CryptoNews

NVIDIA Ising has launched as the world’s first family of open-source quantum AI models, targeting the two biggest engineering bottlenecks in quantum computing: processor calibration and error correction decoding.

Summary

NVIDIA Ising delivers up to 2.5x faster and 3x more accurate quantum error correction decoding than current open-source benchmarks, with calibration workflows shrinking from days to hours.

The model family includes Ising Calibration, a 35-billion-parameter vision-language model, and Ising Decoding, a 3D convolutional neural network framework, both available on GitHub and Hugging Face.

Early adopters include Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Harvard, IQM Quantum Computers, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the UK National Physical Laboratory.

NVIDIA Ising launched April 15, 2026, as the world’s first open-source AI model family purpose-built for quantum computing, providing researchers and enterprises with tools to address processor calibration and error correction, the two engineering barriers standing between today’s fragile qubits and large-scale useful quantum systems.

The models achieve up to 2.5x faster and 3x more accurate quantum error correction decoding compared to pyMatching, the current open-source benchmark.

What the Ising Models Actually Do

The family has two domains. Ising Calibration is a 35-billion-parameter vision-language model that automates quantum processor tuning, compressing calibration workflows that previously required days of manual setup to hours of automated execution. Ising Decoding is a 3D convolutional neural network framework for real-time quantum error correction, available in two variants optimized for either speed or accuracy depending on the application.

Both models are distributed through GitHub, Hugging Face, and NVIDIA’s build.nvidia.com platform, integrated with CUDA-Q and NVQLink. NVIDIA is also releasing a quantum workflow cookbook, training datasets, and hardware-specific fine-tuning tools so researchers can adapt the models to their own quantum processor architectures without exposing proprietary data.

Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, framed the launch in infrastructure terms. “AI is essential to making quantum computing practical. With Ising, AI becomes the control plane, the operating system of quantum machines, transforming fragile qubits to scalable and reliable quantum-GPU systems,” he said.

You might also like: Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Drifts Near $75K on Profit-Taking

Who Is Already Using It

Adoption at launch spans a range of institutions including Academia Sinica, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Harvard’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, IQM Quantum Computers, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Advanced Quantum Testbed, Sandia National Laboratories, UC San Diego, the UK National Physical Laboratory, and Yonsei University.

The breadth of early adopters reflects a deliberate open-model strategy. By releasing pre-trained weights, training frameworks, and benchmarks publicly, NVIDIA positions Ising as a foundation layer that other developers can build on without starting from scratch.

Crypto and AI Market Implications

The Ising launch reinforces NVIDIA’s positioning as the dominant infrastructure provider across both classical AI and the emerging quantum-classical hybrid computing stack. For the crypto sector, quantum computing has long represented a future threat to existing blockchain encryption standards, particularly RSA and elliptic curve cryptography used to secure Bitcoin wallets.

Progress in quantum error correction, which Ising specifically targets, is the technical precondition for cryptographically relevant quantum computers to exist. The timeline remains distant, but every improvement in error correction decoding accuracy shortens it.

NVIDIA news has historically triggered moves in AI tokens across the crypto market, as the chip company’s hardware underpins the AI infrastructure that powers many blockchain AI projects. The Ising launch adds a new quantum AI vertical to that relationship.

Read more: CLARITY Act stablecoin deal nears as lawmakers resolve final yield fight

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Bitcoin Cash and Polkadot show mixed trends, driving interest in early-stage projects like BlockDAG amid shifting market sentiment.

Summary

Bitcoin Cash and Polkadot stay range-bound as traders shift focus to early-stage plays like BlockDAG.

Market uncertainty around Bitcoin Cash and Polkadot drives attention to BlockDAG ahead of listings.

BlockDAG gains traction as its entry window narrows, with BingX listing boosting visibility and momentum.

Price action across major crypto names is starting to feel uneven again as traders reassess Bitcoin Cash price prediction and where range-bound assets may move next. 

Bitcoin Cash continues to react within broader cycle bands where upside attempts often fade into consolidation rather than sustained trends. Interest around Polkadot is also shaped by its interoperability model, keeping Polkadot price prediction tied closely to how quickly cross-chain demand actually materializes.

That uncertainty is pushing attention toward earlier positioning opportunities. The question of what crypto to buy now is becoming more frequent as liquidity searches for asymmetric setups. BlockDAG (BDAG) is drawing focus with its $0.000000726 entry window tightening ahead of its BingX listing. Exchange expansion and staged rollout plans are building momentum around a phase that is still open, but narrowing fast.

Bitcoin Cash $350–$700 range drives cyclical movement

Bitcoin Cash price prediction is often based on long-term market behavior rather than rapid structural change. Bitcoin Cash has historically traded within broad zones that reflect its cycle-driven nature. Recent ranges have generally stayed between about $350 and $500. Stronger market phases have pushed it toward $600 to $700 before cooling back into consolidation.

The Bitcoin Cash price prediction outlook is shaped by liquidity conditions and overall crypto sentiment. Trading activity tends to slow during risk-off periods and expand when market demand increases. Price movement is also influenced by transaction usage trends and broader Bitcoin-related cycles. Market participants often watch these ranges to understand whether the asset is stabilizing or preparing for another directional move within its established structure over time.

Polkadot price prediction signals low range stability

Polkadot price prediction is largely shaped by how its interoperability framework evolves under real network usage. Polkadot has recently shown price movement clustered in lower single-digit ranges, generally fluctuating between about $1.10 and $1.80 in current market conditions. These levels reflect ongoing consolidation after broader cycle declines rather than directional expansion.

The Polkadot price prediction outlook depends on parachain activity, validator participation, and cross-chain demand across connected networks. Price behavior often remains compressed during periods of lower ecosystem activity. Movement tends to expand when network usage increases or when broader crypto liquidity improves. 

Forecast models for 2026 continue to place expectations within similar low-range structures, suggesting gradual shifts rather than sharp breakouts under current conditions. Market direction remains closely linked to adoption pace and overall sentiment across interoperability-focused assets in the sector.

BlockDAG $0.000000726 window tightens as BingX listing goes live

BlockDAG is entering a decisive phase where attention is tightening around its current pricing window and upcoming exchange expansion. The $0.000000726 level is being positioned as a final fixed entry zone before broader market pricing takes over. This stage is increasingly defined by timing rather than speculation, as participants assess how quickly access may shift once listings expand further.

The live BingX listing marks the first major catalyst in this sequence, with additional Tier 1 exchange integrations expected to follow in quick succession. Each new listing adds visibility and reduces friction for entry, which naturally compresses the available accumulation window. That compression is becoming the central focus for those tracking momentum shifts across early-stage assets.

BlockDAG is also being discussed through the lens of asymmetric upside potential, with projections referencing a 195x scenario tied to early positioning. This framing is driving heightened attention around allocation timing rather than long-term waiting strategies. The narrative is no longer about discovery. It is about how much of the remaining supply is accessible before broader demand discovery begins.

The phrase what crypto to buy now is increasingly being shaped by this environment, where early access windows are narrowing while exchange coverage expands. BlockDAG sits directly in that intersection, where timing and availability are beginning to separate early participants from later entrants.

As additional exchanges go live and ecosystem phases progress through late April and beyond, the current pricing structure continues to tighten. Once supply transitions fully into open market conditions, price discovery is expected to shift rapidly.

In summary

The market outlook remains divided as traders reassess Bitcoin Cash price prediction and its continued reliance on cyclical range behavior. Bitcoin Cash continues to reflect liquidity-driven movement within broader market conditions. At the same time, Polkadot price prediction highlights ongoing uncertainty around interoperability adoption and network activity. Polkadot remains influenced by ecosystem participation and overall sentiment shifts.

BlockDAG is increasingly dominating attention as its $0.000000726 entry window tightens ahead of expanding exchange listings. The new BingX launch signals the beginning of wider Tier 1 exposure, with more listings expected to follow soon. Supply remains fixed while access continues to narrow, intensifying focus on early positioning. In this environment, what crypto to buy now becomes a timing question, and BlockDAG’s accelerating listing cycle and shrinking entry window continue to define urgency as market access moves toward open trading conditions.

