Crypto Industry News & Market Trends

Ripple Travelex Bank Partnership Expands

Travelex Bank, the first foreign exchange bank approved by Brazils Central Bank, is expanding its use of Ripple Payments for instant cross-border settlement, as the US Faster Payments Council separately names Ripple among the key innovators driving G20 domestic payments modernization.Travelex Bank is using Ripple Payments to cut transaction costs and enable near-instant settlement for cross-border transfers, building on the On-Demand Liquidity integration first launched in August 2022.The US Faster Payments Council report identifies Ripple alongside Stellar as leading innovators within the G20s framework for faster, cheaper, and more transparent global payments by 2030.The G20 roadmap targets 75% of cross-border transfers credited within one hour and costs as low as one cent per transaction by 2027, benchmarks that Ripples ISO 20022-compliant infrastructure is designed to meet.　　Ripple Travelex Bank partnership is drawing renewed attention after analyst ChartNerd highlighted both developments on April 27, with Travelex Bank confirming it is actively using Ripple Payments to enable round-the-clock, near-instant settlement for cross-border transfers, and the US Faster Payments Council naming Ripple alongside Stellar as leading innovators in G20 domestic payment modernization. Travelex Bank holds the distinction of being the first domestic exchange bank approved by Brazil‘s Central Bank, and its use of Ripple’s

04-29Industry

Erasca (ERAS) Shares Plunge 50% Following Trial Fatality and Patent Dispute

The California-based biotechnology firm unveiled Phase 1 clinical findings on Monday evening for ERAS-0015, an investigational cancer therapy designed to combat pancreatic and lung malignancies. The disclosed results originated from dose escalation studies conducted across facilities in both the United States and China.　　Despite initial indications of potential efficacy, Evercore ISI research analyst Sean McCutcheon indicated the findings failed to establish that ERAS-0015 offers “clear differentiation” compared to daraxonrasib, the primary drug candidate under development by competing firm Revolution Medicines.　　McCutcheon emphasized that while ERAS-0015 may demonstrate greater potency, the available evidence doesnt conclusively establish superior safety profiles or therapeutic outcomes when measured against daraxonrasib.　　Daraxonrasib has garnered considerable attention following public statements from former University of Florida President and Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who received a Stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December. Sasse has publicly attributed tumor reduction to the experimental therapy, describing it as a “miracle drug” during media appearances. The treatment remains unapproved and accessible exclusively through clinical trial participation.　　The underwhelming Phase 1 results represented just one element of Erascas challenging Tuesday.　　Trial Fatality Compounds Investor Concerns　　The company revealed that a 66-year-old male participant diagnosed with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma — recognized as the diseases most lethal variant — passed

04-29Industry

TON launches Agentic Wallets to let AI agents transact onchain through Telegram

TON Tech, the infrastructure team within The Open Platform, launched Agentic Wallets on TON, an open standard that allows AI agents to manage funds and execute transactions directly on the TON blockchain.　　The standard gives each AI agent a dedicated onchain wallet funded by the user. The setup is designed to be noncustodial, with the user retaining ownership through their main wallet while the agent can only transact within the allocated balance.　　The launch is aimed at solving a key limitation for AI agents: they can plan, recommend, and communicate, but still need a way to act financially without users handing over private keys or approving every transaction manually. TONs documentation describes agentic wallets as smart contracts operated by AI agents while remaining owned by a human user.　　The feature is especially relevant inside Telegram, where AI agents already have a large distribution channel. Telegram says it has more than 1 billion active users, while TON has framed Telegram as the natural home for agent based crypto activity because users, wallet infrastructure, and payment rails already sit inside the same interface.　　TON Tech said Agentic Wallets can support trading bots operating within predefined budgets, DeFi agents automating staking or portfolio management, recurring payments, API

