Crypto Market Update

Market Performance

“Prepared at UTC 07.18 am”

Asian Markets Edge Higher as Oil Retreats but Geopolitical Risks Persist

Most Asian stock markets posted modest gains on Wednesday as oil prices pulled back from recent highs, although investors remained cautious amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and ahead of key U.S. inflation data. Wall Street indices closed largely unchanged overnight, while futures tied to those benchmarks traded slightly higher in Asian markets around 02:40 GMT, reflecting a cautious but stable global risk sentiment.

Bitcoin Faces Potential Volatility as Seven Central Banks Prepare Rate Decisions

Bitcoin markets could see increased volatility next week as seven major central banks, including the Federal Reserve, prepare to announce interest rate decisions. The upcoming policy announcements come at a time when rising oil prices triggered by the war have renewed global inflation concerns. The combination of geopolitical risks and monetary policy decisions is expected to play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment across both traditional and digital asset markets.

Senate Democrats Move to Ban Prediction Markets Linked to Death and War

U.S. Senate Democrats introduced the DEATH BETS Act, a bill aimed at explicitly banning prediction market contracts related to terrorism, war, assassinations, and individual deaths. The legislation, introduced by Senator Adam Schiff, seeks to write the ban directly into federal law despite the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s increasingly permissive stance toward event contracts. The proposal would remove the CFTC’s discretion over such markets and prohibit any CFTC-registered exchange from listing contracts tied closely to a person’s death or violent events.

Ripple Seeks Australian Financial Services License as APAC Payments Double

Ripple plans to acquire BC Payments Australia in order to secure an Australian Financial Services License, enabling the company to offer its full payments solution through a single integration in the country. The move comes as Ripple expands its regulated footprint to more than 75 licenses globally. The company reported that its payment volume in the Asia-Pacific region nearly doubled year-over-year in 2025, contributing to over $100 billion in processed transactions across 60 markets.

Elon Musk Announces April Launch of X Money, Dogecoin Briefly Surges

Elon Musk revealed that X will launch its new payment feature, X Money, next month in partnership with Visa and a licensed subsidiary. The service will initially support peer-to-peer transfers, bank deposits, a debit card, and cashback rewards across more than 40 U.S. states. Although the announcement did not mention any cryptocurrency functionality, speculation about possible crypto integration briefly pushed Dogecoin up as much as 8%. Musk later clarified that X Money is designed primarily as a fiat-based payments product similar to Venmo rather than a crypto wallet.

Aave Sees Rare $27M Liquidations After Pricing Error

The DeFi lending platform Aave experienced roughly $27 million in liquidations following what appears to have been a pricing error linked to its risk-oracle system. Blockchain data showed a spike in liquidation activity within the past 24 hours, with observers suggesting the event may have been triggered by a price update affecting how collateral values were calculated on the platform. Such large liquidation events are relatively rare for Aave, drawing attention to the importance of oracle reliability within DeFi protocols.

Senators Seek Stablecoin Yield Compromise to Advance Crypto CLARITY Act

U.S. lawmakers are attempting to break the legislative deadlock surrounding the Crypto CLARITY Act by negotiating a compromise on stablecoin yield provisions. During a summit in Washington, senators assured banking representatives that the final legislation would not threaten traditional bank deposits. The American Bankers Association has been lobbying to close what it sees as loopholes allowing stablecoins to offer yield, while policymakers and crypto advocates appear increasingly aligned around preventing interest-bearing stablecoins from functioning like traditional savings accounts.

Polymarket and Palantir Partner to Protect Sports Betting Integrity

Polymarket announced a partnership with Palantir and TWG AI to develop a monitoring platform aimed at detecting suspicious trading and manipulation in sports prediction markets. The new system will analyze unusual trading patterns, screen participants, and generate compliance reports that can be shared with regulators and sports leagues. The collaboration comes as prediction markets face growing scrutiny over potential insider information and market manipulation.

Bernstein Says Circle Could Gain 60% on Stablecoin and AI Finance Growth

Analysts at Bernstein believe Circle’s stock could rise to around $190, implying roughly 60% upside following its recent rally. The outlook is driven by growing adoption of stablecoins in digital payments and the potential emergence of AI agent-driven financial systems. According to the analysts, stablecoins are increasingly decoupling from traditional crypto market cycles as their use in payments and financial infrastructure expands.

Rick Edelman Warns Crypto Should Not ‘Die at the Peak’ Over Stablecoin Yield Debate

Veteran financial advisor Rick Edelman warned that the crypto industry should not risk its broader progress by focusing too heavily on the debate around yield-bearing stablecoins. Banking groups argue that allowing stablecoin issuers to offer yield could pull deposits away from traditional banks, creating systemic competition. Edelman suggested the banking lobby may ultimately succeed in blocking such features and said the dispute has become a key sticking point in negotiatons over the proposed Crypto CLARITY Act.

CFTC Chair Highlights Broad Crypto Agenda Including DeFi and Prediction Markets

CFTC Chairman Mike Selig outlined an extensive regulatory agenda covering DeFi, crypto derivatives, and prediction markets, emphasizing that the United States is regaining leadership in digital assets. He announced a joint “Project Crypto” initiative with the Securities and Exchange Commission aimed at resolving jurisdictional conflicts and coordinating oversight. Selig also confirmed that the CFTC will issue guidance on prediction markets and has begun the rulemaking process, stressing the growing importance of event contracts tied to elections and real-world outcomes.