Crypto exchange Kraken’s parent company has agreed to acquire digital asset derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million, in a cash-and-stock transaction that values the firm at $20 billion, Payward said in a press release exclusively shared with CoinDesk.

Bitnomial, founded over a decade ago, is the first crypto-native platform to secure all three licenses required to operate a full-stack derivatives business in the U.S. It has approvals to operate a designated contract market, a derivatives clearing organization and a futures commission merchant. The acquisition effectively shortcuts years of regulatory buildout for Payward as it expands its U.S. footprint.

While Kraken trails platforms like OKX, Bybit and Coinbase (COIN) in spot trading volumes, it remains a major player in the crypto derivatives market.

Kraken is a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange where users can buy, sell, and trade digital assets like bitcoin BTC$77,369.84 and ether (ETH) using fiat or crypto. It has expanded into services such as derivatives, staking, and custody, positioning itself as a more full-service trading platform beyond a basic retail app.

“The shape of a market is determined by its clearing infrastructure, not its front end,” said Payward Co-CEO Arjun Sethi, pointing to Bitnomial’s crypto-native settlement, collateral and 24/7 trading capabilities as core to the strategy.

Deal activity in the crypto sector has begun to pick up after a prolonged downturn, as firms look to consolidate capabilities and shore up infrastructure following years of market volatility and regulatory scrutiny.

Larger, better-capitalized players are increasingly targeting acquisitions that fill strategic gaps such as custody, derivatives or compliance, rather than pursuing growth at any cost. At the same time, depressed valuations have created opportunities for buyers, while smaller startups facing funding constraints are more open to being acquired, setting the stage for a more pragmatic phase of industry consolidation.

Scaling up

Kraken has been scaling up ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO). Payward said it confidentially submitted a draft S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19 last year.

However, CoinDesk reported last month that the firm had put its IPO plans on hold due to difficult market conditions. According to sources, the company is still considering an initial public offering, but probably not until market conditions improve.

In recent years, Kraken has pursued a relatively targeted but increasingly strategic M&A strategy focused on expanding beyond pure crypto trading into multi-asset and derivatives infrastructure.

The most significant transaction was its $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader in 2025, a U.S.-based retail futures platform and CFTC-registered FCM, marking the largest-ever deal between traditional finance and crypto and giving Kraken a direct foothold in U.S. derivatives markets and a large base of futures traders.

Prior to that, Kraken executed smaller tuck-in acquisitions such as BCM in 2023 and other platform or exchange purchases, including the later acquisition of Small Exchange, aimed at building out its derivatives and institutional capabilities.

Overall, Kraken’s deal activity signals a clear strategy. Using M&A to acquire regulatory licenses, trading infrastructure, and user bases that help it evolve into a broader, institutional-grade, multi-asset trading platform spanning crypto and traditional markets.

Derivatives business

The combined platform will integrate Bitnomial’s regulated infrastructure with Payward’s global distribution and liquidity across brands including Kraken and NinjaTrader. Initial offerings are expected to include spot margin, perpetual futures and options for U.S. clients under Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight.

Payward has been building out its derivatives business globally, acquiring a U.K. crypto futures platform in 2019 and launching an EU offering in 2025. With Bitnomial, it now adds a fully regulated U.S. stack.

The deal also expands Payward Services, the firm’s B2B infrastructure arm, allowing banks, fintechs and brokerages to access regulated U.S. derivatives through a single API integration.

The transaction, which covers 100% of Bitnomial’s equity, is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending customary conditions and regulatory filings.

“We are not acquiring a company. We are adding the infrastructure layer that makes the next generation of US derivatives possible,” Sethi said in emailed comments.

Read more: Crypto exchange Kraken targeted in extortion attempt but says there was no breach and no client funds at risk

UPDATE (April 17, 12.40 pm UTC): Updates story with CEO quote in the final paragraph.

Key Highlights

• TFC shares rally 3.7% following robust Q1 performance with earnings growth and expanding loan book

• First quarter delivers elevated EPS, consistent revenue generation, and enhanced capital position

• Truist achieves positive momentum with rising profitability and continued balance sheet expansion

• Financial institution demonstrates enhanced operational efficiency alongside stable deposit base

• Quarterly performance showcases EPS advancement while maintaining consistent credit metrics

Truist Financial (TFC) advanced to $51.26, posting a 3.70% increase following the release of first-quarter financial results that demonstrated profitability improvements and ongoing lending growth. The banking institution generated $5.15 billion in total revenue, marking a 5.2% year-over-year increase, while earnings per share climbed to $1.09 compared with $0.87 in the prior-year period. The quarterly report underscored operational consistency, expense management discipline, and maintained financial strength.

