Blockchain.com now allows users to trade perpetual futures directly from self-custody wallets, expanding access to leveraged crypto markets without giving up control of funds.
Blockchain.com has introduced perpetual futures trading directly within its self-custody DeFi wallet, allowing users to open leveraged positions without transferring assets to a centralized exchange.
The new feature routes trades through Hyperliquid and provides access to more than 190 markets, including major cryptocurrencies, with leverage of up to 40x. Users can now trade while keeping full control of their private keys, marking a shift toward non-custodial derivatives trading.
Bitcoin and crypto stocks fell as Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh emphasized central bank independence, while analysts still see potential upside later in 2026.
Bitcoin slid toward the $75,000 level on April 21 as investors reacted to comments from Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh during his Senate confirmation hearing. The cryptocurrency briefly traded near $75,500, reflecting a modest daily decline but signaling broader caution across risk assets.
Warsh addressed concerns about political influence over monetary policy, stating that Donald Trump had never asked him to commit to lowering interest rates. His remarks pushed back against speculation that the White House could pressure the Federal Reserve into easing policy prematurely.
The comments came at a sensitive moment for markets, as traders closely monitor signals about future rate cuts. Bitcoin, often viewed as a liquidity-sensitive asset, tends to react quickly to shifts in monetary expectations.
During the hearing, Warsh emphasized the importance of maintaining the Federal Reserve’s autonomy. He noted that he had never discussed specific rate decisions with Trump and would not do so if confirmed.
This stance aims to reassure markets that US monetary policy will remain insulated from political pressure. However, it also dampened short-term expectations for aggressive rate cuts, which had previously supported bullish sentiment in crypto markets.
At the same time, Warsh struck a notably positive tone on digital assets, describing them as an established part of the financial system. His acknowledgment reinforces the growing legitimacy of crypto within traditional finance circles.
The decline in Bitcoin coincided with a broader pullback in equities. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gave up earlier gains, each falling around 0.5% as investors reassessed macroeconomic signals.
Crypto-related stocks saw sharper losses. Shares of Coinbase dropped roughly 5%, while Robinhood fell about 3.5%. Digital asset investment firm Galaxy Digital also declined, alongside stablecoin issuer Circle.
These moves highlight how closely crypto equities are tied to both digital asset prices and broader market sentiment, particularly during periods of macro uncertainty.
Despite the short-term dip, some analysts remain optimistic about Bitcoin’s medium-term outlook. Market participants suggest that Warsh may still favor lower interest rates over time, even if he adopts a cautious approach initially.
A gradual shift toward monetary easing could create a more favorable liquidity environment, historically a key driver of crypto rallies. Analysts argue that such conditions could support Bitcoin’s recovery and potentially push prices toward the $100,000 level in the second half of 2026.
Additionally, Warsh’s familiarity with digital assets and prior involvement in crypto investments could influence future regulatory and policy frameworks, potentially benefiting the sector.
For now, Bitcoin’s trajectory remains closely tied to macroeconomic developments, particularly U.S. interest rate policy. While Warsh’s comments reinforced confidence in the Federal Reserve’s independence, they also reminded markets that rate cuts may not come as quickly as some had hoped.
As a result, traders are likely to remain cautious in the near term. However, with improving institutional adoption and evolving policy dynamics, the longer-term outlook for Bitcoin continues to attract attention from both traditional and crypto-native investors.
DoorDash is integrating stablecoin payments via Tempo’s blockchain, bringing crypto-powered payouts to its global driver and merchant network.
DoorDash is stepping deeper into digital finance through a new partnership with Tempo, aiming to introduce stablecoin payments across its global network of drivers and merchants.
The move reflects a broader shift among large corporations toward blockchain-based payment systems, as stablecoins gain traction in real-world financial operations.
The collaboration will allow DoorDash to explore paying drivers and settling merchant transactions using stablecoins, potentially reducing costs and improving payment speed compared to traditional banking rails.
Tempo, a layer-1 blockchain backed by major players like Stripe and Paradigm, will provide the infrastructure needed to process these transactions. The company is positioning itself as a core platform for enterprise-grade blockchain payments.
By integrating stablecoins, DoorDash could streamline cross-border payments and offer near-instant settlements, which is an important advantage for gig workers who often rely on fast access to earnings.
Alongside the partnership, Tempo has launched a stablecoin advisory service aimed at helping corporations and financial institutions adopt blockchain-based payment solutions. The service focuses on identifying use cases, integrating infrastructure and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Tempo has rapidly built a network of partners, including Visa, Fifth Third Bank and Howard Hughes Holdings, signaling strong institutional interest in its platform.
The company raised $500 million at a $5 billion valuation in late 2025 and officially launched its blockchain in early 2026. Its strategy centers on bringing traditional payment flows onto blockchain rails while maintaining enterprise-level reliability and compliance.
The DoorDash partnership comes at a time when stablecoins are experiencing rapid growth in both usage and market size. Transaction volumes reached an estimated $33 trillion in 2025, driven largely by business-to-business payments.
As of April 2026, the total stablecoin market capitalization has climbed to roughly $315 billion, fueled by increased institutional adoption and clearer regulatory frameworks.
Major technology firms such as Meta, X, and Google have also explored integrating stablecoins into their ecosystems, further validating the technology’s potential.
A key driver behind this surge is improved regulatory clarity, particularly in the United States. The recently enacted GENIUS Act has provided a framework for stablecoin usage, easing concerns among corporate treasury departments.
With clearer rules in place, companies are more willing to experiment with digital currencies for payments, settlements, and treasury management.
DoorDash’s move highlights how blockchain is increasingly being integrated into mainstream business operations, particularly in sectors that rely on high-volume, cross-border transactions.
By leveraging stablecoins, companies can reduce reliance on intermediaries, lower transaction costs, and improve efficiency. For gig economy platforms, this could translate into faster payouts and better financial flexibility for workers.
The DeFi sector is facing a deepening security crisis after nearly $800 million in losses this year, with April alone accounting for the majority.
The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector is facing one of its most severe security crises to date, with nearly $800 million lost to hacks and exploits in 2026 as of mid-April. Researchers say April alone accounted for the majority of those losses, making it the worst month in DeFi history.
Data compiled by Memento Research estimates total losses at approximately $795 million, highlighting the growing scale and frequency of attacks targeting smart contracts, bridges, and trading platforms.
According to analysts, DeFi protocols lost around $630 million in April, dwarfing losses recorded in earlier months. January saw about $86 million in losses tied to smart contract vulnerabilities, while February and March recorded $27 million and $52 million, respectively.
The sharp spike in April underscores a shift in both the volume and sophistication of attacks. Researchers describe the current environment as a “constant security crisis,” with attackers exploiting weaknesses across multiple layers of the DeFi ecosystem.
One of the largest incidents involved Drift Protocol, which suffered a hack exceeding $280 million. Another major breach hit KelpDAO, resulting in approximately $293 million in losses.
An independent analyst known as jussy_world reported that in the weeks following the Drift exploit, at least 12 additional protocols were attacked. Since the beginning of the year, roughly 45 protocols have been affected, with cumulative losses exceeding $450 million based on tracked incidents.
Recent cases include a frontend takeover of CoW Swap, a forged-message exploit targeting Hyperbridge, and a large-scale attack attempt on Bybit reportedly involving up to $1 billion in exposure.
Other incidents involved smaller but still significant losses across platforms such as Silo Finance and Zerion, pointing to systemic vulnerabilities across the sector.
Security researchers note that attack methods are becoming more advanced, combining technical exploits with social engineering and infrastructure-level weaknesses. In some cases, attackers have manipulated oracle data, exploited access control flaws, or leveraged compromised interfaces to deceive users.
There has also been speculation that advancements in artificial intelligence tools could be contributing to the sophistication of attacks. Some market participants have pointed to developments from Anthropic, although researchers emphasize there is no direct evidence linking these technologies to recent exploits.
In response to the surge in attacks, experts are urging users and institutions to reassess their exposure to DeFi. Recommendations include reviewing wallet permissions, diversifying holdings, and avoiding overconcentration in a single protocol or asset class.
The wave of incidents has also reignited debates around the sustainability of DeFi yields relative to the risks involved. With returns declining in some segments, the cost-benefit balance for users is increasingly under scrutiny.
The scale of losses in 2026 highlights both the rapid growth and persistent fragility of the DeFi ecosystem. While innovation continues to drive adoption, security challenges remain a major barrier to mainstream trust.
As attacks become more frequent and complex, the industry faces mounting pressure to improve auditing standards, strengthen infrastructure, and adopt more robust safeguards. Without significant progress, analysts warn that the sector’s long-term growth could be at risk despite its technological potential.
European banks are accelerating euro stablecoin plans, partnering with Fireblocks to build a regulated digital euro alternative under MiCA rules.
A consortium of 12 European banks is moving forward with plans to launch a regulated euro-denominated stablecoin, selecting Fireblocks as its technology partner. The initiative, led by Qivalis, aims to bring a MiCA-compliant digital euro asset to market by the second half of 2026.
The project highlights growing urgency among European financial institutions to establish a competitive alternative to dollar-backed stablecoins, which continue to dominate global crypto markets.
The consortium includes major banks such as BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit, and BBVA. Together, they plan to issue a fully regulated stablecoin backed 1:1 with euros and structured as an electronic money instrument.
Approval will be required from De Nederlandsche Bank under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation before the token can go live.
Fireblocks will provide the underlying infrastructure, including tokenization tools, secure wallet systems, and lifecycle management capabilities. The platform will also integrate compliance features such as identity verification and sanctions screening, which are key requirements under MiCA.
The stablecoin is being positioned as a “euro-native settlement instrument” designed primarily for institutional use cases, including treasury operations, payments, and tokenized asset settlement.
