Crypto World
Nonagon Capital and Startale Group Partner to Advance JPYSC Agentic Payment Use Cases
TLDR:
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- Nonagon Capital and Startale Group partner to pioneer JPYSC agentic payment proof-of-concept initiatives in 2026.
- JPYSC is Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, exempt from the JPY 1 million domestic transfer cap.
- Deloitte projects AI agent-driven commerce will reach USD 17.5 trillion by 2030, fueling stablecoin demand.
- Planned use cases include agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing, and real-time micropayments globally.
- Nonagon Capital and Startale Group partner to pioneer JPYSC agentic payment proof-of-concept initiatives in 2026.
JPYSC, Japan’s first bank-backed yen stablecoin, is now part of a new strategic partnership. Nonagon Capital and Startale Group announced the collaboration on March 27, 2026.
Nonagon Capital is a San Francisco Bay Area venture fund focused on digital assets. Startale Group is a Singapore-headquartered global fintech company.
Both firms plan to run proof-of-concept initiatives for AI agent-driven payments using JPYSC. Deloitte projects AI agent-driven commerce will reach $17.5 trillion by 2030.
Japan’s Trust Bank-Backed Stablecoin Targets Enterprise Settlement
Shinsei Trust & Banking, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, issues JPYSC under Japan’s Payment Services Act. It is classified as an Item (iii) Electronic Payment Instrument, taking the form of trust-beneficiary rights.
SBI VC Trade handles distribution, while Startale Group leads technical development. This includes smart contract architecture and security infrastructure.
Startale Group took to X to announce the collaboration, stating the two companies would work to “pioneer agentic payment use cases for Japan’s first bank-backed yen stablecoin.”
The post further referenced plans for “agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing & real-time micropayments.” These use cases are designed to serve global enterprises across multiple industries.
The announcement signaled both firms’ commitment to building next-generation payment infrastructure.
The stablecoin is not subject to Japan’s JPY 1 million per-transaction cap on domestic transfers. This makes it well-suited for large enterprise-grade financial settlements.
It also supports interoperability between traditional financial systems and blockchain networks. The official JPYSC launch is targeted for Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
JPYSC’s design combines institutional backing with blockchain-level programmability. Its trust bank structure provides regulatory credibility under Japanese law.
Its on-chain architecture also offers flexibility for cross-border enterprise use cases. This combination sets it apart from conventional digital payment instruments.
Partnership Proof-of-Concepts to Shape JPYSC Global Rollout
Nonagon Capital announced in February 2026 its strategic focus on the agentic payment space. The Startale Group partnership marks its first major initiative in that direction.
Both firms view the convergence of AI and blockchain as a pivotal economic development. Their joint effort begins with proof-of-concept experiments using JPYSC as the payment layer.
On-chain identity verification, referred to as Know Your Agent (KYA), is a core feature of JPYSC. This mechanism allows it to function natively within autonomous AI payment environments.
Programmable settlement capabilities further position it as a next-generation payment layer. These features support regulated digital yen transactions on a global scale.
These insights will form the operational blueprint for a swift global rollout. Both companies plan to use their combined international reach to scale results.
Further announcements will follow as developments progress. The partnership draws together expertise in digital assets, fintech, and AI infrastructure.
JPYSC’s programmable settlement rails make it suited for high-frequency AI transactions. Regulatory compliance and institutional backing from SBI Group add credibility to the framework.
As the Q2 2026 launch nears, both companies continue to refine their execution strategy. The agentic payment space is growing, and this partnership positions both firms at the forefront.
Crypto World
Bitcoin liquidation cluster builds around $70.7k and $78k as leverage creeps back
Coinglass flags $1.64b in BTC longs at risk below $70,721 and $1.25b in shorts above $78,068 as Bitcoin grinds in a tightly leveraged $70k–$78k range.
Summary
- Coinglass data shows $1.64b in BTC longs at risk if price dips below $70,721.
- Another $1.25b in BTC shorts could be wiped out if Bitcoin breaks above $78,068.
- Traders face a narrow band between major liquidation pockets as BTC hovers in the mid-$70,000s.
According to Coinglass, if Bitcoin (BTC) falls below $70,721, the cumulative long liquidation intensity on major centralized exchanges (CEXs) climbs to roughly $1.644 billion. Conversely, if BTC breaks above $78,068, the platform estimates cumulative short liquidations of about $1.25 billion, underscoring how tightly clustered leverage has become around the current range.
