in policy. The literature and case studies cited in industry coverage emphasize that while technology can augment participation, it must not bypass the need for broad human oversight and robust protection against privacy invasions or manipulation. For context, earlier discussions in the crypto press have explored simulated transactions and other security models as ways to harden governance against abuse.
As the field evolves, partnerships and experiments in AI-assisted voting will continue to surface. The idea of “AI delegates” mirrors broader conversations about accountability and consent in automated decision-making. A number of projects have spotlighted the potential for AI to digest vast policy options, present them succinctly, and enable members to approve or customize how their tokens are used. The emerging consensus suggests that any path forward will require a layered approach: accessible information for all participants, privacy-preserving mechanisms for sensitive data, and safeguards against both technical and social vulnerabilities.
Readers can trace the thread of these ideas through related discussions on how governance models adapt to AI. For example, articles exploring the role of LLMs in decentralized decision-making and the implications for privacy and security provide a framework for evaluating new proposals as they emerge. The debate also intersects with broader AI governance conversations, including how to ensure that automated agents align with user intent without overstepping privacy boundaries or enabling unauthorized manipulation. The evolving dialogue recognizes that while AI can amplify participation, it should do so without eroding trust or undermining the democratic ethos at the heart of decentralized networks.
What to watch next
- Public pilots of AI-assisted voting or AI delegates in active DAOs, with timelines and governance metrics published in the coming quarters.
- Regulatory developments or guidelines affecting on-chain governance, including transparency and privacy standards for AI-assisted decision tools.
- Progress reports from the Near Foundation on AI delegates and related governance experiments, including measurable effects on participation rates.
- Technical demonstrations of privacy-preserving voting mechanisms, such as private LLMs or cryptographic approaches that protect input data while exposing voting outcomes.
- Ongoing analyses of governance security, including modifications to prevent governance attacks and ensure resilience against token-weighted manipulation.
Sources & verification
AI governance and the next frontier for on-chain democracy
In the Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) ecosystem, researchers and builders are weighing how artificial intelligence could address the attention problem that Buterin highlighted. In a recent meditation on governance, he argued that the effectiveness of democratic and decentralized models hinges on broad participation and timely, expert input. Current participation rates for many DAOs hover around 15–25%, a level that can concentrate power among a small circle of delegates or core members. When the electorate stays largely silent, proposals with strategic misalignment can slip through, or worse, governance attacks can overwhelm a network by capitalizing on token-weighted voting power.
To counter these dynamics, the idea of AI-powered assistants that vote on behalf of members has gained traction. He suggested that large language models could surface relevant data and distill policy options for each decision, allowing users to consent to votes or to delegate tasks to an agent that reflects their preferences. The concept hinges on personal agents that observe your writing and conversation history to infer your voting posture, then submit a stream of votes accordingly. If the agent is uncertain, the agent should prompt you directly and present all relevant context to inform your decision. The vision is not to replace human judgment but to augment it with scalable, personalized insights.
The debate closely mirrors ongoing experiments beyond Ethereum. Lane Rettig of the Near Foundation has described AI-powered digital twins that vote on behalf of DAO members as a response to low turnout, a concept the foundation has explored in public discourse and research coverage. Such prototypes aim to maintain governance legitimacy while lowering the friction barrier for participation. The discourse reflects a broader industry consensus that AI-driven governance must be transparent, auditable, and privacy-preserving to gain wide trust across diverse communities.
Privacy considerations are not merely a secondary concern; they are central to any viable governance augmentation. Buterin has stressed the possibility of a privacy-forward architecture where a user’s private data could be processed by a personal LLM without exposing inputs to others. In this scenario, the agent would output only the final judgment, keeping private documents, conversations, and deliberations confidential. The challenge is to design systems that scale participation without compromising sensitive information or opening new vectors for surveillance or exploitation. The balance between openness and privacy will likely shape the tempo and nature of AI-assisted governance experiments across networks and ecosystems.
As the field evolves, several threads warrant close attention. First, concrete pilot programs will reveal whether AI delegates can meaningfully improve turnout and decision quality without eroding accountability. Second, governance models will need robust safety rails to prevent automated voting from overriding collective will through manipulation or covert data leaks. Third, privacy-preserving technologies will be essential to sustain user trust, especially in negotiations or funding decisions that could affect project trajectories. Finally, the ecosystem will watch the practical implications for security and resilience, including the potential for new forms of governance attacks and protective measures against them.
Crypto World
Will Crypto Go Up in April? Pepeto Goes Viral as Altcoins Set Up for Breakout Season
April could be the month where the crypto market turns from panic to momentum, and the clues are piling up faster than most people notice. Bitcoin reclaimed $70,000 on April 6 after squeezing $196 million in shorts as ceasefire reports surfaced, per CoinDesk, and the Fear and Greed Index is sitting at 9, a level that has marked the bottom before every major rally in crypto history.
When BTC stabilizes and starts climbing, altcoins chase it with larger moves every time, and the question of will crypto go up in April is shifting from whether to which tokens catch the biggest wave when it happens. For anyone still asking will crypto go up in April, three projects stand out, and the first one already raised $8.82 million while everyone else is still figuring out whether to move.
The exchange covers every cryptocurrency across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana through a single verified system, getting rid of the scattered apps that overcharge and make traders pay double for every cross-chain move. Pepeto puts cross-chain swaps, token bridging, and full portfolio tools into one place.
