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Circle CEO Says Crypto Tolls at Hormuz Strait Unlikely To Use USDC

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Circle CEO Says Crypto Tolls at Hormuz Strait Unlikely To Use USDC

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire pushed back on concerns that USDC could be used for Iran’s crypto transit tolls at the Strait of Hormuz.

Allaire made the remarks at a press conference in Seoul on the afternoon of April 13, where BeInCrypto East Asia Editor-In-Chief, Oihyun Kim, was present. Allaire is visiting South Korea this week to meet exchanges, banks, and regulators.

Hormuz Tolls: ‘Highly Unlikely’ for USDC

A reporter asked whether Iran’s Revolutionary Guards might accept USDC for Hormuz passage fees. Allaire dismissed the idea.

“Circle operates a highly compliant infrastructure,” he said.

He noted that the company works closely with law enforcement and sanctions authorities.

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Allaire pointed to public research from the United Nations and forensic firms. That data shows sanctioned actors tend to favor other stablecoins over USDC. He did not name specific tokens.

“It’s highly unlikely that a regime under sanctions would attempt something where the likelihood of the assets being immediately frozen is extremely high,” he said.

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire at a Press Conference in Seoul. Source: BeInCrypto

Drift Hack: Circle Defends Freeze Delay

The $285 million Drift Protocol exploit on April 1 drew sharp criticism of Circle. Attackers bridged over $230 million in stolen USDC from Solana to Ethereum over six hours. Circle took no action to freeze the funds during that window.

Allaire said the company follows strict legal obligations. Circle can only freeze wallets at the direction of law enforcement or courts.

“We do not as a company decide what is the right path,” he said. He warned that letting a private firm make those calls creates a “very significant moral quandary.”

He acknowledged the gap in the current framework. Circle is pushing for the CLARITY Act to include “safe harbors” that would let issuers freeze funds preemptively under extreme circumstances.

“We need that to be in the law, not just what we decide on our own,” he said.

Clarity Act: Yield Ban Won’t Hurt Circle

Allaire also addressed the CLARITY Act’s proposed ban on passive stablecoin yield. The bill would bar platforms from paying interest simply for holding stablecoins.

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He said the change does not affect Circle directly. The GENIUS Act already forbids stablecoin issuers from paying interest to holders.

The real impact falls on distributors like exchanges and wallets. They can still offer activity-based rewards, but cannot market stablecoin holdings as bank deposit substitutes.

Allaire called the yield debate “overblown.” He noted that the vast majority of stablecoin holders worldwide receive no rewards at all. About half of the $120 trillion global M2 money supply sits in physical cash or non-interest-bearing accounts.

Korea Visit: Exchanges, Banks, and Regulation

Allaire spent several days in Seoul meeting major exchanges, financial groups, and regulators. Upbit operator Dunamu and Bithumb both signed MOUs with Circle on the same day. He also met executives from Shinhan, Hana, and KB Financial.
He said Circle does not plan to issue a Korean won stablecoin itself.

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Korean law will likely require domestic bank-led consortiums for that role. Circle would instead offer its technology stack to local issuers.

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Clarity Act Update: Industry Leader Says Crypto Market Is ‘Fine’ Despite Deadlock

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Franklin Templeton’s Chris Perkins argues that the $2.7 trillion crypto market doesn’t need the Clarity Act to survive. Despite months of Senate deadlock on the landmark market structure legislation, the industry has already proven it can grow, attract capital, and build institutional rails without a federal regulatory framework in place.

The Clarity Act cleared the House last July, in a 294–134 bipartisan vote, drawing unanimous Republican support and 78 Democrats. Since then, the Senate has stalled on three stubborn issues: stablecoin yield language, DeFi provisions, and securing the full Republican committee bloc needed to advance.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott identified those pressure points on April 14, 2026, calling each resolvable within two weeks, a deadline that has already slipped.

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Where the Clarity Act Actually Stands

The path from Senate Banking Committee to presidential signature involves five discrete steps: committee markup and vote, a 60-vote Senate floor threshold, reconciliation with the Agriculture Committee’s Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act, House-Senate conference, and then signature.

Each step is a potential kill zone. Senator Thom Tillis requested additional review time on stablecoin regulation and yield structures in late April, pushing the Banking Committee markup from April into May, the third timeline revision in as many months. Although it looks like it has already been resolved.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has now shifted his passage prediction twice: 80% odds by the end of April on February 19, revised to the end of May on April 13, citing what he called “peak frustration” as a signal that compromise was near.

Polymarket pricing puts 2026 enactment at 50-50 or lower. TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg has noted that passage may ultimately require a deal that dissatisfies both the crypto lobby and the banking sector equally, which is a rough definition of a workable compromise.

Senator Cynthia Lummis put it plainly at Bitcoin Conference 2026:

“We are gonna markup the CLARITY Act in May… We are gonna get it to the finish line.”

