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Losses totaling 52 million dollars in March were already significant, yet April began even worse with a single incident leading to the theft of 285 million dollars.

A report by blockchain security firm PeckShield revealed that crypto hacking incidents increased by 96 percent in March 2026, with scammers stealing around 52 million dollars across major attacks.

The firm also highlighted the emergence of a new pattern known as “shadow contagion,” where the impact of these breaches spreads to other DeFi platforms. This means that even unaffected protocols are forced to handle resulting bad debt.

Ripple Effects From Crypto Hacks

PeckShield recorded 20 separate exploits in March 2026. The total loss of 52 million dollars was nearly double the 26.5 million dollars reported in February.

According to the report, these attacks are no longer isolated. Experts say they now trigger what is described as shadow contagion, extending damage beyond the original breach. A single exploit can disrupt lending markets, drain liquidity pools, and create bad debt for platforms that were not directly targeted.

One major example occurred when attackers breached ResolvLabs by taking advantage of a weakness in its AWS key management system. This allowed them to mint 80 million USR tokens. The incident caused direct losses of about 25 million dollars and also led to bad debt across other platforms including Morphoblue, Euler, and Fluid.

In another case, a hacker bypassed the supply cap in the Thena market on Venus Protocol. The attacker inflated collateral to more than three times the intended limit and borrowed nearly 15 million dollars in assets. While early reports estimated losses at 3.7 million dollars, blockchain data later showed the attacker lost over 4 million dollars while leaving behind 2.18 million dollars in bad debt.

Other notable incidents included attacks targeting individuals. One case involved the theft of 24 million dollars from online personality Sillytuna through a mix of physical coercion and smart contract manipulation. Another saw 18 million dollars worth of ETH stolen from a major holder on Kraken using social engineering techniques. Data shows the victim originally held 8,662 ETH, with the attacker moving funds through Thorchain and transferring a large portion to the HitBTC platform.

April Begins With Massive Loss

Additional data from security researcher Jussy highlighted further exploits affecting DeFi platforms. Cyrus Finance suffered a 5 million dollar flash loan pool shares attack on March 22, while Solv, a Bitcoin reserve protocol, lost 2.7 million dollars on March 5.

April opened on a severe note when a scheme initiated in March resulted in a loss of about 285 million dollars from Drift Protocol, a perpetual futures exchange on Solana. Following the incident, blockchain investigator ZachXBT criticized stablecoin issuer Circle for what he described as a lack of response, as the attacker transferred millions in USDC from Solana to Ethereum through roughly 100 transactions.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

The next 36 to 48 hours may remain calm, but the period that follows could bring major market movement.

A pattern has emerged in early 2026 where major geopolitical actions tend to occur over weekends. This was seen when the United States launched operations in Venezuela and also during the initial strikes involving Iran. One likely reason is that traditional financial markets are mostly closed during this time, reducing immediate impact on equities and the broader economy.

However, this dynamic does not apply to the cryptocurrency market, which operates continuously and reacts instantly to global developments.

Last weekend was expected to bring volatility but stayed relatively stable until late Sunday when traditional market futures reopened. This weekend coincides with Easter in the United States, and unless there is a major escalation involving the US, Israel, and Iran, conditions may remain relatively steady.

Temporary Stability Before Bigger Moves

Bitcoin has traded within a narrow range over the past day, hovering just above 67,000 dollars. This follows a more active midweek period when the price dropped to around 65,000 dollars before climbing to 69,200 dollars and then falling back below 66,000 dollars.

Despite renewed warnings from Donald Trump regarding Iran, the market reaction has been muted so far.

This current lack of movement may not last. Analysts expect volatility to return in the coming week, with the possibility of a stronger directional move. Bitcoin has been trading within a tight range near 67,000 to 68,500 dollars, reflecting a market that lacks clear momentum but is poised for a breakout. 

A Month Driven by Major Events

April is shaping up to be a significant month due to ongoing geopolitical developments. Trump has issued a 48 hour deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the outcome likely to influence global markets once traditional trading resumes.

Rising tensions have already affected broader financial conditions, including oil prices and investor sentiment. In fact, escalating conflict has pushed oil prices sharply higher and increased uncertainty across markets, which in turn has impacted Bitcoin’s performance. 

Earlier statements also suggested potential targeting of critical infrastructure, which adds to concerns about further escalation. Analysts from The Kobeissi Letter believe April could be highly active, as the conflict continues and more strategic assets may come into focus.

