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BitMEX Report Finds 500%+ Increase in Tokenised Commodities and Equity Perpetuals

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BitMEX has released its Q1 2026 derivatives report, highlighting a sharp rise in trading activity for traditional finance perpetual swaps (TradFi Perps), driven by increased demand for tokenised commodities and equities.

According to the report, TradFi perpetual swaps grew from 0.03% of total crypto derivatives volume in December 2025 to 1.72% by the end of Q1 2026, reaching $30.7 billion in weekly trading volume. This expansion was supported by new product launches across prominent exchanges and macroeconomic events, including increased volatility in commodities markets.

“Q1 marked a clear inflection point for TradFi perpetuals, with volume growth driven by real market demand for 24/7 access to commodities and equities,” said Stephan Lutz, CEO at BitMEX. “What we’re seeing is the early formation of a structurally different market, one that removes the constraints of traditional trading hours and introduces new forms of price discovery and liquidity.”

BitMEX has introduced a range of TradFi perpetual products as part of this shift, expanding its derivatives offering to provide continuous access to commodities and equity markets.

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The report identifies commodities as the primary growth driver, with trading volume increasing more than 65,000% during the quarter. Precious metals such as silver and gold led early momentum, while crude oil trading accelerated in March amid geopolitical tensions, reaching $6.9 billion in weekly volume.

Equity perpetuals also saw significant growth, rising more than 900% to $4.9 billion in weekly volume. Activity was concentrated in crypto-adjacent equities and major technology stocks, reflecting continued convergence between digital asset markets and traditional finance instruments.

The report further notes structural differences between perpetual swaps and traditional Contracts for Difference (CFD), particularly in areas such as transparent price discovery, peer-to-peer execution, and continuous market access.

Unlike CFD-based models offered by some platforms, these products enable direct market participation, with pricing determined by underlying market dynamics rather than broker-led mechanisms. These characteristics have contributed to increased participation from both retail and professional traders.

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Market expansion was also shaped by exchange-level developments. BitMEX recorded more than 1,300% growth over the 90-day period while Binance captured a significant share of new volume following its entry into the category.

In addition, funding rate disparities across exchanges created arbitrage opportunities. The report highlights cases where traders could capture yield through cross-exchange positioning, with some spreads exceeding 100% annualised returns under specific conditions.

Looking ahead, BitMEX expects continued growth in TradFi perpetual markets, supported by broader asset listings across Forex, commodities, and more, increasing institutional awareness, and ongoing demand for 24/7 trading access. The report suggests that weekly trading volumes could approach $100 billion as additional asset classes enter the market.

The full report can be found on BitMEX’s blog.

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About BitMEX

BitMEX is the OG crypto derivatives exchange, providing professional crypto traders with a platform that caters to their needs with low latency, deep crypto native and especially BTC liquidity, and unmatched reliability.

Since its founding, no cryptocurrency has been lost through intrusion or hacking, allowing BitMEX users to trade with confidence that their funds are secure and that they have access to the products and tools required to be profitable.

The post BitMEX Report Finds 500%+ Increase in Tokenised Commodities and Equity Perpetuals appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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2 Conditions That Could Force BlackRock to Cut IBIT Fees After MSBT’s Undercut

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Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) launched on April 8 with a 0.14% expense ratio, making it the cheapest US spot Bitcoin ETF and undercutting BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) by 11 basis points.

Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, however, does not expect BlackRock to respond with a fee reduction. His reasoning centers on IBIT’s liquidity advantage and dominant market position.

This ETF Expert Thinks Otherwise

MSBT pulled in approximately $30.6 million in net inflows on its first day and processed more than 1.6 million shares.

Bitcoin ETF Flows on April 8
Bitcoin ETF Flows on April 8. Source: Farside Investors

Balchunas placed the debut among the top 1% of all ETF launches. He has also projected $5 billion in AUM for MSBT within its first year.

Still, he made clear that IBIT’s position remains secure for now. IBIT holds roughly $55 billion in assets, making it by far the most liquid spot BTC ETF.

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“Prob won’t see any cut from $IBIT. When you are King of the Hill with tons of liquidity, you have pricing power,” wrote Balchunas.

That liquidity moat gives IBIT tighter trading spreads and deeper options market activity, two factors that institutional traders weigh heavily when choosing a fund.

Fellow Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart echoed that view, noting it is unlikely MSBT will compete with IBIT on liquidity anytime soon.

Where the Pressure Falls

Balchunas warned that MSBT’s aggressive pricing could still trigger fee cuts elsewhere. Smaller issuers with less scale may be forced to lower their expense ratios to retain market share.