She also issued the clearest warning about failure: a stall in 2026 likely means no market structure legislation until 2030 or later. Procedural delay?

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Is Crypto Actually ‘Fine’?

The executive argument isn’t baseless. Institutional adoption has accelerated without a federal framework: BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC have collectively pulled billions in net ETF inflows, with spot Bitcoin CVD data confirming aggressive institutional buying even through regulatory uncertainty.

Stablecoins, USDT and USDC combined, now underpin over $100 billion in daily trading volume globally, and the stablecoin market cap has crossed $320 billion without the Clarity Act’s stablecoin regulation provisions ever becoming law.

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At least one senior industry executive is arguing that the $2.7 trillion crypto market doesn't need the Clarity Act to survive. However,..
Stablecoins, Defillama

The ‘fine’ argument is essentially this: US crypto policy ambiguity has not killed the market. Grayscale’s court win against the SEC, the ETF approvals, and offshore liquidity have collectively done what legislation hasn’t. The industry has adapted.

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DOGEBALL Presale Just Got Extended Giving Buyers Another Chance At $0.0004

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DOGEBALL Presale Just Got Extended Giving Buyers Another Chance At $0.0004

Momentum doesn’t wait, and DOGEBALL is proving exactly why timing matters when it comes to the best crypto presale to buy now. With rapid growth, strong early funding, and a clear real-world use case, DOGEBALL is capturing attention at a stage where entry prices are still incredibly low.

DOGEBALL has already raised over $275K+ with 950+ participants joining in just a few months. Due to this success and overwhelming community demand, the presale has been extended, giving investors a rare second chance to secure tokens at the current low price before it disappears again. Opportunities like this do not stay open for long, especially when momentum is this strong.

The DOGEBALL presale has extended and you can still secure DOGEBALL at $0.0004 but you must act fast before this chance vanishes again. Use code PAY35 today to get 35% extra tokens and lock in your position before the price moves up.

Why DOGEBALL Is The Best Crypto Presale To Buy Now With Real Utility And Growing Demand

DOGEBALL stands out as the best crypto presale to buy now because it is built on a custom Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain called DOGECHAIN, designed for speed, scalability, and real-world usage. It enables users to send crypto while receivers get fiat directly into their bank accounts globally, removing friction from international transactions.

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This system eliminates intermediaries, avoids FX fees, and supports 30+ currencies with near-instant transfers. It offers a direct solution to costly and slow remittance systems, making DOGEBALL not only efficient but also highly practical for everyday financial use.

How DOGEBALL Combines Payments And Gaming To Create Strong Investor Value

DOGEBALL is designed to drive consistent demand through its dual ecosystem of payments and gaming. The $DOGEBALL token is used for transaction fees, staking, and ecosystem activity, ensuring continuous utility and circulation across the platform.

The gaming side introduces a powerful revenue stream with a play-to-earn model offering up to $1M in rewards. Players can instantly convert earnings into fiat without losing 5–10% to intermediaries, making it highly attractive for gamers, streamers, and developers seeking faster and more profitable payouts.

Secure DOGEBALL At $0.0004 Today And Maximize Your Returns Before The Price Jumps

This presale extension is not just an update, it is a second entry window that many investors missed the first time. At the current price of $0.0004 and an expected launch price of $0.015, the upside potential is significant and clearly defined.

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A $1,000 investment at this stage could reach $37,500 at launch, delivering a 37.5× return. With code PAY35, you receive 35% extra tokens, increasing your total to a potential value of $50,625. This combination of low entry price and bonus allocation creates a powerful opportunity for early investors to maximize gains.

How To Join DOGEBALL Crypto Presale And Secure Your Tokens In Minutes

Getting started with the DOGEBALL presale is simple, making it easy for investors to act quickly while the price is still low. The process is designed to be fast, secure, and accessible for both new and experienced users.

Visit the official presale platform, connect your wallet, and choose your investment amount. Apply code PAY35 to receive 35% extra tokens, confirm your transaction, and your DOGEBALL allocation will be secured instantly before the next price movement.

DOGEBALL Presale Growth And Why This Second Chance Matters For Early Investors

DOGEBALL continues to gain traction as one of the strongest entries in the best crypto presale to buy now category. With over $275K raised and a rapidly growing community, the demand is already proven, and the extension reflects how quickly interest is accelerating.

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The DOGEBALL presale has been extended due to its success and strong community demand, creating a second chance to enter at a low price. This kind of opportunity rarely comes twice, and with growth building fast, securing your position now could make a significant difference in your returns.

The DOGEBALL presale has extended and you can still get DOGEBALL at $0.0004 but you must act fast before this chance vanishes again. Use code PAY35 today to get 35% extra tokens and secure your spot before the next price increase.

Find Out More Information Here

Website: https://dogeballtoken.com/

X: https://x.com/dogeballtoken

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Telegram Chat: https://t.me/dogeballtoken

FAQs For Best Crypto Presale To Buy Now

What is the best crypto presale to buy now?

