Tempo, the payments-focused Layer 1 blockchain, on Wednesday introduced Tempo Zones, a new feature that lets enterprises run private stablecoin transactions on parallel blockchains connected to Tempo’s mainnet.

The product targets a core friction point for institutions exploring stablecoin rails: public blockchains broadcast every transaction by default. A company processing payroll, for example, would expose individual salary data on-chain, while a payment processor would leak confidential merchant volume with every settlement.

“The parties to a transaction should see the details, the broad public should not, all while retaining the usability and interoperability of stablecoin rails,” the Tempo team wrote in a blog post.

Zones serve as private execution environments where participants can transact without publicly revealing information. Assets remain interoperable with Tempo’s mainnet, meaning users inside a Zone can still access on-ramps, off-ramps, and decentralized exchange liquidity on the base layer.

The Zone operator, which can be the enterprise itself or a third-party infrastructure provider, has visibility into all transactions within its Zone for compliance and reporting purposes, but does not have custody of funds. Assets are locked in a smart contract on Tempo’s mainnet and can only be withdrawn by the owning user.

Tempo said enterprises managing payroll are among the first users of Zones, with broader production deployments planned in phases. The company is currently working with design partners across payroll, treasury, settlement, and tokenized deposit use cases.

The launch adds another layer to Tempo’s pitch to institutional users. The blockchain, which Stripe and Paradigm first unveiled in September 2025, went live on mainnet in March alongside the Machine Payments Protocol, an open standard for AI agent-to-service payments co-authored with Stripe. It raised $500 million in a Series A at a $5 billion valuation in October 2025, and recently onboarded Visa, Stripe, and Zodia Custody as validators.

This article was written with the assistance of AI workflows. All our stories are curated, edited and fact-checked by a human.

Polish crypto exchange Zonda disclosed that a cold wallet holding about 4,503 BTC is currently inaccessible as withdrawal requests spike and questions swirl around the platform’s governance. In a video posted on X, Zonda chief executive Przemysław Kral showed the wallet address and said the private keys were never handed over, arguing that the handover failed because founder and former chief executive Sylwester Suszek has been missing since 2022.

The disclosure arrives amid weeks of controversy linked to local media reports of a policing probe into Zonda, and a Recoveris analysis that warned the exchange could be insolvent given a sharp drop in the hot wallet balances. The address’s last on-chain activity dates back to November 2025, and the balance remains around 4,503 BTC, valued at roughly $334 million depending on the price at the time of measurement.

Previously, Kral had denied insolvency claims following Recoveris’ April 6 report, reiterating that Zonda remained solvent with more than 4,500 BTC in custody. In the latest video, he attributed the withdrawal pressure to an abnormal spike in requests, driven by negative media coverage. He noted that Zonda normally processes around 100,000 withdrawal requests per year, but more than 25,000 were filed within hours and days around early April. He also vowed to pursue legal action over what he described as false claims and to uphold customer obligations amid the withdrawal surge.

Polish lawmaker Tomasz Mentzen commented on X that Zonda may have lost access to its cold wallet following Suszek’s disappearance. While Kral did not say the funds were lost, he stressed that the private keys were never transferred during the handover. Suszek has been reported missing since March 2022, with coverage referencing alleged criminal ties among some of Zonda’s shareholders when the firm was known as BitBay.

Founded in Poland in 2014 and rebranded as Zonda in 2021, the exchange has been at the center of regulatory and political debate around crypto in the country. Kral told Cointelegraph in February that the company registered in Estonia amid regulatory uncertainty in Poland and delays implementing the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regime, known as MiCA. The broader context sees Poland balancing national policy with EU rules as regulators weigh stronger oversight of crypto firms and custody practices.

