On April 16th, recent developments reported by COINOTAG News indicate that the former US federal prosecutor James K. Filan disclosed on the X platform that a collaborative request from the
Markets have clearly been quite volatile in recent weeks — crypto or otherwise. Zooming out, the S&P 500 was down nearly 9% year-to-date early Wednesday, and the Nasdaq Composite index has fared worse, dropping 14% so far in 2025. As BTC hovered around $83,700 Wednesday morning, it was similarly down 10% year-to-date. Gold is up 24% over that span, flaunting a safe-haven status that BTC does not yet widely enjoy . Shares of Strategy (formerly known as MicroStrategy) have rallied in recent days, putting it barely into the green in 2025 (at +2%). But perhaps the most renowned crypto stock, Coinbase, remains down about 34% from the start of the year. Crypto assets and stocks have been in a sort of “air pocket,” as reality replaces post-election enthusiasm with the reminder that some of the bigger changes for the space will take time, Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer told me. Legislation — on market structure and stablecoins — will be key before institutional investors feel comfortable engaging with the space in earnest, he argued. “The stock prices of companies like Strategy and Coinbase continue to be heavily influenced by retail investors and hedge funds that are more inclined to trade out of their positions than long-term institutional holders whose mandates often cause them to sit tight during market downturns,” Palmer added. Blockspace’s Colin Harper — for a piece in Blockworks’ Forward Guidance newsletter last week — wrote about how bitcoin mining stocks are not as correlated to BTC as they once were. Large miners like Marathon Digital and Core Scientific are down 28% and 54% YTD, respectively. Palmer puts miners into two camps: those involved in building/managing AI data centers and the pure-play BTC miners, with both representing emerging technology plays. “During a sharp downturn, those visions of future upside can be pushed aside as investor horizons shrink and there is more focus on necessities and staples and stocks with attractive dividend yields,” the Benchmark analyst noted. Dan Weiskopf, co-portfolio manager of the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK), acknowledged the “brutal” Q1 for miners. Still, the fund bought into the recent IPO of AI cloud provider CoreWeave. And CleanSpark (down 25% YTD) is BLOK’s seventh-largest holding. “We do not believe that the AI/datacenter trend is a bubble and would expect a sizable relief to take form when markets lean more towards risk again,” Weiskopf told me. Robinhood and Coinbase are BLOK’s second- and third-largest holdings, respectively. Weiskopf called the innovation of these companies exciting — “especially in the context of a friendlier SEC.” Cantor Fitzgerald analysts are similarly bullish on COIN . T. Rowe Price portfolio manager Dominic Rizzo has said that while he considers Coinbase to be an industry “linchpin” (and his tech fund holds the stock), he doesn’t view Strategy or miners the same way. BLOK’s number one holding? That would be MSTR. After Strategy’s latest bitcoin buy, the company owns 531,644 BTC (acquired for ~$67,556 per coin) “We think MSTR’s growth rate deserves a premium to traditional multiples of book, especially when the book value is so easy to measure,” Weiskopf said. “A lot can happen in the future and this does not mean that we don’t trade around our position.” Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters: Blockworks Daily : Unpacking crypto and the markets. Empire : Crypto news and analysis to start your day. Forward Guidance : The intersection of crypto, macro and policy. 0xResearch : Alpha directly in your inbox. Lightspeed : All things Solana. The Drop : Apps, games, memes and more. Supply Shock : Bitcoin, bitcoin, bitcoin.
Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) is facing a weaker outlook as uncertainties introduced by President Donald Trump’s on-and-off tariff threats cast a shadow over retail crypto activity, analysts at Oppenheimer wrote in a report. The investment bank cut its full-year trading volume forecast by 19% to $1.3 trillion and its first-quarter estimate to $380 billion, down 13% from the previous quarter as the appetite for risk declined. Despite a generally more supportive tone from Washington — with pro-crypto signals from the White House, Congress and regulators — the analysts said the market hasn't fully embraced the shift. “Since the election, we have seen the most pro-crypto President, Administration, Congress, regulators, executive orders, and SEC statements, that are meant to signal to the world that the US is open for blockchain businesses to attract capital, projects, and talents,” analyst Owen Lau wrote. “During the process for the public to believe in such a day-and-night move, it's unfortunate to see Trump's on-and-off again tariffs have driven bear market concern, recession fear, and pullback of retail trading,” Coinbase stock has fallen 30% this year, underperforming bitcoin ( BTC ) and the S&P 500, which are down 10% and 8%, respectively. While those numbers mark an improvement from the 2022 downturn — when COIN dropped 86% — they still highlight the platform’s sensitivity to broader macro signals. Oppenheimer also lowered its 2025 and 2026 forecasts for revenue and earnings and cut its shares price target to $279 from $388, saying that retail participation may remain subdued during the policy uncertainty. It has an outperform rating on the shares, which fell 1.2% to $173.39 on Wednesday. One upside: market share. Coinbase accounted for 69% of U.S. spot crypto trading volume in February, gaining ground against rivals like Robinhood (HOOD). Maintaining that lead will depend on whether the market can shake off tariff jitters and regain momentum. Oppenheimer said despite the near-term hurdles, it remains optimistic about Coinbase’s long-term potential. “As a focused leader in crypto with optionality in tokenization and payments use cases, we believe COIN can command a premium. In our view, COIN is a strong rebound stock if/when tariff tensions deescalate,” Lau wrote. Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
The WalletConnect Token (WCT) has exploded into the spotlight after a dramatic price turnaround, surging over 100% just days after a sharp post-airdrop decline. Shortly after its long-awaited debut , WCT fell sharply from $0.40 to $0.27, largely driven by a selloff from early airdrop recipients. 1/ Are you ready?! @okx is listing $WCT WCT deposits will open at 10:00 UTC | April 15 WalletConnect is proud to partner with OKX https://t.co/CL4q0ylkHC pic.twitter.com/A0bm5VpjUJ — WalletConnect (@WalletConnect) April 8, 2025 WalletConnect, a staple protocol in the Web3 ecosystem, has distributed over 50 million tokens as part of its decentralization plan, with 18.5% of the supply earmarked for community incentives. The initial sell pressure seemed expected. But what came next was less predictable: a sharp rally to $0.65, more than doubling its bottom price. WCT is trading around $0.47, which is still far above its early dip. The WalletConnect ( #WCT ) listing attracted great attention. The WalletConnect team had AirDroped thousands of users. WalletConnect users made good returns. After the listing, the $WCT price dropped from $0.4 to $0.27. The sales of users who received AirDrop were effective in the… pic.twitter.com/PyUPKUNBoN — Crypto News Portal (@TerraNewsEN) April 16, 2025 The comeback has been catalyzed by upcoming listings on South Korea’s largest exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb. With WCT now featured on Binance , OKX , Bybit , Kraken , Gate.io, and Bitget ; Upbit announcement added a powerful layer of market momentum. South Korean retail traders are notorious for triggering rallies in newly listed tokens; WCT was no exception. In the 24 hours following Upbit’s listing confirmation, WCT jumped 36%, brushing a new all-time high of $0.58. Source: CoinGecko WCT Price Disparities and Exchange Frenzy As WCT’s popularity soars, noticeable price gaps have formed between centralized exchanges. On Binance, WCT has been trading at $0.62, significantly higher than the $0.539 observed on OKX. This divergence is likely due to liquidity variations, arbitrage opportunities, and regional demand spikes, particularly with Korean listings underway. With Upbit and Bithumb confirming spot listings of WCT/KRW on April 16, demand is expected to increase from South Korean traders who often drive intense short-term speculation. Bithumb to list $WCT /KRW spot trading pair on April 16 South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb announced on its official website that it will list the WCT/KRW spot trading pair on April 16 at 10:00 UTC. — CoinNess Global (@CoinnessGL) April 16, 2025 These listings are part of WalletConnect’s calculated push to decentralize its ecosystem and expand token utility. The WCT token officially became transferable on April 15, 2025, meeting all previously established criteria by the WalletConnect Foundation. These included the launch of staking pools, onboarding node operators, the WalletConnect Certified Wallet program, and the recent open-sourcing of the core code. Completing these technical and community-focused milestones laid the groundwork for WCT’s broader distribution and exchange integration. Notably, the volatility has not deterred investor interest, with current data showing a rebound in trader optimism. Gate.io joined the listing frenzy with a $10,000 WCT trading competition, while Kraken, Bybit, and Bitget announced listings almost simultaneously. $WCT NEW Listing Celebration, Exclusive Launch Rewards Deposit or trade $WCT now for a chance to share $10,000 $WCT Rewards No entry barriers, just trade to win Join Now: https://t.co/ophRBVbUIh Learn more: https://t.co/irHPlW7ZH0 pic.twitter.com/kkqsH1jDqz — Gate Launch (@Gateio_Launch) April 16, 2025 Controversies, Market Makers, and Transferability Questions However, not all the excitement around WCT has been celebratory. Critics have raised concerns about the timing of the token’s listing and the vesting schedule for insiders. Some accused WalletConnect of “playing the Starknet crime playbook,” referring to prior cases in which token insiders allegedly benefited from shorter-than-disclosed vesting periods. Be @WalletConnect > Deploy the official WCT token without listing it for trading > say nothing about token listing for ~7 months > Get called out for playing the starknet crime playbook > Start plans to list the token, and pretend insiders (team, investors) vesting time… https://t.co/VdEoxWoEur pic.twitter.com/aWwsoW7CG9 — Anon Vee (@AnonVee_) April 7, 2025 According to critics, insiders in WalletConnect’s case will effectively have their allocation unlocked five months earlier than the traditional one-year timeline, potentially allowing them to dump tokens amid peak market hype. Adding fuel to the fire, market sleuths on crypto Twitter have identified GSR.io as the suspected market maker behind WCT. They cite suspicious trading patterns similar to those seen in past launches such as GALA, BIGTIME, and ARKM. One on-chain analyst claimed it cost $16,000 in gas to verify GSR’s involvement by tracking wallet addresses and that roughly 2.8 million WCT tokens were linked to their operations. 花16000刀确认 #WCT 做市商是 @GSR_io 无疑了 K线特点：低开-缓跌横盘-突然拉到你头晕目眩 过往业绩： #GALA #BIGTIME #ARKM 这走势一看就他娘的是一母所生啊 好了，有人该问怎么跟做市商发财了，看下面的推文。所有做市商做市都会留下蛛丝马迹，比如持有他们代币、账户异动、加关注等… https://t.co/hvZjIGEjC2 pic.twitter.com/rQ5Cm9vO2P — 加密大香蕉 (@NFTbigbanana) April 16, 2025 Others began offering tutorials on identifying such patterns, suggesting that professional market makers often leave behind subtle clues. Despite the criticism, WalletConnect’s transparency on some aspects of the project, particularly around transferability criteria, has won praise. While market makers, listing spikes, and price gaps may dominate the short-term narrative, WCT’s real test will come in its ability to drive long-term value for users, developers, and stakeholders. The post WCT Soars 100% After Airdrop Dump — Price Gap Widens Ahead of Korean Exchange Listings appeared first on Cryptonews .
Where's the bottom for bitcoin (BTC)? While acknowledging it's possible that level has already been hit, on-chain analyst James Check suggested a true bottom may not be in place until after bitcoin suffers a true capitulation event. That would likely require a decline to the $65,000 area, said Check, calling it the "true market mean," i.e., the average cost basis for active investors. At that point according to Check, who spoke on the TFTC podcast , the average investor may begin to feel the pressure of unrealized losses. Even long-term holders, including those who have held bitcoin for five years, could find themselves underwater. Interestingly, this price level aligns closely with Michael Saylor’s Strategy, which has a similar cost basis of around $67,500. Where does capitulation take the market? While Check expects sizable declines from the $65,000 area, he sees strong support in the $49,000-$50,000 range, those prices representing the launch of the ETFs in 2024 as well as a $1 trillion market cap for bitcoin. A drop to as low as $40,000 seems unlikely, he said, barring a global recession. Check also took note of the extended period of "chopsolidation" in 2024 — where bitcoin traded for months in a wide range between $50K and $70K — as establishing a strong foundation of support.