At 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 14, the price of Bitcoin stood near $74,315, up from about $71,189 a day earlier but still roughly $10,250 lower than a year ago, illustrating how volatility persists even as BTC trades in the mid‑$70,000s. Prediction markets on Polymarket currently assign roughly a 71% chance that Bitcoin will settle between $74,000 and $76,000 on April 16, with the $72,000 to $74,000 band priced at about 22%, reflecting expectations that BTC will stay pinned near the middle of the liquidation corridor in the short term.
The liquidation bands highlighted by Coinglass suggest that a clean break below $70,721 or above $78,068 could trigger forced selling or buying, amplifying moves as exchanges close out underwater futures positions. In practice, that means spot moves near those levels risk cascading into hundreds of millions of dollars in additional flow as over‑leveraged longs or shorts are flushed.
Recent crypto.news coverage of Bitcoin’s range‑bound trading and liquidity build‑up has pointed to a similar setup, with BTC grinding sideways while leverage and open interest quietly rise. In another crypto.news story on Brazil’s B3 exchange and its tokenized real‑world asset and stablecoin plans, analysts described how Bitcoin’s growing role in institutional portfolios is increasingly tied to broader digital asset infrastructure rather than purely retail speculation.
Grayscale’s institutional outlook for 2026, as reported by crypto.news, framed this phase as “the dawn of crypto’s institutional era,” with Bitcoin at the center of a broader shift toward on‑chain capital markets and stablecoin‑driven settlement. Against that backdrop, the current $70,721 to $78,068 liquidation bracket around BTC is more than just a trading range: it is the zone where aggressive leverage meets a maturing, increasingly institutional market structure.
Relevant crypto.news articles include a deep dive on decentralized governance in DeFi, an analysis of Bitcoin’s range‑bound price action and liquidity, and a report on B3’s tokenization and stablecoin strategy, which together contextualize how BTC’s current trading band fits into a larger evolution of crypto market plumbing.
Crypto World
RAVE crypto defends $10 support, can bulls push to a new high?
RAVE crypto crashed over 44% to nearly $10 earlier today before backpedalling on some of its losses as investors bought the dip.
Summary
- RaveDAO surged over 5,300% to a $19.54 all-time high before crashing nearly 45% to $10, as profit-taking followed a massive short squeeze.
- The token has since rebounded nearly 50% to around $15, with rising futures open interest and improving funding rates signaling strong bullish positioning.
- Exchange outflows and bullish technical indicators suggest RAVE could attempt another rally toward a new high above $20.
According to data from CoinGecko, RaveDAO (RAVE) price skyrocketed over 5,300% this week to an all-time high of $19.54 on Wednesday, becoming the best-performing crypto asset among the top 100 cryptocurrencies across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes.
The token price rose due to a massive short squeeze triggered by a sudden surge in social media engagement and speculative retail interest. As prices rose higher, short sellers were forced to liquidate their positions, which added further fuel to the upward momentum and created a feedback loop of buying pressure.
It was also supported by the recent listing of RAVE on several secondary exchanges, which significantly boosted liquidity and accessibility for new traders.
Following the sharp rally, the token fell nearly 45% to near $10 as investors booked profits following the massive surge. It is quite common for investors to book some profits, especially after such an unprecedented vertical move that left the asset in overbought territory.
As of press time, the token has rebounded by nearly 50% back to $15, raising eyebrows over whether bulls are attempting to push the token to a new all-time high.
A look at the token futures market seems to suggest that market conviction remains incredibly high despite the volatility. Notably, the total futures open interest of the token rose over 30% to $470 million in the past 24 hours. This suggests that a majority of traders are leaning towards bullish bets, likely expecting the price to recover amid recent U.S. Iran war ceasefire news, which has improved overall market sentiment.
At the same time, the weighted funding rate of the token is exiting the red zone, a sign that the extreme bearishness of short sellers is fading and long positions are becoming more attractive again.
On the spot market, nearly over $7 million was withdrawn from exchanges over the past day. This means that investors were likely moving their holdings to their cold wallets, likely expecting further price appreciation and intending to hold for the long term.
