According to Cointelegraph, the Big Four accounting firm formerly known as Ernst & Young has transitioned its enterprise-focused layer 2 blockchain, Nightfall, to a zero-knowledge rollup design. This change is aimed at providing near-instant transaction finality on the Ethereum network. EY announced on April 2 that the new source code, "Nightfall_4," simplifies the network's architecture, making it more accessible to users compared to its previous optimistic rollup-based version. The shift away from optimistic rollups eliminates the need for users to challenge potentially incorrect transactions on Ethereum and endure the challenging period, thereby accelerating transaction finality. Zero-knowledge rollups ensure that a transaction becomes final as soon as it is added into a Nightfall block, according to EY. Paul Brody, EY's global blockchain leader, stated, "This update to version four represents a major update to Nightfall, providing the same privacy and scaling that version three enabled, but now with near-instant finality and a simplified architecture." This marks the fourth major update to Nightfall since its launch in 2019, aimed at enabling EY's business partners to transfer tokens privately using Ethereum's security while being more cost-effective than the base network. Nightfall employs technology that binds a verified identity to a public key through digital signatures to mitigate counterparty risk. Nightfall also collaborates with EY's other primary blockchain solution, OpsChain, to offer a supply chain tracking platform for financial, logistics, and manufacturing businesses. While Nightfall's code is open source on GitHub, it remains a permissioned blockchain for EY's customer base. Competitors to EY's Nightfall include IBM-backed Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda, and the Consensus-built Quorum. This development underscores EY's commitment to advancing blockchain technology for enterprise applications, enhancing privacy, scalability, and transaction efficiency on the Ethereum network.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said that according to the "2025 Cryptocurrency Holders Report" released by the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), 21% of Americans hold cryptocurrencies, and 76% of them said that cryptocurrencies have a positive impact on their lives.

According to PANews, Ethereum (ETH) has recently dropped below the $1800 mark, currently trading at $1799.79 per coin. This represents a daily decrease of 5.33%.

According to Odaily, the White House announced on April 2 that U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency. This decision aims to boost the United States' competitive edge, safeguard national sovereignty, and strengthen both national and economic security.

According to Odaily, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new approach to tariffs, targeting countries he perceives as unfavorable to the United States. He stated that the total amount, including non-monetary barriers, will be calculated. The retaliatory tariff rate will be set at half of the tariff rate imposed by these countries, indicating that the response will not be entirely reciprocal.

According to Odaily, White House documents indicate that several goods will be exempt from reciprocal tariffs. These include steel and aluminum products, as well as automobiles and auto parts already subject to Section 232 tariffs. Additionally, copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and wood products are also exempt. The exemption extends to all items that may be subject to future Section 232 tariffs, gold, and certain energy and mineral resources that are not accessible in the United States.

Galaxy Digital has been licensed in the UK to trade derivatives through its London office. From 2020, companies conducting certain crypto asset activities in the UK must comply with revised money laundering, terrorist financing and money transfer regulations and register with the FCA. There are currently 51 companies on the crypto asset register, including Coinbase, Fidelity, Gemini and Kraken, and only about 14% of applications are approved due to the FCA's strict approval process. As previously reported, BlackRock has been approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority to operate as a crypto asset company in the country.

DTCC, the world's largest securities clearing agency, has officially launched a blockchain-based tokenized collateral management platform, which uses smart contracts to automate operations and improve cross-market trading efficiency. The platform will debut at an industry event on April 23 and promote the formulation of global tokenized collateral standards. DTCC executives said that collateral liquidity is the "killer application" of blockchain and can support real-time trading around the clock. This move marks that traditional financial giants are accelerating their embrace of tokenization technology, and institutions such as BlackRock and Fidelity have also laid out this field.

Odaily Planet Daily News: On April 2, U.S. Congresswoman Waters accused former President Trump of using political influence to promote the issuance of stablecoins by his family business for profit, and warned that if Congress does not resolve its conflict of interest, it should veto the relevant bill. She said Trump may try to get the government to fully adopt his private stablecoin to replace the U.S. dollar payment system. Members of both parties are worried that Trump's involvement in the crypto industry poses moral risks and complicates legislation. The relevant stablecoin bill is awaiting a vote by the committee.

Odaily Planet Daily News Standard Chartered Bank's latest research report predicts that the price of Avalanche (AVAX) tokens is expected to reach $250 in 2029, an increase of more than 10 times from the current level of $20. The bank pointed out that the Etna upgrade completed by the end of 2024 will significantly reduce development costs, drive the number of developers to grow by 40%, and attract institutions such as BlackRock to introduce the $1.9 billion tokenized fund BUIDL to the network. Analyst Geoffrey Kendrick expects AVAX to rise year by year: $55 in 2025, $100 in 2026, and $150 in 2027 (historical high). The Avalanche Foundation simultaneously launched a $55 million incentive plan, focusing on supporting developers and AI projects. The report also reminds that AVAX's volatility is twice that of Bitcoin, and investment should be cautious.

7-Eleven in South Korea will accept CBDC payments as part of a government pilot programme, offering a 10% discount on purchases made with digital currency between April and June 2025. The CBDC trial, launched by the Bank of Korea, involves 100,000 participants and aims to test digital currency use in everyday transactions.

Solana has launched the Solana Policy Institute (SPI) to help shape blockchain regulations and educate policymakers about decentralised networks. The move comes as Solana faces regulatory uncertainty while gaining more institutional support and market growth.

AI and remote sensing are transforming earthquake preparedness, enabling advanced forecasting and real-time response. But disaster management evolves, will it help us or hinder us?

The Trump family turned to cryptocurrency after banks closed their accounts, claiming they were unfairly targeted due to politics. They have since invested in crypto mining, DeFi projects, and digital assets, seeing crypto as a more secure and independent financial system.

USDC payments are now available on Sony's Singapore online store, with the company suggesting that additional cryptocurrencies may be introduced in the future.

GameStop raised $1.5 billion through a convertible note offering to buy Bitcoin and strengthen its balance sheet. Despite initial excitement, the move led to a drop in the company's stock, as investors grew wary of the increased debt.

Mastercard is launching a programme to accelerate virtual card adoption, enhancing interactions across banks, platforms, and businesses. By leveraging advanced VCN technology, Mastercard is enabling seamless, consumer-like commercial payments.

Singapore media, Lianhe Zaobao just reported that the founder of Bytedance Zhang Yiming, has changed his citizenship to become a Singaporean.

The South Korean entertainment giant-record label HYBE officially given up its hope on expanding into the blockchain, after multiple failed attempts.

As TikTok's April 5 ownership deadline approaches, its future in the US remains uncertain. President Donald Trump will hold a White House meeting on Wednesday to discuss potential investors before the crucial decision.