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Is Trump’s New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Bullish for Crypto?

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Is Trump’s New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Bullish for Crypto?

President Donald Trump has named Kevin Warsh as his pick for the next Chair of the US Federal Reserve, setting up a leadership change at the world’s most powerful central bank in May 2026.

The nomination comes at a fragile moment. Inflation remains sticky, markets are jittery, and crypto is already under pressure from macro uncertainty. The choice of Fed chair now matters more than at any point since the pandemic.

So who is Kevin Warsh, how does he differ from Jerome Powell, and what could his appointment mean for interest rates — and for crypto markets in the second half of 2026?

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Who Is Kevin Warsh?

Kevin Warsh is not an outsider to the Federal Reserve. His appointment will require Senate confirmation. But markets are already reacting to the policy signal behind the pick.

Warsh served as a Fed Governor from 2006 to 2011, becoming the youngest governor in the institution’s history. 

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He worked closely with then-chair Ben Bernanke during the global financial crisis and represented the Fed at G20 meetings.

Back in 2007, Kevin Warsh Spoke at the First-Ever Fed Meeting Recorded by Cameras

After leaving the Fed, Warsh moved into academia and policy. He is currently a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and a frequent critic of modern central banking.

Warsh’s Monetary Policy Record: A Known Inflation Hawk

Historically, Warsh is best described as an inflation hawk.

During the 2008–2009 crisis, he repeatedly warned that aggressive easing could fuel future inflation. He opposed extended quantitative easing and pushed for a smaller Fed balance sheet, even when inflation was subdued.

This puts him at odds with the post-2020 Fed playbook.

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The Inflation Hawk Personality Explained. Source: Investopedia

However, Warsh’s stance has evolved. In recent years, he has argued that deregulation and fiscal restraint could lower inflation naturally — allowing the Fed to cut rates without risking price instability.

That shift matters in the current cycle.

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How Warsh Differs From Jerome Powell

The contrast with Jerome Powell is sharp.

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Powell embraced emergency stimulus during COVID and initially downplayed inflation risks in 2021. That delay later forced the Fed into its most aggressive tightening cycle in decades.

Warsh has openly called that period a policy failure, arguing the Fed lost credibility by reacting too late.

He also criticizes the Fed’s expanding mandate. Warsh opposes central bank involvement in climate policy, social issues, and political signaling. Powell has been more open to these initiatives.

In short, Warsh favors a narrower, more traditional Fed — focused strictly on inflation, employment, and financial stability.

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What This Means for Interest Rates in 2026

The Fed’s latest decision this week kept rates unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%, signaling caution after multiple cuts in 2025.

Markets currently expect the next rate cut no earlier than mid-2026.

Warsh’s appointment complicates that outlook.

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On one hand, his inflation hawk reputation suggests discipline. He is unlikely to rush cuts without clear evidence inflation is contained.

On the other hand, Warsh has publicly supported Trump’s view that excessive regulation and fiscal expansion are inflationary. If those pressures ease, he could back faster normalization.

That creates a scenario where rate cuts resume in the second half of 2026 — but under tighter justification.

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Warsh and Crypto: Not Anti, But Not an Evangelist

Warsh’s relationship with crypto is nuanced.

He has invested personally in crypto-related firms, including the algorithmic stablecoin project Basis and crypto asset manager Bitwise. That alone separates him from many traditional policymakers.

Back in 2021, Kevin Warsh Invested in a $70 Million Funding Round for Bitwise

At the same time, Warsh is deeply skeptical of crypto as money.

He has argued that Bitcoin’s volatility makes it unsuitable as a medium of exchange. However, he has acknowledged Bitcoin could function as a store of value, similar to gold.

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His strongest stance is against unregulated private money. Warsh has repeatedly called for clearer rules around stablecoins and supports a wholesale US CBDC limited to interbank use, not retail consumers.

That positions him closer to regulatory clarity than outright hostility.

Could Warsh Be Bullish for Crypto?

Short term, probably not.

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Crypto markets remain driven by liquidity, rates, and macro risk. Warsh will not take office until May, and rate policy will remain data-dependent.

But medium to long term, the picture changes.

Warsh’s emphasis on credibility, rule clarity, and a restrained Fed could reduce policy uncertainty — something crypto markets have struggled with for years.

If inflation continues to cool and Warsh supports rate cuts later in 2026, risk assets would benefit. Crypto, which remains highly sensitive to real yields and liquidity expectations, would likely respond positively.