Amidst these developments, its price action charts also seem to hint that the token is preparing for its next height, potentially to a new all-time high above $20.
On the 4-hour chart, RaveDAO price was trading above all of the simple moving averages. This means the immediate trend remains firmly bullish. At the same time, the MACD lines are drawing closer to a bullish crossover, which would confirm that the temporary correction has ended and the next leg of the rally is beginning.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Crypto World
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Stock Falls 4.3% After Q1 Earnings Despite Revenue Beat
Key Takeaways
- Abbott shares plunge 4.34% even as revenue surpasses forecasts and earnings hold steady
- Operating margins compress significantly as expenses outpace revenue expansion
- Company slashes annual earnings forecast, sparking investor concerns
- Exact Sciences acquisition strengthens oncology portfolio while pressuring near-term profits
- First-quarter results exceed expectations, yet margin weakness drives stock decline
Shares of Abbott Laboratories (ABT) tumbled in pre-market hours despite delivering robust first-quarter revenue figures and maintaining steady earnings. The healthcare giant’s decision to lower its full-year profit outlook coupled with deteriorating operating margins spooked investors, raising red flags about the company’s ability to maintain profitability. Trading at $97.10, the stock shed 4.34% as sellers dominated following the earnings announcement.
First Quarter Results Show Solid Top-Line Growth
Abbott Laboratories posted first-quarter sales of $11.16 billion, surpassing Wall Street projections by 1.3%. The healthcare company achieved 7.8% year-over-year sales growth, demonstrating consistent performance across its diverse healthcare divisions. Organic growth trends remained measured, suggesting the underlying business expansion progressed at a sustainable pace.
On the earnings front, Abbott reported adjusted earnings of $1.15 per share, perfectly aligning with analyst forecasts. This represented an improvement from the $1.09 per share recorded in the comparable quarter last year, showing incremental profit gains. However, meeting expectations precisely without upside failed to generate enthusiasm among market participants.
The diversified healthcare manufacturer operates across multiple segments including diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional products, and established pharmaceuticals. Ongoing innovation initiatives and market expansion strategies have supported consistent quarterly revenue growth. Yet the company’s five-year average annual revenue growth of just 3.9% trails more dynamic competitors in the healthcare space.
Profitability Challenges and Guidance Reduction
Abbott disclosed an adjusted operating margin of 12% for the quarter, representing a substantial decline from the 16.3% margin achieved one year earlier. Expense growth exceeded sales growth, undermining operational efficiency throughout the period. This margin deterioration sparked concerns regarding the company’s cost management capabilities and economies of scale.
Management also trimmed its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a midpoint of $5.48. This downward revision represented a 3.4% decrease compared to previous forecasts, suggesting more conservative internal assumptions. The guidance cut proved instrumental in driving the negative market response to otherwise solid quarterly results.
Examining the longer-term trend, Abbott’s operating margin has contracted by 6.2 percentage points over the past five years, indicating persistent profitability headwinds. Annual earnings per share growth has averaged merely 3.8%, tracking closely with the company’s moderate revenue trajectory. These metrics underscore Abbott’s struggle to achieve meaningful operating leverage despite its considerable scale.
Growth Initiatives and Future Projections
The company recently finalized its purchase of Exact Sciences, bolstering its capabilities in cancer diagnostics. This strategic transaction adds a promising high-growth business line expected to accelerate future sales. However, the acquisition simultaneously introduces short-term earnings dilution, which factored into the revised guidance framework.
Abbott continues investing in medical technology innovation through strategic partnerships and clinical research in cardiovascular health and diabetes management. Recent product trials have demonstrated enhanced clinical outcomes, reinforcing the company’s relevance in evolving healthcare markets. These investments lay groundwork for gradual improvement in growth trajectories.
Wall Street analysts project Abbott’s revenue will expand by 11.1% over the coming twelve months, suggesting accelerating momentum ahead. Forecasted earnings per share growth of 8.5% indicates expectations for profitability recovery. Nevertheless, immediate margin pressures and the reduced guidance continue to create headwinds for investor sentiment in the near term.
Crypto World
AllUnity Expands EURAU Stablecoin Into Uniswap DeFi Liquidity Pools
AllUnity, a regulated European stablecoin issuer, is expanding its euro-pegged stablecoin, EURAU, across major decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
The company announced Thursday that its EURAU stablecoin is entering liquidity pools across major DEXs, including Uniswap, currently the largest decentralized exchange by trading volumes.