DOGEBALL is the best crypto presale to buy now with $275K+ raised, strong utility in payments and gaming, and high growth potential at an early price stage.

Which crypto has 1000x potential?

Early-stage projects like DOGEBALL with real-world use, growing demand, and low entry prices offer higher chances of exponential returns over time.

How to find the best presale crypto?

Look for projects like DOGEBALL with strong funding, real utility, audited contracts, and active user growth to identify high-potential presales early.

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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.

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XRP News: Thinking of Shorting XRP? You Might Get Squeezed

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XRP is now trading back above $1.40, following a few bullish news around it, especially their recent Middle East expansion and OKX partnership. Derivatives data also shows the calm exterior is concealing a coiled spring, and could hurt short sellers when it unloads.

A CryptoQuant analysis highlights a sharp divergence between XRP’s estimated leverage ratio on Binance and its current price level. The leverage ratio has collapsed back to approximately 0.1 levels last seen in late October 2024, when XRP was trading around just $0.50. Although today’s price is nearly three times that, the patterns could repeat.

The last time a similar divergence resolved to the upside, between late June and mid-July 2025, XRP surged from $1.96 to $3.65 as the leverage ratio climbed from below 0.3 to just under 0.6 over four weeks.

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Can XRP Escape Its News Range and Force a Short Squeeze?

XRP is currently priced around $1.40, consolidating in a tight band that has held for several sessions. Volume is subdued for now, even as the market shows improvement. But, low-volume consolidation above key support reads differently than low-volume drift lower.

Binance’s estimated leverage ratio for XRP sits near 0.1 while price holds well above pre-breakout levels. Excess speculative positioning has already been flushed. What remains is a relatively clean slate for the next directional move.

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XRP is now trading back above $1.40, following a few bullish news around it, especially their Middle East expansion and OKX partnership.
XRP USD, TradingView

If leverage begins rebuilding as fresh capital enters, it could drive XRP toward the $2.00 psychological level and potentially retracing toward the mid-2025 highs near $3.65.

But if price collapses to match the low-leverage environment, a flush back toward the $1.00–$1.10 area would technically “resolve” the divergence without a squeeze. What is clear is that passive short exposure here carries asymmetric risk. A leverage rebuild could be fast and violent.

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Bitcoin Hyper Eyes Early Movers as XRP Builds Pressure

For traders watching XRP’s setup and wondering where meaningful upside still exists, without waiting on a decades-old asset to work through its derivatives backlog, the early-stage presale market offers a different risk profile entirely.

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One project currently drawing attention is Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), positioned as the first-ever Bitcoin Layer 2 with full Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration.

The premise is pointed: Bitcoin is slow, expensive, and largely unprogrammable. Bitcoin Hyper targets all three limitations simultaneously while delivering sub-second finality, low-cost execution, smart contract capability, and preserving Bitcoin’s underlying security. The SVM integration is the standout technical claim, with the project asserting performance that rivals (and potentially exceeds) Solana itself.

$HYPER is priced at $0.0136, with $32.5 raised to date. Staking is live with a high 36% APY for early participants.

The presale details are available at the Bitcoin Hyper presale page.

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North Korea Calls Cyber Threat Allegations “Absurd Slander” as DPRK Hack Losses Mount

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$3 Million Reportedly Lost in CrossCurve Bridge Exploit

North Korea has pushed back against allegations of state-backed cybercrime, dismissing the claims as “absurd slander.” 

The statement lands as blockchain investigators tie a growing share of major decentralized finance (DeFi) exploits to DPRK-backed actors.

North Korea Pushes Back on Cyber Threat Narrative

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the state-run Korean Central News Agency that US government bodies, media outlets, and affiliated organizations are promoting what they described as an “incorrect understanding of the DPRK.”

“Recently, the U.S. government organs, reptile media organs and plot-breeding organizations are trying to spread incorrect understanding of the DPRK to the international community, talking about the non-existent ‘cyber threat’ from the DPRK,” the spokesperson told KCNA.

The spokesperson argued it was “unreasonable” for Washington to claim victim status while controlling global IT infrastructure. The Foreign Ministry accused the United States of conducting indiscriminate cyber operations against other nations.

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“One common point in their unilateral assertion is that all cyber-related frauds in different parts of the world are related to us and that the U.S. boasting of the world’s best cyber technical power is the world’s greatest victim,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, such accusations are part of a broader pattern of hostility toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, aimed at undermining its reputation for political purposes. The spokesperson also added that safeguarding cyberspace remains a consistent policy position for North Korea.

“The DPRK will never tolerate the hostile forces’ attempt at confrontation getting more undisguised in various domains including cyber space, but actively take all necessary measures for defending the interests of the state and protecting the rights and interests of its citizens,” the spokesperson added.

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Blockchain Forensics Tell a Different Story

Meanwhile, recent research highlights the scale of cyber activity attributed to North Korea-linked groups. A report by TRM Labs found that such actors were responsible for roughly 76% of crypto hack losses recorded in 2026 through April.