For more information, visit the presale website, official website, Telegram, and Discord.

Read more: BlockDAG soars toward $1 in April while Dogecoin and Chainlink build massive bullish momentum 

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

Polkadot price rebounded over 10% on Thursday as it recovered from a sharp drop earlier this week.

Summary

Polkadot price rebounded over 10% after a sharp sell-off triggered by a bridge exploit that did not impact its core network security.

The token found support near $1.15 as RSI signaled oversold conditions, prompting a relief bounce and improved market sentiment.

A break above $1.31 resistance could open the door for further upside toward the $1.42 level in the short term.

According to data from crypto.news, Polkadot (DOT) price rose 10.4% to an intraday high of $1.29 on April 16, while bringing its market cap back above $2.16 billion. The bounce follows after the token fell nearly 13% this week.

Polkadot price bounced after rumors of a systemic network failure triggered a sell-off earlier this week. Notably, a security breach on the Hyperbridge gateway allowed an attacker to mint 1 billion bridged DOT tokens on the Ethereum network.

Despite an immediate knee-jerk reaction from the market, the panic-driven selloff subsided once investors realized the exploit did not compromise Polkadot’s native Relay Chain or its core security architecture. This clarity allowed the community to view the incident as an isolated bridge issue rather than a fundamental flaw in the Polkadot ecosystem.

You might also like: Chainlink price approaches bullish SMA crossover as whales accumulate, will it breakout?

Consequently, major exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb are moving back towards resuming normal services after a temporary suspension to protect users from potential volatility. This has significantly reduced the immediate liquidity bottleneck and restored a sense of normalcy to the trading environment.

Meanwhile, following the 27% drop over the past month, Polkadot price has reached a critical psychological bottom at $1.15 yesterday.

The Relative Strength Index, an indicator used to measure the speed and change of price movements, fell to 33.80, signaling that the token had entered a deeply oversold territory and was due for a relief bounce.

As of now, intraday price action has been strong, with DOT testing immediate resistance at $1.31. A successful close above this level could trigger bulls to target the $1.42 zone as the next logical destination for this recovery.

Read more: RAVE crypto defends $10 support, can bulls push to a new high?

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

A multi-million dollar influx from crypto-aligned donors is set to shape the 2026 Ohio Senate race as the Sentinel Action Fund commits $8 million to support Republican Senator Jon Husted.

Summary

The Sentinel Action Fund and its affiliate Right Vote pledged $8 million to back Republican Senator Jon Husted in the 2026 Ohio Senate race.

Husted remains a primary legislative ally for the digital asset industry through his support of the GENIUS Act and his advocacy for a pro-innovation regulatory framework.

Sentinel Action Fund officials announced Wednesday that the super PAC, alongside its affiliate Right Vote, will direct the funds toward Husted’s bid to retain his seat in the upcoming November midterms. 

The move signals a concerted effort by the digital asset industry to solidify its influence in Washington following significant shifts in the 2024 election cycle. 

Husted, a consistent advocate for blockchain technology, has built a reputation as a “strongly supports crypto” candidate through his backing of the GENIUS Act and calls for a pro-innovation regulatory framework.

You might also like: Morgan Stanley Bitcoin ETF secures $103 million in net inflows to outpace early market rivals

“Digital asset technology represents the next wave of economic opportunity for working families,” Husted stated, advocating for a federal approach that encourages domestic growth rather than restrictive oversight.

A growing financial coalition

Federal Election Commission records show that the Solana Institute and Multicoin Capital are the primary drivers behind Sentinel’s current war chest, contributing $750,000 and $250,000, respectively. 

The PAC has also drawn support from traditional Wall Street heavyweights, including Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman and Fisher Investments Chairman Kenneth Fisher, bringing together Silicon Valley capital and established finance in a way that sets Husted apart from his predecessor, Sherrod Brown, who lost his seat in 2024 after frequently challenging the industry over concerns tied to sanctions evasion and illicit finance.

“[Brown] has stood in the way of pro-innovation policies when it comes to digital assets,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson said in an accompanying statement, positioning Husted as the necessary correction to that legislative approach.

Strategic expansion into the 2026 midterms

The Ohio commitment is part of a larger nationwide strategy by crypto-focused political groups to secure a friendly Senate majority. 

Husted is the third candidate to receive Sentinel’s formal endorsement this cycle, joining Maine Senator Susan Collins and Michigan’s Mike Rogers. 

This surge in spending follows the blueprint established by Fairshake, a massive super PAC backed by Coinbase and a16z, which spent $12 million to help Republican Bernie Moreno defeat Brown in the previous election.

Fairshake has already reported a balance of $193 million to deploy as the midterms approach. Other players are also entering the fray, with Cantor Fitzgerald contributing $10 million to the Fellowship PAC, which recently appointed Tether executive Jesse Spiro as its chairman. 

This level of early-cycle spending suggests that the intersection of digital finance and federal policy will remain a primary battleground for the foreseeable future.

Read more: South Korea to trial tokenized bank deposits for government operational spending

US regulators are investigating whether private information about the Trump administration’s military strategy in Iran was used to profit from massive oil trades.

Summary

Lawmakers are currently advancing the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 to prohibit government officials from using confidential policy details for personal gain.

Trading platforms Kalshi and Polymarket have responded by implementing internal surveillance tools and technological barriers to block political figures from betting on events they directly influence.

Bloomberg reports that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is examining suspicious activity on the CME Group’s NYMEX and the Intercontinental Exchange. 

Investigators are reportedly focusing on two specific instances where trading volumes for oil futures surged minutes before major White House announcements, resulting in significant shifts in both energy and equity markets.

Tag 50 data under scrutiny

The commission has requested “Tag 50” identity data from the exchanges to pinpoint the individuals or entities behind the trades. This specific identification string allows auditors to trace exactly who is executing a transaction, serving as a digital fingerprint for regulatory compliance.

You might also like: New BitMEX proposal challenges BIP-361 with reactive “early warning” system

The first spike under review occurred on March 23, when billions of dollars in futures contracts changed hands just 15 minutes before President Trump announced he would postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. 

A similar pattern emerged on April 7, shortly before the President declared a two-week ceasefire. In both cases, the advance trades aligned perfectly with the subsequent drop in oil prices.

Prediction market insider trading in focus

The federal probe into traditional futures platforms is unfolding alongside a wider crackdown on prediction markets. CFTC enforcement director David Miller recently challenged the assumption that these speculative platforms are exempt from oversight.

“There’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insider trading doesn’t apply in the prediction markets … That is wrong,” Miller stated on March 31.

Legislative pressure is mounting following the introduction of the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026. The bipartisan bill specifically targets the use of non-public, material information by government officials, including members of Congress, political appointees, and executive agency employees.

The legislation aims to close a perceived loophole where those with advance knowledge of military actions or policy shifts could profit from “event contracts.” 

Under the proposed rules, “insider information” is defined as any data that a reasonable investor would find important but is not yet available to the general public. In response to the bill, major platforms have begun implementing their own self-regulatory measures.

Read more: World Liberty Financial investors revolt over four-year token lock-up proposal

Pi Network price is trading at $0.1672 on April 15, with the daily MACD histogram printing at exactly 0.0000 for the first time since the February all-time low, raising the question of whether the extended bearish phase that carried price from the $2.99 peak to the $0.1351 floor is finally losing its downward force.

Summary

Pi Network price is at $0.1672, +0.48%, on April 15, as the daily MACD histogram reads 0.0000 for the first time since the $0.1351 all-time low on Feb. 11, marking the first pause in bearish momentum expansion during the current downleg.

The daily SMA ribbon remains fully bearish with all four moving averages stacked above price: SMA 20 at $0.1715, SMA 50 at $0.1852, SMA 100 at $0.1807, and SMA 200 at $0.2029.

A daily close above the SMA 20 at $0.1715 is the first recovery signal and opens $0.20 as the nearterm target; the annotated resistance at $0.2804 is the extended objective, while a daily close below $0.1351 invalidates the support thesis entirely.

Pi Network (PI) price is at $0.1672 on April 15, up 0.48% on the session, as the daily chart posts the first MACD histogram reading of exactly 0.0000 since the Feb. 11 all-time low at $0.1351. The flattening of the histogram at zero does not confirm a reversal on its own, but it marks the first session since the all-time low where the force of the downtrend has mathematically paused, occurring as price stabilizes directly above the annotated structural floor. The 24-hour volume stands at 14.7M PI, reflecting the consolidation conditions that have held since the bounce off the all-time low.

The full SMA ribbon remains bearish. SMA 20 at $0.1715, SMA 50 at $0.1852, SMA 100 at $0.1807, and SMA 200 at $0.2029 form sequential overhead resistance. None of the four averages have been reclaimed on a daily close since price broke below them in the fourth quarter of 2025. The key variable now is whether the MACD histogram moves from zero into positive territory, which would signal that momentum has shifted from deceleration to acceleration in the bull direction.

MACD Histogram Reaches Zero as Price Holds the All-Time Low Support

The MACD (12,26,9) on the Pi Network daily chart has printed a histogram reading of 0.0000 on April 15, with the MACD line at -0.0052 and the signal at -0.0052. Both lines remain below zero, confirming the macro trend is still bearish. The histogram reaching zero from below means the gap between the MACD and signal lines has collapsed to nothing, a necessary precondition before any bullish crossover can occur. In prior PI trading cycles, histogram readings approaching zero from the negative side have preceded short-term recoveries toward the nearest SMA resistance level.

The signal arrives at the most structurally significant level on the chart. The $0.1351 all-time low, set on Feb. 11, 2026, is the annotated support floor on the daily chart. It has held without a daily close below it since that date. Price bouncing repeatedly from this level while the MACD contracts toward zero describes the conditions for a potential base-building setup, conditional on the SMA 20 being reclaimed.

Pi Network completed its mainnet upgrade to Protocol v21 on April 14, introducing performance enhancements as the foundational step toward smart contract support via Protocol v23.0, scheduled for May 18. The v22.1 node upgrade deadline falls on April 22, the next milestone on the road to that smart contract launch.

You might also like: Hormuz Oil Bitcoin Watch: China’s Tanker Breaches the Blockade

Key Levels: Support, Resistance, and Price Targets

The $0.1351 all-time low is the structural floor. A daily close below it has not occurred since Feb. 11 and would expose uncharted territory with no prior chart reference below that level.

On the upside, the SMA 20 at $0.1715 is the immediate resistance and the first level a recovery must clear. A daily close above $0.1715 opens $0.20, which has capped multiple recovery attempts in 2026. The annotated horizontal resistance at $0.2804 is the extended bull case target if $0.20 is cleared and held on a daily close. The SMA 50 at $0.1852 sits between $0.1715 and $0.2804 and represents the midpoint resistance in any recovery sequence.

Invalidation: a daily close below $0.1351.

On-Chain and Market Data Context

Approximately 230 million PI tokens are scheduled to unlock over the next 30 days, adding consistent sell pressure to any technical recovery attempt. A single whale address has accumulated approximately 350 million PI, becoming the network’s sixth-largest holder, a signal of conviction accumulation at structural support even as the unlock schedule weighs on spot price.

Analyst @kwalaintel (40.2K followers on X) flagged that Pi faces “a major structural headwind” from daily token unlocks, identifying the supply and demand tension as the key variable that technical patterns alone cannot resolve. If the MACD histogram moves from zero into positive territory on a daily close, the SMA 20 at $0.1715 becomes the primary nearterm target, with $0.20 as the level that would confirm a sustained recovery attempt is underway.

Read more: Justin Sun slams Trump‑backed WLFI vote as ‘world tyranny’ in explosive new X post

Two suspects were arrested in San Francisco after allegedly firing at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home early Sunday morning, the second attack on the property in three days, as federal and local prosecutors escalate charges against a separate suspect from an earlier Molotov cocktail incident.

Summary

Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, were arrested April 13 after a Honda sedan stopped outside Altman’s North Beach property and a round was allegedly fired from the passenger window.

Days earlier, 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama was charged with attempted murder after throwing a lit incendiary device at Altman’s home before moving on to threaten to burn down OpenAI’s headquarters.

Moreno-Gama was carrying a three-part manifesto detailing anti-AI beliefs and listing names and addresses of AI executives, board members, and investors.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s San Francisco home was targeted for a second time in three days on April 13, when a Honda sedan carrying two people stopped outside the property on Lombard Street and a shot was allegedly fired from the passenger window. The San Francisco Police Department arrested Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, who were booked on charges of negligent discharge of a firearm. Three firearms were seized from their home following a warrant.

No injuries were reported in either incident.

What Happened Across Both Incidents

The first attack occurred in the early hours of April 10, when 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama, a Texas resident, allegedly threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the driveway gate of Altman’s home, setting it on fire. He then walked to OpenAI’s Mission Bay headquarters and struck the glass doors with a chair while threatening to “burn it down and kill anyone inside.” He was arrested at the scene.

The FBI described the first attack as “planned, targeted and extremely serious.” Federal and local prosecutors charged Moreno-Gama with attempted murder of both Altman and his security guard, attempted arson, possession of an unregistered firearm, and attempted destruction of property by means of explosives. The US Attorney for the Northern District of California said domestic terrorism charges may also follow.

You might also like: Leading crypto presales on every investor’s radar in April 2026: Big opportunities right now

Who Was Behind the First Attack

Moreno-Gama was found carrying a document that detailed his opposition to artificial intelligence and explicitly named Altman as a target. The manifesto stated his belief that AI posed a risk of human extinction and listed the names and addresses of multiple AI executives, board members, and investors. He had reportedly published similar views on a personal Substack prior to the attack.

His public defender said he appeared to have experienced an “acute mental health crisis.” Altman posted a photo of his family on his blog shortly after the first attack, writing that he “underestimated the power of words and narratives” and calling for de-escalation of AI-related rhetoric.

The Broader Pattern of Anti-AI Violence

The two incidents at Altman’s home are part of a wider pattern of hostility toward AI infrastructure. A city councilman in Indianapolis was shot at 13 times after voicing support for a data center project. A town near St. Louis voted out its entire incumbent council after approving a data center. Experts have drawn parallels to the Luddite backlash of the Second Industrial Revolution.

The attacks come as OpenAI sits at the center of a high-stakes race in enterprise AI, where it has been losing ground to Anthropic across key corporate accounts, while simultaneously finalizing an AI cybersecurity product for limited partner release. The company is valued at over $850 billion and is targeting an IPO this year.

“There is no place in our democracy for violence against anyone, regardless of the AI lab they work at or side of the debate they belong to,” OpenAI said in a statement following the first attack.

Read more: Iran Nuclear Deal Bitcoin Rally: What a 20-Year Freeze Could Unlock

The Take It Down Act has secured its first federal conviction, with an Ohio man pleading guilty to using more than 100 AI models to create and distribute nonconsensual deepfakes of women and children, putting the first real enforcement stamp on a landmark AI-specific law.

Summary

James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty on April 7 to cyberstalking, producing child sexual abuse material, and publishing digital forgeries under the Take It Down Act.

The law, signed by President Trump in May 2025, makes it a federal crime to publish nonconsensual AI-generated intimate imagery and requires platforms to remove it within 48 hours of a valid report.

Online platforms have until May 19, 2026 to establish formal takedown procedures or face Federal Trade Commission enforcement action.

The Take It Down Act has its first conviction. James Strahler II, a 37-year-old Columbus, Ohio man, pleaded guilty on April 7 to three federal counts: cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse material, and publishing digital forgeries, the law’s term for nonconsensual deepfakes. The Department of Justice confirmed he is the first person convicted under the law.

