Crypto Industry News & Market Trends

Oil Price Tops $117 as Iran Blockade Fears Pressure XRP

Brent crude climbed above $117 after reports said the U.S. prepared for an extended blockade of Irans ports.Chevron met President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss ways to limit pressure on American consumers.XRP traded at $1.36, down 1% in 24 hours, with a market cap of $83.96 billion.　　Oil prices moved higher on Wednesday after reports said the U.S. prepared for a longer blockade of Irans ports. Brent crude climbed above $117 a barrel, extending its rise from just over $110 on Tuesday evening. The move kept energy markets focused on the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping disruption has already affected supply expectations.　　Crypto markets also traded under pressure as investors watched wider risk conditions. According to CoinMarketCap, XRP traded at $1.36, down 1% over 24 hours, while trading volume rose to $1.95 billion. The token stayed below $1.40 after slipping from a 24-hour high of $1.41.　　Oil Rally Follows Blockade Reports　　Brent crude rose above $117 a barrel on Wednesday afternoon, reaching its highest level so far this month. The move followed reports that President Donald Trump instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran‘s ports. The reported plan aims to increase pressure on Iran’s economy and oil exports.　　BBC

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Zcash (ZEC) Price Prediction: Rounded Bottom Breakout Setup Signals Potential Move Towards $400+

ZEC is testing a key breakout zone after forming a rounded bottom, with price holding above strong support as traders watch for a potential move towards $400+.　　ZEC price is starting to quietly shift structure, and the latest price action suggests something bigger may be building beneath the surface. According to Brave New Coin data, ZEC is currently trading near $324.21, down around 2.83% over the past 24 hours, as short-term weakness sets in following a recent push higher.　　ZEC Price Structure Builds a Rounded Bottom　　From a higher timeframe perspective, the structure is becoming clearer. A rounded bottom formation is now well-developed, showing a transition from distribution into accumulation and potentially into expansion. As highlighted in recent charts shared by Daniel Ramsey, price has curved cleanly into resistance around the $340–$360 zone, which now acts as the key breakout level. This region has rejected price multiple times, making it a high-probability decision zone. A confirmed breakout above it would shift the entire structure into a continuation phase.　　ZEC price forms a rounded bottom below $340–$360 resistance while holding firm above the $280–$300 base. Source: Daniel Ramsey via X　　On the downside, the $280–$300 region continues to act as a strong base. The fact that

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Powell Keeps Fed Governor Role Past May 15 in First Such Move Since 1948 – Bitcoin News

Bitcoin　　Powell Keeps Fed Governor Role Past May 15 in First Such Move Since 1948 – Bitcoin NewsPowell holds a separate Governor term through January 2028, allowing him to stay on the Fed Board after May 15.The DOJ closed its criminal investigation into the Feds HQ renovation around April 24, 2026, but Powell said he is watching the remaining steps.Kevin Warsh cleared the Senate Banking Committee 13-11 on April 29 and is expected to be confirmed the week of May 11, 2026.　　Powell Breaks 78-Year Precedent, Holds Fed Governor Seat Beyond Chair Term　　Jerome Powell made the disclosure at the conclusion of what he called his last press conference as Chair. His four-year term as Chair, extended in 2022, ends May 15. But Powell holds a separate 14-year Governor seat on the seven-member Board that runs through January 2028. Federal law permits him to keep that seat after stepping down as Chair.　　“After my term as Chair ends on May 15, I will continue to serve as a governor for a period of time, to be determined,” Powell said. “I plan to keep a low profile as a governor.”　　The move is historically rare. Fed Chairs have almost always vacated their Governor seat when their

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Senator pushes Clarity Act forward as stablecoin yield fight nears markup

