Invest ideasNews
9 Apr 2026, 12:51
Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Bitcoin ETF Debuts with $34M in First-Day Trading Volume
Banking giant Morgan Stanley’s long-awaited spot Bitcoin ETF, MSBT, started trading yesterday on NYSE Arca. And on its first day, it pulled in about $34 million in trading volume and saw over 1.6 million shares traded. Morgan Stanley Debuts Low-Fee BTC ETF ETF analyst Eric Balchunas had described MSBT’s debut as “arguably the biggest Bitcoin ETF launch since they began,” giving it a first-year AUM target of $5 billion. Halfway through its first trading session, Balchunas reported that the product had reached $27 million, and this was after he had estimated it would hit $30 million, before revising his projection to $50 million, which he said would put the debut in the top 1% of ETF launches. Eventually, it added another $7 million to close the day, drawing $34 million in total. The fund launched with a 0.14% fee, which NovaDius Wealth President Nate Geraci called “the lowest cost spot BTC ETF on market.” That pricing undercuts competitors such as BlackRock’s IBIT, which charges 0.25%, and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15%. Allyson Wallace, Morgan Stanley’s global head of ETFs, told Bloomberg that the low fee was a deliberate strategy meant to show the bank’s commitment to the product. According to her, demand has been high, especially from high-net-worth investors. On-chain and fund flow data support her sentiment, with Bitcoin ETF tracking account HODL15Capital reporting that MSBT bought 430 BTC on its first day. ETF Flows Remain Uneven It has been a mixed period for spot Bitcoin ETFs, with SoSoValue’s data showing total net outflows of about $124 million across the funds yesterday. Before that, the funds collectively lost $159 million, breaking a two-day green run from last Thursday that saw about $480 million in net inflows. Meanwhile, BTC itself is trading just above $71,000, shaving off almost $1,800 from a three-week peak near $73,000 that it hit after reports emerged that Iran would require ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay a toll in Bitcoin. Morgan Stanley’s entry also builds on earlier filings disclosed in January 2026, when the bank submitted proposals for Bitcoin and Solana-linked funds. At the time, reports pointed to a broader shift among large financial institutions moving from distributing third-party products to issuing their own. MSBT’s structure reflects that transition. The fund combines traditional custody through BNY Mellon with crypto-native infrastructure from Coinbase, while offering exposure to Bitcoin price movements without requiring direct ownership of the asset. The post Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Bitcoin ETF Debuts with $34M in First-Day Trading Volume appeared first on CryptoPotato .
9 Apr 2026, 12:49
Trading volumes crash nearly 50% globally from October 2025 peak
The crypto market has witnessed a sharp decline in trading volume, with volumes down close to 50% since its peak in October 2025. Despite the decline, Binance continues to dominate the market, commanding over one-third of the market share. According to CryptoQuant data, the trading volume on centralized exchanges has plunged to $4.3 trillion, down from over $8 trillion. Despite the prevailing market downturn, the derivatives market is emerging as a dominant sector for traders. According to the intelligence report, major CEXs recorded $3.5 trillion in perpetual futures trading volume. Derivatives form the primary engine of liquidity in the market Market data suggests that derivative traders currently account for the bulk of trading activity in the crypto space. The phenomenon suggests that the market is currently saturated with sophisticated traders, as evidenced by the preference for futures, perpetual swaps, and options contracts. Meanwhile, CryptoQuant’s data shows that institutions and professional traders have been at the forefront in the derivatives market. The two groups combined accounted for $3.5 trillion of the total derivatives activity volume of $4.3 trillion in 2025. The $3.5 trillion in perpetual futures, according to the analysis, represents approximately 4X the total spot trading volume recorded on centralized exchanges. Spot trading on CEX fell to under $1 trillion from $1.4 trillion last month, solidifying the perpetuals market as the key pillar for revenue expansion and price discovery for major exchanges. Perps currently represent over 70% of total CEX activity. Derivatives have typically accounted for 60-70% of total exchange volume during bullish phases in previous market cycles. However, perpetual futures volume this year has dropped from $3.67 trillion in January to $3.57 trillion in