Overall, while the weekend may appear uneventful, the broader outlook suggests that Bitcoin and the wider crypto market could experience significant volatility in the weeks ahead, largely driven by geopolitical headlines and macroeconomic shifts.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin sales by major firms such as Riot Platforms, MARA Holdings, and Nakamoto highlight how large holders are adjusting their treasury approaches during a period of market uncertainty.

In the first quarter of 2026, these three companies sold more than 19,000 BTC combined, signaling a notable shift in strategy. This comes as global financial markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions.

Riot Platforms

Riot Platforms sold Bitcoin worth about 289.5 million dollars during the quarter, offloading 3,778 coins at an average price of 76,626 dollars each. By the end of March, the company held 15,680 BTC, including 5,802 coins used as collateral. While Riot has not provided a clear reason for the sales, it has been expanding into artificial intelligence and high performance computing.

The firm mined 1,473 BTC in the first quarter of 2026, slightly below the 1,530 BTC mined during the same period in 2025. For the full year 2025, Riot reported record revenue of 647.4 million dollars, representing a nearly 72 percent increase from 376.7 million dollars the previous year. CEO Jason Les described 2025 as a transformative year that positioned the company for future growth, supported by strong infrastructure and over 1.9 billion dollars in liquidity.

MARA Holdings

MARA Holdings sold a significantly larger volume of Bitcoin. Between March 4 and March 25, the company disposed of 15,133 BTC for roughly 1.1 billion dollars. According to the firm, this move was part of a balance sheet adjustment. A large portion of the proceeds was used to buy back about 1 billion dollars in zero percent convertible senior notes due in 2030 and 2031.

This decision marks a shift away from the company’s long standing hold strategy. During the same period, MARA also reduced its workforce by about 15 percent as part of a broader restructuring effort.

Nakamoto

Nakamoto sold around 284 BTC in March, generating close to 20 million dollars at an average price of 70,422 dollars per coin. The company had previously acquired 5,342 BTC since August 2025 at an average cost of 118,171 dollars per Bitcoin, meaning the sale occurred at a lower price than its purchase level.

Nakamoto explained that the decision was tied to liquidity and capital management needs. The funds are intended to support operations, reinvest in its businesses, and cover working capital requirements for recent acquisitions such as BC Inc. and UTXO Management GP, LLC. Despite these sales, the company maintained that Bitcoin continues to play a key role as a long term treasury asset.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin’s recent stability was briefly interrupted as the price rose by a few hundred dollars, reaching nearly 67,600 dollars for the first time since Thursday. This came after a fresh warning from Donald Trump directed at Iran.

The US President stated that Iran has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences, saying that “all hell will reign down” if the demand is not met.

What stands out about this renewed warning, which follows an earlier ten day ultimatum, is its timing. The deadline is set to expire at 10:05 AM Eastern Time on Monday, April 6. This is shortly after Wall Street resumes trading following a three day weekend.

Analysts from The Kobeissi Letter noted that this development raises the chances of significant market activity over the next two days.

Although traditional US markets are currently closed, the cryptocurrency market operates continuously. It often reacts quickly to geopolitical developments, but in this case, Bitcoin showed only a modest response.

The leading cryptocurrency remained close to 67,000 dollars, a level it has maintained over the past day, with a brief move upward to 67,600 dollars before losing momentum.

Other major altcoins reflected similar stability. Ethereum is trading around 2,050 dollars, while XRP continues to hover just above the 1.30 dollar mark.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Could Bitcoin soon move against the expectations of the broader market?

With Bitcoin trading below 70,000 dollars and sitting nearly 50 percent beneath its October 2025 all time high of more than 126,000 dollars, sentiment across the cryptocurrency space remains strongly negative.

Ongoing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the CLARITY Act have also weighed on investor confidence. However, analysts from Santiment suggest that this pessimism could actually create an opportunity.

High Fear Levels May Signal Opportunity

The analytics firm continues to support the well known investment principle popularized by Warren Buffett, which encourages investors to act boldly when others are fearful and to be cautious when others are overly optimistic. Santiment has repeatedly applied this idea to the cryptocurrency market, which is often driven by strong emotional reactions.

In a recent update, the firm noted that platforms such as X, Reddit, and Telegram are showing the highest level of bearish sentiment for Bitcoin since late February. That period coincided with the initial escalation of conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which has since developed into an extended crisis.

