Raw News Items
91 itemsApril 17, 2026
- DecryptScore: 90
Kraken Parent Payward Agrees to Acquire Derivatives Exchange Bitnomial for $550 Million
The acquisition will give Kraken access to the only complete CFTC-licensed crypto derivatives infrastructure in the U.S.
- CointelegraphScore: 85
Crypto market liquidations hit $820M as Bitcoin price taps $78K
Nearly a billion dollars in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated in the past 24 hours as the Bitcoin price rallied above $78,000.
- CryptoSlateScore: 85
Bitcoin price jumps towards $80,000 after Strait of Hormuz shipping route declared open
Bitcoin climbed toward $80,000 after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to commercial traffic for the remainder of the ceasefire period, easing pressure on one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints and triggering a broader risk-on move across markets. The largest cryptocurrency...
- DecryptScore: 85
Bitcoin Cracks 7-Month Ceiling. Can Bulls Push It Higher?
The price of Bitcoin breaks a seven-month downtrend as geopolitical shifts and prediction markets point to $84K next.
- The BlockScore: 85
Kraken parent Payward agrees to acquire Bitnomial for up to $550 million
Kraken parent Payward has agreed to buy Bitnomial for up to $550 million, securing a fully CFTC-licensed U.S. crypto derivatives venue.
- CoinDeskScore: 85
Kraken's parent company Payward to acquire derivatives exchange Bitnomial for $550 million in cash and stock
The deal gives Payward control of a fully licensed U.S. crypto derivatives stack, accelerating its expansion in regulated markets.
- DecryptScore: 85
US Government Moves Bitcoin Tied to $9 Billion Bitfinex Hack
The U.S. government moved 8.2 Bitcoin, or greater than $600,000, that is linked to the $9 billion Bitfinex hack from 2016.
- DecryptScore: 80
Elizabeth Warren Accuses SEC Chair Paul Atkins of Potentially Lying to Congress
Senator Elizabeth Warren said Paul Atkins may have intentionally misled Congress by pushing back over the SEC's dwindling enforcement actions.
- CointelegraphScore: 80
Bitcoin rises, oil falls after Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open
Bitcoin surged above $76,000 as oil futures fell 10% after Iran’s foreign minister declared the Strait of Hormuz open for the remainder of the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran.
- CointelegraphScore: 80
Russia-linked crypto exchange Grinex halts trading after $14M hack
Grinex has been accused by US authorities of assisting Russia and other entities in evading sanctions and laundering funds for Russia-linked hackers.
- CoinDeskScore: 80
The U.S. government moves $606,000 in bitcoin linked to the 2016 Bitfinex hack to Coinbase
Bitfinex plans to use the returned coins to redeem all Recovery Right Tokens and devote at least 80 percent of remaining net proceeds to repurchasing and burning its UNUS SED LEO token.
- The BlockScore: 80
Bitcoin retakes $78,000 as Trump declares Hormuz ‘open and ready for business’
The bitcoin move spread to other major cryptocurrencies, lifting the total market cap back above $2.7 trillion.
- CointelegraphScore: 80
Russia introduces bill to criminalize unregistered crypto services
Individuals and groups would be required to register with the Bank of Russia before offering certain crypto services, or potentially face fines and prison time.
- CointelegraphScore: 80
US Senator asks for Binance monitor update amid scrutiny of Iran sanctions
A letter from US Senator Richard Blumenthal said he was concerned about “mounting allegations of dangerously lax anti-money laundering prevention by Binance.”
- DecryptScore: 80
Negative Funding Rates Hit Yearly High as Bitcoin Tests $76K
Bitcoin funding rates hit year-high negative levels, setting up a potential short squeeze—or bull trap—as its price tests $76K.
- DecryptScore: 80
Bitcoin, Stocks Surge as Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Is 'Completely Open'
Bitcoin spiked above $77,000 as stock indices set records, following word that Iran's Strait of Hormuz is open during the ceasefire.
- DecryptScore: 75
Morning Minute: $11T+ Schwab Goes All In on Crypto
Schwab's offering spot BTC & ETH trading (with a hefty fee), while CFTC Chair Selig is getting hit from both sides of the political aisle.
- The BlockScore: 75
Circle hit with class action lawsuit over alleged inaction in $280 million Drift exploit
The lawsuit, filed by law firm Gibbs Mura, alleged that Circle failed to act swiftly to freeze the stolen USDC tied to the attack.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Bitcoin price quietly sets new 10-week high as trader sees $88K in weeks
Bitcoin price rallied above $77,000 amid cooling geopolitical tensions and record-high back-to-back closes for the S&P 500.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Bitcoin eyes $90K as whales absorb 20x daily BTC supply in 30 days
Bitcoin price has entered the breakout stage of a classic bullish reversal pattern and is now eyeing a run toward $90,000.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Stablecoin issuer Circle faces lawsuit over $280M Drift Protocol hack
Circle was accused of aiding and abetting the conversion of the stolen funds and negligence after it did not freeze funds stolen from the Drift Protocol in April.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
At least a dozen crypto entities attacked since Drift Protocol hack
Rhea Finance and the Russia-linked Grinex exchange were hacked for a combined $21 million over the past two days.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Cybersecurity researcher uncovers fake Ledger sold on Chinese marketplace
The researcher said they examined the fake Ledger device’s firmware and found signs pointing to a Chinese semiconductor company named Espressif Systems.
- The BlockScore: 75
Rhea Finance post-mortem puts exploit losses at $18.4 million, more than double initial estimates
Using what the team described as a "deliberately constructed swap route," the attacker opened a large number of margin trading positions.
- DecryptScore: 75
Anthropic’s Alarming Mythos Findings Replicated With Off-the-Shelf AI, Researchers Say
Security researchers used GPT-5.4 and Claude Opus 4.6 in an open-source harness to reproduce Anthropic's Mythos vulnerability findings for under $30 per scan.
- CointelegraphScore: 75
French finance minister backs euro-pegged stablecoins to compete with US
The country's finance minister supported the Qivalis initiative, launched in 2025, to create a euro-pegged stablecoin under the MiCA framework.
- CryptoSlateScore: 75
Tether uses $127M Drift rescue to challenge Circle’s grip on Solana payments
USDT stablecoin issuer Tether has stepped in to anchor a massive recovery plan for Drift Protocol, the Solana-based decentralized exchange (DEX) that was crippled by a $286 million exploit earlier this month. However, the rescue package includes a potent commercial string that could challenge Circle...
- CointelegraphScore: 75
Kraken's parent company to acquire CFTC-regulated exchange Bitnomial
Payward, the parent company of the Kraken crypto exchange, cited Bitnomial's regulatory licenses as the primary driver for the acquisition.
- CoinDeskScore: 75
Bitcoin stalls below $76,000 as sell wall caps rally despite rising derivatives activity
The bitcoin price is hovering near a key resistance level with $450 million in sell orders overhead as liquidations surge and derivatives data signal caution.
- CoinDeskScore: 75
Russia-linked Grinex exchange halts operations after $13 million ‘state-backed’ hack
The exchange, formerly known as Garantex and based in Kyrgyzstan, has been sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and EU for helping users bypass sanctions.
- CoinDeskScore: 75
Ethereum just had its busiest quarter ever, capping a three-year comeback
Quarterly transactions hit 200.4 million in Q1 2026, the first time above 200 million and more than double the 2023 lows.
- The BlockScore: 70
Hong Kong’s Flow Capital plans to bring $150 million private credit fund onchain: report
The company also seeks to raise an additional $30 million in tokenized shares by the end of this year, according to Bloomberg.
- CoinDeskScore: 70
Back in the black: Strategy surges 8% as bitcoin's rise to $77,000 puts holdings in profit
Bitcoin climbed above its 100-day moving average, while Strategy moves back above its 200-week trend level.
- CoinDeskScore: 70
France's finance minister calls for more euro stablecoins in sign of government policy shift
The statements signal a potential shift in stance within the French government and its central bank.
- CoinDeskScore: 70
Bitcoin bulls target $125,000 as U.S.-Iran peace talks trigger risk-on mood
Funding rates at 2023 lows signal the market is heavily short against bitcoin, ZeroStack's Daniel Reis-Faria says, setting up conditions for a forced unwind if prices push higher.
- DecryptScore: 70
Rep. Sheri Biggs Doubles Down on Bitcoin, Buys Up to $250K of BlackRock's ETF
Rep. Sheri Biggs purchased up to $250,000 worth of BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF last month, padding a position she entered into last July.
