Crypto World
On Saint Valentine’s Day, Kaspersky warns against gift card scams
Editor’s note: Valentine’s Day is a peak time for digital gifting, but gift cards and online offers also attract scammers. This editorial highlights how fraudsters exploit popular gift options and what consumers can do to stay safe. Ahead of the day, the following press release from Kaspersky outlines current scams, risk signals and practical tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from gift-card related fraud. The aim is to provide clear, actionable context for readers navigating a surge in digital gifting and phishing activity.
Key points
- 80% of respondents consider digital gifts such as gift cards, subscriptions, or gaming credits.
- Scammers forge fake stores and verification portals to steal gift card value.
- Always verify websites, check URLs, and use official brand sites to check balances.
- A fake site mimicking major marketplaces can deploy malware or backdoors; if a deal seems too good to be true, beware.
- Kaspersky Premium offers AI-powered anti-phishing and protection against fraudulent shops.
Why this matters
Valentine’s Day shopping for digital gifts has surged, expanding opportunities for fraud. By understanding common tricks and using trusted sources, readers can reduce the risk of gift-card fraud and protect personal data during peak gift seasons.
What to watch next
- Expect more gift-card related scams around holidays.
- Watch for fake gift card sites mimicking retailers and deceptive verification portals.
- Phishing attempts through fraudulent marketplaces and links may rise; use protection with phishing detection.
Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.
On Saint Valentine’s Day Kaspersky warns against gift card scams
13 February 2026
Looking for a gift for your soulmate on February 14th and think that a gift card would be a nice option? Just remember that when digital trends rapidly rise in popularity with customers, they are also gaining traction with scammers looking to use them as bait. With Saint Valentine’s Day approaching Kaspersky has identified several phishing and malicious campaigns targeting gift card owners and those who’re looking for a digital present for their loved ones. To help stay safe, the security experts at Kaspersky have also shared practical advice on how not to be tricked.
A “check‑your‑balance” that drains your gift card
Kaspersky’s latest survey* shows that 80% of respondents consider giving digital presents such as subscriptions, gaming credits or gift cards. Scammers are actively exploiting this trend capitalizing on well-known brands, creating fake online stores and even crafting fake verification portals designed specifically to steal gift card value.
Kaspersky’s phishing detection identified deceptive platforms offering victims a “secure” system to check their gift cards validity, status or balance. Targeting those who recently received a gift card, phishers steal the card’s identification data and get an opportunity to activate the certificate before the user themselves.
To stay protected from such scams, Kaspersky recommends double‑checking that a website is real. Look carefully at the web address, any links you’re asked to click, and spot any odd pictures or designs that might hint the site is fake. The safest way to confirm a gift card’s balance is to go straight to the brand’s official website – don’t follow any other links. To prevent clicking on malicious link use a security solution such as Kaspersky Premium with a strong AI-powered anti-phishing component.
Is it a gift card for you or for cybercriminals?
As gift shoppers flood online marketplaces with flash sales and limited-time deals, cybercriminals are watching closely, ready to strike when users are most vulnerable.
Kaspersky experts detected a fake website that mimics Amazon, one of the most famous marketplaces, offering $200 gift card. With this tempting offer, scammers encourage customers to press a “Get your Amazon gift card” button. However, when the user clicks it, they get an MSI installer with a backdoor that cybercriminals use to remotely control the victim’s device.
This fraudulent scheme highlights the importance of complex cybersecurity protection, showing that clicking on a wrong link may result in not only money and data loss, but also device infection or loss of control over it. When a fake site copies the original store’s look exactly, it’s hard to tell which one is real and which is a scam.
Kaspersky Premium protects users from fraudulent online stores through advanced detection technology that analyzes website characteristics and URLs to identify suspicious patterns. For its excellent performance in AV-Comparatives Fake Shops Detection certification in 2025 Kaspersky Premium was awarded an “Approved” certificate, making it the right choice for confident online shopping.
“As Valentine’s Day approaches, cybercriminals may increase their efforts to exploit the emotional vulnerability and romantic spirit that define this holiday. They’re creating fake gift card websites, spoofing popular retailers, and launching phishing campaigns that prey on your desire to make your loved ones happy. The best defense is to stick to well-known retailers, check URLs carefully, apply a security solution with advanced phishing detection and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is,” comments Anton Yatsenko, Lead Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.
* The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research center in November 2025. 3000 respondents from 15 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, United Arab Emirates) took part in the survey.
About Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and nearly 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.
Crypto exchange Bithumb is reportedly delaying plans for its IPO until after 2028, according to local media.
Summary
- Bithumb has pushed its IPO timeline to after 2028 as it works to strengthen accounting standards and internal controls following regulatory setbacks.
- The exchange remains under scrutiny after a $40 billion internal balance error and a 36.8 billion won fine tied to anti-money laundering violations.
Per a report from Maeil Business News Korea citing a Bithumb official, the South Korean crypto exchange is set to “focus on preparing for the listing until 2027.”
Bithumb’s CFO Jeong Sang-gyun said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting that the company was strengthening its accounting policies and internal controls following an IPO advisory agreement with Samjong KPMG.
