BLOCKCHAIN NEWS

**Ether ETFs Poised for Staking Approval**

Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S. might soon start staking tokens, potentially by May, according to Bloomberg's James Seyffart. The SEC recently allowed options contracts for spot Ether ETFs, a move seen as a step toward staking approval. However, full regulatory clearance might not arrive until late 2025.

Staking involves locking up ETH to support network operations, offering rewards in return. This development could boost Ether ETF adoption, which has lagged behind Bitcoin ETFs. Analysts believe staking could significantly enhance Ether funds' appeal, offering new investment opportunities.

Crypto startup Meanwhile has secured $40 million in a Series A round to expand its Bitcoin-based life insurance offerings, focusing on inflation-prone regions. Led by Framework Ventures and Fulgur Ventures, the funding aims to provide alternatives to traditional fiat payouts. Meanwhile, regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority, allows policyholders to pay premiums and receive claims in Bitcoin, offering protection against currency debasement. The company targets areas with high inflation or unstable currencies, leveraging Bitcoin's potential as a store of value despite debates over its inflation-hedging capabilities.

Standard Chartered and OKX have launched a pilot program allowing institutions to use crypto assets and tokenized money market funds as collateral. This initiative, under the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority's oversight, aims to enhance security by using Standard Chartered as a custodian.

The program, featuring partners like Franklin Templeton and Brevan Howard Digital, offers OKX clients access to onchain assets. This move is seen as a significant step in institutional crypto services, promoting security and regulatory compliance in the digital asset ecosystem.

Trade tensions are heating up, pushing investors to explore alternative assets like Bitcoin and tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). Despite a temporary pause on higher tariffs, President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods, highlighting deeper issues in the global monetary system. This has led to a surge in tokenized gold trading, reaching a two-year high of over $1 billion. RWAs have also hit record levels, surpassing $20 billion. Analysts suggest these tariffs might be a negotiation tactic, not a permanent shift, with potential impacts on global markets and crypto recovery by 2025.

Bitcoin mining companies are thriving as they produce nearly $800 million worth of Bitcoin in Q1 2025. With Bitcoin prices hovering around $81,600, top miners like Marathon Digital lead the charge, mining 2,285 BTC valued at $186 million. CleanSpark and Iren follow closely, with 1,950 BTC and 1,513 BTC respectively. Riot Blockchain also made waves with 1,428 BTC mined. Hut 8 Mining, despite lower production, showed impressive growth with a 91% increase in March. The company plans to dominate US Bitcoin mining with its new venture, American Bitcoin, alongside Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Cosmos has unveiled Eureka, a new interoperability layer designed to connect its inter-blockchain communication (IBC) protocol with Ethereum. Announced on April 10, Eureka transforms IBC from an ecosystem standard into a universal interoperability protocol, paving the way for multichain apps. This move allows Cosmos-based applications to reach more users by integrating with Ethereum. Unlike traditional bridges that fragment users and liquidity, Eureka promises native interoperability, enabling seamless asset movement across blockchains. Early adopters include Bitcoin staking protocol Babylon and DeFi platform Elys. More integrations, like with DEX dYdX, are anticipated.

Nasdaq has filed with the SEC to list the VanEck Avalanche Trust, an ETF offering indirect exposure to the AVAX token. This move allows investors to benefit from AVAX's price movements without directly holding the token. VanEck Digital Assets will sponsor the trust, with a third-party custodian managing the tokens. This marks VanEck's fourth crypto ETF, alongside Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana products. Grayscale is also in the race, seeking to convert its AVAX fund into an ETF. Despite growing interest, AVAX has faced significant price drops in recent months.

Bitcoin's evolution is under the spotlight as Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder of StarkWare, discusses its potential transformation on The Clear Crypto Podcast. Initially designed as a peer-to-peer cash system, Bitcoin is often seen today as digital gold. Ben-Sasson argues for a shift towards making Bitcoin a functional digital economy. He highlights three pillars—broadness, integrity, and verifiability—as essential for Bitcoin's widespread adoption. With existing tools, like the reintroduction of OP_CAT, Bitcoin could become more programmable and useful for everyday transactions.

Austrian fintech unicorn Bitpanda has snagged its third MiCA license, expanding its regulatory reach across the EU. The latest approval from Austria’s Financial Market Authority follows earlier nods from Germany and Malta. Bitpanda aims to become Europe’s most regulated crypto platform, but its pursuit of multiple licenses raises questions about the consistency of MiCA enforcement across the bloc. MiCA, effective from December 2024, seeks to unify crypto regulations in the EU, yet Bitpanda's strategy suggests potential regulatory inconsistencies among member states.

**News Flash: AI Revolutionizes Crypto Portfolio Management**

AI tools like ChatGPT are transforming how crypto investors manage their portfolios. By integrating ChatGPT with real-time data from sources like CoinMarketCap, investors can create customized portfolio trackers tailored to their specific needs. This setup not only simplifies tracking but also provides valuable market insights and analysis.

Key steps include defining your tracking requirements, setting up a ChatGPT instance, and integrating a reliable crypto data source. With added features like price alerts and performance analysis, these AI-powered tools help both seasoned and new investors stay ahead of market trends.

**Tokenized Gold Trading Hits Two-Year High Amid Market Uncertainty**

Tokenized gold trading has surged to over $1 billion this week, marking a two-year high. This spike comes as investors seek safe-haven assets due to global uncertainties, including US President Trump's import tariffs.