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Importantly, Warsh is not ideologically anti-crypto. He views blockchain as a useful technology and prefers regulation over suppression.

That alone could improve sentiment.

Warsh is unlikely to spark an immediate rally. But if his tenure brings clearer regulation, lower inflation, and a path to sustained rate cuts, the second half of 2026 could look meaningfully more constructive.

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China orders Apple to pull Dorsey’s Bitchat, the messaging app used during Iran protests

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China expands crypto crackdown to stablecoins, asset tokenization

Tech giant Apple removed Bitchat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app developed by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, from its China App Store at the request of Beijing’s internet regulator, Dorsey disclosed in an X post on Sunday.

The Cyberspace Administration of China argued the app violated regulations governing online services with “public opinion or social mobilization capabilities,” a provision that requires security assessments before launch.

Apple’s app review team told Dorsey that both the App Store listing and the TestFlight beta version would no longer be available in China, though the app remains accessible in other countries.

Bitchat runs entirely over Bluetooth and mesh networks with no internet connection required, a design that makes it functionally impossible for governments to block through conventional internet shutdowns or firewall filtering.

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That architecture has made it a tool of choice during recent protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran, where authorities attempted to restrict internet access to curb dissent.

The app has been downloaded more than three million times across platforms, with over 92,000 downloads in the past week alone, though regional breakdowns are not available. The Google Play Store shows more than one million registered downloads separately.

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Rwanda central bank warns against crypto use after Bybit adds franc support

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Rwanda central bank warns against crypto use after Bybit adds franc support

Rwanda’s central bank has reiterated that cryptocurrency activity tied to the local currency remains prohibited, responding swiftly after crypto exchange Bybit introduced support for the Rwandan franc on its peer-to-peer marketplace.

Summary

  • Rwanda’s central bank reaffirmed that crypto payments and trading using the Rwandan franc remain prohibited following Bybit’s P2P support update.
  • Regulators warned of financial risks and barred licensed institutions from facilitating conversions between FRW and crypto assets.

In a statement posted to X on Sunday, the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) made clear that crypto-assets are not permitted for payments, conversions involving the franc, or P2P trading under the current regulatory framework. 

Authorities also cautioned residents against engaging with such services, warning of “serious financial risks and no recourse in case of loss.”

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The clarification followed an announcement from Bybit on Friday indicating that users could buy and sell digital assets using the Rwandan franc through its P2P platform. The move appeared to prompt an immediate response from regulators, who emphasized that the franc remains the country’s only recognized legal tender. Financial institutions licensed by the NBR are also barred from facilitating conversions between FRW and crypto-assets. 

ByBit has yet to issue an official statement as of press time.

Rwanda has kept a strict stance on crypto since 2018, with policymakers focusing on protecting the financial system and supporting the local currency.

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At the same time, the country has been working on a state-backed digital currency, the e-franc rwandais, which is still in the proof-of-concept stage and may move to pilot testing.

Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Capital Market Authority has put forward a draft framework to support “responsible innovation” in the crypto sector.

The proposal sets clear limits, including a ban on using crypto as legal tender, restrictions on mining and mixer services, and controls on tokens linked to the franc.

Data from Chainalysis places Rwanda among lower-ranking countries in crypto usage across 2024 and 2025, with transaction volumes trailing far behind regional peers such as Nigeria and South Africa.

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Bybit continues expanding offerings

Despite the regulatory pushback, Bybit has continued expanding its product offerings globally. 

As previously reported by crypto.news, the exchange has recently leaned into strategies designed to attract users during uncertain market conditions, including a stronger focus on stablecoin yield products and fixed-income-style instruments. Bybit plans to roll out up to $10 million in stablecoin-backed opportunities.

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Bitcoin Price Flashed 3 Bullish Hints in a Week and None Delivered a Breakout

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Bitcoin (BTC) price trades at $69,192 on April 6 after gaining approximately 4% from a local low on April 5. The bounce is the third in just a week to emerge from the same technical signal on the 8-hour chart.

Each time, the signal has produced a move to the upside. But each time, the rally has stalled below the same zone. The pattern raises a question that on-chain data can answer, and the answer determines whether this attempt ends differently or joins the first two as another failed breakout.

Three Cues, Same Ceiling

Bitcoin price has been forming a series of near-term standard bullish divergences on the 8-hour chart. The Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and direction of price changes, made a higher low on each occasion while price printed a lower low. This pattern typically signals weakening selling pressure and precedes a reversal.