Santiment pointed out that fear, uncertainty, and doubt have once again taken hold, with social data showing only 0.81 bullish comments for every 1 bearish one this weekend. This marks the lowest level of optimism since the conflict began. Despite this, the firm views such conditions as a common precursor to market recoveries.

They emphasized that markets often move in the opposite direction of popular opinion. Even with ongoing uncertainties such as the Iran conflict and questions around the CLARITY Act, elevated fear levels may indicate that a positive shift could happen sooner than expected.

Fear and Greed Index Supports the Trend

Data from Alternative.me’s Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index supports this perspective, showing that the market has remained in a state of extreme fear for more than a month. The only brief interruption occurred in mid March when Bitcoin rose to 76,000 dollars before quickly falling back below 70,000 dollars.

Historically, Bitcoin has often rebounded after extended periods dominated by extreme fear. A similar pattern can be observed during phases of extreme greed. However, the current market environment remains heavily influenced by geopolitical developments involving Iran, and fear driven sentiment may persist until there is greater clarity.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

HASH recorded the steepest decline over the past day, while VET returned to the top 100 altcoins after gaining 9 percent.

Bitcoin has shown little movement in the last 24 hours, trading steadily around the 67,000 dollar level.

Most major altcoins have followed the same pattern, with minimal changes seen in ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, and DOGE. Among the top 30 altcoins, only a few such as RAIN, HBAR, UNI, and ETC experienced noticeable price shifts.

Bitcoin Remains Steady

Over the previous weekend, some analysts predicted increased volatility due to rising tensions in the Middle East, but that did not materialize. Bitcoin stayed within the 66,000 to 67,000 dollar range before slipping to 65,000 dollars early Monday as traditional financial markets reopened.

On Monday and Tuesday, the price fluctuated between 66,000 and 68,000 dollars, then climbed to 69,200 dollars on Wednesday ahead of an anticipated speech by Donald Trump, where he was expected to ease geopolitical tensions. Instead, his remarks had the opposite effect, leading Bitcoin to drop to 65,700 dollars shortly afterward.

Since then, the asset has moved sideways, hovering around 67,000 dollars. Even the latest jobs report failed to trigger significant movement. Bitcoin’s market capitalization remains steady at approximately 1.34 trillion dollars, while its dominance over altcoins stands at 56.2 percent according to CoinGecko.

Altcoins Hold Ground as PI Stays Above 0.17 Dollars

As noted, most large cap altcoins have seen little change. Ethereum is holding near 2,050 dollars despite a slight daily decline, XRP remains above 1.30 dollars, and BNB, SOL, TRX, and ADA have posted gains of less than 1 percent.

RAIN recorded the largest drop among these assets, falling more than 6 percent to below 0.0075 dollars. HBAR, PEPE, UNI, and SHIB are also down, while ETC has risen by 3.5 percent to reach 8.30 dollars.

Pi Network’s token has finally stabilized after a period of decline and is now trading above 0.17 dollars. At the same time, HASH has dropped by 10 percent, whereas VET has increased by 9 percent over the day.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization remains largely unchanged from yesterday, sitting just below 2.4 trillion dollars according to CoinGecko.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

The platform is anticipated to go live in the second quarter of this year.

After CEO Rick Wurster stated last year that the financial giant intended to roll out crypto related products in the first half of 2026, Charles Schwab has now unveiled a dedicated page focused on digital assets. Established in 1971 under a different name, the firm has grown into one of the largest banking institutions in the United States, managing around 12 trillion dollars in assets.

Schwab Moves Into Crypto

For years, the company has explored entering the cryptocurrency space, often suggesting it would introduce a Bitcoin ETF once regulations allowed it. Even though the regulatory environment in the United States has evolved significantly and multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs are already trading, Schwab has taken a different approach.

According to its website, the firm is launching a new offering called “Schwab Crypto.” This product line will be available through Charles Schwab Premier Bank and is designed to give retail investors access to leading digital assets. Wurster also noted that clients are expected to soon buy and hold bitcoin and ether directly, with an initial rollout planned for the second quarter before expanding more widely.

Is Wall Street Fully Committing

With many major traditional financial institutions already active in the crypto sector, Charles Schwab’s entry quickly drew attention. Some see it as a significant step in institutional adoption that could push the market higher, especially given the company’s client base of nearly 50 million users.

