Crypto World
SEC & CFTC issued regulatory clarity
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.
Eight years ago, on April 29, 2018, quoting a crypto industry founder, Dr. Emin Gun Sirer, I wrote about Ethereum’s (ETH) decentralized nature, which qualified ETH as a commodity for US law purposes.
The regulatory uncertainty, regarding whether ETH [and other digital assets] is classified as securities or commodities, has historically been a primary barrier to institutional capital adoption since it created legal risks, complicated custody, and hampered compliance, causing investors to hold back in investing.
Summary
- SEC and CFTC issued a joint memorandum formally classifying most decentralized digital assets, including Ethereum, as commodities under US law.
- The framework shifts oversight toward the CFTC and signals a move away from enforcement-driven regulation toward clearer, principles-based guidance.
- Regulatory clarity is expected to ease compliance concerns and open the door for greater institutional participation in crypto markets.
Two months after I wrote my article on June 14, 2018, former SEC Director of Corporation Finance William Hinman clarified in a speech that, based on the decentralized nature of the Ethereum network, current offers and sales of Ether (ETH) were not securities transactions. This signaled that ETH functioned more like a commodity than a security, reducing regulatory uncertainty and providing temporary regulatory clarity on its legal classification.
Nevertheless, in the absence of authoritative regulatory certainty from the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), lawsuits challenged whether ETH [and other digital assets] was a regulated security or a commodity.
Lawsuits in 2023–2024, including actions against KuCoin by the New York Attorney General (NYAG) and SEC actions involving liquid staking providers, highlighted significant regulatory uncertainty regarding whether ETH and staking services constitute securities. While early cases suggested a security classification, subsequent 2025 developments indicated a shift toward treating staking as “ministerial” and not securities, impacting the classification of ETH-related assets.
The SEC & CFTC Issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Eight years after I wrote my article concerning the classification of ETH for US law purposes, on March 11, 2026, and the subsequent joint interpretation on March 17, 2026 the SEC and CFTC finally issued a landmark MOU providing the most comprehensive regulatory clarity for digital assets to date resolving the uncertainty surrounding ETH [and other digital assets], with U.S. regulators formally classifying it as a commodity, overcoming the primary barrier to institutional adoption that existed in 2018.
The guidance marked a shift from “regulation by enforcement” to a principles-based framework, explicitly stating that most digital assets are not themselves securities. This provided regulatory clarity, placing these digital assets under the jurisdiction of the CFTC as opposed to the SEC, allowing them to be listed on designated contract markets for derivatives trading.
The CFTC has indicated a willingness to treat tokens as commodities if they are truly decentralized and not managed by a central party. The agencies define a decentralized system as one that “functions and operates autonomously with no person, entity, or group of persons or entities having operational, economic, or voting control”. The framework acknowledges that tokens initially sold as part of an investment contract (security) can transition into a digital commodity once the network becomes sufficiently decentralized or functional.
Digital Commodities: Digital assets intrinsically linked to a functional system are commodities, with 16 digital assets classified as commodities that represent a significant shift from previous stances that often treated many of these digital assets as securities.
As of late March 2026, these 16 tokens collectively represent approximately 78% to 80% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization. As of early 2026, there are over 37 million unique cryptocurrencies and digital tokens created, according to The Motley Fool.
However, only about 10,000 to 17,000 are considered active or actively tracked on major platforms like CoinGecko, with a high percentage of the total being inactive, scams, or “dead coins”. The vast majority of this share is held by BTC and ETH, which together account for nearly 70% of the entire market.
The remaining 14 tokens contribute a combined share of roughly 8% to 10%.
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Solana (SOL)
- XRP (XRP)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Avalanche (AVAX)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Hedera (HBAR)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Tezos (XTZ)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Aptos (APT)
- Stellar (XLM)
Based on the MOU, native tokens that are intrinsically linked to a functional, decentralized crypto system—such as those used for “gas” (transaction fees) or governance—generally do not meet the definition of an investment contract under the Howey test and are not securities.
Xin Yan, Co-Founder and CEO of Sign, said, “The global impact of SEC and CFTC instituting a landmark joint regulatory framework is a positive one. It gives a green light to trillions of institutional capital that’s been sitting on the sidelines. I can see a lot of projects moving past the “Wild West” phase.
Digital Collectibles: The MOU issued by the SEC and CFTC significantly impacts the NFT collectible market by creating a “token taxonomy” that generally treats digital collectibles as non-securities. Digital collectibles that are fractionalized (providing fractional ownership in one asset) or structured with an expectation of profit from others’ managerial efforts may still be deemed securities.
The SEC’s 2026 interpretation clarifies that standard creator royalties do not, by themselves, transform a digital collectible into a security. However, if an NFT is marketed with promises of passive income or profits derived from the seller’s ongoing management, it could still be considered part of an investment contract (a security).
This guidance offers a path to a more stable NFT market. While the era of speculative profile picture NFT hype has subsided, more NFTs are being listed with a focus on utility, real-world assets (RWAs), brand engagement, and sports betting.
Digital Tools: Assets with functional utility, such as membership tokens or digital credentials; these are not securities.
Stablecoins: Payment stablecoins issued under the GENIUS Act are excluded from the definition of a security.
The Stablecoin market capitalization hit a record $320 billion in March, with FATF’s report quoting Chainalysis flagging that stablecoins accounted for 84% of illicit virtual asset transaction volume in 2025, often involving unhosted wallets and complex laundering techniques designed to obscure fund origins.