Because all spot BTC ETFs hold the same underlying asset, fees become one of the few differentiators. MSBT now sits one basis point below Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15% and well below Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) at 0.25%.

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Morgan Stanley also brings a structural advantage most competitors lack. The bank’s wealth management arm employs roughly 16,000 financial advisors overseeing $9.3 trillion in client assets.

Those advisors can now recommend an in-house product rather than directing clients to third-party funds.

Balchunas identified only two scenarios that could force BlackRock to reconsider its pricing.

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  • The first would be sustained outflows from IBIT toward cheaper rivals.
  • The second would be an entry from Vanguard at approximately 0.10%, though he assigned that outcome a 0.01% probability.

The US spot BTC ETF market has grown past $100 billion in cumulative assets since launching in January 2024.

Bitcoin ETF Cumulative Assets
Bitcoin ETF Cumulative Assets. Source: MacroMicro

However, 2026 started slowly, with four consecutive months of net outflows between November 2025 and February 2026.

March reversed that trend with $1.32 billion in inflows. Whether MSBT can sustain its opening momentum and capture a meaningful share of new flows will likely determine how seriously competing issuers treat its pricing signal.

The post 2 Conditions That Could Force BlackRock to Cut IBIT Fees After MSBT’s Undercut appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Binance Wallet Integrates Prediction Markets via YZi Labs-Backed Predictfun

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Binance Wallet Integrates Prediction Markets via YZi Labs-Backed Predictfun

Binance Wallet has integrated predict.fun prediction markets and is sponsoring all gas fees for users on BNB Smart Chain.

Binance Wallet has integrated BNB Smart Chain-based predictfun as its official prediction market provider. Predictfun is backed by YZi Labs, formerly Binance Labs, the centralized exchange’s venture capital arm.

The integration allows Binance Wallet users to access prediction market functionality directly within the wallet interface without bearing transaction costs on the BNB network.

The move comes amid broader regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets in the U.S., including recent CFTC action seeking to enjoin Arizona from enforcing criminal and civil penalties against prediction market operators. Predictfun operates as a decentralized prediction market platform, and the Binance Wallet integration represents a major distribution channel for the protocol.

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Sources: Binance Wallet

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

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Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF MSBT Sees $30.6M in Inflows on First Day

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the-defiant

MSBT saw a strong first day of trading on Wednesday, but the broader U.S. Bitcoin ETF sector was in the red yesterday.

Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETF, MSBT, kicked off trading as expected on Wednesday, April 8, on NYSE Arca. The fund saw a relatively strong debut, with $30.6 million in net inflows yesterday, per Farside data.

Morgan Stanley’s fund page shows that the fund held 444.4 BTC valued at $31,654,653.90 as of April 8. Meanwhile, CoinDesk reported the fund generated $34 million in day-one trading volume.

Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas commented on the day-one performance midday on yesterday, when MSBT had already recorded $27 million in trading volume. Balchunas pushed his original $30 million day-one volume prediction to $50 million in the X post. For context, Balchunas reference two recent crypto ETF launches, for Solana and XRP funds, which both saw nearly $60 million traded on their first day.

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The launch makes Morgan Stanley the first major U.S. commercial bank to issue its own spot Bitcoin ETF. A key competitive advantage, as The Defiant previously reported, is that MSBT carries a 0.14% expense ratio — the lowest in the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market, undercutting BlackRock’s IBIT (0.25%), Fidelity’s FBTC (0.25%), and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust (0.15%).

The same day as MSBT’s positive debut, total U.S. spot BTC ETF products, excluding MSBT, saw $124.55M in net outflows, per SoSoValue data. However ,BlackRock’s IBIT — by far the leading product in terms of cumulative net inflows — bucked the trend with $43.38 million in net inflows on the day Wednesday.

As of midday ET today, April 9, MSBT had seen 610,525 shares traded at a current price of $20.67, putting intraday volume at approximately $12.6 million, per Yahoo Finance data.

Bitcoin was trading just below $72,000 at press time, per The Defiant’s price tracker. The prior day had seen a sharp ceasefire-driven short squeeze push crypto markets higher.

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BTC 7-day price chart. Source: CoinGecko

MSBT’s launch is the latest milestone in a deepening institutional embrace of Bitcoin. The Defiant has tracked how advisor-driven capital has become the largest category of institutional Bitcoin ETF buyers, surpassing hedge funds and brokerages — precisely the channel Morgan Stanley is now positioned to dominate.

