Crypto World
Fed Rate Cuts Shrink to One as Iran War Rattles Oil Markets and Inflation Outlook
TLDR:
- Fed held rates at 3.50–3.75%, cutting expected 2026 reductions from four down to one.
- Oil surging to $115 per barrel during the Iran conflict pushed short-term inflation further from the 2% target.
- A ceasefire sent oil below $95 within hours, raising hopes that the one remaining rate cut could arrive sooner.
- Kevin Warsh, known for favoring lower rates, replaces Jerome Powell in May, adding a new variable to Fed policy.
Fed rate cuts have become a closely watched topic as Middle East tensions reshape the economic outlook for 2026.
The Federal Reserve held rates unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% at its latest policy meeting. Markets had previously anticipated four reductions this year.
Escalating conflict in the region, however, has brought that number down to just one. Oil prices surged to $115 per barrel at the height of the Iran conflict, worsening an already stubborn inflation reading of 3.0%. A fragile ceasefire has since changed the near-term picture, though uncertainty persists.
Oil Shock or Structural Problem? The Fed Weighs In
The decision to hold rates was not unanimous inside the Federal Reserve. Two members pushed for a cut but were outvoted by the majority. Most policymakers preferred waiting for clearer data before adjusting the rate path.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell addressed the oil price situation directly in the meeting minutes. He acknowledged that Middle East tensions are pushing short-term inflation numbers higher.
At the same time, he stressed that long-term inflation expectations have remained relatively stable. The Fed is treating the current situation as a temporary oil shock, not a structural inflation problem.
Market analyst account Bull Theory captured the shift on X, writing, “The Iran war just killed four Fed rate cuts” — with only one cut now remaining on the table for 2026.
That distinction between short-term and long-term inflation matters for markets and policymakers alike. Oil-driven inflation typically reverses once prices stabilize. The Fed’s current framework leaves room for cuts once that reversal shows up clearly in the data.
Ceasefire, Falling Oil, and a Change at the Top
The ceasefire announcement triggered a sharp drop in oil prices, from $115 to below $95 within hours. That move represents a meaningful shift in the near-term inflation outlook. Markets responded quickly by reassessing rate cut probabilities for the remainder of 2026.
April and May oil price trends will be the key numbers to watch going forward. If prices hold below $95, inflation could begin trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. That outcome would likely pull the one remaining rate cut forward from late 2026 into an earlier window.
Another variable entering the equation is the scheduled change in Fed leadership. Powell steps down in May, with Kevin Warsh set to take over as chair.
Warsh is widely known to favor lower interest rates, a stance that could accelerate any easing if inflation data cooperates.
That said, the ceasefire is a two-week arrangement, not a permanent agreement. Iran has already declared three violations since the deal was announced.
Israel continues military operations in Lebanon, and the Strait of Hormuz remains partially restricted. The April Consumer Price Index report will serve as the first real test of whether the oil shock is easing.
Until that data arrives, Fed rate cuts in 2026 will remain unsettled.
Anthropic, the $380 billion AI giant responsible for the Claude tool, has a new AI model called Mythos that could become a crypto hacking nightmare.
Concerned about global panic if it were to release its frontier model too soon, Anthropic handed early “Mythos” access to JPMorgan Chase, Apple, Microsoft, and a few dozen other blue chip tech companies.
Unfortunately, Anthropic didn’t grant guest list access to any crypto company for its paternalistic Project Glasswing.
One Bitcoin developer asked Anthropic directly, “Why not cooperation with bitcoin/crypto projects?” Anthropic declined to reply.
JPMorgan Chase got a head start. Crypto didn’t.
A wing of glass preventing Mythos from hacking crypto
Anthropic’s Glasswing cybersecurity sprint is permitting 50-60 companies early access to its unreleased model that “can find software vulnerabilities better than all but the most skilled humans,” according to the company.
It is also donating $4 million worth of AI credits and is “committing” up to $100 million in AI credits for Glasswing.
According to Anthropic, which obviously has an incentive to praise the powers of its unreleased model for media and fundraising purposes, Mythos has strong reasoning and coding skills and is considerably more dangerous as a software hacking tool than most human developers.