Xin Yan, Co-Founder and CEO of Sign—a Singapore-based firm building sovereign digital currency infrastructure—suggests that the Federal Reserve’s hesitation to issue a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) before 2031, despite 49+ CBDC global pilot projects, creates a scenario where “the Fed is not directly competing with private stablecoins, while the slow U.S. CBDC adoption means U.S. commercial banks maintain control of the financial system rather than being disintermediated by a retail CBDC and continue to dominate the domestic financial market.” Yan argues that “the world is dividing into different camps.”
The CBDC vs. Stablecoin with China pushing its e-CNY (a CBDC) to enhance state control, while the U.S. leans towards pushing stablecoins to maintain dollar dominance”, a move seen as a defense against China’s potential challenge to the US-dominated payment system.
Digital Securities: Tokenized traditional financial instruments; these remain securities regardless of their on-chain format.
Safe Harbors for Blockchain Activities
The joint interpretation confirms that several foundational activities generally do not involve securities transactions:
Protocol Mining: Proof-of-work validation and mining pool participation.
Protocol Staking: Proof-of-stake validation, including custodial and liquid staking, provided service providers act in an administrative capacity.
Wrapping: Depositing assets for one-to-one redeemable tokens across chains.
Airdrops: Distributions where recipients provide no consideration (money or services) in exchange.
Coordination of Digital Asset Legislation and its impact on Tokenization
The regulatory landscape for digital assets in the US has undergone a historic transformation, characterized by the enactment of the GENIUS Act (July 18, 2025) and a landmark joint interpretation and memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the SEC and CFTC.
This shift, supported by the pending CLARITY Act, marks a definitive end to a decade of “turf wars” over digital asset jurisdiction, aims to stabilize markets, and has initiated a “re-onshoring” of crypto activity to the United States which represents the world’s largest cryptocurrency market, commanding roughly 23.6% of global crypto revenue in 2025 and will accelerate tokenization of financial markets.
Wojciech Kaszycki, CSO of BTCS SA — (formerly Vakomtek S.A.) is a Polish technology company headquartered in Warsaw, recognized as Europe’s first dedicated Digital Asset Treasury Company (DATCO) — believes “The regulatory clarity provided by the SEC and CFTC is a step in the right direction. It will speed up tokenization of the global financial markets to allow for fractional ownership of expensive, traditionally restricted world assets like private credit, real estate, and infrastructure to bring liquidity, pricing to illiquid assets. Tokenization will make investing easier, thereby helping more people build long-term financial security and share in economic growth.”
As of early April 2026, the digital asset market is experiencing significant volatility, with Bitcoin trading around $65,000–$69,000 following a “double shock” from Middle East geopolitical tensions and broader risk-asset sell-offs. Amidst this, projects focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization have shown notable resilience, often outperforming the broader market. Mirroring the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s commitment to tokenized funds positions the technology as the “next generation for markets”.
In his 2026 Chairman’s Letter to Investors, Larry Fink compared the current state of tokenization to the internet in 1996, arguing that it will fundamentally “update the plumbing” of the global financial system. Fink argued that tokenization will fundamentally transform TradFi by making investing faster, cheaper, and more accessible, directly impacting how ownership is recorded and traded.
About the Author:
Selva Ozelli Esq, CPA is an international digital asset legal expert and author of Sustainably Investing in Digital Assets Globally. Her writings are translated into 45 languages and republished in over 200 global publications. She is recognized as an expert media/TV commentator on global digital asset regulation, tax and technology matters.
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.
Bitcoin spot ETFs may soon surpass gold ETFs in assets under management, fracturing the long-standing narrative that “digital gold” is a perfect stand-in for investors seeking a safe haven. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart shared the view in an interview linked to the Coin Stories podcast, arguing that Bitcoin’s multiple use cases — from store of value to growth asset and liquidity driver — create a broader appeal than gold, which the market typically frames in a single light.
“There are just more use cases of why somebody would put a Bitcoin ETF in a portfolio,” Seyffart said on the podcast. He emphasized Bitcoin’s roles as a store of value, a portfolio diversifier, a form of digital capital, and even a growth-risk asset, suggesting that the crypto may attract a wider spectrum of investors than gold over time. While gold has historically served as a hedge against monetary debasement, Bitcoin’s evolving narrative as both a digital asset and a potential macro hedge underpins the case for larger ETF demand in the years ahead.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin ETFs could grow to exceed gold ETFs in total assets under management as demand broadens beyond the traditional “digital gold” story, according to James Seyffart, a Bloomberg ETF analyst.
- March ETF flows show divergent momentum: U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted about $1.32 billion in net inflows, while U.S. gold ETFs recorded net outflows of roughly $2.92 billion.
- A single-day move underscored fragility in precious metals: GLD, the flagship gold ETF, posted a $3 billion withdrawal on March 4, the largest daily outflow in more than two years.
- Longer-run macro signals remain mixed, with data suggesting a rotation dynamic between gold and Bitcoin rather than a single clear trend; Fidelity highlighted a historical pattern of leadership rotating between the two assets.
Flow dynamics in March: what they reveal about narrative shifts
The contrast in March ETF flows underscores shifting investor appetites for duration, liquidity, and narrative potential. Gold ETFs in the United States posted net outflows totaling about $2.92 billion in March, signaling renewed challenges for the traditional safe-haven metal in a period of evolving macro cues. In the same month, US spot Bitcoin ETFs drew approximately $1.32 billion in net inflows, illustrating a growing appetite for crypto exposure in diversified portfolios.
