hodler

20 Apr 2026, 11:00

Ethereum whale opens $100mln long – Why traders still short ETH

A Matrixport-linked whale wallet opened a 44,000 ETH long valued at $100 million.

20 Apr 2026, 10:59

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest buys proteomics company Alamar, Netflix; trims crypto names

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest made a series of targeted portfolio adjustments across its active ETFs during the last week, though the buying and selling activity was contained this week with fewer deals. The trades concentrated in genomics, fintech infrastructure, and selective large-cap technology. ARK Genomic Revolution ETF ( ARKG ) added exposure to the newly listed Alamar Biosciences ( ALMR ), purchasing over 537K shares of the commercial-stage proteomics company , aligning with ARK’s long-term genomics theme. Its shares rose about 33% to open at $22.60 and closed near $23.65. The investment firm parked near $12M in the Fremont, California-based company. The same ARKG fund trimmed positions in Butterfly Network ( BFLY ), selling over 326K shares; 210K shares of CareDx ( CDNA ) sold; and offloaded 67K shares of Twist Bioscience ( TWST ). These moves indicate continued rotation within healthcare toward earlier-stage innovation plays. Another one of the only 2 stocks bought by the manager last week was Netflix ( NFLX ) adding more than 26K shares of the large-cap streaming platform, with an estimated market value of $2.5M in its ARKW ( ARKW ) fund. ARK Next Generation Internet ETF ( ARKW ) reduced exposure to multiple digital infrastructure and fintech-related names. The fund sold 31K shares of Bullish ( BLSH ), 11K shares of Circle Internet ( CRCL ), and 21K shares of CoreWeave ( CRWV ). These reductions suggest some profit-taking in digital asset infrastructure and AI cloud exposure following strong sector performance. ARK also exited positions in healthcare logistics and clinical services company Strata Critical Medical ( SRTA ), with ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF ( ARKQ ) and ARK Space Exploration ETF ( ARKX ) collectively selling over 182K shares. More on ARK Invest OpenAI Won't Save ARKK ARKK: Wood Is Selling A Rosy Outlook For 2026 And I'm Not Buying It ARK Innovation ETF: The Trading Strategy Is Now Flashing 'Sell' (Rating Downgrade) Cathie Wood's ARK boosts Palantir, Tesla, Roninhood bets; cuts semiconductor exposure Cathie Wood's weekly moves signal shift to AI, precision medicine

20 Apr 2026, 10:57

GraniteShares leveraged XRP ETFs explained

GraniteShares, an independent exchange-traded fund ( ETF ) issuer, submitted a Form N-1A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 15, outlining its new leveraged XRP ETFs, with the launch now targeted for April 23. The two products, a 3x long daily XRP ETF and a 3x short daily XRP ETF, have reportedly been in development since 2025, and the expected launch date largely coincides with record institutional interest this year. It is notable, however, that the date had already been pushed back several times, first to April 2, then April 9, and finally April 16. The new delay was executed under Rule 485 of the Securities Act of 1933, which allows issuers to shift an effective date without restarting the registration process. In other words, the funds have not been rejected, and the XRP ETF filings remain live under GraniteShares, but reviews and internal processes are still ongoing. The new funds are expected to list on the NASDAQ. New 3x leveraged XRP ETFs The new funds are structured as short-term trading instruments, aimed at active investors who intend to monitor positions closely. Rather than holding XRP directly, each fund will gain exposure through derivatives, including swaps , futures , and options . The 3x Long XRP ETF is designed to deliver 300% of the cryptocurrency’s daily price movement, while the 3x Short XRP ETF targets -300%. All positions will be settled in cash. GraniteShares Advisors LLC will act as the investment adviser, with Jeff Klearman and Ryan Dofflemeyer serving as portfolio managers. The risk of high-leverage crypto products Competing products, such as those by Teucrium, have already demonstrated strong demand for leveraged XRP funds. However, GraniteShares’ proposed 3x structure would go further, offering higher leverage than existing 2x products. Moreover, a 3x leveraged XRP ETF would introduce a new layer of institutional-grade exposure. That is, a higher-leverage offering could further amplify demand dynamics and reshape how institutional capital engages with the cryptocurrency. It’s also noteworthy that leveraged options introduce additional factors that contribute to market complexity. That includes path dependency and heightened volatility, especially in assets prone to sharp intraday swings. For example, a single-day move of more than 33% against the position could effectively wipe out the entire investment. The institutional era of XRP ETF has begun, Ripple says XRP has become one of the most actively traded digital assets. Indeed, U.S. Spot XRP ETFs have recorded approximately $1.27 billion in cumulative inflows since their launch in November 2025. In other words, GraniteShares leveraged XRP ETFs are entering an already competitive market. Nonetheless, Ripple itself believes the market is still young and has significant room to expand. In a recent overview , the company noted that JPMorgan forecasts of $4 billion to $8.4 billion in first-year inflows have yet to be tested in a full bull cycle, where institutional allocations typically accelerate as market conditions improve. Meanwhile, the XRP Ledger continues to advance its technical roadmap into 2026. Developments such as confidential multi-purpose tokens for institutional collateral management and formal protocol verification are strengthening the asset’s institutional use case. Accordingly, Ripple argues that XRP’s position in institutional finance is already stable, implying that GraniteShares could mark another step in the evolution of crypto-linked financial products. Featured image via Shutterstock The post GraniteShares leveraged XRP ETFs explained appeared first on Finbold .

