According to Onchain Lens monitoring, a whale withdrew 2.265 million ASTER tokens from Binance after five months of inactivity, worth $1.54 million, and then deposited them into Aster DEX.

Ethereum Layer 2 network Starknet announced on the X platform that its STRK20 testnet will launch next week, with the mainnet planned for release at the end of April. STRK20 is designed to support the issuance of privacy stablecoins and other privacy assets while also meeting compliance requirements. It aims to provide token-level privacy for assets on Starknet, keeping transaction amounts and account balances confidential and compatible with DeFi applications.

The spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister, Will Wells, stated that it is premature to forecast the impact of the Iran conflict on energy bills. According to Jin10, Wells emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the situation and the difficulty in making accurate predictions at this stage. The ongoing geopolitical tensions have raised concerns about potential disruptions in energy supply, but the full extent of the impact remains unclear. The UK government continues to monitor the situation closely, assessing potential implications for the energy market and preparing to respond as necessary.

The period surrounding retirement is a critical financial phase, where market downturns can significantly impact savings. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the potential risks retirees face if the market performs poorly during this time. Financial experts emphasize the importance of strategic planning to mitigate these risks and ensure financial stability in retirement. They suggest diversifying investments and maintaining a flexible withdrawal strategy to better navigate market fluctuations. As retirees rely on their savings for income, understanding and preparing for market volatility is crucial to safeguarding their financial future.

European asset management giant Amundi announced the launch of a $100 million tokenized fund, Spiko Amundi Overnight Swap Fund (SAFO), on the Ethereum and Stellar chains. This fund is specifically designed for institutional funds and collateral management, providing overnight liquidity through collateralized yield swaps with major bank counterparties. Subscription and redemption are supported in major fiat currencies such as the euro, US dollar, British pound, and Swiss franc. (News.bitcoin)

Crypto hardware wallet maker Ledger has hired former Circle executive John Andrews as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in preparation for its potential initial public offering (IPO). Andrews previously served as Head of Capital Markets and Investor Relations at stablecoin issuer Circle and was involved in its IPO. Ledger is also opening an office in New York to expand its U.S. operations. Andrews stated that the IPO plans may be delayed due to current market volatility. (The Information)

The crypto market is generally stabilizing, with BTC currently fluctuating around $70,500. However, derivatives data is showing clear defensive signals, and coupled with rising macroeconomic uncertainty, market sentiment remains under pressure. Derivatives data shows that Bitcoin open interest (OI) is stable at approximately $16.9 billion, funding rates have returned to the neutral range of 0%-10%, and the three-month annualized basis remains at 2.8%, reflecting a generally cautious institutional attitude. The options market exhibits a defensive structure, with the call/put ratio falling to 43/56, indicating a significant increase in downside hedging demand. Furthermore, short-term implied volatility has inverted, suggesting potential high-intensity volatility in the short term. In the past 24 hours, total liquidations across the network amounted to approximately $308 million, with long positions accounting for 63%. BTC and ETH saw liquidations of approximately $93 million and $81 million respectively. Binance's liquidation heatmap shows that $68,500 is a key liquidation support level that requires close monitoring. On the macro front, crude oil prices fell below the $100 mark to around $96. The possibility of the US considering releasing sanctioned Iranian oil to increase supply initially boosted risk assets, but the trend subsequently reversed, with US stock futures weakening. Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures fell by approximately 0.6% and 0.4% respectively, indicating that the market remains relatively fragile. (CoinDesk)

China has maintained a conspicuous silence regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has significantly impacted Iran, a key ally of China. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting that this silence is intentional. Despite the turmoil affecting its strategic partner, China has opted for a reserved stance, refraining from public commentary or intervention. This approach aligns with China's broader diplomatic strategy, which often emphasizes non-interference and cautious engagement in international disputes. The situation continues to evolve, with China closely monitoring developments while maintaining its diplomatic posture.

BNP Paribas has significantly increased its use of significant risk transfers, highlighting its position as a leading issuer of these popular financial deals. Bloomberg posted on X, noting the bank's strategic move to enhance its risk management practices. This approach allows BNP Paribas to manage its capital more efficiently by transferring potential risks to other parties. The bank's increased reliance on these transactions underscores the growing trend among financial institutions to adopt innovative risk management strategies.

Google researchers have discovered an iOS exploit chain named DarkSword, which utilizes six vulnerabilities to install malware on iPhones operating on iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7. According to NS3.AI, the malware, known as Ghostblade, is designed to search for major cryptocurrency exchange and wallet applications, while also stealing messages, passwords, browsing data, and other device information. The campaigns have been observed in Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. Ghostblade is engineered for rapid data theft rather than prolonged surveillance.

Solana-based Water Coin surged nearly 40% after Ronaldinho promoted it on Instagram, following Lionel Messi’s earlier endorsement. Industry critics warn a potential pump-and-dump may be on the horizon.