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Andrew Kang, the founder of Mechanism Capital, has significantly increased his stake in Bitcoin, doubling his investment to a $200 million long position. This move came shortly after he made a $100 million bet on Bitcoin, influenced by a post from President Trump on Truth Social suggesting it was a good time to buy. The Trump administration's subsequent announcement of a 90-day pause on its global tariff regime, which had initially tanked markets, led to a rally in both crypto and stock markets. However, this decision also sparked concerns about insider trading, prompting Senate Democrats to call for an SEC investigation into Trump and his affiliates. Bitcoin's price saw considerable volatility, with a 2% swing in a day, as markets reacted to the confusion over tariff exemptions. Despite the initial drop, Bitcoin managed to recover, trading flat around $85,000. Kang's strategy seems to hinge on the belief that trade war capitulation and a "Trump put" could reverse Bitcoin's multi-month downtrend.
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Bitcoin experienced a brief rally to $85,800, driven by partial import tariff relief announced by President Trump. However, this optimism was short-lived as the relief was temporary, and the potential for revisiting tariffs on electronics supply chains loomed. The uncertainty in US-China trade relations led to a dip in trader confidence, preventing Bitcoin from breaking above $86,000. The premium on Bitcoin futures contracts also declined, signaling a lack of bullish sentiment. The market's mood was further influenced by Bitcoin's correlation with stock markets, particularly tech companies, which dampened enthusiasm. Additionally, weak inflows into Bitcoin ETFs and a decrease in stablecoin premiums in China indicated a cautious approach among traders, with little confidence in Bitcoin surpassing $90,000 in the near term. Despite a significant Bitcoin acquisition by Strategy, the market remained skeptical, reflecting broader market trends and trader sentiment.
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Jake Gallen, CEO of Emblem Vault, recently fell victim to a sophisticated scam orchestrated by a threat actor known as "ELUSIVE COMET." During a Zoom interview with a seemingly legitimate YouTube personality, Gallen was tricked into enabling malware installation, leading to the loss of over $100,000 in Bitcoin and Ether from his digital wallets. The scam exploited Zoom's default settings that allow remote access, a feature which can be manipulated by attackers to gain control over a user's computer. Cybersecurity firm The Security Alliance (SEAL) has been tracking this campaign, noting that ELUSIVE COMET uses social engineering to deceive victims into installing malware. The threat actor also attempted to expand their reach by hacking into Gallen's X account to target other potential victims. This incident underscores the risks associated with video conferencing platforms and the need for heightened security measures in the crypto community.
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Google has announced that starting April 23, it will enforce new advertising policies for cryptocurrency services in Europe under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. This policy requires cryptocurrency exchanges and wallet providers to be licensed under either the MiCA or Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) regulations. The move is seen as a double-edged sword; while it aims to protect investors by filtering out unregulated actors and reducing scams like ICO frauds, it might also lead to enforcement gaps due to varying national licensing transition periods. Legal experts have noted that while these measures could enhance trust in the crypto ecosystem, they might also be overly restrictive, potentially stifling innovation due to high compliance costs and bureaucratic hurdles. Google's policy also includes a grace period where violations won't immediately lead to account suspensions, providing some flexibility during the transition. However, there's a concern that these regulations might favor larger players, making it challenging for smaller entities to compete in the European market.
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In an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session hosted by Cointelegraph, Mantra CEO John Mullin tackled community concerns following the OM token's significant drop. He reassured users that Mantra and its partners are actively working on token recovery, though specifics on buybacks and burns are still being formulated. Mullin refuted claims of insider trading and excessive control over the token supply, pointing to transparency reports. He also clarified the nature of the Mantra Ecosystem Fund, which includes investments from major players like Laser Digital and Shorooq, and is not solely composed of OM tokens. Additionally, he addressed a large transaction to Binance, attributing it to the end of a staking program rather than any malfeasance. Mullin emphasized Mantra's commitment to transparency and recovery, despite the unfortunate situation leading to the token's collapse.