Anthropic claims Mythos is “very autonomous” and has already found “thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities,” including bugs in “every major operating system and web browser.”
It withheld details about most of those bugs, except a 27-year-old bug in OpenBSD Unix software and a 16-year-old flaw in FFmpeg video software.
Curiously, Anthropic has published professionally staged and videotaped promotional materials in which Anthropic stakeholders sound alarms about Mythos’ capabilities.
For media purposes, it carefully selected the name “Glasswing,” which refers to the Greta oto butterfly whose transparent wings resemble glass.
Read more: AI just bypassed the Cloudflare protection that DeFi needs
Crypto, excluded from Glasswing, is particularly vulnerable
If Mythos’ threat is real, crypto software is particularly vulnerable to hackers with access to it.
Many implementations of crypto software are mostly or fully immutable, contain tremendous financial value, and have globally distributed deployment and upgrade cycles that prevent a quick defense.
Protos reported in December 2025 that even before Mythos, Anthropic had pitted its AI agents against 405 smart contracts.
Even with backdated knowledge and no internet access, its agents correctly predicted millions of dollars worth of available exploits on smart contracts which had gone live after researchers cut off the AI internet and knowledge access.
Anthropic’s AI agents also uncovered novel zero-day vulnerabilities in thousands of fresh contracts with no previously known flaws.
Those discoveries were before Mythos. According to Anthropic’s self-aggrandizing claims yesterday, Mythos can dramatically out-codes everything Claude has built previously.
Stifel analyst Adam Borg is convinced. “We read this as having the potential to become the ultimate hacking tool, and one that can elevate any ordinary hacker into a nation-state adversary,” Borg wrote about Mythos.
Anthropic says Glasswing partners will share their findings with the broader industry and patch major bugs prior to the public release of Mythos.
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Bitcoin (BTC) rallied above $72,000 on Tuesday as BTC order book and derivatives data showed buyers returning to the market.
Bitcoin’s recent trading history suggests that holding the $70,000 level is the first task bulls need to master, but previous BTC price rallies were capped by short-term traders selling into the bullish momentum. Will this time be different?
Bitcoin spot demand remains positive
Bitcoin held above $71,300 on Wednesday as the spot market demand strengthened over the past few days. The order flow across major exchanges shows a clear shift toward investor accumulation.
The 30-day spot net volume delta for Bitcoin, which tracks the net difference between market buys and sells, has turned positive on both Binance and Coinbase after persistent selling in February.
Binance’s 30-day net volume moving average stands at $43.2 million, while Coinbase records $13.88 million. This marks a coordinated shift in behavior across the key crypto exchanges.
The derivatives data adds weight to the move. CryptoQuant data shows Binance’s cumulative volume delta (CVD) has increased to $5.6 billion on Wednesday, up $3.3 billion in April. The CVD measures the aggressive market orders, and the recent rise tracks an increase in taker-buy volume following Bitcoin’s brief drop below $65,000 on March 30.
The current cumulative net taker volume on Binance has reached its highest level since early February, when CVD stood near $74 million. This indicates stronger buyer conviction than the muted activity seen during the previous consolidation phase.
Related: Bitcoin fades three-week highs as BTC price shrugs off Iran war ceasefire
$72,000 is Bitcoin’s line in the sand
Bitcoin’s interaction with $72,000 continues to shape its short-term positioning. The level has acted as a resistance since Feb. 4, with failed attempts to reclaim it on March 4 and March 16. Both rallies were met with sharp selling from the short-term holders, who sold roughly 26,000 BTC and 31,000 BTC, respectively.
The current behavior shows a different pattern. After BTC’s rally to $72,000 on Tuesday, data shows short-term holder capitulation of nearly 3,000 BTC. The reduced selling pressure signals less urgency to exit positions at the current levels than in prior attempts.
The profitability metrics are also stabilizing. Bitcoin’s net realized profit/loss seven-day moving average sits at -$109 million, recovering from a low of -$2 billion on Feb. 7. The metric is approaching a positive bias for the first time since Jan. 22, indicating a gradual reduction in realized losses.
The reduced selling pressure and rising profitability point to a more balanced market in which buyers are gradually absorbing available supply. For a bullish expansion to occur, the trend needs to continue and the buyers need to defend the $70,000 to $72,000 zone over the next few days.