Others remain cautious. They argue that despite Schwab’s scale, it may not bridge the psychological gap between traditional finance and crypto. Instead, they believe more participants could simply increase speculative trading, as many investors tend to chase emerging trends. The outlook suggests that crypto investors should prepare for greater volatility and shifts in liquidity.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

The International Monetary Fund has raised concerns that while tokenized finance improves efficiency and speed, it may also introduce new risks that could destabilize financial markets.

Tokenized real world assets continue to expand rapidly, with the sector valued at about 27.5 billion dollars in early April.

Hidden Risks Behind Tokenization

In an April 1 note, Tobias Adrian, financial counselor at the International Monetary Fund, explained that many of the inefficiencies tokenization aims to eliminate actually serve as protective buffers that help stabilize the global financial system.

The report describes tokenization as a structural transformation of financial architecture rather than a simple improvement in efficiency. This is because it removes timing gaps in traditional finance by enabling near instant settlement of transactions.

Tokenization changes how assets such as money, stocks, and bonds are transferred by using smart contracts on blockchain networks. This automation allows transactions to be completed almost immediately, reducing delays in settlement.

However, these delays have traditionally played an important role. They allow financial institutions to balance exposures, manage liquidity, and give regulators time to step in before transactions are finalized. By reducing or removing these buffers, tokenized systems may also remove important safeguards.

Adrian emphasized that the absence of settlement delays could weaken financial safety nets. The time between initiating and completing transactions usually helps banks manage risks and gives regulators an opportunity to monitor and respond to potential issues.

The International Monetary Fund identified three major risks linked to this shift. One key concern is increased liquidity pressure, as institutions may need to constantly maintain sufficient funds to meet the demands of instant settlements.

Other risks involve governance and cross border regulation. Because tokenization relies heavily on automated smart contracts, there is limited human intervention when problems occur. This could worsen situations such as sudden price declines, especially if errors in smart contracts trigger automatic liquidations.

In addition, regulatory oversight becomes more complex since tokenized assets can move easily across jurisdictions, while regulators typically operate within national boundaries. This makes coordinated responses during crises more difficult.

The Need for a Strong Public Foundation

Despite these concerns, the International Monetary Fund acknowledges the benefits of tokenization, including lower costs, faster transactions, and greater transparency for investors and asset managers.

The report stresses that for tokenization to succeed, it must be supported by public trust. One proposed solution is the use of secure settlement assets such as wholesale central bank digital currencies.

According to Adrian, without such public infrastructure, tokenization could increase financial instability due to faster transaction speeds, concentration of risk, and fragmentation across systems.

At the same time, the tokenization market continues to grow. Data from RWA.xyz estimates that blockchain based tokenized assets are currently valued at around 27.6 billion dollars. Earlier projections from Boston Consulting Group suggest the sector could expand into a 16 trillion dollar industry by the year 2030.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Instead of altering Bitcoin’s foundational rules, this new approach allows users to choose quantum resistant protection directly at the contract level.

Blockstream Research has announced that it has successfully carried out what it describes as the first transactions on a live Bitcoin sidechain secured with post quantum cryptography.

This development comes as concerns grow that advanced quantum computers could one day compromise the cryptographic systems that safeguard crypto wallets.

What Blockstream Has Developed

After a recent study by Google highlighted potential vulnerabilities across different parts of the crypto ecosystem such as wallets, block validation, and cross chain bridges, Blockstream Research confirmed that it had already implemented a post quantum signature system called SHRINCS on Bitcoin’s Liquid sidechain.

With this system, users can lock their funds into contracts that require quantum resistant signatures for spending. The design avoids modifying Bitcoin’s base protocol. Instead, it relies on Simplicity, Blockstream’s smart contract language, to introduce additional security features at the user level. This means individuals can choose enhanced protection without waiting for a full network upgrade.

The research also outlined four key risks affecting sidechains. These include fake transaction signatures, fake block signatures, compromised confidential transactions, and attacks targeting bridge systems that transfer assets between networks.

According to the team, progress on these issues varies. Protection for transaction signatures has already been implemented, while solutions for block signing and confidential assets are still being tested or developed. Work is also ongoing to secure Bitcoin that moves across bridges.

