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Tether has expanded its ecosystem by launching a new wallet app that enables users to send and receive USDT, Bitcoin, and gold using simple usernames instead of traditional wallet addresses, aiming to simplify crypto usage for its 570 million users. In parallel, the company added 951 BTC worth about 70.47 million dollars from Bitfinex, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to around 97,141 BTC valued at roughly 7.2 billion dollars, reinforcing its position among the largest on-chain BTC holders.

Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin ETF MSBT has seen strong early demand with inflows crossing 100 million dollars within the first few trading days. The fund also recorded about 30.6 million dollars on launch day, showing solid institutional interest. With a low 0.14 percent fee, it has become highly competitive in the Bitcoin ETF market. The strong start highlights growing investor appetite for regulated Bitcoin exposure as competition among major issuers like BlackRock continues to intensify in the digital asset space.

About 50 million Americans now reportedly own Bitcoin, surpassing about 37M who hold gold, despite Bitcoin’s short 16-year history versus gold’s 5,000-year legacy. The trend aligns with Paris Blockchain Week 2026 at the Carrousel du Louvre, which has drawn over 20,000 participants and focused on institutional adoption of digital assets. Industry voices, including Blockstream’s Adam Back, described Bitcoin as core financial infrastructure, while French officials signaled growing openness to regulated crypto markets and blockchain-based finance.

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire says China could introduce a yuan-backed stablecoin in the next three to five years, which could reshape global payments. He explained that stablecoins allow faster and more efficient cross-border money transfers, helping currencies reach a wider global audience. Allaire also said demand for stablecoins like USDC is rising as global uncertainty grows. He added that digital currencies are becoming more important in international finance due to their speed, accessibility, and ability to simplify global settlement systems.

A recent analysis from Cato Institute researcher Nicholas Anthony explains that US tax rules treat Bitcoin as property, meaning every payment is a taxable capital gains event. Even small daily purchases like buying coffee require tracking the purchase price, sale value, and profit or loss, then reporting it on IRS forms. Over time, frequent use can generate more than 70 pages of tax documentation. The report argues this complexity discourages Bitcoin from being used as everyday money and calls for reforms like exemptions or the removal of capital gains tax on small transactions.

eToro has announced plans to acquire Zengo, a company known for its secure and easy-to-use crypto wallet. The move aims to expand eToro’s digital asset offerings and give users more control over their crypto investments. Zengo, founded in 2018, provides a keyless wallet system that improves security while keeping things simple for everyday users. According to Yoni Assia, the deal supports the future of finance becoming more digital and user-controlled. Ouriel Ohayon said joining eToro will help bring self-custody crypto tools to a global audience. There will be no immediate changes for users. However, in the future, eToro users are expected to get access to more crypto features like trading tools and new digital products. The acquisition is part of eToro’s push to combine traditional investing with modern crypto technology.

Tether has launched tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet that connects users directly to its global payments and settlement infrastructure. The wallet supports Bitcoin, USDT, USAT, and XAUT across Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Plasma, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. It also allows easy transfers using simple usernames like [email protected] instead of long wallet addresses. Tether said more than 570 million wallets were already using its technology as of March 2026, showing strong global adoption and growing use of its ecosystem.

Deutsche Börse, Germany’s largest exchange group, has invested $200 million in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, acquiring around a 1.5 percent stake on a fully diluted basis. The deal values Kraken at roughly $13.3 billion, marking another major step in the integration of traditional financial institutions with crypto infrastructure. The move highlights growing institutional confidence in digital asset platforms as regulated exchanges increasingly expand into blockchain-based trading, custody, and tokenized market systems globally.

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a formal remission claims process for victims of the $4 billion OneCoin crypto fraud. Eligible investors who suffered losses between 2014 and 2019 can apply to receive compensation from more than $40 million in forfeited assets. Claims must be submitted through the administrator Kroll by June 30, 2026. The scheme impacted around 3.5 million victims worldwide. Founder Ruja Ignatova remains a fugitive, while Karl Sebastian Greenwood has already been sentenced for his role in the fraud.

Aptos has rolled out a major tokenomics overhaul aimed at tightening supply and boosting long-term value. The update cuts staking rewards to 2.6 percent and raises gas fees 10x, with fees designed to drive token burns. The total supply is capped at 2.1 billion APT, while 210 million tokens are permanently locked by the Foundation. Aptos is also exploring buybacks and expects over 32 million APT to be burned annually after its upcoming ecosystem DEX goes live, increasing deflationary pressure.

Pi Network launched a free RPC endpoint this week on its Testnet at rpc.testnet.minepi.com, giving developers easy access to blockchain data, smart contract testing, and app building on its Stellar-based network. Around April 13, the Mainnet also completed its upgrade to Protocol 21, improving stability and preparing for features like decentralized identity and future smart contracts, although it missed the original April 6 deadline. Supporters see this as steady progress toward a scalable Web3 ecosystem, while critics continue to highlight roadmap delays since its 2019 launch.

The FTX and Alameda estate has moved 198,425 $SOL worth around $16M to a bankruptcy-controlled wallet as part of ongoing creditor repayments. The transfers are linked to the court-approved $12.7B recovery plan following the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto empire. So far, $7.6B has been distributed, while $5.1B remains outstanding. Despite continued movements, $SOL is still the estate’s largest holding, with 3.57M tokens valued at over $293M.

Polymarket prediction markets are showing a cautious outlook for Bitcoin in 2026, with traders assigning a 67% probability that BTC will trade below $55,000 and a 43% chance of falling under $45,000. These odds reflect shifting sentiment as traders weigh macro uncertainty, historical cycle behavior, and weakening momentum after recent volatility. Market participants are also mapping potential cycle bottom zones ranging roughly between 60,000 and 38,000 dollars. The data highlights growing debate on whether Bitcoin is entering a deeper correction phase.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority has issued its first stablecoin issuer licences under the new Stablecoins Ordinance to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial Limited, a consortium backed by Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecom. Both entities are allowed to issue Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoins, with launches expected in the coming months. This marks a major step in Hong Kong’s regulated digital asset strategy as it moves to build a secure and institutionally driven stablecoin ecosystem.

Japan’s Cabinet has approved a bill to officially classify cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, marking a major regulatory shift. The new framework introduces stricter oversight, including a ban on insider trading and mandatory annual disclosures for related entities. By bringing crypto under financial market regulations, Japan aims to improve transparency, strengthen investor protection, and align digital assets with traditional financial standards. The move signals growing global efforts to integrate cryptocurrency into established regulatory systems.