hodler

28 Apr 2026, 18:16

Litecoin Postmortem: MWEB Bug Let Attacker Fake 85,034 LTC Pegout Before Devs Froze Funds

Litecoin developers published a postmortem on Tuesday confirming two related security incidents tied to a critical Mimblewimble Extension Block validation bug that allowed an attacker to fabricate an 85,034 LTC pegout in March 2026 and later trigger a 13-block chain reorganization in April that hit Thorchain and NEAR Intents. Key Takeaways: A Litecoin MWEB validation

28 Apr 2026, 18:14

Pax Gold vs Ayni Gold: The Difference Between Holding Gold and Earning Gold-Backed DeFi Yield

Hold PAXG. You earn nothing in the position. Hold AYNI and stake it. You earn quarterly staking rewards in gold, paid in PAXG itself. Both tokens put gold on a blockchain. Only one of them generates DeFi gold yield. That difference is structural, not marketing, and it determines which product fits which user. Ayni Gold is a DeFi protocol built on a Peruvian gold mine. PAXG, issued by Paxos, is a token backed one-to-one by physical gold sitting in a vault. PAXG tracks gold's price. Ayni Gold tracks gold's production. Demand for on-chain gold has climbed sharply in 2026. Bitget's TradFi desk crossed $6 billion in daily volume with gold as the top-traded pair . Both products benefit from that current. They serve different users. What Each Token Actually Represents The two tokens look similar from the outside but reference different underlying objects: one points to metal already in storage, the other to metal still being extracted. Pax Gold (PAXG): Token Backed by Vaulted Gold Each PAXG token corresponds to one troy ounce of London Good Delivery gold held by Paxos Trust Company in Brink's facilities. Holders can redeem PAXG for physical gold or for cash through Paxos directly. PAXG launched in 2019 and has grown into the largest gold-backed cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Vault attestations are published monthly by WithumSmith+Brown, an independent accounting firm. The price tracks the spot gold price closely, with small premiums or discounts based on liquidity. As a gold as a yield-generating asset, PAXG itself does no work. It sits on the chain. Any returns on the position come from the gold market or from external strategies a holder layers on top, such as lending, liquidity provision, or external staking platforms. Ayni Gold (AYNI): Stake in Gold Production Ayni Gold reverses the model. The AYNI tokenomics documentation explains that one AYNI token represents 4 cm³ per hour of mining capacity at the Minerales San Hilario concession, an 8 km² alluvial site in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Total supply is fixed at 806,451,613 tokens. Minerales SH San Hilario S.C.R.L., the company operating the mine, holds concession No. 070011405 with INGEMMET, the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Peru. The token is not redeemable for gold. It is a position in a productive asset, more like a mining royalty than a vault receipt. Users who stake AYNI receive income in PAXG proportional to mining production, net of costs and a success fee. The protocol burns 15% of accumulated success fees every quarter, shrinking the circulating supply over time. This makes AYNI a gold-backed crypto yield position with cash flow built in. How the PAXG reward is calculated The reward calculation is published in plain form: PAXG reward = (AYNI_staked × Mining_output × Time_factor) − Costs − Success_Fee Every input in that formula maps to a real number. The amount of AYNI staked is on-chain. Mining output, costs, and success fees are reported by the operator. There is no proprietary model layered on top, which makes the yield mechanics auditable in a way most DeFi protocols are not. On the smart contract side, the AYNI ERC-20 contract has been audited by CertiK (October 2025) and separately by PeckShield. Both reports live on the protocol's trust and audits page. Side by Side: The Six Dimensions That Matter The structural differences become clearest when laid out on the dimensions a buyer actually evaluates. PAXG Ayni Gold What the token represents One troy ounce of physical gold held in a Paxos vault 4 cm³/hour of mining capacity at the Minerales San Hilario concession in Peru Source of returns Gold price movement only Income in PAXG is proportional to real gold mining output, plus gold price exposure on the reward asset Native yield None Yes, paid in PAXG to AYNI stakers Custody Paxos vaults, audited monthly by WithumSmith+Brown INGEMMET-registered concession (No. 070011405); smart contracts audited by CertiK and PeckShield Best for Long-term gold holders who want price exposure on-chain Users who want gold exposure plus yield from real gold mining Two takeaways. PAXG is a stable, audited, redeemable claim on stored gold with no native yield. Ayni Gold is a yield-bearing claim on gold production, with returns tied to operational performance and a wider risk profile. Why PAXG Holders Should Care About