Between December 2024 and June 2025, Strahler used over 100 AI models to create sexually explicit images and videos of six adult victims and distribute them to their coworkers and families. He also generated deepfake content involving children and uploaded hundreds of images to a child sexual abuse website before his arrest in June 2025.

What the Conviction Covers

The Take It Down Act, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar and signed into law on May 19, 2025, criminalizes the knowing publication of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated content depicting real people. It passed the Senate unanimously and the House by 409 to 2.

Penalties under the law include up to two years in prison per offense involving adult victims and up to three years when minors are involved. Strahler has not yet been sentenced.

You might also like: Leading crypto presales on every investor’s radar in April 2026: Big opportunities right now

U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace said the prosecution sends a direct message: “We will not tolerate the abhorrent practice of posting and publicizing AI-generated intimate images of real individuals without consent.”

What the Law Requires of Platforms

Beyond criminal prosecution, the Take It Down Act creates mandatory obligations for online platforms. Covered platforms, including public websites and mobile applications that host user-generated content, must remove reported nonconsensual imagery within 48 hours of a valid victim request and make reasonable efforts to find and delete identical copies.

The compliance deadline is May 19, 2026, just over a month away. Platforms that fail to establish a formal removal process face enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission. The law does not preempt state-level protections, and at least 45 states have their own AI deepfake laws in place.

Why It Matters for AI Regulation

The Take It Down Act is widely described as the first major federal law in the United States that directly restricts harmful uses of AI. Its passage reflects growing bipartisan urgency around AI-generated abuse at a moment when deepfake tools have become widely accessible. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 1.5 million AI-related exploitation tips in 2025 alone.

The same technology that enables nonconsensual intimate imagery is also fueling deepfake scams across the crypto sector, where AI-generated impersonations of prominent figures have been used to defraud investors. The deepfake crisis across financial platforms saw AI-powered vishing attacks surge 28% year over year in Q3 2025, underscoring why federal-level intervention carries broad implications beyond intimate imagery alone.

First Lady Melania Trump, who championed the legislation as part of her Be Best initiative, said she was proud of the first conviction.

Read more: Iran Nuclear Deal Bitcoin Rally: What a 20-Year Freeze Could Unlock

IRS 1099-DA crypto reporting requirements take effect for the first time on Tax Day 2026, requiring every American who sold or traded digital assets in 2025 to account for those transactions, while Treasury reports 53 million filers already claimed new Trump administration exemptions.

Summary

Form 1099-DA is now the IRS’s mandatory reporting form for 2025 digital asset transactions filed by brokers, though basis reporting remains voluntary for this first year, creating a gap crypto holders must bridge themselves.

Treasury says 53 million Americans used new Trump-era exemptions including no tax on tips and overtime, car loan interest deductions, and Trump Accounts for children’s savings, with average refunds rising 11% to $3,462.

IRS CEO Frank Bisignano testified to the Senate Finance Committee on Tax Day touting the Republican tax law’s implementation while Democrats focused on IRS data-sharing agreements with ICE.

IRS 1099-DA crypto obligations are real and unavoidable for the first time this filing season. The IRS’s first dedicated digital asset reporting form, a simplified version of an earlier draft that dropped requirements for wallet addresses and transaction IDs, went into mandatory use for brokers covering all 2025 digital asset transactions.

But 53 million Americans are also sitting down today to take advantage of a completely different set of tax changes, the Trump-era exemptions that have reshaped this year’s filing season.

What Crypto Holders Must Know Today

For 2025 transactions, custodial brokers were required to send Form 1099-DA covering gross proceeds by February 17, 2026. The catch: basis reporting is voluntary for 2025. That means most 1099-DA forms do not include cost basis, and the IRS has been explicit: “taxpayers will have to calculate basis to determine their gain or loss.”

Crypto holders who treat their 1099-DA as a complete document and do not reconcile it against their own transaction records face significant mismatch risk when the IRS begins cross-referencing broker data. Every taxpayer must also answer the digital asset question on Form 1040, yes or no, regardless of whether they received a 1099-DA. Those who skip it are answering incorrectly under penalty of perjury.

You might also like: Bitget slashes latency as it leans into ‘universal exchange’ push

Investors who need to calculate their own gains and losses have a range of dedicated tracking tools available, as basis reconstruction across wallets, exchanges, DeFi positions, and staking activity falls entirely on the taxpayer this year.

The Broader Tax Day Picture

On the non-crypto side, Treasury says the 2026 filing season has set several records for new exemption uptake. More than 53 million filers claimed at least one new provision from the Republican tax law, including 6 million who claimed no tax on tips, along with take-up of no-tax treatment for certain car loan interest, senior deductions, and Trump Accounts, a children’s savings vehicle introduced in the bill.

Average refunds stand at $3,462, up 11% from last year’s $3,116. “People are getting refunds of $5,000, $8,000, $11,000 that they had no idea they were getting,” Trump told Fox Business on Wednesday.

The Political Backdrop

IRS CEO Frank Bisignano testified to the Senate Finance Committee on Tax Day, with his prepared remarks touting the agency’s implementation of the Republican tax law. Democrats shifted focus to IRS data-sharing agreements with ICE, raising concerns about confidential taxpayer information being routed to immigration enforcement. The IRS workforce has been reduced by 27% over the past year through DOGE-driven cuts.

For crypto holders, the administration’s posture matters beyond today. Starting with the 2026 tax year, mandatory basis reporting kicks in, meaning the 1099-DA compliance pressure only increases from here.

Read more: Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Rejected at $76K Again

US Iran talks bitcoin and oil markets are watching their most consequential diplomatic moment yet as American and Iranian officials meet face-to-face for the first time, with WTI crude at $92 a barrel and BTC at $74,000.

Summary

US and Iranian officials are holding direct talks on April 15 for the first time, with US officials saying more time is needed to reach a formal agreement.

All prior negotiations ran through Pakistani intermediaries, including the 20-hour Islamabad session that collapsed April 13 and triggered the naval blockade.

Analysts say a credible outcome could push oil toward $80 a barrel and send BTC above $76,000, replicating the pattern from the April 7 ceasefire rally.

US Iran talks bitcoin and oil markets are at a pivot point on April 15. Al Jazeera reported that direct negotiations between the two sides are under way, a format that differs from the Pakistani-mediated sessions that defined all prior contact. US officials described the session as preliminary, stating that more time is needed, but markets have already begun pricing the development.

WTI crude fell from $103 at the blockade announcement to $92 today. Bitcoin, which has closely tracked every diplomatic signal in this conflict, sits at $74,000 after tagging $76,000 on April 14.

Why Direct Talks Are Different

Every prior round of contact between the US and Iran ran through intermediaries. The Islamabad session on April 11 and 12, mediated by Pakistan’s military leadership, lasted 20 hours and ended without an agreement. Vice President JD Vance said Iran chose “not to accept our terms.” Trump announced the naval blockade hours after Vance departed.

Direct talks remove one layer of friction from the process. When the April 7 ceasefire was announced through Pakistan, BTC jumped from $68,500 to $72,700 in under 12 hours and liquidated $427 million in short positions. A direct diplomatic breakthrough would carry materially more weight than a brokered one.

You might also like: Bitcoin Price Prediction: BTC Rejected at $76K Again

The Oil and BTC Math in Real Time

The ceasefire rally template is established. Oil lifted BTC off its post-Islamabad lows every time a credible de-escalation signal emerged. Brent’s 13% single-day fall on the original ceasefire announcement drove BTC from $68,500 to $72,700 within hours. At $92 a barrel today, oil is already 13% below the blockade-announcement spike of $103.

Coin Bureau founder Nic Puckrin has outlined $85,000 to $90,000 as the Bitcoin target in a genuine ceasefire scenario, requiring oil to fall toward $80 and softer US economic data. Every hour of direct talks that does not collapse moves that scenario forward in time.