The exchange handles every tradable coin across the full crypto market, not just memes, so every trade and every bridge fills the same pipeline and pushes organic demand into the token.
Both SolidProof and Coinsult audited every contract, the founder behind the original Pepe coin is running the project, and the staking numbers alone answer will crypto go up in April for anyone doing the math. Put $10,000 in and stake at 186% APY and that position earns you $18,600 per year, which breaks down to roughly $1,550 every single month going straight back into your bag while the exchange prepares to go live and multiply every position you locked in early.
Each presale round sells out quicker than the last and the floor price jumps the instant the current window closes, so today’s entry is the lowest price this token will ever carry.
XRP Eyes Breakout as CLARITY Act Vote Hits the Senate
Anyone asking will crypto go up in April should watch what XRP is doing right now, because the chart is about as clear as it gets. The Senate Banking Committee is targeting a late April markup of the CLARITY Act, and Senator Moreno warned that if the bill does not reach the floor by May it is dead until after midterms.
Analysts project $2.60 for XRP this cycle if CLARITY passes, giving the token a 2x from $1.30 according to CoinMarketCap. That is a decent return for XRP holders, but Pepeto at presale with $1,550 monthly staking income on $10,000 and a Binance listing ahead delivers what large caps at multi-billion valuations cannot, and Cardano completes the trio.
Cardano Builds Strength as Whales Buy 220 Million ADA in One Week
Cardano whales bought 220 million ADA worth $53 million in a single week while retail panicked, pushing large wallet holdings to 13.84 billion coins, per Santiment. Stablecoin supply on the network doubled year over year and the Midnight mainnet launched with Monument Bank already running tokenized deposits.
Analysts see $2.20 as the top end this cycle if recovery builds into Q2. For long-term holders that is a strong 8x from $0.24, and it answers will crypto go up in April with a clear yes. But the largest gains are not hiding in coins that already reflect their recovery, they are waiting in presale entries with working tools and staking that is already compounding.
The Verdict
Will crypto go up in April? Every data point says yes, and XRP and Cardano are both lined up to ride the wave with 2x to 8x gains. But $8.82 million raised, two independent audits, and 186% APY staking turning $10,000 into $1,550 per month is the kind of entry that moves with or without the broader market.
Visit the Pepeto official website and secure your entry now, because the wallets that get in at presale always become the ones everybody else regrets not following.
The names that turn into legends in crypto never come from the tokens everyone already owns, they come from the presale nobody expected, and Pepeto at $0.0000001863 is writing that story right now.
Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale
FAQs
Will crypto go up in April 2026?
Will crypto go up in April looks likely as BTC reclaimed $70,000 squeezing $196M in shorts and Fear and Greed hit 9. XRP, Cardano, and Pepeto are set for the biggest gains.
How does Pepeto staking work for early buyers?
Stake $10,000 at 186% APY to earn $18,600 per year or roughly $1,550 per month. Rewards grow daily while the exchange launch approaches.
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.
Crypto World
25th Amendment Trump Iran war: MAGA allies demand removal
The 25th amendment Trump Iran war political crisis escalated sharply on Tuesday when former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, conservative commentator Candace Owens, and media personality Alex Jones all publicly called for President Trump’s removal from office after his “a whole civilization will die tonight” Truth Social post.
Summary
- MTG posted “25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness,” becoming one of Trump’s most prominent former allies to call for his removal
- Alex Jones called Trump “an unhinged super villain from a Marvel comic movie,” while Candace Owens called him “a genocidal lunatic” and wrote “our Congress and military need to intervene”
- Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Trump was “calling for a nuclear strike” and demanded “immediate removal,” while VP Vance and the Cabinet remain fully supportive and have given no indication they would act
The 25th amendment Trump Iran war confrontation broke into open MAGA civil war on Tuesday as some of the president’s most prominent former supporters called for his removal from office. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — once described as Trump’s most loyal congressional ally before her resignation earlier this year — posted on X: “25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness.”
Greene went further in an extended post, writing: “Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness. I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit.”
According to Newsweek, which first reported the wave of removal calls, Alex Jones wrote on X: “The definition of genocide is destroying an entire civilization/people! Trump literally sounds like an unhinged super villain from a Marvel comic movie. This IS NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR!!!” Candace Owens posted: “The 25th amendment needs to be invoked. He is a genocidal lunatic. Our Congress and military need to intervene. We are beyond madness.”
Anthony Scaramucci, who served briefly as White House communications director during Trump’s first term, said on X: “It was at this point that our Founders thought the best thing to do would be to remove a mad man who has the executive office.”
How the 25th Amendment Works — and Why It Almost Certainly Will Not Happen
Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unable to discharge his duties. If the president contests the finding, the matter goes to Congress, where a two-thirds majority in both chambers is required to uphold the removal. The provision has never been invoked in US history.
In the current environment, it has no realistic path forward. VP JD Vance stated Tuesday morning that the US has “largely accomplished its military objectives” in Iran and expects the conflict to conclude “very shortly.” No Cabinet member has expressed any dissent. The calls from Greene, Jones, and Owens reflect outrage within a fractured MAGA coalition, not the Cabinet arithmetic the mechanism requires.