Truist Financial Corporation, TFC

Profitability Advancement and Revenue Performance

Truist delivered net income attributable to common shareholders totaling $1.38 billion, demonstrating ongoing profitability momentum. Diluted earnings per share advanced to $1.09, driven by enhanced operational productivity and diversified income generation. The institution achieved a 13.8% return on tangible common equity, showcasing productive capital deployment.

Total revenue experienced a marginal sequential decline while maintaining year-over-year growth momentum. Net interest income totaled $3.60 billion, reflecting moderate sequential headwinds associated with shifts in deposit composition. Noninterest income remained stable at $1.55 billion, benefiting from heightened trading volumes and investment banking contributions.

The efficiency ratio declined to 57.9%, demonstrating enhanced cost management throughout the period. Expense reductions across staffing and professional service categories drove the overall cost decrease. Consequently, pre-provision net revenue exhibited strength, validating the bank’s operational execution.

Lending Portfolio Growth and Financial Position Enhancement

Truist grew its lending operations, with average loans and leases climbing to $327 billion throughout the quarter. Commercial lending segments drove the majority of growth, while consumer portfolios experienced modest contraction. Period-end loans totaled $329.2 billion, demonstrating sustained yet measured expansion.

The deposit base exhibited consistent growth, with average deposits ascending to $399 billion. Period-end deposits reached $404.1 billion, illustrating stable funding dynamics. Declining deposit costs also enhanced margins, with the average deposit cost decreasing to 1.55%.

Average earning assets expanded to $486.35 billion, reflecting incremental balance sheet progression. The loan yield compressed to 5.71%, influenced by repricing trends within the prevailing interest rate landscape. Reduced borrowing expenses and an optimized funding composition helped mitigate margin compression.

Credit Metrics and Financial Strength Remain Resilient

Truist preserved consistent credit quality, with net charge-offs registering 0.61% during the period. Nonperforming assets decreased to $1.79 billion, signaling managed credit exposure. Nonaccrual loans similarly declined to $1.72 billion, reinforcing overall portfolio consistency.

The allowance for loan losses maintained stability, with the ALLL ratio holding steady at 1.53%. Loans delinquent beyond 90 days remained flat, confirming consistent credit performance. These indicators reflected prudent risk oversight across lending operations.

Capital metrics remained robust, with the CET1 ratio maintaining a 10.8% level. The Tier 1 capital ratio achieved 11.9%, while the Tier 1 leverage ratio registered 9.9%. The company executed $1.1 billion in share repurchases, reinforcing shareholder returns and financial position strength.

Truist produced a well-rounded quarterly performance, merging profitability growth, expense discipline, and consistent lending expansion. Despite modest margin headwinds, the stable deposit base and solid capital foundation underpinned continued operational durability.

Europe needs more euro-issued stablecoins and banks across the European Union (EU) countries must explore tokenized deposits, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said Friday, according to Reuters.

The statements signal a potential shift in stance within the French government and its central bank.

Lescure expressed support for Qivalis, a group of 12 ​European banks, including BBVA, ING, UniCredit and BNP ​Paribas, that are set to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin ‌in ⁠the second half of 2026, in a move they hope will counter U.S. dominance in digital payments.

“That is what we need and that is ​what we want.” ​Lescure said. “I also strongly encourage banks to further ​explore the launch of tokenised deposits.”

He also said that the relatively small volume of euro-pegged stablecoins compared ​to dollar-pegged ones was “not satisfactory”.

Former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire spearheaded a strict regulatory stance against privately-issued fiat-pegged cryptocurrencies, saying they “had no place on European soil” and were a threat to “the sovereignty of nations.” And in 2023, La Maire was linked to a EU document revealing the European Commission’s plan to halt stablecoins from becoming widely used in place of fiat currency.

More recently, during a live confrontation with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong over stablecoins and yields, Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau warned that stablecoins and tokenized private money could accelerate what he framed as a political threat. “The first threat is privatization of money, and loss of monetary sovereignty,” he added.

World, the Sam Altman-backed digital identity project, has unveiled on Friday what it calls its most significant upgrade yet to World ID, positioning the system as “full-stack proof of human” infrastructure aimed at consumers, enterprises and AI agents.