February, according to CryptoQuant. Spot trading volume also followed a similar trend in 2026, dropping slightly from $1.1 trillion in January to $1.01 trillion in February. Spot trading volume further dropped to $818.45 billion in March. Binance remains dominant despite market cooldown Binance has maintained the top spot for total trading volume among CEXs, though other exchanges like MEXC and Bybit continue to narrow the gap. The exchange recorded $248 billion last month, a 5% drop from 37% market share to approximately 32% in March. Meanwhile, its spot trading volume so far this year is nearly $1 trillion. MEXC exchange now commands 9% of the spot trading volume, representing $77 billion. The exchange’s total spot trading volume so far in 2026 is approximately $263 billion. Bybit also recorded 7%, translating to $59 billion. It has accumulated roughly $206 billion since the start of the year. Other exchanges, like Gate and Crypto.com , recorded $56 billion and $52 billion, respectively. Similarly, Binance exchange remains dominant in the perpetual futures landscape with a total of $1.4 trillion in March. OKX, Bybit, Bitget, and Coinbase International followed with $0.7 trillion, $0.5 trillion, $0.3 trillion, and $0.2 trillion, respectively. CryptoQuant’s data further shows that Binance has accumulated over $4.5 trillion in total perpetual futures trading volume so far in 2026. OKX and Bybit have each managed $2.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion, respectively. Binance’s perpetual futures trading volume share remains at 40%, followed by OKX (19%) and Bybit (13%). The data confirms Binance’s dominance across both spot and derivatives trading. Meanwhile, preliminary data suggests mixed effects, according to CryptoRank. Although spreads have slightly widened for less liquid altcoins, major crypto pairs such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have maintained stable execution quality despite low volumes. Exchange incentive programs for liquidity providers are now offering more targeted rewards for maintaining tight spreads during lower-volume periods. On the other hand, the 48% decline in CEX volumes has also raised important questions about market quality and liquidity. However, market-making innovations help explain why the volume plunge has not led to proportionately negative impacts on execution metrics. That is particularly true for institutional-scale orders where transaction cost analysis (TCA) remains crucial. There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance .
9 Apr 2026, 12:44
Shiba Inu Price Prepares for Breakout After Consolidation Phase
Shiba Inu is showing signs of building momentum after weeks of consolidation. The token has repeatedly tested the $0.0000060 resistance level without sustaining a breakout. This sideways movement could precede a significant upward move. At the time of writing, Shiba Inu is trading at around $0.000000586, down by 3.24% in the past 24 hours. SHIB Price Consolidates Between Key Support and Resistance Since March 11, Shiba Inu has traded within a tight range, fluctuating between $0.0000057 and $0.0000060. Data indicates that the token reached an intraweek high of $0.00000618 earlier this week, but failed to maintain upward momentum. The price action is tied to broader market trends, including developments in the US-Iran peace talks. SHIB’s repeated peaks around $0.0000060 suggest the token is tightening within its range, which typically strengthens momentum for a breakout, experts say. Market charts show that each rally has created a lower high, preventing a sustained uptrend. A break above February 14’s peak at $0.00000725 could trigger a bullish reversal. Technically, the 100-day SMA at $0.00000669 as the next immediate resistance if SHIB breaks out. Further gains could target $0.0000090 and the yearly high of $0.0000109, representing potential rises of 53% and 85.6%, respectively. Accumulation Supports Bullish Outlook Shiba Inu’s upward potential is reinforced by declining selling pressure. CryptoQuant reports a negative exchange netflow of 7.89 billion SHIB, showing that holders are withdrawing tokens from trading platforms. This accumulation, rather than distribution, provides foundational support for a future breakout. The consolidation phase, combined with reduced sell-offs, indicates that SHIB could gain strength for a decisive upward movement if broader market conditions improve. Investors are watching the token closely, as accumulation patterns often precede significant price shifts. Technical indicators suggest that longer consolidation could result in stronger momentum once SHIB clears its upper resistance.
9 Apr 2026, 12:30
XRP Whales Are Rapidly Buying While Retail Is Panicking, Do They Know Something You Don’t?
XRP whales are aggressively accumulating while the asset’s recent price action keeps many retail participants cautious. This raises a key question for investors: are large holders positioning ahead of something the average trader has not yet recognized? XRP Whales Accumulate At Key Levels While Retail Hesitates While XRP has dropped 3.5% in the past 24 hours, on-chain metrics indicate that XRP whales have dramatically shifted their positioning in recent weeks. Data from the analytics platform CryptoQuant shows that the Whale Flow 30-day moving average (30DMA) has turned positive after spending more than three months in negative territory, signaling a transition from distribution to accumulation. Related Reading: Analyst Who Called Bitcoin Price Crash Above $100,000 Predicts Crash To $29,000 This shift has pushed whale buying activity to its highest level in roughly ten months, highlighting a sharp change in behavior among large investors. Moreover, major holders have been purchasing more than 11 million XRP every day, a pace of accumulation that has not been observed since earlier stages of previous market expansions. The timing of this accumulation is notable because it coincides with XRP defending a key technical support zone. Market data shows the asset recently rebounded after touching the $1.28 level, bringing its current value to $1.33. Traders are closely watching this behavior, considering whether the combination of strong whale buying and support defense could set the stage for a potential breakout. Another signal reinforcing the accumulation narrative is the steady movement of tokens away from trading platforms. Exchange outflows for XRP have increased, sending a larger portion of the supply into private wallets. With fewer coins available for immediate sale, short-term selling pressure eases, amplifying the impact of growing demand and highlighting the deliberate positioning of large holders. Event-Driven Momentum: Why Whales Are Watching Japan Closely The timing of this accumulation aligns closely with a major XRP Ledger-focused event taking place in Japan this week. The conference is expected to feature Ripple executives and focus on institutional adoption, decentralized finance, and broader ecosystem development. Japan holds strategic importance for XRP due to its deep ties with SBI Holdings and its established role in Ripple’s global expansion. This regional strength adds weight to the significance of the event, making it more than just a routine industry gathering. Market participants are closely watching how the XRP price reacts around this event. Related Reading: Ripple Makes A $13 Trillion Bet With This Move, And XRP Price Could Be Set To Explode The combination of large-scale buying, reduced circulating supply, and the upcoming institutional-focused conference underscores a clear pattern. While retail participants often respond to short-term uncertainty with hesitation or panic, whales are coordinating their activity with events that could influence adoption and ecosystem growth. Ultimately, the difference between panic-driven retail behavior and disciplined whale accumulation illustrates that these large holders are acting not out of impulse, but based on insight and timing. Their moves suggest they see opportunities that others may overlook, emphasizing strategy and preparation. Whales may not have secret knowledge, but they clearly understand how to act decisively when the rest of the market hesitates. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
9 Apr 2026, 12:29
XRP Completes Golden Cross on 4-Hour Chart, But Price Presents a Twist
XRP is seeing a complete divergence from its price and bullish on-chain indicators.
9 Apr 2026, 12:21
Solana Price Prediction: Bulls Target $88 While Bears Eye $73 Breakdown
Solana has reached a key point where two chart setups now pull in opposite directions. One shows a breakout holding above $83.70 with room toward $88, while the other warns that if support fails, SOL could slide toward $73.68. Solana Holds Key Support as Traders Watch for a Push Toward $88 Solana is trying to stabilize after a sharp rebound, and the chart shared by Crypto Tony points to $83.70 as the level that could decide the next move. If SOL holds above that area, the setup suggests price may continue higher toward $88 in the near term. The 4 hour chart shows Solana recovering strongly from the recent low near the upper $78 range. After that bounce, price pushed back above the horizontal level around $83.70 and is now trading near $84.7. That move matters because the same area had acted as resistance earlier, and SOL is now trying to turn it into support. Solana 4 Hour Chart. Source: Crypto Tony on X This is the key part of the setup. When a former resistance level starts holding as support, it can signal that buyers are gaining control. In this case, the chart suggests Solana needs to stay above $83.70 to keep the recovery structure intact. If that happens, the next upside target sits near $88, which is the next visible resistance area on the chart. At the same time, the breakout still needs confirmation. A quick move above resistance does not always hold, especially after a strong vertical candle. So traders will likely watch whether SOL can remain above $83.70 over the next candles instead of falling back below it. If price slips under that level again, the move could turn into a false breakout rather than a clean reversal. For now, the chart leans short term bullish, but only while Solana holds the breakout zone. Above $83.70, the path toward $88 remains open. Below it, the recovery may lose strength and send SOL back into its prior range. Solana Tests Key Support as Falling Wedge Keeps Reversal Hopes Alive Solana is sitting at a support zone that now looks critical for the near term trend. The chart shared by DonWedge shows a red support box that must hold. Otherwise, the next downside level sits near $73.68. Solana 4 Hour Chart. Source: DonWedge on X The setup comes after a bearish rising wedge already broke down. That earlier pattern pointed to weakness, and the chart shows that move played out. Since then, SOL has continued lower, but the structure now appears to be shifting into a falling wedge. That pattern is usually seen as a bullish reversal setup, especially when price starts compressing between lower highs and a narrowing downside channel. Right now, the red support box is the key area to watch. If buyers defend that zone, the falling wedge structure stays valid and could support a rebound attempt. In that case, the market may try to push back toward the upper wedge boundary first. However, if SOL loses that support box, the chart suggests a move toward $73.68 could come next. Below that, the larger pink trendline near $61.78 remains the broader downside level on the chart. So while the wedge gives bulls a possible reversal structure, support still needs to hold before that idea gains strength. At this stage, the chart shows a market at decision point. The bearish rising wedge has already done its damage. Now the focus shifts to whether the newer falling wedge can produce a reversal instead of another leg lower.