Ayni Gold Most PAXG yield staking strategies require leaving PAXG. Holders deposit it on lending platforms, pair it in liquidity pools, or wrap it through external protocols. Each of those routes adds smart contract exposure, counterparty exposure, or impermanent loss to a position that started as simple gold exposure. Ayni Gold solves that asymmetry differently. The protocol does not ask PAXG holders to leave PAXG. It pays them in PAXG. Users stake AYNI and earn PAXG payouts that track output at the concession. For users who want to earn yield in gold without giving up gold-denominated exposure, the architecture matters. The PAXG use case PAXG fits one need cleanly: putting gold price exposure on-chain in a form crypto-native users can hold and use as collateral. Six years of operational history, billions in market cap, and direct redemption to physical gold. The product matches the use case. PAXG also serves as infrastructure across the broader gold-on-chain category: Lending platforms accept it as collateral Stablecoin protocols use it as a non-fiat reserve asset TradFi gold instruments may settle into or against it The Ayni Gold use case Ayni Gold solves something PAXG cannot. The protocol pays out in PAXG, sourced from gold extracted at the Minerales San Hilario concession, letting holders earn yield without leaving the asset. Hold the position. Receive gold. An AYNI position gives holders five things no vault-backed token offers: Yield paid in PAXG, denominated in gold not dollars Exposure to mining throughput rather than static stored metal Returns tied to actual mining output, not market sentiment or stored inventory No need to move capital across multiple protocols to chase income Gold-backed yield without giving up gold-denominated returns This is the underserved audience in DeFi: users who want gold exposure and income from it, in one position. Until this category emerged, the only options were vault tokens with no yield or DeFi strategies with no gold backing. Ayni Gold fills that gap directly. Where Each One Fits PAXG fits one use case directly. Users who want gold on-chain in a form that works in any DeFi wallet, settles cleanly, and redeems back to physical gold get exactly that. The limitation is what PAXG cannot do by design. The token represents stored gold, and stored gold produces nothing. Yield strategies built on PAXG require leaving the asset and accepting risk elsewhere. Ayni Gold answers the gap. The position pays out in PAXG, so the gold-denominated exposure stays intact, and the yield comes from extraction at the mine. For users who want gold exposure and staking rewards in gold without juggling protocols, that combination exists in only a handful of products. PAXG vs Ayni Gold is the wrong question. The real question is whether the gold a user holds should sit still or earn income while it sits. The Bottom Line PAXG represents a static asset: stored gold backing each token. Ayni Gold represents a productive asset: a share of the capacity that produces gold. PAXG gives price exposure with no native yield. Ayni Gold gives yield from real gold mining output, paid in PAXG itself. In the broader category of gold-backed tokens vs stablecoins, both products offer something stablecoins do not: durable value tied to gold. Only one of them adds yield to that exposure. For users weighing where to allocate, the question is what kind of gold position fits the goal. Stored gold for price exposure. Mining capacity for DeFi gold yield backed by real production. FAQ Should I hold PAXG or Ayni Gold? Neither answer is universal. PAXG fits users who want stable, audited, redeemable gold price exposure on-chain. Ayni Gold fits holders who pair that exposure with mining-output yield. Some users hold both for different reasons. Is Ayni Gold's yield paid in AYNI or in PAXG? Yield is paid in PAXG, not in AYNI. Holders receive a gold-backed stable yield, with the reward denominated in gold instead of tied to a project token that could move independently. How often are PAXG rewards distributed? Distribution is quarterly. AYNI stakers receive PAXG rewards every three months, with the amount tied to mining output for the quarter, net of operational costs and the protocol's success fee. What happens to yield if mining output drops? Yield drops with it. Returns track operational performance at the concession, so a quarter with lower extraction means a smaller PAXG distribution. The exposure works in reverse on stronger quarters as well. Can I redeem PAXG for physical gold? Yes, through Paxos directly. Holders with at least 430 PAXG (one London Good Delivery bar) can redeem for physical gold. Smaller positions can be redeemed for cash. Can I redeem AYNI tokens for physical gold? No. AYNI is not a redemption claim on stored gold. It is a position in mining capacity that pays out PAXG rewards from production. The PAXG received as rewards can, in turn be redeemed at Paxos. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