The first divergence completed on March 31, with the base date at February 3. Bitcoin rallied 4.83% before the move stalled. The second completed on April 3 and produced only a 1.47% bounce, the weakest of the three. The third completed on April 5 and has so far generated a 4.24% rally, pushing price back toward $69,192.

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8H RSI Divergences
8H RSI Divergences: TradingView

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All three rallies share a common trait. None managed to close decisively above $69,182 on the 8-hour chart, a level where one of the previous bounces flattened. The signal keeps firing. The ceiling keeps holding.

At press time, Bitcoin price sits just above that level, testing whether the third attempt has enough momentum to break through where the first two failed. The answer lies not in the chart pattern itself but in who is buying and who is selling behind the scenes.

Two Conviction On-Chain Pillars Are Weakening

The reason the divergences have not translated into a sustained rally becomes visible in two on-chain datasets.

The first is whale concentration. The number of entities holding 1,000 or more BTC, a proxy for the largest holders in the market, peaked near 1,281 around mid-March. Since then, the count has declined steadily to 1,266 as of April 5. That reduction of 15 whale-tier wallets over three weeks means that the concentrated buying power which typically drives breakouts is thinning rather than building.

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The decline accelerated after March 29, overlapping precisely with the window when the three divergences were forming.

Whale Entities Balance Above 1K
Whale Entities Balance Above 1K: Glassnode

The second is long-term holder behavior. The Long-Term Holder Net Position Change, which tracks whether holders with a history of sustained positions are adding or reducing exposure, peaked at 163,262 BTC around March 22. By April 5, it had dropped to 87,038 BTC, a decline of nearly 47%. Long-term holders are not capitulating, but their conviction has weakened.

BTC Long-Term Holder Net Position Change
BTC Long-Term Holder Net Position Change: Glassnode

The UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD), which maps how much supply was last moved at each price level, reveals the structural obstacle sitting directly overhead. A 1.7% supply cluster sits at the current price range near $69,422. This means that 1.7% of all Bitcoin supply has its cost basis at or near the current level, creating a wall of potential sellers who may look to exit at breakeven.

BTC URPD Supply Distribution
BTC URPD Supply Distribution: Glassnode

However, the cluster dynamics change quickly above that level. At $70,685, the supply concentration drops to 1.3%. Beyond that, the clusters thin significantly until around $84,000, where another dense zone appears. The difficulty is getting through the first wall without the whale and long-term holder conviction that usually support breakouts.

Bitcoin Price Levels That Separate a Breakout From Another Stall

The 8-hour chart with the completed swing between March 17 and March 25 frames every critical level for this week.

The immediate hurdle is $69,920. An 8-hour close above that level would indicate that the 1.7% supply cluster at the current range did not sell into this rally, which would be the first meaningful departure from the pattern set by the previous two divergences.

Above $69,920, the swing high at $71,956 becomes the next target, and a close above it would confirm that Bitcoin price has broken out of the range that has contained it since late-March.

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Bitcoin Price Analysis
Bitcoin Price Analysis: TradingView

On the downside, $68,660 serves as immediate support for BTC. Below that, $66,624 has acted as a strong floor with multiple touch points since late March. If that level breaks, the structure deteriorates significantly and $63,329 becomes the next reference.

A clean 8-hour close above $69,920 would be the first sign that this divergence is different from the two that came before, while a failure to hold $66,624 would suggest the on-chain weakness has fully overtaken the technical signals and the next leg moves lower.

The post Bitcoin Price Flashed 3 Bullish Hints in a Week and None Delivered a Breakout appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Market Analysis: Gold Price Slips Back, WTI Crude Oil Rally Gains Fresh Strength

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Market Analysis: Gold Price Slips Back, WTI Crude Oil Rally Gains Fresh Strength

Gold price rallied above $4,750 before correcting lower. Crude oil prices are rising and could climb further higher toward $110.00.

Important Takeaways for Gold and WTI Crude Oil Prices Analysis Today

· Gold price gained pace for a move toward $4,800 and recently corrected lower against the US Dollar.

· A key bullish trend line is forming with support at $4,630 on the hourly chart of gold at FXOpen.

· WTI Crude oil prices are moving higher above the $100.00 resistance zone.

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· There was a break above a bearish trend line with resistance at $97.00 on the hourly chart of XTI/USD at FXOpen.