The rollout includes two EURAU trading pairs, one against Tether USDt (USDT) on Ethereum, and another against USDT0 — an omnichain version of USDT — on the Tempo blockchain. It also includes the EURAU/USDT pair on Solana via the Raydium DEX.

AllUnity’s DEX push comes as uncertainty persists over how far decentralized finance (DeFi) falls within the scope of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) regime.
While DeFi is generally considered outside the scope of the framework, the European Central Bank last month questioned whether decentralized autonomous organizations are decentralized enough to remain outside MiCA’s regulatory perimeter.
AllUnity built EURAU under BaFin licence
AllUnity operates as a MiCA-compliant stablecoin issuer after obtaining an Electronic Money Institution license from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in July 2025.
AllUnity launched EURAU on July 31, 2025. The token remains small by market capitalization compared with the largest euro stablecoins.

AllUnity has been expanding the presence of its EURAU stablecoin across exchanges, with listings on centralized exchanges (CEXs) such as Bullish as well as decentralized ones like Aerodrome. Aerodrome became the first DEX integration for EURAU in December 2025.
Dollar stablecoins still dominate
The MiCA framework, which entered into full force in late 2024, has often been seen as a tool to address the dominance of stablecoins pegged to the US dollar.
Some major issuers, including Tether, have openly criticized the framework and declined to seek compliance in the EU, citing concerns over its requirements, which led to some compliant exchanges delisting its USDT stablecoin.
Some banking officials have since said MiCA may not be sufficient to address the dominance of US dollar-pegged stablecoins, which still account for 97% of the $316 billion market globally, according to CoinGecko.
Related: Bank of France calls for tougher MiCA limits on stablecoin payments
As AllUnity’s DEX push also involves major US dollar stablecoins, it remains unclear how regulators will respond to these developments.
“Expanding EURAU liquidity across DEXs is an important step in building a robust and accessible euro liquidity layer,” AllUnity’s executive Rupertus Rothenhäuser said, adding:
“We’re enabling seamless euro — dollar trading, empowering institutions and liquidity providers to participate in deep, efficient markets.”
Cointelegraph contacted AllUnity for comment regarding potential conflicts with the EU regulation but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
Crypto World
CATL Shares Soar to All-Time High Following Stellar 52% Q1 Revenue Surge
Key Highlights
- First quarter revenue reached 129.1 billion yuan, representing a 52.5% year-over-year increase and surpassing analyst forecasts of 108.16 billion yuan.
- Net profit totaled 20.74 billion yuan, marking a 48.5% rise and exceeding the consensus estimate of 16.94 billion yuan.
- Shares traded in Hong Kong jumped more than 10% to an all-time high of HK$724.50, while the Shenzhen-listed shares climbed 7% to 460 yuan.
- The company commands a 30% share of the worldwide energy storage system market, which experienced 79% demand expansion in 2025.
- Over the trailing 12 months, CATL shares have gained 101%, significantly outperforming the Hang Seng Index’s 23% advance.
Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the global leader in electric vehicle battery manufacturing, delivered first-quarter results on Thursday that significantly exceeded Wall Street projections. The impressive performance propelled the company’s shares to unprecedented peaks across both trading venues.
Quarterly revenue totaled 129.1 billion yuan ($18.93 billion), representing a 52.5% jump compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Wall Street analysts had projected revenue of approximately 108.16 billion yuan, based on FactSet consensus estimates.
Profit attributable to shareholders reached 20.74 billion yuan—reflecting a 48.5% year-over-year expansion. Market expectations had been centered around 16.94 billion yuan.

Operating profit for the period stood at 26.7 billion yuan. The company’s earnings per share increased to 4.58 yuan from 3.18 yuan in the prior-year quarter.
CATL’s Hong Kong-traded shares soared more than 10% during Thursday’s trading session, touching a record high of HK$724.50. Meanwhile, the company’s Shenzhen-listed shares advanced as much as 7% to reach 460 yuan, also establishing a new all-time peak.
The broader Hong Kong market also posted strong gains. The Hang Seng Index advanced 1.7%, while mainland China’s CSI 300 rose 1.1%.
Diversification Beyond Electric Vehicles
CATL counts Tesla among its major automotive clients. The company attributed the quarter’s robust growth to expansion across its primary battery operations and sustained worldwide appetite for electrification solutions.
Chinese electric vehicle sales have faced headwinds in 2026 after government incentive programs concluded at year-end. However, CATL has been establishing a stronger foothold in an alternative energy sector.
Energy storage systems (ESS)—large-scale batteries designed to capture excess electricity for future deployment—are becoming increasingly significant. Worldwide ESS demand soared 79% in 2025, according to data from SNE Research. CATL controlled a 30% portion of the global ESS market by the conclusion of 2025.
The continuing geopolitical tensions involving Iran have amplified expectations for energy storage demand, as these developments may accelerate investments in power infrastructure and alternatives to conventional energy distribution networks.
Shares Double Over 12-Month Period
CATL stock has skyrocketed 101% throughout the past year. By comparison, the Hang Seng Index has advanced 23% during the identical timeframe.
This performance differential is striking. While the broader Hong Kong equity market has delivered respectable returns, CATL has essentially quadrupled that pace.
Thursday’s record closing prices extend an impressive winning streak for the shares. The company achieved simultaneous all-time highs on both its Hong Kong and Shenzhen listings within the same trading day.
Quarterly earnings per share registered at 4.58 yuan, climbing from 3.18 yuan in the year-ago period.
The company chose not to issue forward-looking guidance in its earnings announcement, though the quarter’s actual results substantially exceeded analyst projections on both revenue and profitability measures.
Crypto World
Ethereum (ETH) price drops 1.3% as index trades lower
CoinDesk Indices presents its daily market update, highlighting the performance of leaders and laggards in the CoinDesk 20 Index.
The CoinDesk 20 is currently trading at 2083.34, down 0.2% (-3.93) since 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Twelve of 20 assets are trading higher.

Leaders: DOT (+7.1%) and APT (+4.0%).
Laggards: ETH (-1.3%) and AAVE (-1.1%).
The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based index traded on multiple platforms in several regions globally.
Crypto World
Solana Price Prediction: SOL Twitter Dropped XRP Bomb
Solana’s official X account posted a single word last night, “XRP,” and the internet promptly lost its mind. Solana itself is currently trading at a $85 price range in a muted price reaction that stands in sharp contrast to the social prediction the post triggered.
The post paired that lone word with a four-second cinematic animation of the Solana logo, no caption, no thread, no explanation. Millions of views followed within hours. The XRP community declared a “flip the switch” moment; Solana’s account fanned the flames with replies including “time to flip the switch” and “we signed 589 NDAs”. The latter a deliberate nod to one of XRP’s most enduring inside jokes.
Against this backdrop of social spectacle, SOL’s underlying technicals tell another story, one worth parsing before drawing any conclusions.
Discover: The best pre-launch token sales
Solana Price Prediction: Break $90 Resistance Now?
SOL has traded in a tight 24-hour range between $84 and $85. The price action is technically compressed. Our short-term model targets $90 as the critical resistance for any near-term recovery, with tomorrow’s range pegged at $84–$86.
SOL holds above its 10- and 20-day EMAs, tentatively constructive, but remains pinned below the 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs, all of which are bearish on the daily chart.

If SOL can clear $86 on sustained volume, it could open a path toward $88–$90 resistance. For now, consolidation between $82 and $86 is the most likely scenario, with the contracting triangle on the hourly chart resolving directionally within days.
The XRP tweet generated attention, but not volume. Until SOL clears $86 with conviction, the path of least resistance remains sideways.
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
LiquidChain Breaking Social as Solana Tests Key Levels
SOL consolidating below multi-month EMAs is precisely the environment where traders start asking whether large-cap exposure still offers asymmetric upside, or whether that window has already closed at a $48B market cap.
The XRP angle adds narrative heat, but narrative alone doesn’t move price. That asymmetry question is worth taking seriously. For context on where XRP itself fits into the current macro picture, recent XRP price analysis highlights the regulatory tailwinds still in play.
One early-stage project drawing attention in this environment is LiquidChain ($LIQUID), a Layer 3 infrastructure protocol positioning itself as the cross-chain liquidity layer for the BTC, ETH, and SOL ecosystems simultaneously.
The core proposition: a Unified Liquidity Layer that fuses Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity into a single execution environment, with Deploy-Once Architecture allowing developers to build once and access all three networks.
The presale has raised $675K at a current price of $0.0145, with more than 1600% APY staking bonus. Verifiable features include Single-Step Execution and Verifiable Settlement, infrastructure-layer tooling aimed at the fragmentation problem that has dogged multi-chain development for years.
Research LiquidChain’s presale structure before the next price increase.
The post Solana Price Prediction: SOL Twitter Dropped XRP Bomb appeared first on Cryptonews.
Crypto World
BNB price outlook as quarterly burn cuts supply to 134.7M
- BNB price hovers near $620 as bulls target a fresh short-term rally.
- The 35th quarterly burn has reduced BNB supply to 134.7 million.
- A shift in macro and geopolitical conditions could bolster BNB and other altcoins.
BNB price traded to highs of $630 on Wednesday, recovering to intraday highs after earlier moves across crypto dented bulls’ plans.
The rejection at the multi-week peak means the Binance Coin’s value is back near the $620 mark, where buyers are looking to pile in as the BNB Foundation reveals its second quarterly burn of 2026 has cut the native token supply to approximately 134.7 million.
Could this supply squeeze help BNB price higher, or are short-term headwinds too strong for bulls?
BNB supply drops amid quarterly burn
According to the BNB Foundation, the 35th quarterly burn has permanently removed 1,569,307.34 BNB tokens valued at $1.02 billion from circulation.
This means the total supply has dropped further, with the metric now at 134,786,916.53 and reinforcing the coin’s deflationary mechanism.
On a bullish note, what this burn does is to advance BNB toward the 100 million token target.
More than 40% of the initial supply has now been eliminated since BNB’s launch, with regular removals introduced in 2021. In January this year, Binance marked the 34th burn, which removed 1.37 million BNB worth $1.29 billion at the time.
Surging on-chain metrics, such as all-time high daily active users and dApp usage, have directly boosted the burn’s scale amid growth in real-world assets, DeFi, gaming, and layer-2 ecosystems.
$16,600,000,000 in tokenized assets on BNB Chain, making it a new ATH.
According to @tokenterminal 👇 https://t.co/gFwSsV9Kis
— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) April 9, 2026
BNB price analysis
While BNB exploded in 2025, the past several months have seen the ecosystem token struggle with downside pressure. Controversial headlines and fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) around Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, have contributed to the downtrend since the highs of $1,300.
Notably, the 54% dip from the ATH of $1,370 on October 13, 2025, aligned with overall losses for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds have largely capped BTC, with the latest uptick stalling around $76,000.
Currently, BNB price lingers near $620, slightly off highs seen after the burn and in line with Bitcoin’s retest of the $74k level.
Despite this outlook, a double-bottom formation at the $600 support zone points to bullish reversal prospects for BNB. Positive momentum indicators and fresh flows could strengthen this picture.
If Bitcoin rides macro and geopolitical tailwinds to a new year-to-date peak, BNB could test resistance at $800.
The supply zone coincides with the 50-week moving average; breaching it could propel prices to the $1,000-$1,200 hurdle.
However, a close below $600 risks awakening more bears.
If this mirrors a broader crypto downturn, the next support level could be around $530.
Crypto World
JPMorgan says CLARITY close to deal as stablecoin fight enters final stage
Momentum is building in Washington for the long-awaited CLARITY Act, with JPMorgan (JPM) pointing to signs that negotiations may be nearing a breakthrough.
JPMorgan said discussions among lawmakers and regulators suggest the legislation is close to completion, with only a small number of issues still unresolved in a Wednesday report.
One senior policy official noted that the list of contentious items has narrowed from roughly a dozen to just “2–3 issues,” while debate around stablecoin rewards is now “in a good place.”
The CLARITY Act is designed to define how digital assets are regulated in the U.S., including how oversight is divided between agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). It also addresses how stablecoins and decentralized finance platforms should be treated under existing financial rules.
Lawmakers involved in the discussions struck an optimistic tone. A Senate staffer familiar with the process said the draft legislation is “very close,” with remaining questions around areas like DeFi oversight and token classification potentially resolved in the near term, according to the report.
One of the most closely watched debates centers on whether stablecoin issuers should be allowed to offer yield-like rewards to users. The issue has drawn pushback from banks, which argue such features could replicate deposit-taking without the same regulatory safeguards.
