News Heat Trend
Project Overview
The Block is a leading global information services brand in the digital asset space, delivering objective, impactful, and timely information through its three pillars: news, research, and data. Founded in 2018 and now majority-owned by Foresight Ventures, the platform empowers investors, technologists, and policymakers to make smart decisions by providing deep insights into the evolving landscape of digital assets and their interaction with traditional finance.
Squads completes $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures
: Solana ecosystem multi-signature protocol Squads announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round, led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. Its total cumulative funding has now reached $42.9 million. According to reports, Squads' stablecoin payment platform Altitude allows enterprises to conduct 24/7 global payment settlements in stablecoins through self-custodial wallets, and connects to the global payment network via its compliance and risk control system. (The Block)
Squads, a Solana ecosystem multisig protocol, announced it has completed an $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures.
According to The Block, Squads, a multi-signature protocol in the Solana ecosystem, has announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. This round is an equity financing, bringing Squads’ total funding to $42.9 million. Squads will use the funds from this round to expand its stablecoin-based corporate finance platform, Altitude.
RWA platform Nuva Digital closes $5.2M seed round led by Morgan Creek Digital
According to The Block, Nuva Digital has completed a $5.2 million seed funding round, led by Morgan Creek Digital with participation from Ulu Ventures. The round was closed in a single tranche and marks the company’s first external funding. Nuva Digital was jointly incubated by Animoca Brands and Nuva Labs (formerly Provenance Blockchain Labs) and is building Nuva Finance, a real-world asset (RWA) yield platform. The financing structure consists of a priced equity seed round accompanied by token purchase warrants; the valuation was not disclosed.
Pantera and Other Investors Push Satsuma to Sell $50 Million Bitcoin Reserve
Odaily Odaily Planet Daily reports that investors including Pantera Capital Management are pushing UK Bitcoin reserve company Satsuma to sell its $50 million Bitcoin reserve. In August 2025, Satsuma shifted to an "AI-driven" Bitcoin reserve strategy, successfully raising £164 million (approximately $221 million) through convertible loan notes. The round was led by ParaFi Capital, with participation from Pantera, Digital Currency Group (DCG), Kraken, Arrington Capital, and others.It is reported that Satsuma confirmed that some shareholders have "demanded a return of capital," but did not disclose the specific identities of those shareholders. In an email statement, Satsuma's Executive Chairman Ranald McGregor-Smith said the company is exploring options to facilitate these requests while protecting the interests of all shareholders. (The Block)
Cluster Protocol closes $5M funding round, led by DAO5
According to The Block, Cluster Protocol—an AI-native infrastructure company building for Web3—has raised $5 million in funding, led by DAO5, with participation from Paper Ventures, JPEG Trading, and Mapleblock Capital. This brings the company’s total funding to $7.75 million. The new capital will accelerate the development of CodeXero, its browser-native IDE built for the EVM ecosystem, expand its product and engineering teams, and enhance its AI systems, developer workflows, deployment infrastructure, and ecosystem growth. Cluster Protocol stated that CodeXero has already connected over 300,000 wallets, processed more than 3 billion AI tokens, and supported the deployment of over 25,000 dApps.
Crypto VC funding thresholds have been comprehensively raised; 2026–2027 may become robust investment years.
According to The Block, the cryptocurrency venture capital sector is undergoing a structural shift. Investors now broadly require startups to demonstrate real users and revenue before committing capital—marking the end of the era when early-stage fundraising was easy. Token-based exit strategies have become significantly less reliable; low-liquidity, high-valuation token launches continue to underperform the broader market, prompting investors to revert to traditional equity-oriented thinking. Meanwhile, the rise of the AI sector has siphoned off substantial LP capital and entrepreneurial talent, further intensifying fundraising challenges for crypto VCs. Nonetheless, several investors note that reduced competition, more rational valuations, and an improving regulatory environment point to 2026–2027 as the strongest investment years since 2018. Future capital will focus on areas with clear business models—including stablecoins, payments, tokenization, real-world assets (RWAs), and financial infrastructure—while the boundaries between crypto VCs and traditional VCs accelerate toward convergence.