Two major incidents, the Drift and KelpDAO exploits, were attributed to separate groups. The combined losses were recorded at around $577 million. In 2025 alone, losses reached approximately $2.02 billion, including the Bybit hack.

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Separate research from the Ethereum Foundation-funded Ketman Project identified roughly 100 suspected DPRK IT workers across 53 crypto projects. The 6 month investigation flagged operatives using forged identities and AI-generated profiles to infiltrate Web3 firms.

Regulators have also stepped up enforcement. In March, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six individuals and two entities tied to alleged North Korean IT worker schemes.

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Thus, the contrasting data highlights a widening gap between Pyongyang’s official position and mounting international scrutiny over its alleged role in cyber-enabled financial crimes.

The post North Korea Calls Cyber Threat Allegations “Absurd Slander” as DPRK Hack Losses Mount appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Token unlocks worth over $229m put HYPE, ENA and RED on watch

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Source: WuBlockchain/X

Crypto markets are set for a busy token unlock period between May 4 and May 11. 

Summary

  • HYPE and ENA lead cliff unlocks this week, adding over $34 million in new supply.
  • RAIN tops linear unlocks with $78.39 million, while Solana adds $38.90 million this week too.
  • SXT, RED and OPN show high supply ratios, raising attention around short-term price moves ahead.

According to Tokenomist data shared by WuBlockchain, large cliff and linear unlocks will release more than $229 million in tokens this week.

These releases include Hyperliquid, Ethena, Space and Time, RedStone, Opinion, Rain, Solana, Corn, TRUMP, Worldcoin and Bittensor. Traders often track unlocks because new supply “could” add short-term selling pressure if demand does not absorb it.

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HYPE and ENA lead cliff unlocks

Hyperliquid will unlock 422,000 HYPE tokens worth about $17.51 million. The release equals 0.11% of adjusted released supply, making it one of the largest cliff unlocks by dollar value this week.

Ethena will also release 171.88 million ENA tokens worth around $17.28 million. The unlock accounts for 2.12% of adjusted released supply. ENA is the governance token of Ethena, the Ethereum-based protocol behind the USDe synthetic dollar.

SXT, RED and OPN add more supply

Space and Time will unlock 387.64 million SXT tokens valued at about $5.96 million. The release represents 23.20% of adjusted released supply, making it the largest unlock by supply ratio among the listed cliff unlocks.

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Source: WuBlockchain/X
Source: WuBlockchain/X

RedStone will release 40.85 million RED tokens worth about $5.54 million. The amount equals 12.20% of adjusted released supply. Opinion will also unlock 32.09 million OPN tokens worth about $5.45 million, equal to 12.22% of adjusted released supply.

Linear unlocks add daily market pressure

Tokenomist data also shows large linear unlocks from May 4 to May 11. Rain leads this group with 10.47 billion RAIN tokens worth $78.39 million, equal to 2.19% of circulating supply.

Solana follows with 464,650 SOL worth about $38.90 million. The release equals only 0.08% of circulating supply, giving it a smaller supply ratio despite its larger dollar value.

Corn will unlock 191.71 million CC tokens worth $28.36 million, equal to 0.50% of circulating supply. TRUMP will release 6.33 million tokens worth $14.75 million, equal to 2.72% of circulating supply.

Worldcoin will unlock 37.23 million WLD tokens worth $9.70 million. Bittensor will release 25,200 TAO tokens worth $7.29 million.

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Ethplorer’s Aleksandr Vat Says Ethereum’s Altseason Already Happened

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Ethplorer’s Aleksandr Vat Says Ethereum’s Altseason Already Happened

At Paris Blockchain Week, BeInCrypto sat down for an exclusive interview with Aleksandr Vat, Head of Business Development at Ethplorer.io, to discuss the company’s new Aggregated Ethereum Rich List.

Ethplorer argues that traditional Ethereum rich lists have become increasingly misleading because they rank wallets by ETH holdings alone. Its new ranking looks at the total USD value held by each address, including ETH, ERC-20 tokens, and stablecoins.

Photo provided by Aleksandr Vat

According to Vat, this changes the picture of Ethereum wealth, liquidity, and risk. It also leads to one of Ethplorer’s more provocative conclusions: altseason may have already happened, but in balance sheets rather than price charts.

Ethereum’s Rich List Has Changed

BeInCrypto: At the conference, you discussed the new Ethereum ranking with the community. What is the Aggregated Ethereum Rich List, and why did Ethplorer build it?

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Aleksandr Vat: Ethplorer rebuilt the Ethereum rich list by ranking addresses not only by ETH, but by total USD value. That includes ETH, ERC-20 tokens, and stablecoins.

The Aggregated Ranking of Ethereum addresses is based on totalBalanceUsd, unlike traditional rankings, which are sorted by ethBalanceUsd. The goal was simple. ETH-only rankings no longer show real economic power on Ethereum.