Gold Price Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of Gold at FXOpen, the price was able to climb above $4,500. The price even surpassed $4,750 before the bears appeared.

The price traded close to $4,800 before there was a downside correction. There was a move below $4,750 and $4,700. The price settled below the 50-hour simple moving average, and RSI dipped below 50. There was a move below the 38.2% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $4,351 swing low to the $4,800 high.

However, the bulls are active above $4,575 and the 50% Fib retracement. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support at $4,630.

Immediate hurdle on the upside is $4,695 and the 50-hour simple moving average. The next major breakout level is $4,750. An upside break above $4,750 could send Gold price toward $4,800. Any more gains may perhaps set the pace for an increase toward $4,880.

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If there is no fresh increase, the price could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near $4,630 and the trend line. The first key breakdown zone could be $4,520. If there is a downside break below $4,520, the price might decline further. In the stated case, the price might drop to $4,350.

WTI Crude Oil Price Technical Analysis

On the hourly chart of WTI Crude Oil at FXOpen, the price started a steady increase against the US Dollar. The price gained bullish momentum after it settled above $96.40.

The bulls pushed the price above the 50-hour simple moving average, and the RSI climbed toward 75. Besides, there was a break above a bearish trend line with resistance at $97.00. The price tested the $105.85 zone and is currently consolidating gains.

There was a minor pullback below $103 and the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $92.78 swing low to the $105.86 low.

If there is a fresh increase, the price could struggle near $105.85. A close above $106.85 could send the price toward $108. The next key area of interest might be $110. Any more gains might send the price toward $112.

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Conversely, the price might correct gains and test $100.85. The main bid area on the WTI crude oil chart could be $99.30, the 50% Fib retracement level, and the 50-hour simple moving average. If there is a downside break, the price might decline toward $96.40. Any more losses may perhaps open the doors for a move to $92.80.

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This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

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How North Korean Operatives Orchestrated a $270M Crypto Heist After Months of Patient Infiltration

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

Key Points

  • State-sponsored North Korean operatives masqueraded as a legitimate quantitative trading firm, cultivating trust within Drift Protocol over a six-month period before executing a $270 million theft on April 1.
  • The threat actors established in-person relationships with protocol contributors at international crypto conferences and injected over $1 million in actual funds to bolster credibility.
  • System infiltration occurred through a malicious TestFlight application and exploitation of a documented security flaw in VSCode/Cursor development environments.
  • Security researchers have linked the operation to UNC4736, alternatively identified as AppleJeus or Citrine Sleet, with ties to North Korean state interests.
  • Legal experts suggest the breach may represent actionable negligence, with class action litigation efforts already underway.

On April 1, Drift Protocol suffered a catastrophic $270 million security breach following an extended infiltration campaign orchestrated by a North Korean state-backed hacking collective spanning approximately half a year.

The sophisticated operation began at a prominent cryptocurrency conference during autumn 2025. The perpetrators successfully impersonated representatives of a quantitative trading operation, arriving with comprehensive technical knowledge, authenticated professional credentials, and detailed familiarity with Drift’s infrastructure and operations.

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Initial communications were established through a Telegram channel, initiating months of sustained dialogue. Discussions centered on topics typical of institutional trading partnerships: vault integration protocols, strategic trading methodologies, and operational frameworks.

During the December 2025 to January 2026 timeframe, the fraudulent entity officially established an Ecosystem Vault within the Drift ecosystem. They conducted numerous collaborative working sessions with platform contributors and deployed over $1 million in actual capital—a calculated move designed to establish authenticity.

Throughout February and March 2026, Drift personnel engaged in direct, face-to-face meetings with representatives from the group at various international conference venues across multiple nations. By the time of the April 1 attack, the relationship had matured over nearly half a year.

Technical Compromise Methods Revealed

The breach materialized through a dual-vector attack strategy. Initially, a team member installed a TestFlight application—Apple’s beta distribution system that circumvents standard App Store security verification processes—which the attackers had marketed as their proprietary wallet solution.

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Additionally, the threat actors weaponized a publicly documented vulnerability present in VSCode and Cursor, two prevalent integrated development environments. The exploit required nothing more than opening a compromised file within either editor to silently execute malicious payload code without triggering any user notifications or security alerts.

Following successful device compromise, the attackers methodically extracted credentials necessary to secure two multisignature wallet approvals. These pre-authorized transactions remained inactive for over a week before execution on April 1, resulting in the extraction of $270 million within sixty seconds.