What This Means for the Political Landscape
The split is notable because it mirrors the broader market dynamic around this conflict. As crypto.news reported, each escalation in the Iran war has pushed Bitcoin lower, as investors reduce exposure to risk assets during periods of acute geopolitical uncertainty. The political fracturing of Trump’s base over Iran adds a new variable: domestic political instability now runs alongside geopolitical risk as a market headwind.
As crypto.news noted in earlier Iran war coverage, escalation phases have consistently produced 3 to 5% drops in major cryptocurrencies. Tonight’s 8 PM deadline introduces the possibility of either sharp relief, if a deal materializes, or another significant leg down across risk assets if large-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure begin.
“How do we 25th amendment his a–?” Jones asked his co-host live on air Tuesday. The question went unanswered. The Cabinet’s silence on the matter strongly suggests the answer, for now, is that they don’t.
Crypto World
Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF To Go Live: 5 Things Smart Money Is Watching First
Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF, trading under the ticker MSBT, is set to debut on NYSE Arca on April 8 with a 0.14% management fee, the lowest of any US spot Bitcoin fund.
The product makes Morgan Stanley the first major US bank to issue a proprietary spot Bitcoin ETF rather than distribute a third-party fund. With roughly 16,000 financial advisors overseeing $6.2 trillion in client assets, the stakes extend well beyond a single ticker.
What Smart Money Will Track on Day One
Here’s what smart money and institutional investors will be tracking from the get-go:
1. Opening volume will test whether trillions in traditional wealth are moving
The combined launch-day volume across all spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 reached roughly $4.6 billion. For a single new entrant, even $500 million to $1 billion would stand out.
Strong turnover would confirm that Morgan Stanley’s distribution network is converting interest into orders.
Weak volume would raise questions about whether investors have already committed to rivals.
2. The premium-to-NAV gap will expose real demand versus hype
New ETFs sometimes open at a premium when enthusiasm runs ahead of arbitrage.
A tight spread between MSBT’s market price and its net asset value (NAV) would signal efficient market-making and serious institutional participation.
A persistent discount, on the other hand, would suggest tepid early demand.
3. The 0.14% fee is a weapon, and competitors will need to respond
MSBT’s expense ratio sits one basis point below Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15% and 11 basis points under BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) at 0.25%.
Because spot Bitcoin ETFs offer nearly identical exposure, even small cost differences can redirect billions over time.
4. Early advisor allocation signals matter more than Bitcoin’s price move
Morgan Stanley’s advisors have previously recommended portfolio allocations of 2% to 4% in crypto for eligible clients. The firm recently appointed Amy Oldenburg as Head of Digital Asset Strategy.
The move formalized crypto as a core execution priority rather than a research exercise.
Even a conservative shift of existing allocations into MSBT could generate tens of billions in new demand.
MicroStrategy CEO Phong Le has estimated that a 2% allocation across the platform could translate into roughly $160 billion in buying pressure, dwarfing most existing funds.
“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management oversees about $8 trillion in AUM and recommends a 0–4% bitcoin allocation. A 2% allocation would represent $160 billion, ~3X the size of IBIT. $MSBT: Monster Bitcoin,” he wrote.
5. Day-one flows will hint at whether MSBT becomes a gateway or stalls
MSBT launches with a small seed of approximately $1 million. Net creation activity on the first day will offer an early read on whether advisors are actively placing client orders.
The figure also matters because MSBT is not a standalone product. Morgan Stanley is simultaneously rolling out direct crypto spot trading through E*Trade for Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana, and has filed for a Solana trust.
Jed Finn, head of wealth management, has called direct crypto trading “the tip of the iceberg,” signaling plans for custody, wallets, and tokenized assets.
The Bigger Picture
The broader US spot Bitcoin ETF market holds roughly $90 billion in assets. If MSBT captures even a fraction of the wealth flowing through Morgan Stanley’s advisory network, it could shift competitive dynamics across the sector and compress fees further.
However, some analysts caution that investors have already picked their preferred funds, with IBIT alone holding over $54 billion.
While tomorrow’s open may not settle that debate, it will offer the first concrete data on whether a bank-branded, ultra-low-cost Bitcoin ETF can pull capital away from established players or whether the market has already consolidated around its early winners.
The post Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF To Go Live: 5 Things Smart Money Is Watching First appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Iran US ceasefire deal update: Tehran exits peace talks
The Iran US ceasefire deal update news today is contradictory and fast-moving: the New York Times reported that Iran halted ceasefire negotiations entirely after Trump’s “civilization will die” post, while Iran’s own Tehran Times simultaneously insisted that “diplomatic and indirect channels of talks with the US are not closed.”
Summary
- The New York Times, citing three senior Iranian officials, reported that Iran informed Pakistani mediators it was ending ceasefire negotiations after Trump’s 8 AM ET Truth Social post on April 7
- The Wall Street Journal separately reported that Iran cut off “direct communications with the US,” while Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said mediation efforts had reached a “critical, sensitive stage”
- Iran submitted a 10-point peace proposal through Pakistani intermediaries rejecting a temporary ceasefire and calling instead for a permanent end to the war, the lifting of all sanctions, and reconstruction
The Iran US ceasefire deal update news today reflects a conflict between what different governments are saying publicly and what is happening through back channels. According to CNBC, citing the New York Times directly: “The New York Times, citing three senior Iranian officials, reported that Iran has stopped negotiation efforts with the U.S. and told Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator, that it would end ceasefire talks.” The Wall Street Journal added that Iran cut off “direct communications with the US.” But Iran’s Tehran Times posted on X that “diplomatic and indirect channels of talks with the US are not CLOSED” — and Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said the peace efforts had reached a “critical, sensitive stage.”
