Summary
gm, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink's comments on Bitcoin's potential to challenge the US dollar's dominance takes center stage. Fink warned that rising US debt could lead investors to view Bitcoin as a safer alternative, potentially threatening the dollar's global reserve currency status. This statement from a major financial institution underscores the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in traditional finance. Meanwhile, the Trump family made headlines by launching a new Bitcoin mining venture in partnership with Hut 8, aiming to establish a major player in the space. On the regulatory front, several states, including Kentucky, have dismissed lawsuits against Coinbase over staking services, signaling a potential shift in the regulatory landscape. Despite these positive developments, the market remains cautious as it anticipates President Trump's upcoming tariff announcements, which could impact both traditional and crypto markets.

News Headlines
📉 Bitcoin, Crypto Prices Slide as Trade Tensions, Inflation Risks Rattle Markets

  • Bitcoin has dropped to approximately $82,100, while Ethereum and XRP have also seen declines to around $1,790 and $2.13, respectively.
  • The selling pressure follows a troubling report revealing a larger-than-expected increase in the core Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) by 0.4% for February, raising investor fears about the economic landscape.

🔒 Binance debuts centralized exchange to decentralized exchange trades

  • Binance has launched a new feature enabling centralized exchange (CEX) to decentralized exchange (DEX) trades, allowing users to execute DEX trades directly using funds from their Binance wallets.
  • This innovation aims to simplify the swapping of digital assets, addressing existing barriers faced by new users due to complex interfaces and cumbersome transaction methods.

🚨 Coinbase users hit by $46M in suspected phishing scams

  • Coinbase users reportedly lost over $46 million to suspected phishing scams in March as the rising crypto market attracted cybercriminals.
  • The scams included tactics such as address poisoning and tricking victims into sending Bitcoin to fraudulent wallet addresses.

💰 Circle Hires JPMorgan, Citi To Go Public in Late April

  • Circle, the issuer of the stablecoin USDC, has appointed JPMorgan and Citi to assist in going public, with expectations set for late April 2025.
  • This strategic move indicates Circle's aim to enhance its financial standing and broaden its market reach.

🏦 South Korean crypto exchange users hit 16M in 'saturation point'

  • Crypto exchange users in South Korea have surpassed 16 million, representing over 30% of South Korea's total population of 51.7 million.
  • Investors collectively held assets worth 102.6 trillion South Korean won (approximately $70.3 billion) as of December last year.

Market Metrics

Fundraising & VC
1. Ambient (Seed, $7.2M) - PoW L1 blockchain
2. Cambrian Network (Seed, $5.9M) - AI infrastructure protocol
3. Mahojin (Seed, $5M) -  Search-to-generate AI platform

On-chain Data
1. ZetaChain (ZETA) token unlocked today ($12.76M, 6.05%)
2. dYdX (DYDX) token unlocked today ($5.41M, 2.47%)
3. Hivemapper (HONEY) token unlocked today ($2.90M, 2.02%)
4. Wormhole (W) token unlock in 2 days ($139M, 58.45%)
5. Galxe (GAL) token unlock in 4 days ($2.91M, 2.35%)

Regulatory
💼 Brazil Bars Pension Funds from Crypto Investments

  • Brazil has implemented a ban on major pension funds investing in cryptocurrencies.
  • This decision aims to protect pension fund members from the volatility and risks associated with crypto investments.

🏝️ Vanuatu Passes Strict Crypto Regulation

  • Vanuatu has enacted strict crypto regulation and licensing legislation to deter bad actors in the digital asset space.
  • The law provides the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission with licensing authority and enforcement capabilities over crypto companies.

💰 Coinbase CEO Advocates for Stablecoin Interest Payments

  • Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is pushing for changes in U.S. legislation to allow stablecoin holders to earn onchain interest.
  • He argues that current rules protect banks while stifling innovation in the crypto sector.

🏦 CFTC Withdraws Crypto Staff Advisories

  • The U.S. CFTC has withdrawn two staff advisories related to cryptocurrencies, citing market growth and maturity.
  • This move suggests a shift towards more nuanced oversight rather than blanket advisories in the crypto sector.

🔄 Trump's SEC Is Ending Crypto Lawsuits and Investigations—These Are the Biggest

  • The SEC, now led by Hester Peirce, aims for less confrontational interactions with the digital currency industry.
  • Major developments include a 60-day pause in the SEC's legal battle with Binance, as both sides reassess the regulatory climate.

Technical Analysis
Bitcoin - Bitcoin has broken the floor of the rising trend channel in the short term, which indicates a weaker initial rising rate. The currency is approacing resistance at 84000 points, which may give a negative reaction. However, a break upwards through 84000 points will be a positive signal. The RSI curve shows a falling trend, which could be an early signal of the start of a falling trend for the price as well. The currency is overall assessed as technically neutral for the short term.

Ethereum - Investors have accepted lower prices over time to get out of Ethereum and the currency is in a falling trend channel in the short term. Falling trends indicate that the currency experiences negative development and falling buy interest among investors. The currency has marginally broken down through support at points 1860. An established break predicts a further decline. The volume balance is negative and weakens the currency in the short term. The currency is overall assessed as technically negative for the short term.

Governance & Code
🌿 MetisDAO | Ecosystem Proposal: Stride (Upcoming Vote)
- This proposal aims to onboard the Stride, a "fitness ecosystem," into the Metis ecosystem.

🐄 CoW DAO | Flash-Loan Router Integration (Preliminary Discussion)
- This proposal aims to integrate a Flash-Loan Router into the CoW Protocol on all EVM-compatible networks to enable solvers to execute settlements utilizing funds from one or more flash-loans.

☁️ Sky DAO | Making Delegate Anonymity Optional (Preliminary Discussion)
- This proposal aims to amend the Sky Atlas to remove the anonymity requirement for Facilitators and Aligned Delegates and the accompanying bounty system.