Squads completes $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures
: Solana ecosystem multi-signature protocol Squads announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round, led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. Its total cumulative funding has now reached $42.9 million. According to reports, Squads' stablecoin payment platform Altitude allows enterprises to conduct 24/7 global payment settlements in stablecoins through self-custodial wallets, and connects to the global payment network via its compliance and risk control system. (The Block)
Analysis: Bitcoin Holds at $77,000 Range, Powell's "Final FOMC" Adds Market Uncertainty
Odaily Bitcoin remained consolidating above $77,000 on Wednesday, with markets cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. According to market data, Bitcoin fluctuated within the range of approximately $75,689 to $77,837 during the session, and is currently trading around $77,100.This FOMC meeting is seen as a pivotal event. Markets widely expect interest rates to remain unchanged, but the real focus is on whether Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will signal a "higher-for-longer" hawkish stance. Additionally, this meeting may be his last as Fed Chair, with markets simultaneously pricing in uncertainty regarding policy direction and potential power transitions.On the capital front, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a reversal after nine consecutive days of net inflows. SoSoValue data shows that on April 28, ETFs recorded net outflows of approximately $89.68 million. Among them, BlackRock's IBIT saw a single-day outflow of about $112 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs also logged net outflows of $21.8 million.On-chain data also signals caution. CryptoQuant noted that on April 27, exchange net inflows reached 9,905 BTC, the largest single-day inflow in nearly 30 days. Exchange reserves have also rebounded recently. If these inflows are not quickly absorbed, prices could retest the support range of $74,000–$75,000.On the macroeconomic front, fluctuations in crude oil prices and shifts in the Middle East energy landscape continue to influence inflation expectations. Some analysts believe this could limit the Fed's room for future easing. Meanwhile, market liquidity continues to weaken, with institutional trading volumes and perpetual contract activity both at low levels. This means any policy surprise could amplify price volatility.Overall, Bitcoin remains in a "low liquidity + high event risk" structure and may continue to oscillate within the $72,000 to $80,000 range in the short term, awaiting further clarity on the Fed's policy path. (The Block)
Paul Tudor Jones: Bitcoin is the Undisputed Best Inflation Hedge
Odaily Macro investor and hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones stated in a recent podcast interview that Bitcoin is the "unequivocally the best inflation hedge" and called it a "knockout opportunity" in the market.Paul Tudor Jones pointed out that truly major trading opportunities often arise when market structures are imbalanced, assets are underallocated, or when policymakers misjudge the situation. He believes that due to its scarcity and decentralized characteristics, Bitcoin outperforms gold in inflation trades. He emphasized that Bitcoin's total supply is capped at 21 million coins, with less than 1 million remaining to be mined, while gold's supply continues to increase annually. Therefore, Bitcoin holds a stronger advantage in the dimension of scarcity.Paul Tudor Jones recalled that in 2020, against the backdrop of Federal Reserve and fiscal expansion, Bitcoin became one of the most outstanding inflation-hedging assets at the time, and he subsequently increased its allocation to around 5% of his investment portfolio. However, he also warned of risks: in the event of large-scale "momentum conflicts" or cyber warfare-level incidents, the electronic asset system could face systemic disruption risks, and Bitcoin may also be impacted. Additionally, future cryptographic risks driven by quantum computing and AI could become a source of long-term uncertainty. (The Block)
Descendant of the Cartier Jewelry Family Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for $470 Million Cryptocurrency Money Laundering Case
According to The Block, a U.S. court sentenced Maximilien de Hoop Cartier—a descendant of the Cartier jewelry family—to eight years in prison for operating an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. Prosecutors stated that the exchange transferred over $470 million in drug proceeds through U.S. bank accounts to Colombia. Prosecutors alleged that Maximilien de Hoop Cartier falsely claimed his companies engaged in software publishing and software development. In reality, these companies were used to receive and transfer drug money and other illicit proceeds: drug funds were received in cryptocurrency, converted into fiat currency, deposited into shell company accounts under his control, and then forwarded to other nodes within the money-laundering network. These funds were ultimately withdrawn in Colombian pesos in Colombia. In addition to imprisonment, Maximilien de Hoop Cartier was ordered to pay a fine of approximately $2.36 million—representing commissions he earned from participating in the fraud scheme. The court also ordered the forfeiture of specific bank accounts held in the names of shell companies used in the scheme.