The immediate trigger was Trump’s Truth Social post just after 8 AM ET on April 7, in which he wrote that “a whole civilization will die tonight.” Iranian officials cited the post as incompatible with negotiation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei had already stated the day before that talks were “entirely incompatible with ultimatums, crimes and threats of war crimes.”
Before the breakdown, Iran submitted a formal 10-point proposal through Pakistani mediators. The proposal rejected any temporary 45-day ceasefire and instead demanded a permanent end to the conflict, a protocol governing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of all US sanctions, and Iranian reconstruction funding. Trump publicly acknowledged the proposal on Monday, calling it “a significant step” but “not good enough.”
Why the 45-Day Ceasefire Was a Non-Starter for Iran
Iran’s refusal to accept a temporary ceasefire is rooted in its experience during Israel’s 12-day war in June 2025, which Iran argues showed it that ceasefire agreements do not prevent future attacks. As crypto.news reported, Iran has consistently demanded that any deal include guarantees against future attacks — not just a pause — and that the Strait of Hormuz’s full reopening would happen only under a final, comprehensive agreement, not as a confidence-building measure in a preliminary phase.
What Markets Are Doing With the Conflicting Signals
The contradiction between the official walkout and the back-channel communication is exactly what has made this conflict so difficult for markets to price. As crypto.news noted, Bitcoin pulled back below $69,000 when Trump confirmed Iran’s earlier proposal was insufficient, as traders returned to bearish positioning. The pattern throughout this conflict has been the same: ceasefire signals produce brief relief rallies, and their collapse reverses those gains within hours.
With 8 PM ET rapidly approaching, the credibility of any remaining indirect channel depends almost entirely on whether Iran uses the next few hours to signal something concrete to Pakistani mediators — or whether tonight sees the military escalation Trump has threatened.
“All elements need to be agreed today,” a source aware of the proposals told Reuters early Tuesday. “The initial understanding would be structured as a memorandum of understanding finalized electronically through Pakistan, the sole communication channel in the talks.”
Crypto World
Prosecutors reject dismissal bid in Tornado Cash co-founder’s case
In a high-stakes move that sharpens the focus on developer responsibility in crypto tooling, prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have asked a federal court to reject Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm’s bid for acquittal. The filing centers on the contention that Storm’s alleged actions go beyond a civil copyright dispute and implicate conspiracies to commit money laundering and sanctions violations.
Jay Clayton, the SDNY attorney who previously led the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, argued in court papers that Storm’s use of Tornado Cash was “window dressing at best and outright misdirection at worst.” The filing criticized Storm’s attempt to frame his defense around a civil copyright case, insisting there is no evidentiary basis for equating his conduct with civil liability and that such a line of defense is irrelevant to the criminal charges at hand. The motion responded to Storm’s plan to cite a 2026 Supreme Court case, Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, as part of an argument about Storm’s intent to participate in the criminal activity prosecutors allege.
According to the SDNY, Storm’s alleged conduct bears little resemblance to the facts in the Cox case, which dealt with copyright infringement in a civil context. The government contends there is no evidence that Storm or Tornado Cash’s developers implemented any effective anti-money-laundering controls, a point Clayton stressed in the filing.
“The defendant’s conduct simply is not comparable to the conduct at issue in Cox,” Clayton said. “In any event, a civil copyright case has no relevance here in the first place.”
Last August, a jury convicted Storm of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, but the panel deadlocked on two other charges — conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate sanctions — leaving the possibility of a retrial on those counts. The case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over whether developers of open-source crypto tools can be held legally liable for how their code is used in illicit finance schemes.
Prosecutors and Storm’s defense team were slated to meet on the following Thursday to discuss the path ahead, including the possibility of a retrial date. In the meantime, the government has signaled continued pursuit of the remaining charges, while the defense has pressed for a dismissal or a narrow resolution based on civil-law considerations.
In a contemporaneous political thread surrounding the case, the conversation extended beyond the courtroom doors. Last week, reports circulated that U.S. lawmakers were advancing proposals intended to shield blockchain developers from broad prosecution, signaling a regulatory ambition to distinguish between personal risk and platform-level liability.
Key takeaways
- The SDNY explicitly rejects Roman Storm’s attempt to leverage Cox Communications as a defense, asserting the criminal nature of the alleged activity is not comparable to civil copyright disputes.
- Storm was convicted on conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, while two related charges ended in a mistrial, keeping the door open for a retrial on those counts.
- The case amplifies the ongoing debate about whether developers behind open-source crypto projects can be held criminally liable for how others use their code.
- News of a potential October retrial underscores the government’s intent to pursue the remaining charges, even as questions about evidentiary standards and defense strategy persist.
- In parallel, U.S. policymakers continue to explore protections for blockchain developers, highlighting tensions between enforcement goals and innovation incentives.
- The evolving DOJ posture, including commentary associated with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, could influence how aggressively prosecutors pursue similar cases and how they frame regulatory boundaries around crypto platforms.