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The SEC and Binance have asked for another 60-day pause in their nearly two-year legal battle, citing "productive discussions" and the influence of the SEC's newly formed crypto task force. This request comes shortly after the SEC dropped lawsuits against other crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken. The discussions between the SEC and Binance are focused on how the crypto task force might affect the ongoing litigation. This marks the second extension requested this year, following a previous pause granted in February. The task force, established after the resignation of SEC chair Gary Gensler, aims to provide clearer regulatory guidelines and paths for crypto registration. The legal battle, which began in June 2023, involves 13 charges against Binance, including unregistered offers and sales of tokens and staking programs. The next joint status report from both parties is expected at the end of the 60-day period.
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Recent data from Web3 marketing firm Addressable reveals that crypto gaming and gambling campaigns are the most expensive way to acquire users with existing crypto wallets, with a median cost per wallet (CPW) of $8.74. This high cost is attributed to factors like higher churn rates, speculative behavior, and intense competition within these sectors. In contrast, decentralized finance (DeFi) and centralized finance (CeFi) campaigns are much more cost-effective, with a median CPW of $2.79. The analysis, based on 200 programmatic campaigns targeting an estimated 9.5 million users globally, also shows that during market downturns, attracting crypto users in premium markets like the US and Western Europe becomes significantly more expensive, with CPW increases noted between Q1 and Q3 of 2024. Meanwhile, emerging markets offer lower CPW but can experience extreme cost volatility. This data underscores the challenges and opportunities in different sectors of the crypto industry when it comes to user acquisition and marketing strategies.
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In a recent X post, crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano highlighted that Bitcoin holders were the first to identify inaccuracies in US economic data, positioning themselves to benefit financially if their skepticism proved correct. Amidst ongoing concerns over President Trump's tariffs, Pompliano questioned the reliability of US inflation figures, job numbers, and GDP statistics, suggesting that the finance sector's reliance on government data might be misguided. He referenced US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's public doubt in the data's accuracy, emphasizing the need to listen to people rather than blindly trust government reports. This skepticism comes at a time when the US dollar index has seen a significant drop, and Bitcoin has shown resilience against stock market declines, leading some to speculate on Bitcoin's longevity compared to the US dollar. The discussion underscores a broader critique of mainstream financial analysis, which Pompliano describes as an "intellectual boondoggle" due to its reliance on potentially flawed data.
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Bitcoin experienced a significant recovery this week, climbing more than 7% and demonstrating strong buying interest at lower price levels. This resurgence has sparked discussions about the potential for other cryptocurrencies like HYPE, ONDO, RNDR, and KAS to follow suit, as technical analyses suggest bullish trends for these assets. The market's attention is also on the US dollar index (DXY), which is currently trading below 100. A weakening dollar could further bolster Bitcoin's position. If Bitcoin maintains its higher levels, it might enhance overall sentiment in the crypto market, potentially leading to a recovery in select altcoins. However, the bears are not out of the game yet, with potential resistance levels to watch for Bitcoin at $89,000 and $95,000, and for the other mentioned cryptocurrencies at their respective resistance points.
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Bitcoin is poised for significant growth as the US bond market experiences its worst selloff since 2019, according to BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes. The US 10-year Treasury yield has surged to its highest in two months, reflecting a deepening crisis in the bond market. This turmoil is partly fueled by President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff policies, which have added to market volatility. Amidst this, the US dollar has weakened significantly, dropping below a key index level for the first time since 2022. Bitcoin, in contrast, has seen a rise of over 4.50%, reaching around $83,250, as investors look for alternative stores of value. Hayes predicts an imminent policy response from the Federal Reserve, potentially leading to an "up only mode" for Bitcoin. Market analysts also suggest that a continued decline in the US Dollar Index could set the stage for a parabolic Bitcoin bull run, with historical patterns indicating strong bullish signals for Bitcoin when the dollar weakens.
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Pakistan is undergoing a significant regulatory shift towards embracing cryptocurrencies, moving away from its previous anti-crypto stance. The country's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced a compliance-based regulatory framework for digital assets, aligning with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines. This framework focuses on combating terrorism financing, money laundering, and implementing Know Your Customer (KYC) controls. FIA Director Sumera Azam highlighted this shift as a balance between technological advancement and national security. The proposed regulations are set for a multi-phased rollout starting in 2026, subject to legislative approval and input from digital asset firms. This change comes after Pakistan's Finance Ministry formed the Pakistan Crypto Council in February 2025 to attract foreign investment and explore opportunities like Bitcoin mining using excess energy. The Council has also appointed Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao as an adviser to guide its policy efforts.
