Stablecoin Label Outdated as Crypto Evolves Into Global Financial Rails

Stablecoins, the name given to cryptocurrencies pegged to the price of a stable asset such as the US dollar or gold, have outgrown their label as they become part of the global financial system, said Robert Hackett, head of special projects at a16z crypto.  Hackett said in a report on Friday that the term “stablecoins”…

Bitcoin Rallies to $80K, Highest Price Since January

Bitcoin breached $80,000 on Monday, rising 2.7% over a three-hour span as Asian equities began trading, marking its highest price since Jan. 31, 2026. The Bitcoin rally began at 1:25 am UTC, rising from $78,415 to break the $80,000 level about 75 minutes later, before climbing to $80,515 by 4:20 am UTC, according to TradingView…

The bitcoin ETF recovery in flows is real. It is just not complete yet

The 11 U.S.-listed spot bitcoin BTC$79,854.07 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have now recorded two consecutive months of net inflows in a sign of renewed institutional appetite for the leading cryptocurrency. But zoom out, and the recovery looks more modest than the monthly headlines suggest. ETFs have pulled in a total of $3.29 billion in investor funds…

CFTC Gets Mixed Responses to Prediction Market Rulemaking

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission received more than 1,500 responses to a proposed rule tied to prediction markets, with some backing the regulator while others called for a tougher crackdown on the platforms. The CFTC’s request for public comments on a rule it proposed in March that would allow it to amend or issue…

Strategy’s Saylor Signal Bitcoin Buying Breather

Strategy, the world’s biggest public Bitcoin holder, is taking a break from crypto purchases as the company readies its first quarter earnings report, slated for Tuesday. On Sunday, Executive Chairman Michael Saylor announced “No buys this week” in a post on X, where he has regularly provided a signal of planned purchases. In its most…

OFAC Said Seized Wallets Were Iranian; Analysis Finds Other State Actors More Likely

Multiple wallet addresses recently sanctioned by the US Treasury ‌Department for their ties to Iran may not be linked to the Islamic Republic, but to other state actors instead, analysis published Sunday suggests. That analysis, by blockchain intelligence firm Nominis, said that while the recent seizing of wallets holding more than $340 million by Treasury’s…

Policy Summit and other things at Consensus 2026: State of Crypto

Consensus 2026 in Miami starts Tuesday. We’ve got a host of policy sessions — some of which this newsletter previewed a few weeks back. Here’s the full list of sessions you should attend. On the fence about going but you’ll be in Miami? Not too late to register. Can’t make it in person? Hit me…

Can Bitcoin Seal its Best Weekly Close in Over Three Months?

Bitcoin (BTC) eyed $79,000 into Sunday’s weekly close as crypto markets continued to be guided by the US-Iran war. Key points: Bitcoin circles a key weekly level into the weekly close, with the highest close in several months on the table. Analysis sees the mid-$80,000 zone and higher coming back into play. Liquidity grabs form…

Crypto, AI Super PACs Flood Midterms As Poll Finds Most Americans Distrust Both Industries

Crypto and AI industry groups are pumping tens of millions of dollars into the 2026 midterm elections, but a new poll shows most Americans don’t trust either industry. 45% of Americans say investing in cryptocurrency is not worth the risk and 44% say AI is developing too fast, according to an April survey by Public…

Iran Crypto Exchange Nobitex Tied to Kharrazi Family, Reuters Finds

Nobitex, Iran’s biggest crypto exchange, was founded by two brothers from one of the Islamic Republic’s most influential families with ties to the supreme leaders, according to a Reuters investigation. The exchange, which now accounts for the majority share of Iran’s crypto activity, was launched by Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi. The duo operated under the…