The overhaul, announced at an event in San Francisco, comes as concerns mount across the tech industry over bots, deepfakes and AI agents impersonating humans online, a trend World is explicitly targeting with a broader push into authentication, payments and internet services. Altman’s other major project is OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT and tools using the large language model AI platform.

World’s system relies on its custom-built “Orb” devices to establish what it calls proof-of-humanity. To obtain a World ID, users must visit an Orb in person, where the device scans their face and iris to generate a unique cryptographic code representing that individual.

The images are deleted after processing, according to the company, and only anonymized fragments of the code are sent across a distributed network to confirm the person has not previously registered. The result is a credential that can prove someone is a unique human online without revealing their identity or personal data. Some critics, however, have flagged the use of biometric scanning via the Orb as a controversial aspect of the system.

At the core of the update is a redesigned architecture intended to improve privacy, security and usability. New features include account-based identity, multi-key support, recovery mechanisms, which give capabilities typically expected in large-scale security systems.

“World 4.0 is powerful, scalable and open,” senior executive Daniel Shorr said at the event. “In the age of AI, being human will be incredibly valuable and the internet will want to know you’re human,” he added.

The company is also introducing a dedicated World ID app, currently in beta, which will allow users to manage credentials and authenticate across platforms. The app reflects a broader ambition to make proof-of-human identity as seamless as logging into a social media account.

From dating apps to Zoom calls

Alongside the protocol update, World detailed a slate of integrations aimed at embedding its identity layer across consumer platforms.

On the consumer side, the company is expanding partnerships with platforms like Tinder, where users can display a “verified human” badge, and rolling out “Concert Kit,” a tool designed to help artists reserve tickets for verified individuals to combat scalper bots.

Gaming and online communities are another focus, with partnerships involving Razer and Mythical Games, while Reddit has signaled it is exploring similar identity tools for bot detection.

Enterprise use cases are also central to the rollout. World said it is working with Zoom on a feature called “Deep Face,” which verifies that a meeting participant is a real human rather than a deepfake, and with Docusign to incorporate proof-of-human checks into digital agreements.

In addition, World is rolling out new tooling, including “AgentKit,” to allow developers to attach credentials that prove there are humans to agents, which will be needed for sensitive actions and enable agent-based commerce tied to verified individuals.

The company is working with firms including Okta, Vercel and Browserbase on these capabilities, which aim to establish a trust layer for automated workflows without requiring personal data.

‘World ID is on the way to being a real human network for the internet,” said Sam Altman, the co-founder of World, at an event marking the announcement in San Francisco.

Read more: Sam Altman’s World Crypto Project Launches in US With Eye-Scanning Orbs in 6 Cities

The 2026 crypto market is opening up a remarkable window of opportunity. Investors are looking beyond Bitcoin and exploring a wider range of projects with real utility, strong exchange traction, and serious growth potential. Solana, Chainlink, and TRON each represent proven infrastructure with loyal communities behind them.

But the project generating the most concentrated momentum right now is BlockDAG with the BlockDAG Casino launching May 7, Gate.io confirming next week, and a private aftersale racing toward zero. These four top crypto gainers each tell a different story, and right now one of those stories is moving faster than the rest.

1. BlockDAG: Gate.io Locks In Next Week, 195x Window Is Narrowing

The forward momentum behind BlockDAG is accelerating at a pace that is difficult to ignore. Gate.io has officially confirmed the BDAG listing for next week, a milestone that will expose the coin to an entirely new audience of serious traders and add significant credibility to the project’s exchange profile. Hard on the heels of that listing, BingX is going live with BDAG soon, which will deliver direct trading access to millions of active participants across global markets.

May 7 is the date that changes everything. The BlockDAG Casino launches that day, converting BDAG from a presale asset into a project with a live, commercially operational platform generating real-world revenue. That transition is rare at this stage of a project’s life, and it fundamentally shifts how the market will price the asset going forward.

The presale is still running, but the situation is urgent. Reserves are running low, the timeline is genuinely limited, and Batch 4 claims open on April 27. Smart Wallet features are already active, giving the ecosystem functional utility ahead of the Casino debut. The entry price of $0.000000726 is still accessible, but that window closes as exchange volume from Gate.io and BingX begins to hit.

Analysts backing the 195x return projection are pointing at supply compression meeting surging demand: limited after-sales inventory, stacked Tier 1 listings, and a Casino launch that repositions BDAG as a utility-driven asset. Among the top crypto gainers in 2026, BlockDAG carries the most powerful near-term catalyst stack by a wide margin.