Bithumb recently reappointed CEO Lee Jae-won for a two-year term at the Tuesday meeting, where the IPO delay was also addressed. Initially, the listing was expected around 2025.
The delay also comes as Bithumb remains under sustained regulatory and operational scrutiny, with a series of incidents raising questions around internal controls and compliance standards.
In February, the exchange mistakenly credited users with 2,000 Bitcoin instead of 2,000 Korean won during a promotional event that created internal balances exceeding $40 billion.
While most of the funds existed only on the platform’s internal ledger and were later reversed, the incident drew regulatory attention over how such large discrepancies could be processed within minutes.
Separately, South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service has been examining the incident to assess potential weaknesses in Bithumb’s electronic ledger systems and oversight mechanisms.
Earlier this month, the exchange was also fined 36.8 billion won, about $24.5 million, for violations of anti-money laundering rules.
The exchange allegedly processed 45,772 crypto transfers involving 18 unregistered overseas virtual asset service providers, in breach of regulatory requirements.
Despite the delays, a major exchange going public could carry broader implications for crypto adoption and capital markets in the country.
Meanwhile, Dunamu, which operates Upbit, has also announced plans for an IPO following the completion of a share swap with Naver Financial, expected later this year.
Ethereum price is holding critical support despite macro headwinds and bearish prediction battering the broader crypto market. ETH is barely holding the $2,000 support, down more than 4% across the past 24 hours, yet on-chain metrics continue signaling underlying demand that price alone doesn’t capture.
Network activity shows that transaction volumes have remained elevated through the recent volatility, and developer deployment activity on Ethereum-adjacent infrastructure has not slowed. Aggregated forecast models currently place ETH in a contested range, with short-term targets diverging sharply between bulls and bears.
That divergence itself is a signal. As we know, markets rarely split this cleanly without a decisive catalyst incoming. Broader geopolitical uncertainty is amplifying volatility across all major pairs, keeping institutional positioning cautious.
Discover: The best pre-launch token sales
Ethereum Price Prediction: $2,500 This Month?
Ethereum is currently consolidating just above the $2,000 range, a zone that has acted as both support and resistance across multiple sessions. Short-term forecast models flag $2,000 as the psychological floor, and a clean break below would likely trigger accelerated selling toward the $1,800-$1,900 band, a level last tested during the 2024 Q4 pullback.
Volume has thinned relative to the February peak as a sign of indecisionn. The 50-day moving average is curling downward, pressing on price from above near $2,280. RSI on the daily sits in the mid-40s, not oversold, but far from a bounce signal.
If support holds, ETH’s positioning relative to the altcoin cycle still looks constructive longer-term. Short-term, patience is the trade. $2,500 can break and wave goodbye to bears.
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
LiquidChain Targets Early Mover Upside as Ethereum Tests Key Levels
Ethereum’s compressed range is a reminder of the ceiling problem: even a strong recovery to $2,500 represents roughly 20% upside from current levels, a modest against the risk profile. That math is exactly why capital rotates toward earlier-stage infrastructure plays when large-caps stall.
LiquidChain is emerging as a notable infrastructure presale in this environment. The project positions itself as a Layer 3 execution environment that unifies liquidity from Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Developers deploy once and access all three ecosystems simultaneously, eliminating the fragmentation that currently costs DeFi protocols measurable TVL.
A new layer emerges. Only a few see it first.
The future is LiquidChain⟁https://t.co/vqvBcdSj94 pic.twitter.com/R7ZeZ0NPGl
— LiquidChain (@getliquidchain) March 24, 2026
The presale has raised $638K at a current token price of $0.01445, with a Unified Liquidity Layer and Verifiable Settlement architecture as its technical core. It also offers 1700% APY staking rewards as bonus for early buyers.
For traders watching ETH consolidate with limited short-term upside, exploring LiquidChain’s presale terms may be worth adding to the research queue.
This article is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile — conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.
The post Ethereum Price Prediction: Network Activity Still Growing in This Volatile Market appeared first on Cryptonews.
Crypto World
Free AI Quant trading bots designed to help users efficiently earn cryptocurrency profits
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
AI quant trading bots are gaining traction in 2026 as traders automate strategies to navigate complex crypto markets.
Summary
- AI quant trading bots are essential in 2026, helping traders automate strategies and navigate complex crypto markets.
- BitsStrategy ranks top with adaptive AI, real-time data analysis, and automated risk management features.
- Its free plan, multi-exchange support, and ease of use make it ideal for both beginners and experienced traders.
In 2026, the crypto market is growing increasingly complex, making it harder for traders to manually analyze and execute trades. Fortunately, AI-powered quantitative trading bots have become essential tools for anyone looking to automate their trading strategies, analyze data at scale, and boost profits efficiently — all without requiring constant monitoring or expert knowledge.
This guide breaks down the top 6 free AI quant trading bots that can help traders enhance their cryptocurrency earnings in 2026. These bots are designed to run intelligent, data‑driven strategies that maximize profitability while simplifying the trading process.
BitsStrategy– Best overall free AI quant trading system
Overview:
BitsStrategy leads the pack as the top AI quant trading bot for 2026, offering robust performance and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. This free platform automatically adapts its trading strategies based on real‑time market data, allowing both beginners and seasoned traders to benefit from its automated system.
Key Features:
- Advanced AI Algorithms that optimize strategies in real‑time
- Customizable Quant Strategies with an easy-to-use interface
- Multi‑exchange support for greater liquidity
- Zero Fees on the free plan
- Automated risk management and performance monitoring
Why It’s Worth Using:
BitsStrategy offers an ideal blend of simplicity and advanced AI capabilities, making it perfect for both new and experienced traders who want to automate their strategies without any upfront cost.
Click and register to receive a free $10 real reward!
Pionex – Best free AI quant trading bot platform
Overview:
Pionex is known for offering 16 free built‑in bots, including grid, infinity grid, and rebalancing bots. It allows users to deploy automated strategies directly within the platform without needing to link external APIs, reducing delays and connectivity issues.
Key Features:
- 16 Free Trading Bots including Grid, Infinity Grid, and Rebalancing
- Built‑in liquidity from top exchanges
- Simple mobile interface for easy setup
- Supports trending and sideways markets
- Free to use with no subscription fees
Why It’s Worth Using:
Pionex is perfect for beginners seeking free automated bots and a simple, no‑cost platform for getting started with crypto trading.
3Commas – Best free bot tools for portfolio efficiency
Overview:
3Commas offers a range of AI‑driven tools for automated portfolio management, including smart trade features and customizable quant bots. With its free tier, traders can access essential automation tools for managing multiple assets and optimizing trade strategies across exchanges.
Key Features:
- DCA, Grid, and Algorithmic Bots
- Smart Trade terminal with take‑profit & stop‑loss functions
- Unified portfolio management across exchanges
- Real‑time notifications and alerts
- Free basic tools for automated trading
Why It’s Worth Using:
3Commas is ideal for those who want to manage diverse portfolios and automate trading strategies across multiple exchanges without paying a subscription fee.
Cryptohopper – Best free strategy marketplace bot
Overview:
Cryptohopper’s free plan provides access to its strategy marketplace, where users can choose from a variety of pre‑configured quant strategies designed by expert traders. These bots execute strategies based on AI signals, automating trading without the need for manual intervention.
Key Features:
- Strategy Marketplace with ready‑made templates
- AI‑driven signals and automated execution
- Multi‑exchange API integration
- Mobile‑optimized dashboard
- Push notifications and alerts
Why It’s Worth Using:
Cryptohopper is perfect for those who want to deploy ready‑made quant strategies without creating them from scratch, while still benefiting from AI automation.
TradeSanta – Best free cloud quant trading bots
Overview:
TradeSanta operates cloud‑based bots, meaning they can trade 24/7 without needing a dedicated computer or server. It’s perfect for traders who prefer a cloud‑based solution with no setup required and want reliable automated trading at all times.
Key Features:
- Cloud‑based, fully automated bots that run continuously
- Grid and DCA strategies for automated market participation
- Real‑time trade notifications and performance tracking
- Easy mobile and web app for monitoring and configuration
- Free plan available for basic bot features
Why It’s Worth Using:
TradeSanta’s cloud automation makes it a great option for users who want to run bots without relying on a personal computer, especially for beginners.
Coinrule – Best free no‑code AI quant strategy builder
Overview:
Coinrule allows users to create and run rule‑based quant strategies without needing any coding knowledge. With a free tier, users can access basic strategy templates and set up automated trading with simple triggers based on market conditions.
Key Features:
- No‑Code Strategy Builder for easy rule creation
- 250+ preset templates for quick strategy automation
- Conditional triggers like price movements and technical indicators
- Free access to basic rule builder and templates
- API integration with leading exchanges
Why It’s Worth Using:
Coinrule is ideal for users who want to create custom quant strategies with no technical knowledge, using simple drag‑and‑drop tools.
How AI quant trading bots help traders earn more
AI‑powered quant bots have transformed the way traders earn profits in crypto markets. Here’s why they work:
- 24/7 Automation: AI bots trade around the clock, capturing opportunities even while you sleep.
- No Emotional Bias: Bots execute strategies logically without human emotional influence.
- Data‑Driven Analysis: AI analyzes vast amounts of data to make precise predictions and decisions.
- Backtesting: Many bots offer the ability to test strategies before applying them in real‑time.
- Risk Management: Automated stop‑loss and take‑profit features ensure safer trading.
Conclusion
The rise of free AI quant trading bots has revolutionized crypto trading in 2026. Whether someone is looking for free built‑in bots like those offered by Pionex, AI‑optimized quant systems with BitsStrategy, or customizable strategies with Coinrule, there’s a bot for everyone:
| Bot | Best For |
| BitsStrategy | Best overall AI quant trading system |
| Pionex | Free built‑in bots |
| 3Commas | Portfolio & multi‑exchange management |
| Cryptohopper | Strategy marketplace |
| TradeSanta | Cloud‑based automation |
| Coinrule | No‑code quant strategy builder |
With the help of these tools, anyone can automate strategies, analyze market trends, and maximize profits, all while simplifying the trading process.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
AI-powered Genius Group has sold off its remaining Bitcoin holdings in the first quarter to pay down debt.
Summary
- Genius Group sold its remaining Bitcoin in Q1 to repay debt, stepping back from its earlier commitment to hold the majority of reserves in BTC.
- The company reported a turnaround in performance, with revenue reaching $3.3 million and net profit at $2.7 million after a loss a year earlier.
According to an April 1 press release, the company said it will “recommence building its Bitcoin Treasury when it believes market conditions are more favorable,” outlining that the exit is tied to timing rather than a full departure from its digital asset strategy.
The firm first committed to a “Bitcoin first” approach back in November 2024, stating that 90% or more of its reserves would be held in BTC. The latest move marks a break from that position as liquidity needs took priority.
Genius Group reported holding 84 BTC, valued at about $5.7 million, as of March 2026. Its Bitcoin balance had been declining since April 2025, when a US court temporarily blocked treasury expansion. The company resumed purchases in June, but the latest sale has now reduced its holdings to zero, according to data from Bitcoin Treasuries.
Revenue for the quarter rose 171% year-on-year to $3.3 million, while gross profit increased 228% to $2 million. A $500,000 operating loss recorded in Q1 2025 turned into a $2.7 million net profit in Q1 2026.
Similar decisions have surfaced across the sector as companies adjust balance sheets.
MARA Holdings sold 15,133 BTC in March for roughly $1.1 billion, reducing its treasury to 38,689 BTC and pushing it down to the third-largest corporate holder. The bulk of the proceeds went toward repurchasing about $1 billion in convertible senior notes, with the remainder allocated to general corporate use.
Similarly, mining company Bitdeer liquidated its entire 943 BTC balance in February and also sold newly mined coins, reducing its corporate holdings to zero. Among other firms, Cango Inc. sold 4,451 BTC to cut exposure, while GD Culture Group approved the sale of part of its 7,500 BTC reserve.
The CLARITY Act’s Senate Banking Committee markup could find a direction in April, and three Made in USA coins are approaching technical inflection points that could determine their direction for the month.
BeInCrypto analysts have identified setups across three popular US-origin coins where regulatory clarity, on-chain fundamentals, and chart structures are converging at the same time. Each token offers a different risk profile heading into April.
Stellar (XLM)
Stellar enters April with the strongest alignment between fundamental catalysts and technical structure among the three Made in USA coins on this list. The CLARITY Act’s April markup directly benefits Stellar as an ISO 20022-compliant payments rail. Franklin Templeton’s BENJI tokenized fund continues to operate on Stellar, and the network now holds over $1.4 billion in real-world asset value according to rwa.xyz data.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
The daily chart shows an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern forming since late January. The neckline sits near $0.190, and a breakout would target a 21.24% measured move to $0.234.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the speed of price changes, supports the case. Between January 25 and March 29, price printed a lower low while RSI printed a higher low. That bullish divergence is still active. Previously, when a similar divergence confirmed, around March 22, Stellar surged approximately 21%.
If the April 3 XLM price candle forms above $0.163, another divergence layer confirms. The first hurdle sits at $0.176, the 0.618 level. A fall below $0.154 would invalidate the entire inverse head-and-shoulders structure. $0.163 separates an active divergence-driven rally toward $0.190 from a structural failure below $0.154.
Cardano (ADA)
Cardano is the bearish counterweight on this list despite carrying the strongest single April catalyst among Made in USA coins as Volatility Shares just debuted live 2x leveraged ETFs and standard futures exposure for Cardano.
The Midnight privacy sidechain launched in Q1 2026 with Google Cloud, MoneyGram, and Vodafone as validators. Yet the chart is not responding to these triggers.
The daily chart shows a bearish triangle pattern with the lower trendline sitting at $0.2327. ADA is down 13% over the past 30 days and 4.07% in the latest session, pressing closer to that support with each candle.
A hidden bearish divergence is adding pressure. Between February 6 and April 1, price made a lower high while RSI made a higher high. This pattern typically signals that the existing downtrend retains control even when short-term momentum improves temporarily.
A break below $0.232 exposes $0.219, the base of the measured structure. The first recovery level sits at $0.271. Only a sustained push above $0.354, the 0.618 level, would shift the bias to bullish.
Until then, the pending ETF filings and Midnight launch remain catalysts without chart confirmation. Per the chart, $0.232 separates a contained triangle consolidation from a fresh breakdown to new year-to-date lows at $0.219.
Algorand (ALGO)
Algorand is the most conflicted of the three tokens heading into April. Allbridge Core, a cross-chain bridge protocol that allows users to move stablecoins between different blockchain networks without wrapping them, enabled native USDC transfers to Algorand from Solana, Ethereum, Base, Sui, and Stellar earlier this year.