BeInCrypto: What was fundamentally wrong with traditional ETH-based rankings?

Aleksandr Vat: ETH-only rankings ignore most of the capital. Today, around 66% of value sits outside ETH, mostly in tokens and stablecoins. That means ETH-based lists give a distorted view of who controls liquidity and risk.

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BeInCrypto: What was the biggest insight when you first rebuilt the ranking?

Aleksandr Vat: The biggest change was that the entire hierarchy changed. The same top 10,000 addresses hold almost three times more capital when tokens are included. Many players that were previously almost invisible suddenly become dominant.

Ethereum Is Becoming Entity-Centric

BeInCrypto: Vitalik Buterin envisioned Ethereum as a platform where code manages value. Has that vision been realized?

Aleksandr Vat: Increasingly, it is systems rather than individuals. Smart contracts, exchanges, and liquidity hubs now control a large share of capital. Ethereum has become less whale-centric and more entity-centric.

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What is important is that we can now measure it. In ETH-based rankings, this change was almost invisible. Once we look at aggregated balances, it becomes clear that a large share of capital is already controlled by smart contracts, DeFi protocols, bridges, and liquidity pools. Roughly 28% of total capital is now controlled by these systems.

So this is no longer only a vision. It is an observable structural reality.

“Altseason Already Happened”

BeInCrypto: You say that “altseason already happened.” What do you mean by that?

Aleksandr Vat: Altseason did not disappear. It moved from price charts to balance sheets.

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Through most of 2017–2021, ETH represented the majority of Ethereum’s economic value, while tokens and stablecoins played secondary roles.

That structure has since changed. By 2022–2023, token-denominated balances had matched ETH in economic weight.

In Ethereum’s Aggregated Rating 2026, ETH no longer dominates portfolios. The top 10,000 addresses held about $342 billion in total value at the end of March 2026. Of this amount, $116.5 billion was held in ETH, equal to roughly 34%, while the remaining 66% was denominated in tokens.

BeInCrypto: Why did the market miss this?

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Aleksandr Vat: Because people watch prices, not balance composition. While charts were flat, capital was quietly redistributing across tokens, stablecoins, and smart contracts.

BeInCrypto: Are we looking at a different kind of market cycle now?

Aleksandr Vat: Yes. The market is going from price discovery to power discovery. The key question is less “What is the price?” and more “Who controls liquidity and risk?”

What This Means for Investors and Analysts

BeInCrypto: What does this give investors in practice?

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Aleksandr Vat: It changes how you evaluate risk. Instead of focusing only on price or market cap, you look at what a balance consists of. Is it real external capital, or is it self-issued tokens?

BeInCrypto: How should analysts rethink their approach using this data?

Aleksandr Vat: Analysts need to move from narratives to composition analysis. That means looking at aggregated balances, capital sources, and dependencies, rather than only TVL or token price.

BeInCrypto: Does this change how we should interpret TVL and market cap?

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Aleksandr Vat: Yes. Both metrics can be distorted by self-issued tokens. Without understanding balance composition, you can overestimate real economic strength.

The Printing-Press Index

BeInCrypto: What is the Printing-Press Index, and why did you introduce it?

Aleksandr Vat: The Printing-Press Index, or PPI, measures how much of a portfolio consists of a project’s own token. It helps separate real capital from internally generated value.

The formula is simple:

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PPI equals the USD value of a project’s own tokens divided by the total USD value of tokens held by the project. In other words, it shows the share of a project’s own token in its portfolio.

BeInCrypto: What did PPI reveal about DeFi, centralized exchanges, bridges, and Layer 2 networks?

Aleksandr Vat: DeFi shows significantly higher reliance on self-issued tokens compared with centralized players. On average, it is around twice as high, 14.7% versus 6.9%.

Bridges and Layer 2s show even higher PPI, around 34.8%. Part of this is structural because they often require native tokens for liquidity and staking. But this also transfers risk toward token price dependency.

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BeInCrypto: At what point does PPI become risky?

Aleksandr Vat: Below roughly 20%, it is normal. Above 40% to 50%, the system becomes fragile and exposed to reflexive collapse dynamics.

BeInCrypto: Can you give real-world examples of high PPI risk?

Aleksandr Vat: UST-LUNA is the extreme case. The system was almost entirely backed by its own token, which led to a death spiral.

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FTX is another example. Even around 40% exposure to FTT was enough to trigger collapse under stress. That shows high PPI does not need to be extreme to become dangerous.

ETH Is Still Important, But It Is No Longer the Whole Story

BeInCrypto: Does ETH still represent the core of Ethereum’s economy?

Aleksandr Vat: ETH is still important, but it is no longer the dominant store of value within large portfolios. Only around 34% of top-holder capital is in ETH. The other 66% sits outside ETH, in tokens.

BeInCrypto: What surprised you most in terms of address dynamics?