- DecryptScore: 70
Circle Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over $285M Drift Protocol Hack
Lawyers allege Circle failed to freeze stolen USDC during an eight-hour window as hackers moved funds from the exploited trading platform.
- The BlockScore: 70
Sen. Blumenthal presses DOJ and Treasury on Binance monitor amid Iran sanctions concerns
Blumenthal asked about the status of a monitor put in place after Binance pleaded guilty and if that person had filed any misconduct reports.
- The BlockScore: 70
X exec says Cashtags crypto, stock token feature has driven $1 billion in trading volume
The Cashtags feature aligns with Musk's broader ambitions to transform X into a super app.
- The BlockScore: 70
Congresswoman Biggs discloses six-figure BlackRock bitcoin ETF buy as BTC rebounds
Rep. Sheri Biggs disclosed a purchase of up to $250,000 in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF for the second time in a year.
- The BlockScore: 70
Judge says Caitlyn Jenner’s JENNER memecoin is not a security in class action lawsuit
A judge ruled that a memecoin launched by media personality Caitlyn Jenner is not a security despite claims in a class action lawsuit.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Texas man in $20M Meta-1 Coin fraud sentenced to 23 years in prison
Meta-1 Coin was sold and marketed from 2018 to 2023 as an investment backed by $44 billion in gold and $1 billion in artworks, which turned out to be fictional.
- CointelegraphScore: 70
Ether accumulation wallet balances increased by 33%: Is a rally to $3K next?
A confirmed cup-and-handle breakout on Ether’s chart and a double-digit increase in ETH accumulation wallet balances could be earlier signs of a longer-term rally for the altcoin.
- CryptoSlateScore: 70
All eyes on Bitcoin this weekend as Iran is already disputing the US narrative on the Hormuz deal
Bitcoin rallied hard after Iran said it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Bitcoin hit the highest level since February, oil prices dropped, Wall Street notched another record, and the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.24%. But here’s the catch: markets acted as if the...
- CointelegraphScore: 65
Ethereum NFT platform Foundation shuts down after failed Blackdove sale
Foundation is shutting down after a failed sale to Blackdove, having processed about $230 million in NFT primary sales since its launch in 2021.
- DecryptScore: 65
SEC Officials Push US Crypto Ambitions in Debut Podcast Episode
The agency's chairman, Paul Atkins, sat down with two key commissioners to outline a shift away from enforcement.
- CointelegraphScore: 65
Singapore Gulf Bank adds stablecoin mint and redeem for 24/7 settlement
The Bahrain-based lender lets institutional clients convert fiat currency to US dollar-pegged stablecoins directly from their accounts.
- CointelegraphScore: 65
Ethereum Foundation-funded program exposes 100 DPRK workers in crypto
The Ketman Project, funded by an Ethereum Foundation stipend, identified 100 North Korean IT workers and alerted about 53 projects employing DPRK operatives.
- CoinDeskScore: 65
Bitcoin rises past $76,000, aiming at major breakout as oil plunges on Iran cooldown
Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz will remain completely open for the remainder of the ceasefire.
- The BlockScore: 65
World rolls out World ID ‘proof of human’ upgrade with Tinder integration, Zoom feature and ticketing tools
World’s latest World ID upgrade expands its “proof of human” technology to Tinder, a Zoom deepfake-protection feature, and ticketing tools.
- CointelegraphScore: 65
Crypto in sustained winter as CEX volumes drop 39% in Q1: CoinGecko
March was the “weakest month" with $800 billion in centralized crypto exchange trading volume, the lowest since November 2023.
- CryptoSlateScore: 60
Ripple’s dollar stablecoin hits a wall in Japan, one of XRP’s friendliest markets, as megabanks earn most of the trust
Japan has long been one of Ripple's most fertile markets. SBI's investment in Ripple dates to 2016, SBI Remit launched Japan's first XRP-enabled international remittance flow in 2021, and SBI VC Trade counts XRP among its most popular assets. When Ripple and SBI announced in August 2025 that SBI VC ...
- CryptoSlateScore: 60
Clarity Act deadlock fails to stop Stablecoins smashing $320B and yield-bearing tokens surging
Stablecoin supply climbed to a record $320 billion this week, extending the continued surge in dollar-linked digital assets. This comes as one of the biggest questions hanging over the sector remains unresolved in Washington: whether the income generated by the reserves backing those tokens should s...