Courts, cases and a shifting DOJ posture
Clayton’s filing frames the Storm case within a larger legal question: when, if ever, does enabling code cross the line into criminal participation? The defense’s tactic of invoking a civil copyright precedent appears designed to downplay Storm’s alleged role in facilitating illicit activity, but prosecutors argue that the underlying conduct extends far beyond such civil concerns. The government’s stance rests on an assertion that there was no adequate safeguard against abuse by Tornado Cash’s tools, a factor central to charges of money laundering conspiracies and sanctions violations.
The legal strategy in play here matters beyond one defendant. It tests the boundaries of developer liability for open-source projects and raises critical questions about how prosecutors evaluate intent and control in decentralized tooling. If civil analogies or civil-law defenses fail to translate to criminal contexts, the door may remain open for tougher scrutiny of developers whose code can be used for illicit ends—even when they claim no direct involvement in wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the timing of the potential retrial adds a layer of strategic calculus for both sides. The SDNY has requested October as a possible window for re-presenting the evidence on the two previously deadlocked counts, but no date has been officially set as of now. The outcome could influence how similar cases are positioned in the future and how aggressively prosecutors pursue open-source projects that enable or facilitate illicit activity, including cross-border sanctions evasion.
DOJ policy signals and the broader regulatory backdrop
The Storm case sits at the intersection of criminal enforcement and policy signaling within a changing regulatory landscape. Last week, headlines centered on how a reshuffled Justice Department might recalibrate its approach to crypto. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has previously commented on the need to end what he termed “regulation by prosecution,” laid out a vision that could affect enforcement priorities in the crypto space. While Blanche did not name Storm specifically, he argued that the department should avoid pursuing actions against platforms that criminals leverage to conduct illegal activity and called for alignment between enforcement actions and overarching policy goals. The implications for Tornado Cash and similar tooling are indirect but notable, as prosecutors weigh how to apply anti-money-laundering and sanctions laws to decentralized technologies.
Storm himself has publicly framed the stakes in stark terms. In March, after prosecutors indicated a path toward retrying the two deadlocked counts, he argued that the charges could carry substantial maximum penalties — up to 40 years in federal prison — for actions tied to writing open-source code for a protocol he says he didn’t control and transactions he didn’t touch. The rhetoric underscores the tension between a developer-centric view of code as a public good and a prosecutorial view that code can be weaponized for financial crime when used in unintended or illicit ways.
Beyond the courtroom, the case feeds into a broader policy dialogue about how to balance innovation with enforcement. Lawmakers have floated measures designed to protect blockchain developers from punitive prosecution while maintaining guardrails against illicit finance. The tension between protecting innovation and deterring abuse remains a central theme in crypto regulation discussions, a dynamic that could shape how the industry negotiates risk, compliance, and governance in the years ahead.
As the legal process unfolds, observers will be watching the interaction between civil-law arguments, criminal liability standards, and the practical realities of open-source development. The Storm case is not just about a single set of charges; it is a bellwether for how courts interpret developer intent, how anti-money-laundering controls are evaluated in decentralized systems, and how policymakers balance the dual aims of fostering innovation and safeguarding financial integrity.
Readers should keep an eye on timing updates from the SDNY as it relates to potential retrial dates and any new motions from either side. The outcome could influence not only this case but the broader approach to crypto tooling and developer accountability as enforcement bodies navigate a rapidly evolving technical landscape.
For policymakers and market participants alike, the central question remains: where should the line be drawn between legitimate open-source development and actions that trigger criminal liability in an environment built on privacy, pseudonymity, and permissionless participation?
As the courtroom drama continues, the crypto community will be watching closely to assess how the balance between innovation and enforcement is negotiated in this era of rapid technological change.
Crypto World
Stablecoin issuers get closer to U.S. federal rules with FDIC’s new proposal
The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. formally proposed its approach to stablecoin issuers as one of the federal financial regulators required to write and oversee rules under last year’s Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
The FDIC’s proposal —meant to align closely with what its sister banking agency, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, proposed in February — will be open for a 60-day public comment period on the lengthy list of 144 questions posed Tuesday by the agency.
The FDIC’s job is to police U.S. depository institutions, and under the GENIUS Act, its role is to regulate such institutions issuing stablecoins from their subsidiaries. To that end, it posed capital, liquidity and custody standards for those firms, though the details won’t be set in stone until the rule is finalized — not likely to occur until the agency spends further months reviewing input and writing the final language. This is the second GENIUS Act proposal from the banking agency after its December pitch on the issuer application process.
As expected under the law, stablecoins won’t enjoy the deposit insurance that the banks maintain on traditional banking accounts, according to the proposal.
The OCC’s earlier proposal had a section that caused some initial concern among crypto policy experts wondering how the agency would allow for rewards programs managed by third-party stablecoin relationships, such as exchanges. In the same vein, the FDIC said that issuers wouldn’t be able to represent that their tokens pay interest or yield “simply for holding or using a payment stablecoin,” according to the staff presentation, including via arrangements with third parties. But crypto insiders have grown comfortable that properly tailored rewards programs shouldn’t run afoul of the rules.
The FDIC’s Tuesday proposal also suggested the capital that issuers will need to maintain to manage the risk of the business, plus “an operational backstop, separate from the capital requirement,” based on the previous year’s operating expenses.
The agency also addressed “the applicability of pass-through insurance to deposits held as reserves backing payment stablecoins,” proposing that “tokenized deposits that satisfy the statutory definition of ‘deposit’ would be treated no differently” than other deposits.