Cybersecurity analysts have connected the incident to UNC4736, a threat actor group also designated as AppleJeus or Citrine Sleet. Blockchain forensics revealed transaction patterns linking to the October 2024 Radiant Capital compromise, which investigators also attributed to North Korean actors. Notably, individuals who appeared physically at conferences were not North Korean citizens—DPRK-affiliated groups characteristically employ third-party proxies with elaborately fabricated identities.

Legal Ramifications and Security Failures

Cryptocurrency legal specialist Ariel Givner has indicated the incident potentially constitutes actionable civil negligence. She emphasized that fundamental security protocols—including maintaining signing keys on isolated, air-gapped systems and conducting thorough background verification of developers encountered at industry events—appear to have been inadequately implemented.

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“Every credible project understands these requirements. Drift failed to implement them,” Givner stated. Marketing materials for class action litigation targeting Drift are already in circulation.

Drift’s security team has expressed “medium-high confidence” that identical threat actors executed the October 2024 Radiant Capital attack, where malicious software was distributed via Telegram from an individual impersonating a former contractor.

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Solana (SOL) April Analysis: Price Action, On-Chain Metrics, and Market Pressure

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

Key Points

  • SOL currently hovers in the $78–$82 range, fighting to maintain support above the $75–$78 zone
  • Drift Protocol’s $285 million security breach has damaged confidence throughout the ecosystem
  • Total value locked on Solana has contracted from $9 billion to approximately $5.5–$6 billion recently
  • Exchange deposits increased by 1.40 million SOL (roughly $110 million) within three days, suggesting potential sell pressure
  • Solana ETF products experienced $5.24 million in net outflows during the week, continuing a two-week trend

Solana faces mounting challenges following several consecutive negative events that have impacted the network. The token’s value has declined approximately 1.5%, currently fluctuating in the $78 to $82 range as market participants digest recent developments.

[[IMG_4]]
Solana (SOL) Price

The primary catalyst behind recent weakness stems from the April 1, 2026 exploitation of Drift Protocol, resulting in $285 million in losses. Security researchers attributed the breach to North Korean threat actors. The platform’s TVL plummeted from $530 million to just $230 million within hours of the incident.

This security incident has created ripple effects throughout Solana’s DeFi landscape. Market participants are now scrutinizing the security infrastructure of applications operating on the blockchain more closely than before.

Total Value Locked Decline Indicates Capital Flight

According to DeFiLlama metrics, Solana’s aggregate TVL has contracted from peaks exceeding $9 billion down to approximately $5.5–$6 billion in recent trading sessions. This magnitude of decline represents genuine capital withdrawal rather than mere valuation adjustments.

[[IMG_5]]
Source: DefiLlama

A contracting TVL indicates reduced user participation in DeFi applications on the network. This dynamic creates a challenging environment for attracting new liquidity, particularly when market sentiment turns cautious.

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Blockchain analytics from Glassnode, highlighted by analyst Ali Charts, reveals that 1.40 million SOL tokens valued at approximately $110 million migrated to centralized exchanges during a 72-hour period. Exchange-held balances expanded from 26.5 million SOL on March 31 to 28.6 million by April 2. While elevated exchange balances often precede selling activity, they don’t guarantee immediate liquidation.

Critical Technical Levels Under Observation

Solana is currently challenging a crucial support boundary spanning $75 to $78. While this zone has previously provided price support, repeated testing without sustained bullish response tends to erode support strength progressively.

The Relative Strength Index registers around 44, positioned beneath the neutral 50 threshold, while the MACD indicator stays in bearish territory. These technical readings suggest weakening momentum. The 50-day exponential moving average stands at $88.80, representing the initial resistance barrier SOL must overcome to signal meaningful reversal potential.

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Technical analyst Crypto Patel presented an extended timeframe chart illustrating SOL positioned near Fibonacci retracement support ranging from $61.75 to $42.62. The analysis suggests a possible accumulation opportunity if current support maintains, drawing comparisons to SOL’s previous 2,194% advance from 2022 bottoms. Crypto Patel emphasized that the projected $1,000+ long-term target represents a theoretical possibility rather than a confirmed forecast.

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Investment flow data from Sosovalue indicates Solana ETF products registered $5.24 million in net weekly redemptions, representing the second consecutive week of negative flows. Institutional appetite appears subdued in the current market environment.