What Markets Need to Hear

The minimum outcome markets would treat as bullish is a joint statement from both sides agreeing to extend the ceasefire past April 22. A commitment to a formal second-round negotiation process, even without a resolution, would likely push oil below $85 and give BTC the catalyst it has been waiting on through 46 straight days of negative derivatives funding rates.

“We’ve been called by the other side, and they would like to make a deal very badly,” Trump said earlier this week. That framing, now combined with the first direct engagement between the sides, puts a deal closer to the market’s horizon than at any point since the Islamabad collapse.

Read more: Bitget slashes latency as it leans into ‘universal exchange’ push

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Nexus International converts high betting volume into strong profitability through efficient operations.

Summary

Nexus International turns $1.44B betting volume into $87M profit, highlighting strong margin efficiency

Gurhan Kiziloz focuses on profitability over volume, optimizing costs to drive sustainable earnings

Nexus converts nearly half of gaming revenue into EBITDA, outperforming peers on operational efficiency

The online gaming industry measures itself in volume. Platforms compete to report the largest betting handles, the most deposits, and the highest user counts. These figures make for impressive headlines and persuasive investor presentations. What they often obscure is whether any of that activity translates into profit. Volume without margin is just money passing through.

Gurhan Kiziloz built Nexus International to convert volume into earnings. In 2025, the company processed $1.2 billion in platform inflows and $1.44 billion in betting volume. From that activity, Nexus generated $264 million in gross gaming revenue. Operating costs took their share, leaving $124 million in EBITDA. After taxes and remaining expenses, $87 million reached the bottom line as net profit. The funnel from inflows to profit tells the story of a business engineered to make money.

The conversion matters because many platforms fail at precisely this task. They process billions in wagers and report impressive deposit figures, but the economics between the top line and the bottom line do not work. User acquisition costs consume margin. Promotional spending erodes revenue. Operational inefficiencies multiply as volume grows. The result is platforms that look successful by volume metrics while losing money on every transaction.

Kiziloz designed Nexus differently. The $264 million in gross gaming revenue represents what remained after paying out winning bets from the $1.44 billion wagered. This figure, roughly 18% of betting volume retained as revenue, reflects standard industry economics. Where Nexus diverges from competitors is what happens next.

The path from $264 million in GGR to $124 million in EBITDA required controlling costs that consume margin at other platforms. Sales and marketing expenses were managed to produce returns rather than simply generate activity. Technology and platform costs were invested where they improved user experience and retention, not where they added complexity without value. Administrative overhead was kept proportionate to the business rather than allowed to expand with every increase in volume. The result was an EBITDA margin that converted nearly half of gross gaming revenue into operating profit.

The further conversion from $124 million EBITDA to $87 million net profit reflects a business with limited financial complexity. There are no interest payments on venture debt consuming cash flow. There are no preferred shareholders taking their cut before common equity. The capital structure is simple because Kiziloz funded the business himself, avoiding the financing costs that burden externally funded competitors.

This operational efficiency did not happen by accident. It reflects the decisions Kiziloz made about what kind of company Nexus would be. The choice to remain self-funded meant every dollar spent had to be justified by the returns it produced. There was no external capital to cover losses while the business figured out its model. Profitability was not a future aspiration contingent on reaching scale, it was a requirement from early on.

The discipline this imposed shaped how Nexus operates. User acquisition focused on channels that produced profitable customers rather than simply large numbers of sign-ups. Product development prioritized features that increased retention and lifetime value rather than those that generated buzz without business impact. Geographic expansion proceeded into markets where the economics worked rather than wherever growth could be reported.

The 2025 results validate this approach. The $87 million in net profit is real money that belongs to the business and its owner. It can be reinvested in growth, held as reserves against future uncertainty, or deployed into new opportunities, all at Kiziloz’s discretion, without negotiation with external stakeholders. The profit compounds the advantages that produced it, funding further investment in the platforms and operations that generate returns.

Competitors processing similar volumes often report different outcomes. Platforms backed by venture capital may show impressive betting handles while posting losses, sustained by investor capital that expects eventual returns. Publicly traded operators may prioritize revenue growth over margin, managing to analyst expectations that reward top-line expansion. The incentives created by external capital often point away from the profitability that Nexus has achieved.

Kiziloz faces none of these pressures. Nexus is privately held, entirely owned by its founder, and operated to produce profit rather than to satisfy external constituencies. The $1.2 billion in platform inflows and $1.44 billion in betting volume are meaningful only insofar as they translate into the $87 million that reached the bottom line. Volume is the input. Profit is the output. The business exists to maximize the conversion between them.

The numbers from 2025 demonstrate that conversion is working as designed. Platform inflows of $1.2 billion. Betting volume of $1.44 billion. Gross gaming revenue of $264 million. EBITDA of $124 million. Net profit of $87 million.

Read more: BNB price breaks out of multi-year falling wedge, eyes rally above $1,000

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

Pakistan has officially ended its long-standing freeze on the digital currency sector by allowing banks to facilitate licensed virtual asset providers.

Summary

Pakistan’s central bank has ended an eight-year ban on virtual currencies by allowing banks to open accounts for licensed digital asset service providers.

The State Bank of Pakistan requires strict segregation of funds through Client Money Accounts to prevent the commingling of customer assets with company funds.

Financial institutions must perform enhanced due diligence and update their risk models to comply with anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing rules.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued a circular on April 14 authorizing regulated financial institutions to open accounts for entities registered with the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA). 

This move follows the landmark passage of the Virtual Assets Act 2026 last month, effectively dismantling a restrictive environment that had been in place since an outright ban was imposed in 2018.

New financial guardrails for crypto

State Bank officials clarified that while banks can now service the industry, they are strictly prohibited from using their own capital or customer deposits to trade, hold, or invest in virtual assets.

You might also like: US–Iran talks in Pakistan hand crypto a fragile off‑ramp

The central bank’s directive emphasizes that the role of traditional lenders is limited to providing an interface for licensed firms rather than participating in the market themselves.

To ensure the safety of public funds, the SBP has mandated the use of Client Money Accounts (CMAs). These Pakistan Rupee-denominated accounts must remain entirely separate from a service provider’s own operational funds to prevent commingling.

Further, to maintain a clear boundary, the SBP noted that “any arrangement with a VASP does not absolve them” of existing obligations, including foreign exchange and anti-money laundering rules.

Banks also remain tied to existing foreign exchange protocols, as the circular notes that “any arrangement with a VASP does not absolve them of those obligations.”

Financial institutions must also update their internal risk models to specifically address the volatility and transparency challenges associated with digital assets. 

Under the new guidelines, banks are required to perform exhaustive due diligence on every licensed provider, including verifying their PVARA credentials and maintaining “ongoing monitoring” of these relationships. 

Any activity flagged as suspicious under anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism financing rules must be reported immediately to Pakistan’s Financial Monitoring Unit.

The regulatory pivot comes after a period of intense groundwork, including high-level consultations with global exchanges like Binance and HTX in late 2025.

These discussions focused on attracting regulated trading platforms to a market that already boasts tens of millions of users.

Beyond retail trading, the government has been investigating blockchain-integrated infrastructure through engagements with affiliates of World Liberty Financial, specifically looking at the potential for stablecoins to streamline cross-border payment systems.

Read more: Ripple and Kyobo Life partner to modernize bond markets in South Korea

The PI network is heading toward its most consequential technical upgrade yet as Protocol 23 prepares to go live on May 18, bringing smart contracts, real-world asset tokenization, and AI App Studio integration that analysts say could shift how institutional investors view the project.

Summary

Protocol 23 is built on Stellar technology that has already implemented the same features, meaning Pi’s transition is expected to be smoother and more stable than a typical greenfield smart contract rollout on a new blockchain.

Beyond smart contracts, the upgrade adds .pi domains for unique user and app identities, pushes Pi Browser into deeper Web2 to Web3 integration, and takes the AI App Studio out of beta, opening the door for developers to build advanced applications directly inside the network.