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis is trying to haul the long‑stalled CLARITY Act into a Senate Banking markup that would simultaneously settle Washingtons stablecoin‑yield fight and advance Cynthia Lummis‑backed protections for non‑custodial crypto developers.Senator Thom Tillis wants the Clarity Act moved into Senate Bankings markup stage after the May recess.Tillis says there is “significant consensus” on the bill and promises to release stablecoin yield text 4–5 days before a hearing.He also backs Senator Cynthia Lummis framework on limiting the use of 1960-era criminal laws against software developers.　　U.S. Senator Thom Tillis is pushing to move the long-debated CLARITY Act into the Senate Banking Committee‘s formal review process, setting up a decisive fight over how Washington will treat stablecoin yield and crypto developers. Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett wrote on X that Tillis plans to “push the Clarity Act into the Senate Banking Committee’s markup stage as soon as possible,” adding that he told colleagues there is now “a significant consensus” on the path forward.　　Speaking in Congress, Tillis said he will ask the committee chair to schedule a hearing after the upcoming congressional recess and pledged to publish updated legislative text on stablecoin yield “four to five days” before that session so industry and

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Dogecoin Price Prediction: DOGE Quietly Builds Momentum as Analysts Signal Imminent Rally

The DOGE price is building quiet momentum, with rising open interest and steady accumulation beneath a tight range.Key resistance at $0.102–$0.105 remains the breakout level that could unlock a move toward $0.13.Fundamentals like a potential supply cut and ETF interest are adding fuel to the bullish case.　　Dogecoin is beginning to show signs of life again, even if it‘s happening quietly. Analyst CW pointed out that momentum is picking up under the surface, and when you actually look at the charts, it’s hard to ignore. This isn‘t one of those big moves yet. It’s more like a steady build that hasn‘t fully caught the crowd’s attention.　　What stands out is how the DOGE price keeps pushing forward even when the broader market feels mixed. There‘s hesitation in crypto overall, but DOGE hasn’t really backed off. That kind of behavior usually shows up before a bigger move, not after it.　　Momentum building for DOGE beneath the surface　　Once you zoom into the lower timeframe, things start to get interesting. The DOGE price has been moving inside a tight range between $0.092 and $0.102, which might not look exciting at first glance. But this is exactly the kind of setup where pressure starts to build.　　The upward

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Bitcoin at a Crossroads: Bottom Forming or Further Drop Ahead

Bitcoin　　Bitcoin at a Crossroads: Bottom Forming or Further Drop AheadBitcoin sits near a key test as traders debate whether a true bottom has formed or more downside lies ahead.Rising optimism clashes with macro risks, leaving Bitcoins next move uncertain around critical $79K levels.Analysts split as Bitcoin holds key support, but weak signals still raise the risk of another market drop.　　Bitcoin traders and analysts are still unsure whether the market has finally found a stable bottom or if more losses could follow. This uncertainty comes as institutional flows, blockchain data, and wider economic pressures move in different directions across global crypto markets.　　According to Coinbase Institutional and Glassnode, sentiment is improving as almost 75 percent of the participants feel that Bitcoin is undervalued. In response, traders are paying attention to determine if the digital asset manages to maintain positions above the important price levels of $79,000 or falls toward the support levels.　　As reported by the Q2 2026 Charting Crypto report, sentiment shifted from fear to optimism. Nevertheless, there are still risks on a global scale, particularly in the Middle East region and general economic issues.　　As a result, analysts have opposing opinions. Some believe that they are currently witnessing the formation of a

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Meta Begins Stablecoin Payments to Creators via Stripe

Meta has launched a pilot program that pays select creators in USDC stablecoin.The feature is currently available to eligible users in Colombia and the Philippines.Creators can link a crypto wallet and receive payouts on Solana or Polygon.Stripe supports the system and provides crypto-related transaction reporting.Creators may receive tax documents from both Meta and Stripe for earnings and digital asset activity.　　Meta has begun paying select creators in stablecoins through a new pilot program. The company has launched the feature in Colombia and the Philippines with Stripe‘s support. The rollout marks Meta’s return to crypto payments after it ended its Libra project in 2022.　　Meta Rolls out USDC Payouts for Creators　　Meta now allows eligible creators to receive payouts in Circles USDC token. The company has limited the feature to a small group in Colombia and the Philippines. Creators can link a crypto wallet and choose Solana or Polygon for settlement.　　Meta states that the program supports cross-border payments without traditional banking rails. The company explains that creators can access funds through supported blockchain networks. The website confirms that participation remains limited during the early phase.　　Stripe supports the integration and handles crypto-related reporting for users. A Stripe spokesperson confirmed the companys role in the rollout.

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Zcash (ZEC) Price Prediction: Rounded Bottom Breakout Setup Signals Potential Move Towards $400+

ZEC is testing a key breakout zone after forming a rounded bottom, with price holding above strong support as traders watch for a potential move towards $400+.　　ZEC price is starting to quietly shift structure, and the latest price action suggests something bigger may be building beneath the surface. According to Brave New Coin data, ZEC is currently trading near $324.21, down around 2.83% over the past 24 hours, as short-term weakness sets in following a recent push higher.　　ZEC Price Structure Builds a Rounded Bottom　　From a higher timeframe perspective, the structure is becoming clearer. A rounded bottom formation is now well-developed, showing a transition from distribution into accumulation and potentially into expansion. As highlighted in recent charts shared by Daniel Ramsey, price has curved cleanly into resistance around the $340–$360 zone, which now acts as the key breakout level. This region has rejected price multiple times, making it a high-probability decision zone. A confirmed breakout above it would shift the entire structure into a continuation phase.　　ZEC price forms a rounded bottom below $340–$360 resistance while holding firm above the $280–$300 base. Source: Daniel Ramsey via X　　On the downside, the $280–$300 region continues to act as a strong base. The fact that

04-30Industry

Stripe partners with Google to bring AI shopping into Gemini and AI Mode

Tech　　Stripe partners with Google to bring AI shopping into Gemini and AI Mode　　Stripe announced a partnership with Google that will allow businesses to sell products directly inside AI Mode and the Gemini app, expanding its push to become the payments layer for AI commerce.　　The integration is part of Stripes broader Agentic Commerce Suite, which helps merchants make products available inside AI apps, and comes alongside the rollout of 288 new products and features. Quince, Fanatics, and JD Sports are expected to join the Google integration, following earlier Stripe partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta.　　Stripe said the suite is also coming to platforms including Wix, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce, allowing merchants to sell through AI apps without building separate integrations.　　The company also launched Link wallets for agents, letting users authorize AI agents to make payments on their behalf while keeping real payment details hidden through one time use cards and approval controls.　　Stripe introduced streaming payments for AI companies, combining Metronome tracking with stablecoin micropayments on its Tempo blockchain. The product is designed to let businesses charge for tokens in real time as AI usage occurs.　　Stripe also expanded Radar to protect AI companies from token theft and free trial abuse, saying one in

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Lummis CLARITY Warning: Act Now or Wait for 2030

Senator Cynthia Lummis told the Bitcoin 2026 conference that the Lummis CLARITY Act warning centers not just on the 2030 timeline but on a structural argument: the current simultaneous alignment between the House, Senate, and White House on crypto legislation is genuinely rare in Washington and will not persist indefinitely if the May markup window is missed.Lummis said the House passed the CLARITY Act, the Senate Agriculture Committee cleared it, and the White House supports it, a tri-branch alignment she described as unusual and fragile in a midterm election year.The bill would permanently convert the March 2026 joint SEC-CFTC commodity classification of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP into federal statute, removing the risk of a future regulatory reversal under a different administration.Lummis said key provisions are almost 99% resolved and the earliest possible markup is the week of May 11, after the Senate returns from its upcoming weeklong recess.　　Lummis CLARITY Act remarks at the Bitcoin 2026 Conference in Las Vegas on April 27 moved beyond the 2030 timeline to make a structural argument about political conditions. Lummis told attendees that the current moment is defined by a rare coincidence: the House has already passed the CLARITY Act 294 to 134, the

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