Bitcoin (BTC) registered a sharp decline late on Tuesday as market sentiment turned sour after the US banned the company’s H20 chip sales to China, impacting both the equity and crypto markets. As a result, the flagship cryptocurrency dropped from a high of $86,512 to settle at $83,701. BTC is down almost 2% over the past 24 hours and trading just above $84,000 as buyers look to build momentum and attempt a move back above $85,000. Nvidia Drags Markets Down Nvidia shares crashed during after-hours trading after the US banned the sale of the company’s H20 chips to China. As a result, BTC tanked to $83,660, losing momentum after crossing $85,000. AI-related tokens fared worse as Nvidia disclosed that it expects to write down $5.5 billion in the first quarter thanks to the new restrictions on the exports of the H20 chip to China. The news came after unusual activity in NVDA put options suggested an impending market movement. Markets can expect a catalyst on Wednesday morning ET, with the US sales report for March expected to show a 1.2% increase in consumer spending, significantly higher than the 0.2% increase in February. A better-than-expected report could calm fears of a trade war-induced recession. However, there is also the risk that markets may dismiss the report as backward-looking and failing to account for the escalation in trade tensions. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is also expected to speak on Wednesday and share his outlook on the US economy. Secure Digital Markets stated in a research note, “All eyes are on Powell. Markets are holding their breath for Powell on Wednesday. Between the trade war and rising recession chatter, traders are watching for any hint the Fed might be forced to cut sooner than expected.” Bitcoin Miners Selling More BTC Bitcoin miners have started selling BTC to make ends meet, according to a report by CryptoQuant. According to the report, Bitcoin miners stepped up selling as the flagship cryptocurrency plunged below $80,000. It added that on April 7, miners sold 15,000 BTC worth around $1.12 billion, according to the day’s prices. Miners are generally large industrial operations that comprise specialized computers that process transactions and create new tokens. However, if the asset price takes a hit, miners are forced to sell their coins to cover costs and keep the business running. “Miner margins have been pressured by lower prices, but also with depressed transaction fees, and a record-high Bitcoin network hash rate, which implies higher mining costs, sending their average operating margins down from 53% in late January to 33% today.” CryptoQuant believes Bitcoin is in one of its least bullish phases since 2022, despite hitting a new all-time high ahead of President Trump’s inauguration, but has since struggled to stay above $85,000. Why Does This Bitcoin Cycle Feel Different? At first glance, Bitcoin appears to be in a bearish phase, registering a 21% decline from its all-time high of $109,000. However, a closer look shows that the asset is witnessing a steady rebound, with the flagship cryptocurrency up over 8% during the past week and getting closer to the psychologically important $90,000 mark. BTC climbed to an intraday high of $86,512 on Tuesday but fell below $85,000 as markets turned bearish. An analyst from CryptoQuant explained Bitcoin’s muted cycle, stating that, unlike previous cycles that featured fast-paced rallies, the current cycle is quite subdued. According to the analyst, the lower percentage of Bitcoin held for short durations reflects minimal engagement from new market entrants. This behaviour has been attributed to two reasons, the current macroeconomic environment and the transition in market leadership from retail traders to institutional investors. The approval and growing adoption of Bitcoin ETFs have also transformed the nature of capital movement, making price movements more measured and incremental. As a result, the market is more cautious and lacks the euphoria seen in previous cycles. Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis Bitcoin (BTC) registered a notable rebound over the past week, despite facing considerable volatility and selling pressure earlier in the month. Market uncertainty generated by tariffs and Trump’s trade war had driven the price below $80,000 at the beginning of the week. However, the flagship cryptocurrency registered an admirable recovery, reclaiming $80,000 and pushing higher. BTC’s resilience is explained by several metrics, according to an analysis by CryptoQuant analyst BorisVest. According to the analyst, several on-chain indicators suggest BTC remains undervalued during the current cycle. He also pointed to declining exchange reserves, a stablecoin supply ratio suggesting available