- DecryptScore: 60
You Can Now Use XRP on Solana—Here's How
More than $1.2 million worth of wrapped XRP tokens (wXRP) have been minted on Solana as the Ripple-linked asset gains greater DeFi utility.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Tempo’s ‘Zones’ sparks debate over privacy in crypto infrastructure
Tempo’s new “Zones” feature offers private, permissioned stablecoin transactions on its layer-1 for enterprises, but critics warn the operator‑controlled design adds back centralized trust.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Three things Bitcoin must do to hold highs above $76K: Analysts
Analysts say reclaiming $76,000, sustained spot market buy volume and consistent inflows to the Bitcoin ETFs are the necessary components required for a rally to new highs.
- CointelegraphScore: 60
Neo co-founder proposes $461M treasury overhaul to end ‘trust me’ governance
Neo’s proposed overhaul would restructure its foundation, return tokens to the community and impose formal oversight, as co-founders clash over governance and control.
- DecryptScore: 60
Sam Altman's World Teams With Zoom, Tinder to Better Verify Humans in the AI Age
Iris-scanning crypto project World expands with Tinder's U.S. human verification rollout and Zoom's Deep Face feature.
- CoinDeskScore: 60
Sam Altman’s World project launches major upgrade to fight deepfakes and bots
The project is also expanding its partnerships with Tinder, Zoom and Docusign.
- CoinDeskScore: 60
Beaten-down digital asset treasury names lead crypto stock surge as bitcoin hits $78,000
Oil prices slumped as Trump said Iran committed to open the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. plans to acquire that country's enriched uranium as part of a deal.
- The BlockScore: 60
Bitcoin outlook still clouded by ‘extreme fear’ amid macro uncertainty and profit-taking despite rally to $76K, analysts say
Bitcoin climbed toward $76,000 as ETF demand improves and Wall Street hits record highs, but analysts say the rally still looks fragile.
- The BlockScore: 60
Clarity Act’s stablecoin yield language pushed back; ban on idle balances still intact
A source told The Block that the latest text reflects previous language that bans rewards on idle stablecoin holdings.
- The BlockScore: 60
Circle rolls out USDC Bridge for native cross-chain stablecoin transfers
USDC Bridge is Circle’s official, native cross-chain bridging solution powered by its Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol.
- The BlockScore: 60
Wrapped XRP launches on Solana, enabling broader DeFi access for token holders
The move follows Hex Trust saying in December wXRP would become available on Solana, Optimism, Ethereum, and HyperEVM.
- The BlockScore: 55
Polish PM says crypto firm tied to Russian mafia and secret service backed political rivals
The comments came during a parliamentary vote to overrule the Polish president's vetoing of crypto legislation.
- CointelegraphScore: 55
Flow Capital plans to tokenize $150M private credit fund via DigiFT: Report
Bloomberg reported Flow Capital plans to tokenize its private credit fund to raise additional capital, but crypto execs warn tokenization doesn’t magically make hard-to-trade assets liquid.
- CryptoSlateScore: 50
Crypto censorship resistance is questioned as major fight breaks out over who gets to freeze your digital dollars
Crypto rhetoric has long prized the ability to transact without gatekeepers, to move value across borders without asking permission, and to hold assets no institution could seize. Crypto culture treated these as design virtues, properties that builders embedded with ethical weight by deliberate arch...
- DecryptScore: 50
Crypto Trader Turns $2,500 Into $500K on Skyrocketing Ethereum Meme Coin
A meme coin trader turned $2,500 into nearly $500,000 in a matter of hours via the Elon Musk-linked ASTEROID token on Ethereum.
- CointelegraphScore: 50
Crypto execs ramp up security as wrench attacks increase
Notable crypto execs descended on Paris Blockchain Week, bringing more attention to personal security as kidnapping and ransom attempts skyrocket.
- CointelegraphScore: 50
Telegram CEO Durov warns EU age-verification app could enable wider tracking
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov cited claims the EU’s new age-check app was hacked in minutes, warning it could expand into wider online identity controls.
- CoinDeskScore: 50
This simple indicator has called every bottom since 2015. It hasn't triggered yet
A bitcoin indicator based on key moving averages has accurately marked every bear market bottom since 2015. That signal hasn't fired yet.