Related: Cango sells 2,000 BTC, cuts Bitcoin production cost by 19% in March
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.
Ben Delo, BitMEX co-founder and Trump pardon recipient, has donated £4 million ($5.3 million) to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Delo announced the contribution in a Telegraph op-ed published April 8. He described the donation as his first foray into political activism.
Why a Pardoned Crypto Founder Is Backing Reform UK
Delo co-founded the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange BitMEX in 2014. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to violating the US Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) for failing to maintain anti-money laundering controls at the platform.
He paid a $10 million civil fine and received 30 months of probation. President Donald Trump granted full pardons to Delo and his co-founders, Arthur Hayes and Samuel Reed, in March 2025.
In his op-ed, Delo framed his donation in terms of what he called a crisis of honesty in British public life.
He wrote that Reform UK was the only party willing to confront the country’s problems directly.
“Since the start of this year, I have donated £4m to help Nigel Farage to build Reform UK into a genuine alternative party of government,” The Telegraph reported, citing Delo.
Delo Plans to Bypass Labour’s Overseas Donor Cap
The UK government introduced a £100,000 annual cap on political donations from British citizens living abroad on March 25. A moratorium on cryptocurrency donations also took effect alongside the cap.
The measures followed an independent review into foreign financial interference in British politics led by former Permanent Secretary Philip Rycroft.
Delo, currently based in Hong Kong, said he will relocate to Britain to sidestep the cap and continue funding Reform’s campaign efforts.
Reform UK has received £12 million from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based British investor, over the past year. The new cap could limit Harborne’s future contributions significantly.
The post Trump Pardon Recipient Gives $5.3 Million to Farage’s Reform UK appeared first on BeInCrypto.
TLDR
- Michael Saylor predicts Bitcoin likely reached its bottom at $60,000 in early February.
- Saylor emphasizes that bottoms are driven by seller exhaustion rather than valuations.
- Limited selling pressure is expected for Bitcoin, with growing demand from ETF inflows and corporate treasury reallocations.
- Saylor believes the next Bitcoin bull market will be driven by the development of digital credit on top of Bitcoin.
- Strategy’s STRC preferred stock offers an example of Bitcoin’s evolving role in capital markets.
Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy (MSTR), expressed confidence that Bitcoin has likely reached its bottom at $60,000 in early February. At a recent Mizuho event, Saylor highlighted that bottoms are more about seller exhaustion than valuations. He also pointed out that trend reversals are driven by capital structure and liquidity, rather than investor sentiment.
Saylor noted that Bitcoin is facing limited selling pressure, driven by ETF inflows and companies shifting treasury assets into Bitcoin. He believes that the next bull market will be fueled by the formation of banking credit and digital credit on top of Bitcoin. This would expand Bitcoin’s use from a store of value to a more dynamic capital market engine.
Bitcoin as a Capital Market Engine
Michael Saylor is confident that Bitcoin’s price bottomed in early February at $60,000. He has long maintained that market bottoms are not determined by price valuations but by seller exhaustion. Saylor emphasized that the true drivers of trend reversals are capital structure and liquidity, which are much more critical than market sentiment.
Saylor believes that there is little selling pressure for Bitcoin at the moment. ETF inflows are helping to absorb daily supply, while companies are increasingly reallocating treasury assets into Bitcoin. This growing demand, Saylor believes, will help prevent further price declines.
Looking ahead, Saylor sees Bitcoin playing a more prominent role in global finance. He believes that Bitcoin’s future bull market will be driven by the development of banking credit and digital credit systems on top of the cryptocurrency. This shift will move Bitcoin beyond just being a store of value, supporting a broader range of lending and credit activity.
Saylor pointed to Strategy’s own digital credit product, STRC preferred stock, as an example. He highlighted its 11.5% yield, which is well below the company’s expectation of Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation. “We are stretching Bitcoin from a nonyielding asset into a capital markets engine,” Saylor said, demonstrating how Bitcoin is evolving in the financial landscape.