20 Apr 2026, 10:53

‘Highly Sophisticated,’ AI-Powered Hackers Behind Vercel Breach: CEO

The security incident compromised some customer credentials of the cloud platform, which is used by many crypto frontends to host their UI.

20 Apr 2026, 10:52

Bitcoin drops to $74,000 as US seizes Iranian ship

🚨 Bitcoin sank to $74,000 as US forces seized an Iranian ship. $BTC dropped fast as global risk appetite faded overnight. Brent oil prices soared by 6% on energy supply fears. 🗝️ Critical data: Geopolitical shocks now drive both crypto and oil. Continue Reading: Bitcoin drops to $74,000 as US seizes Iranian ship The post Bitcoin drops to $74,000 as US seizes Iranian ship appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

20 Apr 2026, 10:52

Kenyan users turn on Binance as DCI requests lock out traders

Kenyan crypto traders have gone on record about the freezing of their Binance accounts, which has persisted for over two months since the DCI made its request. No charges have been filed, no court order has been issued, and no time frame has been given for when the problem will be resolved. This has sparked debate once again on the issue of striking the fine line between cooperation and user protection in Kenya’s dynamic crypto space. Kenyan traders’ silent struggles with frozen assets As mentioned in the X thread by the affected user, he received an email from Binance stating that the funds were frozen on their platform on behalf of the DCI by the National Police Service. However, when he requested more information, Binance replied bluntly that he should contact the police department for further details. “No complainant identified. No formal charges. No timeline given,” the trader wrote . “Funds remain inaccessible. Meanwhile, real life doesn’t pause. Bills are piling up. Debt is growing.” The complaint brought to light the frustration of Kenyan traders who see crypto as a path to financial inclusion but suddenly find themselves restricted by an unclear policy. Traders’ frustrations towards Binance and the Kenyan DCI. Source: X This is happening at a time when the Kenyan government is increasingly focusing on regulating peer-to-peer trade and virtual asset transfers, especially amid widespread fraud in the country. However, the lack of openness has raised doubts on whether such freezes serve legitimate investigations or risk becoming tools of arbitrary control. One X user has questioned how the DCI knows Kenyans’ Binance accounts. Yaani DCI wanajua accounts za Binance how is this even possible? pic.twitter.com/aqQV8cr0Ri — ︎︎︎︎︎︎︎ ︎Mary Kwamboka (@MaryKwamboks) April 20, 2026 Kenyans stand ready to boycott the exchange if they cannot explain the matter or unfreeze the affected accounts. The #BinanceUnmasked hashtag is already in motion. Binance’s global pattern of account locks in partnership with governments Binance has positioned itself as a leader in compliance , processing over 71,000 law enforcement requests in 2025 alone. It has assisted in the seizure of more than $752 million in illegal crypto assets globally. However, the exchange routinely freezes accounts flagged by agencies investigating fraud, terrorism financing, or money laundering. This is often in coordination with bodies like the US authorities, Israeli police, and Asia-Pacific task forces. In particular, Binance has helped freeze accounts associated with North Korea-based hackers and recover stolen funds from various fraud schemes. While the exchange touts its importance in the fight against crime with immediate interaction with such agencies as the Beacon Network, there are many others who report the same problems. Their account remains inaccessible for an indefinite period of time, receiving hardly any correspondence and being redirected to some far-flung authority on crime. However, this compliance-first strategy, although mandated by law, frequently leaves average investors in a state of purgatory, particularly in nascent regulatory environments such as Kenya’s. There is no solace in the typical instruction found on the website to “contact the requesting agency.” Kenya’s crypto regulations oversight tempered by corruption concerns Kenya is working to formalize its crypto laws using the VASP Act of 2025 and the VASP Regulations 2026. Both the CBK and CMA are responsible for overseeing regulations that require exchanges, wallets, and stablecoin issuers to obtain licenses, as well as KYC, AML, and CFT regulations. As it stands, the platforms should report any suspicious transactions to the FRC and also work with the DCI in investigations. However, there is concern that, given the focus on collaboration between law enforcement agencies, the new reforms will exacerbate current weaknesses in the country’s system. The corruption cases in Kenya involving law enforcement have made citizens fearful that the freezing of bank accounts could potentially be abused. This year, losses from crypto fraud totaled $43.3 million. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .