21shares Says Active Products Are Next Phase for Crypto ETPs

Crypto asset manager 21shares sees actively managed exchange-traded products as the next phase of crypto investing, as the market matures beyond simple price-tracking funds. Duncan Moir, president of 21shares, told Cointelegraph in an exclusive interview that because crypto is a nascent and growing asset class, it is particularly well suited to active management. He said the company combines bottom-up research on individual assets with quantitative and discretionary top-down strategies to manage risk and position portfolios, adding that 21shares has been expanding its portfolio management and trading teams to support more…

Iran Rejects Peace Talk Claims, Leaving Bitcoin Stuck At $70K

Bitcoin’s halving clock is ticking toward what analysts call a critical threshold — and the crypto market has bigger problems on its hands right now. Related Reading Conflicting Signals From Washington And Tehran Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump described recent contact with Iranian officials as productive, suggesting both sides had found common ground on winding down hostilities. He even floated the idea of Iran sharing control over the Strait of Hormuz and working alongside whoever leads the country after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Markets moved fast on those…

Circle Partners with Sasai to Expand USDC Adoption in Africa

Circle is partnering with Sasai Fintech to expand the use of its USDC stablecoin across African payment corridors, targeting remittances, business transactions and mobile wallet services. According to Tuesday’s announcement, collaboration will integrate the second-biggest stablecoin into Sasai’s existing payments infrastructure, which supports cross-border transfers, enterprise payments and consumer wallets, with the aim of reducing costs and settlement times. Sasai operates across multiple African markets, providing digital payments services that will integrate with Circle’s onchain infrastructure. The companies said they will explore practical applications for USDC (USDC) using Circle’s full-stack…

CFTC Chair Launches Innovation Task Force Focused on Crypto Framework

Chair Michael Selig said that the task force was an example of “future-proofing“ regulation at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is looking to embrace innovation in its regulatory approach to crypto and blockchain with the launch of a new Innovation Task Force, according to a Tuesday notice. Chair Michael Selig said that the task force will work with the regulator’s Innovation Advisory Committee to create a framework focused on crypto, blockchain, AI, and prediction markets. The effort will be led by Michael Passalacqua,…

UTXO Data Challenges Traditional Cycle Narratives

Bitcoin is trading above the $71,000 level as the market navigates heightened volatility, reflecting a phase of uncertainty following recent price swings. While short-term momentum remains unstable, underlying on-chain data suggests that the current market structure may differ significantly from previous cycles. Related Reading According to a CryptoQuant report, UTXO Age Bands data for 2025–2026 presents a pattern that contrasts sharply with historical bear markets. In both the 2018 and 2021 cycles, the share of Bitcoin held for six months or longer declined rapidly, signaling widespread distribution as long-term holders…

Lombard, Bitwise Partner to Unlock Bitcoin Yield Without Custody Transfer

Lombard, a company building Bitcoin-based lending infrastructure, will team with Bitwise Asset Management to enable institutions to earn yield and borrow against Bitcoin (BTC) without moving assets out of custody, aiming to unlock hundreds of billions of dollars in Bitcoin held in institutional custody. The partnership was announced Tuesday at the Digital Asset Summit in New York.  Jacob Phillips, CEO and co-founder of Lombard, told Cointelegraph:  The breakthrough is Bitcoin Smart Accounts—connecting two previously isolated worlds: institutional custody and onchain finance. According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, Bitwise will…

Bitcoin Holders Move to Cash as Volatility Remains High

Bitcoin (BTC) holders are gradually becoming less prone to panic selling and instead building up cash buffers to deploy during discounted BTC buying opportunities. Onchain data supports this view, highlighting a large surge in stablecoin activity, with USD Coin (USDC) and Tether’s USDt (USDT) transfers reaching a combined $440 billion on March 22.  This shift in investor behavior aligns with the increasing risk-off approach seen in markets as the United States Federal Reserve dismissed near-term interest rate cut expectations, amid rising energy prices due to the ongoing US and Israel-Iran…

Circle (CRCL) Crashes Below $100 After Senate Revises Crypto Bill To Ban Stablecoin Rewards

Ronaldo is an experienced crypto enthusiast dedicated to the nascent and ever-evolving industry. With over five years of extensive research and unwavering dedication, he has cultivated a profound interest in the world of cryptocurrencies. Ronaldo’s journey began with a spark of curiosity, which soon transformed into a deep passion for understanding the intricacies of this groundbreaking technology. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Ronaldo has delved into the depths of the crypto space, exploring its various facets, from blockchain fundamentals to market trends and investment strategies. His tireless exploration…

Ethereum Whales Are Making Money Again, But Will They Hold Or Sell?

Ethereum whales are now back in profit as the ETH price continues to climb, defying the broader market downtrend. Data from the on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant indicate that these whales are investors with wallets holding over 100,000 ETH. The sudden move into profitability raises the question of whether these large-scale investors will hold their positions or sell immediately, as key historical chart patterns signal a potential price surge for ETH in the coming months.   Ethereum whales are reportedly back in the green after sitting on a pile of paper losses…

Tether Hires ‘Big Four‘ Firm for Audit of USDT Reserves

Stablecoin issuer Tether said it would hire one of the “Big Four” accounting firms to conduct a full audit of its reserves for the first time. In a Tuesday notice, Tether said that the accounting firm — which it did not disclose — would complete a “full independent financial statement audit” for the stablecoin issuer, including for its US dollar-pegged USDt (USDT). The accounting industry’s so-called “Big Four” are Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tether said the firm was “selected through a competitive process,” according to chief financial…