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Aleksandr Vat: The generational change. Most large addresses in the Aggregated Ranking are significantly newer, which reflects capital entering through DeFi and tokens.

In the ETH top ranking, about one-third of wallets are more than five years old. In the Aggregated Ranking, almost 60% are under two years old.

Aggregated addresses are also about 25% more active. They show larger balance changes and higher volatility because they reflect real liquidity flows, rather than passive ETH holding.

Filtering Out Fake Token Wealth

BeInCrypto: How do you deal with fake or inflated token balances?

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Aleksandr Vat: We apply liquidity filters. That means excluding balances that cannot realistically be sold without moving the market.

Without filtering, low-liquidity tokens can artificially inflate rankings and misrepresent real economic power. In crypto, it is relatively easy to mint a token, assign it a price through thin trading, and create the illusion of large balances.

To address this, we use a set of validation checks. We look at minimum trading activity, both current and historical. We validate market capitalization consistency and assess whether a balance could realistically be liquidated in the market.

The logic is simple. If you cannot realistically sell your full position within about two weeks, that balance does not represent real liquid capital and should not distort the ranking.

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The Beacon Deposit Contract Problem

BeInCrypto: Before this interview, we looked at traditional Ethereum rich lists from well-known platforms. One thing immediately stood out. The Beacon Deposit Contract appears to hold nearly 70% of the Ethereum network. Are we really analyzing the behavior of only the remaining 30% of the market?

Aleksandr Vat: That is exactly the problem with ETH-only rankings. They create a misleading picture.

The Beacon contract is not a real holder. It is a technical deposit registry for staking. The ETH there is not controlled by a single entity and cannot even be withdrawn from that address.

So when it shows up as “70% of the market,” around 83 million ETH, it does not reflect real economic power or market behavior. It is a technical figure.

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If you look at the real picture, active staking is closer to 39 million ETH. When we move to an aggregated view, including liquid tokens and stablecoins, active staking accounts for just over 10% of total ecosystem capital.

So we are not analyzing only 30% of the market. Roughly 10% sits in staking. The other 90% is where the market actually operates, where capital moves, trades, and redistributes across the ecosystem.

Building the Ranking

BeInCrypto: How long did it take to develop this ranking?

Aleksandr Vat: There is no single timeline because this was not built as a standalone project. Ethplorer has spent years processing token-level data, focusing on USD valuation and filtering out low-quality assets.

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At some point, the data quality and coverage reached a level where building a full aggregated ranking became possible. That is when we turned it into a structured product.

BeInCrypto: What was the hardest part?

Aleksandr Vat: Cleaning the data, especially handling spam tokens, price inconsistencies, and entity aggregation.

BeInCrypto: What kind of feedback have you received from the community?

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Aleksandr Vat: Strong interest and debate, especially because the ranking challenges widely accepted assumptions about Ethereum.

BeInCrypto: Have you discussed this with industry players at Paris Blockchain Week?

Aleksandr Vat: Yes, and reactions were mixed, from curiosity to skepticism. That is expected when you introduce a new analytical approach.

Final Takeaway

BeInCrypto: What is the main takeaway from your research?

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Aleksandr Vat: Ethereum’s rich list is no longer about wealth. It is about capital flows and risk distribution.

BeInCrypto: If you had to summarize the change in one sentence?Aleksandr Vat: We went from tracking balances to understanding capital structure.

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Capital B secures $1.28M from Adam Back to build Bitcoin stash

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Capital B secures $1.28M from Adam Back to build Bitcoin stash

Capital B has secured fresh backing from Blockstream CEO Adam Back through a 1.1 million euro ($1.28 million) warrant issuance, deepening the cryptographer’s exposure to the French-listed Bitcoin treasury firm.

Summary

  • Capital B has raised €1.1 million through warrants fully subscribed by Blockstream CEO Adam Back, increasing his stake to 9.97% on a diluted basis.
  • The company said the funds will support its Bitcoin treasury strategy, as shares rose over 6.5% on the announcement despite a 16% decline in 2026.

According to a Monday announcement from Capital B, Back subscribed to 10 million warrants priced at 0.11 euros ($0.13) each, with every warrant granting the right to purchase a new share at an exercise price of 0.84 euros ($0.98). The company said the exercise price aligns with its market net asset value, placing mNAV at 1.1 per share.

Already among the firm’s largest investors, Back’s position expands further through the deal. Capital B said his holdings now exceed 39.5 million shares, representing 9.97% ownership on a fully diluted basis. Back, known for creating Hashcash, contributed one of the proof-of-work systems cited in the Bitcoin white paper.

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Capital raise strengthens Bitcoin accumulation push

Capital B said the proceeds will be directed toward accelerating its Bitcoin treasury strategy, a move that coincided with a positive reaction in its share price. Data from Yahoo Finance shows the company’s stock rose more than 6.5% on Monday following the announcement, although it remains down over 16% since the start of 2026.

Bitcointreasuries.net data places Capital B as the 25th-largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with 2,943 BTC valued at roughly $234 million.

Activity across similar firms has diverged in recent weeks as companies adjust to market conditions. Capital B and UK-based Connecting Excellence Group were the only Bitcoin treasury firms in Europe to raise capital over the past month, according to available disclosures. Connecting Excellence Group raised $794,000 on April 23, also with backing from Back.

Elsewhere, companies have taken a more defensive approach. On April 24, Nasdaq-listed Nakamoto said it had launched an actively managed derivatives program designed to generate income from volatility while hedging downside exposure on its Bitcoin holdings. In a March 30 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Nakamoto disclosed the sale of 284 BTC, worth about $20 million at the time, making it the largest treasury firm this year to report trimming its holdings.

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Meanwhile, Genius Group said it had liquidated its entire Bitcoin treasury of 84 BTC in February, raising about $5.7 million to repay an $8.5 million debt obligation, according to disclosures submitted to the SEC.

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Crude Markets Unmoved by Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Navigation Proposal

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Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)

TLDR

  • Brent crude maintained levels above $108 per barrel following a brief 2.4% decline at Monday’s market opening
  • White House unveiled plans to assist commercial vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz
  • Current proposal excludes direct naval warship convoy protection for vessels
  • Projectiles struck a tanker approximately 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah over the weekend
  • Trading desks expressed doubt over the initiative’s ability to effectively reopen the waterway

Oil prices maintained stability throughout Monday’s session following initial weakness, as market participants assessed Washington’s latest initiative to extract stranded commercial traffic from the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude showed minimal movement above the $108 per barrel threshold after experiencing an intraday decline of up to 2.4% during opening hours. West Texas Intermediate similarly held its ground near the $102 mark.

Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)
Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)

Through social media channels, President Donald Trump declared the United States would commence operations Monday to navigate neutral merchant ships through the strait. “We will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait,” his statement read.

US Central Command verified its commitment to deploy military assets, including guided-missile destroyers, aerial units, and unmanned surveillance systems. The Wall Street Journal noted, however, that current operational parameters exclude direct Navy warship escort duties.

The declaration provided only fleeting support to crude markets. Industry experts and trading professionals immediately raised concerns about the strategy’s practical effectiveness.

“Market sentiment suggests limited confidence in this approach,” ING analysts observed. “While the initiative may facilitate outbound vessel movement from the Persian Gulf, inbound maritime traffic will likely remain severely constrained.”

Haris Khurshid, chief investment officer at Karobaar Capital, suggested traders have become desensitized to presidential commentary on the crisis. “Trump fatigue is setting in more and more — I don’t think the market’s really taking it seriously,” he noted.

Weekend Attack Underscores Regional Volatility

A commercial tanker sustained damage from projectile strikes Sunday at a location 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. UK Maritime Trade Operations documented the incident. While the vessel’s identity remains undisclosed, all crew members were reported unharmed.

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The president additionally suggested potential military action should Iran attempt to prevent vessel departures. He characterized ongoing diplomatic discussions with Tehran as “very positive” while withholding additional specifics.

Iran dismissed Washington’s proposal outright. According to Al Mayadeen, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, characterized any American intervention in the strait as a ceasefire violation.

Hostilities erupted in late February following joint US-Israeli military operations against Iran, justified by nuclear program concerns. A bilateral blockade has since emerged, with Tehran preventing Persian Gulf departures while Washington intercepts traffic associated with Iranian ports.

Supply Constraints Intensify

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated over the weekend that Iranian well shutdowns could commence “in the next week” as domestic storage capacity reaches maximum levels.

ANZ Group analysts emphasized escalating supply deficits resulting from the extended strait closure. “With the demand response muted, a significant drawdown in inventories has ensued,” their analysis stated.

Recent weeks have witnessed crude prices reach their most elevated levels since 2022 due to the ongoing conflict.

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OPEC+ members reached agreement over the weekend on a modest symbolic adjustment to June production quotas, as the coalition aimed to project market confidence following the United Arab Emirates’ departure from the group.

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Lucid (LCID) Stock Q1 2026 Earnings Preview: What Wall Street Forecasts Ahead of Tuesday’s Report

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LCID Stock Card

Key Takeaways

  • Lucid’s Q1 fiscal 2026 earnings arrive May 5, with options markets anticipating a potential 13.30% price swing following the release.
  • Analyst consensus calls for approximately $370 million in revenue—a 57% annual increase—alongside an anticipated $2.35 per-share loss.
  • Uber has increased its stake to 11.52% and expanded its vehicle commitment to a minimum of 35,000 units for robotaxi deployment.
  • Gravity SUV deliveries were halted for 29 days in Q1 due to supply chain complications—investors await recovery details.
  • LCID shares have declined 38% year-to-date, with analyst ratings averaging Hold and a mean price target of $13.13.

