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While the Fed offers only 7 basis points of hope, Bitcoin marches toward US$80K

While the Fed offers only 7 basis points of hope, Bitcoin marches toward US$80K

The cryptocurrency market shows clear upward momentum this Monday, with Bitcoin trading near US$78,888 and steadily approaching the psychologically significant US$80,000 level. This movement reflects more than routine volatility. It signals a market responding to concrete catalysts while traditional financial systems grapple with their own uncertainties.

The Bitcoin 2026 Conference, opening today in Las Vegas, serves as a primary catalyst. This event, running from April 27 through 29, has historically preceded meaningful price appreciation. It brings together developers, institutional allocators, and policy voices who shape the next phase of adoption.

Major announcements regarding corporate treasury strategies and regulatory clarity often emerge from this stage. This gathering is not a mere spectacle but a critical coordination point for an ecosystem that thrives on network effects. When key players align on technical standards or custody solutions, the entire market benefits from reduced friction and increased confidence.

Persistent demand through spot Bitcoin ETFs continues to absorb approximately US$1 billion per week. This steady institutional accumulation occurs despite cautious retail sentiment, highlighting a divergence in market participation. I find this dynamic particularly telling. It suggests that sophisticated capital recognises Bitcoin’s long-term value proposition even when short-term noise dominates headlines.

Strategy Inc., formerly MicroStrategy, reinforces this trend by maintaining aggressive buying pressure. The firm now holds more Bitcoin than any other publicly traded entity, surpassing even the largest ETFs in total holdings. This corporate strategy demonstrates a conviction that transcends quarterly earnings cycles and speaks to a fundamental reassessment of reserve assets.

Derivatives markets add another layer of upward pressure through short squeezing. Many leveraged traders positioned for downside exposure now face mounting losses as prices rise. These participants must cover positions by buying back into the market, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. I consider this mechanical dynamic a healthy feature of maturing markets rather than a distortion.

It reflects the growing complexity of crypto trading venues and the increasing sophistication of participants who understand these feedback loops. The scheduled launch of regulated cryptocurrency perpetual futures on prediction markets like Kalshi today further expands the toolkit available to both retail and institutional players. This product innovation lowers barriers to participation while introducing new risk management capabilities.

Asset performance across the board supports the bullish thesis. Bitcoin maintains a technically constructive posture above its 20-period exponential moving average while testing resistance near US$80,000. Ethereum trades around US$2,360, benefiting from a broader market recovery and renewed signals of institutional confidence. Major altcoins, including XRP and Solana, show modest gains, though some encounter technical resistance at local highs.

I interpret this selective strength as evidence of market discernment. Capital flows toward protocols with clear utility and robust developer activity while sidestepping projects lacking fundamental traction. This selectivity marks a departure from the indiscriminate rallies of earlier cycles and reflects a more mature investment approach.

Macro headwinds loom large as traders prepare for the Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting scheduled for April 28 and 29. Current market pricing implies only seven basis points of easing expected for the entirety of 2026, a sharp reduction from earlier hopes of rate cuts. This constrained monetary outlook creates a challenging backdrop for all risk assets. Crypto demonstrates relative resilience in this environment.

I see this as proof of the asset class’s evolving role as a non-sovereign store of value. When traditional policy tools reach their limits, decentralised networks offer an alternative framework for preserving purchasing power. This distinction grows more relevant as geopolitical tensions complicate central bank decision-making.

Global equity markets reflect this caution. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq recently reached all-time highs following strong tech earnings, but sentiment cooled today amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. US-Iran peace talks have stalled, triggering a spike in crude oil prices. Reports of naval incidents in the Strait of Hormuz reignite fears of physical energy shortages.

I view this geopolitical friction as a reminder of the fragility inherent in centralised systems. Crypto networks operate without geographic boundaries or single points of failure. This architectural advantage becomes increasingly valuable during periods of international instability.

Tech sector dynamics present a mixed picture. Semiconductor firms like Intel provided support to Nasdaq late last week, while software companies such as ServiceNow face pressure following deal slippage attributed to instability in the Middle East. This divergence underscores how different segments of the technology ecosystem respond to macro shocks.

I believe crypto infrastructure benefits from this environment because its value proposition does not depend on corporate sales cycles or enterprise procurement timelines. Network effects and protocol upgrades drive adoption regardless of quarterly earnings reports.

Regional markets offer additional context. India’s Nifty 50 tests psychological support at 24,000, while weak industrial core data showing a negative 0.4 per cent print and Reserve Bank of India slowdown warnings keep domestic sentiment defensive. Australia’s ASX 200 remains relatively flat at the open, with gains in energy stocks partially offsetting a slump in mining sectors.

These regional variations highlight how local factors interact with global trends. Crypto markets, by contrast, trade 24 hours a day across all time zones. This continuous price discovery mechanism provides a more responsive barometer of global risk appetite than any single national index.

I expect volatility to increase around the FOMC decision. The underlying drivers supporting crypto remain intact. Institutional accumulation continues, technical structures hold, and industry events foster collaboration.

 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

AI trading agents are only as trustworthy as their data

AI trading agents are only as trustworthy as their data

Key points:

  • AI agents now pose a greater systemic risk to crypto than traditional hackers or fraud.

  • Markets are vulnerable because attackers can easily poison the news data that AI agents ingest.

  • AI often follows patterns without understanding context, leading to immediate and highly amplified market errors.

  • Minimal capital is needed to trigger a crash by seeding false narratives across social media.

  • Maintaining human oversight is the most vital safeguard against rapid and synchronized algorithmic market failures.

 

Imagine a major crypto exchange declaring insolvency out of the blue. In the past, hackers or fraud caused wipeouts worth billions of dollars, but today? AI could just as easily be the culprit.

With AI agents that can autonomously trade on cryptocurrency exchanges being pushed by various players in the industry, agents causing a crypto crash is a plausible scenario.

Simply put, if an AI agent is designed to make trades based on market information – including news articles or social media posts – it would be relatively easy to “poison” those sources with false narratives. This could trigger a wave of automated selling from agents that couldn’t distinguish the rumor from reality, which could then crash a coin or a whole market.

While no such attack has happened yet, the conditions for one already exist. The question is no longer if an AI-driven financial crisis will occur, but when – and, more unsettlingly, how little capital it might take to trigger one. 

In my work as an advisor to Web3 companies and government organizations, I have watched the narrative around AI in crypto shift from cautious optimism to uncritical adoption.

Today, 45.7% of platform interactions on Binance are  system-triggered rather than user-initiated, which means they are carried out by a computer, not a human. That share is only growing, and every percentage point represents a wider attack surface for anyone looking to exploit these agents.

How AI trading agents work

While AI trading agents are designed to bring efficiency, they are also highly vulnerable. The combination of autonomous agents, high-frequency trading infrastructure, and an information ecosystem saturated with synthetic media has created a perfect storm for potential attacks.

At a basic level, these agents ingest market data – price movements, order books, news, and social sentiment – and use machine learning models to identify patterns or signals that inform trading decisions. Once certain conditions are met, they execute trades automatically, often at high speed and without human intervention.

However, recent research underscores how fragile these agents are in ways that should alarm anyone using them.

A study released in February tested 13 AI trading models using distorted or misleading market data. Most didn’t adapt at all, and their performance barely changed, suggesting they were just following fixed strategies rather than reacting to new signals. 

When false signals were introduced, some models saw sharp drops in performance, showing how easily they could be thrown off by bad information.

The study also identified what it calls a “competence mirage”: models that identified the correct trading strategy but got the underlying numbers wrong. Knowing what to do and being able to execute it accurately are, it turns out, very different things.

This serves as a reminder that AI agents aren’t sophisticated market participants but pattern-matching engines operating on the data they are fed. When that data is poisoned through coordinated fake news or purchased synthetic datasets, the reaction is immediate and amplified.

Plan of attack

How would such an attack on crypto trading agents work in practice?

An attacker wouldn’t need large amounts of capital to influence the flow of information that trading systems respond to. That could mean seeding false narratives across news outlets, social media, or data feeds using trigger phrases like “liquidity crisis” or “regulatory crackdown,” prompting the agents to react as if the threat were real.

This isn’t purely theoretical, as false information has moved markets before. When the Associated Press Twitter account was hacked in 2013, a single fake tweet briefly wiped billions off the S&P 500. 

Events like the 2010 Flash Crash have also shown how automated trading can amplify shocks at speed. In crypto markets, where sentiment already drives volatility, the bar to trigger a cascade may be even lower.

A relatively well-funded actor could seed false narratives across news feeds, coordinate bot networks to amplify them, and target the data sources that trading systems rely on. Normally, it takes hundreds of millions to move markets, but not in this case.

Protection

There are existing safeguards that can help mitigate these risks, like trading halts or AI-driven fraud detection. Traditional financial markets have mechanisms to halt trading during extreme volatility.

However, these frameworks were built with human behavior in mind and often fail to account for automated systems. As crypto markets operate 24/7 with fewer trading halts, there are a lot more opportunities for attacks.

Others suggest AI will eventually learn to detect manipulation. But research from HEC Paris notes that AI excels at short-term pattern recognition but fails at long-term contextual understanding.