Google’s findings suggest that a highly advanced quantum computer could potentially break private keys tied to major crypto wallets within days. The report also warned about possible mempool attacks, where transactions could be intercepted before they are confirmed on the network.

Ongoing Debate Over Urgency and Solutions

The crypto community remains divided on how urgent the quantum threat really is. Changpeng Zhao, the former chief executive of Binance, recently stated that there is no immediate reason for alarm, noting that networks can adopt quantum resistant algorithms when necessary.

However, he also highlighted a notable concern. Around one million Bitcoin believed to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto are stored in an older wallet format that lacks protection against quantum attacks. He suggested that these coins might eventually need to be locked or taken out of circulation if they remain untouched.

Blockstream is also developing another solution known as SHRIMPS, which produces quantum resistant signatures that are about three times smaller than current standards used by the United States government. This design is tailored to fit Bitcoin’s limited block space. A Bitcoin Improvement Proposal is currently being prepared for this technology.

What has already been deployed on the Liquid network serves as a real world demonstration that such quantum resistant systems can function effectively under live conditions with actual funds involved.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Oil prices surged to multi week highs as the conflict in the Middle East shows no clear path toward resolution.

The past week was filled with major developments, largely driven by escalating tensions in the region. These events significantly influenced the price movements of key assets such as Bitcoin and oil.

Before last Friday’s market update and in the days that followed, Bitcoin was already under pressure. The asset dropped from a recent weekly high of 72,000 dollars to around 65,600 dollars as geopolitical tensions intensified. Over the weekend, price action remained relatively stable despite expectations of further swings. However, on Monday morning, as global markets reopened, Bitcoin fell to a monthly low of 65,600 dollars.

Volatility picked up again in the days that followed. The 68,000 dollar level acted as strong resistance, preventing multiple breakout attempts, while support at 66,000 dollars held firm. By midweek, bullish momentum pushed Bitcoin to a short term high of 69,200 dollars ahead of a highly anticipated speech by Donald Trump regarding the Iran conflict, where many expected a calming tone.

Instead, his remarks took a more aggressive stance, repeating earlier warnings that the United States could take severe action against Iran and even suggesting a possible withdrawal from NATO. In response, Bitcoin dropped sharply below 66,000 dollars before recovering slightly to around 67,000 dollars.

At the same time, oil prices climbed above 110 dollars per barrel, reaching their highest levels since early March. The latest surge followed Trump’s statement that the United States could reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a bit more time.

Market Overview

The total crypto market capitalization stands at 2.380 trillion dollars, with a 24 hour trading volume of 82 billion dollars. Bitcoin dominance is at 56 percent.

Bitcoin is trading at 66,800 dollars, showing a slight increase of 0.5 percent. Ethereum is at 2,060 dollars, up 3.6 percent, while XRP is priced at 1.33 dollars, down 1.2 percent.

Key Crypto Stories From the Week

Analysts Warn of Potential Major Bitcoin Crash

Some analysts believe Bitcoin may have already found its bottom, but XWIN Research Japan has cautioned that the asset could drop by as much as 80 percent if tensions in the Middle East escalate further. A complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz is seen as a key risk factor that could trigger such a decline.

ZachXBT Criticizes Circle Over Drift Hack Response

Drift Protocol was hit by a major hack, and blockchain investigator ZachXBT criticized Circle for failing to act quickly. During the incident, stolen USDC funds were reportedly moved freely from Solana to Ethereum for several hours without intervention.

Ripple Introduces New Corporate Crypto Solutions

Ripple made significant announcements this week by launching new products designed to help companies manage both fiat and cryptocurrency within a single system. Shortly after, KBRA assigned a BBB issuer rating to Ripple Prime, marking another milestone for the company.

Metaplanet Expands Bitcoin Holdings

While Strategy did not report any new Bitcoin purchases this week, Metaplanet made a major move by acquiring 5,075 BTC for 405 million dollars. This purchase positions the company as the third largest corporate holder of Bitcoin.

Long Term Bitcoin Holders Begin Selling at a Loss

Recent data shows that not only short term holders but also long term Bitcoin investors are selling at a loss. Analysts suggest this could signal a final phase of market capitulation before a potential trend reversal.

Quantum Computing Emerges as a Future Threat

A new report from Google highlights the risks posed by quantum computing to the crypto industry. According to the findings, such technology could potentially break into the largest 1,000 Ethereum wallets within a matter of days, raising concerns about long term security.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic