Ripple is acquiring prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in digital assets. The move positions Ripple as the first crypto firm to operate a global, multi-asset prime broker. Hidden Road clears $3 trillion annually and serves over 300 institutions. The acquisition enhances Ripple’s offerings, boosts RLUSD stablecoin utility, and shifts Hidden Road’s post-trade activity to XRPL. It supports institutional adoption by bridging traditional and decentralized finance. The deal awaits regulatory approval.

The U.S. Department of Justice has shut down its crypto crime unit, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), following an order from President Trump. The DOJ said it’s shifting focus to targeting individuals who scam crypto investors, not exchanges or tools like mixers. The unit, created in 2021, worked on big cases like Tornado Cash and North Korean hackers. This move is part of Trump’s broader push to reduce crypto regulations and make the U.S. a global leader in digital assets.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of the Trump administration, allowing deportations of Venezuelans allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang under the old Alien Enemies Act. While deportations can resume, detainees can still challenge their detention in court. Critics, including Justice Sotomayor, raised due process concerns. The ruling marks a legal win for Trump’s immigration stance but leaves key constitutional questions unresolved, and civil rights groups plan to keep fighting the law’s use in non-war contexts.

Bitcoin is currently trading in the green-yellow zone of the Rainbow Chart, which means it’s still in the phase. This suggests Bitcoin isn’t overvalued yet and has room to grow. Historically, when BTC enters this zone, it often moves higher toward the orange-red zones, signaling a potential price increase. If history repeats, BTC could target in the coming months. However, investors should watch for volatility before any strong breakout.

The first XRP ETF in the U.S., offered by Teucrium, is set to launch . It is a leveraged product aiming to deliver through swaps, not direct token exposure. Designed for short-term trading, it resets daily and is best suited for experienced traders familiar with volatility and compounding risks.

FARTCOIN defied broader market weakness by bouncing from $0.40 and forming a bullish engulfing candle, closing above $0.60. Technical indicators like the RSI and MACD show bullish divergences, supporting the upward trend. Analysts suggest the token is in an A-B-C corrective wave, with wave C now in motion. A breakout above $0.60 could push the price toward $0.82 or even $1.12–$1.16. However, since the long-term trend remains bearish, a reversal may follow after reaching those targets.

Crypto lawyer James Murphy has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, demanding the agency disclose any information it has about the true identity of Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Murphy aims to force transparency on whether the government knows who Nakamoto is, amid long-standing speculation and secrecy surrounding the pseudonymous figure behind the world’s first cryptocurrency.

John-Paul Thorbjornsen, founder of THORChain and creator of the Vultisig wallet, is under scrutiny as North Korea’s Lazarus Group allegedly laundered $1.2B of stolen crypto through THORChain after the $1.4B Bybit hack. Despite FBI requests, THORChain refused to block transactions, earning over $12M in fees. Critics question the protocol’s decentralization, citing centralized control incidents. Thorbjornsen denies ongoing control but continues promoting Vultisig, which earned revenue from the laundered funds and is launching its token, VULT, on April 16.

The launch of the first leveraged XRP ETF in the U.S. marks a major milestone, boosted by the SEC’s decision not to appeal its case against Ripple. This has increased hopes for a spot XRP ETF approval, with prediction markets giving it an 87% chance by 2025. Major firms like Grayscale and Franklin Templeton are now racing to launch XRP-backed ETFs. Ripple’s $50 million settlement with the SEC clears years of uncertainty, fueling institutional interest and potentially bullish price action.

Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, likely faced losses in early 2025 as Bitcoin prices dropped by 12%. Despite buying more Bitcoin—now holding 528,185 BTC worth $43.5B—the company saw a $5.9B decline in value. With over $8.2B in debt and high interest/dividend payments, Strategy depends heavily on Bitcoin’s price. Its software business isn’t profitable, and if Bitcoin falls further, it may need to sell at a loss to meet financial obligations. The company recently rebranded to reflect its Bitcoin-first approach.

Binance, a leading crypto exchange, will remove 14 tokens from its platform on April 16, 2025, after its first community vote. The tokens being delisted include BADGER, BAL, BETA, CREAM, and others. This move caused many of these tokens to drop in value, with some falling by 25–35%. The decision was based on community feedback and Binance’s regular review process to ensure quality and compliance of listed tokens. Users are advised to take necessary actions before the delisting date.

World Liberty Fi (WLFI), the Trump-affiliated crypto project, is launching a test airdrop of its USD1 stablecoin to WLFI token holders. USD1 is backed by U.S. Treasuries and custodied by BitGo, with transfers tested on Ethereum and BNB Chain via Wintermute. The airdrop aims to validate WLFI’s distribution mechanism ahead of a broader rollout. Exact amounts remain undisclosed, but eligibility favors presale investors. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds WLFI’s $550M raise, with $390M reportedly tied to a Trump-linked entity and increased regulatory scrutiny underway.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) has jumped 17.74% in the past 24 hours, now trading at $12.06. Its market cap has reached $4.03 billion, with trading volume spiking over 40% to $223.89 million. Currently ranked #26, HYPE is gaining strong momentum as the overall crypto market shows signs of a solid rebound.

Crypto prices rallied today driven by investor optimism, rising institutional demand, and positive macro signals. Despite a sharp 5.5% dip, Bitcoin bounced back near $80K. Around $1.5B in bullish crypto bets were sold—the highest in 2025—raising concerns of continued option market pressure. Altcoins like Solana and Cardano led gains, fueling bull run hopes. Traders now eye the upcoming US CPI data for further market direction.