The divergence sits against a broader context in which Bitcoin and gold have moved more cohesively in recent weeks despite the divergent flows. The data points to a market that is re-evaluating the roles of these two hedges and growth assets in a landscape of persistent inflation concerns, evolving monetary policy expectations, and expanding acceptance of crypto-based investment products.
Gold’s pullback and retail versus institutional dynamics
Several pressures shaped gold’s March performance. The largest daily outflow in over two years hit GLD on March 4, reflecting sell-side and perhaps macro rotation pressures that have periodically punctured the gold regime. Meanwhile, more broad-based BIS data — cited by Cointelegraph — show retail gold purchases tripling over the past six months, while Wall Street selling has accelerated over the last four months. The juxtaposition implies a nuanced narrative: retail demand remains resilient even as institutional appetite shifts toward crypto exposure and related investment vehicles.
These dynamics sit alongside anecdotal expectations that a growing cadre of investors view Bitcoin as a “growth risk asset,” complementary to its role as a hedge-friendly reserve. The evolving taxonomy — Bitcoin as a stores of value, digital currency with intrinsic scarcity, and liquidity-rich growth asset — contributes to a broader array of reasons to own a Bitcoin ETF beyond simply “digital gold.”
Price action and broader market context
As of publication, Bitcoin traded around $66,918, down about 8% over the prior 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap data. Gold hovered near $4,676 per ounce, down about 8.25% over the same period, per GoldPrice metrics. The near-term move preserves the sense that both assets have faced headwinds in a mixed macro backdrop, yet the flow data suggests that investor interest in Bitcoin ETFs remains persistent and possibly expanding even as gold faces episodic outflows.
The longer-term rotation story received some color from Fidelity Digital Assets analyst Chris Kuiper. In December 2025, Kuiper noted that historically gold and Bitcoin have rotated leadership, with gold performing strongly at times and Bitcoin catching up in others. That framework remains relevant as market participants weigh regulatory clarity, ETF availability, and the evolving ecosystem around Bitcoin-based investment products.
Implications for investors and markets
The potential overtaking of gold ETFs by Bitcoin ETFs in AUM would mark a notable shift in how investors allocate capital in search of diversification, liquidity, and growth exposure. If Bitcoin ETFs continue to capture inflows beyond the “digital gold” narrative, the market could see a broader base of participants embracing crypto exposure through regulated vehicles. This would not only change the composition of ETF portfolios but could also influence liquidity, product development, and the pace at which financial institutions bring more crypto-enabled offerings to retail and high-net-worth investors alike.
From a portfolio-management perspective, the idea of Bitcoin acting as hot sauce in a diversified mix is persuasive for those seeking a growth-oriented, liquidity-rich sleeve within a broader asset allocation. Yet the data also underscores the need for caution and continued monitoring of regulatory developments, product approvals, and market structure changes that shape the appeal and risk profile of spot BTC ETFs.
In practical terms, readers should watch ETF inflow trends in the coming quarters, the rate of new product approvals, and the evolving evidence on how Bitcoin-based funds perform relative to gold during different macro regimes. The March data points demonstrate that the narrative around Bitcoin ETFs is gaining traction in investor discourse, even as gold maintains its own complex set of drivers and vulnerabilities.
Beyond price moves, the debate now centers on whether Bitcoin ETFs can sustain and broaden their appeal to a broader investor universe — from traditional equity and bond strategists to macro hedge funds and retail savers seeking diversified exposure. If inflows continue and more products arrive, the BTC ETF story may transition from a niche crypto offering to a core component of diversified portfolios.
What matters next is the trajectory of ETF approvals and listings, clear and consistent data on inflows across different regimes, and how macro factors like inflation momentum and monetary policy directions shape the risk-reward calculus for these funds. Investors should stay attentive to monthly flow prints, regulatory signals, and the evolving narrative around Bitcoin’s role in modern asset allocation.
As the market awaits further clarity, the ongoing dialogue around Bitcoin’s ETF potential points to a future where crypto exposure becomes an increasingly standard instrument within traditional investment frameworks. The next few quarters will be telling, as inflows, product breadth, and price action converge to reveal whether Bitcoin ETFs can definitively eclipse gold ETFs in practical assets under management.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could surpass gold ETFs in total assets under management (AUM) as investor demand expands beyond the traditional “digital gold” narrative, according to ETF analyst James Seyffart.
“There are just more use cases of why somebody would put a Bitcoin ETF in a portfolio,” Seyffart said on the Coin Stories podcast published to YouTube on Friday. He pointed to Bitcoin’s (BTC) role as digital gold, a store of value, a portfolio diversifier, and a form of digital capital and property, adding that the market also views Bitcoin as a “growth risk asset.”
Seyffart explained that Bitcoin has “all these different ways” of being viewed, while gold only has “one of those things.”
“Our view is that Bitcoin ETFs will be larger than gold ETFs,” he added.
Bitcoin ETFs are a “hot sauce” in the portfolio
“There are so many people that could use it. They could be viewing it to put in their portfolio because they want to bet on like a growth and liquidity trade,” he said. “It can be hot sauce in a portfolio in that way,” he added.
Bitcoin is often compared to gold due to its limited supply and perceived role as a hedge against monetary debasement.
US-based gold ETFs recorded net outflows of $2.92 billion in March, while US spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $1.32 billion in net inflows over the same period.
Gold and BTC have declined over the past 30 days
The largest US gold-backed ETF, GLD, recorded a $3 billion outflow on Mar. 4, the largest daily withdrawal in more than two years.
On Mar. 19, Cointelegraph cited data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) showing retail gold purchases have tripled over the last six months, while Wall Street selling has accelerated over the past four months.
Related: Bitcoin ‘done’ with 85% crashes, says Cathie Wood amid new $34K target
Despite the divergence in ETF flows, both assets have moved broadly in tandem in recent weeks.
Bitcoin is trading at $66,918 at the time of publication, down 8.07% over the past 30 days, according to CoinMarketCap. Meanwhile, gold is trading at $4,676, down 8.25% over the past 30 days, according to GoldPrice data.
In December 2025, Fidelity Digital Assets analyst Chris Kuiper said that, “historically, gold and Bitcoin have taken turns outperforming. With gold shining in 2025, it would not be surprising if Bitcoin takes the lead next.”
Magazine: Solana exec trolls crypto gamers, Pixel tackles play-to-earn issues: Web3 Gamer
TLDR:
- The tokenized US Treasury market hit $12B, far below the $6T traditional money market fund sector.
- Regulatory obligations follow the entities managing assets, not the tokens representing them onchain.
- Embedded compliance built into RWA protocols removes costly intermediary layers found in traditional markets.
- Major jurisdictions including the EU, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan are actively building RWA frameworks.
RWA regulation is no longer a side conversation in crypto — it has become the central pillar of tokenized asset infrastructure. As real-world assets move onchain, they carry existing legal obligations with them.
The technology to tokenize bonds, private credit, and equities already works well. However, the legal and compliance layer determines whether those assets carry real, enforceable value for investors.
Without regulatory infrastructure, a tokenized bond is simply a token referencing a bond — nothing more.
The Trust Gap Holding Back Institutional Capital in RWA
The tokenized US Treasury market reached roughly $12 billion as of March 2026. By contrast, the traditional US money market fund industry manages over $6 trillion.
That gap is not a technology problem. The blockchain settles transactions faster, and onchain access is broader than in legacy markets.
The barrier is trust, not capability. A pension fund evaluating a tokenized product needs far more than a working smart contract.
Its compliance team, legal counsel, and board must each confirm that the obligations governing the underlying asset are fully met. That confirmation cannot be approximated — it must be complete.
That standard reflects fiduciary responsibility. These allocators manage other people’s money and carry strict legal accountability for each product they hold.
Every tokenized instrument must meet the same legal standards as traditional market instruments alongside it. That is not a preference — it is a legal requirement.
Plume Network addressed this issue through its RWA Academy series. The team noted that regulatory clarity is “the precondition for institutional capital” in the RWA space.
Regulatory obligations do not sit with the asset itself — they sit with the entities that issue, transfer, and facilitate trading in it. RWA infrastructure must allow those entities to discharge their responsibilities clearly.
Embedded Compliance Is Transforming How RWA Infrastructure Is Built
One key shift in RWA is the transition from bolt-on compliance to embedded compliance. In traditional markets, intermediaries handle compliance at every step of a transaction. Each additional layer adds cost, introduces delay, and reduces transparency for all parties.
Onchain systems can instead build compliance directly into the protocol itself. Transaction screening, transfer restrictions, and KYC/AML verification can all operate within the system. That design eliminates the need for separate compliance layers added after the fact.
The result is a network where compliance is an intrinsic property rather than an add-on feature. That distinction matters enormously for regulated institutions evaluating RWA markets. Institutional adoption of RWA depends on this structural credibility, not just smart contract functionality.
Regulators across major jurisdictions are aligning around the same direction. Europe’s MiCA framework took effect in 2024 and covers all 27 member states.
Hong Kong’s Project Ensemble and Singapore’s Project Guardian are both testing tokenized financial markets with regulatory involvement.
South Korea and Japan are each updating their digital asset laws to accommodate onchain flows. Cross-border fragmentation remains a challenge, but shared principles across frameworks are becoming clearer each month.
Google’s Quantum AI team said earlier this week that a future quantum computer could derive a bitcoin private key from a public key in roughly nine minutes. The number ricocheted across social media and spooked markets.
But, what does it actually mean in practice?
Let’s start with how bitcoin transactions work. When you send bitcoin, your wallet signs the transaction with a private key, a secret number that proves you own the coins.
That signature also reveals your public key, a shareable address, which gets broadcast to the network and sits in a waiting area called the mempool until a miner includes it in a block. On average, that confirmation takes about 10 minutes.
Your private key and public key are linked by a math problem called the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. Classical computers can’t reverse that math in any useful timeframe, while a sufficiently powerful future quantum computer running an algorithm called Shor’s could.
Here’s where the nine minutes part comes in. Google’s paper found that a quantum computer could be “primed” in advance by pre-computing the parts of the attack that don’t depend on any specific public key.
Once your public key appears in the mempool, the machine only needs about nine minutes to finish the job and derive your private key. Bitcoin’s average confirmation time is 10 minutes. That gives the attacker a roughly 41% chance of deriving your key and redirecting your funds before the original transaction confirms.