Since Trump's tariff announcement in January, tokenized gold assets like Paxos Gold and Tether Gold have seen trading volume increases of 900% and 300%, respectively. The rise in tokenized gold aligns with physical gold hitting record highs, trading above $3,100 per ounce.

Analysts note that tokenized gold is gaining traction as a diversification tool amid market volatility.

**News Flash: GHIBLI Memecoin Takes Crypto World by Storm**

GHIBLI, a memecoin on the Solana blockchain, has captured attention with its unique blend of anime nostalgia and AI art. Inspired by Studio Ghibli's iconic style, the token surged in popularity after its March 25, 2025 launch, peaking at $0.03918 before settling at $0.0033. This rise was fueled by viral social media content and endorsements from tech influencers like Elon Musk.

Despite its initial success, potential investors should be cautious. The memecoin's value is closely tied to fleeting internet trends, and legal concerns loom due to Studio Ghibli's protective stance on its intellectual property.

**UK Regulators Eye Stablecoin Impact**

UK regulators are increasingly concerned about stablecoins and their potential impact on financial stability. Recent meetings highlighted the growing interconnectedness of crypto markets with the real economy, prompting a focus on stablecoin resilience.

Key concerns include liquidity, credit, and market risks of backing assets. The rise of sterling offshore stablecoins with inappropriate backing is particularly alarming, posing risks of currency substitution.

The UK isn't alone; the European Securities and Markets Authority also warns of crypto's threat to financial stability, urging insurance firms to bolster capital against crypto holdings.

Bitcoin's recent price surge might be a "bull trap" amid the ongoing US-China trade tensions, warns QCP Capital. The rally in Bitcoin and altcoins followed President Trump's decision to pause new tariffs, except for China, which could retaliate strongly. This potential counteraction might reverse the current market exuberance.

Additionally, China's gradual yuan devaluation could boost Bitcoin as investors seek alternatives to traditional assets. Despite this, experts caution that Bitcoin may not have reached a long-term price bottom yet. As always, investors should research thoroughly before making any decisions.

**News Flash: Tether's USDT and Bitcoin's Dance**

- Tether's USDT issuance has often mirrored Bitcoin's price cycles, with mints aligning with bull runs and burns following corrections.
- Data from Whale Alert highlights this pattern, showing large USDT mints coinciding with Bitcoin price spikes, especially in late 2024.
- While some believe USDT supply influences Bitcoin's price, the causality remains debated.
- Recent trends suggest USDT's role in Bitcoin cycles is diminishing, with new liquidity entering through other channels.
- Regulatory changes and competition from other stablecoins like USDC may reshape this dynamic.

Jack Dorsey, ex-Twitter CEO and crypto enthusiast, is urging Signal Messenger to adopt Bitcoin for peer-to-peer payments. He believes Bitcoin could enhance Signal's crypto strategy, moving away from altcoins. Dorsey's suggestion aligns with other industry leaders like former PayPal president David Marcus, who advocate for Bitcoin's use in non-transactional apps. Currently, Signal supports payments with Sentz, previously known as MobileCoin. Despite past controversies over its MobileCoin integration, Signal has yet to comment on potential Bitcoin adoption.

OpenSea is urging the SEC to clarify that NFT marketplaces shouldn't be regulated as securities exchanges. In a letter to Commissioner Hester Peirce, OpenSea's legal team argues that NFT platforms don't fit the legal definition of exchanges since they don't execute transactions or act as intermediaries. They also request that NFT marketplaces be exempt from broker registration, highlighting they don't provide investment advice or manage customer assets. OpenSea seeks informal guidance to clear industry confusion and protect US tech leadership in the NFT space.

Bitwise, a leading institutional crypto investment firm, maintains its bold prediction that Bitcoin could hit $200,000 by year-end. Matt Hougan, Bitwise's CIO, argues that global trade tensions and a push for a weaker dollar by the Trump administration could benefit Bitcoin. He notes that historically, a weaker dollar correlates with stronger Bitcoin performance. As the US Dollar Index drops, Bitcoin's appeal as an alternative reserve asset grows. Meanwhile, reports suggest China and Russia are conducting some energy trades in Bitcoin, highlighting its rising global significance.

Ether (ETH) is facing a challenging period as it dips below the crucial $1,500 support level, with technical indicators hinting at a potential deeper correction. The cryptocurrency's price has fallen under its realized price, a bearish signal suggesting possible further declines. Historical patterns show that such scenarios often lead to significant price drops, as seen during past market upheavals.

Adding to the bearish sentiment, spot Ethereum ETFs are experiencing weak flows, with significant outflows over recent weeks. This lack of investor interest is concerning, especially given the previously strong institutional demand.

In the derivatives market, low open interest and negative funding rates indicate reduced trader participation and a prevailing bearish sentiment. Competing blockchains are also gaining ground as Ethereum's network activity slows, with high gas fees pushing users towards alternatives like BNB Chain and Solana.

While these factors don't guarantee a prolonged downtrend, they suggest ETH's price could potentially bottom around $1,000. Investors should remain cautious and conduct thorough research before making any decisions.

Magic Eden, a leading Solana NFT marketplace, has acquired the crypto trading app Slingshot to diversify beyond NFTs amid a sluggish market. This acquisition enables Magic Eden to support over 8 million tokens across major blockchains, aiming to provide a seamless trading platform without bridges or centralized exchanges. Slingshot, with nearly 1 million users, simplifies token access across 10 major blockchains. Despite recent closures of NFT marketplaces like DraftKings and Bybit, Magic Eden remains optimistic, hoping to boost its $75 million revenue from 2024 through this strategic expansion.