04-29Industry

Gold: Inflation shock weighs on haven metal – TD Securities

TD Securities Head of Commodity Strategy, Bart Melek, argues that Gold is under pressure as Oil-driven inflation keeps real rates elevated and raises the opportunity cost of holding the metal. He notes institutional, ETF and central bank demand has weakened, with technical support seen near the 200-day moving average around $4,258 and a year-end recovery toward the $5,200 range once Oil stabilizes.　　High real rates cap Gold upside　　“In sharp contrast to most other commodities, gold benefits from being a monetary metal and tends to perform well when inflation rises. However, this is usually only true when monetary policy is not actively attempting to suppress inflation by sharply increasing real rates, as was the case back in 1979-82.”　　“Given the current negative supply shock, there is a risk that policy will remain relatively restrictive, implying high real carry and a high opportunity cost of holding gold. This is likely why demand from institutional investors, ETFs, and central banks has been weak since the start of the war.”　　“With that, inflation expectations would almost certainly rise further, and markets would once again grow increasingly concerned about stagflation and higher interest rates across the yield curve. These concerns have already weighed heavily on precious and base

04-29Industry

Billionaire Ambani’s Son Wants To Save Pablo Escobar’s ‘Cocaine Hippos’

The wildlife rescuer son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, Indias richest man, is publicly pleading with the Colombian government to let his organization take ownership of 80 wild hippopotamuses marked for death decades after drug lord Pablo Escobar first introduced the species to the country.　　AFP via Getty Images　　Key Facts　　Anant Ambani, who founded the Vantara wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation center in Indias western state of Gujarat, on Tuesday asked the Colombian government to reconsider its plan to kill 80 of the animals in efforts to control their population.　　The number of hippos, an invasive species not native to Colombia, is nearing 200 and some of the animals have attacked fishermen and are destroying parts of the Magdalena River, the government said.　　Officials authorized the plan to kill dozens of the so-called “cocaine hippos” earlier this month after saying theyd exhausted all other options to manage the population, including sterilization programs, experimental contraceptives and relocation efforts, to no avail.　　But Vantara says it wants to take over care of the hippos and says it has the “veterinary expertise, appropriate infrastructure, husbandry systems and welfare protocols” to do it.　　Ambani said in a statement that the hippos “did not choose where they were born,” adding, “if we

04-29Industry

Ripple Travelex Bank Partnership Expands

Travelex Bank, the first foreign exchange bank approved by Brazils Central Bank, is expanding its use of Ripple Payments for instant cross-border settlement, as the US Faster Payments Council separately names Ripple among the key innovators driving G20 domestic payments modernization.Travelex Bank is using Ripple Payments to cut transaction costs and enable near-instant settlement for cross-border transfers, building on the On-Demand Liquidity integration first launched in August 2022.The US Faster Payments Council report identifies Ripple alongside Stellar as leading innovators within the G20s framework for faster, cheaper, and more transparent global payments by 2030.The G20 roadmap targets 75% of cross-border transfers credited within one hour and costs as low as one cent per transaction by 2027, benchmarks that Ripples ISO 20022-compliant infrastructure is designed to meet.　　Ripple Travelex Bank partnership is drawing renewed attention after analyst ChartNerd highlighted both developments on April 27, with Travelex Bank confirming it is actively using Ripple Payments to enable round-the-clock, near-instant settlement for cross-border transfers, and the US Faster Payments Council naming Ripple alongside Stellar as leading innovators in G20 domestic payment modernization. Travelex Bank holds the distinction of being the first domestic exchange bank approved by Brazil‘s Central Bank, and its use of Ripple’s

04-29Industry

CLARITY Act: Law Enforcement Concerns Surface as Crypto Bill Faces Another Hurdle

The CLARITY Act is facing another hurdle as Senator Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has said that they must address law-enforcement concerns about a key DeFi provision. This comes amid expectations that the crypto bills markup could take place in May, with the bill facing a narrow window to pass before the midterm elections.　　CLARITY Act Facing New Hurdle With Law Enforcement Concerns　　According to a Politico report, Senator Tillis said that lawmakers must address concerns that law enforcement groups have raised about the DeFi provision in the CLARITY Act. The senator suggested that they have to address this issue before they can mark up the crypto bill.　　The provision in question mirrors the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act. It protects DeFi developers, ensuring they are not responsible for illicit activity users engage in on their platforms. These law enforcement groups, which represent the police and prosecutors, argue that such a provision makes it harder to crack down on illicit finance.　　These law enforcement groups are set to clash with stakeholders in the crypto industry, with some already stating that the provision is a major priority and that its inclusion in the CLARITY Act is non-negotiable. The White House also reportedly

04-29Industry

Why Would FC Barcelona Want To Renew Marcus Rashford’s Loan?