Real-world asset tokenization is the feature with the clearest path to institutional recognition: Protocol 23 will allow physical assets like property, stocks, and commodities to be broken into digital tokens on the Pi blockchain, giving the network a use case that Wall Street is actively building toward on other chains.

Coinpedia’s April 14 report describes Protocol 23 as “turning Pi from just a token into a full ecosystem.” The roadmap to May 18 runs through two mandatory intermediate node upgrades: v22.1 on April 22 and then v23.0 on May 18. All mainnet node operators must complete each step sequentially to remain connected to the network. The Pi Core Team has been explicit about the deadline-driven rollout, and the April 6 v21.2 upgrade completed on schedule, keeping the network on track.

PI is trading around $0.164, down more than 94 percent from its all-time high above $2.90, meaning the gap between the network’s technical ambition and its current market price is wide.

You might also like: Stablecoin payments in the U.S. could soon be tax-free under PARITY Act

PI Network: Why Smart Contracts Are the Core of the Institutional Argument

Smart contracts change what Pi can be used for. Without them, PI is a payment token. With them, it becomes a programmable platform where developers can build lending protocols, decentralized exchanges, gaming applications, and automated reward systems without relying on intermediaries. That transition from payment token to programmable blockchain is the same one Ethereum completed years ago, and it is the characteristic that most institutional capital uses to distinguish infrastructure assets from speculative ones. The Stellar foundation gives Pi a tested codebase to build on, reducing the risk of a failed smart contract rollout that has derailed other projects at this stage.

What Real-World Asset Tokenization Means for PI Specifically

The RWA tokenization feature in Protocol 23 is the closest thing to a direct bridge between Pi’s 47-plus-million-user base and the institutional tokenization market. If property, stocks, and commodities can be represented as Pi tokens, the network gains a use case that connects it to an $80 trillion global equities market and a tokenized asset sector that hit $27 billion in 2026. That is not a guaranteed outcome; it requires developer adoption, liquidity, and regulatory clarity. But it is a different category of utility than anything Pi has been able to offer before Protocol 23.

What the Node Upgrade Schedule Means for Price Before May 18

Each completed node upgrade milestone is a verifiable signal that the May 18 deadline is on track. The market has historically repriced PI ahead of confirmed upgrade completions, and the April 22 v22.1 deadline is the next such checkpoint. If that deadline is met on schedule, it removes one more uncertainty from the Protocol 23 timeline and gives buyers a concrete technical catalyst to position ahead of.

Read more: CLARITY Act: 14 Working Days Left Before the Window Closes

The PI price is flashing a falling wedge chart pattern on its 12-hour chart that analysts at Invezz say could push the token 22 percent higher toward the $0.200 resistance level, with smart contract catalysts and a Kraken listing adding fundamental weight to the technical setup.

Summary

PI is trading around $0.164 to $0.167 and has exited the upper side of the falling wedge channel, a move that Invezz analysts say signals a likely rebound toward the next key resistance at $0.200, approximately 22 percent above the current level.

A drop below the support level at $0.15 would invalidate the bullish outlook; a single whale address has accumulated approximately 350 million PI worth roughly $134 million, becoming the network’s sixth-largest holder, which signals long-term accumulation even as daily token unlocks of roughly 230 million PI create consistent sell-side pressure.

Four near-term catalysts are cited for the setup: the RPC testnet launch on April 11, the Protocol v23 smart contract upgrade due May 18, a Kraken listing, and the ongoing KYC verification process that has already cleared over 16 million users.

Invezz’s April 14 analysis identifies the falling wedge as a classic continuation pattern in which price compression within converging trendlines precedes a directional breakout. Pi has also remained above the Supertrend indicator and moved slightly above the 50-period moving average, with the RSI pointing upward from neutral territory near 42. Those conditions collectively suggest the selling pressure that has weighed on PI since its peak above $2.90 may be approaching exhaustion at the current level.

The PI token has spent much of 2026 between $0.16 and $0.20 after falling sharply from its open-market high, weighed down by the token unlock schedule and the absence of smart contract functionality that would give the network real DeFi utility.

You might also like: Binance Wallet perps debut as on-chain BNB flows and Binance Life whale moves draw scrutiny

PI Price: What the Catalyst Stack Looks Like Before May

The most significant near-term catalyst is Protocol v23, due May 18. The upgrade introduces smart contracts to the Pi mainnet for the first time, turning the network from a payment token into a programmable platform that developers can build lending, gaming, and DeFi applications on. The protocol is built on Stellar’s tech, which has already implemented similar features, meaning the transition is expected to be more stable than a greenfield smart contract rollout. Node operators must upgrade sequentially through v22.1 on April 22 before v23.0 goes live.

Why the Token Unlock Schedule Is the Counter-Argument

The bullish technical setup runs directly against a structural headwind that is not chart-dependent. Approximately 230 million PI tokens are scheduled to unlock in the next 30 days, adding consistent sell pressure regardless of technical patterns or protocol upgrades. That daily unlock rate has been the primary reason PI has underperformed the broader market since its listing. Any 22 percent move toward $0.200 would need buying volume to absorb that supply, which historically has required either a major exchange listing or a significant utility event to materialize.

What Traders Are Watching as the April 22 Node Deadline Approaches

The v22.1 node upgrade deadline on April 22 is the next verifiable milestone on the road to Protocol v23. All mainnet node operators must complete it to remain connected to the network. Successful on-schedule completion would signal to the market that the May 18 smart contract launch is on track. As Pi builds toward that milestone, the $0.15 level remains the line that separates the current bullish setup from a deeper consolidation.

Read more: CLARITY Act: 14 Working Days Left Before the Window Closes

The Ethereum price jumped 8 percent to $2,370 Tuesday morning as Trump’s signals about potential Iran peace talks triggered a broad risk-on rally across crypto markets, with bitcoin touching $74,900 and the total crypto market cap approaching $2.6 trillion.

Summary

Bloomberg data confirmed Ether rose 5 percent alongside bitcoin’s move to $74,400, with the synchronized gains across BTC, ETH, and XRP signaling genuine risk appetite returning to the asset class rather than a bitcoin-only safe-haven move.

Ethereum is trading approximately 52 percent below its August 2025 all-time high of $4,953 and has faced sustained ETF outflows, with Ethereum investment products recording $129 million in net outflows on April 11 even as XRP pulled in $119.6 million.

Standard Chartered maintains a long-term $15,000 price target for Ethereum, while Arthur Hayes has projected a $10,000 to $20,000 range, though both scenarios depend on macro conditions and regulatory clarity that the current Iran war environment has substantially delayed.

Yahoo Finance data shows Ethereum opened Monday at $2,191 and fell 4.1 percent from Sunday’s open as the naval blockade went live. Tuesday’s 8 percent reversal at the open demonstrates how directly Iran war headlines are driving Ether’s price action in the absence of a crypto-specific catalyst. The CLARITY Act markup window opening this week is the first regulatory catalyst Ethereum has had since the ceasefire rally, and passage of the bill would formalize Ethereum’s digital commodity classification under federal law for the first time.

Ethereum Price: Why the Rally Is Wider Than Just Bitcoin

When bitcoin rallies alone, it typically reflects either a bitcoin-specific catalyst or safe-haven rotation within crypto. When Ethereum rises 8 percent on the same day, it reflects a broader improvement in risk appetite across the asset class. Tuesday’s move included XRP gains, altcoin recovery, and total market cap approaching $2.6 trillion, meaning the Iran peace signal triggered a system-wide repricing rather than a single-asset move. That distinction matters because system-wide rallies have historically been more durable than single-asset moves driven by short squeezes.

You might also like: XRP ETF Inflows Hit $119 Million in One Week

What the ETF Outflow Divergence Means

XRP pulled in $119.6 million in weekly ETF inflows while Ethereum recorded $129 million in outflows on a single day. That divergence is striking and reflects different institutional narratives. XRP is being accumulated ahead of expected CLARITY Act clarity that would cement its digital commodity status. Ethereum’s ETF flows reflect institutional uncertainty about its regulatory classification and concerns about its economic model relative to bitcoin. The Ethereum Foundation completed a $143 million staking commitment in the same week as the ETF outflows, showing that on-chain conviction and product flows are telling different stories.