When multiple AI agents rely on similar models and react to identical signals, they tend to make the same decisions at the same time. If those signals are wrong, the mistake spreads across the market, and at the speed of modern trading, that can quickly turn into a wave of synchronized selling.

As with much in AI, keeping a human in the loop may be the most effective safeguard.

The human layer in trading – analysts, compliance officers, and risk managers – shouldn’t disappear but evolve. Their role should be to question information, verify whether news is real, assess where data comes from, and apply judgment that AI lacks.

It may seem like friction to have humans involved. But in a system where speed is the vulnerability, friction is the point.

## What this means for industry players

For founders and investors operating in the crypto trading space, they shouldn’t treat the manipulation of agents as a theoretical risk.

The founders building AI trading infrastructure must position resilience as a value proposition. If they can build systems that can withstand poisoned data, use diverse data sources, and create transparent AI decision pathways, their solutions will stand out.

Meanwhile, investors backing such platforms should look closely at their “human-in-the-loop” protocols. Does the startup rely on fully autonomous execution, or is there mandatory human oversight for critical decisions? 

The latter is a safer bet, as the risk of liability in a flash crash scenario driven by an agent’s error is massive. 

The convergence of AI and financial products in both crypto and traditional finance is inevitable, but its trajectory is not predetermined. We can choose to build systems that are resilient, transparent, and human-centric, or we can sleepwalk into a future where a few lines of poisoned code cause huge losses.

The choice is ours, but the window for action is closing. 

 

Source: https://www.techinasia.com/ai-trading-agents-trustworthy-data

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Focusing on TBW peripheral activities: OKX Ventures held an invitation-only event “NIGHT OF THE FUTURE” to discuss new trends in Web3

Focusing on TBW peripheral activities: OKX Ventures held an invitation-only event “NIGHT OF THE FUTURE” to discuss new trends in Web3

Taipei Blockchain Week is bustling this week, gathering blockchain experts and pioneers from around the world to discuss the development trends of the next generation of the internet. On the evening of the 12th, an invitation-only event titled “NIGHT OF THE FUTURE” was co-hosted by OKX Ventures along with several internationally renowned Web3 projects and investment institutions such as SUI, Spacenation, Kronos Research, Orderly Network, Memecore, UXLink, Yei Finance, and Copex. The event featured keynote speeches and fireside chats, delving into the future development directions and trends of the cryptocurrency industry and Web3.

In addition to cutting-edge industry discussions, OKX Ventures also organized various fun activities on-site, showcasing the latest blockchain games from well-known GameFi international projects like Memefi and Spacenation for attendees to experience. A tech-themed opening dance and a fun food and drink menu were also prepared for guests to enjoy. The event attracted over 500 participants, making it the most attended invitation-only event on the first day of TBW.

During the event, OKX Ventures partner Jeff Ren emphasized in his opening speech “NOW and FUTURE of OKX Ventures” that the mission of OKX Ventures is to explore and invest in innovative blockchain projects globally, promoting sustainable development across the industry. As an investment institution deeply rooted in the blockchain industry for many years, we adhere to the strategy of “Innovation + Empowerment.” By integrating OKX’s core resources—including traffic support, trading services, public chain technology, and comprehensive technical support—we have built a complete resource ecosystem that provides comprehensive support to invested projects from early stages to critical development milestones. More importantly, OKX Ventures is not just a financial investor; we also play the dual roles of “discoverer” and “enabler.”

Mr. Jeff Ren, with nearly twenty years of investment experience, stated in his speech that since its establishment, we have invested in over 300 projects across various fields including Layer1, Layer2, DeFi, AI, and GameFi. The year 2024 is expected to be a year of gradual recovery for the blockchain industry, and OKX Ventures has completed over 80 investments this year, covering areas such as the Bitcoin ecosystem, AI, and DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks). OKX Ventures will continue to allocate resources and capital to projects focused on blockchain infrastructure, GameFi, DeFi, NFTs, and more, to drive technological innovation and industry progress.

Ryan He, Head of Industry Sales at Space Nation, showcased the model and data of Space Nation games in his keynote speech “The Metaverse: A Journey Beyond Gaming,” discussing the future development of the gaming industry.

Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, discussed the evolving landscape of the cryptocurrency market and the important role of market makers in shaping its future in his keynote speech “Envisioning Crypto in 2025: The Role of Market Makers in Shaping the Future.” Vincent emphasized innovations such as decentralized order books and AI tools that are bridging the gap between centralized and decentralized systems. He also explored the growing collaboration between traditional finance and DeFi, which he believes paves the way for enhanced liquidity and efficiency in centralized models. As cryptocurrencies enter mainstream portfolios, clearer regulations and smarter infrastructure will create a fairer and more accessible market for everyone.