Key takeaways

• The Zonda cold wallet address holds about 4,503 BTC, last active in November 2025, valued at roughly $334 million as markets moved. The private keys were reportedly never handed over to the founders, complicating any potential access recovery.
• Kral attributed withdrawal pressure to an unusual spike around early April, with more than 25,000 withdrawal requests in a short period, far exceeding Zonda’s typical annual pace of around 100,000.
• Recoveris’ analysis and local media reports have fueled insolvency concerns, while Kral has publicly denied such claims and pledged to meet customer obligations while pursuing legal action over what he calls false accusations.
• The ongoing dispute intersects with regulatory dynamics in Poland and the EU, including MiCA-related uncertainties that prompted Zonda to register in Estonia and heightened scrutiny of the Polish crypto sector.

Disclosure of the inaccessible wallet and the stakes for users

The revelation that a sizable cold wallet could be out of reach raises immediate questions for customers relying on Zonda for funds custody and withdrawals. While Kral maintains that the private keys were never transferred, the situation underscores the fragility that can accompany custody arrangements when founders vanish or governance transitions stall. The wallet’s inactivity since late 2025 adds another layer of ambiguity about the future accessibility of those funds and how the exchange intends to honor withdrawal requests already in flight.

Market observers will be watching how Zonda navigates this impasse — whether through legal channels, potential third-party custodial interventions, or other mechanisms to restore confidence among users and counterparties. The balance between public assurances and on-chain realities is at the heart of investor and customer risk in a scenario where a substantial asset holdings appear to be stranded.

Regulatory scrutiny, solvency debates, and the Polish crypto frame

Media coverage of a possible Polish authorities probe has amplified a broader conversation about how crypto exchanges should be supervised in Poland and across the European Union. The Recoveris report, which suggested a potential insolvency risk based on on-chain balances, has interacted with local reporting to amplify investor concern, even as Zonda asserts solvency. The exchange’s leadership has argued that a sudden uptick in withdrawal demand, rather than balance mismanagement, explains the immediate stress around withdrawals.

The case sits at a crossroads of national policy and EU-wide rules. Zonda’s decision to register in Estonia, highlighted by Kral, reflects a strategic coping mechanism to navigate regulatory uncertainty within Poland and the slow rollout of MiCA. As policymakers debate stricter custody standards and clearer licensing pathways for crypto businesses, Zonda’s public custody incidents may sharpen the debate over how quickly and robustly regulators should intervene to protect consumers while fostering innovation.

The unfolding narrative also touches on the sensitive topic of Suszek’s disappearance and the historical governance of the company, which was previously BitBay before the rebrand. Reports of alleged ties between shareholders have added a criminal-justice dimension to the financial and regulatory questions surrounding Zonda. While there is no definitive public linkage announced between Suszek’s disappearance and the current liquidity concerns, the constellation of factors has intensified calls for stronger disclosure and more transparent governance in regional crypto ventures.

What to watch next for Zonda and the broader landscape

Moving forward, observers will scrutinize whether Zonda provides additional on-chain disclosures, updates on the status of the private keys, and any official statements clarifying the custody framework and customer guarantees. Regulators in Poland and across the EU will likely monitor how the exchange resolves withdrawal pressures, communicates with customers, and addresses governance questions stemming from Suszek’s absence and historical leadership changes. The Estonia registration and MiCA implications will be a recurring thread as the sector tests the balance between regulatory compliance and practical operations in a rapidly evolving policy environment.

Readers should stay tuned for any new statements from Zonda, any formal regulatory actions, and further analytical commentary from firms tracking custody risk and on-chain activity. The convergence of custody challenges, regulatory pressures, and a high-profile missing-founder case ensures that Zonda’s next moves will be read as a bellwether for governance standards and investor protection in Poland’s expanding crypto ecosystem.

Sources and context for this report include Zonda’s disclosed wallet narrative and Kral’s video statement, media reporting on the Polish probe, Recoveris’ analysis, on-chain data from Blockchain.com, and related regulatory discussions around MiCA and Poland’s crypto policy framework.

Bitcoin price prediction turns cautious on Thursday as BTC hovers near $74,921, with profit-taking slowing a ceasefire-driven rally that pulled in $597.5 million in spot ETF inflows over two days.

Bitcoin (BTC) price prediction points to consolidation Thursday as BTC drifts near $74,921, held up by institutional demand but capped by profit-taking after a sharp week of gains tied to the US-Iran ceasefire. BTC is up 1.7% over the past 24 hours and 5.5% for the week, but the rally is losing steam at familiar resistance.

The S&P 500 set a record on Wednesday. Crypto did not follow at the same pace, underscoring a more cautious investor posture in digital assets relative to equities despite the improved geopolitical backdrop.

The $76,000 level has now rejected price three times. IG analysts wrote Wednesday that “a technical breakout above roughly $76,100 would signal bullish continuation but failure maintains range-bound trading.” The setup has not changed materially: positive macro sentiment from ceasefire hopes is being offset by intermittent profit-taking from traders who bought earlier in the week.

The SuperTrend indicator has flashed green on the daily chart and MACD lines crossed into positive territory, both pointing to underlying bullish structure. But BTC has failed to close above $75,000 on a sustained basis across multiple sessions.

ETF Inflows Provide the Floor

Twelve US spot Bitcoin ETF inflows totalled $597.5 million across the past two sessions, per SoSoValue data. Short liquidations added $152 million in forced buying pressure over the same window, providing mechanical support to the rally even as spot demand from retail traders remains subdued.

The combination keeps $72,000 as the structural floor. A break below that level would invalidate the current bullish thesis and expose BTC to a deeper correction, per the on-chart analysis.

What Moves the Price From Here

The path to $80,000 remains tied to geopolitics more than technicals. Trump told Fox News the Iran conflict is “close to over” and the White House said talks are “productive and ongoing.” Any confirmed ceasefire extension or positive development from resumed negotiations in Islamabad would likely trigger another ceasefire rally similar to last week’s 5% surge to $74,400.

Absent that catalyst, BTC looks likely to continue ranging between $72,000 and $76,000 until diplomatic clarity arrives or the FOMC meeting on April 28 provides fresh macro direction.

The digital wagering sector in April 2026 is witnessing a technical revolution where speed is the ultimate currency. While Rollbit and BC.Game have defined the previous era of crypto-native gambling, Spartans.com is rewriting the rules through sheer technical performance. During its record-breaking beta phase, Spartans processed $100,000,000 in total deposits, generating an impressive $40,000,000 in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).

Currently ranked 14th and climbing globally, the platform has established itself as the fastest withdrawal online casino by integrating proprietary “Degen Zone” technology, allowing for high-velocity wagering and instant payouts that legacy platforms simply cannot match.

Rollbit: The Crypto-Native Ecosystem

Rollbit has long been considered a pioneer in the crypto gambling space, successfully building a multifaceted ecosystem that blends traditional casino games with innovative features like NFT loans and a native token economy. In 2026, it remains a major destination for players who appreciate a broad range of crypto-integrated services.

However, the complexity of the Rollbit platform—designed to manage everything from a sportsbook to a token-burn mechanism—can sometimes lead to a slightly higher latency during peak wagering periods. While Rollbit offers a diverse experience, its core engine is not exclusively optimized for the ultra-high-frequency betting that modern “power users” demand.

Consequently, while it provides a reliable service, it faces stiff competition from specialized, high-velocity engines. For players prioritizing the absolute fastest execution and the most streamlined withdrawal process, the multifaceted nature of Rollbit can occasionally represent an operational trade-off in raw technical speed.

BC.Game: The Gamification Giant

BC.Game is the industry leader in social gamification, keeping its massive user base engaged through a continuous cycle of quests, daily spins, and community-focused incentives. Its platform is a masterclass in retention, offering a deep VIP hierarchy and a wide array of proprietary games. As of mid-April 2026, it continues to thrive by appealing to a broad demographic of social bettors.

However, this focus on gamification results in a “heavy” user interface that can struggle to provide the zero-latency experience required for high-frequency automated betting. BC.Game’s withdrawal infrastructure is robust, but it often involves multiple verification steps and native token conversions that can add time to the payout cycle.

For the elite tier of bettors who treat gambling as a high-performance activity, the social layers of BC.Game can feel like friction. While it remains a top-tier choice for entertainment, it lacks the specialized “Degen” focus found in newer, leaner platforms.

