Bitcoin surges above $75K on Middle East de-escalation; KelpDAO suffers $293M exploit triggering AAVE selloff; RaveDAO collapses 95% amid pump-and-dump probe; CLARITY Act stablecoin battle intensifies; Alcoa sells smelter to Bitcoin miner NYDIG.
1. Bitcoin Surges Above $75K as Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz, Geopolitical Risk Eases
Bitcoin climbed back above $75,000 as easing Middle East tensions following a 10-day ceasefire linked to the Israel-Lebanon conflict reduced risk-off sentiment. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz sparked a sharp oil reversal (Brent crude fell 12.95% to $86.52) and drove $664M in largest daily inflows to US Bitcoin ETFs since January, signaling institutional confidence in the de-escalation narrative.
Trending: BTC, ETF
2. KelpDAO Exploit Drains $293M Across Ethereum & Arbitrum, Triggers AAVE 20% Plunge
A targeted wallet compromise flagged by ZachXBT resulted in a single victim losing $280M+ across DeFi protocols on Ethereum and Arbitrum in what is being called the KelpDAO exploit. The incident triggered a cascading liquidation event: AAVE dropped 18% as whales dumped over $6M in tokens, and $5.4B in ETH fled Aave's protocols amid concerns over bad debt from the rsETH exploit exposure. Suppliers are being urged to withdraw WETH before the Umbrella insurance settlement.
Trending: AAVE, ETH
3. RaveDAO Token Collapses 95% in Single Day Amid Pump-and-Dump Investigation
RAVE token lost 95% of its value in a single day as Binance and Bitget launched formal investigations into suspected market manipulation and insider trading activity. ZachXBT had raised a $25,000 bounty accusing insiders of coordinating the pump-and-dump scheme across multiple exchanges, and Bitget CEO Gracy Chen compared the collapse to 2021 GameStop mania. The incident highlights risks in newer tokens with concentrated ownership.
Trending: RAVE
4. Alcoa Sells Dormant Smelter to Bitcoin Miner NYDIG for AI Data Center Operations
Aluminum giant Alcoa is offloading its dormant Massena smelter facility to Bitcoin mining firm NYDIG, marking a strategic pivot toward AI data center utilization alongside mining operations. This deal reflects the industry's broader shift toward diversifying revenue streams as institutional players consolidate mining infrastructure, particularly relevant given recent concerns about miners pivoting to AI competing for power resources.
Trending: BTC
5. Ethereum-Funded Project Exposes 100 North Korean IT Workers Infiltrating 53 Crypto Firms
The Ketman Project, an Ethereum Foundation-funded initiative, identified approximately 100 suspected DPRK (North Korea) IT operatives using forged identities to infiltrate 53 crypto companies and blockchain projects. This revelation underscores supply-chain security risks in Web3 development teams and highlights nation-state efforts to access cryptocurrency infrastructure and technology.
Trending: ETH
6. CLARITY Act Stablecoin Yield Compromise Under Attack; Banks Escalate Lobbying Pressure
North Carolina Bankers Association is spearheading renewed lobbying efforts to kill stablecoin yield provisions in the CLARITY Act, directly countering White House digital assets official Patrick Witt's public rebuke of banking sector 「greed.」 The legislative battle over regulated dollar stablecoins remains unresolved as Congress edges toward potential breakthrough, with stablecoin supply hitting record $320B while the yield debate persists.
7. Charles Schwab Launches Bitcoin & Ethereum Trading for 39M Retail Clients
Charles Schwab announced it will begin direct Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for its 39 million brokerage clients, with digital assets appearing alongside stocks and ETFs in unified account views. However, the integration sidesteps traditional SEC protections and broker-dealer registration requirements, raising questions about custody safeguards for retail investors in what represents major institutional mainstream adoption.
Trending: BTC, ETH
8. Bitcoin Sentiment Remains Extreme Low Despite 8% Price Surge; Retail Lags Institutional
On-chain analysis shows Bitcoin is displaying classic 「wall of worry」 rally dynamics with a notable divergence between institutional and retail investor positioning. Despite BTC's $3K surge to break macro downtrend resistance, sentiment metrics remain at extremes, suggesting retail investors are underweighting the position even as institutions accumulate—a historically bullish setup that has preceded past rallies.
Trending: BTC
9. Asteroid Shiba (ASTEROID) Memecoin Surges 68,000% on Elon Musk Twitter Reply
ASTEROID token skyrocketed on the back of an Elon Musk Twitter interaction, with individual traders reporting extraordinary returns: one flipped a single ETH into $474K+ in hours, while another held a 580-day position that turned $392K. The 68,000% rally exemplifies both the extreme volatility and outsized returns possible in memecoin trading, alongside corresponding liquidation risks.