Additionally, Ran Yi, co-founder of Orderly Network, pointed out in his speech “DEXs 3.0: The CEX to DEX Transition” that there is still significant room for optimization in current Web3 trading. By combining the advantages of CEX and DEX to address existing pain points, user trading experiences can be significantly improved. As a cloud liquidity infrastructure project, Orderly Network focuses on integrating cross-chain derivatives liquidity, unifying orders from different chains into an on-chain order book, and creating a unified liquidity ecosystem across chains. This initiative not only effectively addresses the issue of fragmented liquidity across chains but also enhances trading efficiency, provides deeper liquidity pools, and significantly narrows trading spreads.

In the first fireside chat, DA Capital COO Tim Shen, CopeX co-founder Paul, and Alvin from Elite Trading Academy discussed the topic “How Can Communities Become a Strong Support for User Trading?” Tim Shen believes that a good trading community, as demonstrated by the DA Traders Alliance, provides different methods and tools for community users to learn based on their trading levels and experience. For beginners, timely insights from analysts are crucial; we utilize systematic tutorials to help newcomers avoid scams and correctly use cryptocurrency tools, supplemented by daily live broadcasts to build trust within the community and familiarize them with the cryptocurrency market. For community users with a foundational understanding, we provide market hot topics and project research filtered and observed by our investment research personnel, thereby eliminating information asymmetry in cryptocurrency.

CopeX co-founder Paul stated that professionalism is fundamental in building a community; KOLs must have a certain level of understanding of trading to lead users effectively. Education and interaction are also very important, as trading often involves a lot of downtime, making the process tedious and boring. Finding ways to make this process interesting and continuously providing content to users is a challenge for every community. Finally, tools are also very important; for example, CopeX can facilitate smoother trading for users, quickly obtain market information, and make it easier for KOLs and teams to manage communities while also generating additional income, which can be a significant incentive for users to join the community.

Alvin from Elite Trading Academy believes that a valuable trading community is centered around providing reliable information, professional guidance, and valuable discussions. In our Elite Trading Academy, leaders must have practical experience to provide accurate market analysis, helping users understand the essence of the market. The community should focus on learning, understanding user needs, and providing systematic content tailored to beginners or experienced investors. More importantly, the learning environment is a key factor influencing the community; given the fast-paced market changes, it should provide timely answers and perspectives to help users view the market correctly. I also believe that the core of managing a community lies in positioning and structural design; only with clear positioning can we attract the corresponding demographic.

The value of a community lies not just in providing information, but in establishing a complete knowledge system through good management strategies, structured learning, long-term practical exercises, and the integration of data and analytical tools, helping each user find their growth direction and making the community itself a long-term partner they can rely on.

The second fireside chat, hosted by Alex from Blocktempo, titled “What’s the Future of Gaming and Mini Apps,” discussed the future of GameFi and mini apps in the context of current popular Telegram discussions.

Anndy Lian from Memecore believes that in the past few years, many developers have tried to bring Web2 users into Web3 through gaming. He believes that MEME culture has untapped potential to accelerate this transition. Through MemeCore, our goal is to leverage the power of MEME to drive mass adoption, spark creativity, and expand the possibilities in the Web3 space. We aim not only to achieve product development but also to reimagine how people interact with blockchain networks.

CashCashBot founder “Sabi Ge” stated that MiniApps have already been validated in the Web2 market on platforms like WeChat and Douyin, and will soon be replicated on TG, LINE, TikTok, and other platforms. Mini-games previously seen on WeChat and Douyin will migrate to new platforms to capture new traffic and monetization opportunities. There are already professional studios developing Tap to Earn mini-games, which are just the initial, most basic steps. Interactive games, social mini-programs, and AI application mini-programs will definitely emerge in the future, all infused with Web3 value empowerment.

Darren from Space Nation delved into the future of MMORPGs and the role of virtual economies. He explained how Spacenation simplifies existing gaming models using blockchain technology rather than reinventing the wheel.

“We’re not inventing something new; we’re just simplifying what already works.”

He cited examples like “World of Warcraft,” where players have been trading assets and accounts for years. He believes that blockchain provides a more efficient and secure way to manage these transactions.

Darren also emphasized the importance of a strong in-game economy for the success of MMORPGs. He pointed out that many games fail due to economic collapse, leading to decreased player engagement.

As Bitcoin is expected to surpass $100,000 in 2024, more countries and industries are purchasing and storing Bitcoin, and research on international blockchain applications and payment tools is accelerating, showcasing the broad prospects of blockchain technology on a global scale.

 

Source: https://www.chaincatcher.com/en/article/2158286

 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j