Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei stated on April 17 that a U.S. naval blockade against Iran would breach the ceasefire agreement. According to NS3.AI, Baghaei emphasized that Tehran is prepared to implement countermeasures if required.

World announced a significant upgrade to its World ID protocol on April 18, expanding its reach to approximately 18 million users verified by Orb across more than 160 countries. According to BlockBeats, this update is considered the most important iteration to date, introducing several practical applications. The upgrade integrates with Tinder to provide 'real person certification' for enhancing authenticity in dating, incorporates a deepfake verification feature with Zoom to confirm call participants as real humans, and launches the Concert Kit ticketing tool for identity verification and anti-scalping measures. Additionally, World has released a standalone World ID app (beta version) as a cross-platform identity authentication tool and has open-sourced its SDK, allowing third-party applications to build their own authentication systems. On the technical front, the upgrade introduces multi-key management, key rotation, account recovery, and session management mechanisms. It also proposes the concept of 'Human Continuity,' emphasizing continuous verification of the same real individual across multiple interactions, rather than just verifying devices or accounts. In terms of ecosystem development, Reddit is exploring the use of World ID for identifying automated accounts, while Razer and Mythical Games have already adopted the standard in gaming scenarios. Regarding the business model, World ID will charge fees to applications based on active users, while the user side remains free. Fees can be settled through on-chain wallets or third-party services, with support for automatic protocol-level distribution.

Figure has responded to claims made by Morpheus Research, which suggested that Figure-related entities control over 65% of the HASH token on the Provenance Blockchain and that the company exaggerates its blockchain usage. According to NS3.AI, Figure clarified that funded loans, ownership transfers, and pledges are indeed recorded and executed on-chain. The company highlighted a 0.80% weighted-average delinquency rate across approximately $4.6 billion in securitized assets. Additionally, Figure reported executing over $1.15 billion in whole loan sales on its marketplace in March 2026.

Goldman Sachs has submitted an application for a Bitcoin income ETF, marking a significant move in the digital asset space. According to NS3.AI, this development comes as Morgan Stanley's recently launched Bitcoin ETF achieved a milestone, reaching $100 million in its first week. Additionally, Charles Schwab has announced that its clients can now trade Bitcoin and Ether within their accounts. These actions highlight the growing interest and involvement of major Wall Street firms in expanding access to digital assets.

US President Trump stated that US-Iran talks are expected to take place this weekend, adding that the two sides "could reach an agreement within a day or two." In a phone interview, Trump expressed optimism about the progress of the negotiations, saying Iran "wants to meet and reach an agreement." He also emphasized that the naval blockade against Iran would not be lifted until a formal agreement is reached, but he hoped the Strait of Hormuz would be open to all countries. It is understood that although significant progress has been made in the negotiations, differences remain on key issues, including the suspension period for Iran's nuclear enrichment and the handling of its enriched uranium stockpile. The agreement also includes the possibility that the US might unfreeze approximately $20 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for Iran relinquishing its highly enriched uranium reserves. Furthermore, Trump stated that the agreement would "make Israel safer" and demanded that Israel cease its military strikes against Lebanon. Iran has not yet responded to these statements. (CCTV News)

Alcoa is reportedly in advanced discussions to sell a former smelter site located in upper New York state to the bitcoin mining company NYDIG. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting Alcoa's strategy to divest its dormant assets as part of its broader business plan. The potential sale underscores the growing interest in repurposing industrial sites for cryptocurrency mining operations. This move aligns with Alcoa's efforts to streamline its operations and focus on its core business areas. Details of the transaction, including the financial terms, have not been disclosed.

Representative Sheri Biggs has disclosed a substantial investment in Bitcoin, with exposure of up to $250,000 through the iShares Bitcoin Trust. According to NS3.AI, the House Periodic Transaction Report indicates that the transaction, valued between $100,001 and $250,000, was executed on March 4, 2026. This report was filed in mid-April, adhering to the STOCK Act deadlines. Biggs joins Senator David McCormick and Representative Brandon Gill as lawmakers who have reported significant Bitcoin ETF purchases over the past year.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson, issued a statement welcoming Iran's announcement of the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels during the ceasefire period, and called on all parties to fully restore and respect international navigation rights and freedoms in the strait. The statement said Guterres welcomed Iran's announcement that day that it would fully open the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, considering this move "a step in the right direction." Guterres reiterated that the UN will continue to fully support finding a peaceful solution to the current Middle East conflict through diplomatic means. He expressed hope that, based on the ceasefire arrangement, this measure would help enhance mutual trust among all parties and promote progress in the dialogue process mediated by Pakistan. (CCTV News)

The head of HSBC's newly established banking division for the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey has departed, according to sources familiar with the situation. Bloomberg posted on X that this departure is part of a series of recent exits at the bank. The reasons behind these departures have not been disclosed, and HSBC has yet to comment on the situation. The bank's Middle East division has been undergoing significant changes as it seeks to strengthen its presence in the region. The departure of key personnel could impact the bank's strategic plans and operations in these markets.

A European-led coalition has proposed military assistance to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Bloomberg posted on X that this offer comes shortly after Iran announced its intention to open the vital waterway. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned NATO members to maintain their distance from the situation.

Jinse Finance launches the "Jinse Web3.0 Daily," providing you with the latest and fastest news on MEME, DeFi, DAO, NFT, and the metaverse industry.

After Binance announced its crackdown on active market makers at the end of March, active market makers began to take action.

Overall, although a few strong altcoins amplified the market effect, most assets are still in a liquidity vacuum.

Bitcoin successfully broke out of the $62.8k–$72.6k range, briefly touching the $74k mark. This breakout strategically signifies that the market has moved from a geopolitically induced "forced deleveraging" phase to an "initial stabilization period."

Discussions surrounding stablecoins have long focused on one question: who will issue the next dominant stablecoin?

A group of Drift Protocol investors are seeking to bring stablecoin issuer Circle to court, blaming the company for its inaction following the Drift Protocol hack.

OpenAI has paused its Stargate UK data centre plan, saying energy costs and regulation were the main reasons. The UK AI minister disputes this, saying conditions have not changed and pointing instead to OpenAI’s financial pressures.

The most valuable thing in the future will be the oldest thing. It's not computing power. It's not data. It's not models. It's when one person says "I believe in you" to another, and that promise is truly fulfilled.

A Brazilian cybersecurity researcher has raised alarm bells, warning others about counterfeit ledger devices that has been planted by scammers in the Chinese market in the attempt to steal users' crypto.

Exchanges are replacing traditional venture capital (VC) firms, gradually gaining control over initial public offerings (IPOs), pricing power, and liquidity. Exchanges are eroding the informational, investment, and lock-up advantages of traditional VCs, and arbitrage opportunities for VCs are being continuously squeezed.