Visa Partners with WeFi—Founded by Former Tether CEO—to Advance On-Chain Payments, Enabling Direct Stablecoin Spending on the Visa Network
According to The Block, Visa has partnered with WeFi—a “blockchain-based bank” founded by Reeve Collins, former CEO of Tether—to enable users to hold digital assets in self-custodial wallets and spend them directly across the global Visa acceptance network, without depositing assets into centralized exchanges. Maksym Sakharov, Co-Founder and CEO of WeFi, stated that stablecoins are natively embedded into the underlying infrastructure, with settlements processed automatically in the background, delivering a user experience indistinguishable from conventional payments. This partnership will initially launch in select markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with further expansion contingent upon regulatory approvals.
U.S. Representative Begich Plans to Rename and Relaunch the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, Codifying Trump's Executive Order into Law
U.S. Representative Nick Begich stated at the Bitcoin 2026 conference that he plans to reintroduce his Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act in the coming weeks, renaming the original "BITCOIN Act" to the "U.S. Reserve Modernization Act." The bill aims to codify President Trump's executive order into law, establishing a permanent Bitcoin reserve. It requires Bitcoin to be held for an "extended period" and to acquire 1 million BTC over five years through a "budget-neutral strategy." Begich stated that the renaming is intended to help Congress and the American people better understand the bill's objectives, ensuring Bitcoin is treated as a reserve asset. He also noted that given the uncertainty surrounding the next administration's stance on digital assets, now is the opportune moment to lock in gains by having Congress take action. (The Block)
Analysis: Bitcoin Holds at $77,000 Range, Powell's "Final FOMC" Adds Market Uncertainty
Odaily Bitcoin remained consolidating above $77,000 on Wednesday, with markets cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. According to market data, Bitcoin fluctuated within the range of approximately $75,689 to $77,837 during the session, and is currently trading around $77,100.This FOMC meeting is seen as a pivotal event. Markets widely expect interest rates to remain unchanged, but the real focus is on whether Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will signal a "higher-for-longer" hawkish stance. Additionally, this meeting may be his last as Fed Chair, with markets simultaneously pricing in uncertainty regarding policy direction and potential power transitions.On the capital front, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a reversal after nine consecutive days of net inflows. SoSoValue data shows that on April 28, ETFs recorded net outflows of approximately $89.68 million. Among them, BlackRock's IBIT saw a single-day outflow of about $112 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs also logged net outflows of $21.8 million.On-chain data also signals caution. CryptoQuant noted that on April 27, exchange net inflows reached 9,905 BTC, the largest single-day inflow in nearly 30 days. Exchange reserves have also rebounded recently. If these inflows are not quickly absorbed, prices could retest the support range of $74,000–$75,000.On the macroeconomic front, fluctuations in crude oil prices and shifts in the Middle East energy landscape continue to influence inflation expectations. Some analysts believe this could limit the Fed's room for future easing. Meanwhile, market liquidity continues to weaken, with institutional trading volumes and perpetual contract activity both at low levels. This means any policy surprise could amplify price volatility.Overall, Bitcoin remains in a "low liquidity + high event risk" structure and may continue to oscillate within the $72,000 to $80,000 range in the short term, awaiting further clarity on the Fed's policy path. (The Block)
Stable Sea partners with WisdomTree to integrate tokenized money market funds into its enterprise stablecoin management platform
According to The Block, stablecoin management firm Stable Sea has announced a partnership with asset management firm WisdomTree to directly integrate WisdomTree’s tokenized money market fund WTGXX into its enterprise payment and treasury management platform. Stable Sea users can now one-click transfer idle stablecoin balances into the WTGXX fund to earn yield (currently offering an approximate 7-day annualized yield of 3.5%) and redeem those holdings at any time back into stablecoins for global payments.