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Beijing’s Request Leads Apple to Remove Dorsey’s Bitchat in China

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitchat, a decentralized peer-to-peer messaging app developed by Block CEO Jack Dorsey, has been removed from Apple’s App Store in China amid regulatory scrutiny over online services with public opinion or social mobilization capabilities. The move follows a notification from Apple indicating that Bitchat was pulled in February and that the TestFlight beta version would no longer be accessible in China at the request of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

On X, Dorsey shared a screenshot of Apple’s review communication, noting that Bitchat had been removed from the China App Store and the TestFlight beta would no longer be available there. “Bitchat pulled from the China App Store,” he wrote.

Beyond its regulatory status, Bitchat has gained attention for its role in demonstrations and instances where traditional communications networks were disrupted. Protests in Madagascar, Uganda, Nepal, Indonesia, and Iran have coincided with spikes in demand for alternative messaging channels, prompting renewed interest in apps that can operate without centralized infrastructure. Bitchat’s core technology runs on Bluetooth and mesh networks, enabling encrypted messaging even when internet access is limited or unavailable, a feature that could place it at odds with China’s tightly controlled internet regime.

The app’s distinct approach—peer-to-peer, offline-first, and privacy-protective—has also drawn attention from users and observers who see potential advantages in resilience during network shutdowns. However, the CAC’s stance highlights a broader regulatory framework that governs online services with public opinion influence or mobilization capabilities, a category that Bitchat reportedly falls into under Chinese rules.

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Key takeaways

  • The CAC contends Bitchat violates Article 3 of its regulations governing online services with public opinion or social mobilization capabilities, which took effect in 2018. The levying authority requires security assessments for such services and accountability for their results.
  • Apple’s review team indicated that all apps on its store must comply with local requirements where they are available, and that China’s authorities asked for the removal of Bitchat’s China-friendly distribution, including the discontinuation of the TestFlight beta.
  • The technology underpinning Bitchat—Bluetooth and mesh-networked communications—enables operation without a traditional internet connection, a design choice that complicates enforcement for a regime that often curtails online access.
  • Despite the China setback, Bitchat remains accessible in other markets. Chrome download statistics put the app at over three million installations, with more than 92,000 downloads in the past week, while the Google Play store has logged over one million registered downloads. The geographic breakdown of these users was not disclosed.

Regulatory friction and the China angle

The CAC’s argument centers on the premise that platforms capable of shaping public opinion or enabling social mobilization must undergo a security assessment prior to launch and bear responsibility for the assessment outcomes. In a 2018 framework, the agency outlined that such assessments are mandatory for services with the potential to influence public discourse. The CAC’s position, as reflected in the notice relayed to Dorsey, also emphasizes that apps must adhere to the local laws of each country in which they operate, with messaging that explicitly warns against content or conduct that could be deemed criminal or reckless.

The Chinese stance underscores the ongoing tension between decentralized, privacy-focused messaging tools and state-driven censorship regimes. Bitchat’s architecture—designed to function with limited or no internet connectivity—could be challenged by regulators seeking to maintain control over information flow, especially in a market as sensitive to content regulation as China.

Global footprint and what users should watch next

Even as Bitchat faces restrictions in China, the app’s global footprint remains active in other jurisdictions. Third-party download trackers show robust interest in markets outside China, though they do not break down regional share. The app’s outage in a major market raises questions about the survivability of decentralized messaging apps under states that impose strict connectivity controls, and it may influence developers’ decisions about app distribution and compliance strategies in the region.

To put the scale into perspective, WeChat remains the dominant messaging platform in China, with hundreds of millions of users domestically, underscoring how different regulatory frameworks shape user experiences and market dynamics in each region. Observers will be watching how Bitchat and similar projects navigate regulatory scrutiny while continuing to serve users seeking resilient communications options in environments with restricted internet access.

The broader takeaway for investors, builders, and users is that regulatory risk for decentralized, privacy-preserving messaging is not theoretical: it can translate into real-tailored constraints on distribution channels and feature sets. As authorities around the world calibrate their approach to online services with social or mobilization capabilities, developers may need to balance privacy and resilience with compliance to local laws and regulatory expectations.

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Looking ahead, readers should monitor whether Apple or the CAC provide further details on the exact nature of the regulatory concerns and whether a pathway to re-listing in China could emerge. Developments in other markets—where Bitchat remains available—could influence adoption, monetization, and platform strategies for privacy-focused messaging tools as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Circle future-proofs Arc blockchain against quantum threats

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Circle future-proofs Arc blockchain against quantum threats

Move over, legacy crypto. Circle’s Layer-1 blockchain Arc, built for stablecoin finance and institutional use, will debut with quantum-resistant features designed to survive a future in which traditional blockchains could crumble under quantum attacks.

“At mainnet, Arc will introduce a post-quantum signature scheme, giving users a practical design path to create quantum-resistant wallets,” Arc said in an update Thursday. The update didn’t mention the timeline for the mainnet launch.

It means that Arc is baking in quantum resistance from day one, unlike legacy chains, which may be waiting to add this feature later as a patch. So, when users create a wallet on the mainnet, they can choose a signing method that future quantum computers cannot break. This will ensure the long-term security and protection of crypto assets in wallets.

Every blockchain wallet relies on a digital signature or a super-secure key to prove you own your tokens and authorize transactions. When you hit “send” on your crypto, your wallet signs the transaction with this code, and the network verifies it before moving the coins. Today’s computers aren’t powerful enough to exploit this process, access your key, and drain your coins.

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However, a future quantum computer could do so in at least two ways – a long attack and a short attack, as CoinDesk explained Sunday.

In short, what appears unbreakable today may not be tomorrow, which is what Arc is offering a quantum-resistant signing method right of the bat.

Arc’s announcement comes as Google’s report on quantum threats to Bitcoin and Ethereum’s blockchains stirs fresh questions about the long-term reliability of digital ledgers. Developers, however, have been tackling the issue for months, proposing early solutions. At the same time, startups like Postquant Labs are exploring how quantum hardware could actually strengthen blockchain networks.

Arc’s choice to build quantum resistance from the ground up could make it especially attractive to institutions. The blockchain kicked off its testnet in October, using Circle’s dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC as the native currency for gas fees. USDC, with a market cap of around $77.5 billion, trails only tether in size and stands out as a regulated stablecoin favored by institutions.

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Arc’s roadmap also includes ensuring that sensitive financial information remains private in the quantum era. Its near-term plan focuses on protecting private balances, confidential payments, and recipient information with quantum-resistant cryptography, not just quantum-resistant wallet keys. This way, the confidential financial activity of institutions using Arc will remain private.

The mid-term phase will focus on closing the backdoors through which a quantum attack could occur. These backdoors are the cloud servers validators run on, the hardware security modules that store keys, and the encrypted connections between nodes. This is akin to fortifying an entire building, not just the safe in your room closet.

In the long term, Arc will focus on the validator layer. Validators are the computers — run by trusted institutions — that confirm transactions and add new blocks to the distributed ledger.

Arc’s current design finalizes a block in under a second, according to the official blog. This leaves a future quantum attacker an extremely small window of time to derive a user’s private key and forge a signature. The risk, therefore, is small, but Arc is not ignoring it.

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“Arc’s roadmap is expected to target validator signature hardening after rigorous performance testing and the necessary tooling support are in place. Validator upgrades should happen when they are ready to preserve both resilience and network performance,” it said.

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Circle moves to future-proof Arc with post-quantum security plan

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Circle has set out a multi-stage plan to harden its upcoming layer-1 network, Arc, against the potential risks posed by quantum computing, outlining changes that will eventually span wallets, validators, and supporting infrastructure.

Summary

  • Circle outlined a phased plan to introduce quantum-resistant wallets and signatures on Arc at mainnet launch in 2026, with deeper infrastructure upgrades to follow.
  • Warnings from Google and Caltech researchers that quantum systems may arrive sooner have added urgency, with concerns that exposed public keys could become vulnerable.

Details shared Thursday indicate that the rollout will begin at launch, with Arc introducing quantum-resistant wallets and signature schemes when it goes live on mainnet, which is expected in 2026. 

Access to these protections will initially be optional, while bigger changes at the validator level and across infrastructure layers are scheduled for later phases.

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“Quantum resilience cannot live only in research papers, exploratory pilots, or distant roadmap slides. It has to show up in the infrastructure,” Circle said, framing the effort as a practical deployment challenge rather than a theoretical one.

The timing of the roadmap aligns with renewed warnings from Google and researchers at the California Institute of Technology, who have argued that usable quantum systems may arrive sooner than earlier estimates suggested. 

Google’s recent findings drew attention after suggesting that Bitcoin’s cryptographic protections could, in a worst-case scenario, be broken within minutes under advanced quantum conditions.

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“Active addresses that have already signed transactions must migrate before Q-Day because their public keys have been exposed,” the company noted, adding that delaying preparation raises avoidable risks.

Arc, which is already running on public testnet, is being positioned as an enterprise-focused blockchain built around USDC, with support for financial applications and institutional use cases. The first phase of its quantum security model will focus on protecting user access through upgraded cryptographic signatures.

Further down the line, Circle plans to extend those protections to ensure transaction data, balances, and other sensitive information remain private, even in a post-quantum environment. Longer-term upgrades will also target validator operations and off-chain systems, including cloud infrastructure, access controls, and hardware-level security.

Across the industry, few dispute that quantum computing presents a credible long-term challenge to existing cryptographic standards. 

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What remains unsettled is the scope of that risk. Some researchers argue that only wallets with exposed public keys face immediate danger, while others maintain that a sufficiently advanced quantum system could threaten all funds secured under current systems.

Research from Google published on March 31 added another layer to that discussion, identifying Algorand as one of the networks best positioned for a post-quantum transition. 

At the same time, both Ethereum and Solana developers have been working through potential upgrades designed to prepare their ecosystems ahead of a so-called “Q-Day,” when quantum capabilities begin to outpace current encryption methods.

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XRP (XRP) Sees Whale Accumulation Despite 60% Drop From Peak

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Key Takeaways

  • XRP currently trades in the $1.30–$1.33 range, marking a decline exceeding 60% from its July 2025 all-time high of $3.65
  • Total addresses on the XRP Ledger have surged to a new milestone of 8.1 million
  • Wallets holding over 1 million XRP tokens are increasing for the first time since September 2025
  • Critical price resistance level stands at $1.35, with a breakout potentially driving momentum toward $1.40
  • The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the CLARITY Act in April 2026, which could serve as a significant market catalyst

As of early April 2026, XRP maintains a trading range between $1.30 and $1.33, reflecting a sustained downturn from its peak valuation of $3.65 reached in July 2025. This decline translates to a value reduction exceeding 60% across approximately nine months of trading.

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XRP Price

While the token’s price has experienced significant contraction, blockchain metrics from CryptoQuant reveal that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has achieved a new benchmark with 8,189,798 total addresses. This figure represents a quarterly growth rate of 3.39% during the first three months of 2026.

A notable shift in holder behavior has emerged: wallets containing 1 million or more XRP tokens have started increasing for the first time since September 2025. Market observers interpret this trend as evidence that major stakeholders are actively accumulating during the price weakness.

Additional network developments include the expansion of automated market maker pools on the XRPL to approximately 28,000. The ecosystem has also broadened its reach through strategic collaborations, including a notable integration with Mastercard’s payment infrastructure.

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Technical analyst ChartNerd (@ChartNerdTA) published commentary on X earlier this week, identifying XRP’s movement within a descending channel pattern characterized by progressively lower peaks and troughs. The analyst highlighted that the Relative Strength Index remains beneath neutral territory while trading volume lacks significant expansion, describing the action as “a weak continuation” instead of healthy consolidation.

Technical Analysis and Critical Price Zones

Recent price action shows XRP penetrating above a bearish trend line positioned at $1.3085 on the one-hour timeframe, subsequently advancing beyond the 50% Fibonacci retracement level calculated from the recent swing ranging from $1.3678 to $1.2801.

Current price action maintains support above the $1.33 threshold and the 100-hour Simple Moving Average. Buying pressure attempted to push toward $1.3480 but encountered selling pressure at that level.

The primary resistance barrier stands at $1.35. A decisive close above this level could establish momentum toward $1.40, followed by subsequent targets at $1.4120 and $1.4250. Conversely, downside support zones are identified at $1.3240, $1.32, and a more substantial floor at $1.28.

Legislative Developments May Influence Price Trajectory

The most significant upcoming event for April 2026 centers on the U.S. Senate’s scheduled review of the CLARITY Act. Should this legislation receive approval, it would officially designate XRP as a digital commodity under regulatory frameworks.

Market analysts project that successful passage of this bill could trigger a price recovery, potentially driving valuations into the $1.65–$1.80 territory.

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Trading data from April 6, 2026, shows XRP maintaining levels above $1.33, with bullish participants working to overcome the pivotal $1.35 resistance threshold that will likely dictate the subsequent price direction.

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