When the bank first filed for MSBT in January, Balchunas called it a “shocker” and noted the firm’s existing advisor approvals for crypto allocations made issuing their own branded fund a natural next step.

The question now is whether day-one momentum translates into sustained flows, and whether other banks follow Morgan Stanley through the door it has opened.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

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Bitcoin Holds Above $72,000 as Ceasefire Rally Stalls

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BTC Chart

BTC clung to a three-week high as the Iran truce lifted risk assets, but doubts about the deal’s durability capped upside.

Bitcoin held above $72,000 on Thursday, consolidating near its highest levels in three weeks as crypto markets digested a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

BTC was changing hands at $72,285, up 1.5% over the past 24 hours and 8% on the week, according to CoinGecko. Ethereum rose 0.6% to $2,210, also up 7.2% over the past seven days. XRP gained 0.6% to $1.36, BNB edged up 0.2% to $607.25, and Solana climbed 2% to $84, bringing its weekly gains to 6.6%.

BTC Chart
BTC Chart

The gains followed a sharp ceasefire-driven short squeeze that sent BTC to its highest level since mid-March.

President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Thursday that all U.S. military assets would remain in place around Iran until the ceasefire is “fully complied with,” warning that failure could lead to renewed conflict. Meanwhile, Iran continued to restrict traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and proposed a $1-per-barrel fee on transiting oil, drawing criticism from the EU and the United States.

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Total crypto market capitalization stood at approximately $2.53 trillion, per CoinGecko, up from $2.43 trillion at the start of the week.

Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Debuts

Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF, MSBT, kicked off trading as expected on Wednesday on NYSE Arca. The fund saw $30.6 million in net inflows on its first day.

The fund carries a 0.14% expense ratio, the lowest in the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market, undercutting BlackRock’s IBIT at 0.25% and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15%. Bloomberg

Despite MSBT’s strong debut, the broader U.S. spot BTC ETF complex saw $124 million in net outflows on Wednesday, excluding MSBT, per SoSoValue. Total AUM across U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs stood at $91.9 billion, or about 6.43% of Bitcoin’s overall market cap.

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The outflows followed a $471 million single-day inflow on April 6, when spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded their strongest daily inflows since February, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions

ZEC Leads Altcoins

Zcash was the standout performer this week. ZEC surged another 15% to $371 on Thursday, leading the broader market. The token has gained over 65% in the past 30 days, fueled by a risk-on rotation, a pending decision on the Grayscale spot ZEC ETF, and Foundry’s institutional mining pool launch.

ZEC Chart
ZEC Chart

On the downside, World Liberty Financial’s WLFI token fell roughly 10% to an all-time low of $0.0885. On-chain data showed WLFI deposited 5 billion of its own tokens as collateral to borrow stablecoins.

Looking Ahead

The two-week ceasefire window is set to expire around April 21, with peace negotiations expected to begin Friday in Islamabad. Whether the rally extends depends on the truce’s durability.

Fed minutes released Wednesday showed officials believe inflation may fall slowly toward 2%, while oil risks add pressure. Policymakers signaled room for either hikes or cuts depending on conditions, a hawkish undertone that adds another headwind for risk assets already contending with geopolitical uncertainty.

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US Treasury’s Secret Weapon Against Crypto Hackers Is Now Available For Free

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The US Treasury’s Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection (OCCIP) launched a program to share real-time cyber threat intelligence with eligible digital asset firms at no cost.

The initiative gives qualifying crypto companies access to the same security briefings that traditional banks and financial institutions have received for years.

Why This Matters Now

The announcement arrives after a devastating 2025 for digital asset security. Crypto platforms lost approximately $3.4 billion to hacks last year, according to Chainalysis data.

North Korean state-backed actors alone accounted for $2.02 billion of that total.

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Treasury officials cited the growing frequency and sophistication of attacks as the primary driver behind the program.

Cyber threats targeting digital asset platforms are growing in frequency and sophistication. This initiative expands access to actionable threat information that helps firms strengthen defenses, reduce risk, and respond more effectively to incidents,” read an excerpt in the announcement, citing Cory Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity.

Ties to the GENIUS Act

The effort also advances a recommendation from the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets.

Tyler Williams, Counselor to the Secretary for Digital Assets, linked the program to the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, signed into law in July 2025.

The FDIC approved a separate GENIUS Act implementation framework on April 7, covering cybersecurity standards for stablecoin issuers.

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Together, both actions signal an accelerating push to fold crypto firms into the federal financial security apparatus.

The post US Treasury’s Secret Weapon Against Crypto Hackers Is Now Available For Free appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Melania Breaks Silence as Epstein Pressure Hits Trump, But Why Now?