While the regulators work to implement GENIUS, some of its details are potentially already being overhauled by the work on the Senate’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. A clash between the banking and crypto industries over yield-bearing stablecoin holdings turned into a months-long debate that lawmakers have said they’re close to resolving, though the bill hasn’t yet advanced to a needed hearing. Congress comes back from a break later this week.
The OCC, FDIC and other agencies involved in implementing the rule, including the Treasury Department and the markets regulators, have few impediments in crafting regulations the way the Republican appointees want it. President Donald Trump’s White House has broken with past practice and declined to name any Democrat appointees to the many vacancies across the agencies, so there are no Democrats to raise objections to regulatory language.
But the GENIUS Act itself had drawn significant bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress when it was passed into law.
Read More: U.S. FDIC proposes first U.S. stablecoin rule to emerge from GENIUS Act
Crypto World
US Equity Fear Gauge Tops 2008 Crisis Levels as Short Interest Hits Multi-Year Highs
Retail fear across US equity markets has reached levels not seen in over two decades. The ROBO Put/Call Ratio has jumped to 1.0 for the first time in at least 20 years.
The reading exceeds the 0.91 peak during the 2008 Financial Crisis and the 0.95 reached during the 2020 pandemic selloff. The ratio has doubled since December, marking the sharpest rise since the 2022 bear market began.
“This ratio tracks retail opening buy orders in options, with the current reading showing retail traders buying nearly equal amounts of puts and calls…Fear is becoming overdone in this market,” The Kobeissi Letter noted.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Market sentiment is also evidenced by the CNN Fear & Greed Index, which has fallen to 23, placing it at the threshold of extreme fear territory.
Bearish Positioning Reaches Rare Extremes
The surge comes amid a broad rise in short interest across all major US indexes. According to data from Global Markets Investor, the median short interest for the S&P 500 now stands at approximately 3.7%, its highest level in 11 years.
The Nasdaq 100 has reached roughly 2.7% short interest, a 6-year high. The Russell 2000 sits near 5.0%, its highest in 15 years.
The last time all three indexes showed such elevated short positioning simultaneously was during the 2010-2011 European debt crisis. That convergence is significant because it suggests bearish conviction extends beyond any single sector or market-cap segment.
“All three indexes have seen short interest rise sharply since mid-2024, accelerating further in 2026,” the post added.
BeInCrypto recently reported that hedge funds shorted global equities at the most aggressive pace in 13 years, with short sales outpacing long purchases by a ratio of 7.6 to 1.
The simultaneous alignment of extreme retail fear, a near-extreme Fear & Greed reading, and elevated institutional short positioning creates a notable asymmetry. Even a modest positive catalyst could trigger forced covering across multiple indexes, triggering a rapid, potentially disorderly rally.
The contrarian case is building, but a catalyst is needed. Sentiment alone doesn’t reverse markets. The critical question is whether current fear reflects genuine, fundamental deterioration or an overshoot driven by peak-fear psychology.
A resolution in the escalating US-Iran tensions could be the kind of macro shock that flips the narrative, but for now, with no signs of de-escalation, the market remains in a holding pattern between peak fear and potential inflection.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch leaders and journalists provide expert insights
The post US Equity Fear Gauge Tops 2008 Crisis Levels as Short Interest Hits Multi-Year Highs appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Kharg Island oil hub struck
The US Iran war latest news oil prices today tells a sharply escalating story: American forces struck more than 50 military targets on Kharg Island, the hub through which Iran exports 90% of its crude, sending oil surging more than 3% to nearly $116 per barrel within minutes of the first reports.
Summary
- The US military struck dozens of military targets on Kharg Island early Tuesday, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency was first to report explosions, and Vice President JD Vance confirmed the strikes during a press conference in Budapest
- Oil jumped over 3% to nearly $116 per barrel immediately, while Brent crude crossed $110; Vance said the strikes did not include oil infrastructure and did not represent a change in strategy ahead of Trump’s 8 PM ET deadline
- The IRGC warned it would “deprive the US and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” if Trump follows through with threatened strikes on Iran’s civilian power and water infrastructure tonight
The US Iran war latest news oil prices today sent a fresh shock through global energy markets on Tuesday as US forces struck more than 50 military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s largest oil export hub, hours before President Trump’s 8 PM ET deadline expired. Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency reported multiple explosions on the island as early as 1:30 PM local Tehran time, and oil surged immediately, with US crude jumping over 3% to nearly $116 per barrel and Brent crossing $110.
VP JD Vance confirmed the strikes during a press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest, characterizing them as “re-strikes” on previously targeted sites. “I don’t think the news about Kharg Island changes anything,” Vance said, insisting the attacks did not touch oil infrastructure and did not alter the president’s strategy ahead of the evening deadline.
Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports and carries a loading capacity of about 7 million barrels per day, making it the primary financial lifeline of Tehran’s war-era economy. Iran earns an estimated $53 billion in net oil export revenues annually, about 11% of its GDP, almost entirely flowing through the island’s pipelines and terminals.
The US has now struck the island twice since the war began February 28. The first attack in mid-March destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile bunkers, and air defense systems while preserving oil infrastructure. Tuesday’s strikes hit some of the same sites, according to a US official, again stopping short of targeting the oil terminal itself. Whether that restraint holds after 8 PM is the question driving markets.