Think of it like a thief spending hours building a universal safe-cracking machine (pre-computation). The machine works for any safe, but each time a new safe appears, it only needs a few final adjustments — and that last step is what takes about nine minutes.
That’s the mempool attack. It’s alarming but requires a quantum computer that doesn’t exist yet. Google’s paper estimates such a machine would need fewer than 500,000 physical qubits. Today’s largest quantum processors have around 1,000.
The bigger and more immediate concern is the 6.9 million bitcoin, roughly one-third of total supply, that already sit in wallets where the public key has been permanently exposed.
This includes early bitcoin addresses from the network’s first years that used a format called pay-to-public-key, where the public key is visible on the blockchain by default. It also includes any wallet that has reused an address, since spending from an address reveals the public key for all remaining funds.
These coins don’t need the nine-minute race. An attacker with a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could crack them at leisure, working through exposed keys one by one without any time pressure.
Bitcoin’s 2021 Taproot upgrade made this worse, as CoinDesk reported earlier Tuesday. Taproot changed how addresses work so that public keys are visible on-chain by default, inadvertently expanding the pool of wallets that would be vulnerable to a future quantum attack.
The bitcoin network itself would keep running. Mining uses a different algorithm called SHA-256 that quantum computers can’t meaningfully speed up with current approaches. Blocks would still be produced.
The ledger would still exist. But if private keys can be derived from public keys, the ownership guarantees that make bitcoin valuable break down. Anyone with exposed keys is at risk of theft, and institutional trust in the network’s security model collapses.
The fix is post-quantum cryptography, which replaces the vulnerable math with algorithms that quantum computers can’t crack. Ethereum has spent eight years building toward that migration. Bitcoin hasn’t even started.
Coinbase’s bid to build a federally supervised custody and market infrastructure business took a significant step forward when the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted conditional approval for a national trust bank charter after a six-month review. The decision, however, drew swift pushback from banking groups and reform advocates who argue that the application reveals gaps in risk management, profitability planning, and resolution strategies and that expanding trust powers for crypto activities may exceed the OCC’s statutory remit.
The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) argued that the OCC’s move reflects a broader trend: nonbank entities seeking the benefits of a bank charter without meeting the full regulatory framework that governs traditional lenders. In a statement accompanying its critique, the ICBA warned that the approval could create new safety and soundness risks for consumers and the broader financial system.
The sudden influx of applications demonstrates nonbank entities are seeking the benefits of a US bank charter without satisfying the full scope of US bank regulations.
Coinbase’s bid to broaden its custody and market infrastructure footprint enters a federal regulatory arena that remains unsettled for many crypto activities.
Key takeaways
- OCC grants conditional approval for Coinbase to pursue a national trust bank charter after a six-month review, signaling a potential federal framework for crypto custody and related services.
- Industry and reform groups counter that the application highlights regulatory gaps and could shift risk toward consumers and the financial system if not fully aligned with traditional banking standards.
- Separately, a broad debate over stablecoins and yield-bearing products intensifies scrutiny of how crypto yields fit within or outside existing banking rules, including concerns about potential asset leakage from banks.
- Policy discussions in Washington continue around the US Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, with progress claimed by some lawmakers but key sticking points, such as yield, delaying formal committee action.
Regulatory pushback surrounds Coinbase bank-charter approval
Stablecoins and yield debate intensifies regulatory scrutiny
Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan estimated that up to trillions of dollars could migrate away from conventional banks if such yields were broadly permitted, potentially constraining banks’ ability to lend and raising borrowing costs for households and businesses.
Policy momentum, investor implications, and what comes next
What to watch next: a clearer alignment on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act’s key provisions, updates on whether yield-bearing products will be reconciled within traditional banking restrictions, and any further OCC or federal guidance that could define the contours of crypto custody and market infrastructure under a national bank charter.
Crypto World
Chainlink’s $42M LINK Transfer to Binance Sparks Caution as Whale Wallets Hit a One-Year High
TLDR:
- Around 4.9 million LINK tokens worth roughly $42M were transferred to Binance during a low-volume weekend session.
- A single wallet address was responsible for moving 2.5 million LINK directly to Binance in one concentrated transfer.
- Chainlink whale wallets holding 1M or more LINK grew from 100 to 125 between April 2025 and April 2026.
- Analysts remain cautious as large exchange inflows can signal selling pressure, especially during low-liquidity trading periods.
Chainlink has attracted renewed attention following a large on-chain transfer over the weekend. Around $42 million worth of LINK tokens moved to Binance during a period of typically low trading activity.
The movement came alongside fresh data showing a rise in whale wallet accumulation over the past year. Both developments have placed the asset under closer watch from market participants tracking its near-term direction.
The timing has added to growing interest surrounding Chainlink’s current on-chain behavior.
Large LINK Transfers Raise Questions About Exchange Inflows
On-chain analyst Darkfost flagged the transfer on social media this weekend. According to the post, roughly 4.9 million LINK tokens were sent to Binance.
Within that total, 2.5 million LINK came from a single wallet address. The concentration of funds from one source drew added attention to the movement.
The transfers occurred during a weekend, when trading volumes tend to stay lower than usual. Low-liquidity windows can strengthen the price effect of large exchange inflows.
Some participants move large sums during these periods to avoid immediate market disruption. Others may use the timing to position ahead of the regular trading week.
Darkfost outlined two possible explanations for the movement. One is that the Chainlink team relocated funds for custody or under a Binance arrangement.
