CME Group announced its plans to launch Avalanche and Sui futures contracts in a press release on Tuesday, April 7. Pending regulatory review, the contracts will be available in both larger and micro sizes, designed to provide capital efficiency and strategic flexibility for traders.

The addition expands CME Group’s existing crypto product suite — which consists of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP futures, per its website — and follows the exchange’s broader push into digital asset derivatives. Micro contracts typically require lower margin requirements, enabling greater accessibility for retail and institutional participants.

Source: CME Group

This article was generated automatically by The Defiant’s AI news system from publicly available sources.

Charles Schwab’s latest research on digital assets argues that cryptocurrencies’ place in a portfolio hinges less on return forecasts and more on how much risk an investor is willing to take.

The report frames bitcoin BTC$68,133.59 and ether (ETH) as high-volatility assets that can quickly reshape a portfolio’s risk profile. “Any allocation to cryptocurrency is likely to increase a portfolio’s volatility,” Schwab writes, pointing to sharp historical swings in both assets. Bitcoin and ether have each suffered drawdowns of more than 70% in past cycles, far exceeding typical declines in stocks or bonds.

Because of that volatility, even small allocations can have an outsized effect. Schwab finds that just a low single-digit percentage in crypto can account for a meaningful share of total portfolio risk. In some cases, allocations as small as 1% to 3% can materially change how a portfolio behaves during market stress.

The report outlines two common approaches to adding crypto exposure. The first follows traditional portfolio theory, where allocations depend on expected returns, volatility, and correlations. But Schwab highlights a key weakness: assumptions about crypto returns vary widely among investors.

“Our research suggests that cryptocurrencies may not offer a large enough risk-adjusted return to justify a meaningful allocation if return expectations are less than 10%, even for an aggressive investor,” the report states. That makes portfolio outcomes highly sensitive to subjective forecasts. A modest change in expected returns can lead to large swings in recommended allocation.

The second method focuses on risk budgeting. Instead of guessing returns, investors decide how much total portfolio risk they want crypto to contribute. This approach shifts the conversation from performance to tolerance. Still, Schwab cautions that crypto’s volatility can exceed expectations, even within a defined risk budget.

“There is no ‘correct’ allocation to cryptocurrencies, and we believe the decision is largely a personal one,” the report notes. Factors such as investment horizon, familiarity with digital assets, and capacity for loss all play a role.

The firm also stresses that crypto remains a speculative investment. “Cryptocurrencies and crypto-related products are not suitable for everyone,” Schwab writes, citing risks including illiquidity, theft, and fraud. It can offer diversification and the potential for higher returns, but it behaves more like a high-risk satellite holding than a core allocation, the report concluded.

TLDR:

• Anthropic’s annualized revenue jumped from $9B at end-2025 to over $30B by early April 2026, a near-vertical climb.
• Enterprise clients spending $1M+ annually doubled from 500 to 1,000 in under two months following the Series G raise.
• Anthropic secured multiple gigawatts of next-gen TPU capacity through a three-way deal with Google and Broadcom for 2027.
• Claude is now the only frontier AI model available across AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, and Microsoft Azure Foundry.

Anthropic’s annualized revenue has crossed $30 billion in early April 2026, marking a dramatic acceleration from just $9 billion at the end of 2025.

The AI company has also secured a landmark compute agreement with Google and Broadcom for multiple gigawatts of next-generation TPU capacity.

Enterprise adoption of Claude has doubled in under two months. The company is now positioned as a critical infrastructure provider for some of the world’s largest corporations.

Enterprise Growth Drives Revenue Surge

Anthropic’s revenue growth has followed a nearly vertical trajectory over the past year. The company reported roughly $1 billion in annualized revenue in late 2024. That figure climbed to $9 billion by year-end 2025, then jumped to $14 billion just two months ago.

Today, the run rate stands above $30 billion before the second quarter has even begun. Earlier internal forecasts projected $18 billion for all of 2026, a target the company has already surpassed as a run rate.

When Anthropic closed its Series G round in February at a $380 billion valuation, it reported 500 business customers each spending over $1 million annually. That number has since doubled to more than 1,000 enterprise customers at the same spending threshold.

Eight of the Fortune 10 companies are currently running critical workloads on Claude. That level of penetration among the world’s most powerful corporations reflects growing institutional trust in the platform.

Compute Strategy Expands Across Platforms

Anthropic announced a new agreement with Google and Broadcom for multiple gigawatts of next-generation TPU capacity expected online starting in 2027. The company published a statement noting the deal represents its most substantial compute commitment to date.

Anthropic trains and runs Claude across AWS Trainium chips via Project Rainier, Google TPUs manufactured by Broadcom, and NVIDIA GPUs across multiple data centers.

Claude is currently the only frontier AI model available on all three of the largest cloud platforms — Amazon Web Services Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, and Microsoft Azure Foundry.

This multi-chip approach allows Anthropic to match workloads to the most suitable hardware, reducing bottlenecks and improving resilience. The strategy also protects against supply chain disruptions that have affected other AI providers.

Back in December, Broadcom’s CEO revealed that a mystery customer had placed a $10 billion custom chip order, later disclosed to be Anthropic.

That was followed almost immediately by another $11 billion order in the same quarter. Broadcom CEO Hock Tan has since projected close to $100 billion in AI chip revenue for 2027, with Anthropic cited as a primary driver.

Anthropic’s internal forecast for 2027 had called for $55 billion in annual revenue. Given the current growth rate, that projection no longer appears far-fetched.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin is holding near $69K as Iran-related geopolitical tensions keep markets cautious.
• Rising oil prices and inflation concerns are limiting upside, but strong ETF inflows and institutional support are helping BTC stay resilient.

Bitcoin is trading sideways near the $69,000 mark as investors remain cautious amid escalating geopolitical tensions tied to the conflict in Iran.

The leading cryptocurrency briefly pushed above $70,000 on Monday—its first move past that level since March—but failed to sustain momentum. 

Geopolitics dominate market sentiment

The ongoing situation in Iran continues to shape global risk appetite. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of severe consequences if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is not reached by the Tuesday 20:00 ET deadline.

Iran has rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire, instead calling for a permanent end to hostilities alongside the removal of sanctions.

For Bitcoin, this macro backdrop is significant—higher oil prices tend to support inflation, push Treasury yields higher, and reinforce expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated for longer.

Despite the current situation, Bitcoin has held up better than some traditional markets. While it has not staged a breakout, its ability to maintain levels above $65,000 suggests underlying support from positioning and institutional demand.

Meanwhile, Gold has lost more than 10% of its value as investors scale back expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.

Flows into spot Bitcoin ETFs have been a key factor. After four consecutive months of outflows, March saw $1.2 billion in net inflows. Momentum has continued into April, with spot ETFs recording $471.3 million in inflows in a single day—the largest since February.

These inflows have helped keep Bitcoin’s price, although resistance near $76,000 continues to cap upside.

For Bitcoin to break higher, a clear catalyst is likely required. A confirmed ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran could be pivotal, particularly if it drives oil prices below $100 per barrel and alleviates inflation concerns.

Technical forecast: Bitcoin eyes the $70k resistance once again

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish and efficient as Bitcoin continues to defend the $65,000 support level. 

The price has recovered from this low and is testing resistance around 69k, the 50-day EMA, and the lower band of the rising channel. 

The RSI of 61 on the 4-hour chart is above the neutral level, indicating a growing bullish bias. The MACD lines are also above the zero line, adding further confluence to the bullish narrative. 

Buyers will need to rise above $69,000 to bring $74,000 into focus, the mid-point of the rising channel and the falling trendline resistance dating back to October’s $126,000 record high. 

A surge above the $74,000 resistance level would allow BTC to test the March high of $76,000 in the near term. 

However, failure to rally higher would see the bears push the price towards the $65,000 support level once again.

Key Highlights

• XRP attracts record $119M, dominating weekly digital asset investment flows

• Ethereum suffers continued decline with $52M withdrawal amid policy concerns

• Bitcoin records $107M inflows while bearish positioning expands significantly

• Swiss markets dominate global flows as American investor appetite weakens

• Economic data triggers late-week reversal in cryptocurrency investment momentum

Cryptocurrency investment products attracted $224 million in fresh capital over the past week, representing a short-lived bounce following previous withdrawals. However, macroeconomic headwinds dampened enthusiasm as the week concluded. XRP emerged as the clear winner while Ethereum’s outflow streak extended.

XRP Commands Investment Flows with Record Weekly Performance

[[LINK_START_0]]XRP[[LINK_END_0]] captured the lion’s share of investment activity, pulling in $119.6 million during the week. This represented the digital asset’s most impressive showing since late December 2025. The momentum persisted even as broader cryptocurrency markets displayed vulnerability. Year-to-date, XRP has accumulated $159 million in net inflows.

The impressive performance followed sustained investor interest after the introduction of spot XRP exchange-traded products in American markets. These investment vehicles enhanced accessibility and facilitated continuous capital movement into the asset. Consequently, XRP now represents approximately seven percent of aggregate assets managed across cryptocurrency funds.

European financial centers played a significant role in driving XRP’s success. Switzerland emerged as the top contributor with more than $157 million in capital inflows, while Germany and Canada also participated strongly. This geographic distribution indicated evolving capital deployment strategies across international cryptocurrency markets.

Bitcoin Displays Conflicting Trends as Investor Sentiment Splits

Bitcoin attracted $107.3 million in new investments, demonstrating modest revival following earlier capital withdrawals. However, monthly performance remained in negative territory, with cumulative outflows reaching $145 million. This divergence underscored persistent indecision regarding the asset’s trajectory.

Inverse bitcoin products drew $16 million in capital, revealing heightened pessimistic positioning among certain market participants. Simultaneously, American spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds contributed minimally to overall flows. These contradictory indicators exposed a fundamental divide in investor outlook.

Meanwhile, Solana accumulated $34.9 million in inflows, extending its positive momentum throughout the current year. Its aggregate inflows now constitute roughly ten percent of total managed assets. This reliable performance reinforced broader portfolio diversification trends within digital asset investment products.

Ethereum Suffers Substantial Withdrawals Amid Legislative Uncertainty

Ethereum maintained its negative trajectory, experiencing $52.8 million in weekly capital flight. This followed an even larger $222 million exodus the preceding week. The asset’s year-to-date outflows have now reached $327 million.

Legislative ambiguity surrounding the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act continued exerting downward pressure on Ethereum-focused investment vehicles. The proposed legislation remained gridlocked in the Senate due to disputes regarding stablecoin yield components. This impasse negatively impacted sentiment toward Ethereum’s ecosystem positioning.

Ethereum’s fundamental importance to stablecoin infrastructure heightened its vulnerability to regulatory developments. This strategic exposure amplified pressure on capital movements during periods of policy ambiguity. Ethereum stood out as the poorest performer among leading cryptocurrency assets.

Broader economic conditions also shaped overall investment product activity throughout the period. Robust American retail sales figures reinforced projections of continued restrictive monetary policy. This evolution diminished risk tolerance and prompted modest withdrawals as the week closed.

Simultaneously, rising crude oil valuations and receding interest rate reduction expectations intensified market headwinds. These dynamics interrupted early-week positive momentum across digital asset investment vehicles. Ultimately, the weekly recovery proved incomplete and varied substantially across geographic regions and individual assets.

Ether treasury companies may need to use liquid staking and other active yield strategies if they want to offer investors something beyond the staking rewards already available through listed Ether products, Kean Gilbert, head of institutional relations at Lido, told Cointelegraph at ETHCC 2026.

Liquid staking lets Ether (ETH) holders stake their tokens while receiving a transferable token that can still be deployed elsewhere in decentralized finance (DeFi).

Gilbert said strategies such as posting ETH as collateral and borrowing against it could help treasury companies generate higher returns than passive staking products.

US-listed staked ETH products now include the REX-Osprey ETH + Staking ETF, launched in September 2025, Grayscale’s Ethereum Staking ETF and Ethereum Staking Mini ETF, and BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF, introduced on March 12.

Issuer disclosures show different staking economics across Ether products, making direct yield comparisons difficult. Grayscale’s ETHE page showed 2.26% net staking rewards as of April 6, while Grayscale’s ETH page showed 2.56% as of April 2. Native ETH staking was yielding about 2.72% annually, according to Staking Rewards.

Related: Bitmine paper loss nears $8.8B as Ether slump tests cyclical thesis

Still, Jimmy Xue, co-founder and chief operating officer of quantitative yield platform Axis, said Ether treasury companies do not necessarily need to beat staked Ether products on headline yield because they are different investment vehicles.

“A staked ETH ETF is a passive vehicle. A DAT trading at a meaningful mNAV premium is promising something a passive ETF structurally cannot deliver, which is active, dynamic deployment of spot inventory across opportunities as they arise.”

“The mNAV premium investors pay reflects confidence in management’s ability to put that treasury to work,” Xue said, adding that basis trading is a major yield source for treasury companies.

Public filings show liquid staking adoption

Public disclosures show several Ether treasury firms using staking or liquid-staking-related strategies, though the level of detail varies by company.

Sharplink Gaming, the second-largest corporate Ether holder, has generated 14,516 ETH (around $30.8 million) in staking rewards as of March. It derived 33% of these rewards from liquid staking and 66% from native staking, according to a March 1 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sharplink reported a $734 million net loss for 2025, largely driven by the sharp crypto market downturn in the second half of the year.

BTCS Inc., the 10th-largest Ether treasury company by returns, has also staked a part of its Ether holdings through the liquid staking protocol Rocket Pool. Out of its total 29,122 ETH holdings, the company has liquid staked 4,160 ETH ($8.8 million) through Rocket Pool nodes, according to a July 2025 SEC filing.

Cointelegraph has approached BitMine, SharpLink and The Ether Machine for comment on the role of liquid staking in their strategies.

Magazine: Sharplink exec shocked by level of BTC and ETH ETF hodling — Joseph Chalom