28 Apr 2026, 18:11

ApeCoin bounces back: Can APE break past $0.211 this time?

ApeCoin has returned to the spotlight after a turbulent few days of trading that saw sharp swings in both directions. The token is currently trading around $0.1606, recording a 24-hour gain of about 12.5%, a move that has placed it among the strongest performers in its segment. This rebound follows a brief but aggressive correction that shook out leveraged positions and reset short-term sentiment across the market. ApeCoin climbed to $0.211 on April 25 before sliding sharply to $0.1388 by April 27. However, the recovery that followed on April 28 has brought the token back into a key technical zone, where traders are now watching whether momentum can extend beyond previous highs or fade into another consolidation phase. What is fueling the ApeCoin rally? The current momentum in ApeCoin is being driven by a combination of leadership-driven sentiment shifts and strong derivatives activity. The market is reacting to restructuring at Yuga Labs , where Michael Figge was appointed CEO alongside broader governance changes tied to a shift toward ApeCo. This transition has been interpreted by traders as a reset in execution strategy for the ecosystem, triggering a re-evaluation of APE’s longer-term role. Derivatives markets have also seen a sharp rise in participation, with futures volume increasing by more than 200% to roughly $537 million, while open interest has climbed by about 64%. The combination of rising prices and rising open interest typically signals new positions entering the market rather than short covering alone, pointing to fresh directional conviction. At the same time, capital rotation within the memecoin sector has supported inflows into APE, with traders moving into higher-beta assets during short bursts of risk appetite. Technical analysis From a technical standpoint, the $0.16–$0.17 zone has emerged as the most important short-term support area. Holding above this range keeps the bullish setup intact and opens the door for another move toward $0.18 and then $0.20, the next major resistance cluster. A decisive break above $0.20 would bring the previous high of $0.211 back into focus. Despite the strong recovery, momentum indicators such as the MACD and RSI (above 60) suggest buying pressure remains intact without entering overbought territory. However, weaker capital inflows—reflected in negative CMF readings—point to fragility in sustained demand. ApeCoin price analysis This mix of strength and hesitation has created conditions where liquidations could accelerate moves in either direction. A push above $0.18 may trigger a short squeeze due to concentrated leveraged positioning, while failure to hold support could quickly unwind recent gains. In the event of another correction, a break below $0.16 would weaken the structure and expose the price to a potential decline toward $0.14, where prior accumulation has been observed. So, can ApeCoin reclaim $0.211? For that to happen, the token must first stabilise above $0.17 and build momentum through the $0.18–$0.20 resistance zone. Only a clean breakout above this range would reopen the path toward $0.211. For now, the market remains in a reactive phase, shaped by leadership expectations, heavy derivatives positioning, and sharp intraday volatility. Whether ApeCoin can turn this rebound into a sustained breakout will depend on how well buyers defend the $0.16–$0.17 support zone in the sessions ahead. The post ApeCoin bounces back: Can APE break past $0.211 this time? appeared first on Invezz

28 Apr 2026, 18:11

Block Inc. 28.355 BTC Reserve Report Released

Block Inc. shared its 28.355 BTC reserve report: Customers 19.357 BTC, company 8.997 BTC. Independently audited, on-chain verifiable. BTC in sideways trend at 76.187 USD, strong S1 support at 72.80...