2. Solana: High-Speed Infrastructure Powering DeFi

Solana’s technical foundation remains one of the strongest in the Layer 1 space. Its Proof-of-History consensus supports a theoretical throughput exceeding 100,000 transactions per second, making it a natural home for developers building high-performance decentralized applications. Low costs and sub-second finality continue attracting serious builder activity, and spot ETF launches have brought institutional capital into the ecosystem, strengthening Solana’s standing among the top crypto gainers during recoveries.

Friction remains on the path ahead. Past network outages have impacted its reliability reputation, and price movement is still partially tied to speculative volume. The development community is active and ambitious though, and the infrastructure is steadily improving with each upgrade cycle.

3. Chainlink: Oracle Infrastructure at the Center of Institutional DeFi

Chainlink’s position in the digital economy continues to grow stronger. As the dominant decentralized oracle network, it connects smart contracts to real-world data and enables secure cross-chain communication through its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol. Major financial institutions have integrated CCIP into their systems, placing Chainlink deep inside the infrastructure layer of institutional DeFi. That positioning consistently ranks LINK among the top crypto gainers when institutional activity accelerates.

Price performance has not always reflected the technical progress, however. Token emissions remain elevated, and emerging oracle competitors are beginning to attract developer attention. The fundamentals are genuinely strong, but the upside is measured compared to earlier-stage projects.

4. TRON: Global Stablecoin Rails With Consistent Revenue

TRON has established a commanding lead in stablecoin transfer infrastructure, currently hosting more than 50% of global circulating USDT. Its Delegated Proof-of-Stake model processes enormous transaction volumes at low cost, making it the preferred platform for cross-border payments in emerging markets. Consistent fee revenue from that volume regularly places TRX among the top crypto gainers during periods of high stablecoin demand.

Centralization remains an ongoing concern. A small number of Super Representatives control governance decisions, which raises long-term questions about the platform’s decentralization as it continues to scale.

The Road Ahead

Solana, Chainlink, and TRON are all legitimate, well-built forces in 2026, each with strong infrastructure and meaningful adoption. But BlockDAG is the one with events converging right now. Gate.io lands next week. The BlockDAG Casino opens May 7. BingX is going live with BDAG soon.

Batch 4 claims open April 27, and private aftersale reserves are running low. The entry price of $0.000000726 and a 195x return projection are tied to a window that is actively closing. Among these top crypto gainers, BlockDAG is the one moving with the most urgency and that is exactly where the biggest opportunity lives.

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.

Key points:

• Bitcoin soared above $76,000, opening the doors for a further rally toward $84,000.

• Several major altcoins are showing strength, signaling broad-based buying by the bulls.

Bitcoin (BTC) skyrocketed above the $76,000 resistance on Friday after Iran’s foreign minister said that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open for the remainder of the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran.

Another positive sign for the bulls is that BTC’s rise has been supported by solid accumulation by the whales. According to CryptoQuant data, BTC whales holding more than 1,000 BTC have added about 270,000 coins in the past 30 days, the largest buying spree since 2013.

However, some analysts remain skeptical about BTC’s advance. Glassnode said in its latest Week Onchain newsletter that the current recovery has more legs to it, but is likely to face selling pressure at the True Market Mean at $78,100. Buyers will have to sustain the price above $78,100 on a mid-term basis to create a “structural shift toward a bull market.”

Another cautious view came from trading resource Material Indicators. In a video posted on X, Material Indicators said that BTC will have to cross the yearly open at $87,500 and the 50-week moving average near $97,000, and the relative strength index has to close above the 41 level on the weekly time frame to confirm that a bull market has returned.

Could BTC and select major altcoins sustain above their overhead resistance levels? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price prediction

BTC surged above the $78,000 level on Friday, its highest level in ten weeks, indicating sustained buying by the bulls. 

The upsloping 20-day exponential moving average ($72,136) and the RSI near the overbought zone indicate that the bulls are attempting to seize control. A close above the $76,000 level will complete a bullish ascending triangle pattern, opening the door to a rally to $84,000, then to the pattern target of $92,000.

The moving averages are critical support levels to watch on the downside, as a close below them suggests the bears remain in control. The BTC/USDT pair may then tumble toward the triangle’s support line. 

Ether price prediction

Sellers attempted to halt the recovery at the $2,415 level in Ether (ETH), but the bulls continued to exert pressure and did not allow the price to dip below the 20-day EMA ($2,235).

If the ETH price closes above the $2,415 resistance level, the recovery may extend to $2,800, then to $3,050. Such a move suggests that the ETH/USDT pair may have bottomed out at $1,748.

This bullish view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down sharply and breaks below the moving averages. That suggests the break above the $2,415 level may have been a bull trap. The pair may then decline to the $1,916 level.

XRP price prediction

XRP (XRP) closed above the 50-day simple moving average ($1.38) on Wednesday, indicating that the bears are losing their grip.

The 20-day EMA ($1.37) has started to turn up gradually, and the RSI is in the positive territory, indicating an advantage to the bulls. The XRP price may rally to the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern, which is expected to behave as a formidable hurdle. If buyers clear the hurdle, the XRP/USDT pair will indicate a potential trend change.

The moving averages are the vital support to watch out for on the downside. If the support breaks down, the pair may retest the crucial $1.27 level.

BNB price prediction

BNB (BNB) closed above the 50-day SMA ($626) on Thursday, indicating that the selling pressure is reducing. 

If the BNB price remains above the moving averages, the next stop is likely to be the $687 level. Sellers will try to halt the recovery at $687, but if buyers bulldoze their way through, the rally may reach $730 and eventually $790.

On the contrary, if the price turns down from the current level or the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that the BNB/USDT pair may remain within the $570 to $687 range for a while longer.

Solana price prediction

Solana’s (SOL) close above the moving averages suggests that the bulls are attempting to push the price to the $98 resistance.

Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the $98 level. If the SOL/USDT pair turns down sharply from $98 and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that the consolidation may extend for a few more days.

The first sign of strength on the upside will be a break and close above the $98 resistance. That opens the doors for a rally to the $117 level, where the bears are again expected to step in.

Dogecoin price prediction

Dogecoin (DOGE) turned up from the moving averages on Wednesday and rallied to the $0.10 level on Thursday.

Sellers will strive to halt the recovery at the $0.10 level, but if buyers do not give up much ground from the current level, it increases the possibility of a rally to $0.11 and subsequently to $0.12.

The bears are likely to have other plans. They will attempt to pull the DOGE price back below the moving averages. If they succeed, the DOGE/USDT pair may plummet to the solid support at $0.09. 

Hyperliquid price prediction

Sellers are attempting to pull Hyperliquid (HYPE) back below the breakout level of $43.76, but the bulls have held their ground.

If the HYPE price continues higher and breaks above the $46 level, it suggests that the bulls have flipped the $43.76 level into support. That increases the likelihood of a rally to the $50 to $51.43 zone.

Time is running out for the bears. They will have to pull the HYPE/USDT pair below the 20-day EMA ($40.78) to make a comeback. If they manage to do that, the pair may slump to the 50-day SMA ($37.38). 

Related: Bitcoin price quietly sets new 10-week high as trader sees $88K in weeks

Cardano price prediction

Cardano (ADA) continued its recovery and is likely to test the resistance at the downtrend line of the descending channel pattern.

Sellers are expected to aggressively defend the downtrend line, but if the bulls prevail, the ADA/USDT pair may climb to $0.32, then to $0.37. Such a move signals a potential short-term trend change.

On the contrary, if the ADA price turns down from the downtrend line and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests the pair may remain within the channel for some time. 

Bitcoin Cash price prediction

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) pierced the 20-day EMA ($447) on Thursday, but the relief rally is facing selling at the 50-day SMA ($454).

The 20-day EMA is flattening out, and the RSI is near the midpoint, suggesting that the selling pressure is reducing. If bulls prevent the BCH price from dipping below $443, it could signal a shift in sentiment. That increases the likelihood of a break above the 50-day SMA. If that happens, the BCH/USDT pair may surge to $486, then to $520.

Alternatively, if the price breaks below $443, it signals that the bears remain sellers on rallies. The pair may then plunge toward the solid support at $419.

Chainlink price prediction

Chainlink (LINK) is attempting to break above the $8 to $10 resistance, where bears are expected to mount a strong defense.

If the price turns down from the overhead resistance and breaks below the moving averages, it suggests that the LINK/USDT pair may consolidate inside the range for a few more days.

On the other hand, if the LINK price closes above the $10 level, it indicates that the consolidation has resolved in favor of the bulls. The pair may then rally to the $11.61 level, where the bears are expected to step in. There is resistance at $10.94, but it is likely to be crossed.