Lucid Group is scheduled to release its first-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Tuesday, May 5. Shares have struggled considerably this year, falling 38% as the electric vehicle manufacturer heads into the report. Options activity suggests heightened volatility expectations, with the market pricing in a potential 13.30% move in either direction—significantly above Lucid’s typical 5.24% post-earnings swing observed over the previous four quarters.


LCID Stock Card
Lucid Group, Inc., LCID

Trading near $6.53, the stock sits well below Wall Street’s consensus price target of $13.13, which implies more than 100% potential upside. However, the gap between analyst projections and actual share performance has persisted.

For the first quarter, analysts project revenue of $369.99 million—marking a 57% year-over-year increase. This would also represent an acceleration from the 36.1% growth rate Lucid delivered in the prior-year first quarter. On profitability, the Street expects a $2.35 loss per share, modestly better than the $2.40 loss reported in Q1 2025.

Lucid’s track record includes six earnings misses in the last nine quarters and multiple revenue shortfalls over the past two years. While expectations are calibrated accordingly, investor confidence remains fragile.

Supply Chain Disruption Impacts Gravity Deliveries

A critical storyline entering this earnings call centers on the Gravity SUV. The model experienced a 29-day delivery suspension during the quarter stemming from a supplier-related problem. While production continued, customer deliveries were paused. Investors will be eager to understand whether the issue has been fully resolved and if it jeopardizes Lucid’s full-year production guidance of 25,000 to 27,000 vehicles.

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The company’s previous quarterly results showed revenue of $522.7 million, up 123% year-over-year. However, the report also featured misses on adjusted operating income and EBITDA, keeping analyst sentiment tempered.

The broader automotive manufacturing sector has outperformed recently, with stocks in the category gaining 9.4% on average over the past month. In contrast, Lucid has dropped 30% during the same timeframe.

Uber Partnership Expansion Takes Center Stage

Perhaps the most significant catalyst heading into earnings is Lucid’s deepening collaboration with Uber. In April, Uber injected an additional $200 million into Lucid, bringing its total investment to $500 million. The rideshare giant also expanded its vehicle order to at least 35,000 units, intended for deployment in a global autonomous taxi fleet.

Regulatory disclosures reveal that Uber now controls an 11.52% passive ownership position in Lucid, making it the second-largest shareholder after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

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Investors will be looking for specific guidance on deployment timelines and when Lucid vehicles will begin entering Uber’s robotaxi operations.

RBC Capital analyst Tom Narayan recently reduced his price target on LCID from $10 to $8 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating. The adjustment reflects broader macroeconomic headwinds affecting the auto sector, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Among the 10 Wall Street analysts tracking Lucid, the consensus rating is Hold—comprised of seven Hold ratings, two Sell ratings, and one Buy rating, all issued within the past three months.

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Anthropic lines up $1.5B AI venture with Blackstone, Goldman Sachs

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Anthropic is close to finalizing a roughly $1.5 billion joint venture with Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, and several other Wall Street firms to distribute artificial intelligence tools to private-equity-backed companies.

Summary

  • Anthropic is nearing a $1.5 billion joint venture with Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, and Hellman & Friedman to deliver AI tools to private-equity-backed companies.
  • The platform will target sectors including finance, operations, and enterprise software, with leading partners committing up to $300 million each and Goldman Sachs adding about $150 million.
  • The move comes as Anthropic explores a valuation above $300 billion, while rival OpenAI pursues similar private-equity partnerships amid rising competition in enterprise AI.

A report by The Wall Street Journal said the platform will introduce AI applications across finance, operations, customer service, analytics, and enterprise software.

Anthropic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman are leading the effort, with each expected to commit about $300 million to the venture. Goldman Sachs is set to join as a founding investor with an estimated $150 million contribution. 

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The structure brings together major financial institutions and an AI developer in a single push to commercialize enterprise-grade tools. The report noted that a formal announcement could come as early as May 4.

Interest in Anthropic has accelerated in recent months as its enterprise-focused AI products gain traction. The company is reportedly considering a new funding round that could lift its valuation beyond $300 billion, with some projections pointing as high as $900 billion. Those expectations have drawn strong attention from private equity players seeking early exposure to AI infrastructure and software providers.

The planned venture also arrives as competition intensifies. Rival OpenAI has been exploring similar partnerships with private-equity firms to expand adoption of its tools across business operations. The parallel efforts show how leading AI developers are turning to financial sponsors to scale deployment and integrate automation into portfolio companies.

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Both Anthropic and OpenAI are also seen as potential candidates for an initial public offering later this year, adding another layer of urgency for investors looking to secure positions ahead of any listing.

Separately, Anthropic has entered early-stage discussions with UK-based semiconductor startup Fractile. Talks are focused on securing access to specialized inference chips designed to run trained AI models more efficiently.

Such hardware is critical for lowering operating costs and improving processing speeds as demand for AI workloads grows.

The discussions underline how developers are working to lock in compute supply alongside expanding their software reach through partnerships like the proposed joint venture.

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