Spartans: High-Velocity GGR and the Degen Zone

Spartans.com has redefined what it means to be a high-performance gambling platform by focusing on the core essentials: speed, liquidity, and technical efficiency. Generating $40,000,000 in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from $100,000,000 in total deposits during its beta phase is a testament to the platform’s unparalleled engagement. This massive revenue result is driven by the proprietary “Degen Zone”, a high-velocity wagering engine designed specifically for automated betting on original titles like Crash, Plinko, and Dice. The Degen Zone allows players to process thousands of wagers per hour with zero latency, making Spartans the definitive choice for the modern power user.

To complement this wagering speed, Spartans has established itself as the fastest withdrawal online casino by utilizing high-speed ADA (Cardano) and AVAX (Avalanche) multi-chain payment rails. These rails ensure that payouts are as instantaneous as the games themselves, bypassing the administrative delays common on other sites. Currently sitting at a 14th global ranking and climbing, Spartans has used its beta performance to prove that technical superiority leads to higher volume and better results.

While the platform offers over 5,900 games from 43+ providers, the “Degen Zone” remains its crown jewel, catering to a segment of the market that demands precision and pace. By stripping away the clutter of social gamification and focusing on raw performance, Spartans is successfully migrating high-stakes volume away from Rollbit and BC.Game, positioning itself as the elite standard for the August 1st global launch.

Conclusion

The technical gap between Rollbit, BC.Game, and Spartans.com is becoming the primary differentiator for the world’s most active bettors in 2026. While Rollbit offers a complex ecosystem and BC.Game excels in social engagement, Spartans.com has captured the high-performance market with its $40M GGR and specialized “Degen Zone.”

As the platform continues its ascent past the 14th global rank, it has firmly cemented its reputation as the fastest withdrawal online casino in the industry. For players who demand instant execution and liquid payouts, Spartans.com provides the ultimate technical edge in the modern crypto-gambling era.

Find Out More About Spartans:

Website: https://spartans.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartans/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/SpartansBet

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpartansBet

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.

Stablecoin issuer Tether, the company behind USDt (USDT), said Thursday it will back a $150 million recovery program for the Drift Protocol decentralized exchange (DEX) following an exploit of the platform in April.

The recovery plan for the $280 million Drift Protocol exploit includes $127.5 million from Tether, with the rest coming from undisclosed partners, according to Tether’s announcement. Tether said:

“Rather than relying on upfront capital alone, the structure links funding and recovery to ongoing trading activity on the Drift platform, allowing user balances to be restored as the exchange returns to normal operations.”

The Drift Protocol platform will “contribute directly” to the ongoing recovery of user funds as the platform resumes normal trading activity. 

Drift will also transition its settlement asset from Circle’s USDC (USDC) dollar-pegged stablecoin to Tether’s USDt as part of the platform’s relaunch. 

Cointelegraph reached out to Tether but did not receive a response by the time of publication. 

The recovery program highlights a growing trend of crypto industry companies collaborating to restore user funds and help platforms resume normal operations after major hacks or cybersecurity attacks that cause hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

Related: Drift sends onchain message to wallets tied to $280M exploit

Circle comes under fire for not freezing funds after Drift Protocol attack

Crypto industry executives, cybersecurity researchers and blockchain security firms criticized Circle for not freezing the USDC wallets linked to the Drift Protocol exploiter, despite having a window of several hours to intervene.

The exploiter used Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), a native bridge that allows tokens to be transferred to other blockchain networks, to transfer over $232 million USDC from the Solana network to the Ethereum network, according to onchain sleuth ZachXBT.

The funds were transferred in more than 100 transactions, he said, adding, “Despite the attacker laundering funds over six consecutive hours across Circle’s own native bridge, no USDC was frozen. The attacker has been linked to North Korea by Elliptic.” 

Circle’s stock sank by about 10% on April 9, following criticism over the company’s failure to freeze the funds from the hack and downgraded forecasts from market analysts. The NYSE-traded shares have since clawed back that decline, increasing about 20% as of yesterday’s close, according to Yahoo Finance data.

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