28 Apr 2026, 18:10

Best PAXG Alternatives for Gold Exposure in Crypto

Gold-backed crypto crossed $4.5 billion in market cap by early 2026 , with most of that value concentrated in PAXG and Tether Gold. For holders weighing how to put gold on-chain, the question is rarely whether tokenized gold works. It is which token fits which need. Some users want regulated price exposure with no surprises. Others want PAXG yield staking or income from a different source entirely. A few are looking for a chain that is not Ethereum, or a regulatory framework that is not US or Swiss. This article compares five gold-backed projects that are actively traded and answers different questions. PAXG sits as the reference. The others stand against it on what they offer that PAXG does not, including options for gold-backed crypto yield that vault-only models cannot match. How These Projects Compare The five projects differ in what they represent, where they are stored, what chain they live on, and whether they generate yield. The table below maps each project across those dimensions. Paxos Gold Tether Gold Ayni Gold Kinesis Comtech Gold Token represents 1 troy oz vaulted gold 1 troy oz vaulted gold 4 cm³/hr mining capacity 1g vaulted gold 1g vaulted gold Native yield None None Yes (PAXG, quarterly) Yes (fee share, monthly) None Chain Ethereum Ethereum, TRON, TON Ethereum Stellar-derived XDC Network Custody Brink's, London Tether vaults, Switzerland INGEMMET concession, Peru ABX vault network Transguard, UAE Best for Regulated price exposure Liquidity, multi-chain Yield from production Spendable gold + fee share Shariah-compliant exposure 1. Pax Gold (PAXG): The Regulated Benchmark Pax Gold is the reference point for gold-backed crypto. Each token represents one troy ounce of LBMA Good Delivery gold held by Paxos Trust Company in Brink's vaults in London. Paxos is regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services, with monthly attestations from WithumSmith+Brown. The token launched in 2019. Market cap sits around $2.5 billion in early 2026, with daily volume above $200 million across Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, and Bybit. Holders with at least 430 PAXG (one London Good Delivery bar) can redeem for physical gold . Smaller positions can be redeemed for cash through Paxos. PAXG offers no native yield. Strategies that generate DeFi gold yield require leaving the asset and depositing into lending platforms like Aave or Compound, which adds smart contract and counterparty exposure to a position that started as plain gold price exposure. Best for: institutions, compliance-focused investors, and long-term holders who want regulated gold price exposure on-chain without yield complications. 2. Tether Gold (XAUT): The Largest by Market Cap Tether Gold is the largest tokenized gold asset, with a market cap of over $2.5 billion. Each XAUT represents one troy ounce of LBMA-certified gold stored in Swiss vaults, with serial numbers verifiable on-chain. Tether's subsidiary TG Commodities issues the token. XAUT differs from PAXG on chain availability. The token is issued on Ethereum, TRON, and TON via LayerZero, which broadens accessibility for users who do not want to pay Ethereum gas fees. Tether publishes regular proof-of-reserves reports, with quarterly audits from BDO. Fee structure: no recurring storage fees on the token, but a one-time 0.25% fee at issuance and redemption from the issuer. Like PAXG, XAUT does not function as a gold as a yield-generating asset on its own. Yield comes only from external DeFi strategies. Best for: active traders, multi-chain users, and holders who want deeper liquidity than PAXG offers on most pairs. 3. Ayni Gold (AYNI): Yield from Real Gold Mining Ayni Gold takes a different approach. Instead of tokenizing stored gold, it tokenizes mining capacity. Each AYNI token represents 4 cm³ per hour of processing capacity at the Minerales San Hilario concession in Peru, an 8 km² alluvial site registered with INGEMMET (concession No. 070011405). Total supply is fixed at 806,451,613 tokens . Smart contracts have been audited by CertiK in October 2025 and separately by PeckShield, with both reports published on the protocol's trust page. Stakers receive PAXG rewards quarterly, calculated from mining output minus operational costs and a success fee. The protocol also burns 15% of accumulated success fees every quarter, shrinking the circulating supply over time. For users who want to earn yield in gold without leaving gold-denominated exposure, Ayni Gold answers a question vault-backed tokens cannot. The position generates staking rewards in gold from real gold mining, not from external lending or token emissions. Best for: holders who want gold exposure plus income tied to mining output and accept the operational risk that comes with production-linked returns. 