Quantum Computing’s Risks Are Overblown
Saylor also weighed in on the topic of quantum computing, a subject that has generated considerable debate. He dismissed the potential risks of quantum computing to Bitcoin, calling the threat theoretical and unlikely to become a concern for decades. Even then, Saylor believes that any quantum threats to Bitcoin can be solved before they become a reality.
Saylor’s remarks reflect a growing confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term viability, despite technological advancements like quantum computing. He downplayed the urgency surrounding these concerns, suggesting that Bitcoin’s security will adapt as technology evolves.
Mizuho analysts maintained their “outperform” rating on Strategy and set a price target of $320 for the company’s stock. This suggests a potential upside of about 150% from the current price of $127.
Former Binance CEO, Changpeng Zhao’s new book has apparently not gone down too well with OKX CEO Xu Mingxing after it claimed he was responsible for the arrest of Houbi’s founder Li Lin in 2025.
Freedom of Money, which launched today in various countries, recounts Zhao’s life growing up in China, his Binance journey, and his experiences with Terra and FTX.
In one section, he detailed how he attended a banquet with Li in 2025 after 11 years apart.
“Li Lin told me he’d seen a screenshot showing Xu Mingxing personally reporting him to Chinese police; it was that report that led to his arrest,” wrote Zhao.
The book notes that Li was arrested on November 28, 2020. However, details were kept under wraps at the time, and even reports from months later were uncertain.
Xu has claimed, however, that the book’s characterization of events is “purely false information.”
Read more: Changpeng Zhao has ‘nothing else to do’ during jail time so may write a book
He said that in the Asian Crypto industry, any founder or platform will process large amounts of reports, and that “this industry would have ceased to exist long ago” if reports influenced every “outcome.”
“Huobi’s Mr. Li has very high emotional intelligence and has managed all sorts of people around him well over the years; he shouldn’t believe this kind of nonsense that defies common sense,” Xu said.
Xu went on to claim that Zhao’s book makes further falsehoods including, “the history of joining and leaving OKCoin, the contract dispute with Roger Ver, whether [Zhao] personally manipulated the market, whether [Zhao] acted as a tainted witness to report Justin Sun during the investigation, [Zhao’s] own marital status, and so on.”
The exec expanded on the contract dispute while Zhao was at OKCoin (OKX’s former name), and how the Binance founder allegedly forged documents related to a Bitcoin.com agreement with Roger Ver.
CZ claimed these accusations put immense pressure on his professional reputation and denied the allegations in his book.
OKX CEO referenced Binance’s compliance firings
Xu’s post bringing up these allegations was made alongside an article from Bloomberg, which reports that Binance’s Chief Compliance Officer, Noah Perlman, is planning to quit within the next two years.
Read more: Justin Sun keeps fighting with Huobi founder Li Lin
The article also details further Binance compliance staff departures. This, alongside reports that Binance fired compliance staff looking into Iranian-linked transactions, has raised doubts about the company’s commitment to its 2023 plea deal.
Regardless, Xu has used the Bloomberg piece to emphasize his distrust for Zhao.
“After spending four months in prison, he continues to make false statements to the world. All I can say is: a habitual liar never changes their nature,” Xu said.
Zhao, on the other hand, has been busy promoting his book online and hasn’t addressed Xu’s comments. It hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing though, as his personal number appeared identifiable within the text.
Zhao distanced himself from the number and claimed that he hadn’t used it for years, adding that it has a new owner who’s probably “a hacker or the hat uncle.” He warned readers not to add the number to their contacts.
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Market analysts say Bitcoin’s (BTC) is building up after its 7% rally above $72,000 on Tuesday, with bulls eyeing further gains to $90,000 amid improving macro sentiment.
Key takeaways:
-
BTC price builds a bullish structure after reclaiming $72,000, as a symmetrical triangle breakout targets $90,000.
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Binance taker buy volume exploded by $2.7 billion in two hours after the US-Iran ceasefire, signaling strong aggressive buying by bulls.
BTC price “builds a bullish structure”
Bitcoin’s latest rally saw it reclaim key support areas, including the $68,000 zone where the 200-week exponential moving average and the 50-day simple moving average converge.
Related: Bitcoin wallets absorb 4.37M BTC as network activity flips to ‘bull phase’
“Bitcoin breaks through the crucial $71K level and builds a bullish structure,” MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said in a post on Wednesday.