The integration gives Algorand a direct stablecoin on-ramp from five major ecosystems for the first time, addressing one of its longest-standing liquidity gaps.
However, Algorand’s DeFi total value locked has dropped from $133.27 million in July 2025 to $53.76 million according to DefiLlama data. That 60% decline in on-chain activity stands in contrast with the 15% monthly price gain, creating a disconnect between price and fundamental usage.
The daily chart shows a possible bull flag and pole pattern with a pole height of approximately 39%. A pullback is now building. Between January 5 and April 1 (broader timeframe), price made a lower high while RSI made a higher high, a hidden bearish divergence that hints at weakening upward momentum and a pullback.
April’s direction depends entirely on whether $0.095 holds. A daily close above $0.095 keeps the flag structure intact and preserves a path toward $0.104, followed by the full projection near $0.145.
A break below $0.095 invalidates the bullish flag hypothesis. That would also open a risk to $0.079.
For now, $0.095 separates a 39% bull flag projection from a structural failure that aligns with Algorand’s declining DeFi fundamentals.
The post 3 Made In USA Coins To Watch In April 2026 appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto-focused venture capital firm Paradigm is reportedly building a prediction markets terminal, joining a wider push by exchanges, brokers and crypto firms into prediction markets.
Led by Paradigm partner Arjun Balaji, the prediction market offering will cater to professional traders and market makers, Fortune said in a report on Wednesday, citing sources that said they started working on the project in late 2025.
Paradigm’s offering adds to a growing list of companies looking to offer access to prediction markets, which some forecast could reach $1 trillion in annual volume by the end of the decade.
Paradigm is also considering rolling out an internal market-making desk — an in-house team that provides liquidity by placing buy and sell orders — for prediction markets.
One of the sources told Fortune that Paradigm is also working with researchers to explore the feasibility of creating prediction market indexes.
“This would entail bundling multiple prediction markets together into one tradable package, much like the S&P 500 combines the stocks of 500 companies into one index,” Fortune said.
Cointelegraph reached out to Paradigm for additional information, but didn’t receive an immediate response.
Related: CFTC’s top enforcer puts prediction market insider traders on notice
Prediction markets became one of the fastest-growing use cases in crypto last year and have consistently surpassed $10 billion in monthly trading volume.
Coinbase and Gemini have since launched prediction market offerings, while Nasdaq and Cboe are seeking permission to offer prediction market-style binary options.
Paradigm had been looking at ways to get involved in the burgeoning market. It led Kalshi’s $185 million Series C funding round in June and its $1 billion Series E round in December.
The venture capital firm has also created a dashboard showing trading volume and open interest on Polymarket, Kalshi and other platforms across sports, crypto, politics, culture, financials and other topics.
new from paradigm: we are building a tool for exploring prediction market data
try it out today. I bet you’ll find new markets you never knew existed pic.twitter.com/HtDBWtFoys
— storm (@notnotstorm) February 4, 2026
Legal issues over prediction markets still being ironed out
Kalshi and its biggest competitor, Polymarket, have been dominating prediction markets trading volume. However, other challengers, such as OPINION and predict.fun, have also seen an uptick in trading activity recently.
The rapid growth of the prediction markets space has attracted regulatory scrutiny, with critics concerned that the platforms encourage insider trading and market manipulation, while event contracts based on sporting events are a form of sports betting.
US regulators at the federal and state levels are hashing out who should have jurisdiction in regulating prediction markets, while some regulators abroad have outright banned certain prediction market platforms.
Magazine: IronClaw rivals OpenClaw, Olas launches bots for Polymarket — AI Eye
Bitcoin (BTC) saw another $69,000 rejection on Thursday as risk-assets suffered over US-Iran war headlines.
Key points:
-
Bitcoin faces fresh downside pressure as stocks and gold fall on US President Donald Trump’s address to the nation.
-
US dollar strength ramps up on the back of an anticipated breakout to yearly highs.
-
Bitcoin would face “new lows” from a dollar comeback, a trader warns.
Bitcoin, stocks and gold all fall on Trump address
Data from TradingView showed 2% daily BTC price losses with lows near $66,200.
Crypto had joined stocks and gold in falling on the back of an address to the nation by US President Donald Trump. While markets anticipated deescalation, Trump’s tone left the door open for further escalation of the conflict.
“Between threatening Iran’s power plants, saying the Iran War would last 2-3 more weeks, and calling out NATO, there was nothing new,” trading resource The Kobeissi Letter wrote in a reaction on X.
“Yet, the market is now trading like the Iran War is ramping up for another month-long escalation. Why? Because he didn’t explicitly de-escalate.”
Kobeissi called the address “incredibly puzzling,” suggesting that it would fuel and not calm market nerves.
“The market, which was finally beginning to show some signs of calming, is now highly agitated, with US oil prices back to $104/barrel, stocks down sharply, and the bond market melting down again,” it added.
“Ironically, President Trump is now back to solving the problem he fixed earlier this week: How will he contain the market?”
With oil firmly above the $100 per barrel mark, US dollar strength also rebounded to the key 100 level on the day.
Traditionally inversely correlated with Bitcoin, the US dollar index (DXY) was already tipped for a more significant rebound after hitting multi-year lows in January.
“DXY stage is set. We are waiting for that breakout confirmation,” trader and analyst Aksel Kibar told X followers last week, offering a target of 104 — its highest level since April 2025.
Crypto trader BitBull forecast an expansion phase for DXY next, with new lows for risk assets as a result.
$DXY looks like a classic downtrend, accumulation and expansion phase.
Downtrend has happened.
Accumulation has been ongoing.The next will be expansion which will send crypto and stocks to new lows. pic.twitter.com/aO5xN8Gncp
— BitBull (@AkaBull_) April 1, 2026
Analyst eyes copycat BTC price bear flag
Some market participants continued to focus on Bitcoin’s latest bear flag construction — one that also carried the risk of a breakdown.
Related: Bitcoin snaps 5-month losing streak: Key BTC price levels to watch in April
As Cointelegraph reported, BTC price action closely echoed a bear-flag support collapse seen at the start of 2026.
Commenting, Keith Alan, cofounder of trading resource Material Indicators, said that BTC/USD still lacks “directional momentum.”
“Structurally, $BTC price action is still nearly identical to the prior bear flag structure,” he wrote on X.
“Nothing says that it has to continue to mimic that price behavior, but I’m following it like roadmap until price deviates from that path.”
This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research before making any decisions. Cointelegraph makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information presented, including forward-looking statements, and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content.
If autonomous agents become the dominant users of DeFi, blockchains start to do a different job. They operate as coordination and settlement systems for software rather than spaces driven by human timing, sentiment, and speculation.
Federico Variola, CEO of Phemex, says this could improve how on-chain activity develops. He says:
“Recently, blockchain ecosystems have struggled because many tokens have failed to reach escape velocity, and much of the activity has turned into PvP trading, where users try to extract value from each other.”
In his view, “agents may behave in a more cooperative way rather than an extractive one, simply because they tend to act more rationally than human participants.”
Dmitry Lazarichev, co-founder of Wirex, focuses on how this changes behaviour:
“Once agents become the main actors, the chain starts behaving less like a marketplace of people and more like a piece of machine infrastructure.”
“Activity becomes continuous: agents don’t wait for market hours, they don’t get tired, and they don’t trade on mood.”
That activity increases efficiency while introducing new stress points. If agents rely on similar inputs, Lazarichev says:
“You can get crowded behaviour and sharp feedback loops,” with rising pressure around “blockspace, fee dynamics, MEV, and the quality of execution guarantees.”
Fernando Lillo Aranda, Marketing Director at Zoomex, argues that the transition goes deeper. He says:
“When AI agents become the dominant participants in a blockchain ecosystem, we transition from a user-driven market structure to a system of autonomous economic coordination.”
In that environment, blockchains start operating as execution systems for machine-native strategies.
Pauline Shangett, CSO at ChangeNOW, corroborates:
“The network no longer serves humans, it hosts algorithms that humans can no longer supervise in real time.”
In exclusive interviews with these four crypto executives, BeInCrypto examined how DeFi changes as AI agents become its main users.
Agentic Liability Has no Clean Answer Yet
If AI agents can execute transactions, deploy contracts, or move funds autonomously, liability becomes harder to pin down when something goes wrong.
Lazarichev says autonomy cannot serve as an excuse.
“The key point is that ‘the agent did it’ can’t become a liability loophole,” he says.
In his view, an agent still acts “under someone’s authority, with permissions and limits set by a person or an organisation.” That puts the focus on “who deployed it, who configured it, who benefits from it, and who provided the model and the execution environment.”
He says the response will rely on familiar standards.
“If you deploy an autonomous system that can move value, you should be expected to have basic safeguards in place,” including “permissioning, spending limits, transaction simulation, circuit breakers, and audit logs.”
Shangett argues that current legal thinking is still relying on outdated foundations:
“We already have laws. They’re just 30 years old and built for a world where software couldn’t talk back. The .frameworks people keep citing ETHOS, NIST, the new PLD, they’re all patches on a system that wasn’t built for this. We need something new. And pretending otherwise is just reckless.”
She also points to a deeper issue. “Agency law assumes the agent can be sued. Your AI agent can’t. It has no wallet, no insurance, no legal personality.”
Identity Stops Meaning Human Only
As more autonomous systems operate on-chain, identity, too, takes on a different role. Networks need to determine what kind of actor they are interacting with and what that actor is allowed to do.
Lazarichev says that “DID can help, but it won’t solve ‘human vs bot’ in a clean, binary way.”
In his view, that distinction does not capture how these systems work. “Many bots will be legitimate participants,” he says. “What matters is being able to establish what type of actor something is, and what level of assurance sits behind it.”
That leads to more defined access controls. “The more realistic model is tiered access: different credentials for different privileges,” Lazarichev says.
He adds that identity systems will need to work alongside behavioural monitoring, especially when agents handle higher-value actions.
Lillo Aranda agrees. “In a machine economy, the ‘user’ is an agent – so reliability, determinism, and composability replace simplicity as design priorities,” he says.
Shangett also reinforces this point. “The bots aren’t the problem anymore. The agents are.”
All three expert views point to a model where identity focuses on role, permissions, and accountability.
Wallet Security Breaks at the Prompt Layer
For autonomous wallets, the biggest security risk may not be stolen keys, but manipulated decisions.
Lazarichev says prompt injection is dangerous because it “targets the decision layer rather than the cryptography.” If an agent is pulling from outside inputs, attackers may be able to “steer it into doing something it shouldn’t: change a destination address, approve a malicious contract, widen permissions, or bypass an internal check.”
That risk grows fast when the wallet has broad authority. “You don’t need to break encryption if you can manipulate the system into authorising the wrong action,” Lazarichev says.
Shangett points to a more specific threat model.
“Everyone’s excited about AI agents getting wallets. I’m more concerned about what happens when those wallets get talked into draining themselves.”
She cites Owockibot as an example.
“Owockibot. February this year. An AI agent with a crypto wallet and internet access. Five days after launch, it published its private keys in a GitHub repo. When asked about it, the agent denied doing anything wrong. Total losses were only $2100 because someone was smart enough to give it a tiny treasury. But the agent wasn’t hacked. It was talked into leaking.”
Naturally, this changes the security model.
“This is the new attack surface. Smart contracts are deterministic, same inputs, same outputs, auditable and testable. LLMs are none of those things.”
She adds:
“Give an AI agent a wallet, and you’re not just securing code anymore, you’re securing a black box that can be manipulated with words.”
In her view, this is why key custody alone is not enough.
“Private key security was never the primary threat vector for agent wallets. You can put keys in a TEE, isolate them from memory, do all the cryptographic gymnastics and the agent can still be manipulated into choosing to sign malicious transactions because someone talked it into it.”
Both experts point to an adjustment in how wallet security is defined. In an agentic economy, it covers custody as well as what the agent can interpret and act on.
Final Thoughts
The rise of the agentic economy could influence what blockchains are built to do, who they serve, and where risk begins.
If autonomous systems become major on-chain participants, networks will need to support constant machine-driven activity while handling a very different set of pressures around execution, accountability, identity, and security.
As Variola suggests, a market driven by rational agents could be more cooperative than the extractive, emotion-driven environments crypto has often produced.
Lazarichev, Lillo Aranda, and Shangett also show that this future brings harder questions. Once agents can transact, deploy, and react without human input at every step, liability becomes harder to assign, identity becomes harder to define, and wallet security extends beyond key protection into decision-making itself.
If AI agents become primary on-chain actors, Web3 will need systems that can support autonomous activity while preserving accountability, control, and trust. That may prove just as important as the automation itself.
The post When AI Agents Become DeFi’s Main Users appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Most crypto users worry about price, narratives, and the next airdrop.
Very few think about who actually controls the flow of transactions.
Yet beneath the surface, a subtle shift is happening—one that could quietly reshape the foundations of DeFi:
Validator power is concentrating… and credible neutrality is starting to crack.
What Is “Credible Neutrality” Anyway?
At its core, credible neutrality means:
The network processes transactions fairly, without bias, manipulation, or favoritism.
It’s one of the invisible assumptions that makes DeFi work.
- Your trade gets executed without discrimination
- Your liquidation isn’t selectively delayed
- Your transaction isn’t censored based on identity or strategy
Without neutrality, DeFi stops being permissionless finance… and starts looking a lot like traditional finance with extra steps.
The New Power Stack: Restaking + MEV
Two major innovations—both powerful on their own—are now intersecting:
1. Restaking
Restaking allows validators to reuse their stake across multiple protocols to earn additional yield.
Sounds efficient, right?
But it creates a new dynamic:
- Validators now secure multiple systems simultaneously
- Risk and influence become interconnected
- Large validators gain disproportionate leverage
The result: a smaller group of actors ends up sitting at the center of multiple ecosystems.
2. MEV (Maximal Extractable Value)
MEV refers to profits that validators can extract by controlling transaction ordering.
Examples include:
- Front-running trades
- Back-running arbitrage
- Reordering transactions for profit
MEV has already turned block production into a highly competitive, profit-maximizing game.
When These Two Combine…
This is where things get uncomfortable.
Restaking + MEV creates:
- Cross-protocol coordination incentives
- Shared validator dependencies across systems
- Economic pressure to act strategically—not neutrally
Validators are no longer just passive participants.
They’re becoming multi-system profit optimizers.
The Real Risk: Coordinated Behavior
Here’s the part that’s rarely discussed outside deep dev circles:
Validators may begin coordinating behavior across systems.
Not necessarily through malicious intent—but through aligned incentives.
This could look like:
- Prioritizing certain transactions across multiple chains
- Delaying or censoring transactions that hurt their positions
- Coordinating MEV strategies across ecosystems
- Favoring protocols, they are economically exposed to
And the scary part?
None of this requires ideology or bad actors.
Incentives purely drive it.
From Ideological Censorship → Economic Censorship
Crypto has long feared censorship from governments or centralized entities.
But the emerging threat is different:
Censorship becomes economic, not political.
Validators don’t need to “believe” anything.
They just need to maximize profit.
If censoring or reordering transactions is more profitable…
It will happen.
Why DeFi Should Care (A Lot)
DeFi protocols are built on a fragile assumption:
The base layer behaves fairly.
But if validators gain the ability—and incentive—to act otherwise:
- Liquidations can be manipulated
- Trades can be selectively executed
- Arbitrage becomes gatekept
- Entire strategies stop working
This introduces:
- Hidden risk
- Uneven playing fields
- Reduced trust in protocol outcomes
In short:
DeFi becomes less predictable—and less fair.
The Illusion of Decentralization
From the outside, everything still looks decentralized:
- Thousands of validators
- Multiple chains
- Diverse ecosystems
But under the hood:
- The stake is concentrated
- Infrastructure is shared
- Incentives are aligned
This creates a soft form of centralization—not visible in governance, but very real in execution.
So, What Can Be Done?
There’s no easy fix, but awareness is the first step.
Some directions being explored:
- MEV mitigation (e.g., fair ordering, encrypted mempools)
- Decentralizing validator sets further
- Reducing reliance on shared validator infrastructure
- Designing protocols that are resilient to ordering manipulation
Still, these are evolving solutions to a rapidly evolving problem.
Final Thought
Crypto didn’t promise perfection.
But it did promise neutrality.
If validators become powerful enough to coordinate across systems…
We may not lose decentralization overnight.
But we might slowly lose something just as important:
The guarantee that the system treats everyone the same.
And once that’s gone, DeFi doesn’t break dramatically—
It just quietly stops being fair.
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Zcash price is trading around $248 after a +9% surge in the last 48 hours, and even with bullish prediction, there’s tension. The very upgrade that could redefine Zcash utility is still months from launch. The relief bounce is real, yet technicals suggest the ceiling may be closer than the bulls want to admit.
The catalyst drawing fresh attention to Zcash isn’t price action alone. The team behind the Bitcoin scaling solution Core has announced Z Protocol, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed to bring native smart contract capabilities to Zcash for the first time.
Kieran Dennis, co-founder of Z and an initial contributor to Core, called the competitive landscape “pretty much a white space,” pointing out that prior privacy-focused application layers failed precisely because they lacked EVM compatibility and developer familiarity.
Alongside Z Protocol itself, the team is building vertically integrated DeFi primitives: a private trading venue (Z Trade), a lending platform (Z Lend), and a private stablecoin (USDZ). Z is expected to launch in the second half of 2026.
That timeline matters for price. A 2026 mainnet makes Z Protocol a sentiment driver today, which brings everything back to the chart.
Discover: The best pre-launch token sales
Zcash Price Prediction: Can ZEC Snap Back to $300
ZEC is currently consolidating in the $200–$250 range after rebounding from a recent low of $218. The 9% move came amid broader crypto market relief following geopolitical de-escalation, with privacy coins outperforming as risk appetite returned. But technical analysts flag a rising wedge pattern, with momentum visibly fading near the $250 resistance band.
Three scenarios from here. Z Protocol hype + ZODL’s $25M Paradigm/a16z seed round sustain buying pressure; ZEC clears $250 and targets $280, with aggressive targets as high as $690. Or, it consolidates between $230–$250 through Q2 open.
However, bear is hoping a breakdown below $218; momentum collapses toward $200 and the Grayscale-driven euphoria fades ahead of Z Protocol’s still-distant launch.
For traders watching the privacy-and-scaling narrative playing out across multiple chains, ZEC sits at a genuine inflection point this week.
Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with
LiquidChain Eyes Early-Stage Upside While ZEC Tests Resistance
Zcash’s 7% pop is encouraging, but at $248 and with a rising wedge overhead, the asymmetric upside is structurally constrained for new entrants. That math is precisely what tends to push active traders toward early-stage infrastructure plays before they hit mainstream awareness.
LiquidChain is a Layer 3 infrastructure project positioning itself as the cross-chain liquidity layer, fusing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana liquidity into a single execution environment. Where Z Protocol solves Zcash’s EVM gap, LiquidChain’s architecture addresses fragmentation across the three dominant ecosystems simultaneously, with a Deploy-Once model that lets developers access all three without rebuilding.
A new layer emerges. Only a few see it first. — LiquidChain (@getliquidchain) March 24, 2026
The future is LiquidChain ⟁https://t.co/vqvBcdSj94 pic.twitter.com/R7ZeZ0NPGl
Its Unified Liquidity Layer and Single-Step Execution engine aim to make cross-chain settlement verifiable rather than probabilistic. The presale is currently priced at $0.0144, with $630K raised to date, plus 1700% APY staking rewards as a bonus.
Research LiquidChain here before the next pricing tier activates.
This article is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
The post Zcash Price Prediction: Satoshi Plus Consensus for Scaling Layer? appeared first on Cryptonews.
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