First batch of prediction market ETFs may launch in the US next week
Odaily reports, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, the first batch of prediction market ETFs in the United States could launch next week. Roundhill has submitted updated documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, aiming to activate six prediction market ETFs on May 5. The products will be designed around event contracts related to the U.S. presidential and congressional elections.Additionally, similar products submitted by GraniteShares and Bitwise may also be launched around the same time. James Seyffart believes this reflects a growing trend of combining event contracts with ETF products. (The Block)
Bernstein: Cryptocurrency Market Shows Structural Strength; Bitcoin Poised to Enter a Longer-Term Bull Market
According to The Block, Bernstein analysts stated in their latest report that the fundamentals of the crypto market are continuously improving. Bitcoin’s recent low of $60,000 has formed a clear bottom, and with the current price approaching $80,000, a longer-term structural bull market is likely, driven by institutional demand. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani highlighted the following key drivers: • Ongoing expansion of institutional channels: Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF and Charles Schwab’s spot Bitcoin/Ethereum trading platform have both recently launched; approximately 60% of Bitcoin supply has remained unmoved for over one year, indicating a stabilizing holder structure; • Persistent accumulation by Strategy: Its STRC perpetual preferred stock product has attracted yield-oriented investors, and its current holdings stand at 818,334 BTC; • Stablecoin demand hits an all-time high: Stablecoin supply has surpassed $30 billion, decoupling from the crypto market’s price cycle and reflecting sustained real-world payment and settlement demand; • Tokenized real-world assets accelerating growth: Tokenized private credit and Treasury assets now total $34.5 billion, representing a 110% year-on-year increase. Bernstein also cautioned that quantum computing poses a long-term potential risk, though it expects the blockchain ecosystem to have ample time to complete the transition to post-quantum security.
TD Cowen reiterates its Buy rating; Smarter Web Company remains the only scaled Bitcoin treasury company in the UK.
According to The Block, TD Cowen analysts Lance Vitanza and Jonnathan Navarrete reiterated their “Buy” rating on UK-listed Smarter Web Company, maintaining their price target at £1 (approximately $1.36). The analysts noted that the company recently acquired additional bitcoin for approximately £57,000 (about $77,000), effectively lowering its marginal holding cost. Its leverage ratio of roughly 8% is considered relatively conservative compared to peers. Smarter Web currently holds 2,750 BTC, making it the largest corporate bitcoin holder in the UK and the 27th-largest publicly disclosed bitcoin treasury globally. However, with bitcoin’s current price hovering around $77,600—significantly below the company’s average acquisition price of $110,800—its holdings are sitting on an unrealized loss of approximately $91.1 million, representing a decline of roughly 30%.
JPMorgan: Frequent DeFi hacks and stagnant TVL continue to suppress institutional participation
According to The Block, JPMorgan analysts noted in their latest report that ongoing DeFi security vulnerabilities and stagnant growth in total value locked (TVL) continue to constrain institutional enthusiasm for the DeFi sector. Recently, Kelp DAO’s cross-chain bridge suffered a major attack, during which the attacker minted $292 million worth of uncollateralized rsETH tokens and borrowed real ETH on Aave, resulting in approximately $230 million in bad debt. This caused DeFi TVL to evaporate by roughly $20 billion within several days. LayerZero and blockchain security researchers have attributed this attack to the North Korean hacker group Lazarus Group; some of the stolen funds have been frozen, while the rest remain in circulation. Analysts also pointed out that DeFi TVL denominated in ETH has remained range-bound for an extended period, raising market concerns about whether DeFi can achieve organic growth sufficient to support institutional adoption. Furthermore, following each security incident, users tend to shift funds into USDT as a safe-haven asset—yet this trend has not yet significantly driven USDT’s market capitalization growth.
Standard Chartered: rsETH Security Incident Does Not Alter RWA Growth Thesis, Maintaining $2 Trillion Market Size Forecast
Standard Chartered Bank's latest report indicates that while the theft of KelpDAO's rsETH has severely impacted the DeFi ecosystem, it is insufficient to change the long-term growth trend of Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization. The bank maintains its forecast that the RWA tokenization market will grow from $35 billion in October 2025 to $2 trillion by the end of 2028, with the core drivers remaining the continued expansion of the DeFi banking system and stablecoin liquidity.Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, stated that this incident is more like DeFi being "bent, not broken," and could even serve as a significant turning point for the industry to move towards a more resilient structure. (The Block)
JPMorgan: Frequent DeFi hacks and stagnant TVL continue to suppress institutional participation
According to The Block, JPMorgan analysts noted in their latest report that ongoing DeFi security vulnerabilities and stagnant growth in total value locked (TVL) continue to constrain institutional enthusiasm for the DeFi sector. Recently, Kelp DAO’s cross-chain bridge suffered a major attack, during which the attacker minted $292 million worth of uncollateralized rsETH tokens and borrowed real ETH on Aave, resulting in approximately $230 million in bad debt. This caused DeFi TVL to evaporate by roughly $20 billion within several days. LayerZero and blockchain security researchers have attributed this attack to the North Korean hacker group Lazarus Group; some of the stolen funds have been frozen, while the rest remain in circulation. Analysts also pointed out that DeFi TVL denominated in ETH has remained range-bound for an extended period, raising market concerns about whether DeFi can achieve organic growth sufficient to support institutional adoption. Furthermore, following each security incident, users tend to shift funds into USDT as a safe-haven asset—yet this trend has not yet significantly driven USDT’s market capitalization growth.
Russian exchange Grinex suspends operations after ~$15 million attack
According to The Block, Grinex—a Russia-linked cryptocurrency exchange—suspended withdrawals and trading on Thursday after suffering a hack reportedly worth approximately $15 million. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic stated that the stolen funds consisted of USDT, which were subsequently moved across the Tron and Ethereum networks and swapped for TRX and ETH to reduce the risk of being frozen by Tether. Grinex said its wallet infrastructure was hit by a “large-scale cyberattack,” resulting in losses exceeding 1 billion rubles—approximately $13.1 million. Reports indicate Grinex is widely regarded as one of the successor platforms to sanctioned exchange Garantex, which U.S. authorities targeted last year for facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit fund flows.
Circle CEO: Did Not Freeze USDC in Drift Hack Due to “Moral Dilemma”
According to The Block, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire responded at a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, to criticism over Circle’s decision not to freeze the stolen USDC involved in the Drift incident. He stated that Circle fulfills its legal obligations and freezes wallets only upon instruction from law enforcement agencies or courts; unilaterally freezing assets would constitute a “major ethical dilemma.” He also revealed that Circle is engaging with U.S. legislative bodies regarding the Clarity Act, seeking to establish a “safe harbor” mechanism for stablecoin issuers in extreme circumstances—but emphasized that any such authority must be explicitly granted through legislation, not exercised unilaterally by the company.
US Musician Loses 5.9 BTC Due to Fake Ledger Wallet
According to The Block, U.S. musician Garrett Dutton (stage name G. Love) lost 5.9 BTC—worth approximately $420,000—after downloading and using a counterfeit Ledger wallet app from the App Store and entering his recovery phrase. On-chain analyst ZachXBT discovered that the attacker laundered the stolen Bitcoin via the KuCoin platform. This incident once again exposes the security risks posed by fake wallet apps, reminding users to exercise heightened caution when downloading and using cryptocurrency-related applications, and to avoid entering sensitive information through unofficial channels.
StarkWare Researcher Proposes Bitcoin Post-Quantum Transaction Scheme Without Soft Fork
According to The Block, Avihu Levy, a researcher at StarkWare, published a paper proposing the Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme, claiming it enables quantum-resistant transactions under Bitcoin’s existing script rules—without requiring a soft fork. This scheme replaces elliptic-curve cryptography with the RIPEMD-160 hash function via a “hash-to-signature” puzzle, thereby enhancing resilience against quantum attacks. The paper notes that QSB’s current per-transaction cost ranges from $75 to $150—significantly higher than today’s average transaction fee—and involves complex user experience; thus, it is recommended only as a “last resort.” The scheme remains constrained by script opcodes and size limits, and does not yet support all use cases—such as the Lightning Network. Compared to BIP-360—which requires protocol-level changes—QSB needs no modifications to the Bitcoin protocol, but remains experimental.
Stable Sea partners with WisdomTree to integrate tokenized money market funds into its enterprise stablecoin management platform
According to The Block, stablecoin management firm Stable Sea has announced a partnership with asset management firm WisdomTree to directly integrate WisdomTree’s tokenized money market fund WTGXX into its enterprise payment and treasury management platform. Stable Sea users can now one-click transfer idle stablecoin balances into the WTGXX fund to earn yield (currently offering an approximate 7-day annualized yield of 3.5%) and redeem those holdings at any time back into stablecoins for global payments.