What an Oil Infrastructure Strike Would Mean
Analysts have warned that striking Kharg’s oil terminal would have immediate and lasting consequences. “A direct hit on Iran’s export terminal would instantly shut down most of its 1.5 million barrels per day crude exports,” JPMorgan data cited by CNBC showed. “Destruction of its oil infrastructure would take years to rebuild, leaving the country deprived of its most critical source of revenue,” Vandana Hari of Vanda Insights told CNBC.
Iran has already telegraphed its response. The IRGC warned Tuesday that it would “deprive the US and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” if the civilian infrastructure strikes go forward. It also signaled that restraint toward Gulf Arab states hosting US military assets is now over, saying “all such considerations have been lifted” — a direct threat to regional energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE.
Bitcoin and Crypto Markets Under Fresh Pressure
As crypto.news reported, each round of escalation in this conflict has pushed oil higher and Bitcoin lower, with the Strait of Hormuz closure already keeping crude above $100 for weeks and compressing Federal Reserve flexibility on rate cuts. Crypto.news also noted that major cryptocurrencies have dropped 3 to 5% during prior escalation phases, as higher oil prices feed directly into inflation expectations and reduce appetite for risk assets.
Tonight’s 8 PM deadline, and what follows it, will determine the next major move for both energy and crypto markets.
Crypto World
Bitcoin Risks Final Leg Down to $54K in the Next 5 Months, Analyst Warns
Multiple Bitcoin indicators, including a bull-bear sentiment index and realized price metric, point to a possible final BTC shakeout toward $54,000
Bitcoin (BTC) is showing signs of the bear market’s late stages but could see another leg lower in the coming months, says Joao Wedson, founder and CEO of on-chain analytics platform Alphractal.
Key takeaways:
-
BTC may still see one last big drop before recovering, based on one sentiment indicator.
-
The next likely downside target is near Bitcoin’s realized price at $54,000.
BTC index hints at a drop toward $54,000
In a Tuesday post, Wedson said Bitcoin’s 720-day Tactical Bull-Bear Sentiment Index (TBBI), a long-term indicator that tracks multi-year cycles of fear and greed, had dropped into an extreme bearish zone below 20.
Historically, such readings have reflected “late-stage fear” among traders, a phase that can still produce one final shakeout before Bitcoin begins a more durable recovery.

In 2022, for instance, Bitcoin fell more than 20% after the indicator reached similarly depressed levels.
A comparable setup also appeared before Bitcoin lost around 50% in 2018, prompting Wedson to see a similar possibility in 2026.
Related: Bitcoin RSI ‘nearly perfectly’ copying end of 2022 bear market: Analysis
He warned that Bitcoin could still face “a sharp move like a –$15K shakeout” over the next six months, implying a roughly 20% decline from current levels toward the $54,000 area.
More BTC indicators converge on $50,000–$55,000
The implied target matches earlier BTC downside calls that see Bitcoin falling toward the $50,000–$55,000 area on war-led oil inflation and quantum security risks.
The $54,000 level also nearly coincides with Bitcoin’s realized price (purple) on Glassnode’s MVRV Extreme Deviation Pricing Bands, suggesting any final shakeout could send BTC toward a key on-chain cost-basis support level.

More bearish forecasts have also surfaced, with analysts such as Bloomberg Intelligence’s Mike McGlone warning that Bitcoin could eventually slide to as low as $10,000.
Still, Strategy’s aggressive Bitcoin purchases in recent weeks have helped absorb selling pressure and limit BTC’s downside, raising the possibility that the broader bearish scenario may fail to play out.
As Cointelegraph reported, Bitcoin could reverse sharply and climb back toward $100,000 or higher if the Michael Saylor firm continues its buying spree.
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.
Crypto World
Why Is the US Stock Market Down Today?
The US stock market dropped on April 7 as Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” ahead of the Iran Strait of Hormuz deadline injected fresh fear into equities.
WTI crude surged to $115.19, up 13% in a single week, as reports of Israeli strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island petrochemical infrastructure removed the remaining de-escalation hopes that had given stocks a brief lift in recent sessions.
Three forces drove selling on April 7, all tracing back to the same root cause. Oil above $115 is feeding into inflation expectations, keeping the Fed locked, and crushing consumer and growth stocks simultaneously.
1. Trump’s “Civilization” Warning Kills De-Escalation Narrative
Markets had been pricing in partial de-escalation after Iran’s earlier diplomatic exchanges through mediators. Trump’s statement, made ahead of his self-imposed Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, killed that narrative and reignited fears of direct strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.
The Hormuz closure has already disrupted roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies. Trump’s demand for immediate reopening, paired with reports of Kharg Island strikes, signals that the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase rather than winding down.
Risk assets sold off as the “war ending soon” trade unwound.
2. WTI at $115 Tightens the Oil-Inflation-Rates Chain
WTI crude at $115.19 is 13% higher in a single week. Oil at these levels functions as a direct tax on consumers and businesses, raising input costs across every sector and feeding into the inflation data the Federal Reserve is watching.
The March CPI report due Friday is expected to show the sharpest monthly increase since 2022, making rate relief even less likely.
3. Apple’s 3.35% Drop Drags the Index
Apple (AAPL) fell 3.35% after Nikkei Asia reported engineering setbacks in the foldable iPhone that could push back production timelines. Apple carries the largest weighting in the S&P 500, so a nearly 4% decline mechanically drags the index regardless of broader conditions.