The analyst further pointed out that the next crucial resistance zone is $80,000 and that holding the support at $70,000 was required to secure the recovery toward $90,000, as shown in the chart below.
“That would strengthen the entire theory of higher lows, higher highs, and continue the momentum upwards.”
From a technical perspective, BTC/USD is validating a symmetrical triangle after breaking above its upper trend line at $70,000 on Tuesday.
A daily candlestick close above this level would confirm the breakout, with the next line of resistance being the $76,000 range high.
Above that, bulls will have to contend with resistance at $80,000 before pushing Bitcoin price toward the measured target of the triangle at $90,000, 25% above the current price.
The daily relative strength index, or RSI, has increased to 56 from oversold conditions at 15 reached on Feb. 6, suggesting increasing bullish momentum.
As Cointelegraph reported, maintaining above $69,500 in the near term is crucial for the bulls to sustain the recovery.
Bitcoin bulls are “buying aggressively”
Bullish sentiment could be returning to Bitcoin as a key metric from Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume, shows that buyers are starting to dominate the platform’s volumes.
The Binance taker buy volume, which measures the total dollar amount of aggressive buy orders (market buys) placed by traders on Binance futures, increased by $2.7 billion within two hours following the US and Iran ceasefire agreement on Tuesday.
“Within just two hours, during and after the announcement, $1.2B and $1.5B ($2.7B) in taker buy volume appeared on derivatives markets,” CryptoQuant contributor DarkFost said in an April 8 note, adding:
“This sudden improvement in visibility allows investors to reposition in the short term, and sends a constructive signal for Bitcoin.”
This increased flow of liquidity into Binance was also reinforced by net taker volume, which measures the imbalance between aggressive buyers and sellers in derivatives markets.
The Binance Bitcoin cumulative test taker volume has “climbed to $1.02 billion, its highest level since March 17, signaling a sharp return of aggressive buying in Bitcoin,” CryptoQuant analyst Amr Taha said, adding:
“This suggests Binance traders were buying aggressively into improving macro sentiment, not just reacting to a crypto-specific headline.”
Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s Coinbase premium index has flipped positive, pointing to a return in demand from US investors, following a long stretch of negative readings.
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.
TLDR
- The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed new stablecoin rules to address money laundering and terrorism financing risks.
- The rules, released by FinCEN and OFAC, require stablecoin issuers to implement robust AML and CFT programs.
- Issuers will need to maintain risk-based internal controls and undergo regular audits to comply with sanctions regulations.
- The Treasury Secretary emphasized that the rules would protect the U.S. financial system without hindering innovation.
- The proposed regulations align with the GENIUS Act and set a compliance deadline of January 2027 for stablecoin issuers.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s financial crimes bureau and sanctions agency have proposed new rules for stablecoin issuers. These rules aim to strengthen measures against money laundering and terrorism financing. The joint proposal, released by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), follows the new GENIUS Act and seeks to ensure compliance with national security concerns while fostering innovation.
FinCEN’s Focus on Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
The proposed rules from FinCEN are designed to safeguard the U.S. financial system from illicit activities. Stablecoin issuers would need to implement comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) programs. These programs would involve risk identification, monitoring, and mitigation procedures.
According to FinCEN, it would take a “measured supervisory approach” to enforcement. The agency emphasized that it would not take action unless there was a “systemic failure” in a payment stablecoin issuer’s AML or CFT program. The rule aims to keep stablecoin issuers in line with legal standards while avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens.
New Stablecoin Rules Focus on Sanctions and AML
Alongside FinCEN’s AML/CFT requirements, OFAC’s proposed rules focus on sanctions compliance. Issuers would be required to develop risk-based internal controls to prevent sanctions violations. These controls would include regular testing and auditing of their systems to ensure they comply with OFAC regulations.
The Treasury Department also made it clear that the rule would not impede innovation. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated, “This proposal will protect the U.S. financial system from national security threats without hindering American companies’ ability to forge ahead in the payment stablecoin ecosystem.” The rules are part of a broader initiative to regulate stablecoins under the GENIUS Act, which mandates full backing of stablecoins with liquid assets.
The rule proposal requires public comments to be submitted within 60 days. Federal agencies are working toward a January 2027 compliance deadline. This regulatory action comes in the wake of other proposals from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, further solidifying the regulatory framework around stablecoins.
The Wisconsin election on Tuesday produced its expected winner but a striking margin: Democratic-backed appeals court judge Chris Taylor defeated conservative-backed judge Maria Lazar by roughly 20 percentage points, expanding liberals’ court majority from 4-3 to 5-2 and cementing liberal control through at least 2030.
Summary
- The Associated Press called the race less than 40 minutes after polls closed; Taylor, a former Democratic state legislator and current Court of Appeals judge, replaces retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley and will be sworn in August 1, 2026 — the fourth consecutive Supreme Court win for liberal candidates in Wisconsin
- The 5-2 majority means liberals hold the court through the 2028 presidential election regardless of the two upcoming conservative-seat races; even winning both of those would only return conservatives to their current 2-seat minority, leaving liberals firmly in control
- The race was significantly lower-profile than the record-breaking 2025 election — total spending was roughly $8 million versus $100 million-plus last year — because the majority was never at stake; despite the lower stakes, Taylor’s margin was 10 points larger than the previous liberal Supreme Court victory
As NBC News reported, Taylor ran up large margins in Milwaukee and Dane counties, carried Ozaukee County — a traditionally conservative Milwaukee suburb — and won more than 20 counties that voted for Trump in 2024. The race was technically nonpartisan, but both candidates ran with clear partisan backing. In her victory speech, Taylor addressed the political dimension without naming Trump directly: “Politics has no place in the judiciary, and the judiciary is not a rubber stamp for any party, group or branch of government — including the federal government.”
The most significant number from Tuesday is the gap between what was predicted and what happened. The 14th Congressional District in Georgia — another Tuesday election — showed a 17-point Democratic swing in one of America’s most Republican districts. Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race showed a 20-point Democratic margin in a contest where the majority was never in question and spending was a fraction of prior years. Both results, on the same night, in different states and different contexts, pointed in the same direction: Democratic enthusiasm running well ahead of what 2024 results would imply.
Taylor’s geographic reach was notable. She carried rural counties that voted for Trump in 2024 and held Ozaukee County in Milwaukee’s suburban ring — a county that has historically been part of the conservative base in statewide races. That cross-geographic performance without the high-stakes energy of the 2025 race suggests the enthusiasm has a structural quality rather than being exclusively issue-driven.
What the Court Will Now Decide
The Wisconsin Supreme Court under its liberal majority has already forced new legislative maps by striking down a Republican gerrymander and restored ballot drop boxes. With a 5-2 majority secured through 2030, the court is positioned to rule on congressional redistricting — Wisconsin’s congressional map remains heavily gerrymandered in Republicans’ favor — as well as voting rights cases from the 2026 and 2028 elections, and a challenge to the Scott Walker-era law that eliminated collective bargaining for most public workers.
Why Wisconsin’s Court Matters for the Broader Political and Regulatory Environment
As crypto.news has reported, the composition of Congress and state governments after November’s midterms directly shapes the pace and direction of US crypto regulation, including GENIUS Act implementation and market structure legislation. As crypto.news has noted, stablecoin legislation and digital asset market structure bills require sustained congressional engagement; the midterm environment that Taylor’s margin and Harris’s Georgia performance are signaling would produce a very different congressional calculus than the one that currently exists. Liberals will have another opportunity to expand their Wisconsin court majority in 2027, when conservative Justice Annette Ziegler will not seek a third term.
Key points:
-
Bitcoin is showing signs of bottoming out, but some analysts believe a final shakeout below $60,000 is still possible over the next few months.
-
Several major altcoins are showing early signs of buying, but the bulls have a lot of work to do before a trend change is signalled.
Bitcoin (BTC) rose above the $72,000 level on Tuesday following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. Although the bulls could not achieve a close above $72,000, a positive sign is that the buyers have not ceded much ground to the bears. That suggests the bulls are holding on to their positions as they anticipate the recovery to continue.
Several analysts believe that BTC is showing signs of bottoming out. Crypto trader Quantum Ascend said in a post on X that BTC’s stochastic relative strength index (RSI) indicator is at the “exact same point on the daily as it was in 2022” before the price sprinted higher.