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Melania Trump stepped into the spotlight on Wednesday with a rare and direct statement addressing Jeffrey Epstein. This surprising statement raises a key question inside Washington: Why now?

Speaking at the White House, the First Lady denied any personal connection to Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell. 

“I never had any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” she said. “He did not introduce me to my husband.” She also dismissed a reported 2002 email to Maxwell as “casual correspondence” and called ongoing claims “false and damaging.”

However, the timing of the appearance stands out. Melania Trump has largely avoided political controversy during her time in public life. 

Epstein Files Continue to Cause Political Chaos in the US

Her decision to speak now comes as scrutiny around the Epstein files intensifies and internal tensions inside the administration spill into public view.

Earlier this week, the Justice Department confirmed that former Attorney General Pam Bondi would not comply with a congressional subpoena tied to the Epstein document release. 

Days before that, President Donald Trump removed Bondi from her role following criticism over how the files were handled.

At the same time, lawmakers continue to question whether key materials were withheld. Allegations tied to previously undisclosed FBI interviews have added pressure, even as officials warn that some claims in the files remain unverified.

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Against this backdrop, Melania Trump’s statement appears less like a routine denial and more like a response to mounting political risk. 

She also urged Congress to focus on victims, stating that “innocent people should not be harmed by lies.”Yet shortly after her remarks, Donald Trump told reporters he did not “know anything about” her statement. That response adds another layer of uncertainty.

The post Melania Breaks Silence as Epstein Pressure Hits Trump, But Why Now? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Bitcoin Rally Accelerates As Investors Ignore Recession Risks

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Bitcoin Rally Accelerates As Investors Ignore Recession Risks

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin climbed to $72,000 as rising recession odds and a weak US dollar boosted the appeal of scarce financial assets.

  • Rising oil prices and a wobbly truce with Iran threaten to reverse Bitcoin’s recent gains.

Bitcoin (BTC) reclaimed the $72,000 level on Thursday despite data showing rising inflation and weak economic growth in the United States. Crude oil prices jumped back to $97 after senior Iranian leaders claimed that the US and Israel had violated the ceasefire. Traders now fear that risk markets could react negatively, potentially sending Bitcoin price back below $68,000.

S&P 500 futures (left, blue) vs. WTI crude oil (right, red). Source: TradingView

The inverse relationship between oil prices and risk markets became increasingly evident. Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on Wednesday, the S&P 500 index futures jumped to their highest levels in 30 days, while WTI crude oil prices dropped below $100. Hence, Bitcoin traders fear that the fragile truce between the US and Iran could lead to bearish outcomes.

Fragile ceasefire with Iran and weak US economic data limit Bitcoin upside

Iranian parliamentary speaker and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has emerged as a leading voice within the regime, said that Israel’s continued campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the illegal entry of military drones in Iranian airspace and the denial of uranium enrichment violate the ceasefire negotiations, according to Yahoo Finance.

Inflation data reported by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis on Thursday likely helped to lift traders’ spirits. The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index rose by 0.4% in February over the previous month. In parallel, the US fourth quarter gross domestic product was revised down to a 0.5% annualized rate. Overall, data points to increased recession risks.

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US dollar strength index (left, green) vs. Bitcoin/USD (right, orange). Source: TradingView

Although counterintuitive, the higher odds of economic stagnation amid sticky inflation have led traders to become less risk-averse, as the US government will likely be forced to inject liquidity to support markets. Reduced confidence in the US Federal Reserve’s ability to avert a recession without causing inflation has led to a weaker US dollar, when measured against a basket of foreign currencies.

AI infrastructure and private credit risks are not an imminent concern

While the correlation between Bitcoin and the US stock market is far from perfect, traders tend to seek protection when fixed income returns relative to the inflation expectations are diminished. Regardless of whether Bitcoin is far from being perceived as a reliable alternative to fiat currency debasement, weakness in the US dollar tends to favor scarce assets.

Related: Fed minutes crack door to further rate cuts amid Iran war

Bitcoin/USD 30-day correlation vs. S&P 500 index. Source: TradingView

The S&P 500 index traded a mere 2% away from its all-time high on Thursday, a clear indication that investors do not fear issues in private credit markets or the surging debt cost protection for AI infrastructure companies. 

Ultimately, Bitcoin seems to have merely followed investor expectations regarding the war in Iran rather than reacting to weak US macroeconomic data.

For now, recession risks favor scarce assets; hence, there is little reason to believe that inflation or job market perspectives could act as a sell-off trigger.

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