First batch of prediction market ETFs may launch in the US next week
Odaily reports, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, the first batch of prediction market ETFs in the United States could launch next week. Roundhill has submitted updated documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, aiming to activate six prediction market ETFs on May 5. The products will be designed around event contracts related to the U.S. presidential and congressional elections.Additionally, similar products submitted by GraniteShares and Bitwise may also be launched around the same time. James Seyffart believes this reflects a growing trend of combining event contracts with ETF products. (The Block)
Ostium completes backend refactoring and introduces off-chain liquidity providers such as Jump.
According to The Block, decentralized exchange Ostium has completed a major backend architecture upgrade, officially positioning itself as a “decentralized execution layer” for the global market and providing on-chain traders with access to off-chain liquidity. The core of this upgrade is the introduction of a Translation Layer that bridges communication between smart contracts and institutional liquidity provider networks—including partners such as Jump, which hold traditional market access licenses. This mechanism enables on-chain users to indirectly tap into liquidity resources from traditional financial markets.
TON Tech Launches AI-Powered Autonomous Trading Agent Capable of Independently Executing On-Chain Operations Within the Telegram Ecosystem
According to The Block, TON Tech—the infrastructure team under The Open Platform—has announced the launch of an AI-powered autonomous trading agent that supports independent on-chain actions on the TON blockchain, including transfers, token swaps, DeFi operations, automated trading, staking, and basic portfolio management—all without requiring users to surrender their private keys.
Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank launches cryptocurrency-linked credit card enabling direct Bitcoin payments for bills
According to The Block, Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank has launched a cryptocurrency-linked credit card that allows users to directly pay bills using assets held in their exchange accounts—including settling payments in bitcoin. The credit card also offers 0.5% cryptocurrency cashback on monthly spending. Per the report, Bitbank introduced this product to enable everyday payment use cases for crypto assets held on its exchange.
Bernstein: Cryptocurrency Market Shows Structural Strength; Bitcoin Poised to Enter a Longer-Term Bull Market
According to The Block, Bernstein analysts stated in their latest report that the fundamentals of the crypto market are continuously improving. Bitcoin’s recent low of $60,000 has formed a clear bottom, and with the current price approaching $80,000, a longer-term structural bull market is likely, driven by institutional demand. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani highlighted the following key drivers: • Ongoing expansion of institutional channels: Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF and Charles Schwab’s spot Bitcoin/Ethereum trading platform have both recently launched; approximately 60% of Bitcoin supply has remained unmoved for over one year, indicating a stabilizing holder structure; • Persistent accumulation by Strategy: Its STRC perpetual preferred stock product has attracted yield-oriented investors, and its current holdings stand at 818,334 BTC; • Stablecoin demand hits an all-time high: Stablecoin supply has surpassed $30 billion, decoupling from the crypto market’s price cycle and reflecting sustained real-world payment and settlement demand; • Tokenized real-world assets accelerating growth: Tokenized private credit and Treasury assets now total $34.5 billion, representing a 110% year-on-year increase. Bernstein also cautioned that quantum computing poses a long-term potential risk, though it expects the blockchain ecosystem to have ample time to complete the transition to post-quantum security.
Related news
Squads completes $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures
: Solana ecosystem multi-signature protocol Squads announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round, led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. Its total cumulative funding has now reached $42.9 million. According to reports, Squads' stablecoin payment platform Altitude allows enterprises to conduct 24/7 global payment settlements in stablecoins through self-custodial wallets, and connects to the global payment network via its compliance and risk control system. (The Block)
Squads, a Solana ecosystem multisig protocol, announced it has completed an $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures.
According to The Block, Squads, a multi-signature protocol in the Solana ecosystem, has announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. This round is an equity financing, bringing Squads’ total funding to $42.9 million. Squads will use the funds from this round to expand its stablecoin-based corporate finance platform, Altitude.
