Staking is critical in securing blockchain networks while earning rewards for investing in crypto assets.
In traditional finance, people lock up their savings in financial institutions such as banks to earn interest. In the crypto market, staking refers to locking up your crypto assets in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to earn rewards. Staking has become a popular way of earning passive income in crypto as locked-up tokens help secure the blockchain networks.
In the early stages of crypto staking, one could only earn through the staked tokens. With liquid staking, a flexibility feature is included. One can stake a token like Ethereum and get a liquid version like stETH, which can be traded and used for other purposes on the DeFi ecosystem.
This is like locking your savings and getting a receipt to use for other reasons, and later redeeming the receipt for your savings.
Why is Liquid Staking Important?
Liquid staking is an innovation that unlocks more asset utility without sacrificing one’s potential rewards, especially for long-term token holders. Staking will earn investors passive income, while liquid staking gives both yield and freedom to risk some of your staked assets for more potential gains without withdrawing them.
Platforms such as Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase offer liquid staking services for crypto assets like Ethereum and Solana. This game-changer service allows one to maximize on their crypto utility and returns.
The United States Federal Reserve has withdrawn its crypto guidance for banks, signalling the current administration’s shift toward an innovation-friendly future.
Crypto enthusiasts are anticipating a major market boom filled with creativity, innovation, and favourable policies following the latest developments in Trump’s administration. The United States Federal Reserve has announced its official withdrawal from guidance on crypto and dollar activities for banks.
…These actions ensure the board’s expectations remain aligned with evolving risks and further support innovation in the banking system.
This comes as a surprise, but also a strategic shift within the U.S government’s approach to crypto-based innovation. It is a reflection of the growing openness and support for digital finance as a potential industrial revolution aiming to transform traditional finance.
As crypto adoption gains wider ground, the market is yet to see a huge capital inflow from traditional investors diversifying into Defi and blockchain projects in the coming months. Regulatory clarity is a necessity for the market’s growth and crypto adoption in everyday life.
Fear and greed index data reveal that investors are panicking more in the stock market than in crypto. Are investor perceptions of risk shifting?
Latest data by Alphractal has unveiled a surprising twist in the global assets market. A look into the fear and greed index in both the stock market and the crypto market suggests more anxiety in the stock market than in crypto.
While cryptocurrencies have always witnessed more volatility than stocks over the years, this data has raised eyebrows regarding market sentiment. Traditionally, Crypto is viewed as a riskier market in comparison to stocks. However, the crypto market has proved to be borderless and decentralized enough to survive diverse market storms.
Recent trade war, inflation, and geopolitical tensions have escalated volatility in the stock market, causing widespread fear and anxiety. The stock market index hit 20.94 (Extreme Fear) while the crypto market hit 32 (Fear) in market sentiment.
Source: X
This new trend signals rising confidence in crypto market maturity and stabilization, considering its borderless nature. Increased credibility means more adoption and future growth for the market.
U.S states are shifting their approach to financial wealth preservation, slowly incorporating Bitcoin in addition to gold reserves. With individual state legislation proceedings ongoing, how is the race?
Bitcoin has fought many battles since the birth of cryptocurrencies as the next stage of financial market evolution. During its early days, a negative public sentiment referred to Bitcoin as the currency of scammers and illegal activities. In a surprising turn of events, Bitcoin’s resilience has seen it become a “digital gold” that institutions and governments rush to hold as a strategic asset of wealth presevation.
In the U.S, Arizona state leads the pack, hitting its final stages of bills meant to establish the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Similarly, other states, including Texas, Florida, and New Hampshire, have their bills crossing committee stages, per Bitcoin Laws data.
Source: Bitcoin Laws
With inflation becoming a huge economic concern, digital assets like Bitcoin with no centralized control could be the only hedge against economic uncertainties. As a result, we could see more governments globally joining the rush for a piece of this “digital gold”.
Hyperliquid surges 8.67% with a high trading volume after retesting and bouncing off a key support. Technical analysis hints at $36 as a long-term target.
Hyperliquid, the high-performance decentralized perpetuals exchange, has seen its token, HYPE, surge 8.67% in the past 24 hours, as of this writing. Per CoinMarketCap data, the coin’s trading volume has risen 28.41% following a retest and bounce-off at the $12-$13.5 key support zone on the daily chart.
Source: CoinMarketCap
According to technical analyst Solberg Invest, with the momentum building, traders are eyeing the $19-$27 key resistance zone in the mid-term while targeting $36 in the long-term.
