Tech shares propelled the Nasdaq to 24,016.02 and the S&P 500 to 7,022.95 on Wednesday. According to NS3.AI, Bitcoin reached $75,229, marking a 1.07% increase over 24 hours and nearly a 10% rise over the past two weeks. The market gains coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that the US-Iran war was nearing its end, although he noted that the final outcome hinges on a deal between the two nations.

Citi has released a research report indicating that Lens Technology's (06613.HK) first-quarter performance fell short of expectations. According to Jin10, the company's management attributed the weak results to reduced procurement by clients due to rising memory prices and foreign exchange losses. Management anticipates that the impact of foreign exchange will diminish in the coming quarters, with revenue contributions from iOS foldable models starting in May and a potential recovery in Android demand in the second half of 2026. In response to the first-quarter results, Citi has lowered its 2026 net profit forecast for Lens Technology by 13% to 4.36 billion yuan, while maintaining its earnings estimates for 2027 and 2028. The target price for Lens Technology's H-shares has been reduced from HKD 27 to HKD 25, with a "buy" rating, and the target price for A-shares has been adjusted from 32 yuan to 30 yuan, with a "neutral" rating. Despite the disappointing performance in the first half of 2026, Citi believes that Lens Technology could benefit from restocking sentiment for iOS products from late Q2 to late Q3. The bank expresses a preference for H-shares due to better risk-reward potential.

Cosmos SDK's GitHub repository indicates a shift in the licensing of its Enterprise module from the Apache-2.0 open-source license to a 'Source Available Evaluation License.' According to Foresight News, this new license permits only non-commercial evaluation, testing, and educational use, requiring separate commercial licenses for business applications. Greg Osuri, founder of the application chain Akash Network, expressed concerns over this change, stating that Akash can no longer use the module for production or commercial purposes, nor can it offer services based on this component to third parties. Previously, Akash planned to migrate to a shared security layer while maintaining some Cosmos integration for interoperability. However, the new licensing terms make it nearly impossible for Akash to remain within the Cosmos ecosystem, which Osuri describes as a 'hostile' adjustment.

Bitcoin's price increased to approximately $74,935 during the Asian trading session, marking a 0.7% rise over the past 24 hours and a 5.4% increase over the week. According to ChainCatcher, the recent surge is primarily driven by spot trading rather than a broad resurgence in risk appetite. QCP Capital notes that the perpetual contract funding rates for Bitcoin remain negative, and open interest is declining, indicating that short sellers are increasing hedging rather than closing positions passively. The options market also reflects caution, with short-term implied volatility remaining low and the one-month term below the three-month term. The risk reversal indicator shows a higher demand for downside protection compared to upside bets, suggesting traders are more inclined to pay for potential declines rather than chase gains. QCP describes this movement as a "rebound" rather than a trend reversal. On the macroeconomic front, long-term U.S. Treasury yields and gold prices have not confirmed a return to risk appetite, with gold remaining near high levels, indicating ongoing demand for safe-haven assets. Analysts suggest that the current market behavior is more driven by expectations of a ceasefire, leading to an "emotional recovery," rather than the resolution of core risks. Ethereum has shown relative strength, with the ETH/BTC ratio rising to about 0.0315. Additionally, on-chain transaction volume and stablecoin supply have reached historical highs, indicating a potential rotation of funds into high beta assets. However, the market is advised to monitor upcoming risk events to determine the sustainability of this upward trend.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Muller stated that there is currently no definitive evidence indicating second-round effects of inflation. According to Jin10, Muller emphasized the importance of monitoring inflation trends closely to assess any potential impacts on the economy. He noted that while inflation remains a concern, the lack of clear evidence for second-round effects suggests that the situation may not be as severe as some fear. Muller’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about inflationary pressures in the eurozone and the ECB's strategies to address them.

BlackRock has identified South Korean stocks as a key factor in its recent upgrade of emerging market equities, citing significant earnings growth and reliance on global semiconductor demand. According to Jin10, BlackRock increased its holdings in U.S. and emerging market stocks this week, noting potential for earnings growth in both categories. Despite challenges such as the ongoing conflict in Iran, corporate earnings expectations for 2026 are rising, partly driven by AI-related themes. The company's Global Chief Investment Strategist emphasized South Korea's role in the upgrade, stating, "South Korea is a major driver of our emerging market ratings upgrade." She highlighted South Korea's impressive development within the tech supply chain ecosystem and noted strong consumer demand for AI-related hardware products, expressing optimism about this trend.

The Sentinel Action Fund, a US super PAC backed by the Solana Institute, announced it will invest $8 million to support Republican candidate Jon Husted's bid for the Ohio Senate seat against Sherrod Brown, a long-time critic of the crypto industry. Sentinel stated that the funds will be used in conjunction with its affiliated organization, Right Vote, to help candidates who support crypto policies win. Husted has been a vocal supporter of digital asset innovation, advocating for a "regulatory framework conducive to innovation" and supporting legislation including the GENIUS Act. Regarding funding sources, Sentinel has secured support from crypto capital firms such as Multicoin Capital, with the Solana Institute and Multicoin contributing $750,000 and $250,000 respectively. Traditional financial figures such as Stephen Schwarzman and Kenneth Fisher have also contributed. It's noteworthy that crypto super PACs are continuously increasing their political investment. Previously, a candidate backed by Fairshake successfully defeated Brown in the 2024 election. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, crypto capital is accelerating its strategic positioning to push pro-crypto policy candidates into the US legislative system. (The Block)

On April 16, Jin10 reported that the Japanese yen has seen a slight recovery against the U.S. dollar following a new verbal warning issued by Japan's Finance Minister during the G20 meeting. After meeting with the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Japan's Finance Minister stated that the U.S. and Japan have agreed to enhance communication regarding foreign exchange rates. The yen has now moved away from the 160 level, which was considered a danger zone for intervention. According to Sony Financial Group analyst Junato Momito, any rise in the dollar against the yen during Thursday's trading is expected to be capped at 159.50, as traders await U.S. economic indicators, including initial jobless claims and industrial production data.

Bitcoin rose to approximately $74,935 during Asian trading hours, up 0.7% in the past 24 hours and 5.4% for the week. However, the derivatives market is sending mixed signals. QCP Capital points out that this rally is primarily driven by the spot market, rather than a comprehensive recovery in risk appetite. Currently, Bitcoin perpetual contract funding rates remain negative, and open interest is declining, indicating that short sellers are still hedging rather than being forced to close positions. The options market is also cautious: short-term implied volatility is low, the one-month term is less than three months, and risk reversal indicators show that market demand for downside protection is higher than upside bets, suggesting that traders are more willing to pay for potential declines rather than chasing rallies. QCP believes this is more like a "bounce" than a trend reversal. On the macro level, long-term US Treasury yields and gold price movements have not confirmed a recovery in risk appetite; gold remains near high levels, indicating that safe-haven demand still exists. The institution points out that the current market movement is more of a "sentiment repair" driven by ceasefire expectations, rather than a resolution of core risks. Furthermore, Ethereum performed relatively strongly, with the ETH/BTC ratio rebounding to approximately 0.0315. This, coupled with record highs in on-chain transaction volume and stablecoin supply, indicates a potential rotation of funds towards high-beta assets. However, the market still needs to observe the evolution of subsequent risk events to confirm the sustainability of this upward trend. (CoinDesk)

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According to NS3.AI, Hyperbot data reveals that Machi Big Brother currently holds long positions in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and HYPE, with a combined value exceeding $56.5 million. These positions are generating nearly $1.9 million in unrealized profit, indicating a strong performance in the cryptocurrency market.

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