Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) investor education committee has clarified that transactions and contracts within prediction markets are not classified as investment products. According to NS3.AI, the committee emphasized that individuals participating in these markets are not afforded protection under the Securities and Futures Ordinance or the regulations enforced by the SFC. The committee also cautioned that seeking recourse could be challenging or even impossible if issues occur.

Banking Circle, a Luxembourg-based bank, has introduced a stablecoin settlement service offering two-way settlement between fiat currencies and stablecoins. According to Foresight News, the bank received a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from the Luxembourg Financial Supervisory Authority (CSSF) on April 15. The service currently supports instant settlement for USDC, USDG, and EURI, aiming to enhance the efficiency of cross-border settlements and fund management through blockchain technology.

Western Union announced during its first-quarter earnings call that it will launch its Solana-based stablecoin, USDPT, next month. First announced in October 2025, the stablecoin is now in its "final stages." Anchorage Digital Bank will issue USDPT, a stablecoin designed specifically for Western Union's global agent network for settlement purposes, not for consumers. Western Union plans to launch USD stablecoin cards in "dozens of markets" later this year, allowing consumers to hold value in stablecoin form and spend globally. (Decrypt)

China has stepped up pressure across its financial, technological, and capital markets while deepening restrictions on cryptocurrency activity and foreign investment—just as the United States intensifies sanctions targeting Chinese energy firms tied to Iranian crude imports. The coordinated moves mark a new phase in the widening economic confrontation between Beijing and Washington.

The tech world is abuzz with a seemingly simple concept: LLMWiki. It's not another complicated jargon, but a straightforward idea proposed by Andrej Karpathy, a top AI expert and former head of AI at Tesla.

The Hong Kong Securities Commission's Investment Committee has released a document titled 'Understanding Investment Through Prediction Markets.' According to Odaily, the document describes prediction markets as speculative platforms aimed at forecasting events, rather than investment products. Key features include the predictability of events, trading operations, transaction prices, and returns. Investors are advised to carefully consider the value of investments, asset allocation, and regulatory safeguards before engaging in any investment. The committee warns that public participation in prediction market trading activities is not protected by the Securities and Futures Ordinance or any regulations enforced by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. In case of issues, it may be difficult or impossible to seek recourse.

Nansen API has integrated the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), enabling agents to pay directly through their wallets based on usage. According to Foresight News, MPP is a standard for autonomous machine-to-machine payments, supported by Tempo and Stripe. This feature operates alongside x402 and Nansen API keys, with endpoints, data, and pricing starting at $0.01 per call remaining unchanged.

Paul Sztorc, a developer who has long focused on Bitcoin scaling solutions, has proposed a Bitcoin hard fork called eCash at block height 964,000 in August 2026. This fork would distribute eCash to BTC holders at a 1:1 ratio and introduce a Drivechains sidechain architecture into the new chain. The controversy centers on his plan to pre-allocate a portion of the eCash corresponding to the Satoshi Nakamoto address on the new chain to early investors, a move criticized by the community, with some accusing it of "stealing" tokens. Paul Sztorc stated that this move aims to incentivize development and collaboration before the project launches.

Key TakeawaysFour major central banks -- the Fed, Bank of Japan, Bank of England, and ECB -- all set interest rate policy this week, with the Fed expected to hold at 3.75%US Q1 GDP growth (est. 1.5%) and March PCE inflation data drop Thursday, April 30, alongside initial jobless claimsRobinhood, Galaxy, Visa, Mastercard, and major tech companies report earnings, with results likely to influence crypto market sentimentXYO co-founder Markus Levin warns Bitcoin could pull back to $72,000–$74,000 if persistent inflation reinforces a hawkish Fed toneKey crypto events include a Jupiter (JUP) token unlock worth $9.67 million on April 28, a $40.43 million SUI unlock on May 1, and Magic Eden's full wallet shutdown also on May 1Crypto markets are heading into one of the most macro-heavy weeks of 2026, with four major central bank decisions, a slate of critical US economic data, and a wave of corporate earnings all converging in a five-day window that could significantly reshape the near-term outlook for Bitcoin and digital assets.Bitcoin enters the week trading around $77,826, holding near the $78,000 level after a strong April recovery but still facing the unresolved technical challenge of the 21-week EMA at $78,400.Four Central Banks in Five DaysThe week's dominant macro theme is monetary policy. The Bank of Japan kicks things off with its rate decision on Sunday April 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET, with rates expected to hold at 0.75%. The Bank of Canada follows on April 29 at 8:45 a.m. ET, with the previous rate at 2.25%.The Federal Reserve delivers its decision on April 29 at 1:00 p.m. ET, with markets expecting rates to hold at 3.75%. The Bank of England and European Central Bank both announce on April 30, with the BOE expected to hold at 3.75% and the ECB anticipated to hold at 2.15%.While no rate changes are broadly expected, the tone of accompanying statements -- particularly from the Fed -- will be closely parsed for signals on the inflation and easing outlook. Markus Levin, co-founder of XYO, told CoinDesk that while the Fed is expected to stay on hold, "persistent inflation could reinforce a hawkish tone and we could see bitcoin pull back to the $72,000–$74,000 range once again in the short term."US Data: GDP, PCE, and JobsThursday April 30 is the week's heaviest data day. First-quarter US GDP growth is expected to come in at 1.5% quarter-on-quarter, a significant step up from Q4 2025's 0.5% reading, though still modest by historical standards. March PCE inflation -- the Fed's preferred price gauge -- is also due, with the prior year-on-year reading at 2.8% and core PCE at 3.0%. Initial jobless claims for the week ending April 25 are expected at 219,000 against a prior reading of 214,000.On May 1, the US ISM Manufacturing PMI for April is forecast at 52.5, marginally below March's 52.7.Earnings: Robinhood, Galaxy, Visa, Mastercard, Big TechCorporate earnings add another layer of market-moving potential. Robinhood and Galaxy Digital -- both directly tied to crypto market activity -- are among the most closely watched reports for the crypto community. Visa and Mastercard results will offer insight into consumer spending trends, while major tech earnings could either reinforce or challenge the current risk-on equity tone that has supported Bitcoin's April recovery.Levin noted that tech earnings "could be a crucial indicator in reinforcing or challenging the current trajectory given their outsized influence on equity markets, while developments around the US-Iran talks will steer sentiment through oil and dollar movements."Crypto-Specific EventsOn the token front, Jupiter (JUP) will unlock 1.54% of its circulating supply worth approximately $9.67 million on April 28 -- a potential source of sell pressure. SUI follows on May 1 with a larger unlock of 1.08% of circulating supply valued at approximately $40.43 million.Binance will delist Dego Finance (DEGO), DENT, and TrueFi (TRU) on April 28. Chiliz (CHZ) rolls out FanTokens V2.0 on April 27. Magic Eden completes the full shutdown of its wallet services on May 1.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission's Investment Committee issued a document titled "Looking at the Nature of Investment from the Perspective of Prediction Markets," which points out that prediction markets are speculative markets created for the purpose of making predictions. The trading activities or contracts in prediction markets are not investment products. Their main characteristics include predictable events, trading operations, trading prices, and returns. Investors should carefully consider the value of any investment, asset allocation, and regulatory and protective measures before making any investment. The Hong Kong Investment Committee states that public participation in prediction market trading activities is not protected by the Securities and Futures Ordinance or any regulations enforced by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. In the event of problems, it may be difficult to recover losses, or even impossible to pursue legal action.

Turkey's Finance Minister has stated that inflation is anticipated to decrease significantly once the volatility caused by the war subsides. According to Jin10, the minister emphasized the impact of the ongoing conflict on economic stability and expressed optimism about the future inflation trajectory. The statement reflects the government's outlook on economic recovery and stabilization efforts in the aftermath of geopolitical tensions.

On April 27, Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) portfolio manager Konstantin Veit released a report indicating that the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to keep interest rates unchanged during its April meeting, maintaining a cautious stance in a highly uncertain environment. According to Jin10, Veit stated, "At this stage, we still believe the ECB will remain vigilant rather than take action." He noted that if the ECB responds to inflation risks, any measures are likely to be gradual rather than aggressive. Veit also mentioned that the likelihood of more than two rate hikes is low. With rising risks to both economic growth and inflation, policymakers might wait until the next round of staff forecasts in June before making policy adjustments.

K Bank is working with Ripple to test blockchain remittances for faster and cheaper cross-border payments. The trial is being done in phases, including on-chain transfers to countries like the UAE and Thailand.

Chaos erupted outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as 31-year-old California teacher Cole Tomas Allen allegedly stormed a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, handgun, and knives, triggering a gunfire exchange with law enforcement just moments from a ballroom filled with senior US officials, journalists, and political figures.

Powell will hold his final press conference as Federal Reserve Chairman on Wednesday, local time.

Some of the things that have been developed in traditional finance over the past 15 years don't work in the crypto world.

Some of the things that have been developed in traditional finance over the past 15 years don't work in the crypto world.

Western Union will launch its USD-backed stablecoin USDPT on Solana in May 2026 for settlement with agents, not direct consumer use. It is also building a wallet-to-cash network and a stablecoin card for wider spending later in the year.

Three separate cases have revealed structural vulnerabilities in blockchain gambling platforms.

If you wanted to be present at Trump's Mar-a-Lago party last weekend, it only cost $8,000.