Trending: ASTEROID
10. XRP SuperTrend Flips Bullish on Daily Chart; Key $1.55 Resistance Targeted
The XRP market recorded its first SuperTrend buy signal on the daily chart in over three months, indicating potential short-term momentum reversal. The altcoin is testing key resistance at $1.55 as funding rates on Binance remain predominantly negative throughout 2026—a contrarian signal suggesting leveraged shorts are primed for liquidation if price breaks higher.
11. Russia Proposes Criminalizing Unlicensed Crypto Operations with 7-Year Hard Labor Penalties
The Russian government introduced legislation to criminalize unregistered crypto exchange operations, imposing sentences up to 7 years of hard labour (forced labor camps) for operators dealing in crypto without state permits. This marks an intensification of Russia's regulatory crackdown on decentralized financial activities and reflects broader global trends toward stricter crypto enforcement.
12. Caitlyn Jenner Escapes Memecoin Lawsuit; Judge Rules Token Not a Security
A federal judge dismissed claims against Caitlyn Jenner in a memecoin-related lawsuit, ruling the token in question does not qualify as a security under federal law. The decision provides favorable precedent for celebrity-backed token projects, though it remains distinct from broader regulatory debates over when crypto assets cross the security threshold.
13. Charles Schwab & Citadel Securities Explore Entry Into Prediction Markets
Major financial institutions Charles Schwab and Citadel Securities are evaluating entry into the prediction markets space, signaling institutional interest in on-chain betting and forecast platforms. This development follows Polymarket's V2 launch and reflects broadening adoption of crypto-native financial products by traditional Wall Street players.
14. Warren Claims SEC Chair Atkins Likely Misled Congress Over Enforcement Data
Senator Elizabeth Warren has accused SEC Chair Gary Gensler's successor Atkins of potentially misleading Congress regarding crypto enforcement metrics and agency performance data. The accusation adds pressure on the new leadership amid ongoing debates over the SEC's regulatory approach to digital assets and raises accountability questions about agency transparency.
15. Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF Wallets Now Public on Arkham Intelligence
Arkham Intelligence identified and publicly mapped Morgan Stanley's MSBT Bitcoin ETF wallets, enabling real-time on-chain tracking of the wealth manager's digital asset holdings. This transparency move reflects institutional adoption dynamics and provides market participants with granular visibility into one of the largest financial institutions' crypto exposure.
Trending: BTC
16. Justin Sun Meets Kyrgyz President; TRON Eyes KGST Stablecoin Infrastructure Deal
TRON founder Justin Sun met with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov on April 18 to discuss TRON infrastructure deployment for the country's KGST stablecoin, mirroring earlier engagement by Binance founder CZ. The bilateral interest in blockchain infrastructure reflects growing adoption by emerging markets seeking digital currency solutions.
17. Dogecoin Nears Key Turning Point; TCT Model Signals Potential Major Breakout
DOGE remains compressed in a tight range just below $0.10 after testing key technical levels, with analyst Lars reporting that a tracked TCT (technical pattern framework) is now forming and pointing toward a significant directional shift. The setup suggests potential for a $0.35+ breakout if support holds and momentum initiates.
18. Solana Futures Open Interest Rises 20% Weekly; $100 SOL Price Target Emerges
Solana futures open interest increased by 20% over the past week, signaling renewed institutional leverage positioning and bullish sentiment among derivatives traders. The uptick in derivatives activity coincides with fundamental strength in Solana network metrics and suggests potential upside toward $100 SOL if momentum sustains.
19. Former Treasury Chief Warns Bond Market Crash Could Impact Crypto Outlook
An unnamed former US Treasury chief has raised concerns about potential bond market instability and systemic risks that could cascade into crypto markets. The warning highlights correlation risks between traditional fixed-income markets and digital assets during periods of macroeconomic stress and geopolitical uncertainty.
20. UK Regulator's Proposed Crypto Rules Criticized as Too Broad; Lawyer Raises Compliance Concerns
Legal experts have criticized the UK Financial Conduct Authority's proposed cryptocurrency regulatory framework as overly broad and lacking sufficient clarity, creating compliance challenges for crypto firms. The 「Mother, may I?」 style approach to enforcement raises practical implementation questions and may slow adoption of regulated crypto services in the UK market.