liquidity for new purchases, and a normalized funding rate indicating a reduced risk of overheated market conditions. The analyst also flagged the ongoing reduction in exchange-held Bitcoin reserves, which have returned to levels last seen in 2018. The reduction suggests a shift towards long-term holdings, limiting immediate supply and potentially leading to a spike in prices. Let’s look at how BTC lost momentum before rebounding towards the end of last week and which way its price could head over the next few days. BTC registered a significant decline last weekend, dropping over 6%, slipping below $80,000 and settling at $78,301. The price encountered selling pressure and volatility on Monday, falling to a low of $74,393 and then surging past $80,000 before declining to settle at $79,165, ultimately registering an increase of 1.10%. BTC lost momentum on Tuesday, dropping almost 4% and settling at $76,279. Markets rallied on Wednesday after Trump announced a pause on tariffs. As a result, BTC rallied over 8% to reclaim $80,000 and settle at $82,600. However, the rally lost momentum on Thursday as the price dropped almost 4%, slipping below $80,000 and settling at $79,592. Source: TradingView Sentiment changed on Friday as buyers returned to the market. As a result, BTC rose almost 5% to reclaim $80,000, move past the 20-day SMA and settle at $83,370. Buyers retained control on Saturday as the price registered an increase of over 2% to cross the 50-day SMA and settle at $85,378. Buyers lost momentum on Sunday after failing to consolidate above $85,000. As a result, BTC dropped almost 2%, slipping below the 50-day SMA and $85,000 and settling at $83,776. The current week started positively as the price rose over 1% to $84,619. It surged to an intraday high of $86,512 on Tuesday but lost momentum after reaching this level, ultimately dropping 1.08% and settling at $83,701. The current session sees BTC up almost 1% as buyers look to push the price back above $85,000. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
A critical vulnerability in Crypto-MCP has raised alarms among security experts and crypto enthusiasts alike, potentially putting user assets at risk. Newly identified prompt injection exploits could allow hackers to
Aergo token's price surged significantly after announcements from Binance and DigiFinex. Strong market interest is evident following the launch of perpetual contracts. Continue Reading: Aergo Token Surges as Major Exchanges Announce Listings The post Aergo Token Surges as Major Exchanges Announce Listings appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
Panama City's crypto adoption for taxes may accelerate digital economy growth and influence global regulatory frameworks for digital assets. The post Panama City accepts Bitcoin, Ether, and stablecoins for tax and fee payments appeared first on Crypto Briefing .
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, asks its users which altcoins can be listed and delisted with its newly implemented “vote to list” and “vote to delist” voting methods. Binance either delists or lists some altcoins determined as a result of these votes. At this point, Binance announced the second group of altcoins for the vote to delist a few days ago. The inclusion of privacy-focused cryptocurrencies ZCash (ZEC) among these altcoins garnered a great reaction from the community. ZCash founder Zooko Wilcox reacted to Binance’s decision, calling the move a censorship tool against privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. Zooko Wilcox tagged Binance CEO Richard Teng in her post and questioned the idea of ZEC being delisted from the exchange. “Binance! Thinking of delisting Zcash? What kind of world are you creating? Do you want your children to grow up in peace and prosperity, or is it an episode of Black Mirror? Richard Teng, Privacy is normal! Support privacy by supporting Zcash like Coinbase, Gemini, and Kraken!” While the ZCash community reacted to ZEC being listed alongside dysfunctional projects with volatile prices, important figures in the industry also reacted to this situation. At this point, Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert expressed his sadness at Binance's decision and argued that privacy is important and should be protected. Likewise, Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet and Cosmos co-founder Ethan Buchman also reacted to the ZEC decision and stated that they support privacy tokens. While ZEC is at risk of being delisted from Binance, the largest US cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase continues to list ZEC. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Binance Added the Well-established Altcoin to the Delisting List! Reactions Grew, Support Rained Down on the Altcoin!