What Ethereum Needs to Sustain This Move

The price needs three inputs to sustain above $2,370: a credible Iran diplomatic development before April 22, a CLARITY Act markup announcement from the Senate Banking Committee, and continued bitcoin strength above $74,000. Without all three, the most likely outcome is a fade back toward the $2,150 to $2,200 range where Ethereum has consolidated for most of the Iran war period.

You might also like: Stablecoin payments in the U.S. could soon be tax-free under PARITY Act

Pi Network has completed a major protocol update that brings it even closer to launching full smart contract capabilities on the network.

Summary

Pi Network rolled out mainnet v21, moving closer to full smart contract support and improved network performance.

Launch of a testnet RPC server will allow developers to build and test dApps ahead of mainnet deployment.

Despite upgrades, Pi Network price remains under pressure, with a bearish breakdown pointing to a potential drop toward $0.131.

In an April 14 X post, the Pi Network team revealed that the Pi mainnet has successfully been upgraded to version 21, which introduces several critical performance enhancements.

This milestone is part of a series of strategic improvements intended to expand the ecosystem’s functionality. The most important one will be the introduction of smart contracts to the network, which will enable developers to build decentralized applications in a more efficient and scalable manner.

As such, the Pi team urged node operators to update their systems to the latest software version immediately. It also promised to share more details regarding the upcoming version 22 update soon, which is expected to further refine the network infrastructure.

You might also like: Here’s why Chainlink price is a coiled spring poised for a breakout

Another major development shared by the development team is the launch of an RPC server on the Pi Testnet. This tool will enable developers to build, test, and deploy smart contracts before they go live on the main network. Besides this, it will also enable smoother integration with third-party wallets and analytical tools.

Once fully implemented, the upgrade will make Pi Network a direct competitor to other popular chains such as Ethereum or Solana, with the aim of boosting Pi token utility over time as new applications continue to be built on the network.

Pi Network price analysis

Pi Network (PI) price initially rose slightly higher to $0.167 on the day before paring off with all of its gains and settling at $0.165 at the time of writing. The token has been in a steady downtrend since late March, during which it fell by approximately 15%.

On the daily chart, Pi Network price has formed a descending triangle, a highly bearish pattern, over the past month. It confirmed a bearish breakout from the pattern as it fell below the lower horizontal trend line at $0.166.

Pi Network price has formed a descending triangle pattern on the daily chart — April 14 | Source: crypto.news

Hence the path of least resistance for Pi Network price suggests a move downwards towards the Feb. 11 low of $0.131.

Momentum indicators such as the MACD and RSI strongly support the bearish forecast as they pointed downwards, suggesting that selling pressure remains dominant for now.

Read more: Ethereum price breaks out from multi-year descending channel, eyes upside to $3,400

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Nexo partners with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reinforcing the company’s expansion in South America.

Summary

Nexo partners with Argentina’s national team as regional digital asset sponsor ahead of 2026 World Cup

The deal strengthens Nexo’s expansion in Argentina following Buenbit acquisition and local hub launch

Nexo and AFA formalize partnership in Buenos Aires, marking push into South American crypto market

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 14, 2026 — Nexo, the premier digital assets wealth platform, today announced a partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), becoming the Official Regional Digital Asset Partner of the Argentine National Football Team across South America ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The agreement deepens Nexo’s expansion in Argentina, where the company recently acquired the leading platform Buenbit and is establishing Buenos Aires as a regional hub with its local team.

Federico Ogue, CEO at Buenbit by Nexo, said: “Argentina’s national team represents the highest level of sporting excellence, built on talent, conviction, and an unrelenting will to win. At Nexo, we share that standard. As we grow our presence in Argentina and across South America, partnering with AFA is a statement of commitment to this region and the clients we serve here.”

Official partnership ceremony 

The partnership was officially launched at a gala ceremony in Buenos Aires, where Nexo and AFA executives signed the agreement before invited guests, media, and partners. The event marks the formal beginning of the collaboration ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of the AFA, said: “We are excited to announce a new partnership with a strong global reach that aligns with the Argentine 

Football Association’s international growth strategy, which we have been building in recent years through agreements with leading companies in innovation and technology.  In this context, Nexo’s arrival as the Official Digital Assets Partner of the Argentine National Team reflects not only the growth of our brand globally but also the growing interest of international companies in partnering with Argentine soccer and one of the world’s most prominent national teams.

Success in elite sports, just as in business, is based on a clear strategy, discipline, and the ability to perform at the highest level when it matters most. Collaborating with partners who share this mindset allows us to continue expanding our ecosystem and create meaningful opportunities to connect our players, our brand, and millions of fans around the world.

Partnership activations

Nexo is starting a global ticket giveaway campaign for Argentina’s World Cup matches, open to new and existing clients. Signed squad shirts and co-created player content with Messi, Lautaro Martínez, Julián Álvarez, and Nico Paz will be distributed across the campaign window running from May through the end of the tournament. Nexo’s program will incorporate match-day experiences and squad merchandise, such as tier-linked rewards, connecting platform activity directly to the campaign.

Nexo is committed to global premium sport, serving as the Official Crypto Partner of the Australian Open and Summer of Tennis, the Official Digital Wealth Platform of the DP World Tour, and the Official Partner of the Audi Revolut Formula 1 Team.

Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The partnership adds a further dimension to Nexo’s U.S. relaunch. In February 2026, Nexo re-entered the United States market under a regulated framework, marking its first operational return to the country. Argentina arrives at the World Cup as reigning champions, competing across North American stadiums.

About Nexo

Nexo is a premier digital assets wealth platform designed to empower clients to grow, manage, and preserve their crypto holdings. Our mission is to lead the next generation of wealth creation by focusing on customer success and delivering tailored solutions that build enduring value, supported by 24/7 client care.

Since 2018, Nexo has provided unmatched opportunities to forward-thinking clients in over 199 jurisdictions. With over $8 billion in AUM and over $403 billion processed, we bring lasting value to millions worldwide. Our all-in-one platform combines advanced technology with a client-first approach, offering high-yield flexible and fixed-term savings, crypto-backed loans, sophisticated trading tools, and liquidity solutions, including the first crypto debit/credit card. Built on deep industry expertise, a sustainable business model, robust infrastructure, stringent security, and global licensing, Nexo champions innovation and long-lasting prosperity.

For more information, visit the official website.

About the Argentine Football Association (AFA)

Founded in 1893, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) is the governing body of football in Argentina and one of the oldest football associations in South America. AFA oversees the Argentine national team — the Albiceleste — three-time FIFA World Cup champions and current title holders, as well as the structure of Argentine club football.

Read more: Crypto lender Nexo returns as U.S. regulatory climate evolves

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.

Former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo is leaving the legal profession to commit himself fully to the digital asset space as a strategic adviser for fintech and cryptocurrency startups.

Summary

Chris Giancarlo is retiring from legal practice at Willkie Farr & Gallagher to focus exclusively on advising cryptocurrency founders and fintech boards.

The former regulator earned the nickname Crypto Dad during his time leading the CFTC for his early support of digital assets and his role in launching the first Bitcoin futures.

The announcement came via a social media post on Sunday, where Giancarlo confirmed his departure from the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher and his official retirement from legal practice. 

By moving into a full-time advisory role, he plans to provide guidance to executives and boards navigating the evolving digital economy.

“From here on, I’ll devote my time to advising founders & builders of FinTech & Digital Assets and their CEOs and boards, research & writing on public policy issues, and continuing work with non-profit programs,” Giancarlo stated.

A legacy of digital advocacy

Known throughout the industry as “Crypto Dad,” Giancarlo earned his reputation during his tenure at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

He joined the agency as a commissioner in 2014 under the Obama administration and later served as chairman from 2017 to 2018 following a nomination by Donald Trump. 

His leadership was defined by the pivotal decision to greenlight the first Bitcoin futures markets in the United States, a move that helped bridge the gap between traditional finance and nascent digital markets.

Giancarlo has remained a prominent figure in regulatory circles since leaving public office, recently working with the crypto-focused bank Sygnum on global strategy and compliance. 

During a recent appearance on “The Wolf of All Streets” podcast, he addressed the slow pace of legislative efforts like the CLARITY Act. 

He suggested that even without immediate action from Congress, the CFTC and the SEC possess the necessary tools to establish a functional framework for the industry.

Modernizing the financial system remains a priority for the former regulator. He warned that while regulatory uncertainty might cause traditional banks to hesitate, the underlying tech is too important to ignore.

“I think there’s a recognition that this is the new architecture of finance and America, our financial institutions are the world’s dominant financial institutions. We need to modernize that. We need to adopt this technology,” he said.

The transition follows a similar path taken by other high-ranking regulators. Caroline Pham, who previously served as the acting chair of the CFTC, moved into the private sector last December to take on the role of chief legal officer at MoonPay.

The AI stocks that drove three consecutive years of outsized market gains have gone flat in 2026 while the energy sector is up nearly 30 percent, as the Iran war’s energy shock has forced a sector rotation that is rewriting the portfolio playbook investors relied on through 2024 and 2025.

Summary

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are both roughly flat in 2026 after both indexes gained more than 40 percent in the prior two years, while energy stocks are up nearly 30 percent and consumer staples have risen more than 7 percent, with the Iran war driving oil above $100 and making energy the dominant return source in the market this year.

Investors are rotating out of AI infrastructure plays and into energy, defense, and dividend stocks, with Nvidia down approximately 17 percent from its highs and Palantir off more than 30 percent from its November peak, while Motley Fool analysis describes the shift as a “great rotation” that is likely temporary but has already lasted long enough to require genuine portfolio repositioning.

The same Iran war driving energy sector gains is also pressuring AI stocks through two channels: elevated oil keeps inflation high, which suppresses rate cut expectations and tightens the liquidity conditions that growth stocks require, and rising energy costs increase the operating expenses of the AI data centers that the sector’s capital spending programs depend on.

As Motley Fool’s April 13 analysis concluded, “it’s clear that the recipe that led to riches in 2024 and 2025 doesn’t work for 2026.” The piece identifies three factors investors need to hold simultaneously: maintain tech exposure for the eventual bounce, add energy and consumer diversification for current conditions, and accept that the AI infrastructure thesis has not changed even if the near-term stock performance has. The International Energy Agency projects that AI data center electricity consumption will grow 15 percent per year through 2030, more than four times faster than total electricity demand, meaning energy and AI are structurally linked even as they trade in opposite directions right now.

AI Stocks: Why the Rotation Into Energy Is Logical Rather Than Permanent

The Iran war has done something that valuation concerns and ROI skepticism could not accomplish on their own: it gave investors a near-term alternative to AI stocks with real upside. Energy stocks do not require a multi-year payoff thesis. They produce higher earnings directly when oil prices rise, making them straightforward beneficiaries of the exact macro environment that is suppressing growth stock valuations. The rotation is rational given the current conditions, but it is also inherently self-limiting. The war will end. Oil will come down. When it does, the liquidity conditions that support growth stocks return with it, and the earnings growth projections that made AI infrastructure plays attractive in 2024 will not have changed.

You might also like: Crypto market splits as RaveDAO soars 200% while Polkadot, Zcash slide

What the Energy Surge Means for Crypto Markets

The energy sector’s 30 percent gain in 2026 is directly tied to the same oil shock that has been the primary bitcoin macro headwind since February. Bitcoin has traded as a high-beta risk asset through the entire Iran conflict, selling when oil spikes and recovering on ceasefire news. The pattern shows an 85 percent correlation between bitcoin and the Nasdaq during energy price surges, meaning the same macro conditions suppressing AI stocks are also suppressing crypto.

What Investors Are Watching for a Signal to Rotate Back

The signals that would reverse the rotation are the same ones the crypto market is watching: ceasefire extension or war resolution, oil back below $90, and a Fed that can credibly discuss rate cuts again. Motley Fool’s analysis notes that technology is “too important a sector to be down for the long term” and that pulling money out of tech entirely means forfeiting the eventual bounce, which has historically been sharp after extended underperformance driven by external macro shocks rather than deteriorating fundamentals.

Read more: Crypto Market Update: CME Bitcoin Futures Hit a 14-Month Low as Fear and Greed Index Drops to 12

Bitcoin futures open interest on the CME has fallen to a 14-month low of approximately $7.2 billion in early April, extending a five-month decline as the basis trade that drove institutional demand unwinds and the Crypto Fear and Greed Index sits at 12, deep inside extreme fear territory for the 46th consecutive day.

Summary

CME Bitcoin futures average daily open interest fell below $8 billion in March 2026 and dropped further to approximately $7.2 billion in early April, a new low since February 2024; monthly trading volume on the CME fell to $163 billion in March, nearly half the peak seen in January 2025.

The decline is driven by the collapse of the cash-and-carry basis trade: institutions that bought spot Bitcoin ETFs while shorting CME futures to capture the spread between futures and spot prices have been unwinding those positions as the annualized basis compressed to roughly 5 percent, just above the 4.5 percent US risk-free rate, eliminating the incentive for the trade.

The CME has now lost its position as the largest Bitcoin futures exchange to Binance for the first time since November 2023, with liquidity increasingly concentrated in offshore markets and perpetual swap platforms where retail traders dominate.

As KuCoin’s daily market report noted, the basis trade was the central engine of institutional Bitcoin exposure after US spot ETFs launched in 2024. For much of 2024 and 2025, the strategy offered a relatively low-risk yield from the spread between futures and spot prices. As bitcoin fell from its high of $120,000 to below $70,000, that spread compressed sharply, making the trade uneconomical against the current risk-free rate. The result is a sustained institutional pullback from CME that shows up directly in both open interest and monthly volume figures.

The Fear and Greed Index reading of 12 reflects a market where retail sentiment has been suppressed for longer than at any comparable point since late 2022.

Bitcoin Futures: What the CME Decline Signals About Institutional Positioning

The CME open interest decline is not just a technical number. It represents a withdrawal of the leveraged institutional layer that was added when spot Bitcoin ETFs launched. That layer bought spot and shorted futures simultaneously, creating a stabilizing force in the market. As it unwinds, the market loses a source of structural demand at the spot level and a source of short pressure in futures, leaving price action more exposed to sentiment swings and geopolitical headlines. The five consecutive months of CME open interest decline also mean that any institutional re-entry will require the basis to widen again, which typically requires bitcoin price appreciation first.

You might also like: American Bankers Association warns yield‑bearing stablecoins could sap community lending

What Extreme Fear for 46 Days Means Historically

The Fear and Greed Index has produced extreme fear readings in three prior sustained windows: March 2020 during the COVID crash, June 2022 at the cycle low, and November 2022 during the FTX collapse. In each case, bitcoin traded meaningfully higher 12 months after the extreme fear period ended. That historical pattern does not predict a specific outcome, but it does establish that 46 consecutive days of extreme fear is associated with capitulation conditions, not the beginning of sustained selling.

What Would Bring Institutional Money Back to CME

As crypto.news has reported, the conditions for institutional re-engagement with CME Bitcoin futures require either a widening of the basis spread above the risk-free rate or a shift in macro conditions that makes leveraged crypto exposure attractive again. As crypto.news has noted, the combination of Iran war uncertainty, elevated oil prices, and a Fed on hold removes the macro conditions that typically draw institutional capital into risk assets, meaning CME recovery is likely to lag any price recovery in spot bitcoin.

Read more: Animoca‑backed Anchorpoint to launch HKDAP stablecoin as ECB backs ESMA crypto push