BlackRock reports $3B in digital asset inflows during Q1

BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with $11.6 trillion in assets under management, reported $84 billion in total net inflows in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 3% annualized growth in assets under management. The firm’s strong performance was led by a record first quarter for iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) alongside continued strength in …

The whale, the hack and the psychological earthquake that hit HEX

An elderly crypto whale known as “HEX 19” lost nearly $4.5 million in a slow-moving hack that drained his staked HEX over multiple years.  At first, it looked like a HEX whale was cashing out. But it wasn’t long before the community realized he didn’t voluntarily unstake his tokens — he had become a victim …

Swedish MP proposes Bitcoin reserve to finance minister

A member of Sweden’s parliament proposed adding Bitcoin to the country’s foreign exchange reserves, suggesting increased openness to cryptocurrency adoption in Europe following recent moves by the United States. Swedish MP Rickard Nordin issued an open letter urging Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson to consider adopting Bitcoin (BTC) as a national reserve asset. “Sweden has a …

What is a bear raid, and how do whales use them in crypto trading?

Key takeaways Bear raids involve deliberate efforts by whales to drive down crypto prices using short-selling, FUD and large-scale sell-offs to trigger panic and profit from the dip. These raids create volatility, trigger liquidations and damage retail confidence. However, they can also expose weak or fraudulent projects. Signs include sudden price drops, high trading volume, …

Ethical hacker intercepts $2.6M in Morpho Labs exploit

A known maximal extractable value (MEV) white hat actor intercepted about $2.6 million in crypto assets stolen from Morpho Labs’ decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol.  On April 10, Morpho Labs implemented a front-end update on its Morpho Blue application. A day later, a hacker breached an address through a vulnerability caused by the update. Blockchain security …

Bollinger bands creator says Bitcoin forming 'classic' floor near $80K

Bitcoin (BTC) is exhibiting familiar “bottom” behavior at current prices, according to one of its best-known leading indicators.  In an X post on April 10, John Bollinger, creator of the Bollinger bands volatility metric, revealed good news in progress for Bitcoin bulls. Bollinger bands %b metric teases BTC price comeback Bitcoin may already be establishing …

SEC, Ripple file joint motion to pause appeals in XRP case

The US Securities and Exchange Commission and blockchain payments firm Ripple agreed to pause their appeals in the ongoing XRP legal battle, signaling a potential move toward a final settlement. The SEC and Ripple agreed to put their appeals in “abeyance,” meaning the proceedings are now paused pending an anticipated settlement of the XRP (XRP) …

Conor McGregor’s REAL memecoin: Everything you need to know

What Is REAL? Conor McGregor’s staking-enabled memecoin explained Conor McGregor, also known as “Notorious,” is an Irish mixed martial artist born in Dublin on July 14, 1988. He is renowned for his achievements in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he became the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes — featherweight …

Grayscale and Osprey end 2-year legal fight over Bitcoin ETF promotion

Asset managers Osprey Funds and Grayscale Investments agreed to settle a lawsuit over alleged violations of Connecticut law in the advertising and promotion of Grayscale’s Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).  According to an April 9 court filing, the parties agreed to settle the two-year-old case and are finalizing documentation and settlement terms. The filing noted that …

Illinois Senate passes crypto bill to fight fraud and rug pulls

The Illinois Senate by a vote of 39 to 17 passed a regulatory bill aimed at curbing cryptocurrency fraud and protecting investors from deceptive practices, including rug pulls and misleading fee structures. On April 10, the chamber passed Senate Bill 1797 (SB1797), also known as the Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act, which Senator Mark …