4. Kinesis Gold (KAU): Fee-Share Yield on Vaulted Gold Kinesis Gold has been live since 2019. Each KAU token represents one gram of investment-grade gold stored in ABX-approved vaults globally, with semi-annual audits from Inspectorate International. The token sits on a Stellar-derived chain optimized for fast settlement and low fees. Yield works differently from Ayni Gold. KAU holders receive a Holder's Yield, calculated from a 15% share of the Kinesis platform transaction fee revenue and distributed monthly. Users who mint new KAU through the platform receive an additional Minter's Yield from a separate 5% fee pool. As of late 2025, Kinesis had paid out more than $11 million to KAU holders. KAU is also spendable globally through the Kinesis Virtual Card on the Mastercard network. Holders can redeem the underlying gold for physical bars on demand, subject to withdrawal minimums. The token positions itself as a commodity-backed DeFi with everyday utility, where the yield source is platform activity instead of gold production. Best for: users who want gold that can be spent globally with passive income from platform transaction fees. 5. Comtech Gold (CGO): The Shariah-Compliant Option Comtech Gold launched in 2022 on the XDC Network. Each CGO token represents one gram of physical gold held by Transguard in the UAE, with ownership rights structured under XDC Trust Company. Market cap sits around $5.7 million in early 2026, with daily volume around $1 million. CGO is the first 100% Shariah-compliant gold-backed token, which gives it real positioning in Middle East and Southeast Asia portfolios where compliance with Islamic finance principles matters. Each token has its own audit trail, and tokens are redeemable for physical gold. Liquidity is smaller than the other entries on this list. CGO earns its position through a regulatory and structural niche that none of the others fill, not through volume or scale. Best for: investors in Shariah-compliant portfolios and users seeking jurisdictional diversification away from US, EU, and Swiss vaults. Where the Category Stands in 2026 The tokenized gold market has moved past the question of whether on-chain gold works. PAXG and XAUT settled that with combined market caps near $5 billion. The current question is which structure fits which need. Vault-backed tokens cover price exposure. Comtech Gold layers Shariah compliance onto that base. Kinesis adds platform-fee yield. Ayni Gold goes further, sourcing on-chain yield from real assets by tokenizing mining capacity and paying out in PAXG. Most users do not pick one and stop. The five fill different needs, and a portfolio that holds more than one is the natural shape of the category in 2026. FAQ Which gold-backed token has the most liquidity in 2026? Tether Gold (XAUT) by market cap, around $2.5 billion, with PAXG close behind at roughly $2.2 billion. The two control about 90% of the tokenized gold market. Which gold-backed tokens pay yield? Two on this list pay native yield. Kinesis distributes a share of platform transaction fees monthly. Ayni Gold distributes PAXG rewards quarterly, sourced from mining output at the Minerales San Hilario concession in Peru. Can I redeem these tokens for physical gold? Four can be. PAXG, XAUT, Kinesis, and Comtech Gold support physical redemption, subject to minimum quantities. AYNI is different. It represents mining capacity, not stored gold, though the PAXG received as staking rewards can be redeemed through Paxos. How do fees compare across these tokens? Most charge no recurring holding fees, including PAXG and Comtech Gold. XAUT charges 0.25% at issuance and redemption. Kinesis takes 0.22% per transaction, with part redistributed to holders as yield. Ayni Gold deducts mining costs and a success fee from quarterly PAXG distributions before they reach stakers. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

28 Apr 2026, 18:09

IREN Price Target Cut as Bernstein Sees Firm Dumping Bitcoin Mining for AI

Bernstein analysts see IREN’s AI cloud prospects growing substantially in the coming years—and its Bitcoin business disappearing entirely.