The other is that a whale or large entity chose Binance for access to its deep order book. The actual reason behind the transfer has not been confirmed.
Large exchange inflows call for a measure of caution from market observers. Funds sent to a trading platform can, under the right conditions, translate into sell-side activity.
Chainlink’s order book is now being watched for any follow-through from these transfers. No major sell event had been reported at the time of publication.
Whale Accumulation in Chainlink Points to Long-Term Confidence
Santiment published data on April 3 showing a notable shift in Chainlink’s whale count. The number of wallets holding one million or more LINK tokens grew from 100 to 125.
That change occurred between April 2025 and April 2026, a period marked by a broader crypto bear market. The data points to quiet accumulation by large holders throughout that time.
Accumulation of this scale often goes unnoticed when price action is flat. On-chain whale metrics, however, offer a longer view of how an asset is being positioned.
Chainlink’s rising whale count reflects steady demand from the top tier of holders. That trend continued even as market conditions remained difficult.
The contrast between exchange inflows and long-term wallet growth presents a layered picture. Near-term transfers to Binance suggest possible selling pressure, while whale accumulation signals continued holding behavior.
These two trends carry different weight depending on one’s investment horizon. Both are expected to remain in focus in the weeks ahead.
Chainlink’s price was recorded at $8.69 at the time of the on-chain activity. Analysts and traders continue to monitor both flows and wallet data for further developments.
Crypto World
Tokenized Real-World Assets Hit $27.65B as Ondo Finance Dominates Equities With 60% Market Share
TLDR:
- The tokenized RWA market reached $27.65B in April 2026, growing 4.07% while most crypto sectors contracted.
- U.S. Treasury debt leads the RWA market at $12.78B, nearly half the total, followed by commodities at $5.4B.
- Tokenized equities hit $941M with a $2.94B monthly transfer volume, marking an 85.78% jump in 30 days.
- Ondo Finance controls 60.07% of the tokenized equity market at $557M, spanning 230 products across 8 asset classes.
Tokenized real-world assets have reached $27.65 billion in total distributed value as of April 2026. The sector grew 4.07% over the past 30 days, standing apart from most crypto verticals.
Capital inflows into RWA remain structurally positive while other segments contract. U.S. Treasuries lead at $12.78 billion, followed by commodities at $5.4 billion and asset-backed credit at $3.19 billion. Tokenized equities are now approaching the $1 billion threshold.
RWA Market Holds Steady as Capital Flows Into Tokenized Instruments
The tokenized RWA market is drawing consistent institutional interest in blockchain-based financial instruments. Investors are moving capital into on-chain versions of Treasuries, commodities, and credit products.
These assets offer dollar-denominated yield without traditional brokerage accounts or wire transfer requirements. Global access without timezone or geographic barriers is a key draw for institutional allocators.
U.S. Treasury debt at $12.78 billion accounts for nearly half the total market value. Commodities follow at $5.4 billion, while asset-backed credit holds $3.19 billion.
Together, these three categories make up the bulk of the $27.65 billion total. The composition reflects a market led by yield-generating and capital-preservation instruments.
The 4.07% monthly growth rate is notable given the current crypto environment. Most sectors are recording outflows, yet RWA continues to attract fresh capital.
That contrast points to a structural shift in how institutional money views on-chain assets. Investors appear to be treating tokenized instruments as a long-term allocation category.
The broader data from rwa.xyz reinforces this trend with consistent upward movement. Monthly figures have held positive across multiple reporting periods.
The market is not being driven by short-term speculation, but by allocation patterns familiar in traditional finance. That behavioral shift separates RWA from most other crypto verticals.
Ondo Finance and xStocks Lead a Concentrated Tokenized Equity Sector
Tokenized equities now sit at $941 million, closing in on the $1 billion mark. Monthly transfer volume reached $2.94 billion, a jump of 85.78% over 30 days.
That creates a 3:1 ratio between transfer volume and total asset value. The ratio points to active trading rather than passive holding behavior among participants.
According to data shared on X, OndoFinance holds 60.07% of the tokenized equity market at $557 million. The platform operates across 230 products and grew 8.28% over the past month.
@xStocksFi holds 26.24% at $243.3 million, making it the second-largest platform. Together, the two platforms control 86% of the entire tokenized equity market.
Securitize, the next closest competitor, holds only $60 million across a single product. That platform declined 38.32% over the same 30-day period.
Every other platform in the space holds under $25 million. The drop-off from the two leaders to the rest of the market is sharp.
Ondo’s growth reflects a portfolio that has evolved well beyond its original design. The platform started with OUSG and USDY as Treasury yield products. It now covers eight asset classes, with U.S. Treasury debt at $2.4 billion making up 76.9% of its total value.
The equity vertical at $557 million has become its second-largest and fastest-growing segment, with top products including S&P 500 ETFs and NVIDIA shares.
Crypto World
Best Crypto to Buy Now as the Search Leads to Pepeto With $8M Raised and 100x Before Binance Listing
The search led right here. The best crypto to buy now is not SOL at $80.49 grinding toward 36% or ADA at $0.24 waiting for a hard fork. It is a presale at millionths of a cent that raised more than $8 million during extreme fear because wallets found it before the crowd had reason to look.
This entry has a higher ceiling because a working exchange stands behind the token, and analysts project 100x before the confirmed Binance listing opens. The search for the best crypto to buy now was leading to Pepeto all along, and the wallets inside acted on that signal first.
Kentucky House Bill 380 mandated hardware wallet backdoors, forcing manufacturers to assist with seed phrase resets per CoinDesk. The provision destroys the foundation of self custody.
CoinGecko showed the market dropping as fears spread across positions. The best crypto to buy now benefits from this shift because capital seeking safety flows toward audited presales with verified contracts, confirmed listings, and tools that protect every wallet before any transaction clears.
Custody Shift and the Presale the Keyword Search Was Leading To
Pepeto: Risk Scorer and Bridge Live With 100x Before Listing
Protecting capital from threats requires action, not another search. Pepeto, considered the best crypto to buy now, delivers contract checking through the risk scorer, keeping wallets safe from malicious tokens before any position opens, the kind of protection that makes a presale entry worth committing to before listing. This is why searching for another update is the wrong approach when the presale fills and the listing draws closer.
The math proves the conviction. More than $8 million entered at $0.000000186 during extreme fear, and analysts project 100x before the Binance listing. That means presale capital converts into returns that SOL at 36% and ADA at 2x cannot come close to matching from current levels.
This setup is why wallets leave large cap targets for the Pepeto entry. The cross chain bridge moves assets at zero cost keeping capital whole, and PepetoSwap processes zero fee trades. The platform condenses research into seconds through a clean interface where every tool runs and the layout makes finding what matters simple.
The cofounder who created the original Pepe coin turned zero products into $11 billion, SolidProof audited every contract, and a former Binance expert drives the listing. Staking at 189% APY compounds returns while listing approaches, and every round filling means fewer entries remain for the wallets that have not moved yet.
Solana (SOL): $80.49 Recovering From $285M Drift Protocol Exploit
SOL sits at $80.49, down 2.77% on the week after the $285 million Drift exploit per CoinMarketCap. Support at $75, resistance at $88.
Even $120 delivers 52%, modest next to the presale entry where 100x projections carry a working exchange.
Cardano (ADA): $0.24 Awaits Protocol 11 Governance Overhaul
ADA trades at $0.24 per CoinGecko. Protocol 11 adds on chain governance with the Midnight sidechain.
Even $0.50 delivers 2x from $0.24, a ceiling presale math multiplies past before listing day arrives.
Conclusion: Why the Best Crypto to Buy Now Already Answered the Search
The presale fills right now, making this the best time to enter before the price moves. Another search will not change the outcome for wallets still outside. Early wallets acted before the crowd had reason to look, and the best crypto to buy now has a higher ceiling because a working exchange stands behind the token instead of a whitepaper.
The Pepeto official website shows capital arriving while SOL and ADA debate their next percentage, and entering now means joining the wallets that found the answer before the listing confirms what the capital already proved.
Find the answer at Pepeto before the listing closes the entry the search was leading to.
FAQs
What is the best crypto to buy now in April 2026?
Pepeto leads the best crypto to buy now with a working exchange, risk scorer, and 100x projections before a confirmed Binance listing.
How does the Kentucky bill affect the best crypto to buy now?
The bill threatens custody, making audited presales with verified contracts the safer choice through the Pepeto official website where tools protect positions.
How does the best crypto to buy now compare to SOL and ADA?
SOL and ADA cap returns modestly, while Pepeto offers 100x with working tools, making it the answer the search was leading to.
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.
XRP is compressing into the apex of a descending wedge at $1.3157 after months of lower highs and lower lows, with the 4H MACD signal line just crossing into positive territory for the first time since February — a sign that bearish momentum may be approaching exhaustion ahead of what could be the pattern’s most consequential candle close.
Summary
- XRP is trading at $1.3157, pressing against the apex of a descending wedge pattern visible on both the daily and 4H charts, with the daily Supertrend bearish at $1.4894.
- The daily MACD histogram stands at -0.0222, while on the 4H chart the signal line has just crossed marginally into positive territory, signalling that bearish momentum is approaching exhaustion ahead of the wedge resolution.
- A confirmed daily close above $1.47 targets $1.50 and a potential challenge of $1.60, while a break below $1.27 risks an acceleration toward $1.14.
XRP (XRP) is trading at $1.3157 on April 3, 2026, down 0.33% on the day and compressing near the apex of a descending wedge pattern that has formed across both the daily and 4H timeframes since February. The Supertrend indicator on the daily chart sits at $1.4894, in red above price, confirming the prevailing bearish regime. Yet the formation itself is a structure that technical analysts typically associate with bullish reversal potential when it emerges at the end of a prolonged downtrend, provided the lower trendline holds.
On the daily chart, two converging trendlines are clearly visible: a descending upper resistance line and a slightly rising lower support line. Price at $1.3157 is nearing the apex, with the most recent daily low printed at $1.3033. The daily MACD shows a histogram of -0.0222, with the MACD line at -0.0287 below the signal at -0.0065. The reading remains bearish, but the histogram has been contracting, a sign that selling pressure is gradually fading.
On the 4H chart, the same wedge structure is intact. The upper descending trendline aligns with the 4H Supertrend at $1.3586, and the lower rising trendline has provided support on each test since early February. Critically, the 4H signal line has crossed marginally into positive territory at 0.0002, while the MACD line at -0.0069 is approaching zero from below. A full bullish MACD crossover has not yet occurred, but the convergence at near-zero is an early signal of bearish exhaustion.
Key Levels, Price Targets, and Invalidation
Bull case: a daily close above the descending wedge resistance near $1.47 would confirm the breakout, initially targeting $1.4894, the Supertrend level, then $1.50. Above that, $1.60 is the key structural zone where the broader descending channel from July 2025 would be meaningfully challenged. Technical analyst Ali Martinez noted on X (formerly Twitter) that XRP “could offer a short-term buying opportunity” within its multi-year ascending triangle structure at current levels, though he also identified a potential further decline of approximately 30% before a sustained long-term recovery becomes likely.
Bear case: a daily close below $1.27 would break the wedge support and expose XRP to $1.14, the conservative channel breakdown target. A dense supply cluster of approximately 19.6 million XRP is concentrated between $1.27 and $1.28, per Coinglass cost-basis data, making this the most critical demand zone to defend.
Invalidation of the bull case: a daily close below $1.27. Invalidation of the bear case: a daily close above $1.47.
On-Chain and Derivatives Context
U.S. spot XRP ETF monthly inflows turned negative in March 2026 for the first time since the products launched in November 2025, according to SoSoValue data, removing a structural buy-side catalyst that had underpinned price through Q1. XRP open interest across all exchanges now sits near $2.45 billion, down approximately 73% from the September 2025 peak, as detailed in prior crypto.news coverage.
Funding rates have shifted to a positive 0.008%, suggesting fresh long positions are entering near current levels. However, the six-to-twelve month holder cohort has begun trimming positions since March 27, reducing a layer of structural support precisely as the wedge reaches its apex.
As crypto.news has covered, recovery attempts have repeatedly stalled below descending resistance, and the pattern remains intact until buyers produce a decisive daily close above the wedge’s upper trendline. With the 4H signal line at zero and the apex approaching, the next directional candle carries outsized weight.
Ethereum is pressing against a double-top resistance zone at $2,163 after two consecutive rejections from the upper boundary of its rising parallel channel, while a marginal bullish MACD crossover on the 4H chart raises the question of whether buyers can finally break through or whether the pattern will resolve to the downside toward $1,980.
Summary
- Ethereum is trading at $2,051.80, holding inside a rising parallel channel on both the daily and 4H timeframes after twice rejecting from the $2,163-$2,166 resistance zone.
- The 4H MACD histogram has just turned positive to 1.19, signalling a bullish crossover, while the daily Supertrend at $1,980.92 remains green, indicating the broader trend structure has not yet broken.
- A confirmed daily close above $2,166 targets $2,250-$2,300, while a loss of $2,024 Supertrend support opens the door to $1,980 and potentially $1,900.
Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $2,051.80 on April 3, 2026, holding inside a rising parallel channel that has been intact since the February lows. Two consecutive rejection candles at the $2,163-$2,166 zone, marked clearly on both the 4H and daily charts, have created a double-top structure at the channel’s upper boundary. With $6.3 billion in Ethereum options having expired today and CME futures offline for Good Friday, traders face a thin-liquidity weekend that could amplify any directional move.
On the 4H chart, Ethereum is trading between the channel’s lower support near $2,024 and the upper resistance at $2,163. The 4H Supertrend at $2,024.73 is still green, confirming the short-term trend has not flipped bearish. More notably, the 4H MACD histogram has just crossed into positive territory at 1.19, with the MACD line at -3.39 crossing above the signal line at -4.58. This is a marginal but technically meaningful bullish crossover, the first since mid-March.
On the daily chart, the picture is more cautious. The MACD histogram sits at -7.33, with the MACD line at -11.11 still below the signal at -3.78. The daily Supertrend at $1,980.92 remains green, meaning the daily trend has not broken bearish. Two orange markers on the chart precisely identify the double-top rejection zone at $2,163-$2,166. A daily close above $2,166 would invalidate the double-top and confirm the rising channel’s upper trendline as the next target.
Key Levels, Price Targets, and Invalidation
Support is layered at $2,024 (4H Supertrend) and $1,980 (daily Supertrend). A daily close below $1,980 would flip the daily Supertrend bearish and break the rising channel structure that has defined price since February, opening a move toward $1,900 as the next major floor.
Resistance: the $2,069 area (the 4H Supertrend upper band visible on the chart) acts as a near-term ceiling, then the double-top zone at $2,163-$2,166. A clean daily close above $2,166 targets $2,250 initially, with $2,300-$2,400 as the broader bull case if the channel’s upper trendline is the objective.
Invalidation for the bullish channel thesis: a 4H close below $2,024 Supertrend support. Invalidation for the bearish double-top thesis: a daily close above $2,200.
Options Expiry and Macro Context
Approximately $6.3 billion in Ethereum options expired on April 3, according to data from Deribit, with spot price trading near the max pain zone for the expiry. Analysts at AnalyticsInsight noted the event is “more like a routine settlement than a major turning point,” given price proximity to max pain, limiting the probability of an expiry-driven spike in either direction.
As crypto.news reported, Ethereum fell 3.4% toward the $2,000 support on April 2 during the broader market selloff tied to U.S.-Iran escalation and the $285 million Drift Protocol exploit on Solana. The fact that the 4H Supertrend held at $2,024 through that sell event is a meaningful signal of buyer resilience at that level.
A sustained hold above $2,024 heading into next week, particularly with the 4H MACD histogram staying positive, would be the first concrete signal that bulls are retaking short-term control. If $2,024 fails, the double-top breakdown and a move toward $1,900 become the primary scenario to watch.
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