The latest proposals could find support from both crypto firms and traditional financial institutions, according to JPMorgan.
Still, the path forward is not without risk. The final legislative text has yet to be released and no formal vote has been scheduled. Timing is also a factor, with some policy experts warning that delays could push the bill into a more uncertain political environment.
JPMorgan noted that the outlook for the 2026 midterm elections remains mixed, with expectations that Democrats could regain control of the House of Representatives. If that scenario plays out, crypto legislation could lose priority, potentially slowing further progress.
For now, the direction of travel appears clear. As one policy advisor put it, “there is no such thing as a perfect bill,” underscoring willingness among stakeholders to compromise in order to establish a workable framework.
If passed, the CLARITY Act would mark a major step toward integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system, providing rules that industry participants have sought for years.
Crypto World
TSMC earnings jump 58% on booming AI chip demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported strong first-quarter earnings on Thursday, as steady demand for artificial intelligence chips pushed both revenue and profit to record levels.
Summary
- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company posted a 58% jump in Q1 profit to a record NT$572.48 billion, beating estimates as AI chip demand stayed strong.
- Revenue rose 35% year over year, with Nvidia-led demand driving growth and pushing advanced chips to dominate the sales mix.
- TSMC expects over 30% revenue growth in 2026 and plans higher capex as capacity remains tight amid persistent AI demand.
The world’s largest contract chipmaker posted net income of $18.2 billion for the three months ended March, up 58% from a year earlier and ahead of expectations. The result extended its streak of record profits to a fourth consecutive quarter. It also marked its eighth straight period of double-digit growth.
According to LSEG SmartEstimates, which weigh forecasts from consistently accurate analysts, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company beat expectations on both revenue and profit.
The company reported revenue of about $35 billion, ahead of the expected $34.8 billion, while net income came in at around $18.2 billion, surpassing estimates of roughly $17.3 billion. On a yearly basis, revenue rose 35% to about $35 billion, in line with the preliminary figure disclosed earlier.
As Asia’s largest listed technology firm, TSMC manufactures chips used across a wide range of industries, from consumer electronics to hyperscale data centers. It has seen strong demand from major clients such as Apple and Nvidia, with the latter now its largest customer due to rising demand for AI processors.
Chief Executive C.C. Wei said “AI-related demand continues to be extremely robust,” adding that rapid advances in artificial intelligence are driving more computing needs and, in turn, higher semiconductor demand. He also pointed to strong customer signals that support expectations for a multi-year growth cycle tied to AI.
TSMC now expects full-year 2026 revenue to grow by more than 30% in U.S. dollar terms, slightly above its earlier outlook. For the second quarter, it forecast revenue between $39 billion and $40.2 billion, implying about 10% sequential growth.
The upbeat guidance comes despite concerns over supply chain risks linked to the Middle East conflict, which could affect energy supplies and key materials such as helium and hydrogen. Executives said they do not expect any near-term disruption, noting the company maintains safety inventories and sources critical inputs from multiple suppliers.
Advanced chips lead revenue mix
High-performance computing, which includes AI and 5G applications, remained the main driver of sales, accounting for 61% of total revenue in the first quarter.
Advanced chips, defined as 7-nanometer or below, made up around 74% of wafer revenue. Within that, 3-nanometer chips contributed 25%, highlighting a rapid shift toward more advanced nodes. Smaller process nodes allow for more compact transistor designs, improving both performance and energy efficiency.
To keep up with demand, TSMC is expanding its manufacturing footprint. The company confirmed plans to add a new advanced fabrication plant in Tainan, Taiwan, while also scaling 3-nanometer capacity across Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. Its U.S. expansion forms part of a broader $165 billion investment in Arizona.
William Li, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said demand for AI chips has effectively pushed TSMC’s production capacity to its limits.
“Demand still significantly outpaces supply and isn’t showing any major sign of slowing down,” Li said, adding that tight capacity conditions are likely to persist through 2026.
External analysts echoed similar views, noting that TSMC’s facilities are operating at high utilisation levels as AI workloads continue to drive orders.
The company reiterated that capital expenditure for 2026 will be at the upper end of its previously guided $52 billion to $56 billion range, as it accelerates expansion to meet sustained demand.
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