The initiative comes as policymakers and financial institutions in Europe seek to reduce reliance on US dollar-denominated stablecoins. Currently, the global stablecoin market is heavily skewed toward dollar-backed assets like Tether USDT and USD Coin, which together account for the vast majority of supply.
Euro-backed stablecoins remain a small fraction of the market, limiting their utility in European financial systems and cross-border transactions. By launching a regulated alternative backed by major banks, the consortium hopes to strengthen the euro’s role in digital finance.
The effort aligns with broader concerns raised by global regulators about the systemic risks of relying on foreign-currency stablecoins for domestic payments and settlement.
Unlike retail-focused crypto tokens, the proposed euro stablecoin is being designed for institutional adoption. The platform is expected to support a range of functions, including issuance, custody, treasury management, and payment orchestration.
This could allow banks to integrate digital assets into existing financial services, offering clients faster settlement, improved liquidity management, and access to tokenized markets.
Fireblocks’ role will be central in enabling these capabilities, providing a secure infrastructure that connects traditional banking systems with blockchain networks.
The project reflects increasing regulatory clarity in Europe under MiCA, which provides a unified framework for crypto assets across the European Union. This clarity is encouraging banks to move more aggressively into digital asset initiatives.
At the same time, regulators such as the Bank for International Settlements have warned that some stablecoins may behave more like investment products than money, particularly those backed by short-term securities.
European officials have also called for stronger oversight and coordination to prevent regulatory gaps. Initiatives like the Qivalis-led stablecoin aim to address these concerns by embedding compliance and supervision into the design from the outset.
The consortium’s effort represents a significant step toward building a euro-based digital asset ecosystem that can compete globally. By combining regulatory compliance, institutional backing, and advanced infrastructure, the project could help bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology.
If successful, the launch may pave the way for broader adoption of euro-denominated digital assets, supporting everything from cross-border payments to tokenized securities markets.
Ripple unveils a multi-phase plan to make the XRP Ledger quantum-resistant by 2028, including testing new cryptography and contingency plans.
Ripple is laying the groundwork for a post-quantum future with a comprehensive roadmap to upgrade the XRP Ledger (XRPL) against emerging cryptographic threats. The initiative comes as advances in quantum computing raise concerns about the long-term security of blockchain systems.
Recent developments from Google Quantum AI have intensified discussions around how quantum machines could eventually break widely used cryptographic standards. While such risks are not immediate, Ripple argues that preparation must begin now—especially for systems designed to store long-term value.
Modern blockchains rely on cryptographic algorithms to secure wallets, validate transactions and protect user funds. However, sufficiently advanced quantum computers could theoretically break these systems, exposing private keys and compromising assets.
A growing concern is the so-called “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy, where attackers collect encrypted blockchain data today with the intention of decrypting it once quantum capabilities mature. This creates a delayed but serious risk for long-lived assets.
For XRPL, the issue is particularly relevant because public keys are revealed during transactions. Over time, this exposure could make accounts vulnerable in a post-quantum environment if no migration path exists.
Ripple emphasizes that XRPL is not starting from scratch. The network already includes features that make future upgrades more feasible compared to other blockchains like Ethereum.
One key advantage is native key rotation, which allows users to update their cryptographic keys without changing account addresses. This enables gradual migration away from potentially vulnerable keys. Additionally, XRPL supports seed-based key generation, allowing deterministic creation of new keys.
While these features are not quantum-resistant on their own, they provide a strong foundation for transitioning to new cryptographic standards without disrupting users.
Ripple’s strategy is structured as a multi-phase roadmap aimed at achieving full post-quantum readiness by 2028.
The first phase focuses on “Q-Day” preparedness, a contingency plan for a scenario where current cryptography is suddenly broken. This includes mechanisms to securely migrate funds to quantum-resistant accounts, potentially using advanced techniques like zero-knowledge proofs.
The second phase, underway in 2026, involves testing quantum-resistant algorithms recommended by global standards bodies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This includes evaluating their impact on performance, storage, and network efficiency.
In the third phase, Ripple plans to introduce hybrid systems where traditional and quantum-resistant cryptography run in parallel. This allows developers to test new systems without disrupting the existing network.
The final phase targets full implementation, with XRPL transitioning to native post-quantum cryptography across the ecosystem by 2028.
Ripple is working with partners like Project Eleven to accelerate development. This includes validator-level testing, custody solutions, and real-world simulations of quantum-resistant systems.
The company is also exploring broader cryptographic innovations, including quantum-safe zero-knowledge proofs and encryption methods that could enhance privacy and compliance features on XRPL.
Ripple’s roadmap highlights a growing recognition across the crypto industry: quantum computing is no longer a distant possibility but a credible future risk.
By starting early, Ripple aims to ensure that XRPL remains secure, scalable, and reliable even as the underlying technological landscape evolves. The approach balances innovation with caution, focusing on gradual migration rather than disruptive overhauls.
If successful, the initiative could position XRPL as one of the first major blockchain networks ready for the quantum era—well before the threat becomes urgent.