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Waylon Wilcox, a 45-year-old NFT trader, has pleaded guilty to underreporting nearly $13 million in profits from trading CryptoPunks, potentially facing up to six years in prison. Wilcox sold 62 CryptoPunk NFTs in 2021, earning approximately $7.4 million, and 35 more in 2022 for an additional $4.9 million. Despite these substantial earnings, he filed false income tax returns for both years, underreporting his income by $8.5 million in 2021 and $4.6 million in 2022, thereby reducing his tax liability by $2.1 million and $1.1 million respectively. The case, investigated by the IRS and the Criminal Investigation Department, highlights the IRS's commitment to addressing tax evasion involving virtual currencies and NFTs. This incident comes at a time when crypto tax laws are gaining attention, with new regulations in the US requiring centralized exchanges to report digital asset transactions, although a recent legislative move has overturned a rule that would have extended these requirements to DeFi platforms.
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Bitcoin's price has shown signs of recovery after dipping to $74,400, with a notable 11% rebound. Analysts like AlphaBTC and Rekt Capital are optimistic about a sustained recovery if Bitcoin maintains above key psychological levels like $81,500 and $80,500 respectively. The market's behavior indicates a possible "seller exhaustion," where the intensity of realized losses decreases, hinting at a potential shift in market sentiment. Technical analysis, particularly the Bollinger Bands, supports the idea of Bitcoin forming a W-shaped bottom, which could propel the price towards new highs if the pattern is confirmed. This analysis suggests that Bitcoin might first aim for $88,800 before potentially reaching $106,000, although the article emphasizes that these insights do not constitute investment advice and readers should perform their own research.
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Jack Lu, CEO of BounceBit, discusses the significant challenge in the crypto market: the disconnect between Asia's crypto liquidity hubs and the US capital markets. Despite Asia's dominance in crypto trading and liquidity, and the US's recent moves towards tokenized treasuries, the lack of a unified regulatory framework and institutional-grade financial instruments has created inefficiencies. This structural weakness prevents crypto from becoming a true institutional asset class. Lu emphasizes the need for a global collateral standard that provides stability, wide adoption, and DeFi-native features to bridge traditional finance with digital assets. He highlights the emergence of tokenized treasuries like BUIDL and USYC as steps towards solving this issue, allowing for more capital-efficient systems. Additionally, the integration of Bitcoin into structured financial systems and the development of centralized decentralized finance (CeDeFi) are seen as crucial for attracting institutional capital. The article underscores the necessity of making crypto liquidity borderless to ensure the next phase of digital asset growth.
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President Donald Trump has provided a significant relief to the tech industry by exempting a range of tech products from reciprocal tariffs. This includes smartphones, chips, computers, and other electronics, which were previously under threat from sweeping tariffs affecting multiple stages of the supply chain. The move has been welcomed by tech executives and investors, as it alleviates some of the pressures from the ongoing trade war. The US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that items like storage cards, modems, diodes, and semiconductors are also excluded from these tariffs. Following this announcement, Bitcoin's price surged past $85,000, indicating a positive market response to the news. The tariff exemptions are part of a broader strategy, including a 90-day pause on tariffs and reduced rates for countries not retaliating with tariffs on US goods, aimed at negotiating a trade deal with China. However, some financial experts argue that these exemptions might not significantly impact bond yields or interest rates, suggesting that the underlying economic tensions persist.
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The article explores various methods for mining Bitcoin at home in 2025, detailing the latest hardware, software, and strategies to maximize efficiency and profitability. It discusses the rise in Bitcoin's legitimacy, driven by institutional investments and regulatory changes like the MiCA regulation in the EU and a potentially crypto-friendly Trump administration in the US. The price of Bitcoin has surged past $100,000, prompting more individuals to consider mining. The article outlines four approaches: lottery mining, which is low-cost but highly unpredictable; solo ASIC mining, offering control but with long odds; pool mining, the most practical for steady income; and cloud mining, which avoids hardware management but often lacks profitability. Each method has its pros and cons, catering to different miner motivations, from the thrill of the gamble to the desire for consistent returns.