What Is Happening to Major US Indexes?
At press time, all four major indexes are in the red.
- S&P 500 fell 28.89 points (−0.44%) to 6,582.94. The index dipped over 1% earlier in the session before recovering.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 244.33 points (−0.52%) to 46,425.60.
- Nasdaq Composite declined 141.40 points (−0.64%) to 21,854.90.
Russell 2000 slipped 0.85 points (−0.34%) to 251.51, confirming that small-cap weakness mirrors the broader index decline.
Market breadth is negative, with 3,365 stocks declining (60.4%) versus 1,990 advancing (35.7%).
The S&P 500 trades at 6,580 on the daily chart, grappling with two converging Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), trend indicators that give greater weight to recent price action.
The 20-day EMA sits at 6,601 and the 200-day EMA at 6,587. When the shortest and longest EMAs compress this tightly, it reflects a market that has lost directional conviction and is waiting for a catalyst to force resolution.
The intraday low of 6,534 found support near 6,518 at the 0.382 technical level. A daily close below 6,518 opens the path toward 6,441 and the previous swing low at 6,316.
On the upside, the US stock market needs a daily close above 6,643 to show recovery strength, with 6,845 as the next target above that.
Which Sectors Are Holding Up?
Energy led with a +0.54% gain as WTI stayed above $115. The sector remains the only group with a structural tailwind from the Iran conflict, as elevated oil prices directly increase producer revenue.
Utilities added +0.35% as defensive positioning continued. Risk aversion is overriding the sector’s traditional rate sensitivity, making yield-paying defensives attractive as a parking spot for nervous capital.
Communication Services gained +0.30%, supported by Google (GOOG) rising 1.21%.
Which Sectors Are Falling?
Consumer Cyclical led losses at −1.48%. Higher oil prices compress discretionary spending power by raising fuel and transportation costs. Tesla (TSLA) fell 2.94%, Home Depot (HD) dropped 2.60%, and Walmart (WMT) lost 2.66%.
Consumer Defensive also fell 1.30%, an unusual decline for a traditionally safe sector that signals selling pressure is broad enough to hit even conservative holdings. Coca-Cola (KO) lost 1.34% and Procter & Gamble (PG) dropped 0.67%.
Basic Materials declined 0.63% despite gold holding above $4,400. The decline reflects that commodity-linked equities are not fully insulated from the broader selling pressure.
Major Stock News Investors Are Watching
Broadcom (AVGO) jumped 4.92% after Anthropic signed an agreement with Google and Broadcom for multiple gigawatts of next-generation TPU capacity starting in 2027.
The deal signals that AI infrastructure demand remains strong enough to override the macro headwinds for companies directly tied to capacity buildout.
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) surged 10.08% on Medicare Advantage windfall news, making it the day’s standout gainer in the S&P 500 and providing a floor for the Healthcare sector that would have otherwise fallen further.
What Are Investors Watching Next?
Trump’s self-imposed Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz arrives within hours. If Iran signals compliance or a negotiated pathway, oil could retreat sharply, lifting equities by Wednesday’s open.
If the deadline passes without resolution and strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure begin, WTI could push higher. That scenario would further compress the oil-inflation-rates chain. It would push the 10-year yield toward new highs, and bring the S&P 500’s 6,316 swing low firmly into play.
The March CPI data arrives on Friday. A hot print would reinforce the “higher for longer” narrative, while a softer number could provide relief to growth stocks.
The combination of the Iran deadline and CPI makes this week one of the most event-dense for the US stock market.
The post Why Is the US Stock Market Down Today? appeared first on BeInCrypto.
-
NewsBeat5 days agoSteven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
-
Business5 days agoNo Jackpot Winner and $194 Million Prize Rolls Over
-
Fashion4 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Spanx – Corporette.com
-
Crypto World6 days agoGold Price Prediction: Worst Month in 17 Years fo Save Haven Rock
-
Business2 days agoThree Gulf funds agree to back Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of Warner, WSJ reports
-
Business4 days agoExpert Picks for Every Need
-
Sports3 days agoIndia men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x100m relay teams register big progress | Other Sports News
-
Business6 days agoLogin and Checkout Issues Spark Merchant Frustration
-
Crypto World7 days agoBitcoin enters the public bond market as Moody’s gives a first-of-its-kind crypto deal a rating
-
Business2 days agoNo Jackpot Winner, Prize to Climb to $231 Million
-
Crypto World7 days ago
Bitcoin stalls below key resistance as technical signals skew bearish
-
Tech5 days agoCommonwealth Fusion Systems leans on magnets for near-term revenue
-
Politics7 days agoStarmer’s centre has collapsed, and the left was right all along
-
Fashion1 day agoMassimo Dutti Offers Inspiration for Your Summer Mood Board
-
Crypto World6 days agoRipple rolls out enterprise crypto treasury platform for corporates
-
Crypto World6 days agoWhy It’s Partnering, Not Issuing
-
Crypto World7 days ago
AI Memory Rout Wipes 9% Off Nvidia Stock: Chart Says More Pain Ahead
-
Tech7 days agoSolo Leveling: Ranking All Sung Jinwoo Shadows by Power
-
Tech6 days agoDrawing Tablet Controls Laser In Real-Time
-
Sports6 days ago
Tom Pelissero Drives the Final Nail in the Coffin




You must be logged in to post a comment Login