FC Barcelona are pushing Manchester United for a second loan for Marcus Rashford according to SKY Germanys Florian Plettenburg, who cited anonymous sources.　　The respected German reporter explained that talks are ongoing between the La Liga and Premier League giants.　　Barca don‘t want to trigger Rashford’s €30 million buy option, and hope to secure both a second loan and a lower fee to make his stay permanent.　　In any case, it now looks like Rashford will stay in Catalonia and this has been approved by manager Hansi Flick.　　Why would FC Barcelona want to extend Marcus Rashfords loan？　　Extending Rashfords loan makes sense from a financial perspective. At present, Barca have intentions to sign Alessandro Bastoni, who will cost €50-60 million, while Julian Alvarez is a €200 million pipe dream that Atletico Madrid will be reluctant to let go.　　For a club still recovering from the economic crisis that almost blew it to oblivion after the pandemic, €30 million is still a considerable sum that cant be parted with lightly.　　By saving it and only paying Rashfords wages, Barca can pursue other avenues and maybe even shell out less for him a year from now if United accept.　　On the sporting side of things, Rashford has dropped off

04-29Industry

Bitmine Just Staked Another $260M In Ethereum: What’s the Endgame?

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.　　Sebastians journey into the world of crypto began four years ago, driven by a fascination with the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize financial systems. His initial exploration focused on understanding the intricacies of various crypto projects, particularly those focused on building innovative financial solutions. Through countless hours of research and learning, Sebastian developed a deep understanding of the underlying technologies, market dynamics, and potential applications of cryptocurrencies.　　As his knowledge grew, Sebastian felt compelled to share his insights with others. He began actively contributing to online discussions on platforms like X and LinkedIn, focusing on fintech and crypto-related content. His goal was to expose valuable trends and insights to a wider audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving crypto landscape. Sebastians contributions quickly gained recognition, and he became a trusted voice in the online crypto community.　　To further enhance his expertise, Sebastian pursued a UC Berkeley Fintech: Frameworks, Applications, and Strategies certification. This rigorous program equipped him with valuable skills and knowledge regarding Financial Technology, bridging the gap between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). The certification deepened his understanding of the broader financial landscape and its intersection with blockchain technology.　　Sebastians

04-29Industry

Ethereum Price Prediction: Downside Risk Toward $2,220

Ethereum　　Ethereum Price Prediction: Downside Risk Toward $2,220　　Ethereum remains under pressure after the latest drop cleared many long positions, while the liquidation heatmap still shows a major liquidity cluster near $2,220. ETH is also testing weak micro support near $2,289, and analysts say the short-term structure stays bearish unless buyers push price through the $2,319–$2,374 resistance area.　　Ethereum Liquidation Map Shows $2,220 Risk Zone After Longs Get Hit　　Ethereum saw a large batch of long liquidations during the latest decline, according to the liquidation heatmap shared by CW.　　ETH Liquidation Heatmap. Source:　　The chart shows ETH falling sharply after moving near the upper liquidity bands. That drop cleared many long positions, but the heatmap still shows a major liquidity cluster around the $2,220 area.　　That level now becomes the main downside zone to watch. If ETH weakens again, price may move toward that cluster as remaining long positions face pressure.　　However, the chart does not confirm a full breakdown by itself. It shows where liquidation pressure may build if price keeps falling.　　For now, Ethereum remains vulnerable after the latest long squeeze. A move toward $2,220 remains possible as long as sellers keep control near current resistance areas.　　Ethereum Tests Weak Micro Support as Downside Risk Builds　　Ethereum is still

04-29Ethereum