Author: NBTC

The prediction market industry spent $1.84 million on federal lobbying in the first quarter of 2026, a record high and more than 60% above Q1 2025 levels. It is the first hard data point quantifying the scale of the industry’s political operations as it faces mounting legislative and regulatory pressure. “The policy landscape has rapidly evolved just in the last two or three months,” said Ronak D. Desai, a partner at Paul Hastings, according to Bloomberg. “Prediction markets have moved from the periphery to the center of congressional scrutiny.” Prediction markets are pouring money into Washington to defend against escalating…

The U.S-Iran war is continuing to escalate day by day, with a recent fresh threat by U.S. President Donald Trump. Seeing this, even Polymarket odds on the U.S-Iran ceasefire are high on year-end bets. Source: Polymarket Iran opens doors to crypto amidst turmoil Amidst these escalating tensions, Polymarket has reported that Iran is taking payments in crypto as a toll from ships that are passing via the Strait of Hormuz. This shows how crypto is acting as a hedge against turmoil and inflation. In fact, when the war had initiated, it was only the crypto market that was standing strong,…

The recent DeFi attacks have been more than just a security lapse triggering market-wide FUD. Instead, they signal a broader wake-up call. At face value, these three back-to-back hacks, including the latest exploit of the KelpDAO protocol, have resulted in over $600 million in total losses. They initially appear to have shaken user confidence across the expanding DeFi ecosystem. However, the real takeaway goes beyond the immediate damage. It points to deeper structural issues in the system as a whole. It essentially shows how DeFi is becoming increasingly complex, layered, and less transparent, drifting away from the core principles of…

Ethereum trades close to its Realized Price near $2,340, a level that has historically separated bearish from bullish phases. On-chain data shows that when $ETH reclaims this zone as support, extended upward trends often follow. Current conditions include low sentiment, steady volume, and tight price action near $2,326, suggesting a decisive move could emerge if buyers maintain control. Ethereum is once again testing a historically significant level that has often preceded major market moves. As of April 24, 2026, Ethereum trades at $2,326, with a modest 0.1% gain in the last 24 hours. The proximity to its Realized Price has…

Key takeaways Geopolitical shifts are increasingly prioritizing natural resources. The US holds significant geoeconomic leverage over countries like China and Iran. Personal goals and public perception are intertwining with macroeconomic fundamentals. The America First movement hasn’t led to a complete global withdrawal. Evaluating tariffs requires a broader geopolitical context. US tariffs on China have increased significantly, with mixed perceptions of their effectiveness. The US is making progress on supply chain issues related to rare earths. Tariffs are expected to remain at 15% beyond 2028. The Federal Reserve should incorporate foreign exchange rates more into its policy directive. The dollar’s value…

April 6 could be one of the more important days in Pi Network’s history. The project has set it as the hard deadline for its Protocol v21.2 upgrade, and this one is not up for debate. What makes the timing interesting is what just happened before it. Pi Network crossed 526 million KYC checks and hit 18 million verified users through its decentralised validator network, a combination that has brought fresh energy to a community that has had plenty of reasons to be impatient. “This is not an optional update. It is a security and compatibility hard fork,” the Pi…

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Coinbase Financial Markets, Inc. and Gemini, Titan LLC on April 21, 2026, alleging both platforms illegally operated unlicensed gambling operations through prediction market offerings in New York. The AG’s investigation found that Coinbase and Gemini’s prediction markets —which allow users to bet on sports, entertainment, and election outcomes —violate New York state gambling laws by operating without Gaming Commission licenses. The suit seeks court orders requiring both companies to pay fines, forfeit illegal profits, and provide restitution to customers. The AG’s complaint highlights that both platforms allow New Yorkers ages 18 and older…

Bitcoin [$BTC] continues to present mixed directional signals, even as bulls attempt to regain control. At press time, the $BTC was nearing the $70,000 level after trading below it for about eleven days. Despite this recovery attempt, underlying demand conditions remain fragile. Both retail participants and long-term holders appear to be reducing exposure, raising questions about the sustainability of the current move. Apparent demand highlights structural weakness Bitcoin Apparent Demand, a key metric used to assess whether newly issued supply is being absorbed, suggests that April has opened on a weak footing. The metric measures the difference between Bitcoin issuance…

Solv Protocol, a Bitcoin-focused DeFi entity, is broadening Programmable Bitcoin Yields. The exclusive initiative aims to advance BTCFi strategies within the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. As per the data from Solv Protocol, the development targets positioning Solv Protocol as a leading platform in the BTCFi market. Particularly, by collaborating with different DeFi networks, the platform focuses on unlocking unique earning opportunities to benefit Bitcoin ($BTC) users. Programmable Bitcoin Yields make $BTC more productive.Solv is a proud partner of several yield markets like @FolksFinance, @RiverdotInc, and @ConcreteXYZ.Run different BTCFi strategies on the biggest yield markets in DeFi. https://t.co/AJc0NnURUi pic.twitter.com/6dbs8Yubzr — Solv…

Overwhelming financial dominance: Ethereum generated $2.7 million in fees within 24 hours, compared to barely $70,000 collected by the Solana network. Historic revenue gap: The 40-fold difference in daily collection, reported this April 24, evidences a critical disparity in transaction value. Resilience of the leading network: Despite competition from low costs, DeFi users and high-value sectors prioritize the liquidity and security of the Ethereum network. The Ethereum ecosystem generates almost 40 times more daily fees than Solana, consolidating its position as the most profitable network in the market. This phenomenon occurs within a context of renewed institutional interest and a…