A slightly different view was put forth by Alphractal founder and CEO Joao Wedson, who said in a post on X that the bear trend may be ending but BTC may witness “a sharp move like a –$15K shakeout” over the next six months.
Could BTC and select major altcoins extend their relief rally? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.
Bitcoin price prediction
BTC cleared the moving averages and the $72,000 resistance on Tuesday, indicating solid buying by the bulls.
Sellers are expected to defend the $72,000 to $76,000 zone with all their might, as a close above it will complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern. If that happens, the BTC/USDT pair may skyrocket to $84,000.
The first sign of weakness will be a close below the moving averages, suggesting that the bears remain sellers on rallies. A close below the support line will invalidate the positive setup, increasing the risk of a fall to the crucial $62,500 to $60,000 support zone.
Ether price prediction
Ether (ETH) turned up from the 50-day simple moving average ($2,059) on Tuesday and surged above the $2,200 resistance.
The 20-day exponential moving average ($2,110) has started to turn up, and the RSI is in the positive territory, indicating that the path of least resistance is to the upside. There is resistance at the $2,400 level, but if the bulls overcome it, the up move may extend to $2,800.
Time is running out for the bears. They will have to swiftly yank the ETH price below the moving averages to signal a comeback. The ETH/USDT pair may fall to $1,918 and potentially to the $1,750 support.
XRP price prediction
XRP’s (XRP) bounce off the $1.27 level reached the moving averages, which is a crucial resistance to watch out for.
If buyers thrust the XRP/USDT pair above the moving average, it clears the path for a rally to the breakdown level of $1.61 and then to the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern. Sellers will attempt to halt the up move at the downtrend line, as a close above it points to a potential trend change.
On the downside, a close below the $1.27 level signals that the bears remain in control. That increases the risk of a drop to the $1.11 level and eventually to the support line of the descending channel pattern near $1.
BNB price prediction
BNB (BNB) has been consolidating between $570 and $687 for several days, indicating buying near the support and selling close to the resistance.
The flattish moving averages and the RSI near the midpoint suggest that the range-bound action may continue for a few more days. If bulls pierce the moving averages, the BNB/USDT pair may reach the $687 level, where the bears are expected to step in.
The next trending move is expected to begin on a close above the $687 resistance or below the $570 support. If the $687 level is taken out, the pair may soar to $730 and later to $790. On the other hand, a close below $570 may sink the pair to $500.
Solana price prediction
Solana (SOL) is attempting to rise above the moving averages, but the bears have held their ground.
The flattish moving averages and the RSI just below the midpoint do not give a clear advantage either to the bulls or the bears. If the SOL price rises above the moving averages, the next stop may be the $98 level. Buyers will have to secure a close above the $98 resistance to gain the upper hand.
On the downside, a break and close below the $76 support tilts the advantage in favor of the bears. That increases the risk of a drop to $67 and subsequently to $50.
Dogecoin price prediction
Dogecoin (DOGE) rose above the moving averages on Tuesday, but the recovery is facing resistance at the downtrend line.
Sellers will attempt to strengthen their position by pulling the DOGE price below the $0.09 level. If they manage to do that, the DOGE/USDT pair will complete a descending triangle pattern. The pattern target of this bearish setup is $0.06.
On the contrary, a close above the downtrend line invalidates the negative setup. That suggests the bears have given up, opening the gates for a rally to $0.11 and then to the $0.12 level.
Hyperliquid price prediction
Hyperliquid (HYPE) closed above the 20-day EMA ($37.28) on Tuesday, signaling that the correction may be over.
The bulls will attempt to push the HYPE price to the $41.59 to $43.76 zone, where the sellers are expected to mount a solid defense. If buyers clear the overhead barrier, the HYPE/USDT pair may rally to $50.
This positive view will be negated in the near term if the price turns down and breaks below the 50-day SMA ($34.80). Such a move indicates that higher levels continue to attract sellers. The pair may then tumble to the $29.42 level.
Related: Oil falls, Bitcoin jumps to $72K, but is this BTC price breakout for real?