- The BlockScore: 50
French minister urges banks to expand euro stablecoins, tokenized deposits: report
French minister urges European banks to expand euro stablecoins and tokenized deposits as dollar-pegged supply tops $300 billion.
- DecryptScore: 50
Strategy Shares Pop as Bitcoin Holdings Flip Green, Near $61 Billion
The Bitcoin-buying firm’s stockpile had shown losses on paper since early February.
- CoinDeskScore: 40
The 4.5 signal: Why Glassnode’s RHODL ratio says the bitcoin bottom may be in
RHODL ratio suggests market conditions resemble cycle corrections rather than late-stage tops, as long-term holders regain dominance.
- The BlockScore: 40
Citadel Securities president says firm could enter prediction markets, eyes non-sports use cases
The firm isn't interested in sports contracts, but suggested prediction markets could serve as a hedge for risks such as geopolitical events.
- CryptoSlateScore: 40
Staggering $28 trillion flows through crypto’s ‘agent economy’ – but 76% of it is just bots shuffling stablecoins
Artificial intelligence and crypto-native tools are quickly shaping a future where software agents can fund themselves, run cross-chain strategies, and move through financial markets with no one at the controls. According to a recent report by DWF Ventures, automated and agentic activity now account...
- The BlockScore: 40
Crypto Council for Innovation adds Digital Energy Council as its first energy-focused member
CCI is adding the Digital Energy Council to its roster, marking the first member dedicated specifically to digital energy policy.
- DecryptScore: 40
AI Agents Already Run a Fifth of DeFi, But Still Lose to Humans at Trading
A new report finds that agents have taken over the predictable corners of DeFi, but humans still clear the table when trades get complex.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Ramp Network rolls out multichain wallet for simpler self-custody
The crypto infrastructure company said its new wallet lets users buy, sell, swap and cash out digital assets in one app without relying on outside providers.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Tokenization doesn’t ‘magically’ fix illiquid assets: PBW 2026
Industry speakers at Paris Blockchain Week said tokenization can broaden access and issuance, but it does not by itself create active secondary markets for illiquid assets.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Ex-Treasury chief warns of US bond crash, calls for contingency plan
“When we hit it, it will be vicious, so we have to prepare for that eventuality,” said former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on a potential US Treasury market crisis.
- CointelegraphScore: 40
Price predictions 4/17: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, HYPE, ADA, BCH, LINK
Bitcoin pole vaulted to $78,000 and altcoins soared after Iran said that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open. Will bulls be able to sustain the upward momentum?
- CoinDeskScore: 40
XRP leads bitcoin and ether on weekly gains, but muted volume keeps breakout in check
Token outperforms bitcoin and ether over seven days, though thinning participation signals consolidation rather than conviction.
- CointelegraphScore: 30
Zanzibar police probe crypto exec Joe McCann after fiancée’s death
Zanzibar police are reportedly holding Asymmetric founder Joe McCann for questioning after the death of his fiancée, Ashly Robinson.
- DecryptScore: 30
Dogecoin Gold? A DOGE-Themed Company Is Joining the Tokenized Gold Rush
The company Dogecoin Cash plans to develop tokens representing physical gold, following the lead of firms like Tether and Paxos.
- CoinDeskScore: 30
Bitcoin’s ceasefire boost is starting to fizzle out as investors look for real-world results
What you need to know for April 17, 2026
- CoinDeskScore: 30
Strategy proposes semi-monthly dividends on its popular STRC preferred stock
"[The] proposed changes are intended to stabilize price, dampen cyclicality, drive liquidity, and grow demand," said Executive Chairman Michael Saylor.
- The BlockScore: 30
Strategy looks to boost preferred stock STRC’s dividend payments to semi-monthly
STRC is a perpetual preferred stock designed to trade near a $100 par value that currently pays a dividend at an annualized rate of 11.5%.
- CoinDeskScore: 20
CoinDesk 20 performance update: Stellar (XLM) gains 1.5%, leading index higher
Hedera (HBAR) joined Stellar (XLM) as a top performer, rising 1.4% from Thursday.
- CointelegraphScore: 20
Polymarket odds of Hormuz Strait traffic normalizing by end of May spike to 73%
Traders on the Polymarket prediction market platform place the odds of the Strait returning to normal traffic by May 31, 2026, at 73%.
- CoinDeskScore: 10
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