Derivatives data by Coinglass signals heightened open interest (+10.12%) as HYPE’s Open Interest (OI) Weighted Funding Rate turns positive.
With prices fluctuating around the $16.7 level, hype could be geared up for a rally soon. One should watch for the coin’s buying volume, open interest, and Relative Strength Index(RSI) in the current setup to understand HYPE’s next moves.
Panama City Council has made history as the first-ever public government body to accept crypto for official payments, following years of legislation back-and-forth.
Crypto enthusiasts in Panama City are filled with optimism following the city’s decision to accelerate crypto adoption in the economy. The city council voted in favour of this, allowing a partnership with banks to facilitate crypto transactions.
The financial hub of Latin America uses the U.S dollar as a legal tender while hosting over 70 international banks. According to Mayer Mizrachi on X (formerly Twitter):
Panama City council has just voted in favor of becoming the first public institution of government to accept payments in Crypto. Citizens will now be able to pay taxes, fees, tickets and permits entirely in crypto starting with BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT.
Adding to its favourable tax regulations, using crypto for official payments is a boost to crypto adoption globally. With big global financial institutions integrating crypto payments in the city, the market could see this ripple to other cities where they operate.
Michael Saylor announces that Strategy has bought another 3,459 Bitcoin, boosting the Company’s BTC stash to surpass half a million.
Strategy, formerly known as Microstrategy, is a U.S.-based business intelligence company that has shifted its focus to a bold Bitcoin investment vision since 2020. The company’s Executive Chairman and Co-founder, Michael Saylor, has announced its latest BTC purchase on the 13th of April. According to his X post ;
$MSTR has acquired 3,459 BTC for ~$285.8 million at ~$82,618 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 11.4% YTD 2025. As of 4/13/2025, @Strategy holds 531,644 $BTC acquired for ~$35.92 billion at ~$67,556 per bitcoin.
He revealed that the company’s yield on BTC has hit 11.4% year to date. MicroStrategy became the first major company to adopt Bitcoin as a treasury reserve. Despite BTC’s volatility during market cycles, the company has kept “strong hands” on its coins, advocating a HODL Bitcoin investment approach.
Strategy’s Bold Bitcoin acquisition suggests rising corporate confidence and institutional adoption of Bitcoin as a digital asset in large portfolios.
If you own any crypto in 2025, safe storage has become more important than ever. While hackers and scammers get smarter, here is how to protect your coins.
Hackers, scammers, and malicious actors are common in the crypto space and have been spreading their wings wider, mainly on social platforms. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crypto investor, you could be prone to the ever-evolving hacking threats and scams.
So, how do you keep your coins safe?
Using the right wallet: For long-term storage, use hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor that are offline and hard to hack. For daily usage, apps like MetaMask and Trust Wallet are suitable. However, be careful as they are online and prone to malicious actors.
Protect your Keys: Never share your seed phrase (your wallet backup). You should store it on a well-kept paper or metal away from online platforms. Also, use strong passwords and have 2FA(two-factor authentication on.)
Beware of Red Flags: Avoid phishing emails, unknown airdrops, and fake apps by doing enough research. Likewise, always double-check any wallet addresses and URLs before engaging action.
Final Take:
When required to send a large amount of coins, it is advisable to do small test transactions to avoid losing crypto. For large amounts storage, multisig wallets can be considered.
Trump has signed the first-ever crypto bill into law, easing regulations and encouraging DeFi innovation.
A controversial IRS rule that required DeFi platforms to act like traditional brokers and report user data to the authority has been limiting innovation in the digital asset market. However, on the 10th of April, in what is deemed a “major win” for the crypto space, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new legislation repealing this barrier into law.
Source:Carey.house.gov
What does this mean for Bitcoin and the Future of DeFi?
Most DeFi platforms in the U.S. have faced challenges in protecting user privacy while complying with the IRS requirements of data disclosure. DeFi platforms exist to minimize the bureaucracy associated with traditional finance infrastructure.
This includes both anonymity and transparency, depending on user requirements. As a result, the IRS rule was overwhelming for most DeFi projects, hindering their growth and user adoption. With the new Legislation, DeFi projects could be in for exponential growth, pushing demand for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies higher.
The global financial markets are facing heightened volatility as fresh trade tensions between major economies spark investor anxiety. This Global Market Chaos is intensifying uncertainty, with investors scrambling to reassess their portfolios amid unpredictable economic shifts. The latest tariff measures introduced by the U.S. government have led to sharp declines in stock indices, fluctuations in currency valuations, and turbulence in commodities and cryptocurrencies.
This Global Market Chaos is reshaping investor sentiment, prompting concerns over economic stability and long-term financial growth. As panic-driven sell-offs continue and major economies brace for further disruptions, financial experts warn of prolonged market instability. The risk of recession looms large, and investors are left questioning how to navigate these turbulent times.
Stock Markets in Freefall
Major stock indices around the world have plunged following the recent U.S. tariff announcements. This Global Market Chaos has heightened investor concerns about the potential repercussions of a full-blown trade war, leading to a sell-off in equities.
U.S. Markets: The S&P 500 declined by 1.5%, with tech stocks leading the fall. The Nasdaq Composite tumbled by 2.7%, driven by a sell-off in major technology companies, including Nvidia. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell by 1.3%, reflecting investor concerns across multiple sectors, including manufacturing and retail.
Japan: The Nikkei 225 dropped by 2.88%, impacted by concerns over global trade disruptions and a weakening yen. Major exporters such as Toyota and Sony experienced sharp declines.
China: The CSI 300 slid by 1.97%, as fears over a slowing economy and trade tariffs led to decreased investor confidence. Companies with strong export ties to the U.S. saw steep losses.
Europe: The FTSE 100 in London showed some resilience, rising by 0.19%, but Germany’s DAX fell by 2.1%, and France’s CAC 40 declined by 1.8% due to concerns over economic stability.
India: The Sensex and Nifty 50 both dropped by over 1.5% as foreign investors pulled out funds, worried about the impact of global trade instability on emerging markets.
Germany: The DAX index faced a sharp decline of 2.1%, as investor confidence waned amid weakening industrial output and economic uncertainties exacerbated by global trade disputes.
The U.S. dollar strengthens as investors flock to safe-haven assets, putting pressure on emerging markets. Currency markets are shifting rapidly, with many economies struggling against depreciation and financial strain. This trend highlights growing concerns over global economic volatility.
The U.S. dollar index surged to 107.32, reaching its highest level in two months.
The Indian rupee weakened against the dollar, trading at 87.30-87.32 compared to its previous close of 87.20.
Safe-haven currencies like the Japanese yen and Swiss franc strengthened as investors sought stability.
The euro and British pound faced downward pressure amid economic uncertainties.
The commodities market has also felt the impact of the trade turmoil.
Gold Prices Soar: Investors turned to gold as a safe-haven asset, driving prices up by 2.3% to $2,080 per ounce.
Oil Prices Decline: Concerns over slowing global demand caused crude oil prices to fall. Brent crude dropped by 1.8% to $82 per barrel, while WTI crude declined by 2.1% to $77 per barrel.
Cryptocurrency Market: Volatility and Investment Opportunities
Cryptocurrencies, known for their volatility, are also experiencing uncertainty amid global market turmoil. Despite short-term sell-offs, analysts see long-term potential in digital assets.
Bitcoin (BTC) dropped by 3.5%, falling below the crucial $50,000 support level. Analysts predict that a sustained break below this level could trigger further declines, while institutional investors remain cautious about buying the dip.
Ethereum (ETH) declined by 4.2%, trading at $3,250. The upcoming Ethereum network upgrades are expected to bring stability, but short-term market uncertainty is deterring speculative investment.
Altcoins Suffer Losses: Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) declined by 5% and 6%, respectively, as investor sentiment turned risk-averse. Despite this, developers continue to build on these blockchain networks, fueling optimism for long-term growth.
Regulatory Uncertainty: Governments worldwide are tightening regulations on cryptocurrencies, contributing to the current market instability. While some investors fear stricter oversight, others believe that clearer regulations could ultimately legitimize the industry and attract institutional investment.
Long-Term Outlook: While the current downturn presents challenges, many experts remain bullish on the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies. Increased adoption, technological advancements, and institutional interest could drive future price rebounds.
What’s Next for Global Markets?
With market volatility at its peak, investors are closely watching central bank policies and trade negotiations for further developments. The ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and potential retaliatory tariffs could drive additional market swings in the coming weeks.
As economic tensions escalate, traders and investors must stay informed and adopt strategic risk management approaches to navigate the uncertain financial landscape.