Cardano price prediction
Buyers pushed Cardano (ADA) to the 50-day SMA ($0.26) on Tuesday, indicating that the bulls are attempting a comeback.
If buyers pierce the 50-day SMA, the ADA/USDT pair may reach the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the downtrend line as a close above it signals a potential trend change.
Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to aggressively defend the downtrend line and pull the ADA price below the moving averages. If they do that, the pair may extend its stay inside the channel for a few more days.
Bitcoin Cash price prediction
Buyers are attempting to sustain Bitcoin Cash (BCH) above the breakdown level of $443 but are expected to face significant resistance from the bears.
If the BCH price turns down from the moving averages and breaks below the $420 level, it signals the resumption of the downward move. That may sink the BCH/USDT pair to the $375 level.
The first sign of strength will be a close above the moving averages. That suggests the market has rejected the break below the $443 level. The pair may then rally to the $520 to $540 zone.
Chainlink price prediction
Chainlink (LINK) closed above the moving averages on Tuesday, opening the doors for a rally to the resistance of the $8 to $10 range.
Sellers are expected to defend the $10 level, keeping the LINK price inside the range for some more time.
Buyers will have to propel and maintain the price above the $10 resistance to gain the upper hand. That may drive the LINK/USDT pair to $10.94 and thereafter to the $11.61 level. On the downside, a break and close below the $8 level signals an advantage to bears. The pair risks falling to $7.15 and then to the pattern target of $6.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
The political news from the Pentagon on April 2 shocked military officials: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George — the Army’s most senior officer — while the 82nd Airborne Division was actively deploying to the Middle East, replacing him immediately with Gen. Christopher LaNeve, a former personal aide to Hegseth.
Summary
- CBS News first reported the ouster; Axios confirmed with defense officials; Hegseth also fired Gen. David Hodne, commander of Army Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the Army chief of chaplains — three generals removed on the same day
- George, confirmed by the Senate as Army Chief in 2023 under Biden and three years into a typical four-year term, learned of the decision via a phone call from Hegseth while he was in a meeting; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced his retirement as “effective immediately”
- Two US officials confirmed to Axios the firing was driven by clashing personalities, not policy disagreement; it is the latest in a string of more than a dozen generals and flag officers Hegseth has removed since taking office, including Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown and Navy CNO Adm. Lisa Franchetti
As Axios reported, one US official’s response to the timing was blunt: “you fire him? In the middle of a war?” LaNeve, who previously called into the Commander in Chief’s Ball after Trump’s inauguration to congratulate the president, was described by Parnell as “completely trusted by Secretary Hegseth to carry out the vision of this administration without fault.” The firing coincides with the fifth week of the Iran war and the Army’s active deployment of forces for integrated air and missile defense.
George was not a figurehead. He was actively coordinating the deployment of 82nd Airborne forces and integrated air and missile defense systems to the Middle East — capabilities the Army is primarily responsible for delivering to the joint force. Two US officials told Axios that George was in a meeting working through those logistics when Hegseth called. His abrupt departure interrupts continuity at the senior-most level of Army coordination at the precise moment those functions are most operationally critical. Hodne’s simultaneous removal from Army Transformation and Training Command — a unit created months ago to accelerate technology deployment — leaves that mission without confirmed leadership during active combat operations.
A Growing Pattern of Wartime Leadership Disruption
Hegseth has now removed more than a dozen generals and flag officers since taking office. The firings have prompted concern from both military officials and bipartisan observers about the politicization of senior military leadership and the erosion of the tradition of frank, nonpartisan advice flowing from uniformed commanders to civilian leadership. Five former defense secretaries, including retired Gen. Jim Mattis, sent a joint letter to Congress in the past year describing the pattern as “reckless” and calling for hearings on national security implications. Congress scheduled none.
Why the Pentagon Purge Matters for Markets
The Iran war has been a consistent factor in bitcoin price consolidation throughout early 2026. As crypto.news has reported, BTC has remained range-bound between $65,000 and $73,000 with ceasefire signals producing brief rallies above $70,000 before reversing on hawkish news. As crypto.news has noted, geopolitical volatility in the Iran conflict has been a primary market signal in 2026 — and a destabilized military command structure during active combat introduces new uncertainty into that calculus.
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