Crypto News Today : Strategy Bitcoin, Pi Network News, XRP News, Bitcoin Price

Gate.io has launched MemeBox 2.0, a major upgrade aimed at streamlining on-chain trading. The new feature allows users to directly trade trending tokens across Base, BNB Chain, and Ethereum using USDT from their spot accounts, eliminating the need for chain switching or extra authorization steps. This enhancement significantly boosts the convenience and efficiency of on-chain asset transactions, reflecting Gate.io’s commitment to improving user experience and accessibility in the evolving decentralized trading landscape. Traders can now enjoy faster and more seamless operations.

Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba has taken a firm stance in ongoing U.S. tariff negotiations, stating Japan will no longer concede unilaterally. “If Japan concedes everything, we won’t be able to secure our national interest,” Ishiba declared, according to Bloomberg. His comments suggest a hardening of Japan’s position, casting doubt on the likelihood of a swift trade agreement. Markets are reacting to the shift, with sentiment turning cautious amid concerns that a Japan-U.S. trade deal remains distant.

In a bold move, MANTRA CEO and Founder JP Mullin announced the burn of his entire 150 million $OM token allocation, valued at $86.3 million. The announcement led to an immediate market reaction, with the OM/USDT price experiencing a sharp but brief spike, currently stabilizing at around $0.58, a gain of over 8%. This strategic burn demonstrates MANTRA’s commitment to long-term value and tokenomics, signaling strong confidence from leadership and sparking fresh investor interest in the $OM ecosystem.

The global crypto market saw a 2.93% increase, reaching a $2.75 trillion market cap with a 24-hour trading volume of $68.79 billion, up by 42.67%. Bitcoin rose 3.36% to $87,196.52, while Ethereum and XRP gained 3.21% and 3.19%, respectively. Solana increased 1.08%. Among top gainers, Stacks surged 16.30%, followed by MANA with a 12.57% rise. On the downside, DeXe led the losses, dropping 7.18%, with LEO and XCN also showing declines.

Stock futures dropped on Monday following a negative trading week for Wall Street, with little progress in global trade talks. Dow Jones futures tumbled 347 points, or 0.9%, S&P 500 futures fell 1.1%, and Nasdaq-100 futures dropped 1.4%. This follows a third consecutive weekly decline for the major indexes, with the S&P 500 closing the holiday-shortened week 1.5% lower. The Dow and Nasdaq each recorded a more than 2% pullback over the past four trading days.

Over 30% of wealthy South Koreans now prefer cryptocurrency as a long-term wealth strategy, surpassing traditional assets like gold and property, according to a Hana Bank report. The growing interest, especially among younger investors, marks a significant shift from stocks to digital assets. Nearly 48% of crypto investors in Korea are in their 20s and 30s, with crypto trading volumes soaring. As regulators move toward formalizing crypto guidelines, South Korea’s dynamic market is becoming a key player in the global crypto landscape.

ChainLink Labs engaged in discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force in late March 2025 to help shape crypto regulations. The meetings focused on clarifying crypto token standards and SEC authority over tokenized assets. CEO Sergey Nazarov presented blockchain solutions for asset management, while Chainlink’s involvement in regulatory talks strengthens its role in DeFi. This collaboration with the SEC aims to create a more transparent and secure framework for blockchain technologies and tokenized markets.

Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) will play a pivotal role in Hidden Road’s post-trade prime brokerage services, as confirmed by Ripple’s UK and Europe Managing Director, Cassie Craddock. The $1.25 billion deal includes using Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin as collateral, marking a strategic bridge between crypto and traditional finance. XRPL integration is expected to cut settlement times from 24 hours to just seconds, positioning Ripple at the forefront of institutional finance and serving over 300 hedge funds and trading firms globally.

Nvidia faces fresh competition in China as Huawei plans mass shipments of its 910C AI chip starting in May. With U.S. export restrictions tightening around Nvidia’s H20, Chinese AI firms are turning to the 910C—a powerful GPU combining two 910B processors, rivaling Nvidia’s H100. The shift marks a significant blow to Nvidia’s dominance in China’s AI hardware space, as Huawei and local startups fill the gap left by restricted access to U.S. technology.

A long-term Ethereum whale has moved 450 ETH ($730.6K) to Binance after holding for 2.5 years, locking in a modest $108K profit. Wallet 0x6ebc74 had several opportunities to sell above $4K, potentially bagging a $1M gain, but missed the peaks. The deposit aligns with ETH’s current trading zone near $1.6K. This move could signal cautious optimism or exit strategy amid ongoing market volatility. Will more whales follow suit as ETH consolidates?

A long-term Ethereum whale has moved 450 ETH ($730.6K) to Binance after holding for 2.5 years, locking in a modest $108K profit. Wallet 0x6ebc74 had several opportunities to sell above $4K, potentially bagging a $1M gain, but missed the peaks. The deposit aligns with ETH’s current trading zone near $1.6K. This move could signal cautious optimism or an exit strategy amid ongoing market volatility.

XRP has taken a bold leap forward as regulated futures go live on Coinbase today. While other tokens wait on the sidelines, XRP is gaining institutional traction, signaling a surge in market confidence and momentum. This move marks a major milestone in XRP’s journey toward mainstream adoption. With a fast-evolving crypto landscape, XRP isn’t waiting for permission—it’s stepping into the spotlight and leading the charge.

Pi Network unlocks 5.6 million PI tokens today, part of a massive 1.56B annual release. While the token holds above $0.60, roadmap confusion and weakening sentiment could sway momentum. April’s total unlock exceeds 108M tokens, with even larger monthly releases ahead. Past unlocks triggered mixed market reactions, and with RSI at 43.8 and OBV dropping, pressure builds. All eyes are now on whether bulls can defend key support, or if a breakdown is coming.

Binance Alpha will open trading for Zora (ZORA) on April 23, 2025, at 13:00 UTC. To celebrate, Binance is airdropping 4,276 ZORA tokens to eligible users. Participants must have purchased at least $50 on Alpha via Spot or Funding accounts between March 22 and April 20, 2025. Airdrops will be credited by 13:10 UTC on April 23. This listing marks ZORA’s growing presence in the crypto ecosystem.

Strategy has acquired 6,556 more Bitcoin for $555.8 million at an average price of $84,785 per BTC, pushing its total holdings to 538,200 BTC worth over $36.47 billion. Founder Michael Saylor shared the update on X, noting a 12.1% BTC yield year-to-date. With over 55 million U.S. investors indirectly exposed to Bitcoin via MSTR stock, Strategy continues to be a dominant force in bridging traditional finance and crypto markets.

BNB Chain has planned its $100M incentive program after a disappointing pilot phase. The updated model prioritizes high-quality, secure projects, setting strict eligibility for trading and TVL-based assets. Projects must meet thresholds in market cap, volume, and decentralization, with mandatory audits and vesting protocols. A minimum $100K investment will be made per qualifying project, favoring BNB Chain-native tokens.

Vitalik Buterin has proposed replacing Ethereum’s EVM bytecode with the RISC-V instruction set to boost efficiency and adapt to evolving demands. The shift comes as base-layer activity declines, with fees averaging just $0.16 in April—the lowest since 2020. Ethereum collected only 3.18 ETH in blob fees recently, prompting fears of long-term sustainability. With Ether trading near $3,100 and analysts warning of a possible dip to $1,100, the RISC-V move is seen as a crucial modernization step.

Gold hit a record $3,395.84 per ounce on April 21, 2025, soaring 29.38% YTD amid global economic uncertainty. Strong demand from central banks, robust ETF inflows, and expectations of lower interest rates are fueling the rally. The gold spot chart shows resistance near $3,395 and support around $3,000, with bullish forecasts eyeing $3,500 or even $30,000 long-term. As volatility rises, gold remains the go-to safe haven for investors navigating uncertain macroeconomic conditions.

Bitcoin price surged to $87,248.71 amid $45.5M ETF inflows and 14,000 BTC in whale-driven exchange outflows. Bullish technicals, including an ascending triangle pattern and neutral RSI, suggest more upside. Non-empty Bitcoin wallets have climbed to 54.72 million, nearing an all-time high, signaling rising optimism. BTC now targets resistance at $88,500, with a breakout likely pushing it past $90,000.