Invest ideasNews
23 Apr 2026, 06:59
Crypto for Safe Passage Through the Strait of Hormuz: The New Scam
Greek maritime risk management firm MARISKS has warned shipping companies about fraudulent messages targeting vessels stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, scammers are demanding cryptocurrency payments for “safe passage.” Strait of Hormuz Crisis Unknown actors posing as Iranian authorities have contacted shipowners, requesting transit fees in Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT) in exchange for clearance. MARISKS said the messages are fake and not from Iranian authorities, and called them a scam. The message cited by MARISKS read , “After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time” Tensions around the Strait continue to disrupt maritime traffic. The United States has maintained restrictions on Iranian ports, while Iran has intermittently closed and reopened the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks amid rising regional tensions and shifting enforcement measures, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade. Maritime activity in the area has been severely affected. Hundreds of ships, along with around 20,000 seafarers, remain stuck because of security risks, unclear transit rules, and fears of confrontation in the waterway. On April 18, Iranian authorities briefly allowed some ships to pass after inspections, but the situation remained tense. Several vessels that attempted to move through the strait reported hostile encounters. At least two ships, including a tanker, said they were fired upon by Iranian boats and had to turn back. MARISKS also said that one vessel linked to a recent incident may have been approached through scam messages demanding cryptocurrency payments in exchange for clearance before transit approval. Crypto Payments and Sanctions Avoidance Earlier this month, reports stated that Iran’s IRGC has been charging ships fees to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping companies reportedly cannot transit freely and must first coordinate with an IRGC-linked intermediary. They are asked to provide detailed vessel information such as ownership, flag, cargo, destination, and crew list. After submitting these details, operators negotiate a transit fee, which reportedly starts at around $1 per barrel of oil and is paid in yuan or stablecoins. In exchange, ships receive a permit code and escorted passage through the strait. Later, the Financial Times also reported comments from Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, who said tankers must email Iranian authorities with cargo details. Iran would then set a transit toll to be paid in digital currencies, including Bitcoin. He added that payment would need to be made within seconds to avoid sanctions-related risks. The post Crypto for Safe Passage Through the Strait of Hormuz: The New Scam appeared first on CryptoPotato .
23 Apr 2026, 05:50
Bitcoin Price Prediction: Structural Strength Could Push BTC to $85K Soon
Bitcoin is trading around $78k, surging higher consistently as a combination of improving technical structure and renewed geopolitical optimism drives fresh buying. The extension of the US-Iran ceasefire has provided a meaningful risk-on catalyst, removing a key source of macro uncertainty that had been weighing on markets for weeks and giving buyers the fundamental backdrop they needed to push through key resistance levels. Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart The daily chart is telling a different story than it was even a week ago. BTC has finally broken above the descending channel, cleared the 100-day MA around $75k, and is now pushing through the $75k–$80k resistance band, with the RSI also on the rise but not overbought yet. Crucially, what makes this move stand apart from previous attempts is that price is not just tagging resistance and fading. The price is grinding through the supply zone with successive higher closes. The next major test sits at the $85k–$90k zone, where the declining 200-day MA and a significant supply cluster converge. A weekly close above the $80k psychological level would be a structural development of real importance, as it confirms that the correction’s dominant trend has broken down. On the downside, the former channel boundary and 100-day MA near $75k are now the first support levels to defend on any pullback. Source: TradingView BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart The ascending channel from the February lows is not producing a clean breakout to the upside. BTC is pushing through the upper boundary near $78k. Unlike the mid-March attempt and last week’s failed breakout, this move has shown genuine follow-through and momentum, which the RSI confirms by trending higher. The $74k–$76k zone, which includes the former upper channel boundary and a key horizontal level, is now the most important area to hold during any retracement on the 4-hour chart. A successful retest of that zone followed by a rebound would be a textbook continuation setup and would add further conviction to the case that the $80k level, and potentially the $82k-$84k bearish order block, are the next meaningful targets in the coming weeks. Source: TradingView Sentiment Analysis The Miners’ Position Index (MPI) is currently sitting below zero on the 7-day EMA. It has rebounded from the green zone that has historically marked periods of miner accumulation rather than distribution. Throughout the 2025 bull run, the MPI repeatedly spiked well above zero as miners sold aggressively into price strength. This behavior consistently preceded local tops. The current reading is the opposite, as miners are not rushing to sell into this rally. The contrast with prior cycle behavior is meaningful. When the price was trading between $110k and $125k, the MPI was consistently elevated. Miners were offloading supply into demand. At $78k, with the index near its most conservative reading in over a year, miners appear to be holding their coins rather than taking profits. This reduces one of the most consistent sources of sell-side pressure in the Bitcoin market, and in a context where exchange reserves are also at multi-year lows, the supply picture heading into a potential push toward $80k looks considerably cleaner than it did at equivalent price levels during the previous rally. Source: CryptoQuant The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Structural Strength Could Push BTC to $85K Soon appeared first on CryptoPotato .
23 Apr 2026, 03:18
Ethereum Price Rejected Above $2,400, Upside Momentum Starts To Fade
Ethereum price started a fresh increase and remained stable above $2,350. ETH is now consolidating and might aim for more gains if it clears $2,425. Ethereum started a steady increase above the $2,380 zone. The price is trading above $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,320 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it stays above the $2,320 zone. Ethereum Price Corrects Recent Gains Ethereum price managed to stay above the $2,250 support and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin . ETH price gained pace for a move above $2,350 and $2,380. The last swing high was formed at $2,424 before there was a downside correction. The price dipped below the $2,380 level. There was a move below the 38.2% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,258 swing low to the $2,424 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,320 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average . There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,320 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. If the bulls remain in action above $2,300, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,385 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,400 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,420 level. A clear move above the $2,420 resistance might send the price toward the $2,440 resistance. An upside break above the $2,440 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,500 resistance zone or even $2,550 in the near term. Another Decline In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,420 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,340 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,258 swing low to the $2,424 high. The first major support sits near the $2,320 zone. A clear move below the $2,320 support might push the price toward the $2,285 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,250 region. The main support could be $2,200. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,320 Major Resistance Level – $2,385
23 Apr 2026, 02:33
Bitcoin Price Rally Nears $80K, Dips May Draw Fresh Buyers
Bitcoin price started a fresh increase and cleared the $77,500 zone. BTC is consolidating and might aim for more gains above the $79,500 level. Bitcoin managed to stay above $76,500 and started a fresh increase. The price is trading above $77,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a short-term declining channel forming with resistance at $78,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might extend gains if it stays above the $77,150 and $76,650 levels. Bitcoin Price Regains Traction Bitcoin price found support near $74,850 and started a fresh increase . BTC gained pace for a move above the $75,500 and $77,200 resistance levels. The bulls even pushed the price above $78,500. A high was formed at $79,490, and the price is now correcting gains. There was a move below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $74,850 swing low to the $79,490 high. Bitcoin is now trading above $77,200 and the 100 hourly simple moving average . If the price remains stable above $77,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $78,500 level. There is also a short-term declining channel forming with resistance at $78,500 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The first key resistance is near the $79,200 level. A close above the $79,200 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $79,500 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $80,000 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $82,000. Another Drop In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $78,500 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $77,700 level. The first major support is near the $77,150 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $74,850 swing low to the $79,490 high. The next support is now near the $76,650 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $75,500 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $75,000, below which BTC might struggle to recover in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $77,700, followed by $77,150. Major Resistance Levels – $78,500 and $79,500.
22 Apr 2026, 23:45
iPhone Users Beware: Kaspersky Flags 26 Fake Crypto Wallet Apps That Could Drain Your Funds
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has identified 26 fraudulent cryptocurrency wallet applications on Apple’s App Store that are designed to steal users’ digital assets. The company’s Threat Research team found that the apps imitate popular crypto wallets, such as MetaMask, Ledger, Trust Wallet, Coinbase, TokenPocket, imToken, and Bitpie, by copying their names and visual branding to appear legitimate. Once opened, these applications redirect users to phishing pages that resemble the App Store interface and prompt them to download a second application, which is actually a trojanized wallet that can drain cryptocurrency funds. How The Scam Works Kaspersky said the campaign has been active since at least fall 2025 and, with “moderate confidence,” linked it to the threat actors behind SparkKitty, a previously identified iOS malware strain. Official versions of many of these wallet apps are not available in the Chinese iOS App Store; most of the detected phishing apps were distributed specifically to users in China, though the malicious payload itself does not include regional restrictions. This essentially means that users outside China could also be affected. Kaspersky confirmed it has reported all identified apps to Apple. According to the findings, the fraudulent apps include basic, unrelated features such as games, calculators, or task managers to create an appearance of legitimacy and pass initial scrutiny. After installation, they guide users through a process that opens a fake App Store webpage and encourages them to download what appears to be the intended wallet application. This installation process works similarly to SparkKitty, using Apple’s enterprise developer tools for corporate app distribution. Users are prompted to install a developer profile on their device, which allows them to install apps from outside the App Store. Attackers rely on users overlooking this step, enabling the installation of malicious software. Once installed, the trojanized wallet applications are designed to mimic the behavior of the specific wallet they impersonate. They target both hot and cold wallets. Kaspersky’s mobile malware expert, Sergey Puzan, stated that while the apps themselves may not contain harmful code, they serve as entry points in a broader attack chain that ultimately leads to malware installation. The researcher further warned, “By paying a fee and setting up a developer account, the attackers can target any iOS device if the user succumbs to the phishing tactic. Users should be wary of the risks related to managing their crypto wallets even on devices that they consider safe, such as iPhones. We expect there may be more trojanized crypto apps distributed with a similar tactic.” Counterfeit Ledger Device The latest report comes days after a counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus device sold through an online marketplace was exposed as part of a sophisticated phishing operation designed to steal crypto wallet credentials by a Brazilian cybersecurity researcher. The device, which was marketed and priced like an official product, initially appeared genuine but failed verification when connected to Ledger Live. Upon opening the device, the researcher found internal components that did not match legitimate hardware, including a chip with its markings removed and additional WiFi and Bluetooth antennas not present in authentic Ledger wallets. Further examination of the firmware revealed that both PIN codes and seed phrases were stored in plaintext, along with references to external servers, indicating that the device was designed to capture and transmit sensitive data. The researcher acknowledged that this attack does not involve any flaw in Ledger’s security, but instead uses fake devices, harmful apps, and phishing tricks to target users. The post iPhone Users Beware: Kaspersky Flags 26 Fake Crypto Wallet Apps That Could Drain Your Funds appeared first on CryptoPotato .
22 Apr 2026, 21:44
Ripple Sends $108 Million XRP to Coinbase, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Sees April's Biggest Bullish Sign,Saylor’s Strategy Scoops $3.6 Billion Bitcoin Gains
Crypto news digest: Ripple hits Coinbase with $108 million XRP transfer; SHIB sees April's biggest bullish sign yet; Strategy scoops $3.6 billion BTC gains in April.
