DAILY NEWS – April 02, 2026
Market Performance
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 66,600 | -3.67% |
| Ethereum (ETH) | 2,045 | -4.88% |
| Bitcoin Spot ETF | -173.73M | |
| Ethereum Spot ETF | -7.10M | |
| Nasdaq (NAS100) | 23,650 | -1.30% |
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 6,575 | +0.72% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,466 | -2.18% |
| U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) | 100.081 | +0.50% |
| VIX Volatility Index | 26.67 | +5.67% |
| U.S. 10-Year Yield | 4.376 | +2.60% |
| Brent Crude Oil (BRENT) | 105.275 | +7.55% |
| LBMA Gold (XAU) | 4,622 | -1.97% |
| LBMA Silver (XAG) | 70.81 | -5.22% |
“Prepared at UTC 08.16 am”
Trump Signals Escalation as U.S. Plans to Intensify Iran Operations
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday evening that military operations against Iran will intensify over the next two to three weeks, reiterating the need to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Speaking from the White House, Trump said negotiations with Tehran are ongoing but warned that failure to reach an agreement could result in attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure. He added that the U.S. is close to completing its military objectives and threatened to deliver a decisive blow if necessary.
Ripple Integrates Digital Assets Into Corporate Treasury Systems
Ripple has integrated native digital asset capabilities into GTreasury-based corporate treasury management systems, enabling CFOs to manage XRP and RLUSD alongside fiat currencies within a single interface. The new features include real-time fiat valuation, 15-decimal precision, automated audit trails, and connectivity to multiple external custodians without requiring separate wallets or third-party platforms.
Tokenized Brent Futures Rank Among Top Liquidations on Hyperliquid
Tokenized Brent crude futures on Hyperliquid accounted for $46.6 million of approximately $403 million in total liquidations within 24 hours, ranking third after bitcoin and ether. The largest single liquidation was a $17.17 million Brent position, marking the second time in under a month that oil has led individual liquidations on a crypto platform.
Drift Confirms Active Attack After $200M Outflow
Solana-based DeFi platform Drift confirmed an active attack following more than $200 million in fund outflows. The platform has halted deposits while investigating suspicious activity and urged users to remain cautious.
EDX Markets Seeks U.S. Trust Charter to Expand Institutional Services
Citadel-backed crypto exchange EDX Markets has applied for a U.S. trust charter to expand its institutional offerings. The move aims to enable custody and asset services as demand from institutional clients continues to grow.
Franklin Templeton Launches Dedicated Crypto Division with Acquisition
Franklin Templeton is launching a dedicated crypto division named Franklin Crypto, supported by the planned acquisition of crypto investment firm 250 Digital. The new unit will combine liquid crypto strategies previously managed by CoinFund with Franklin’s digital asset team to offer more active, institution-focused investment products. Part of the acquisition will be paid using tokenized BENJI assets, marking an experimental step toward using blockchain-based instruments in M&A, with the deal expected to close in Q2 2026.
Grayscale Outlines Phased Strategy for Tokenization Investments
Grayscale’s head of research stated that tokenization will unfold in waves and advised investors to adopt a phased approach. Institution-friendly networks like Canton are expected to lead initially, while platforms such as Avalanche and Ethereum may offer greater returns in later stages, according to Zach Pandl.
OpenAI Raises $122B at $852B Valuation, Becoming Most Valuable Startup
OpenAI raised $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation, positioning itself alongside giants like Berkshire Hathaway as the most valuable startup in history. The funding round, backed by Amazon, Nvidia, SoftBank, and Microsoft, attracted global investors and included over $3 billion from individual participants. The company reported $2 billion in monthly revenue and 900 million weekly ChatGPT users, while continuing to invest heavily in computing infrastructure and building an integrated AI “super app.”
Alabama Grants Legal Status to DAOs Under DUNA Act
The U.S. state of Alabama has become the second jurisdiction after Wyoming to grant legal recognition to decentralized autonomous organizations under the DUNA Act. The legislation establishes a legal framework for decentralized, unincorporated nonprofit associations and was signed into law following strong legislative support. Industry leaders emphasized that decentralized governance is critical to the future of crypto and a key component of broader market structure regulation.
U.S. Expands Crypto Market Manipulation Case Against Foreign Firms
Three crypto executives extradited from Singapore appeared in a federal court in Oakland as U.S. prosecutors expanded a market manipulation case involving 10 foreign nationals and four market-making firms. According to the Department of Justice, the case stems from a covert operation launched in October 2024 and targets coordinated schemes designed to inflate token prices and trading volumes, making assets appear more liquid and in demand than they actually were.