Analysis: Bitcoin Holds at $77,000 Range, Powell's "Final FOMC" Adds Market Uncertainty
Odaily Bitcoin remained consolidating above $77,000 on Wednesday, with markets cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. According to market data, Bitcoin fluctuated within the range of approximately $75,689 to $77,837 during the session, and is currently trading around $77,100.This FOMC meeting is seen as a pivotal event. Markets widely expect interest rates to remain unchanged, but the real focus is on whether Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will signal a "higher-for-longer" hawkish stance. Additionally, this meeting may be his last as Fed Chair, with markets simultaneously pricing in uncertainty regarding policy direction and potential power transitions.On the capital front, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a reversal after nine consecutive days of net inflows. SoSoValue data shows that on April 28, ETFs recorded net outflows of approximately $89.68 million. Among them, BlackRock's IBIT saw a single-day outflow of about $112 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs also logged net outflows of $21.8 million.On-chain data also signals caution. CryptoQuant noted that on April 27, exchange net inflows reached 9,905 BTC, the largest single-day inflow in nearly 30 days. Exchange reserves have also rebounded recently. If these inflows are not quickly absorbed, prices could retest the support range of $74,000–$75,000.On the macroeconomic front, fluctuations in crude oil prices and shifts in the Middle East energy landscape continue to influence inflation expectations. Some analysts believe this could limit the Fed's room for future easing. Meanwhile, market liquidity continues to weaken, with institutional trading volumes and perpetual contract activity both at low levels. This means any policy surprise could amplify price volatility.Overall, Bitcoin remains in a "low liquidity + high event risk" structure and may continue to oscillate within the $72,000 to $80,000 range in the short term, awaiting further clarity on the Fed's policy path. (The Block)
Paul Tudor Jones: Bitcoin is the Undisputed Best Inflation Hedge
Odaily Macro investor and hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones stated in a recent podcast interview that Bitcoin is the "unequivocally the best inflation hedge" and called it a "knockout opportunity" in the market.Paul Tudor Jones pointed out that truly major trading opportunities often arise when market structures are imbalanced, assets are underallocated, or when policymakers misjudge the situation. He believes that due to its scarcity and decentralized characteristics, Bitcoin outperforms gold in inflation trades. He emphasized that Bitcoin's total supply is capped at 21 million coins, with less than 1 million remaining to be mined, while gold's supply continues to increase annually. Therefore, Bitcoin holds a stronger advantage in the dimension of scarcity.Paul Tudor Jones recalled that in 2020, against the backdrop of Federal Reserve and fiscal expansion, Bitcoin became one of the most outstanding inflation-hedging assets at the time, and he subsequently increased its allocation to around 5% of his investment portfolio. However, he also warned of risks: in the event of large-scale "momentum conflicts" or cyber warfare-level incidents, the electronic asset system could face systemic disruption risks, and Bitcoin may also be impacted. Additionally, future cryptographic risks driven by quantum computing and AI could become a source of long-term uncertainty. (The Block)
Prediction market trading volume exceeded $25.7 billion in March, driven by retail dominance with crypto becoming the primary entry point
data shows the total trading volume of prediction markets in March 2026 reached $25.7 billion, a month-over-month increase of 10.6%. Trading activity is highly concentrated among small-scale retail users. Among the 1.29 million wallets tracked in the first quarter, 82.3% of users had a trading volume of less than $10,000. The growth primarily came from micro, light, and moderately active user groups, with the overall market exhibiting a structural characteristic of "high-frequency participation, low single-order value."Crypto assets serve as the primary entry point for prediction markets, accounting for 39.6% of micro-user activity. Among these, Bitcoin-related event contracts attracted approximately 593,000 users in the first quarter, with a trading volume of $5.42 billion, making it the most actively participated crypto prediction market. Ethereum and Solana recorded trading volumes of $1.19 billion and $420 million, respectively.By asset class structure, sports markets ranked first with a trading volume of $10.1 billion, followed by political markets ($5 billion), of which geopolitical-related markets accounted for $2.41 billion. The overall trading volume for crypto-related markets reached $7.3 billion.Analysts believe that the growth of prediction markets is primarily driven by "category expansion" rather than an increase in single-order size. Micro users were active for an average of 2.5 days and participated in 1.45 categories, while medium users' activity increased to 9.9 days and participation in 2.34 categories. This indicates that users are transitioning from single-speculation to sustained multi-market participation. (The Block)
Stable Sea partners with WisdomTree to integrate tokenized money market funds into its enterprise stablecoin management platform
According to The Block, stablecoin management firm Stable Sea has announced a partnership with asset management firm WisdomTree to directly integrate WisdomTree’s tokenized money market fund WTGXX into its enterprise payment and treasury management platform. Stable Sea users can now one-click transfer idle stablecoin balances into the WTGXX fund to earn yield (currently offering an approximate 7-day annualized yield of 3.5%) and redeem those holdings at any time back into stablecoins for global payments.